CREDIT LINE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT By and between NEW WORLD BRANDS, INC. as Borrower P & S SPIRIT, LLC as Lender May 31, 2007
Exhibit
10.1
By
and between
NEW
WORLD BRANDS, INC.
as
Borrower
______________________
P
& S SPIRIT, LLC
as
Lender
May
31,
2007
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS
|
|
1 |
1.1.
|
General
Definitions
|
1
|
1.2.
|
Accounting
Terms
|
8
|
1.3.
|
Other
Definitional Terms
|
9
|
ARTICLE II
LOAN
|
9
|
|
2.1.
|
Credit
Line
|
9
|
2.2.
|
Repayment
of Loan
|
10
|
2.3.
|
Use
of Proceeds.
|
9
|
2.4.
|
[Reserved]
|
10
|
2.5.
|
Payments
and Computations
|
10
|
ARTICLE III
INTEREST AND FEES
|
|
10 |
3.1.
|
Interest
on Loans
|
10
|
3.2.
|
Interest
After Event of Default.
|
10
|
ARTICLE IV
COLLATERAL
|
|
11 |
4.1.
|
Description.
|
11
|
4.2.
|
Lien
Documents
|
12
|
4.3.
|
Other
Actions.
|
12
|
4.4.
|
Searches
and Certificates
|
13
|
ARTICLE V
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
|
|
13
|
ARTICLE VI
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
|
|
15 |
6.1.
|
Organization
and Qualification.
|
15
|
6.2.
|
Liens
|
15
|
6.3.
|
No
Conflict.
|
15
|
6.4.
|
Enforceability.
|
16
|
6.5.
|
Financial
Data
|
16
|
6.6.
|
Locations
of Offices, Records and Inventory.
|
16
|
6.7.
|
Business
Names.
|
16
|
6.8.
|
Affiliates
and Subsidiaries.
|
16
|
6.9.
|
Judgments
or Litigation.
|
16
|
i
6.10.
|
Defaults
|
17
|
6.11.
|
Compliance
with Law
|
17
|
6.12.
|
Compliance
with Environmental Laws.
|
17
|
6.13.
|
Intellectual
Property.
|
17
|
6.14.
|
Licenses
and Permits
|
18
|
6.15.
|
Title
to Property
|
18
|
6.16.
|
Labor
Matters.
|
18
|
6.17.
|
Investment
Company.
|
19
|
6.18.
|
Margin
Security
|
19
|
6.19.
|
Taxes
and Tax Returns.
|
19
|
6.20.
|
Status
of Accounts
|
19
|
6.21.
|
Material
Contracts
|
20
|
6.22.
|
Accuracy
and Completeness of Information
|
20
|
6.23.
|
Solvency.
|
20
|
6.24.
|
Commercial
Tort Claims.
|
20
|
6.25.
|
Letter
of Credit Rights
|
20
|
6.26.
|
Deposit
Accounts
|
20
|
6.27.
|
Anti-Terrorism
Law
|
20
|
6.28.
|
Survival
of Representations
|
21
|
ARTICLE VII
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
|
|
21
|
7.1.
|
Financial
Information
|
21
|
7.2.
|
Existence
|
22
|
7.3.
|
Environmental
Matters
|
22
|
7.4.
|
Books
and Records.
|
23
|
7.5.
|
Collateral
Records.
|
23
|
7.6.
|
Changes
in Locations
|
23
|
7.7.
|
Insurance;
Casualty Loss
|
23
|
7.8.
|
Taxes.
|
24
|
7.9.
|
Compliance
With Laws.
|
24
|
7.10.
|
Fiscal
Year.
|
24
|
7.11.
|
Notification
of Certain Events
|
24
|
7.12.
|
Collection
of Accounts.
|
25
|
7.13.
|
Trademarks
|
25
|
7.14.
|
Maintenance
of Property.
|
25
|
7.15.
|
Commercial
Tort Claims.
|
25
|
7.16.
|
Letter
of Credit Rights..
|
26
|
ARTICLE VIII
FINANCIAL COVENANTS
|
|
26 |
8.1.
|
Current
Ratio.
|
26
|
8.2.
|
Debt
to Worth Ratio.
|
26
|
ii
ARTICLE IX
NEGATIVE COVENANTS
|
|
26 |
9.1.
|
Liens
|
26
|
9.2.
|
Indebtedness.
|
26
|
9.3.
|
Sale
of Assets
|
26
|
9.4.
|
Organizational
Changes
|
26
|
9.5.
|
Guarantees
|
27
|
9.6.
|
Investments.
|
27
|
9.7.
|
Affiliate
Transactions
|
27
|
9.8.
|
Third
Party Loans
|
27
|
9.9.
|
Issuance
of Stock
|
27
|
9.10.
|
Amendments
of Material Contracts
|
27
|
9.11.
|
Subordinated
Debt
|
27
|
9.12.
|
Licenses,
Etc.
|
27
|
9.13.
|
Anti-Terrorism
Laws
|
27
|
ARTICLE X
APPOINTMENT AS ATTORNEY-IN-FACT
|
|
27
|
ARTICLE XI
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
|
|
28 |
11.1.
|
Events
of Default
|
28
|
11.2.
|
Rights
and Remedies upon a Default or an Event of Default
|
30
|
11.3.
|
Nature
of Remedies.
|
31
|
ARTICLE XII
TERMINATION
|
|
31
|
ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS
|
|
31
|
13.1.
|
Waivers.
|
31
|
13.2.
|
JURY
TRIAL.
|
32
|
13.3.
|
GOVERNING
LAW; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; VENUE
|
32
|
13.4.
|
Notices
|
32
|
13.5.
|
Assignability.
|
33
|
13.6.
|
Payment
of Expenses
|
33
|
13.7.
|
Indemnification.
|
33
|
13.8.
|
Entire
Agreement, Successors and Assigns.
|
34
|
13.9.
|
Amendments.
|
34
|
13.10.
|
Non-Agency
of Lender.
|
34
|
13.11.
|
Counterparts.
|
34
|
13.12.
|
Effectiveness.
|
34
|
13.13.
|
Severability.
|
34
|
13.14.
|
Headings
Descriptive
|
35
|
13.15.
|
Maximum
Rate.
|
35
|
13.16.
|
Information
|
35
|
iii
EXHIBITS
AND SCHEDULES
EXHIBITS
Exhibit
A
Form of Credit Line Note
Exhibit
B
Form of Notice of Borrowing
SCHEDULES
Schedule
1.1 Permitted
Indebtedness
Schedule
1.2 Permitted
Investments
Schedule 1.3
Permitted
Liens
Schedule
1.4 Subordinated
Debt
Schedule
6.6 Places of
Business/Collateral Locations
Schedule
6.7 Business
Names
Schedule
6.8 Subsidiaries
and Affiliates
Schedule
6.9
Litigation
Schedule
6.13 Intellectual
Property
Schedule
6.15 Real Property
Leases
Schedule
6.21 Material
Contracts
Schedule
6.24 Commercial
Tort Claims
Schedule
6.25 Letter
of
Credit Rights
Schedule
6.26 Depository
Institutions/Deposit Accounts
v
THIS
CREDIT LINE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT is entered into as of May 31, 2007,
between NEW WORLD BRANDS, INC. a Delaware corporation
(“Borrower”), and P & S SPIRIT, LLC, a
Nevada limited liability company (“Lender”).
Background
WHEREAS,
Borrower wish to obtain a revolving secured line of credit from Lender, and,
upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, Lender is willing
to make the line of credit available to Borrower.
NOW,
THEREFORE, Borrower and Lender, intending to be legally bound hereby, agree
as
follows:
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS
1.1. General
Definitions.
As
used
herein, the following terms shall have the meanings herein
specified:
“Accounts”
shall mean all of Borrower’s “accounts” (as defined in the UCC), whether now
existing or existing in the future, including, without limitation, all accounts
receivable and all accounts created by or arising from all sales of goods or
rendition of services made under Borrower’s legal name or Borrower’s trade names
or styles or through Borrower’s divisions.
“Advances”
shall mean and include all loan advances made by Lender to Borrower under the
Credit Line.
“Affiliate”
shall mean any entity which directly or indirectly controls, is controlled
by,
or is under common control with, Borrower. For purposes of this
definition, “control” shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the
power to (i) vote 20% or more of the securities having ordinary voting power
for
the election of directors of such Person, or (ii) direct or cause the direction
of management and policies of a business, whether through the ownership of
voting securities, by contract or otherwise and either alone or in conjunction
with others or any group.
“Anti-Terrorism
Laws” shall mean any statute, treaty, law (including common law), ordinance,
regulation, rule, order, opinion, release, injunction, writ, decree or award
of
any Official Body relating to terrorism or money laundering, including Executive
Order No. 13224 and the USA Patriot Act.
“Asset
Disposition” shall mean any disposition (other than a disposition of
Inventory in the ordinary course of Borrower’s business) of any existing or
future Property of Borrower.
“Authorized
Person” means the Chief Executive Officer, President, any Vice President,
Controller, or Chief Financial Officer of Borrower.
1
“Business
Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, a legal holiday or
a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law or other
governmental action to close in Baltimore, Maryland.
“Capital
Expenditures” shall mean expenditures made or liabilities incurred for the
acquisition of any fixed assets or improvements, replacements, substitutions
or
additions thereto which have a useful life of more than one year, including
the
total principal portion of Capitalized Lease Obligations, which, in accordance
with GAAP, would be classified as capital expenditures.
“Capitalized
Lease Obligations” shall mean any Indebtedness of Borrower
represented by obligations under a lease that is required to be capitalized
for
financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP.
“Capital
Stock” shall mean (i) in the case of a corporation, capital stock, (ii) in
the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests,
participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of capital
stock, (iii) in the case of a partnership, partnership interests (whether
general or limited), (iv) in the case of a limited liability company, membership
interests and (v) any other equity interest or participation that confers
on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or
distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.
“Casualty
Loss” shall have the meaning given to such term in Section
7.7.
“Closing”
shall mean the consummation of the making of the Credit Line available by Lender
to Borrower under this Agreement.
“Closing
Date” shall mean the date on which the Closing occurs.
“Collateral”
shall mean any and all rights and interests in or to Property (including
leasehold improvements) of Borrower, whether now owned or hereafter acquired,
pledged from time to time as security for the Obligations pursuant to this
Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents.
“Contractual
Obligations” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any term or provision
of any securities issued by such Person, or any indenture, mortgage, deed of
trust, contract, undertaking, document, instrument or other agreement to which
such Person is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound or
to
which it or any of its properties is subject.
“Control
Agreement” shall mean an agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to
Lender, among Borrower, a Depository Institution and Lender pursuant to which
such Depository Institution agrees, interalia, to transfer all
funds of Borrower maintained in any deposit account with that Depository
Institution to the control of Lender.
“Credit
Line” shall mean the secured line of credit provided for in Section
2.1 of this Agreement.
2
“Default”
shall mean an event, condition or default which, with the giving of notice,
the
passage of time or both would be an Event of Default.
“Depository
Institution shall mean each depository institution where Borrower maintains
a bank account and which institutions are set forth on Schedule 6.26,
along with the numbers and title of each account maintained by Borrower at
such
institution.
“Event(s)
of Default” shall have the meaning provided for in Article
XI.
“Executive
Order No. 13224” shall mean the Executive Order No. 13224 on Terrorist
Financing, effective September 24, 2001, as the same has been, or shall
hereafter be, renewed, extended, amended or replaced.
“Expenses”
shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 13.6.
“Financials”
shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 6.5.
“Financial
Statements” shall mean the Financial Statements Borrower is obligated to
deliver pursuant to Section 7.1 of this Agreement.
“GAAP”
shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of
America, as in effect on the date hereof and applied on a consistent basis
with
the Financials.
“Governmental
Authority” shall mean any federal, state, local or foreign court or
governmental agency, authority, instrumentality or regulatory body.
“Guarantor”
shall mean Qualmax and any other Person who may hereafter guarantee payment
or
performance of the whole or any part of the Obligations; “Guarantors” means
collectively all such Persons.
“Guaranty”
shall mean any guaranty of the obligations of Borrower executed by a Guarantor
in favor of Lender.
“Highest
Lawful Rate” shall mean, at any given time during which any Obligations
shall be outstanding hereunder, the maximum nonusurious interest rate, if any,
that at any time or from time to time may be contracted for, taken, reserved,
charged or received on the indebtedness under this Agreement, under the laws
of
the State of Maryland (or the law of any other jurisdiction whose laws may,
by
order of court, be mandatorily applicable notwithstanding other provisions
of
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents), in any case after taking into
account, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any and all relevant
payments or charges under this Agreement and any other Loan Documents executed
in connection herewith, and any available exemptions, exceptions and
exclusions.
"Indebtedness"
of a Person at a particular date shall mean all obligations of such Person
which
in accordance with GAAP would be classified upon a balance sheet as liabilities
(except
3
capital
stock and surplus earned or otherwise) and in any event, without limitation
by
reason of enumeration, shall include all indebtedness, debt and other similar
monetary obligations of such Person whether direct or guaranteed, and all
premiums, if any, due at the required prepayment dates of such indebtedness,
and all indebtedness secured by a Lien on assets owned by such
Person, whether or not such indebtedness actually shall have been created,
assumed or incurred by such Person. Any indebtedness of such Person
resulting from the acquisition by such Person of any assets subject to any
Lien
shall be deemed, for the purposes hereof, to be the equivalent of the creation,
assumption and incurring of the indebtedness secured thereby, whether or not
actually so created, assumed or incurred.
“Inventory”
shall mean all of Borrower’s inventory, including without limitation,
(i) all raw materials, work in process, parts, components, assemblies,
supplies and materials used or consumed in Borrower’s business; (ii) all goods,
wares and merchandise, finished or unfinished, held for sale or lease or leased
or furnished or to be furnished under contracts of service; and (iii) all goods
returned to or repossessed by Borrower.
“Investment”
in any Person shall mean (i) the acquisition (whether for cash, property,
services, assumption of Indebtedness, securities or otherwise, but exclusive
of
the acquisition of inventory, supplies, equipment and other property or assets
used or consumed in the ordinary course of business of Borrower and Capital
Expenditures not otherwise prohibited hereunder) of assets, shares of Capital
Stock, bonds, notes, debentures, partnership, joint ventures or other ownership
interests or other securities of such Person, or (ii) any other capital
contribution to or investment in such Person. In determining the
aggregate amount of Investments outstanding at any particular time,
(a) there shall be deducted in respect of each such Investment any amount
received as a return of capital (but only by repurchase, redemption, retirement,
repayment, liquidating dividend or liquidating distribution); (b) there shall
be
deducted in respect of any Investment any cash amounts received as earnings
on
such Investment, whether as dividends, interest or otherwise; and (c) there
shall not be deducted from or included in, as applicable, the aggregate amount
of Investments any decrease or increase, as applicable, in the market value
thereof.
“I.P.Gear”
shall mean I.P.Gear, Ltd., an Israeli corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Borrower.
“Lien(s)”
shall mean any lien, charge, trust, pledge, security interest, deed of trust,
mortgage, assignment or other claim or encumbrance of any kind or nature upon
any interest in Property.
“Loan
Documents” shall mean, collectively, this Agreement, the Note, the
Guarantees, the Security Documents and all other documents,
agreements, instruments, opinions and certificates executed and delivered in
connection herewith or therewith, as the same may be modified, amended,
extended, restated or supplemented from time to time.
“Lockbox
Account” shall have the meaning given to such term in Section
2.5(b).
“Material
Adverse Change” shall mean a material adverse change in (i) the
business,
4
operations,
results of operations, assets, liabilities or condition (financial or otherwise)
of Borrower, (ii) the Collateral, (iii) Borrower’s ability to perform its
obligations under the Loan Documents, or (iv) the validity, enforceability
or
availability of rights and remedies of Lender hereunder, in each case as
determined by Lender in its sole but reasonable discretion.
“Material
Adverse Effect” shall mean a material adverse effect on (i) the business,
operations, results of operations, assets, liabilities or condition (financial
or otherwise) of Borrower, (ii) the Collateral, (iii) Borrower’s ability to
perform its respective obligations under the Loan Documents, or (iv) the
validity, enforceability or availability of rights and remedies of Lender
hereunder, in each case as determined by Lender in its sole but reasonable
discretion.
“Material
Contract” shall mean any contract or other arrangement, whether written or
oral, to which Borrower is a party as to which the breach, nonperformance,
cancellation or failure to renew by any party thereto could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
“Maturity
Date” shall mean June 1, 2011.
“Maximum
Credit” shall mean One Million Fifty Thousand Dollars
($1,050,000.00).
“Net
Cash Proceeds” shall mean the aggregate cash proceeds received by Borrower
in respect of any Asset Disposition, net of (i) direct costs (including, without
limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and sales
commissions) and (ii) taxes paid or payable as a result thereof; it being
understood that “Net Cash Proceeds” shall include, without limitation, any cash
received upon the sale or other disposition of any non-cash consideration
received by Borrower in any Asset Disposition.
“Note”
shall mean the Credit Line Note payable to the order of Lender, evidencing
the
Credit Line.
“Obligations”
shall mean the outstanding balance of the Credit Line, any other loans and
advances or extensions of credit made or to be made at any time by Lender to
Borrower, or to others for Borrower’s account in each case pursuant to the terms
and provisions of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or the Other Loan
Documents, together with interest thereon (including interest which may accrue
as post-petition interest in connection with any bankruptcy or similar
proceeding), and expenses, liabilities and obligations of every kind or nature
which may at any time be owing by Borrower to Lender pursuant to this Agreement,
any other Loan Document, or the Other Loan Documents, or otherwise, whether
now
in existence, hereafter arising or incurred from time to time by Borrower,
and
all expenses incurred at any time by Lender, as well as expenditures to protect,
preserve or defend any Collateral and Lender’s rights hereunder or in the
Collateral, all of the foregoing, whether unsecured or secured, due or to become
due, absolute or contingent, joint or several, matured or unmatured, direct
or
indirect, related or unrelated and whether Borrower is liable to Lender for
such
indebtedness as principal, surety, endorser, guarantor or
otherwise.
“Official
Body” shall mean any national, federal, state, local or other government or
political
5
subdivision
or any agency, authority, bureau, central bank, commission, department or
instrumentality of either, or any court, tribunal, grand jury or arbitrator,
in
each case whether domestic or foreign.
“Other
Loan Documents” shall mean that certain Term Loan and Security Agreement
dated as of March 29, 2007 between Borrower and Lender (the “Term Loan
Agreement”), that certain Term Note dated March 29, 2007 from Borrower payable
to the order of Lender and all other “Loan Documents” as defined in the Term
Loan Agreement, all evidencing, securing or relating to the Term
Loan..
“Permitted
Indebtedness” shall mean the Indebtedness scheduled on Schedule 1.1
to this Agreement.
“Permitted
Investments” shall mean:
(i) interest-bearing
demand or time deposits (including certificates of deposit) which are insured
by
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or a similar federal
insurance program; provided, however, that Borrower may, in the
ordinary course of their business, maintain in their disbursement account from
time to time amounts in excess of then applicable FDIC or other program
insurance limits;
(ii) Investments
existing on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 1.2 attached
hereto;
(iii) marketable,
direct obligations of the United States of America, its agencies and
instrumentalities maturing within 365 days of the date of purchase;
(iv) commercial
paper issued by corporations, each of which shall have a net worth of at least
$100,000,000, and each of which conducts a substantial part of its business
in
the United States of America, maturing within 270 days from the date of the
original issue thereof, and which at the time of acquisition has the highest
rating by Xxxxx’x Investors Service, Inc. or Standard and Poor’s
Corporation;
(v) bankers’
acceptances, and certificates of deposit maturing within 365 days of the date
of
purchase which are issued by, or time deposits maintained with, an eligible
institution having capital, surplus and undivided profits totaling more than
$100,000,000 and which have the highest rating by Xxxxx’x Investors Service,
Inc. or Standard and Poor’s Corporation; and
(vi) money
market or similar funds that invest primarily in the types of investments
referred to in clauses (i), (iii), (iv) and (v) above.
“Permitted
Liens” shall mean:
(i) Liens
set forth on Schedule 1.3 attached hereto;
6
(ii) Liens
on fixed assets securing Indebtedness (including Capital Leases and purchase
money Indebtedness); provided that (A) any such Lien attaches only to the
assets to be financed and (B) a description of the assets so financed is
furnished to Lender;
(iii) Liens
of warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen, workers, repairmen, fillers, packagers,
processors, common carriers, landlords and other similar Liens arising by
operation of law or otherwise, not waived in connection herewith, for amounts
that are not yet due and payable or which are being diligently contested in
good
faith by Borrower by appropriate proceedings, provided that in any such
case an adequate reserve is being maintained by Borrower for the payment of
same;
(iv) Liens
for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet due and payable
or
which are being diligently contested in good faith by Borrower by appropriate
proceedings, provided that in any such case an adequate reserve is being
maintained by Borrower for the payment of same in accordance with GAAP;
and
(v) deposits
or pledges to secure obligations under workmen’s compensation, social security
or similar laws, or under unemployment insurance.
“Person”
shall mean any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, joint venture,
limited liability entity, trust, unincorporated organization, association,
corporation, institution, entity, or government (including any division, agency
or department thereof), and, as applicable, the successors, heirs and assigns
of
each.
“Prime
Rate” shall mean the U.S. Prime Rate as published in the Money Rates section
of The Wall Street Journal as in effect from time to time. The
Prime Rate is a reference rate and does not necessarily represent the lowest
or
best rate actually charged to any borrower.
“Property”
shall mean all personal and real property of every kind and description (whether
tangible or intangible) in which a Person has any right, title or
interest.
“Proprietary
Rights” shall have the meaning given to such term in Section
6.13.
“Qualmax”
shall mean Qualmax, Inc., a Delaware corporation and Borrower’s
parent.
“Security
Documents” shall mean any existing or future agreement or document granting,
creating or conferring any Lien in favor of Lender securing all or any portion
of the Obligations, including, without limitation, the Stock Pledge
Agreements.
“Stock
Pledge Agreement” shall mean, collectively and individually: (i) that
certain Stock Pledge Agreement of even date herewith from Qualmax to Lender,
pledging and granting to Lender a security interest and Lien in all shares
of
Preferred Capital Stock of Borrower held by Qualmax, subject to the Lien created
by the Other Loan Documents, and (ii) that certain Stock Pledge
Agreement of even date herewith from Borrower to Lender, pledging and granting
to Lender a security interest and Lien in 65% of Borrower’s interest in Capital
Stock of I.P.Gear held by Borrower.
7
“Subordinated
Debt” shall mean existing Indebtedness, if any, set forth and indicated as
subordinated set forth on Schedule 1.1(e) hereto and unsecured
Indebtedness hereafter incurred by Borrower, which, in each case, is expressly
subordinated and made junior to the payment and performance in full of the
Obligations and under a written agreement acceptable to Lender.
“Subordination
Agreements” shall mean the agreements entered into from time to time by and
among Borrower, Lender, and a third party creditor of Borrower providing for
the
subordination of such third party creditor’s claims to those of Lender on terms
and conditions satisfactory to Lender.
“Subsidiary”
shall mean, as to any Person, (i) any corporation more than 50% of whose Capital
Stock of any class or classes having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power
to elect a majority of the directors of such corporation (irrespective of
whether or not at the time, any class or classes of such corporation shall
have
or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is
at
the time owned by such Person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries,
(ii) any partnership, association, joint venture or other entity in which
such Person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries has more than a 50%
interest in the total capital, total income and/or total ownership interests
of
such entity at any time and (iii) any partnership in which such Person is a
general partner.
“Tangible
Net Worth” shall mean the value of Borrower’s total assets (including
leaseholds and leasehold and reserves against assets but excluding goodwill,
patents, trademarks, trade names, organization expense, unamortized debt
discount and expense, capitalized or deferred research and development costs,
deferred marketing expenses,, and other like intangibles, and monies due from
affiliates, officers, directors, employees, shareholders, members or managers
of
Borrower) less total liabilities, including but not limited to accrued and
deferred income taxes, but excluding the non-current portion of Subordinated
Debt.
“Taxes”
shall mean any federal, state, local or foreign income, sales, use, transfer,
payroll, personal, property, occupancy, franchise or other tax, levy, impost,
fee, imposition, assessment or similar charge, together with any interest or
penalties thereon.
“Term
Loan” shall mean that certain secured term loan in the principal amount of
$1,000,000.00 from Lender to Borrower evidenced by the Other Loan
Documents.
“Third-Party
Loan” shall mean any loan, advance, deposit or extension of credit made or
granted by Borrower to any other Person.
“UCC”
shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the
State of Maryland.
“USA
Patriot Act” shall mean the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing
Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001,
Public Law 107-56, as the same has been, or shall hereafter be, renewed,
extended, amended or replaced.
8
“Voting
Stock” shall mean, with respect to any Person, Capital Stock issued by such
Person the holders of which are ordinarily, in the absence of contingencies,
entitled to vote for the election of directors (or persons performing similar
functions) of such Person, even though the right so to vote has been suspended
by the happening of such a contingency.
1.2. Accounting
Terms. Unless otherwise defined or specified herein, all
accounting terms shall be construed herein and all accounting determinations
for
purposes of determining compliance with ArticleVIII hereof and otherwise to
be
made under this Agreement shall be made in accordance with GAAP applied on
a
basis consistent in all material respects with the Financials. All
Financial Statements required to be delivered hereunder from and after the
Closing Date and all financial records shall be maintained in accordance with
GAAP as in effect as of the date of the Financials. If GAAP shall
change from the basis used in preparing the Financials, the certificates
required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7.1(c) demonstrating
compliance with the covenants contained herein shall include calculations
setting forth the adjustments necessary to demonstrate how Borrower is in
compliance with the financial covenants based upon GAAP as in effect on the
Closing Date. If Borrower shall change its method of inventory
accounting, all calculations necessary to determine compliance with the
covenants contained herein shall be made as if such method of inventory
accounting had not been so changed.
1.3. Other
Definitional Terms. Terms not otherwise defined herein
which are defined in the UCC shall have the meanings given them in the
UCC. It is the specific intent of Borrower and Lender that references
to terms defined in the UCC shall mean the definitions set forth in the UCC
as
the UCC is in effect from time to time. The term “on the date hereof”
shall mean the date of this Agreement. The words “hereof”, “herein”
and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall
refer to the Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this
Agreement, unless otherwise specifically provided. References in this
Agreement to “Articles”, “Sections”, “Schedules” or “Exhibits” shall be to
Articles, Sections, Schedules or Exhibits of or to this Agreement unless
otherwise specifically provided. Any of the terms defined in Section
1.1 may, unless the context otherwise requires, be used in the singular or
plural depending on the reference. “Include”, “includes” and
“including” shall be deemed to be followed by “without limitation” whether or
not they are in fact followed by such words or words of like
import. “Writing”, “written” and comparable terms refer to printing,
typing, computer disk, e-mail and other means of reproducing words in a visible
form. References to any agreement or contract are to such agreement
or contract as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance
with the terms hereof and thereof. References to any Person include
the successors and permitted assigns of such Person. References
“from” or “through” any date mean, unless otherwise specified, “from and
including” or “through and including”, respectively. References to
any times herein shall refer to the applicable time in Baltimore,
Maryland.
ARTICLE II CREDIT
LINE
2.1. Credit
Line. Absent an Event of Default and earlier termination, Lender
hereby establishes for the benefit of Borrower, subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, a revolving line of credit in the amount of the
Maximum Credit. All requests for advances under the
9
Credit
Line shall be directed to Lender pursuant to a Notice of Borrowing in the form
of Exhibit B attached hereto, no more than one (1) Notice of Borrowing shall
be
issued within any 30 consecutive day period. Requests for advances
under the Credit Line shall be in the amount of $50,000 or even multiples
thereof. Borrower’s unconditional obligation to repay all advances
under the Credit Line and to pay interest thereon shall be evidenced by the
Note
of Borrower set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto and representing the
obligations of Borrower to pay Lender the outstanding amount of the Credit
Line
plus interest accrued thereon, as set forth herein. In no event shall
the outstanding principal balance under the Credit Line exceed the Maximum
Credit.
2.2. Repayment
of Credit Line. Prior to the Maturity Date, Borrower may borrow,
prepay and reborrow under the Credit Line. The outstanding balance of
the Credit Line shall be due and payable on or before the Maturity Date, subject
to acceleration as herein provided. Borrower shall pay
principal, interest, and all other amounts payable hereunder without any
deduction whatsoever, including, but not limited to, any deduction for any
setoff or counterclaim, all of which are hereby waived. Any
prepayment of principal shall be in an amount of $100,000 or even multiples
thereof, and shall be accompanied by accrued and unpaid interest on the amount
prepaid to the date of such prepayment.
2.3. Use
of
Proceeds. Borrower shall apply the proceeds of Advances to (i)
pay fees and Expenses relating to this transaction, and (ii) working
capital. Without the prior consent of Lender, no Advance may be used,
in whole or in part, for Capital Expenditures.
2.4. [Reserved.]
2.5. Payments
and Computations.
(a) Borrower
shall make each payment hereunder and under the Note not later than 2:00 P.M.
on
the day when due. Any payment received after 2:00 P.M.
(including any payment in full of the Obligations) shall be deemed received
on
the immediately following Business Day. All prepayments of every kind
on account of the Credit Line shall be first applied to accrued and unpaid
interest and then to the principal balance thereof.
(b) At
Lender’s request, all proceeds of Collateral shall be deposited by Borrower into
either (i) a lockbox account or a blocked account (“Lockbox Account”)
established at a Depository Institution, pursuant to a Control
Agreement. Lender assumes no responsibility for such blocked account
arrangement, including any claim or accord and satisfaction or release with
respect to deposits accepted by any Depository Institution
thereunder. Borrower hereby agrees to execute such agreements as
Lender may require to establish the Lockbox Account.
(c) Borrower
shall pay principal, interest and other amounts payable hereunder without any
deduction, setoff, recoupment or counterclaim.
(d) Lender’s
records of advances and payments under the Credit Line shall be deemed correct
and binding upon Borrower except for manifest error.
10
ARTICLE III INTEREST
AND FEES
3.1. Interest
on Loans. Interest on the outstanding principal amount of
Advances under the Credit Line shall be paid in arrears on the first Business
Day of each calendar month commencing July 1, 2007, at the per annum interest
rate at all times equal to the Prime Rate then in effect plus two percent (2%)
per annum (subject to adjustment in the manner provided herein and in the
Note).
3.2. Interest
After Event of Default. Interest on the outstanding principal
amount of Advances under the Credit Line as of the date an Event of Default
occurs, and at all times thereafter until the earlier of the date upon which
(a)
all Obligations have been paid and satisfied in full or (b) such Event of
Default shall have been cured or waived, shall be payable on demand at a rate
equal to the rate or rates at which the Loan is then bearing interest,
plus 200 basis points. In the event of any change in said
applicable interest rate, the rate hereunder shall change, effective as of
the
day the applicable interest rate changes, so as to remain 200 basis points
above
the then applicable interest rate. To the extent permitted by
applicable law, interest shall accrue at the applicable contract rate(s)
provided for in this Agreement notwithstanding the occurrence of any Event
of
Default, acceleration of the Obligations, the entry of any judgment, or the
commencement of any bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership or other
proceedings.
ARTICLE IV COLLATERAL
4.1. Description. As
security for the payment of the Obligations, and satisfaction by Borrower of
all
covenants and undertakings contained in this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents, Borrower hereby assigns and grants to Lender a continuing first
(subject only to any Permitted Liens, if any) Lien on and security interest
in,
upon and to all of Borrower’s personal property, including, without limitation,
all of the following personal property:
(a) Accounts
- All of Borrower’s now owned and hereafter acquired, created, or arising
Accounts;
(b) Inventory
- All of Borrower’s now owned or hereafter acquired Inventory of every nature
and kind, wherever located;
(c) General
Intangibles - All of Borrower’s now owned and hereafter acquired, created or
arising General Intangibles of every kind and description, including, without
limitation, customer lists, choses in action, claims, books, records, goodwill,
patents and patent applications, copyrights, trademarks, tradenames, service
marks, tradestyles, trademark applications, trade secrets, contracts, contract
rights, royalties, licenses, franchises, deposits, license, franchise and
royalty agreements, formulae, tax and any other types of refunds, returned
and
unearned insurance premiums, rights and claims under insurance policies
including without limitation, credit insurance and key man life insurance
policies, and computer information, software, records and
data;
(d) Equipment
- All of Borrower’s now owned and hereafter acquired Equipment, including,
without limitation, machinery, vehicles, furniture and Fixtures,
wherever
11
located,
and all replacements, parts, accessories, substitutions and additions
thereto;
(e) Deposit
Accounts - All of Borrower’s now existing and hereafter acquired or arising
Deposit Accounts, reserves and credit balances of every nature, wherever
located, and all documents and records associated therewith;
(f) Property
in Lender’s Possession - All personal property of Borrower, now or hereafter
in the possession of Lender;
(g) Investment
Property - All of Borrower’s now owned or hereafter acquired Investment
Property of every kind;
(h) Letter
of Credit Rights– All of Borrower’s now owned or hereafter acquired Letter
of Credit Rights;
(i) Commercial
Tort Claims– All of Borrower’s now owned or hereafter acquired Commercial
Tort Claims;
(j) Other
Property - All of Borrower’s now owned or hereafter acquired or created
Instruments and other notes receivable, Goods, Chattel Paper, Documents
(including bills of lading, warehouse receipts and other documents of title),
Payment Intangibles, guarantees, Supporting Obligations, letters of credit,
rights of rescission, stoppage in transit, replevin, and reclamation, and
returned, reclaimed and repossessed goods; and
(k) Proceeds
- The Proceeds (including, without limitation, insurance proceeds), whether
cash
or non-cash, of all of the foregoing personal property and interests in personal
property.
4.2. Lien
Documents. At Closing, and thereafter from time to time as Lender
deems necessary, Borrower shall execute and/or deliver to Lender or authorize,
as applicable, the following (all in form and substance satisfactory to
Lender):
(a) Financing
Statements - Financing statements, which Lender may file in any jurisdiction
where any Collateral is or may be located and in any other jurisdiction that
Lender deems appropriate; and
(b) Other
Agreements - Any other agreements, documents, instruments and writings,
including, without limitation, trademark , patent and/or copyright security
agreements and amendments or supplements thereto, as may be required by Lender
to evidence, create, perfect or protect Lender’s Liens and security interests in
the Collateral.
4.3. Other
Actions. Borrower will defend the Collateral against all Liens
(other than Permitted Liens), claims and demands of all Persons at any time
claiming the same or any interest therein. Borrower agrees to comply
with the requirements of all state and federal laws and requests of Lender
in
order for Lender to have and maintain a valid and perfected first security
interest
12
(subject
only to Permitted Liens, if any) in the Collateral including, without
limitation, executing such documents as Lender may require to obtain Control
(as
defined in the UCC) over all Letter of Credit Rights, Deposit Accounts and
Investment Property. Lender is hereby authorized by Borrower to file
any financing statements covering the Collateral or an amendment that adds
collateral covered by a financing statement or an amendment that adds a debtor
to a financing statement, in each case whether or not Borrower’s signature
appears thereon. Borrower hereby authorizes Lender to file financing statements
and amendments to financing statements describing the Collateral in any filing
office as Lender, in its reasonable discretion, may determine, including
financing statements listing “All Assets” in the collateral description therein,
as well as language indicating that the acquisition by a third party of any
right, title or interest in or to the Collateral without Lender’s consent, shall
be a violation of Lender’s rights. In addition to the foregoing,
Borrower shall perform all further acts that may be lawfully and reasonably
required by Lender to secure Lender and effectuate the intentions and objects
of
this Agreement, including, but not limited to, the execution and delivery of
continuation statements, amendments to financing statements, security
agreements, contracts and any other documents required
hereunder. Borrower shall use commercially reasonable efforts to
obtain acknowledgment and waiver agreements from the owner or lessor of any
warehouse or distribution location and Borrower shall endeavor to obtain
acknowledgment and waiver agreements from the owner or lessor of each showroom
location. At Lender’s request, Borrower shall immediately deliver to
Lender all documents or items for which Lender must receive possession to obtain
and/or maintain perfected security interests, including without limitation,
all
notes, letters of credit, certificates and documents of title, chattel paper,
warehouse receipts, instruments, and any other similar Collateral.
4.4. Searches
and Certificates.
Borrower
shall, prior to or at Closing, and thereafter as Lender may determine from
time
to time, at Borrower’s expense, obtain (and Lender may also do so, at its
option, but at Borrower’s expense from time to time) the following searches (the
results of which are to be consistent with the warranties made by Borrower
in
this Agreement and in any other Loan Document):
(a) UCC
searches with the Secretary of State of Borrower’s jurisdiction of
organization;
(b) Judgment,
federal tax lien and state tax lien searches, in Borrower’s jurisdiction of
organization and each state or other jurisdiction where Borrower maintains
its
executive office, a place of business, or any Property; and
(c) Searches
of ownership and Lien status of intellectual property in the appropriate
governmental offices.
ARTICLE V CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT
The
obligation of Lender to extend the Credit Line shall be subject to the
satisfaction, on or prior to the Closing Date, of the following conditions
precedent (all agreements and documents
13
from
Borrower or any other Person to be in form and substance acceptable to Lender,
in its sole discretion):
(a) Executed
Loan Documents. Receipt by Lender of duly executed copies of:
this Agreement, the Note, the Security Documents, and all other Loan
Documents.
(b) Organizational
Documents. Receipt by Lender of the following:
(i) Charter
Documents. Copies of the articles or certificates of
incorporation or other charter documents of Borrower and each Guarantor
certified to be true and complete as of a recent date by the appropriate
Governmental Authority of the state or other jurisdiction of its incorporation
and certified by a secretary or assistant secretary of Borrower and each such
Guarantor to be true and correct as of the Closing Date.
(ii) Bylaws/Operating
Agreement. A copy of the bylaws or operating agreement, as
applicable, of Borrower and each such Guarantor certified by a secretary or
assistant secretary of Borrower and such Guarantor to be true and correct as
of
the Closing Date.
(iii) Resolutions. Copies
of resolutions or unanimous written consent of the board of directors or
members, as applicable, of Borrower and each Guarantor approving and
adopting the Loan Documents, the transactions contemplated therein and
authorizing execution and delivery thereof, certified by a secretary or
assistant secretary of Borrower and each such Guarantor to be true and correct
and in force and effect as of the Closing Date.
(iv) Good
Standing. Copies of a certificate of good standing, existence or
its equivalent with respect to Borrower and each Guarantor certified as of
a
recent date by the appropriate Governmental Authorities of the state or other
jurisdiction of organization and each other jurisdiction in which the failure
to
so qualify and be in good standing could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(v) Incumbency. An
incumbency certificate of Borrower and each Guarantor, certified by a secretary
or assistant secretary of Borrower and each such Guarantor to be true and
correct as of the Closing Date.
(c) Financial
Statements. Receipt by Lender of Borrower’s preliminary,
unaudited Financial Statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2006
and
such other information relating to Borrower as Lender may reasonably
require.
(d) Opinions
of Counsel. Receipt by Lender of an opinion, or opinions (which
shall cover, among other things, authority, legality, validity, binding effect,
enforceability, absence of conflict with laws, organizational documents, and
attachment and perfection of liens), satisfactory to Lender, addressed to Lender
and dated the Closing Date, from legal counsel to Borrower.
(e) Personal
Property Collateral. Lender shall have received duly authorized
or, if required executed, UCC financing statements and other lien documents
for
filing including all
14
necessary
documents (including lien termination documents by any existing lender) to
perfect Lender’s security interest in the Collateral, all as may be required by
Lender.
(f) Priority
of Liens. Lender shall have received satisfactory evidence that
(i) Lender holds a perfected Lien on all Collateral and (ii) none of the
Collateral is subject to any other Liens other than Permitted
Liens.
(g) Evidence
of Insurance. Receipt by Lender of copies of insurance policies
or certificates of insurance (on Xxxxx form 27) of Borrower evidencing liability
and casualty insurance meeting the requirements set forth in the Loan Documents,
including, without limitation, naming Lender as loss payee (as to property
and
casualty coverage) and as additional insured (as to liability
coverage).
(h) Consents. Receipt
by Lender of evidence that all governmental, shareholder, member and third
party
consents and approvals required in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereby and expiration of all applicable waiting periods without any action
being
taken by any authority that could restrain, prevent or impose any material
adverse conditions on such transactions or that could seek or threaten any
of
the foregoing, and no law or regulation shall be applicable which in the
judgment of Lender could have such effect.
(i) Fees
and Expenses. Payment by Borrower of all fees and Expenses owed
to Lender.
(j) Term
Loan. No Event of Default under the Other Loan Documents
shall have occurred and no Default under the Other Loan Documents shall have
occurred and remain outstanding or uncured.
(k) Other. Receipt
by Lender of such other documents, instruments, agreements or information as
are
required to be provided herein or under any other Loan Documents or as may
otherwise be or have been requested by Lender.
ARTICLE VI REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
In
order
to induce Lender to enter into this Agreement and to make available the Loan
contemplated hereby, Borrower hereby represents and warrants to
Lender.
6.1. Organization
and Qualification. Borrower (i) is a corporation
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
state of its incorporation or organization, (ii) has the power and authority
to
own its Property and assets and to transact the businesses in which it is
presently, or proposes to be, engaged, and (iii) is duly qualified and is
authorized to do business and is in good standing in every jurisdiction in
which
the failure to be so qualified could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
6.2. Liens. There
are no Liens in favor of any Person with respect to any Property of Borrower
other than Permitted Liens.
15
6.3. No
Conflict. The execution and delivery by Borrower of
this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents executed and delivered
in
connection herewith and the performance of the obligations of Borrower hereunder
and thereunder and the consummation by Borrower of the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby: (i) are within the powers of Borrower; (ii) are duly
authorized by the Board of Directors of Borrower and, if necessary, its
stockholders or members; (iii) are not in contravention of the terms of the
articles or certificate of incorporation or bylaws of Borrower or of any
Contractual Obligations; (iv) do not require the consent, registration or
approval of any Governmental Authority or any other Person; (v) do not
contravene any statute, law, ordinance regulation, rule, order or other
governmental restriction applicable to or binding upon Borrower; and
(vi) will not, except as contemplated herein for the benefit of Lender,
result in the imposition of any Liens upon any Property of Borrower under any
existing indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or agreement or other material
agreement or instrument to which Borrower is a party or by which it or any
of
its Property may be bound or affected.
6.4. Enforceability. The
Agreement and all of the other Loan Documents are the legal, valid and binding
obligations of Borrower, and are enforceable against Borrower in accordance
with
their terms.
6.5. Financial
Data. Borrower shall have furnished to Lender and Lender
the following Financial Statements (the “Financials”): (i) the
consolidated balance sheet of Borrower as of, and statements of income, retained
earnings and changes in financial position for the fiscal year ended December
31, 2005, audited by independent certified public accountants, and (ii) the
unaudited consolidated and consolidating balance sheet of Borrower as of, and
statement of income, and retained earnings for the fiscal year ending December
31, 2006, prepared by the chief financial officer of
Borrower. The Financials are in accordance with the books and records
of Borrower and fairly present the financial condition of Borrower at the dates
thereof and the results of operations for the periods indicated (subject, in
the
case of unaudited Financial Statements, to normal year end adjustments), and
such Financial Statements have been prepared in conformity with GAAP
consistently applied throughout the periods involved. Since December
31, 2006, there have been no changes in the condition, financial or otherwise,
of Borrower as shown on the respective balance sheets of Borrower described
above, except (a) as contemplated herein and (b) for changes which individually
or in the aggregate do not constitute a Material Adverse Change.
6.6. Locations
of Offices, Records and Inventory. Borrower’s chief
executive office and all other places of business (with a separate itemization
for warehouse locations) are set forth in Schedule 6.6 hereto, and
the books and records of Borrower and all chattel paper and all records of
accounts are located at the chief executive offices of
Borrower. There is no address in which Borrower has any Collateral
other than the addresses as set forth on Schedule
6.6. Schedule 6.6 also contains a true, correct and
complete list of (i) the legal names and addresses of each landlord,
warehouseman, filler, processor and packer at which Inventory is stored, or
equipment is located. None of the receipts received by Borrower from
any warehouseman, filler, processor or packer 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.
16
6.7. Business
Names. Borrower has not used any legal or fictitious name during
the five (5) years preceding the date hereof, other than the legal name shown
on
its Articles or Certificate of Incorporation or Articles, as it may be amended
to the date hereof, delivered to Lender and those names as set forth on
Schedule 6.7.
6.8. Affiliates
and Subsidiaries. There are no Affiliates or direct or indirect
Subsidiaries of Borrower except as set forth on Schedule 6.8.
Borrower is not a party to any partnership or joint venture except
as set
forth on Schedule 6.8.
6.9. Judgments
or Litigation. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.9,
there is no material (a) judgment, order, writ or decree outstanding against
Borrower or (b) pending or, to the best of Borrower’s knowledge, threatened
litigation, contested claim, governmental, administrative or regulatory
investigation, arbitration, or governmental audit (for taxes or otherwise)
or
proceeding by or against Borrower. No judgment, order, writ, decree,
pending or threatened litigation, contested claim, investigation, arbitration
and governmental proceeding pertaining to Borrower (individually or in the
aggregate) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
6.10. Defaults. Borrower
is not in default under any Contractual Obligations which default could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.11. Compliance
with Law. Borrower has not violated or failed to comply with
(including without limitation in the ownership and use of its Property and
the
conduct of its business) any statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule or order
of any foreign, federal, state or local government, or any other Governmental
Authority or any self regulatory organization, or any judgment, decree or order
of any court, applicable to its business or operations which failure or
violation could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. Borrower has not received any notice to the effect that, or
otherwise been advised that, it is not in compliance with, and Borrower has
no
reason to anticipate that any currently existing circumstances are likely to
result in the violation of any such statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule,
judgment, decree or order which failure or violation could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.12. Compliance
with Environmental Laws. The operations of Borrower materially
comply with all applicable federal, state or local environmental, health and
safety statutes, regulations, directions, ordinances, criteria or guidelines;
and none of the operations of Borrower are the subject of any material judicial
or administrative proceeding alleging the violation of any federal, state or
local environmental, health or safety statute, regulation, direction, ordinance,
criteria or guidelines. None of the operations of Borrower are the
subject of any federal or state investigation evaluating whether Borrower
disposed any hazardous or toxic waste, substance or constituent or other
substance at any site that may require remedial action, or any federal or state
investigation evaluating whether any remedial action is needed to respond to
a
release of any hazardous or toxic waste, substance or constituent, or other
substance into the environment. Borrower has not filed or received
any notice under any federal or state law indicating past or present treatment,
storage or disposal of a hazardous waste or reporting a spill or release of
a
hazardous or toxic waste, substance or constituent, or other substance into
the
environment. Borrower has no contingent liability of
17
which
Borrower have knowledge or reasonably should have knowledge in connection with
any release of any hazardous or toxic waste, substance or constituent, or other
substance into the environment, nor has Borrower received any notice, letter
or
other indication of potential liability arising from the disposal of any
hazardous or toxic waste, substance or constituent or other substance into
the
environment.
6.13. Intellectual
Property. Borrower possesses adequate licenses, patents, patent
applications, copyrights, service marks, trademarks and tradenames to continue
to conduct its business as heretofore conducted by
it. Schedule 6.13 attached hereto sets forth (a) all of
the federal, state and foreign registrations of trademarks, service marks and
other marks, trade names or other trade rights of Borrower, and all pending
applications for any such registrations, (b) all of the registered patents
and
copyrights of Borrower and all pending applications therefore and (c) all other
registered trademarks, service marks and other marks, trade names and other
trade rights used by Borrower in connection with their business (collectively,
the “Proprietary Rights”). Borrower is the owner of each of the
Proprietary Rights set forth on Schedule 6.13 as indicated on such
schedule, and except as set forth on Schedule 6.13 no other Person has
the right to use any of such Proprietary Rights. Each of the
Proprietary Rights set forth on Schedule 6.13 is federally registered, having
the registration number and issue date set forth on
Schedule 6.13. The Proprietary Rights set forth on
Schedule 6.13 are all those used in the businesses of
Borrower. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.13, no Person has
a right to receive any royalty or similar payment in respect of any Proprietary
Rights pursuant to any contractual arrangements entered into by Borrower, and
no
Person otherwise has a right to receive any royalty or similar payment in
respect of any such Proprietary Rights except as set forth on Schedule
6.13. Borrower has not granted any license or sold or
otherwise transferred any interest in any of the Proprietary Rights to any
other
Person. The use of each of the Proprietary Rights by Borrower is not
infringing upon or otherwise violating the rights of any third party in or
to
such Proprietary Rights, and no proceeding has been instituted against or notice
received by Borrower that are presently outstanding alleging that the use of
any
of the Proprietary Rights infringes upon or otherwise violates the rights of
any
third party in or to any of the Proprietary Rights. Borrower has not
given notice to any Person that it is infringing on any of the Proprietary
Rights and to the best of Borrower’s knowledge, no Person is infringing on any
of the Proprietary Rights. All of the Proprietary Rights of Borrower
are valid and enforceable rights of Borrower and will not cease to be valid
and
in full force and effect by reason of the execution and delivery of this
Agreement or the Loan Documents or the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby.
6.14. Licenses
and Permits. Borrower has obtained and holds in full force and
effect all material franchises, licenses, leases, permits, certificates,
authorizations, qualifications, easements, rights of way and other rights and
approvals which are necessary or appropriate for the operation of its business
as presently conducted and as proposed to be conducted. Borrower is
not in violation of the terms of any such franchise, license, lease, permit,
certificate, authorization, qualification, easement, right of way, right or
approval which in any such case could reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
18
6.15. Title
to Property. Borrower has (i) valid leasehold interests in all of
the real property it occupies as a tenant, (all such real property and the
nature of Borrower’s interest therein is set forth on Schedule 6.15)
and (ii) good, marketable and exclusive title to all of the other Property
it purports to own (including without limitation, all real and
personal Property in each case as reflected in the Financial Statements
delivered to Lender hereunder), other than, with respect to Property described
in clause (ii) above, properties disposed of in the ordinary course of
business or in any manner otherwise permitted under this Agreement since the
date of the most recent audited balance sheet of Borrower, and in
each case subject to no claims, options, rights or interests of any other
Person. Borrower enjoys peaceful and undisturbed possession of all
its real property, and there is no pending or, to the best of its knowledge,
threatened condemnation proceeding relating to any such real
property. The leases with respect to the leased property, together
with any leases of real property entered into by Borrower after the date hereof,
are referred to collectively as the “Leases”. None of the Leases
contains provisions which have or could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect. No material default exists under any
Lease.
6.16. Labor
Matters. Borrower is not engaged in any unfair labor
practice. There is (a) no material unfair labor practice complaint
pending against Borrower or, to the best knowledge of Borrower, threatened
against Borrower, before the National Labor Relations Board, and no grievance
or
arbitration proceeding with any employee, or group or committee representing
any
employees, or arising out of or under collective bargaining agreements that
has
or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect is so pending
against Borrower or, to the best knowledge of Borrower, threatened against
Borrower, (b) no strike, labor dispute, slowdown or stoppage pending or, to
the
best knowledge of Borrower, threatened against Borrower, and (c) no union
representation questions with respect to the employees of Borrower and no union
organizing activities.
6.17. Investment
Company. Borrower is not (a) an “investment company”
or a company “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, (b) a “holding company” or a
“subsidiary company” of a “holding company,” or an “affiliate” of a “holding
company” or of a “subsidiary company” of a “holding company,” within the meaning
of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended, or (c) subject
to
any other law which purports to regulate or restrict its ability to borrow
money
or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other
Loan Documents or to perform its obligations hereunder or
thereunder.
6.18. Margin
Security. Borrower does not own any margin stock and no portion
of the proceeds of any Advance shall be used by Borrower for the purpose of
purchasing or carrying any “margin stock” (as defined in Regulation U of the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) or for any other purpose
which
violates the provisions or Regulation U, T, or X of said Board of Governors
or
for any other purpose in violation of any applicable statute or regulation,
or
of the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
6.19. Taxes
and Tax Returns.
19
(a) Borrower
has timely filed (inclusive of any permitted extensions) with the appropriate
taxing authorities all returns (including, without limitation, information
returns and other material information) in respect of Taxes required to be
filed
through the date hereof and will timely file (inclusive of any permitted
extensions) any such returns required to be filed on and after the date hereof
except where the failure to file could not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect. The information filed is complete and
accurate in all material respects.
(b) (i)
All
Taxes, in respect of periods beginning prior to the date hereof, have been
timely paid, or will be timely paid, or an adequate reserve has been established
therefore, as set forth in the Financial Statements, and (ii) Borrower has
no
material liability for such Taxes for such periods in excess of the amounts
so
paid or reserves so established. No material deficiencies for Taxes
have been claimed, proposed or assessed by any taxing or other Governmental
Authority against Borrower except those that are paid or contested within the
time limits designated by law or the applicable Governmental Authority and
no
material tax Liens have been filed.
6.20. Status
of Accounts. Each Account is based on an actual and bona fide
sale and delivery of goods or rendition of services to customers, made by
Borrower in the ordinary course of its business; the goods and Inventory being
sold and the Accounts created are Borrower’s exclusive property and are not and
shall not be subject to any Lien, consignment arrangement, encumbrance, security
interest or financing statement whatsoever (other than Liens securing the Term
Loan), and Borrower’s customers have accepted the goods or services, owe and are
obligated to pay the full amounts stated in the invoices according to their
terms, without any dispute, offset, defense, counterclaim or
contra. Borrower confirms to Lender that any and all taxes or fees
relating to its business, its sales, the Accounts or the goods relating thereto,
are its sole responsibility and that same will be paid by Borrower when due
(unless duly contested and adequately reserved for) and that none of said taxes
or fees is or will become a lien on or claim against the Accounts.
6.21. Material
Contracts. Schedule 6.21 sets forth a true, correct
and complete list of all the Material Contracts currently in effect on the
date
hereof. None of the Material Contracts contains provisions which have
or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. All of the Material Contracts are in full force and effect,
and no material defaults currently exist thereunder.
6.22. Accuracy
and Completeness of Information. All factual information
heretofore, contemporaneously or hereafter furnished by or on behalf of Borrower
in writing to Lender for purposes of or in connection with this Agreement or
any
Loan Documents, or any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby, is or will
be
true and accurate in all material respects on the date as of which such
information is dated or certified and not incomplete by omitting to state any
material fact necessary to make such information not misleading at such
time. There is no fact now known to any officer of Borrower which
has, or would have, a Material Adverse Effect which fact has not been set forth
herein, in the Financials, or any certificate, opinion or other written
statement made or furnished by Borrower to Lender.
20
6.23. Solvency. After
giving effect to the transactions contemplated under this Agreement, Borrower
is
able to pay its respective debts as they become due, and has capital sufficient
to carry on its respective business and all businesses in which it is about
to
engage, and now owns Property having a value both at fair valuation and at
present fair salable value greater than the amount required to pay Borrower’s
debts. Borrower will not be rendered insolvent by the execution and
delivery of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents executed in
connection with this Agreement or by the transactions contemplated hereunder
or
thereunder.
6.24. Commercial
Tort Claims. Borrower has no Commercial Tort Claims except as set
forth on Schedule 6.24 attached hereto and made a part
hereof.
6.25. Letter
of Credit Rights. Borrower has no Letter of Credit Rights except
as set forth on Schedule 6.25 attached hereto and made a part
hereof.
6.26. Deposit
Accounts. All Deposit Accounts of Borrower and each Depository
Institution are set forth on Schedule 6.26 attached
hereto and made a part hereof.
6.27. Anti-Terrorism
Law.
(a) General. Neither
Borrower nor any Affiliate of Borrower is in violation of any Anti-Terrorism
Law
or engages in or conspires to engage in any transaction that evades or avoids,
or has the purpose of evading or avoiding, or attempts to violate, any of the
prohibitions set forth in any Anti-Terrorism Law.
(b) Executive
Order No. 13224 Neither Borrower nor any Affiliate of Borrower, or to
Borrower’s knowledge, any of their respective agents acting or benefiting in any
capacity in connection with the Loan or other transactions hereunder, is any
of
the following (each a “Blocked Person”):
(i) a
Person
that is listed in the annex to, or is otherwise subject to the provisions of,
the Executive Order No. 13224;
(ii) a
Person
owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, any Person that is listed
in the annex to, or is otherwise subject to the provisions of, the Executive
Order No. 13224;
(iii) a
Person
with which Lender is prohibited from dealing or otherwise engaging in any
transaction by any Anti-Terrorism Law;
(iv) a
Person
that commits, threatens or conspires to commit or supports “terrorism” as
defined in the Executive Order No. 13224;
(v) a
Person
that is named as a “specially designated national” on the most current list
published by the U.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Asset Control at
its
official website or any replacement website or other replacement official
publication of such list; or
21
(vi) a
Person
who is affiliated with a Person listed above.
6.28. Survival
of Representations. All representations made by Borrower in this
Agreement and in any other Loan Document shall survive the execution and
delivery hereof and thereof.
ARTICLE VII AFFIRMATIVE
COVENANTS
Until
termination of this Agreement and
the payment and satisfaction of all Obligations, Borrower covenants and agrees
as follows:
7.1. Financial
Information Borrower will furnish to
Lender the following information within the following time periods:
(a) within
120 days after the close of each fiscal year of Borrower, the consolidated
and
consolidating audited balance sheets and statements of income and retained
earnings and of changes in cash flow of Borrower, for such year, each in
reasonable detail, each setting forth in comparative form the corresponding
figures for the preceding year, prepared in accordance with GAAP, and
accompanied by a report and unqualified opinion of an independent accountant
selected by Borrower and acceptable to Lender and concurrently with the delivery
of such financial statements, a consolidated and consolidating unaudited balance
sheet of Borrower for such year, in reasonable detail, setting forth in
comparative form the corresponding figures from the preceding year, prepared
in
accordance with GAAP;
(b) within
45
days after the end of each fiscal quarter of Borrower, consolidated and
consolidating unaudited Financial Statements and divisional operating income
analyses similar to those required by clause (a) above as of the end of such
period and for such period then ended and for the period from the beginning
of
the current fiscal year to the end of such period, setting forth in comparative
form the corresponding figures for the comparable period in the preceding fiscal
year, prepared in accordance with GAAP (except that such quarterly statements
need not include footnotes) and certified by an Authorized Person described
in
paragraph (c) below; and
(c) at
the
time of submission of the quarterly Financial Statements (for the first three
fiscal quarters in any fiscal year) and the annual Financial Statement of
Borrower, a certificate executed by an Authorized Person, certifying that,
following a review of the Agreement, no Event of Default is outstanding and
demonstrating compliance with the financial covenants contained in Article
VIII
by calculation thereof as of the end of each such fiscal quarter.
(d) Such
other reports, certificates, schedules, documents, data or information
concerning Borrower’s finances and Property as Lender may reasonably request
from time to time.
7.2. Existence. Borrower
(a) will maintain its corporate existence, (b) will maintain in full force
and
effect all material licenses, bonds, franchise, leases, trademarks and
qualifications to do business, (c) will obtain or maintain patents, contracts
and other rights necessary or desirable to the
22
profitable
conduct of its business, (d) will continue in, and limit its operations to,
the
same general lines of business as that presently conducted by it and (e) will
comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations of any federal, state
or
local Governmental Authority, except in the case of (b), (c) and (e) where
noncompliance could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
7.3. Environmental
Matters. Borrower will conduct its business so as to
comply in all material respects with all environmental laws, regulations,
directions, ordinances, criteria and guidelines in all jurisdictions in which
any of them is or may at any time be doing business including, without
limitation, environmental land use, occupational safety or health laws,
regulations, directions, ordinances, criteria, guidelines, requirements or
permits in all jurisdictions in which it is or may at any time be doing
business, except to the extent that Borrower is contesting, in good faith by
appropriate legal proceedings, any such law, regulation, direction, ordinance,
criteria, guideline, or interpretation thereof or application thereof; provided,
further, that Borrower will comply with the order of any court or other
governmental body of the applicable jurisdiction relating to such laws unless
Borrower shall currently be prosecuting an appeal or proceedings for review
and
shall have secured a stay of enforcement or execution or other arrangement
postponing enforcement or execution pending such appeal or proceedings for
review. If Borrower shall (a) receive notice that any violation of
any federal, state or local environmental law, regulation, direction, ordinance,
criteria or guideline may have been committed or is about to be committed by
Borrower, (b) receive notice that any administrative or judicial complaint
or
order has been filed or is about to be filed against Borrower alleging
violations of any federal, state or local environmental law, regulation,
direction, ordinance, criteria or guideline or requiring Borrower to take any
action in connection with the release of toxic or hazardous substances into
the
environment or (c) receive any notice from a federal, state, or local
governmental agency or private party alleging that Borrower may be liable or
responsible for costs associated with a response to or cleanup of a release
of a
toxic or hazardous substance into the environment or any damages caused thereby,
Borrower will provide Lender with a copy of such notice within 5 days after
the
receipt thereof.
7.4. Books
and Records. Borrower will maintain books and records pertaining
to the Collateral in such detail, form and scope as is consistent with good
business practice. Borrower agrees that Lender or its agent may, upon
prior notice, enter upon the premises of Borrower, during normal business hours,
for the purpose of (a) enabling Lender’s auditors to conduct (at Borrower’s
expense) field examinations, (b) inspecting and verifying the Collateral,
(c) inspecting and/or copying (at Borrower’s expense) any and all records
pertaining thereto, and (d) discussing the affairs, finances and business of
Borrower or with any officers, employees and directors of Borrower or with
Borrower’s independent accountant.
7.5. Collateral
Records. Borrower will execute and deliver to Lender, from time
to time, solely for Lender’s convenience in maintaining a record of the
Collateral, such written statements and schedules as Lender may reasonably
require.
7.6. Changes
in Locations. Borrower agrees to afford Lender 30 days prior
written notice of any change in Borrower’s jurisdiction of organization or the
location of any Collateral
23
(other
than Inventory held for shipment by third Persons, Inventory in transit, or
Inventory held for processing by third Persons) or in the location of its chief
executive office or place of business.
7.7. Insurance;
Casualty Loss. Borrower will maintain public liability insurance,
third party property damage insurance and replacement value insurance on the
Collateral under such policies of insurance, with such insurance companies,
in
such amounts and covering such risks as are at all times customary for
businesses of this type and satisfactory to Lender in its commercially
reasonable judgment. All policies covering the Collateral are to name
Lender as an additional insured (as to liability coverage) and lender’s loss
payee (as to casualty and property coverage), as its interests may appear,
and
are to contain such other provisions as Lender may reasonably require to fully
protect Lender’s interest in the Collateral and to any payments to be made under
such policies. True copies of all original insurance policies or
certificates of insurance evidencing such insurance covering the Collateral
are
to be delivered to Lender on or prior to the Closing Date, with such premiums
paid in accordance with each insurance carrier’s requirements with the lender’s
loss payable endorsement in Lender’s favor, and shall provide for not less than
30 days prior written notice to Lender, of the exercise of any right of
cancellation. In the event Borrower fail to respond in a timely and
appropriate manner (as determined by Lender in its sole but reasonable
discretion) with respect to collecting under any insurance policies required
to
be maintained hereunder, Lender shall have the right, in the name of Lender
or
Borrower, to file claims under such insurance policies, to receive 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. Borrower
will provide written notice to Lender of the occurrence of any of the following
events within 5 Business Days after the occurrence of such event: any Property
owned or used by Borrower is (i) materially damaged or destroyed, or suffers
any
other loss which is in excess of $25,000 or (ii) is condemned, confiscated
or otherwise taken, in whole or in part, or the use thereof is otherwise
diminished so as to render impracticable or unreasonable the use of such asset
or property for the purpose to which such asset or property were used
immediately prior to such condemnation, confiscation or taking, by exercise
of
the powers of condemnation or eminent domain or otherwise, and in either case
the amount of the damage, destruction, loss or diminution in value of the
Collateral which is in excess of $25,000 (collectively, a “Casualty
Loss”). Borrower will diligently file and prosecute its claim or
claims for any award or payment in connection with a Casualty
Loss. In the event of a Casualty Loss, Borrower will pay to Lender,
promptly upon receipt thereof, any and all insurance proceeds and payments
received by Borrower on account of damage, destruction or loss of all or any
portion of the Collateral. Lender may, at its election and in its
sole discretion, either (a) apply the proceeds realized from Casualty
Losses to payment of accrued and unpaid interest or outstanding principal of
Advances under the Credit Line or (b) pay such proceeds to Borrower to be used
to repair, replace or rebuild the Property or portion thereof that was the
subject of the Casualty Loss. After the occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default, (i) no settlement on account of any
such Casualty Loss shall be made without the consent of Lender and (ii) Lender
may participate in any such proceedings and Borrower will deliver to Lender
such
documents as may be requested by Lender to permit such participation and will
consult with Lender and its attorneys in the making and prosecution of such
claim or claims. Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes and appoints
Lender as its attorney-in-fact, to collect and receive for
24
any
such
award or payment and to file and prosecute such claim or claims, which power
of
attorney shall be irrevocable and shall be deemed to be coupled with an
interest, and Borrower shall, upon demand of Lender, make, execute and deliver
any and all assignments and other instruments sufficient for the purpose of
assigning any such award or payment to Lender free and clear of any encumbrances
of any kind or nature whatsoever.
7.8. Taxes.
Borrower will pay, when due and in any event prior to delinquency, all Taxes
lawfully levied or assessed against Borrower or any of the Collateral; provided,
however, that unless such Taxes have become a federal tax or ERISA Lien on
any
of the assets of Borrower, no such Tax need be paid if the same is being
contested in good faith, by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and
diligently conducted and if an adequate reserve or other appropriate provision
shall have been made therefore as required in order to be in conformity with
GAAP.
7.9. Compliance
With Laws. Borrower will comply with all acts, rules,
regulations, orders, directions and ordinances of any legislative,
administrative or judicial body or official applicable to the Collateral or
any
part thereof, and to the operation of its business except where the failure
to
so comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
7.10. Fiscal
Year. Borrower agrees that it will not change its fiscal
year from a year ending December 31 unless required by law, in which case
Borrower will give Lender at least 30 days prior written notice
thereof.
7.11. Notification
of Certain Events. Borrower agrees that it will promptly
notify Lender in writing of the occurrence of any of the following events (but
in no event shall such notice from Borrower be received by Lender later than
5
Business Days after the occurrence of any such event):
(a) any
Material Contract of Borrower is terminated or amended in any material respect
or any new Material Contract is entered into (in which event Borrower shall
provide Lender with a copy of such Material Contract);
(b) the
institution of any litigation, proceeding(s) or investigation against Borrower
in any federal, state, local or foreign court or before any commission or other
regulatory body (federal, state, local or foreign) in which a claim of at least
$25,000 or claims in the aggregate of $100,000 has been or is reasonably likely
to be asserted against Borrower;
(c) any
notification of violation of any material law or regulation shall have been
received by Borrower from any local, state, federal or foreign Governmental
Authority or agency accompanied by a copy of any such notice;
7.12. Collection
of Accounts. Unless an Event of Default is outstanding, Borrower
may and will (subject to its reasonable business discretion) enforce and collect
all amounts owing on the Accounts, for Lender’s benefit and on Lender’s behalf
but at Borrower’s expense; such privilege shall terminate at Lender’s option,
without notice to Borrower, which is hereby expressly waived by Borrower, upon
the occurrence of any Event of Default which has not otherwise been waived
by
Lender. At Lender’s request, before or after the occurrence of any
Event of Default, any checks,
25
cash,
notes or other instruments or property received by Borrower with respect to
any
Accounts shall be held by Borrower in trust for the benefit of Lender, separate
from Borrower’s own property and funds, and immediately turned over to Lender
with proper assignments or endorsements. Checks, drafts or other
instruments received by Lender shall not constitute final payment unless and
until such instruments have actually been collected. Nothing
contained in this Section 7.12 shall be construed to limit or affect the
provisions of Section 2.5(b) of this Agreement.
7.13. Trademarks. Borrower
will do and cause to be done all things necessary (as determined in their
reasonable business judgment) to preserve and keep in full force and effect
all
registrations of trademarks, service marks and other marks, trade names or
other
trade rights.
7.14. Maintenance
of Property. Borrower will keep all property useful and
necessary to its business in good working order and condition (ordinary wear
and
tear excepted) in accordance with its past operating practices and not to commit
or suffer any waste with respect to any of its properties, except for properties
which either individually or in the aggregate are not material.
7.15. Commercial
Tort Claims. Borrower shall provide written notice to
Lender within 30 days of the date it shall arise any such Commercial Tort Claim
to which Borrower is or becomes a party or which otherwise inures to the benefit
of Borrower. Such notice shall contain a sufficient description of
the Commercial Tort Claim including the parties, the court in which the claim
was commenced (if applicable), the docket number assigned to the case (if
applicable) and a detailed explanation of the events giving rise to such
claim. Borrower shall grant Lender a security interest in such
Commercial Tort Claim to secure payment of the Obligations. Borrower
shall execute and deliver such instruments, documents and agreements as Lender
may reasonably require in order to obtain and perfect such security interest
including, without limitation, a security agreement or amendment to this
Agreement all in form and substance satisfactory to Lender. Borrower
authorize Lender to file (without Borrower’s signature), financing statements or
amendments to existing financing statements as Lender deems necessary to perfect
the security interest.
7.16. Letter
of Credit Rights. Borrower shall provide written notice to Lender
within 30 days of the date it shall arise of any Letters of Credit for which
Borrower is the beneficiary. Borrower shall execute and deliver such
instruments, documents and agreements and take such actions as Lender reasonably
may require in order to obtain and perfect its security interest in such Letter
of Credit Rights.
ARTICLE VIII FINANCIAL
COVENANTS
Until
termination of this Agreement and payment and satisfaction of all Obligations
due or to become due hereunder, Borrower further covenant and agree as
follows:
8.1 Current
Ratio. Borrower shall cause to be maintained on a consolidated
basis a ratio of current assets to current liabilities of not less than 1.2
to
1.
8.2 Debt
to Worth Ratio. Borrower shall cause to be maintained on a
consolidated basis a ratio of total Indebtedness (excluding the current portion
of Subordinated Debt) to Tangible Net Worth of not greater than 2.5 to
1.
26
ARTICLE IX NEGATIVE
COVENANTS
Until
termination of this Agreement and payment and satisfaction of all Obligations,
Borrower agrees that, unless otherwise agreed in writing by Lender, it will
not:
9.1. Liens. Mortgage,
assign, pledge, transfer or otherwise permit any Lien of any kind to exist
at
any time on any of its Property, except for Permitted Liens.
9.2. Indebtedness. Incur,
create or be liable for any Indebtedness other than Permitted
Indebtedness.
9.3. Sale
of Assets. Sell, lease, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of
any Property other than (a) sales of Inventory in the ordinary course of
business, (b) sales or other dispositions in the ordinary course of business
of
equipment that is obsolete or that is no longer used or useful in the conduct
of
Borrower’s business, (c) sales in the ordinary course of business of Property
used in Borrower’s business that is worn out or in need of replacement and that
is replaced with Property of reasonably equivalent value or utility, and
(d) other sales of fixed assets, the net proceeds of which, shall not
exceed $100,000 in the aggregate in any fiscal year of Borrower.
9.4. Organizational
Changes. Merge or consolidate with any Person, alter or modify
Borrower’s Articles or Certificate of Incorporation change Borrower’s
jurisdiction of organization or formation, without at least thirty (30) days’
prior written notice to Lender alter or modify any legal names, mailing
addresses, principal places of business, without at least thirty (30) days
prior
written notice to Lender alter or modify Borrower’s corporate structure, status
or existence, or enter into or engage in any business, operation or activity
materially different from that presently being conducted by
Borrower.
9.5. Guarantees.
Except for Permitted Indebtedness, assume, guarantee, endorse, or otherwise
become liable upon the obligations of any other Person, except by the
endorsement of negotiable instruments in the ordinary course of
business.
9.6. Investments. Make
any Investment other than Permitted Investments.
9.7. Affiliate
Transactions. Except as permitted by this Agreement, enter
into any transaction with, including, without limitation, the purchase, sale
or
exchange of property or the rendering of any service to an Affiliate of Borrower
except in the ordinary course of and pursuant to the reasonable requirements
of
Borrower’s business and upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to
Borrower than could be obtained in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with an
unaffiliated Person.
9.8. Third
Party Loans. Make any Third Party Loan.
27
9.9. Issuance
of Stock. Without not less than fifteen (15) days prior written
notice to Lender, issue or distribute any Capital Stock or other securities
for
consideration or otherwise.
9.10. Amendments
of Material Contracts. Amend, modify, cancel or terminate or
permit the amendment, modification, cancellation or termination of any Material
Contract.
9.11. Subordinated
Debt. Effect or permit any change in or amendment to any
document or instrument pertaining to the subordination, terms of payment or
other terms or provisions of any Subordinated Debt, give any notice of optional
redemption or optional prepayment or offer to repurchase under any such document
or instrument, or, directly or indirectly, make any payment of principal of
or
interest on or in redemption, retirement or repurchase of any Subordinated
Debt.
9.12. Licenses,
Etc. Enter into licenses of, or otherwise restrict the use
of, any patents, trademarks or copyrights which would prevent Borrower from
selling, transferring, encumbering or otherwise disposing of any such patent,
trademark or copyright.
9.13. Anti-Terrorism
Laws. Borrower and its agents shall not knowingly (i)
conduct any business or engage in any transaction or dealing with any Blocked
Person, including making or receiving any contribution of funds, goods or
services to or for the benefit of any Blocked Person, (ii) deal in, or otherwise
engage in any transaction relating to, any property or interests in property
blocked pursuant to the Executive Order No. 13224; or (iii) engage in or
conspire to engage in any transaction that evades or avoids, or has the purpose
of evading or avoiding, or attempts to violate, any of the prohibitions set
forth in the Executive Order No. 13224 or the USA Patriot
Act. Borrower shall deliver to Lender any certification or other
evidence reasonably requested from time to time by Lender in its sole
discretion, confirming Borrower’s compliance with this Section
9.13.
ARTICLE X APPOINTMENT
AS ATTORNEY-IN-FACT
Borrower
hereby irrevocably authorizes and appoints Lender, or any Person as Lender
may
designate, as Borrower’s attorney-in-fact, at Borrower’s cost and expense, to
exercise all of the following powers upon the occurrence of an Event of Default,
which being coupled with an interest, shall be irrevocable until all of the
Obligations to Lender have been paid and satisfied in full:
10.1. To
receive, take, endorse, sign, assign and deliver, all in the name of Lender
or
Borrower, as the case may be, any and all checks, notes, drafts, and other
documents or instruments relating to the Collateral and to apply such amount
to
the Obligations in accordance with this Agreement;
10.2. To
receive, open and dispose of all mail addressed to Borrower in connection with
a
Lockbox and upon the occurrence of an Event of Default to notify postal
authorities to change the address for delivery thereof to such address as Lender
may designate;
10.3. To
request periodically from customers indebted on Accounts, in the name of
28
Borrower or a third party designee of Lender, information
concerning the Accounts and the amounts owing thereon;
10.4. To
give customers indebted on Accounts notice of Lender’s interest therein, and/or
to instruct such customers to make payment directly to Lender for Borrower’s
account;
10.5. To
take or bring, in the name of Lender or Borrower, all steps, actions, suits
or
proceedings deemed by Lender necessary or desirable to enforce or effect
collection of the Accounts;
10.6 To
file financing statements in any office deemed appropriate by Lender for such
purpose and execute, file, record and register any or all of Lender’s security
interest in any intellectual property of Borrower with the United States Patent
and Trademark Office; and
10.7. To
do all other acts and things as Lender may deem reasonable to protect or
preserve Lender’s interest under this Agreement or to fulfill Borrower’s
obligations under this Agreement.
ARTICLE XI EVENTS
OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
11.1. Events
of Default. The occurrence of any of the following events shall
constitute an “Event of Default” hereunder:
(a) failure
of Borrower to pay (i) any interest or fees when due hereunder, in each case
whether at stated maturity, by acceleration, or otherwise, (ii) any principal
outstanding under the Credit Line when due, whether at stated maturity, by
acceleration or otherwise or (iii) any Expenses hereunder within 5 Business
Days
after receipt by Borrower from Lender or any applicable Lender of notice that
such Expenses are payable;
(b) any
representation or warranty, contained in this Agreement, the other Loan
Documents or any other agreement, document, instrument or certificate between
Borrower and Lender or executed by Borrower in favor of Lender shall prove
untrue in any material respect on or as of the date it was made or was deemed
to
have been made;
(c) failure
of Borrower to perform, comply with or observe any term, covenant or agreement
applicable to it contained in Article IX, or Sections 7.1, 7.2, 7.6, 7.7, 7.8,
7.11, 7.15, 7.16, or 13.6..
(d) failure
of Borrower to comply with any other covenant contained in this Agreement,
the
other Loan Documents or any other agreement, document, instrument or certificate
between Borrower and Lender or executed by Borrower in favor of Lender and,
in
the event such breach or failure to comply is capable of cure, such breach
or
failure to comply is not cured within 10 days of its occurrence;
29
(e) dissolution,
liquidation, winding up or cessation of the business (or any material portion
of
the business) of Borrower, or the failure of Borrower to meet its debts
generally as they mature, or the calling of a meeting of Borrower’s creditors
for purposes of compromising Borrower’s debts;
(f) the
commencement by or against Borrower of any bankruptcy, insolvency, arrangement,
reorganization, receivership or similar proceedings with respect to it under
any
federal or state law and, in the event any such proceeding is commenced against
Borrower, such proceeding is not dismissed within 60 days;
(g) the
occurrence of a default or event of default (in each case which shall continue
beyond the expiration of any applicable grace periods) under, or the occurrence
of any event that results in or would permit the acceleration of the maturity
of
any note, agreement or instrument evidencing (i) the Term Loan, (ii) any
Subordinated Debt or (iii) any other Indebtedness of Borrower and the aggregate
principal amount of all such Indebtedness with respect to which a default or
an
event of default has occurred, or the maturity of which is accelerated or
permitted to be accelerated, exceeds $100,000;
(h) any
party
(other than Lender) to any Loan Document shall deny or disaffirm its obligations
under any of the Loan Documents, or an Event of Default shall have occurred
or
a Default shall occurred and not been cured within any contractual
cure period under any other Loan Document, or any Loan Document shall be
canceled, terminated, revoked or rescinded without the express prior written
consent of Lender, or any action or proceeding shall have been commenced by
any
Person (other than Lender) seeking to invalidate, declare unenforceable, cancel,
revoke, rescind or disaffirm the obligations of any party to any Loan
Document;
(i) (i)
any
holder of Subordinated Debt alleges (or any Governmental Authority with
applicable jurisdiction determines) that the Subordinated Debt is not
subordinated to any of the Obligations or (ii) the subordination provisions
in
any agreement relating to Subordinated Debt shall, in whole or in part,
terminate, cease to be effective or cease to be legally valid, binding and
enforceable as to any holder of the Subordinated Debt;
(j) one
or
more judgments or decrees shall be entered against Borrower involving a
liability of $25,000 or more individually or in the aggregate (to the extent
not
paid or covered by insurance (i) provided by a carrier who has acknowledged
coverage and has the ability to perform or (ii) as determined by Lender in
its reasonable discretion) and any such judgments or decrees shall not have
been
vacated, satisfied, discharged or stayed or bonded pending appeal within 30
days
from the entry thereof;
(k) a
Material Adverse Change occurs; or
(l) Borrower
is indicted or convicted of the commission of a crime or any proceeding of
any
kind is pending or threatened which would reasonably be likely to result in
the
forfeiture of any material portion of the Property of Borrower to any
Governmental Authority.
30
11.2. Rights
and Remedies upon a Default or an Event of Default.
(a) Upon
the
occurrence of any Event of Default, any obligation of Lender to make loan
advances under the Credit Line shall terminate and Lender may take any or all
of
the following actions: declare all Obligations to be immediately due and payable
(except with respect to any Event of Default set forth in Section 11.1(f)
in which case all Obligations shall automatically become immediately due and
payable without the necessity of any action, decision, notice or demand) without
presentment, demand, protest or any other action or obligation of
Lender.
(b) Upon
acceleration of the Obligations, Lender may at any time, and from time to time,
take any and all such action as Lender may elect to enforce any and all rights
and interests created and existing under the Loan Documents, or arising under
applicable law, including without limitation, all rights and remedies existing
under the Security Documents, all rights of setoff and the following rights
(the
enumeration of any such rights not intended to be exhaustive and the exercise
of
any right shall not preclude the exercise of any other rights):
(i) The
right
to take possession of, send notices regarding and collect directly the
Collateral, with or without judicial process (including, without limitation,
the
right to notify the United States postal authorities to redirect mail addressed
to Borrower or to an address designated by Lender);or
(ii) By
its
own means or with judicial assistance, enter any or all of Borrower’s premises
and take possession of the Collateral, or render it unusable, or dispose of
the
Collateral on such premises, without any liability to Borrower for rent,
storage, utilities or other sums, and Borrower shall not resist or interfere
with such action; or
(iii) Require
Borrower at Borrower’s expense to assemble all or any part of the Collateral and
make it available to Lender at any place designated by Lender.
(c) Borrower
agrees that a notice received by it at least 10 days before the time of any
intended public sale or of the time, after which any private sale or other
disposition of the Collateral is to be made, shall be deemed to be reasonable
notice of such sale or other disposition. If permitted by applicable
law, any perishable Inventory or other Collateral which threatens to speedily
decline in value or which is sold on a recognized market may be sold immediately
by Lender without prior notice to Borrower. Borrower covenants and
agrees not to interfere with or impose any obstacle to Lender’s exercise of its
rights and remedies hereunder with respect to the Collateral. Lender
shall have no obligation to clean up or prepare the Collateral for sale except
as is required by applicable law. If Lender sells any of the
Collateral upon credit, Borrower will only be credited with payments actually
made by the purchaser that are received by Lender and applied to the
Obligations. Lender may in connection with any sale of the Collateral
specifically disclaim any warranties of title or the like.
11.3. Nature
of Remedies. All rights and remedies granted Lender hereunder and
under the other Loan Documents, or otherwise available at law or in equity,
shall be deemed concurrent
31
and
cumulative, and not alternative remedies, and Lender may proceed with any number
of remedies at the same time or at different times until all Obligations are
satisfied in full. The exercise of any one right or remedy shall not
be deemed a waiver or release of any other right or remedy, and Lender, upon
or
at any time after the occurrence of an Event of Default, may proceed against
Borrower, any Guarantor, or their Property at any time, under any agreement,
with any available remedy and in any order. Nothing contained in this
Agreement or the other Loan Documents shall be deemed to compel Lender at any
time to accept a cure of any Event of Default hereunder. In no event
shall prior recourse to any Collateral be a prerequisite to Lender’s right to
demand payment of any Obligation from Borrower or any Guarantor upon the
occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default.
11.4. Application
of Proceeds. The proceeds from the sale or disposition of any
Collateral shall be applied first to Expenses incurred by Lender and then to
the
Obligations that are then due and payable, in such order or manner as Lender
may
determine in the reasonable exercise of discretion.
ARTICLE XII TERMINATION
All
Advances made hereunder shall automatically become due and payable in full
on
the Maturity Date. All of Lender’s rights, liens and security
interests in and to Borrower’s Property shall continue after any termination
until (a) all Obligations have been indefeasibly paid and satisfied in full
unless otherwise prohibited under any applicable federal or state law,
(b) Lender shall have received a written agreement (in form and substance
acceptable to Lender in its sole and absolute discretion) executed by Borrower
and by a Person whose loans or advances to Borrower are used in whole or in
part
to satisfy the Obligations, indemnifying Lender from any loss or damage, or
(c)
Lender shall have retained such monetary reserves necessary to pay in full
all
Obligations for such period of time, in its reasonable discretion.
ARTICLE XIII MISCELLANEOUS
13.1. Waivers. Except
as is otherwise provided herein, Borrower hereby waive due diligence, demand,
presentment and protest and any notices thereof as well as notice of
nonpayment. No delay or omission of Lender to exercise any right or
remedy hereunder, whether before or after the happening of any Event of Default,
shall impair any such right or shall operate as a waiver thereof or as a waiver
of any such Event of Default. No single or partial exercise by Lender
of any right or remedy shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof,
or
preclude any other right or remedy.
13.2. JURY
TRIAL. TO THE EXTENT ANY DISPUTE IS NOT SUBJECT TO ARBITRATION,
LENDER AND BORROWER EACH HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY
ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE LOAN DOCUMENTS OR ANY
OTHER AGREEMENTS OR TRANSACTIONS RELATED HERETO OR THERETO.
32
13.3. GOVERNING
LAW; SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; VENUE
(a) THIS
AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE
PARTIES HEREUNDER AND THEREUNDER, AND ALL MATTERS ARISING HEREUNDER OR
THEREUNDER OR RELATED HERETO OR THERETO, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED
AND
INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF MARYLAND. Any
legal action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement or any other Loan
Document shall be brought in the courts of the State of Maryland or of the
United States District Court for the District of Maryland, and, by execution
and
delivery of this Agreement, Borrower, and Lender hereby irrevocably
accept for themselves and in respect of their property, generally and
unconditionally, the nonexclusive jurisdiction of such
courts. Borrower further irrevocably consents to the service of
process out of any of the aforementioned courts in any such action or proceeding
by the mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified mail return receipt
requested, postage prepaid, or by nationally recognized overnight courier to
it
at the address set out for notices pursuant to Section 13.4, such service
to become effective 3 days (or 1 day if sent by such courier) after such
mailing. Nothing herein shall affect the right of any party hereto to
serve process in any other manner permitted by law or to commence legal
proceedings or to otherwise proceed against a party hereto in any other
jurisdiction.
(b) Borrower
hereby irrevocably waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have
to
the laying of venue of any of the aforesaid actions or proceedings arising
out
of or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document brought
in
the courts referred to in subsection (a) above and hereby further irrevocably
waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action
or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient
forum.
13.4. Notices. Except
as otherwise provided herein, all notices and correspondences hereunder shall
be
in writing and sent by certified or registered mail return receipt requested,
by
overnight delivery service, with all charges prepaid, or by facsimile (with
transmission certification), if to Lender or Borrower to the addresses or by
facsimile transmission set forth on the signature hereto. All such
notices and correspondence shall be deemed given (i) if sent by certified or
registered mail, 3 Business Days after being postmarked, (ii) if sent by
overnight delivery service, when received at the above stated addresses or
when
delivery is refused and (iii) if sent by facsimile transmission, when receipt
of
such transmission is acknowledged; provided that all notices to Lender shall
not
be effective until actually received.
13.5. Assignability. Borrower
shall not have the right to assign or delegate their obligations and duties
under this Agreement or any other Loan Documents or any interest therein except
with the prior written consent of Lender.
13.6. Payment
of Expenses. Borrower agrees to: (a) pay on demand all
out-of-pocket costs and expenses (whether paid or incurred) of Lender in
connection with (i) the negotiation,
33
preparation,
execution and delivery and, to the extent customarily charged to its customers,
administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the documents
and instruments referred to therein (including, without limitation, the
reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to Lender); (ii) searches, title
examinations, filings and recordings (including, without limitation, all stamp
or recording taxes or charges), and all other actions pertaining to the
Collateral; (iii) any amendment, waiver or consent relating hereto and thereto
including, without limitation, any such amendments, waivers or consents
resulting from or related to any work-out, re-negotiation or restructure
relating to the performance by Borrower under this Agreement; and (iv) the
defense of all claims, cross-claims or counterclaims asserted at any time by
Borrower or any other Person in connection with the rights, claims, liens and/or
interests of Lender under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the
Credit Line described herein and (b) upon demand, pay to Lender all costs and
expenses (including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel and other
professionals) paid or incurred by Lender in (i) enforcing, protecting,
preserving or defending its rights under or in respect of this Agreement, the
other Loan Documents or any other document or instrument now or hereafter
executed and delivered in connection herewith; (ii) in collecting the
Obligations following the occurrence of an Event of Default; (iii) in
foreclosing or otherwise collecting upon the Collateral or any part thereof;
and
(iv) obtaining any legal, accounting or other advice in connection with any
of the foregoing. Borrower’s obligations under this Section
13.6 shall survive any termination of this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents and the payment in full of the Obligations, and are in addition to,
and not in substitution of, any other of their Obligations set forth in this
Agreement. All such costs and expenses described in this Section
13.6 are referred to collectively as “Expenses.”
13.7. Indemnification. Borrower
shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Lender, its directors,
officers, members, managers, representatives, agents, employees, accountants,
counsel, successors and assigns, and their respective Affiliates from
and against (a) any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities,
deficiencies, judgments or expenses incurred by any of them (except to the
extent that it is finally judicially determined to have resulted from their
own
gross negligence or willful misconduct) arising out of or by reason of any
litigation, investigation, claim or proceeding which arises out of or is in
any
way related to (i) this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, the Collateral
or
the transactions contemplated thereby, (ii) any actual or proposed use by
Borrower of the proceeds of the Credit Line, (iii) Lender entering into,
performing under or enforcing this Agreement, the other Loan Documents or any
other agreements and documents relating hereto, including, without limitation,
amounts paid in settlement, court costs and the fees and disbursements of
counsel incurred in connection with any such litigation, investigation, claim
or
proceeding or any advice rendered in connection with any of the foregoing,
or
(iv) the breach by Borrower of any warranty, undertaking or covenant made
at any time hereunder or under any other Loan Document and (b) any such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities, deficiencies, judgments or expenses incurred
in
connection with any remedial or other action taken by Borrower or Lender in
connection with compliance by Borrower with any federal, state or local
environmental laws, acts, rules, regulations, orders, directions, ordinances,
criteria or guidelines. If and to the extent that the obligations of
Borrower hereunder are unenforceable for any reason, Borrower hereby agrees
to
make the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction of such
obligations which is permissible under applicable law. Borrower’s
obligations under this Section 13.7 shall survive any
34
termination
of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and the payment in full of the
Obligations, and are in addition to, and not in substitution of, any other
of
their Obligations set forth in this Agreement.
13.8. Entire
Agreement, Successors and Assigns. This Agreement along
with the other Loan Documents constitutes the entire agreement between Borrower
and Lender regarding the subject matter hereof, supersedes any prior agreements
among them, and shall bind and benefit Borrower and Lender and their respective
successors and permitted assigns. No rights are intended to be
created hereunder or under any other Loan Documents for the benefit of any
Person not a signatory hereto or thereto.
13.9. Amendments. Neither
the amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan
Document, nor the consent to any departure by Borrower therefrom, shall in
any
event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by Lender
and
each such amendment, waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific
instance and for the specific purpose for which given.
13.10. Non-Agency
of Lender. The relationship between Borrower on the one hand and
Lender on the other hand shall be solely that of Borrower and
Lender. Lender shall not have any fiduciary responsibilities to
Borrower or be deemed to have entered into any partnership or joint venture
with
Borrower. Lender shall not undertake any responsibility to Borrower
to review, evaluate or inform Borrower of any matter in connection with any
phase of Borrower’s business or operations.
13.11. Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the different
parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and
delivered shall be an original, but all of which shall together constitute
one
and the same instrument. Signature by facsimile shall bind the
parties hereto.
13.12. Effectiveness. This
Agreement shall become effective on the date on which all of the conditions
to
effectiveness contained herein have been satisfied (as determined by Lender
in
its sole and absolute discretion) and all of the parties have signed a copy
hereof (whether the same or different copies) and Lender shall have received
executed originals of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.
13.13. Severability. In
case any provision in or obligation under this Agreement or the Note or the
other Loan Documents shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining
provisions or obligations, or of such provision or obligation in any other
jurisdiction, shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
13.14. Headings
Descriptive. The headings of the several sections and subsections
of this Agreement, and the Table of Contents, are inserted for convenience
only
and shall not in any way affect the meaning or construction of any provision
of
this Agreement.
35
13.15. Maximum
Rate. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
elsewhere in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, Borrower and Lender
hereby agree that all agreements among them under this Agreement and the other
Loan Documents, whether now existing or hereafter arising and whether written
or
oral, are expressly limited so that in no contingency or event whatsoever shall
the amount paid, or agreed to be paid, to Lender for the use,
forbearance, or detention of the money loaned to Borrower and evidenced hereby
or thereby or for the performance or payment of any covenant or obligation
contained herein or therein, exceed the Highest Lawful Rate. If due to any
circumstance whatsoever, fulfillment of any provisions of this Agreement or
any
of the other Loan Documents at the time performance of such provision shall
be
due shall exceed the Highest Lawful Rate, then, automatically, the obligation
to
be fulfilled shall be modified or reduced to the extent necessary to limit
such
interest to the Highest Lawful Rate, and if from any such circumstance any
Lender should ever receive anything of value deemed interest by applicable
law
which would exceed the Highest Lawful Rate, such excessive interest shall be
applied (as determined by Lender) to the reduction of the principal amount
then
outstanding hereunder or on account of any other then outstanding Obligations
and not to the payment of interest, or if such excessive interest exceeds the
principal unpaid balance then outstanding hereunder and such other then
outstanding Obligations, such excess shall be refunded to
Borrower. All sums paid or agreed to be paid to Lender for the use,
forbearance, or detention of the Obligations and other indebtedness of Borrower
to Lender shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be amortized,
prorated, allocated and spread throughout the full term of such indebtedness
until payment in full so that the actual rate of interest on account of all
such
indebtedness does not exceed the Highest Lawful Rate throughout the entire
term
of such indebtedness. The terms and provisions of this Section shall
control every other provision of this Agreement and all agreements between
Borrower and Lender.
13.16. Subordination.
(a) The
payment of any principal or interest under the Credit Line is expressly
subordinated to the Term Loan to the extent and in the manner set forth herein.
Until the Term Loan is paid in full, Borrower shall not make any payments of
principal of or interest under the Credit Line, provided however , that
so long as no Event of Default hereunder has occurred, and if no Default or
Event of Default hereunder would result from the making of any such payment(s),
Borrower shall pay scheduled payments on account of accrued and unpaid interest
in accordance with the terms of the Note and this Agreement.
(b) The
Liens
created by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents on Collateral
securing the Obligations under the Credit Line shall be junior and subordinate
to the Liens on the same Collateral created by the Other Loan Documents, to
the
extent said Collateral secures payment of the Term Loan.
13.17. Information. At
Borrower’s written request, Lender agrees to keep confidential any information
furnished or made available to it by Borrower pursuant to this Agreement;
provided that nothing herein shall prevent Lender from disclosing such
information (a) to any other Person if reasonably incidental to the
administration of the credit facility provided herein, (b) as required
by
36
any
law,
rule, or regulation, (c) upon the order of any court or administrative
agency; provided, however, if allowed by applicable law, rule, regulation or
order, Lender shall use commercially reasonable efforts to notify Borrower
of
such order to allow Borrower to seek court relief to block or limit such
disclosure, (d) upon the request or demand of any regulatory agency or
authority; provided, however, if allowed by applicable law, rule, regulation
or
order, Lender shall use commercially reasonable efforts to notify Borrower
of
such order to allow Borrower to seek court relief to block or limit such
disclosure, (e) that is or becomes available to the public or that is or
becomes available to Lender other than as a result of a disclosure by Lender
prohibited by this Agreement, (f) in connection with any litigation to
which Lender or any of its Affiliates may be a party relating to this Agreement
or the transactions contemplated hereunder, (g) to the extent necessary in
connection with the exercise of any remedy under this Agreement or any other
Loan Document, and (h) any information with respect to the U.S. federal income
tax treatment and U.S. federal income tax structure of the transactions
contemplated hereby and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other
tax analyses) that are provided to Lender relating to such tax treatment and
tax
structure.
13.18. SPECIAL
OREGON NOTICE:
(a) UNDER
OREGON LAW ORAL AGREEMENTS OR ORAL COMMITMENTS TO (1) LOAN MONEY, (2) EXTEND
CREDIT, (3) MODIFY OR AMEND ANY TERMS OF LOAN DOCUMENTS, (4) RELEASE ANY
GUARANTOR, (5) FOREBEAR FROM ENFORCING REPAYMENT OF ANY LOAN OR THE EXERCISE
OF
ANY REMEDY UNDER LOAN DOCUMENTS, OR (6) MAKE ANY OTHER FINANCIAL ACCOMMODATION
PERTAINING TO ANY LOAN ARE ALL UNENFORCEABLE.
[REMAINDER
OF PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK]
37
Dated
the
date and year first written above.
BORROWER:
|
NEW
WORLD BRANDS, INC.
By: /s/ M.
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Name:
M. Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Title: CEO
000
X. 0xx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxx 00000
|
LENDER:
|
P
& S SPIRIT, LLC
By: /s/
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, M.D.
Name: Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, M.D.
Title: Managing
Director
0000
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxx
000
Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000
|
[SIGNATURE
PAGE TO LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT]
S-1
SCHEDULE
1.1 Permitted Indebtedness
All
Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of Borrower’s business, including
without limitation trade debt relating to purchase or lease of inventory,
services, equipment or tools, operating leases, leasehold improvements and
furnishings, attorneys’, accountants’ or other professional advisors’ fees,
insurance, and the like.
All
Indebtedness incurred in relation to use or availability of automatic
clearinghouse or merchant bank card services.
All
Indebtedness to the Israel Office of the Chief Scientist.
All
Indebtedness relating to the capital leases listed on Schedule
6.21.
All
amounts due to shareholders as disclosed on the Borrower’s financial statements
for the fiscal quarter ending March 31, 2007.
All
payroll and tax obligations.
All
amounts due as of the date hereof or in the future pursuant to the Term Note
dated March 29, 2007 among Borrower, as Maker, and Lender, as
Payee..
SCHEDULE
1.2 Permitted Investments (Revised)
Investments
in existing subsidiary.
SCHEDULE
1.3 Permitted Liens
None
other than as provided in Section 1.1, or pursuant to the Term Loan and Security
Agreement dated March 29, 2007, or related documentation.
SCHEDULE
6.6
Location
1 (no warehouse space, computer and office equipment only):
Leased
commercial premises at:
000
X.
0xx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx,
XX 00000
Landlord:
Xxx and Xxxx Xxxxxx (individuals, as TBTE)
Landlord
address: 000 X. 0xx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxx, XX
00000
Location
2 (warehouse, computer and office equipment, including telecom computer
equipment):
Leased
commercial premises at:
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx,
XX 00000
Landlord:
Xxxxxx Investment Properties, LLC (an Oregon limited liability
company)
Landlord
address: 000 X. 0xx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxx, XX
00000
SCHEDULE
6.7
Names
currently in use:
New
World
Brands, Inc.
IP
Gear
IP
Gear
Connect
Qualmax,
Inc.
Names
no
longer in use, but used within past 5 years:
Qualmax
Professional Services, LLC
Rent
IT
Telecom, LLC
iNode
Corporation
SCHEDULE
6.8
Non-subsidiary
affiliates:
Qualmax,
Inc. (holder of approximately 76% voting control)
Subsidiaries:
IP
Gear,
Ltd., an Israel company (wholly owned subsidiary of Borrower)
SCHEDULE
6.9
From
our
current (as of 3-23-07) draft form 10-KSB for year ending 12-31-06:
The
Singer Litigation.
We
are a
defendant in a lawsuit filed by a former employee, who has made claims for
unpaid salary and for certain previously granted stock options. Via
mediation in January, 2006, we have settled this lawsuit, and as part of the
settlement we have agreed that Xx. Xxxxxx holds options to purchase up to 70,000
shares of the Company’s common stock at a price of $0.10 per share, which
options were issued to Xx. Xxxxxx during his association with the Company prior
to 2002. However, as of the time of filing we have not received final
documentation dismissing the lawsuit and settling and releasing
claims. We expect to conclude final documentation within a matter of
weeks.
The
MPI Litigation.
As
a
result of the Reverse Acquisition the Company assumed the liabilities of
Qualmax. Qualmax was named as a defendant in certain litigation filed
in France before the Trade Tribunal of Nanterre against B.O.S. Better Online
Systems, Ltd. (“BOS”) by a former distributor of BOS, Media Partners
International (“MPI,” and the “MPI Litigation”), whose contract with BOS
allegedly related to certain distribution rights for the product division
Qualmax purchased from BOS on December 31, 2005. Pursuant to the
asset purchase agreement between Qualmax and BOS, BOS agreed to indemnify and
hold harmless Qualmax from liability, without limitation, arising from the
claims raised in the MPI Litigation, and BOS has undertaken defense of Qualmax
at BOS’s expense. The litigation is in its early stages, and at last
report from counsel the French court had not yet made definitive rulings as
to
venue and jurisdiction (whether the matter is properly before the French court,
or whether it should be subject to Israeli jurisdiction). We believe
that no action has been taken in this matter since November, 2006. At
present, based upon the limited progress in the matter and without the benefit
of completion of factual discovery, management believes this litigation does
not
pose a financial risk to the Company.
The
Blackstone Litigation.
Qualmax
was named as a defendant a lawsuit entitled Capital Securities, LLC and
Blackstone Communications Company v. Carlos Bertonnatti, Worldwide PIN Payment
Corp. and Qualmax, Inc., Case No. 2006-15824-CA-01, in the Circuit Court of
the
11th Judicial
Circuit in and for Miami-Dade County, Florida (the “Blackstone Litigation”),
filed August 10, 2006. The facts underlying the proceeding relate to
a contract between defendant Worldwide PIN Payment Corp. and plaintiffs, and
a
third party, to plaintiff’s allegations of misappropriation of trade secrets and
corporate opportunity, and to claims that defendants, or some of them,
tortiously interfered with plaintiffs’ contract with a third
party. Plaintiffs seek monetary damages. Management
believes it is not entirely clear from the pleadings filed to date whether
plaintiff’s claim that Qualmax misappropriated trade secrets, or tortiously
interfered with a third party contract, or whether Qualmax is alleged to be
liable under some other theory. No formal discovery requests have
been made of the Company, and the Company has not yet filed any responsive
pleadings. Co-defendants have answered and filed
counterclaims
and third party claims, but none of the claims of co-defendants are against
Qualmax nor do they allege wrongdoing by Qualmax as a defense to claims against
them by plaintiffs. The Company is still investigating the claims
against it, and the facts surrounding the claims against co-defendants, but
that
investigation is in its early stages and is incomplete. Further, it
is not yet clear how aggressively plaintiffs will pursue Qualmax as a defendant,
and to date plaintiffs have not pursued Qualmax vigorously. Based on
the limited information available to management at this point, management does
not believe Qualmax or the Company is liable for any wrongdoing, act or
omission, in relation to the litigation, and management believes that Qualmax
is
not properly a party to the litigation. However, management does not
have sufficient information to provide a meaningful assessment of all the facts
and circumstances relating to the claims against Qualmax and co-defendants
nor
to determine how costly and time-consuming defense of the matter may be
regardless of the merits of the Company’s defense. In addition, the
Company believes it has viable claims for indemnification and damages against
co-defendants but has not yet formally raised those claims or made a full
determination of their value or role in the litigation.
SCHEDULE
6.13
Our
wholly owned Israeli subsidiary is subject to a royalty payable to the Israel
Office of the Chief Scientist (“OCS”), as consideration for sums previously
advanced to the company’s predecessor in interest in relation to development of
our Claro software. The OCS obligation is a royalty, paid at the rate
of 3.5% of gross sales of the Claro product line. The total royalty is
capped at $2,183,647 and as of end of 2006 we had paid a total of $802,836,
leaving $1,380,822 open balance.
Pending
trademark registration applications (or common law trademark
rights):
IP
Gear
IP
Gear
Connect
Claro
Better
VoIP, Better Business
SCHEDULE
6.15
See
Schedule 6.6 for description of leased premises. We own no real
property.
SCHEDULE
6.21
Office
lease 000 X. 0xx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxx
Office
lease 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx
Equipment
lease (Equilease, 052659-001, “Konfer”)
Equipment
lease (Citicapital, 200162587, “Porta”)
Equipment
lease (Citicapital, 200176737, “WPP”)
Equipment
lease (Citicapital, 200186001, “Netsuite”)
Netsuite
license agreement
Property
and casualty insurance policy (Hartford, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx)
D&O
insurance policy (Chubb, Diversified)
Subscription
and Loan Agreements (P&S Spirit)
Term
Loan
and Security Agreement (P&S Spirit)
SCHEDULE
6.24
See
Schedule 6.9.
SCHEDULE
6.26
New
World Brands, Inc.
|
|||
Cash
Balance Report
|
|||
30-May-07
|
|||
|
|||
Account
|
Amount
|
Bank
|
Account
|
Bank
|
|||
100300
- Cash in Bank - NWB PCB
|
|||
100310
- Cash in Bank - NWB PCB Corp
|
$19,648.20
|
Pacific
Continental
|
24161754
|
100320
- Cash in Bank - NWB PCB IPG
|
$99,350.47
|
Pacific
Continental
|
24161770
|
100350
- Cash in Bank - NWB PCB IPGC
|
$104,403.92
|
Pacific
Continental
|
24161762
|
100610
- Cash in Bank - NWB PCB Payroll
|
$220.23
|
Pacific
Continental
|
24161739
|
Total
- 100300 - Cash in Bank - NWB PCB
|
$223,622.82
|
||
100450
- Cash In Bank - Colonial - Inode
|
$1,016.38
|
Colonial
Bank
|
8030996600
|
100510
- Cash in Bank - Stonegate - NWB
|
$11,921.09
|
Stonegate
Bank
|
0000000
|
100750
- Cash in Bank - Deutsche Bank
|
$212.22
|
Deutsche
Bank (Germany)
|
0000000
00
|
100800
- Cash in Bank - HSBC
|
|||
100800
- Cash in Bank - HSBC
|
($6.97)
|
HSBC
|
000-00000-0
|
100820
- Cash in Bank - HSBC IPG
|
($6.37)
|
HSBC
|
000-00000-0
|
100850
- Cash in Bank - HSBC IPGC
|
($6.97)
|
HSBC
|
000-00000-0
|
100890
- Cash in Bank - HSBC Payroll
|
($6.97)
|
HSBC
|
000-00000-0
|
Total
- 100800 - Cash in Bank - HSBC
|
($27.28)
|
||
101110
- Money Market OCCU
|
$1,435.19
|
Oregon
Community Credit Union
|
475696
S19
|
101210
- Savings OCCU
|
$9.11
|
Oregon
Community Credit Union
|
475696
S3
|
101310
- Money Market Pershing OCCU
|
$53,847.87
|
Oregon
Community Credit Union
|
4Y4-221430
|
101610
- Money Market NWB PCB
|
$348,463.48
|
Pacific
Continental
|
24161747
|
101710
- Money Market Reserve NWB PCB
|
$251,746.68
|
Pacific
Continental
|
00000000
|
Total
- Bank
|
$892,247.56
|