CREDIT AGREEMENT
Exhibit
10.07
This
Credit Agreement (as amended, supplemented and restated, this “Agreement”)
dated
as of May 9, 2005 between XXXXXXX XXXXXX XXXXXX GROUP INC. (the “Borrower”),
a
Texas corporation, and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (the
“Lender”),
a
national banking association;
W
I T
N E S S E T H:
THAT,
in
consideration of the mutual covenants, agreements and undertakings herein
contained, the Obligors hereto agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
1.1 Defined
Terms.
Unless
a particular word or phrase is otherwise defined or the context otherwise
requires, capitalized words and phrases used in the Credit Documents have the
meanings provided below.
Adjusted
EBITDA
means
(a) net income plus
(b)
interest expense plus
(c)
depreciation plus
(d)
amortization and impairment of goodwill plus
(e)
deferred income taxes minus
(f)
capital expenditures (net of proceeds from Indebtedness used to make capital
expenditures) minus
(g)
payments of cash dividends.
Affiliate
means
any Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with any other
Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including “controlled by”
and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly,
of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies
of
such Person, whether through the own-ership of voting securities or otherwise.
Annual
Financial Statements
means
the annual Financial Statements of a Person, accompanied by a report and opinion
of independent certified public accountants satisfactory to the Lender, which
shall (a) state that such financial statements, in the opinion of such
accountants, present fairly the financial position of such Person as of the
date
thereof and the results of its operations for the period covered thereby in
conformity with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
and (b)
not express a doubt as to the ability of such Person to continue as a going
concern; in the case of a Person with Subsidiaries, its Annual Financial
Statements shall also include its consolidating Financial Statements,
but
such
consolidating Financial Statements need not be covered by the report and opinion
of such Person’s independent certified public accountants described in the
preceding clause of this definition.
Applications
means
all applications and agreements for Letters of Credit, or similar instruments
or
agreements, in
a form
then used by the Lender; to the extent that an Application is inconsistent
with
this Agreement, this Agreement shall control.
Business
Day
means a
day when the main office of the Lender is open for the making of commercial
loans in Houston, Texas.
Code
means
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, as now or hereafter in effect,
together with all regula-tions, rulings and interpretations thereof or
thereunder by the Internal Revenue Service.
Collateral
means
all Property, tangible or intangible, real, personal or mixed, now or hereafter
subject to the Security Documents, or intended so to be.
Credit
Documents
means
this Agreement, the Note, the Interest Rate Agreement, all Applications, all
Security Documents, all instruments, certificates and agreements now or
hereafter executed or delivered to the Lender pursuant to any of the foregoing,
and all amendments, modifications, renewals, extensions, increases and
rearrangements of, and substitutions for, any of the foregoing.
Debt
means
all Indebtedness for borrowed money, including capitalized leases.
Entities
means
corporations, partnerships, joint ventures, limited liability companies, joint
stock associations, business trusts and other business entities.
ERISA
means
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to
time, and all rules, regula-tions, rulings and interpretations adopted by the
Internal Revenue Service or the Department of Labor thereunder.
Event
of Default
means
any of the events specified in Section
7.1,
if
there
has been satisfied any requirement in connection with such event for the giving
of notice, or the lapse of time, or the happening of any further condition,
event or act, and Default
means
any of such events, whether or not any such requirement has been satisfied.
Existing
Letters of Credit
means
the letters of credit heretofore issued by the Lender and described on
Schedule
1.
Financial
Statements
means
the financial statements of a Person, including all notes (if any) thereto,
which shall include a balance sheet as of the date of such financial statements
and an income statement and a statement of cash flows for the calendar year
to
date, all setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures from
the
previous calendar year and prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted
Accounting Principles (subject, in all cases except Annual Financial Statements,
to normal year-end adjustments).
Generally
Accepted Accounting Principles
means,
as to a particular Person, such accounting practice as, in the opinion of the
independent accountants of recognized national standing regu-larly retained
by
such Person and acceptable to the Lender, conforms at the time to generally
accepted accounting principles, consistently applied. Generally accepted
accounting principles means those principles and practices which are (a)
recognized as such by the Financial Accounting Standards Board; (b) applied
for all periods after the date hereof in a manner con-sistent with the manner
in
which such principles and practices were applied to the most recent audited
financial statements of the relevant Person furnished to the Lender, and
(c) consistently applied for all periods after the date hereof so as
to
reflect properly the financial condition, and results of operations and changes
in financial position, of such Person. If any change in any accounting principle
or practice is required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board in order
for
such prin-ciple or practice to continue as a generally accepted accounting
principle or practice, all reports and financial statements required hereunder
may be prepared in accordance with such change only after written notice of
such
change is given to the Lender.
Governmental
Authority
means
any foreign governmental authority, the United States of America, any State
of
the United States and any political subdivision of any of the fore-going, and
any agency, department, commission, board, bureau, court or other tribunal
having jurisdiction over the Lender, the Borrower, any of the Borrower’s
Subsidiaries or their respec-tive Property.
Highest
Lawful Rate
means
the maximum nonusurious rate of interest permitted to be charged by applicable
federal or Texas law (whichever shall permit the higher lawful rate) from time
to time in effect. At all times, if any, as the Texas Finance Code shall
establish the Highest Lawful Rate, the Highest Lawful Rate shall be the “weekly
ceiling” (as defined therein) from time to time in effect.
Indebtedness
means
and include (a) all items which in accordance with Generally Accepted
Accounting Principles would be included on the liability side of a balance
sheet
on the date as of which Indebtedness is to be determined (excluding capital
stock, surplus, surplus reserves and deferred credits); (b) all
guar-anties, endorsements and other contingent obligations in respect of, or
any
obligations to purchase or otherwise acquire, Indebt-edness of others, and
(c) all Indebtedness secured by any Lien existing on any interest of
the
Person with respect to which Indebtedness is being determined in Property owned
subject to such Lien whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby shall
have
been assumed; but
such
term shall not mean or include any Indebtedness in respect of which monies
sufficient to pay and discharge the same in full (either on the expressed date
of maturity thereof or on such earlier date as such Indebtedness may be duly
called for redemption and payment) shall be deposited with a depository, agency
or trustee acceptable to the Lender in trust for the payment thereof.
-2-
Interest
Rate Agreement
means
the Interest Rate Agreement of even date herewith between the Borrower and
the
Lender.
Legal
Requirement
means
any law, statute, ordinance, decree, requirement, order, judgment, rule,
regulation (or inter-pretation of any of the foregoing) of, and the terms of
any
license or permit issued by, any Governmental Authority or any Self-Regulatory
Organization.
Letter
of Credit Drawing
means
any drawing under a Letter of Credit.
Letter
of Credit Exposure
means,
on any date, the sum of (a) the aggregate then-undrawn face amount of all
outstanding Letters of Credit plus (b) all then-unreimbursed Letter of Credit
Drawings.
Letter
of Credit Sublimit
means
$1,500,000.
Letters
of Credit
means
all letters of credit issued pursuant to this Agreement, including the Existing
Letters of Credit.
Leverage
Ratio
means,
on the last day of any calendar quarter, the ratio of (a) Debt as of such date
to (b) Adjusted EBITDA for the four calendar quarters then ending.
Lien
means
any mortgage, pledge, charge, encumbrance, security interest, collateral
assignment or other lien or restriction of any kind, whether based on common
law, constitutional provision, statute or contract, and shall include
reservations, exceptions, encroach-ments, easements, rights of way, covenants,
conditions, restrictions, leases and other title exceptions.
Liquidity
means,
on any date, (a) cash and cash equivalents plus
(b)
marketable securities owned plus
(c)
marketable securities available for sale minus
(d)
securities sold, not yet purchased.
Liquidity
Ratio
means,
on any date, the ratio of (a) Liquidity to (b) Debt.
Loan
means
each advance of funds pursuant to this Agreement.
Loan
Commitment
means,
on any date, the difference of (a) the Maximum Commitment minus (b) the Letter
of Credit Exposure.
Management
Group
means
Xxxxxx X. Xxxx; Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx XX; Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xx.; Xxx X. Xxxxxx,
and
Xxx X. Xxxxxxx.
Margin
Stock
shall
have the meaning ascribed to such term in Regulation U.
Maximum
Commitment
means
$15,000,000.
Note
means
the promissory note of the Borrower described in Section
2.1,
and any
and all renewals, extensions, modifications, rearrangements and replacements
thereof and any and all substitutions therefor.
Obligations
means
all Indebtedness of the Obligors under the Credit Documents, including the
Loans, the Indebtedness under the Applications, the Letter of Credit Drawings,
the expenses of the Lender of the type described in Section
8.8,
other
expenses paid or incurred by the Lender in performing any agreement of any
Obligor under any Credit Document which such Obligor has failed to perform
and
obligations under Section
8.9.
-3-
Obligors
means
all Persons other than the Lender executing any Credit Document.
Organizational
Documents
means,
with respect to an Entity, the documents
and instruments providing for the formation, organization and governance
thereof.
Past
Due Rate
means a
rate per annum equal to the lesser of (a) the Prime Rate plus 2% or (b) the
Highest Lawful Rate.
Person
means
any individual, Entity, trust, unin-corporated organization, Governmental
Authority, Self-Regulatory Organization or any other form of entity.
Plan
means
any plan subject to Title IV of ERISA and maintained for employees of the
Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any member of a “controlled group of
corporations”, as such term is defined in the Code, of which the Borrower or any
of its Subsidiaries is a part, or any such plan to which the Borrower or any
of
its Subsidiaries is required to contribute on behalf of its employees.
Prime
Rate
means
the
rate
of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by the Lender as
its
prime rate in effect at its principal office in New York City; each change
in
the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is
publicly announced as being effective.
Proper
Form
means in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lender.
Property
means
any interest in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed,
tangible or intangible.
Regulation
U
means
Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System.
Quarterly
Financial Statements
means
the quarterly Financial Statements of a Person.
Secretary’s
Certificate
means a
certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary (or similar officer)
of
an Entity as to (a) the resolutions of the Board of Directors (or similar body)
of such Entity authorizing
the
execution, delivery and performance of the Credit Documents to be delivered
by
such Entity; (b) the incumbency and signature of the officer(s) of such Entity
executing such Credit Documents on behalf of such Entity, and (c) the
Organizational Documents of such Entity.
Security
Agreement
means
the security agreement, in Proper Form, in favor of the Lender in connection
with the Loans, covering the equity in certain Subsidiaries of the Borrower
and
other property therein described and securing, without limitation, the
Obligations.
Security
Documents
means
this Agreement, the Security Agreement and any and all other agreements and
other instruments and Financing Statements now or hereafter executed and
delivered or authorized by any Person (other than solely by the Lender and/or
any other creditor partici-pating in any of the Obligations or any collateral
or
security therefor) in connection with, or as security for the payment or
performance of, the Obligations.
Self-Regulatory
Organizations
means
all securities exchanges, commodity exchanges, the National Association of
Securities Dealers and other Persons (a) to which any Governmental Authority
has
delegated any of its powers and (b) which has jurisdiction over the Borrower
or
any of its Subsidiaries.
Subsidiary
means,
as to a particular parent Entity, any Entity of which more than 50% of the
indicia of equity rights (whether outstanding capital stock or otherwise) is
at
the time directly or indirectly owned by, such parent Entity, or by one or
more
of its Affiliates.
-4-
Termination
Date
means
the earlier of (a) 364 days after the date hereof (or, if such day is not a
Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day) or (b) the date specified
by the Lender in accordance with Section
7.1(3).
Total
Exposure
means,
on any date, the sum of (a) the outstanding principal balance of the Note plus
(b) the Letter of Credit Exposure, in each case for such day.
Unused
Commitment
means,
on any date, the difference of (a) the Maximum Commitment minus (b) the Total
Exposure.
1.2
Other
Terms and References.
Except
where specifically otherwise provided in the Credit Documents:
(a) Each
of
the following terms shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the Texas Uniform
Commercial Code on the date hereof:
accessions,
continuation statement, fixtures, general intangibles, goods, proceeds, security
in-terest and security agreement.
(b) Any
accounting term not otherwise defined shall have the meaning ascribed to it
under Generally Accepted
Accounting Principles.
(c) All
calculations of amounts and ratios with respect to each covenant contained
in
the Credit Documents shall be carried out to the precision implied in such
covenant; e.g.,
if a
ratio is expressed in a covenant as “at least 1.00 to 1” then such ratio shall
be rounded to the nearest 0.01, while if a ratio is expressed in a covenant
as
“at least 1.0 to 1” then such ratio shall be rounded to the nearest
0.1.
(d)
Unless
otherwise specified, all references to time shall be references to Houston
time.
(e) Wherever
the term “including” or any of its correlatives appears in a Credit Document, it
shall be read as if it were written “including (by way of example and without
limiting the generality of the subject or concept referred to)”.
(f) Wherever
the word “herein” or “hereof” is used in a Credit Document, it is a reference to
that entire Credit Document and not just to the subdivision of it in which
the
word is used.
(g) References
in a Credit Document to Section and Article numbers are references to the
Sections and Articles, respectively, of such Credit Document.
(h) References
in a Credit Document to Exhibits, Schedules, Riders, Annexes and Appendices
are
to the Exhibits, Schedules, Riders, Annexes and Appendices to such Credit
Document, and they shall be deemed incorporated into such Credit Document by
reference.
(i) Any
term
defined in the Credit Documents which refers to a particular agreement,
instrument or document shall also mean, refer to and include all modifications,
amendments, supplements, restatements, renewals, extensions and substitutions
of
the same; but
nothing
in this Section shall be construed to authorize any such modification,
amendment, supplement, restate-ment, renewal, extension or substitution except
as may be permitted by other provisions of the Credit Documents.
(j)
Defined
terms may be used in the singular or plural, as the context
requires.
(k) The
pronouns used in the Credit Documents are in the neuter gender but shall be
construed as feminine, masculine or neuter, as the context
requires.
-5-
2. The
Credits.
2.1 Loans.
Subject
to the terms and conditions hereof, the Lender agrees to make Loans to the
Borrower from time to time before the Termination Date, not to exceed the Loan
Commitment at any one time outstanding, the Borrower having the right to borrow,
repay and reborrow. Each Loan shall be an integral multiple of $10,000 or the
Unused Commitment, whichever is less. Each repayment of the Loans shall be
an
integral multiple of $10,000 or the principal balance of the Note, whichever
is
less. The Loans shall be evidenced by the Note substantially in the form of
Exhibit
A.
2.2 Letters
of Credit.
(a) Subject
to the terms and conditions hereof, the Lender agrees to issue Letters of Credit
for the account of the Borrower (or the account of a Subsidiary of the Borrower,
as favouree) from time to time before the Termination Date, in such face amount,
with such expiry date (but
no
Letter of Credit shall have an expiry date which is more than one year after
the
scheduled Termination Date) and for the benefit of such beneficiary as the
Borrower may designate in the Application for such Letter of Credit;
but
the
Lender shall have no obligation to issue a Letter of Credit if, after giving
effect to such issuance, either (x) the Letter of Credit Exposure would exceed
the Letter of Credit Sublimit or (y) the Total Exposure would exceed the Maximum
Commitment. In consideration for the issuance of each Letter of Credit, the
Borrower agrees to pay the Lender (1) a letter of credit fee equal to the lesser
of $500 or 1% per annum of the face amount of such Letter of Credit for its
term, paid as a condition to the issuance of such Letter of Credit, and (2)
the
usual and customary fees of the Lender for each amendment and wire advice of
and
drawing under such Letter of Credit. All past due fees shall accrue interest
at
the Past Due Rate.
(b) The
obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the Lender for amounts drawn under
each
Letter of Credit shall be a demand obligation as described in the related
Application; but
if the
Borrower fails to promptly reimburse the Lender for any such draw, then the
Lender may advance the amount of such draw as a Loan, regardless of the
procedures (including conditions precedent) described in this Agreement
concerning the making of Loans, the size of such Loan or the acceleration of
the
Termination Date as provided in Section
8.1(2).
(c) On
the
Termination Date (whether by the passage of time or otherwise), the Borrower
shall immediately provide the Lender with either (1) cash collateral in an
amount equal to the Letter of Credit Exposure, such collateral to be subject
to
Security Documents in Proper Form, or (2) a back-up letter of credit for each
outstanding Letter of Credit, each such back-up letter of credit in a face
amount equal to the relevant Letter of Credit, with an expiry date at least
one
month after the expiry date of such Letter of Credit, issued by an issuer
reasonably satisfactory to the Lender and in Proper Form.
2.3 Unused
Commitment Fee; Reduction of Maximum Commitment.
In
consideration of the Maximum Commitment, the Borrower agrees to pay a commitment
fee (computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in a year
composed of 360 days) of 1/8% per annum on the daily average Unused Commitment,
such fee to be due and payable on the last Business Day of each June, September,
December and March before the Termination Date and on the Termination Date.
All
past due commitment fees shall bear interest at the Past Due Rate. The Borrower
may, upon ten Business Days’ prior written notice to the Lender, permanently
reduce the Maximum Commitment in integral multiples of $100,000; but
the
Borrower may not reduce the Maximum Commitment to an amount less than the
then-current Total Exposure.
2.4 Capital
Adequacy.
(a) If
after
the date of this Agreement, the Lender shall have determined that the adoption
or effectiveness of any appli-cable law, rule or regulation regarding capital
adequacy, or any change therein, or any change in the interpretation or
adminis-tration thereof by any Governmental Authority, central bank or
comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof,
or
compliance by the Lender with any request or directive regarding capital
adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) of any such Governmental
Authority, central bank or comparable agency, has or would have the effect
of
reducing the rate of return on the Lender’s capital as a consequence of its
obligations under the Credit Documents to a level below that which the Lender
could have achieved but for such adoption, change or compliance (taking into
consideration the Lender’s policies with respect to capital adequacy) by an
amount deemed by the Lender to be material, then from time to time, the Borrower
shall pay to the Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate
the
Lender for such reduction.
-6-
(b) A
certificate of the Lender setting forth in reasonable detail the cause and
such
amount or amounts as shall be necessary to compensate the Lender as speci-fied
in Section
2.4(a),
detailing the calculation of such amount(s), shall be delivered as soon as
practicable to the Borrower and shall be conclusive and binding, absent manifest
error. The Borrower shall pay the Lender the amount shown as due on any such
certificate within 15 days after the Lender delivers such certificate. In
preparing such certi-ficate, the Lender may employ such assumptions and
allocations of costs and expenses as it shall in good xxxxx xxxx reasonable
and
may use any reasonable averaging and attribution method.
2.5 Payments.
Unless
otherwise expressly provided therein, all payments of principal, interest and
other fees and amounts due from any Obligor under the terms of the Credit
Documents shall be made in immediately available dollars to the Lender at its
principal banking building in Houston, Xxxxxx County, Texas, by no later than
12:00 noon on the date when due; each payment made after that time shall be
considered for all purposes (including the payment of interest, to the extent
permitted by law) as having been made on the next succeeding Business Day.
Except as otherwise provided in the Credit Documents, if any payment or
prepayment becomes due and payable on a day which is not a Business Day, then
the date for the payment thereof shall be extended to the next succeeding
Business Day, and interest shall be payable thereon at the then-applicable
rate
per annum during such extension.
3. Conditions.
3.1 All
Extensions of Credit.
The
obligation of the Lender to make any Loan or to issue any Letter of Credit
is
subject to (a) the accuracy, in all material respects, of all representations
and warranties of the Obligors on the date thereof; (b) the performance by
the
Obligors of their respective obligations under the Credit Documents and (c)
the
satisfaction of the following further conditions: (1) the Lender shall
have
received the following, all of which shall be duly executed and in Proper Form:
(A) in the case of a Loan, a Request for Loan, substantially in the
form of
Exhibit
B,
by the
relevant Rate Designation Date (as defined in the Interest Rate Agreement)
before the date (which shall be a Business Day) of such proposed Loan;
(B) in the case of a Letter of Credit, an Application, five Business
Days
before the date (which shall be a Business Day) of the proposed issuance of
such
Letter of Credit, and (C) such other documents as the Lender may reasonably
require; (2) before the making of the Loan or the issuance of the Letter
of
Credit, as the case may be, there shall have occurred, in the sole opinion
of
the Lender, no material adverse change in the assets, liabilities, financial
condition, business or affairs of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken
as a
whole; (3) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, and (4) the making of the Loan or the issuance of the Letter
of
Credit, as the case may be, shall not be prohibited by, or subject the Lender
to
any penalty or onerous condition under, any Legal Requirement.
3.2 First
Extension of Credit.
In
addition to the matters described in Section
3.1,
the
obligation of the Lender to make the first Loan or issue the first Letter of
Credit hereunder (other than the Existing Letters of Credit) is subject to
the
receipt by the Lender of each of the following, in Proper Form: (a) the
Note, the Security Agreement and the Interest Rate Agreement, each duly executed
by the Borrower; (b) a Secretary’s Certificate for the Borrower; (c) a
certificate from the Secretary of State or other appropriate public official
as
to the continued existence or authority to do business and good standing of
the
Borrower; Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Inc., and SMH Capital Advisors, Inc.; (d)
a
legal opinion substantially to the effects set forth on Exhibit
D,
and
(e) evidence satisfactory to the Lender as to the priority of the security
interests created by the Security Documents, and to the further condition that,
at the time of the initial Loan, all legal matters incident to the transactions
herein contemplated shall be satisfactory to Xxxxx Liddell & Xxxx LLP,
counsel for the Lender. Upon the satisfaction of the conditions described in
the
immediately preceding sentence, the Existing Letters of Credit shall be deemed
to be Letters of Credit for all purposes, and the application for each Existing
Letter of Credit shall be deemed to be an Application, without need for any
further action and without any adjustment to the letter of credit fees
previously paid in connection with the issuance of the Existing Letters of
Credit.
-7-
4. Representations
and Warranties.
To
induce
the Lender to enter into this Agreement and to make the Loans, the Borrower
represents and warrants as follows:
4.1 Organization.
The
Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries (a) is duly organized, validly existing
and in good standing under the laws of the state of its organization; (b) has
all power and authority to conduct its business as presently conducted; (c)
is
duly qualified to do business and in good standing in all jurisdictions where
such qualification is necessary or desirable, and (d) has all licenses, permits
and registrations necessary to conduct its business as presently conducted,
and
all of the same are in full force and effect.
4.2 Financial
Statements.
The
financial statements delivered to the Lender fairly present, in accordance
with
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, the financial condition and the
results of operations of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the dates
and
for the periods indicated. No material adverse change has occurred in the
assets, liabilities, financial condition, business or affairs of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, since the dates of such financial
statements. Neither the Borrower nor any of such other Persons is subject to
any
instrument or agreement materially and adversely affecting its financial
condition, business or affairs.
4.3 Enforceable
Obligations; Authorization.
The
Credit Documents are legal, valid and binding obligations of the Obligors,
enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, except as may be limited
by bankruptcy, insolvency and other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights
generally and by general equitable principles. The execution, delivery and
performance of the Credit Documents (a) have all been duly authorized by all
necessary action by the Obligors; (b) are within the power and authority of
the
Obligors; (c) do not and will not contravene or violate any Legal Requirement
or
the Organizational Documents of the Obligors; (d) do not and will not result
in
the breach of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or
instrument by which the Obligors or any of their respective Property may be
bound or affected, and (e) do not and will not result in the creation of any
Lien upon any Property of any of the Obligors except as expressly contemplated
therein. All necessary permits, registrations and consents for such making
and
performance have been obtained. Except as expressly set forth therein, the
Liens
of the Security Documents will constitute valid and perfected first and prior
Liens on the Collateral, subject to no other Liens whatsoever.
4.4 Other
Debt.
Neither
the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default in the payment of any
other Indebtedness or under any agreement, mortgage, deed of trust, security
agreement or lease to which it is a party.
4.5 Litigation.
Except
as heretofore disclosed to the Lender, there is no litigation or administrative
proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against,
nor
any outstanding judgment, order or decree affecting, the Borrower or any of
its
Subsidiaries before or by any Governmental Authority or any Self-Regulatory
Organization. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default
with respect to any judgment, order or decree of any Governmental Authority
or
any Self-Regulatory Organization.
4.6 Title. The
Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to its
respective Property, free and clear of all Liens other than Liens permitted
under Section
6.2.
4.7 Taxes. The
Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries has filed all tax returns required to
have
been filed and paid all taxes shown thereon to be due, except those for which
extensions have been obtained and those which are being contested in good faith
by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted.
4.8 Investment
Company Act.
No
Obligor is an “investment company” or a company “controlled” by an “investment
company,” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended.
-8-
4.9 Public
Utility Holding Company Act.
No
Obligor is a “holding company,” a “subsidiary company” of a “holding company,”
an “affiliate” of a “holding company” or an affiliate of a “subsidiary company”
of a “holding company,” as such terms are defined in the Public Utility Holding
Company Act of 1935, as amended.
4.10 Subsidiaries.
The
Borrower has no Subsidiaries other than as listed on Appendix I.
Each
such Subsidiary is owned by the Borrower in the percentage set forth on
Appendix I.
4.11 Representations
by Others; No Misrepresentation.
All
statements made by or on behalf of any Obligor in connection with any Credit
Document shall constitute representations and warranties of the Borrower
hereunder. No information furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower to the
Lender in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or delivered
hereunder contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any
material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
5. Affirmative
Covenants.
The
Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lender that before the termination of
this Agreement it will do, cause each of its Subsidiaries to do, and if
necessary cause to be done, each and all of the following:
5.1 Taxes,
Existence, Regulations, Property, etc.
At all
times (a) pay when due all taxes and governmental charges of every kind
upon it or against its income, profits or Property, unless and only to the
extent that the same shall be contested in good faith and reserves in accordance
with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles have been established therefor;
(b) do all things necessary to preserve its existence, qualifications,
rights and franchises in all States where such qualification is necessary or
desirable; (c) comply with all applicable Legal Requirements in respect
of
the conduct of its business and the ownership of its Property, and
(d) cause its Property to be protected, maintained and kept in good
repair
and make all replacements and additions to its Property as may be reasonably
necessary to conduct its business properly and efficiently.
5.2 Financial
Statements and Information.
Furnish
to the Lender: (a) as soon as available and in any event within 120
days
after the end of each calendar year, Annual Financial Statements of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries; (b) as soon as available and in any event within
45
days after the end of each calendar quarter, Quarterly Financial Statements
of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; (c) concurrently with the financial
statements provided for in Sections
5.2(a)
and
(b),
a
Certificate of No Default substantially in the form of Exhibit
D;
(d)
promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and
other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by the Borrower or
any
Subsidiary with (1) the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental
Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of said Commission; (2)
any
Self-Regulatory Organization, or (3) any national securities exchange, and
(e) such other information relating to the financial condition and affairs
of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as from time to time may be reasonably
requested by the Lender.
5.3 Financial
Tests.
Have
and maintain as of the end of each calendar quarter: (a) total assets
under
management with a fair value of at least $8,000,000,000; (b) a Liquidity Ratio
of at least 1.50 to 1, and (c) a Leverage Ratio of no more than 2.50 to
1.
5.4 Inspection.
Upon at
least one Business Day’s prior notice, permit the Lender to inspect its
Property, to examine its files, books and records and make and take away copies
thereof, and to discuss its affairs with its officers and accountants, all
at
such times and intervals and to such extent as the Lender may reasonably desire.
5.5 Further
Assurances.
Promptly execute and deliver any and all other and further instruments which
may
be requested by the Lender to cure any defect in the execution and delivery
of
any Credit Document or more fully to describe particular aspects of the
Borrower’s agreements set forth in the Credit Documents or so intended to be.
-9-
5.6 Books
and Records.
Maintain books of record and account in accordance with Generally Accepted
Accounting Principles.
5.7 Insurance.
Maintain insurance with such insurers, on such of its properties, in such
amounts and against such risks as is satisfactory to the Lender, and furnish
the
Lender satisfactory evidence thereof promptly upon request.
5.8 Notice
of Certain Matters.
Notify
the Lender immediately upon acquiring knowledge of (a) the institution or
threatened institution of any lawsuit or administrative proceeding affecting
the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; (b) any material adverse change in the
assets, liabilities, financial condition, business or affairs of the Borrower
or
any of its Subsidiaries, or (c) the occurrence of any Event of Default or any
Default. The Borrower will notify the Lender in writing at least 30 days before
the date that the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries changes its name or the
location of its chief executive office or principal place of business or the
place where it keeps its books and records.
5.9 Use
of
Credits.
The
Letters of Credit and proceeds of the Loans will be used for general corporate
purposes.
6. Negative
Covenants.
The
Borrower covenants and agrees with the Lender that before the termination of
this Agreement it will not, and will not suffer or permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, do any of the following:
6.1 Indebtedness.
Create,
incur, suffer or permit to exist, or assume or guarantee, directly or
indirectly, or become or remain liable with respect to any Indebtedness, whether
direct, indirect, absolute, contingent or otherwise, except
the
following: (a) Indebtedness to the Lender; (b) Indebtedness secured
by
Liens permitted by Section
6.2;
(c) other liabilities existing on the date of this Agreement and heretofore
disclosed to the Lender, and all renewals and extensions (but not increases)
thereof; (d) current accounts payable and unsecured current liabilities,
not the result of borrowing, to vendors, suppliers and persons providing
services, for expenditures for goods and services normally required by it in
the
ordinary course of business and on ordinary trade terms; (e) Indebtedness
incurred in connection with assets sold in the ordinary course of business
but
not yet owned, and (f) other Indebtedness, not to exceed $250,000 in the
aggregate at any one time outstanding.
6.2 Liens.
Create
or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its Property now owned or hereafter
acquired, or acquire any Property upon any conditional sale or other title
retention device or arrangement or any purchase money security agreement; or
in
any manner directly or indirectly sell, assign, pledge or otherwise transfer
any
of its accounts or contract rights; but
the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries may create or suffer to exist:
(a) artisans’ or mechanics’ Liens arising in the ordinary course of
business, and Liens for taxes, but only to the extent that payment thereof
shall
not at the time be due; (b) Liens in effect on the date hereof and
disclosed to the Lender in writing, but
neither
the maximum amount of Indebtedness secured thereby nor the Property covered
thereby shall increase; (c) deposits with clearing brokers and dealers in the
ordinary course of business and on customary terms; (d) purchase money Liens
on
Property to be acquired by it, if
the
Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the purchase price of such
Property; (e) Liens on Margin Stock if
such
Liens do not cover Margin Stock with a fair value equal to at least 25% of
the
fair value of all of the Property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, measured
at the time of creation of such Liens, and (f) Liens in favor of the
Lender.
6.3 Contingent
Liabilities.
Directly or indirectly guarantee the performance or payment of, or purchase
or
agree to purchase, or assume or contingently agree to become or be secondarily
liable in respect of, any obligation or liability of any other Person
except
(a) as
heretofore disclosed to the Lender; (b) guaranties of Indebtedness aggregating
no more than $250,000 at any one time outstanding, and (c) for the endorsement
of checks or other negotiable instruments in the ordinary course of business.
-10-
6.4 Mergers,
Consolidations and Dispositions and Acquisitions of Assets.
In any
single transaction or series of transactions, directly or indirectly
(a) liquidate or dissolve; (b) be a party to any merger or
consolidation; (c) sell, convey or lease all or any substantial part
of its
assets (including any line of business), except for sale of securities in the
ordinary course of business; (d) pledge, transfer or otherwise dispose
of
any shares of capital stock of a Subsidiary or any Indebtedness of a Subsidiary,
or permit any Subsidiary to issue any additional shares of capital stock other
than to the Borrower or to acquire any shares of capital stock of the Borrower
or any Subsidiary; or (e) acquire all or substantially all of the assets
or
any line of business of any Person, or a majority of stock of or similar
interest in any other Person, (other than the acquisition of all of the equity
issued by The Edelman Financial Center, LLC) after the date hereof, if (with
respect to this clause
(e))
the
aggregate consideration for such transaction exceeds $15,000,000.
6.5 Nature
of Business; Management.
Change
the nature of its business or enter into any business which is substantially
different from the business in which it is presently engaged or permit any
material change in its management.
6.6 Transactions
with Related Parties.
Enter
into any transaction or agreement with any officer, director or holder of any
outstanding interest in the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (or any
Affiliate of any such Person) unless the same is upon terms substantially
similar to those obtainable from wholly unrelated sources.
6.7 ERISA.
At any
time permit any Plan to (a) engage in any “prohibited transaction” as defined in
ERISA; (b) incur any “accumulated funding deficiency” as defined in ERISA, or
(c) be terminated in a manner which could result in the imposition of a Lien
on
any Property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to
ERISA.
7. Events
of Default and Remedies.
7.1 Events
of Default.
If any
of the following events shall occur and be continuing, then the Lender may
do
any or all of the following: (1) without notice to the Borrower, declare
the Note to be, and thereupon the Note shall forthwith become, immediately
due
and payable, together with all accrued interest thereon and all earned or
accrued commitment fees hereunder, without notice of any kind, notice of
acceleration or of intention to accelerate, presentment and demand or protest,
all of which are hereby expressly waived; (2) without notice to the
Borrower, terminate all commitments; (3) by notice in writing to the
Borrower, accelerate the Termination Date to a date as early as the date of
the
notice; (4) exercise its rights of offset against each account and all
other Property of the Borrower in the possession of the Lender, which right
is
hereby granted by the Borrower to the Lender, and (5) exercise any and
all
other rights pursuant to the Credit Documents:
(a) The
Borrower shall fail to pay or prepay any principal of the Note as and when
due;
or
(b) The
Borrower shall fail to pay any interest on the Note or any commitment fee or
other Obligation as and within five days of when due; or
(c) The
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (1) shall fail to pay at maturity,
or
within any applicable period of grace, any principal of or interest on any
other
borrowed money obligation or shall fail to observe or perform any term, covenant
or agreement contained in any agreement or obligation by which it is bound,
or
(2) is in default under or in violation of any Legal Requirement; or
(d) Any
representation or warranty made in connection with any Credit Document shall
prove to have been incorrect, false or misleading; or
(e) Default
shall occur in the punctual and complete performance of any covenant of the
Borrower or any other Person contained in any Credit Document; or
-11-
(f) A
final
judgment for the payment of money shall be rendered against the Borrower or
any
of its Subsidiaries and (1) the same shall remain undischarged by the date
as of
which the judgment creditor may execute thereon and (2) such execution shall
not
be effectively stayed; or
(g) Any
Obligor shall claim, or any court shall find or rule, that the Lender does
not
have a valid Lien as provided for herein on any security which may have been
provided by such Obligor; or
(h) The
sale,
encumbrance or abandonment (except as otherwise expressly permitted by the
Credit Documents) of any Collateral; or the making of any levy, seizure or
attachment thereof or thereon; or the loss, theft, substantial damage, or
destruction thereof; or
(i) Any
order
shall be entered in any proceeding against the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries decreeing the dissolution, liquidation or split-up thereof, and
such order shall remain in effect for 30 days; or
(j) The
occurrence of an Event of Default under any Credit Document; or
(k) The
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall make a general assignment for the
benefit of creditors or shall petition or apply to any tribunal for the
appointment of a trustee, custodian, receiver or liquidator of all or any
substantial part of its business, estate or assets or shall commence any
proceeding under any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency,
readjustment of debt, dissolution or liquidation law of any jurisdiction,
whether now or hereafter in effect; or
(l) Any
such
petition or application shall be filed or any such proceeding shall be commenced
against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and the Borrower or such
Subsidiary by any act or omission shall indicate approval thereof, consent
thereto or acquiescence therein, or an order shall be entered appointing a
trustee, custodian, receiver or liquidator of all or any substantial part of
the
assets of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or granting relief to the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or approving the petition in any such
proceeding, and such order shall remain in effect for more than 60 days;
or
(m) The
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall fail generally to pay its debts as
they become due or suffer any writ of attachment or execution or any similar
process to be issued or levied against it or any substantial part of its
Property which is not released, stayed, bonded or vacated within 30 days after
its issue or levy; or
(n) The
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall have concealed, removed, or permitted
to be concealed or removed, any part of its Property, with intent to hinder,
delay or defraud its creditors or any of them, or made or suffered a transfer
of
any of its Property which may be fraudulent under any bankruptcy, fraudulent
conveyance or similar law; or shall have made any transfer of its Property
to or
for the benefit of a creditor at a time when other creditors similarly situated
have not been paid; or
(o) The
President or Chief Executive Officer of the Borrower is an individual who is
not
a member of the Management Group; or
(p) Members
of the Management Group and their respective spouses, descendants and Affiliates
in the aggregate do not own at least 15% of the outstanding equity issued by
the
Borrower.
7.2 Remedies
Cumulative.
No
remedy, right or power conferred upon the Lender is intended to be exclusive
of
any other remedy, right or power given hereunder or now or hereafter existing
at
law, in equity, or otherwise, and all such remedies, rights and powers shall
be
cumulative.
8. Miscellaneous.
8.1 No
Waiver.
No
waiver of any Default shall be deemed to be a waiver of any other Default.
No
failure to exercise or delay in exercising any right or power under any Credit
Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial
exercise of any such right or power preclude any further or other exercise
thereof or the exercise of any other right or power. No amendment, modification
or waiver of any Credit Document shall be effective unless the same is in
writing and signed by the Person against whom such amendment is sought to be
enforced. No notice to or demand on the Borrower or any other Person shall
entitle the Borrower or any other Person to any other or further notice or
demand in similar or other circumstances.
-12-
8.2 Notices.
All
notices under the Credit Documents shall be in writing and either
(1) delivered against receipt therefor;
(2) mailed
by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or (3) sent
by
telecopy, in each case addressed as follows:
(a)
|
If
to the Borrower, to:
|
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Group Inc.
|
|
3100
JPMorgan Chase Tower
|
|
000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
|
|
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000
|
|
Telecopy
No.: (000) 000-0000
|
|
(b)
|
If
to the Lender, to:
|
JPMorgan
Chase Bank, National Association
|
|
000
Xxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx
Xxxxx XXX-X/000
|
|
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000
|
|
Attention:
Xxxxx X. Xxxx
|
|
Telecopy
No.: (000) 000-0000
|
or
to
such other address as a party may designate. Notices shall be deemed to have
been given (whether actually received or not) when delivered (or, if mailed,
on
the second Business Day after deposit with the United States Postal Service);
but,
the
notices required or permitted by Sections
2.3
and
3.1(c)(1)
shall be
effective only when actually received by the Lender. Actual notice shall always
be effective.
8.3 Governing
Law. Unless
otherwise specified therein, each Credit Document shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas and the United
States of America.
8.4 Survival;
Parties Bound. All
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements made by or on behalf
of
the Borrower in connection herewith shall (a) survive the execution and delivery
of the Credit Documents; (b) not be affected by any investigation made by any
Person, and (c) bind the Borrower and its successors, trustees, receivers and
assigns and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Lender;
but
the
undertaking of the Lender hereunder to make Loans and issue Letters of Credit
shall not inure to the benefit of any successor or assign of the Borrower.
The
term of this Agreement shall be until the final maturity of the Note, the expiry
or cancellation of all Letters of Credit and the payment of all amounts due
under the Credit Documents.
8.5 Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in several identical counterparts, and by the parties
hereto on separate counterparts, and each counterpart, when so executed and
delivered, shall constitute an original instrument, and all such separate
counterparts shall constitute but one and the same instrument.
8.6 Usury
Not Intended; Refund of Any Excess Payments.
It is
the intent of the parties in the execution and performance of this Agreement
to
contract in strict compliance with the usury laws of the State of Texas and
the
United States of America from time to time in effect. In furtherance thereof,
the Lender and the Borrower stipulate and agree that none of the terms and
provisions contained in any Credit Document shall ever be construed to create
a
contract to pay for the use, forbearance or detention of money with interest
at
a rate in excess of the Highest Lawful Rate and that for purposes hereof
“interest” shall include the aggregate of all charges which constitute interest
under such laws that are contracted for, reserved, taken, charged or received
under this Agreement. In determining whether or not the interest paid or
payable, under any specific contingency, exceeds the Highest Lawful Rate, the
Borrower and the Lender shall, to the maximum extent permitted under applicable
law, (a) treat all Loans as but a single extension of credit (and Borrower
and the Lender agree that such is the case and that provision herein for
multiple Loans and Notes is for convenience only); (b) characterize
any
nonprincipal payment as an expense, fee or premium rather than as interest;
(c) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof, and
(d) ”spread” the total amount of interest throughout the entire
contemplated term of the Loans. The Lender and the Borrower agree that Chapter
346 of the Texas Finance Code shall not apply to this Agreement, the Note,
any
Loan or any Letter of Credit. The provisions of this Section shall control
over
all other provisions of the Credit Documents which may be in apparent conflict
herewith.
-13-
8.7 Captions. The
headings and captions appearing in the Credit Documents have been included
solely for convenience and shall not be considered in construing the Credit
Documents.
8.8 Expenses. Any
provision to the contrary notwithstanding, and whether or not the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement shall be consummated, the Borrower shall pay
on
demand all out-of-pocket expenses (including, without limitation, the fees
and
expenses of counsel for the Lender) in connection with (a) the negotiation,
preparation, execution, filing, recording, refiling, re-recording, modification,
supplementing and waiver of the Credit Documents; (b) the realizing upon the
Collateral and all costs and expenses relating to the Lender’s exercising any of
its rights and remedies under any Credit Document or at law, and (c) the
performance by the Lender (in the applicable Obligor’s name or in the name of
the Lender) of any agreement, covenant or obligations of any Obligor under
the
Credit Documents which such Obligor has not performed, in each case including
all appraisal fees, consulting fees, filing fees, taxes, brokerage fees and
commissions and Uniform Commercial Code search fees; but
(x) no
right or option granted by an Obligor to the Lender pursuant to any Credit
Document shall be deemed to impose or admit a duty on the Lender to supervise,
monitor or control any aspect of the character or condition of any of the
Collateral or any operations conducted in connection with it for the benefit
of
any Obligor or any other Person, and (y) the performance by the Lender of an
agreement, covenant or obligation of any Obligor under any Credit Document
which
such Obligor has not performed shall not be considered or constitute a cure
of
such default or a waiver of the Lender’s right at any time after an Event of
Default to exercise its rights and remedies under the Credit Documents and
applicable law. If the Lender makes a payment in satisfaction of an agreement,
covenant or obligation of any Obligor under any Credit Document which such
Obligor has not performed, then the Lender shall be fully and automatically
subrogated to all of the rights of the Person receiving such payment. Interest
shall accrue on all such expenses from the date of written demand therefor
at
the Past Due Rate if
such
expenses are not reimbursed within 15 days after such date of demand. The
obligations of the Borrower under this and the following Section shall survive
the termination of this Agreement and/or the payment of the Note.
8.9 Indemnification. The
Borrower agrees to indemnify, defend and hold the Lender and its shareholders,
directors, officers, employees and agents harmless from and against any and
all
loss, liability, obligation, damage, penalty, judgment, claim, deficiency and
expense (including interest, penalties, attorneys’ fees and amounts paid in
settlement) to which such Person may become subject arising out of or based
upon
the Credit Documents any Loan or any Letter of Credit, WHETHER
THROUGH THE ACTUAL OR ALLEGED NEGLIGENCE OF SUCH PERSON OR
OTHERWISE,
except
and to the extent caused by the gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad
faith of the Person otherwise so indemnified.
8.10 Entire
Agreement. The
Credit Documents embody the entire agreement between the Borrower and the Lender
and supersede all prior proposals, agreements and understandings relating to
the
subject matter hereof.
8.11 Severability. If
any provision of any Credit Document shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable
in any respect under any applicable law, the validity, legality and
enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not be affected or impaired
thereby. Each waiver in the Credit Documents is subject to the overriding and
controlling rule that it shall be effective only if and to the extent that
(a)
it is not prohibited by applicable law and (b) applicable law neither provides
for nor allows any material sanction to be imposed against the Lender for having
bargained for and obtained it.
-14-
8.12 Disclosures. Every
reference in the Credit Documents to disclosures of the Borrower to the Lender,
to the extent that such references refer to disclosures at or before the
execution of this Agreement, shall be deemed strictly to refer only to written
disclosures delivered to the Lender in an orderly manner concurrently with
the
execution hereof.
THE
CREDIT DOCUMENTS REPRESENT THE FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND MAY
NOT
BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL
AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES.
THERE
ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the
date
set forth above.
XXXXXXX
XXXXXX XXXXXX GROUP, INC.,
a Texas corporation
|
||
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Xxx X. Xxxxxx | |
|
||
Xxx
X. Xxxxxx
Chief Executive
Officer
|
JPMORGAN
CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
a national banking
association
|
||
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxx | |
|
||
Xxxxx
X. Xxxx
Senior Vice President
|
||
Exhibit
A
- Note
Exhibit
B
- Request for Loan
Exhibit
C
- Legal Opinion
Exhibit
D
- Certificate of No Default
Schedule
1 - Existing Letters of Credit
Appendix
I - Subsidiaries
-15-