EXHIBIT 10.22
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LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
among
LESLIE'S POOLMART, INC.,
and
LESLIE'S POOL BRITE, INC.,
as Borrowers, on the one hand,
THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS NAMED HEREIN,
as Lenders,
and
FOOTHILL CAPITAL CORPORATION,
as Agent, on the other hand
Dated as of June 22, 2000
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page(s)
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1. DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION.......................................... 1
1.1 Definitions..................................................... 1
1.2 Accounting Terms................................................ 16
1.3 Code............................................................ 16
1.4 Construction.................................................... 16
1.5 Schedules and Exhibits.......................................... 16
2. LOAN AND TERMS OF PAYMENT............................................. 17
2.1 Revolving Advances.............................................. 17
2.2 Letters of Credit............................................... 23
2.3 Intentionally Omitted........................................... 26
2.4 Intentionally Omitted........................................... 26
2.5 Payments........................................................ 27
2.6 Overadvances.................................................... 28
2.7 Interest and Letter of Credit Fees: Rates, Payments, and
Calculations.................................................... 28
2.8 Collection of Accounts.......................................... 29
2.9 Crediting Payments; Application of Collections.................. 29
2.10 Designated Account.............................................. 30
2.11 Maintenance of Loan Account; Statements of Obligations.......... 30
2.12 Fees............................................................ 30
2.13 Eurodollar Rate Loans........................................... 31
2.14 Illegality...................................................... 32
2.15 Requirements of Law............................................. 33
2.16 Indemnity....................................................... 34
3. CONDITIONS; TERM OF AGREEMENT......................................... 35
3.1 Conditions Precedent to the Initial Advance and the Initial
Letter of Credit................................................ 35
3.2 Conditions Precedent to all Advances and all Letters of Credit.. 36
3.3 Condition Subsequent............................................ 37
3.4 Term; Automatic Renewal......................................... 37
3.5 Effect of Termination........................................... 37
3.6 Early Termination or Reduction of Maximum Amount by Borrower.... 37
3.7 Termination Upon Event of Default............................... 38
4. CREATION OF SECURITY INTEREST......................................... 38
4.1 Grant of Security Interest...................................... 38
4.2 Negotiable Collateral........................................... 38
4.3 Collection of Accounts, General Intangibles, and Negotiable
Collateral...................................................... 38
4.4 Delivery of Additional Documentation Required................... 39
4.5 Power of Attorney............................................... 39
4.6 Right to Inspect................................................ 39
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5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES........................................ 40
5.1 No Encumbrances................................................. 40
5.2 Intentionally Omitted....................Error! Bookmark not defined.
5.3 Inventory....................................................... 40
5.4 Equipment....................................................... 40
5.5 Location of Inventory and Equipment............................. 40
5.6 Inventory Records............................................... 40
5.7 Location of Chief Executive Office; FEIN........................ 40
5.8 Due Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries................ 40
5.9 Due Authorization; No Conflict.................................. 41
5.10 Litigation...................................................... 42
5.11 No Material Adverse Change...................................... 42
5.12 Solvency. Borrower is Solvent.................................. 42
5.13 Employee Benefits............................................... 42
5.14 Environmental Condition......................................... 42
6. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS................................................. 43
6.1 Accounting System............................................... 43
6.2 Collateral Reporting............................................ 43
6.3 Financial Statements, Reports, Certificates..................... 43
6.4 Inventory at Net Book Value; Physical Count..................... 44
6.5 Intentionally Omitted........................................... 44
6.6 Returns......................................................... 44
6.7 Title to Equipment.............................................. 45
6.8 Maintenance of Equipment........................................ 45
6.9 Taxes........................................................... 45
6.10 Insurance....................................................... 45
6.11 No Setoffs or Counterclaims..................................... 46
6.12 Location of Inventory and Equipment............................. 46
6.13 Compliance with Laws............................................ 46
6.14 Employee Benefits............................................... 46
6.15 Leases.......................................................... 47
7. NEGATIVE COVENANTS.................................................... 47
7.1 Indebtedness.................................................... 47
7.2 Liens........................................................... 48
7.3 Restrictions on Fundamental Changes............................. 48
7.4 Disposal of Assets.............................................. 49
7.5 Change Name..................................................... 49
7.6 Guarantee....................................................... 49
7.7 Nature of Business.............................................. 49
7.8 Prepayments and Amendments...................................... 49
7.9 Change of Control............................................... 49
7.10 Consignments.................................................... 49
7.11 Distributions................................................... 49
7.12 Accounting Methods.............................................. 49
7.13 Investments..................................................... 49
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7.14 Transactions with Affiliates.................................... 50
7.15 Suspension...................................................... 50
7.16 Compensation.................................................... 50
7.17 Use of Proceeds................................................. 50
7.18 Change in Location of Chief Executive Office; Inventory and
Equipment with Bailees.......................................... 51
7.19 No Prohibited Transactions Under ERISA.......................... 51
7.20 Financial Covenants............................................. 52
7.21 Capital Expenditures............................................ 52
8. EVENTS OF DEFAULT..................................................... 52
9. THE LENDER GROUP'S RIGHTS AND REMEDIES................................ 54
9.1 Rights and Remedies............................................. 54
9.2 Remedies Cumulative............................................. 56
10. TAXES AND EXPENSES................................................... 56
11. WAIVERS; INDEMNIFICATION............................................. 56
11.1 Demand; Protest; etc............................................ 56
11.2 The Lender Group's Liability for Collateral..................... 56
11.3 Indemnification................................................. 57
12. NOTICES.............................................................. 62
13. CHOICE OF LAW AND VENUE; JURY TRIAL WAIVER........................... 63
14. DESTRUCTION OF BORROWER'S DOCUMENTS.................................. 64
15. ASSIGNMENTS AND PARTICIPATIONS; SUCCESSORS........................... 64
15.1 Assignments and Participations.................................. 64
15.2 Successors...................................................... 66
16. AMENDMENTS; WAIVERS.................................................. 67
16.1 Amendments and Waivers.......................................... 67
16.2 No Waivers; Cumulative Remedies................................. 68
17. AGENT; THE LENDER GROUP.............................................. 68
17.1 Appointment and Authorization of Agent......................... 68
17.2 Delegation of Duties........................................... 69
17.3 Liability of Agent-Related Persons............................. 69
17.4 Reliance by Agent.............................................. 69
17.5 Notice of Default or Event of Default.......................... 70
17.6 Credit Decision................................................ 70
17.7 Costs and Expenses; Indemnification............................ 71
17.8 Agent in Individual Capacity................................... 71
17.9 Successor Agent................................................ 72
17.10 Withholding Tax................................................ 72
17.11 Collateral Matters............................................. 73
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17.12 Restrictions on Actions by Lenders; Sharing of Payments........ 74
17.13 Agency for Perfection.......................................... 75
17.14 Payments by Agent to the Lenders............................... 75
17.15 Concerning the Collateral and Related Loan Documents........... 75
17.16 Field Audits and Examination Reports; Confidentiality;
Disclaimers by Lenders; Other Reports and Information.......... 75
17.17 Several Obligations; No Liability.............................. 76
18. GENERAL PROVISIONS.................................................... 77
18.1 Effectiveness................................................... 77
18.2 Section Headings................................................ 77
18.3 Interpretation.................................................. 77
18.4 Severability of Provisions...................................... 77
18.5 Counterparts; Telefacsimile Execution........................... 77
18.6 Revival and Reinstatement of Obligations........................ 77
18.7 Integration..................................................... 78
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SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS
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Schedule C-1 Commitments on Closing Date
Schedule E-1 Inventory Locations
Schedule P-1 Permitted Liens
Schedule 5.7 Chief Executive Offices, XXXXx
Schedule 5.8 Subsidiaries
Schedule 5.10 Litigation
Schedule 6.12 Location of Inventory and Equipment
Schedule 7.1 Indebtedness
Schedule 7.4 Sale and Leaseback Properties
Exhibit A-1 Form of Assignment and Acceptance
Exhibit B-1 Form of Business Plan
Exhibit C-1 Form of Compliance Certificate
Exhibit E-1 Eligible Transferees
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LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
THIS LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), is entered into as of
June 21, 2000, among LESLIE'S POOLMART, INC., a Delaware corporation
("Poolmart"), LESLIE'S POOL BRITE, INC., a California corporation ("Pool Brite";
each of Poolmart and Pool Brite, a "Borrower," and collectively, "Borrowers"),
with Borrowers' chief executive office located at 00000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000, on the one hand, and the financial institutions
listed on the signature pages hereof (such financial institutions, together with
their respective successors and assigns, are referred to hereinafter each
individually as a "Lender" and collectively as the "Lenders"), and FOOTHILL
CAPITAL CORPORATION, as Agent, on the other hand.
The parties agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION.
1.1 Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall
have the following definitions:
"Account Debtor" means any Person who is or who may become obligated
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under, with respect to, or on account of, an Account.
"Accounts" means all currently existing and hereafter arising
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accounts, contract rights, and all other forms of obligations owing to Borrower
arising out of the sale or lease of goods or the rendition of services by
Borrower, irrespective of whether earned by performance, and any and all credit
insurance, guaranties, or security therefor.
"Adjusted Eurodollar Rate" means, with respect to each Interest Period
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for any Eurodollar Rate Loan, the rate per annum (rounded upwards, to the next
whole multiple of 1/100 of 1% per annum) determined by dividing (a) the
Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period by (b) a percentage equal to (i) 100%
minus (ii) the Reserve Percentage. The Adjusted Eurodollar Rate shall be
adjusted on and as of the effective day of any change in the Reserve Percentage.
"Advances" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).
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"Affiliate" means, as applied to any Person, any other Person who
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directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, is under common control with
or is a director or executive officer of such Person. For purposes of this
definition, "control" means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power
to vote 15% or more of the securities having ordinary voting power for the
election of directors or the direct or indirect power to direct the management
and policies of a Person.
"Agent" means Foothill, solely in its capacity as agent for the
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Lenders, and shall include any successor agent.
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"Agent Advance" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(h).
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"Agent Loan" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(g).
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"Agent-Related Persons" means Agent, together with its Affiliates, and
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the officers, directors, employees, and agents of Agent and such Affiliates.
"Agent's Account" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8.
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"Agent's Fee Letter" means that certain letter, of even date herewith,
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by Agent addressed to Borrower concerning certain fees payable to Agent.
"Agreement" has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
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"Applicable Margin" means, at any time, with respect to any Advance:
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(a) from the Closing Date until the first adjustment pursuant to clause (b)
hereof: (i) 1.75% with respect to Eurodollar Rate Loans consisting of Advances;
and (ii) 0.00% with respect to Reference Rate Loans consisting of Advances; and
(b) commencing on the first day of the first month following an adjustment as
provided in the immediately succeeding sentence, the rate set forth below which
corresponds to the EBITDA of Borrower for which Agent receives the financial
statements and Compliance Certificate required below, determined and adjusted as
provided herein. The Applicable Margin shall be adjusted quarterly after each
delivery to Agent of the financial statements of Borrower required pursuant to
Section 6.3, together with the corresponding Compliance Certificate, each such
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adjustment to be effective on the first day of the first calendar month after
each such delivery.
Applicable Margin For:
EBITDA Level Eurodollar Rate Loans Reference Rate Loans
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Less than $16 million 2.00% 0%
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Greater than or equal to $16 million, less than $24 1.75% 0%
million
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Greater than or equal to $24 million 1.50% 0%
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Notwithstanding anything in this definition to the contrary, in the
event that Agent shall fail to receive any such financial statements and the
related Compliance Certificate for any calendar month within 45 days following
the end of such month, then the Applicable Margin shall, at the end of such 45th
day, immediately and without notice or further action be the highest Applicable
Margin provided herein (such Applicable Margin to be in effect until the Agent
receives the monthly financial statements of Borrower required under Section 6.3
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for the most recent month and the related Compliance Certificate).
"Assignee" has the meaning set forth in Section 15.1.
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"Assignment and Acceptance" has the meaning set forth in Section
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15.1(a) and shall be in the form of Exhibit A-1.
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"Authorized Person" means any officer or other employee of Borrower.
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"Availability" means, as of the date of determination, the result (so
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long as such result is a positive number) of (a) the lesser of the Borrowing
Base or the Maximum Amount, less (b) the Revolving Facility Usage.
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"Average Monthly Availability" means, as of any date of determination,
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(a) the average daily borrowing availability for the preceding month, less (b)
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the sum of (i) the average daily amount of Advances that were outstanding during
the immediately preceding month, plus (ii) the average daily amount of the
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undrawn Letters of Credit that were outstanding during the immediately preceding
month.
"Bankruptcy Code" means the United States Bankruptcy Code (11 U.S.C.
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(S) 101 et seq.), as amended, and any successor statute.
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"Benefit Plan" means a "defined benefit plan" (as defined in Section
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3(35) of ERISA) for which Borrower, any Subsidiary of Borrower, or any ERISA
Affiliate has been an "employer" (as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA) within
the past six years.
"Blocked Account" shall mean a depositary account established pursuant
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to the Blocked Account Agreement.
"Blocked Account Agreement" means a Depository Account Agreement, in
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form and substance satisfactory to Agent, among Borrower, Agent, and the Blocked
Account Bank.
"Blocked Account Bank" means Xxxxx Fargo or such other bank as may be
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agreed to by Agent and Borrower from time to time.
"Board of Directors" means the board of directors (or comparable
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managers) of Poolmart or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf
of the board.
"Borrower" and "Borrowers" have the meaning set forth in the preamble
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to this Agreement.
"Borrowers' Books" means all of Borrowers' Books and records
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including: ledgers; records indicating, summarizing, or evidencing Borrowers'
properties or assets (including the Collateral) or liabilities; all information
relating to Borrowers' business operations or financial condition; and all
computer programs, disk or tape files, printouts, runs, or other computer
prepared information.
"Borrowing" means a borrowing hereunder consisting of Advances made on
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the same day by the Lenders, or by Agent in the case of an Agent Loan or an
Agent Advance.
"Borrowing Base" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).
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"Business Day" means (a) any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or a
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day on which banks in Los Angeles, California, are required or permitted to be
closed, and (b) with
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respect to all notices, determinations, fundings and payments in connection with
the Eurodollar Rate or Eurodollar Rate Loans, any day that is a Business Day
pursuant to clause (a) above and that is also a day on which trading in Dollars
is carried on by and between banks in the London interbank market.
"Business Plan" means Borrower's and its Subsidiaries' projections
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attached hereto as Exhibit B-1.
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"Capital Lease" means, for any Person, any lease of property (whether
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personal, real or mixed) which, in accordance with GAAP, would, at the time a
determination is made, be required to be recorded as a capital lease in respect
of which such Person is liable as lessee.
"Capital Stock" of any person means any and all shares, interest,
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participations, or other equivalents (however designated) of, or rights,
warrants, or options to purchase, corporate stock or any other equity interest
(however designated) of or in such Person.
"Cash Equivalents" means (a) marketable direct obligations issued or
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unconditionally guaranteed by the United States or issued by any agency thereof
and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States, in each case
maturing within 1 year from the date of acquisition thereof, (b) marketable
direct obligations issued by any state of the United States or any political
subdivision of any such state or any public instrumentality thereof maturing
within 1 year from the date of acquisition thereof and, at the time of
acquisition, having the highest rating obtainable from either S&P or Xxxxx'x,
(c) commercial paper maturing no more than 1 year from the date of acquisition
thereof and, at the time of acquisition, having a rating of A-1 or P-1, or
better, from S&P or Xxxxx'x, and (d) certificates of deposit or bankers'
acceptances maturing within 1 year from the date of acquisition thereof either
(i) issued by any bank organized under the laws of the United States or any
state thereof which bank has a rating of A or A2, or better, from S&P or
Xxxxx'x, or (ii) certificates of deposit less than or equal to $100,000 in the
aggregate issued by any other bank insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation.
"Change of Control" means (a) any "person" or "group" (within the
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meaning of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than Permitted
Holder, becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the
Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of an amount equal to the greater of (x)
35% of, or (y) the percentage held by the Permitted Holder of, the Stock of
Poolmart having the right to vote for the election of members of the Board of
Directors, or (b) a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of
Poolmart do not constitute Continuing Directors, or (c) Permitted Holder ceases
to own at least 35% of the Stock of Poolmart having the right to vote for the
election of the members of the Board of Directors, or (d) Poolmart ceases to
directly own and control 100% of the outstanding capital Stock of each of its
Subsidiaries extant as of the Closing Date.
"Closing Date" means the date of the first to occur of the making of
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the initial Advance or the issuance of the initial Letter of Credit.
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"Code" means the California Commercial Code, as amended from time to
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time.
"Collateral" means each Borrower's right, title and interest in each
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of the following:
(a) the Accounts,
(b) Borrowers' Books,
(c) the Equipment,
(d) the General Intangibles,
(e) the Inventory,
(f) the Investment Property,
(g) the Negotiable Collateral,
(h) any money, or other assets of Borrower that now or hereafter come
into the possession, custody, or control of the Lender Group, and
(i) the proceeds and products, whether tangible or intangible, of any
of the foregoing, including proceeds of insurance covering any or
all of the Collateral of Borrowers, and any and all Accounts,
Borrowers' Books, Equipment, General Intangibles, Inventory,
Investment Property, Negotiable Collateral, Real Property, money,
deposit accounts, or other tangible or intangible property
resulting from the sale, exchange, collection, or other
disposition of any of the foregoing, or any portion thereof or
interest therein, and the proceeds thereof.
"Collateral Access Agreement" means a landlord waiver, mortgagee
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waiver, bailee letter, or acknowledgement agreement with respect to Poolmart's
chief executive office and Borrowers' distribution centers, in form and
substance satisfactory to Agent.
"Collections" means all cash, checks, notes, instruments, and other
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items of payment (including, insurance proceeds, proceeds of cash sales, rental
proceeds, and tax refunds).
"Commitment" means, at any time with respect to a Lender, the
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principal amount set forth beside such Lender's name under the heading
"Commitment" on Schedule C-1 or on the signature page of the Assignment and
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Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender became a Lender hereunder in accordance
with the provisions of Section 15.1, as such Commitment may be adjusted from
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time to time in accordance with the provisions of Section 15.1 and "Commitments"
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means, collectively, the aggregate amount of the commitments of all of the
Lenders.
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"Compliance Certificate" means a certificate substantially in the form
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of Exhibit C-1 and delivered by the chief accounting officer of Borrower to
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Agent.
"Continuing Director" means (a) any member of the Board of Directors
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who was a director (or comparable manager) of Poolmart on the Closing Date, and
(b) any individual who becomes a member of the Board of Directors after the
Closing Date if such individual was appointed or nominated for election to the
Board of Directors by a majority of the Continuing Directors, but excluding any
such individual originally proposed for election in opposition to the Board of
Directors in office at the Closing Date in an actual or threatened election
contest relating to the election of the directors (or comparable managers) of
Poolmart (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 under the Exchange Act) and
whose initial assumption of office resulted from such contest or the settlement
thereof.
"Core Advances" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).
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"Daily Balance" means, with respect to each day during the term of
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this Agreement, the amount of an Obligation owed at the end of such day.
"Default" means an event, condition, or default that, with the giving
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of notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default.
"Defaulting Lender" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(f)(ii).
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"Defaulting Lenders Rate" means the Reference Rate for the first three
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days from and after the date the relevant payment is due and thereafter at the
interest rate then applicable to Advances.
"Designated Account" means account number _______________ __________
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of Borrowers maintained with Borrowers' Designated Account Bank, or such other
deposit account of Borrowers (located within the United States) which has been
designated, in writing and from time to time, by Borrowers to Agent.
"Designated Account Bank" means Xxxxx Fargo, whose office is located
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at __________________, and whose ABA number is __________.
"Disbursement Letter" means an instructional letter executed and
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delivered by Borrower to Agent regarding the extensions of credit to be made on
the Closing Date, the form and substance of which shall be satisfactory to
Agent.
"Dollars or $" means United States dollars.
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"Early Termination Premium" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.
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"EBITDA" means, for any Person at any time, the consolidated net
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earnings (or loss) of such Person and its Subsidiaries for the period of 12
consecutive calendar months most recently ended, minus extraordinary gains for
such period, plus all interest expense (including without limitation
amortization of capitalized financing costs), income taxes, extraordinary or
nonrecurring losses (but not including any write-down of Inventory or cash
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store closing costs), non-cash charges (including without limitation non-cash
compensation, write-off of fixed assets, and accrued but unpaid Management
Fees), employee termination charges incurred prior to the Closing Date, and
depreciation and amortization for such period, determined in accordance with
GAAP.
"Eligible Transferee" means those entities set forth on Exhibit E-1
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hereto as the same may be amended from time to time by Agent, with the consent
of Borrowers, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
"Equipment" means all of a Borrower's present and hereafter acquired
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machinery, machine tools, motors, equipment, furniture, furnishings, fixtures,
vehicles (including motor vehicles and trailers), tools, parts, goods (other
than consumer goods, farm products, or Inventory), wherever located, including,
(a) any interest of such Borrower in any of the foregoing, and (b) all
attachments, accessories, accessions, replacements, substitutions, additions,
and improvements to any of the foregoing.
"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, 29
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U.S.C. (S)(S) 1000 et seq., amendments thereto, successor statutes, and
regulations or guidance promulgated thereunder.
"ERISA Affiliate" means (a) any corporation subject to ERISA whose
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employees are treated as employed by the same employer as the employees of a
Borrower under IRC Section 414(b), (b) any trade or business subject to ERISA
whose employees are treated as employed by the same employer as the employees of
a Borrower under IRC Section 414(c), (c) solely for purposes of Section 302 of
ERISA and Section 412 of the IRC, any organization subject to ERISA that is a
member of an affiliated service group of which Borrower is a member under IRC
Section 414(m), or (d) solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section
412 of the IRC, any party subject to ERISA that is a party to an arrangement
with Borrower and whose employees are aggregated with the employees of Borrower
under IRC Section 414(o).
"ERISA Event" means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to any Benefit
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Plan or Multiemployer Plan, (b) the withdrawal of a Borrower, any of its
Subsidiaries or ERISA Affiliates from a Benefit Plan during a plan year in which
it was a "substantial employer" (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA), (c)
the providing of notice of intent to terminate a Benefit Plan in a distress
termination (as described in Section 4041(c) of ERISA), (d) the institution by
the PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Benefit Plan or Multiemployer Plan, (e)
any event or condition (i) that provides a basis under Section 4042(a)(1), (2),
or (3) of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to
administer, any Benefit Plan or Multiemployer Plan, or (ii) that may result in
termination of a Multiemployer Plan pursuant to Section 4041A of ERISA, (f) the
partial or complete withdrawal within the meaning of Sections 4203 and 4205 of
ERISA, of a Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or ERISA Affiliates from a
Multiemployer Plan, or (g) providing any security to any Plan under Section
401(a)(29) of the IRC by Borrower or its Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA
Affiliates.
"Event of Default" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.
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"Eurodollar Rate" means, with respect to each Interest Period for a
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Eurodollar Rate Loan, the interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if
necessary, to the next whole multiple of 1/16 of 1% per annum) at which United
States dollar deposits are offered to Xxxxx Fargo (or its Affiliates) by major
banks in the London interbank market (or other eurodollar market selected by
Agent) on or about 11:00 a.m. (California time) two Business Days prior to the
commencement of such Interest Period in amounts comparable to the amount of the
Eurodollar Rate Loans requested by and available to Borrower in accordance with
this Agreement and for the applicable Interest Period.
"Eurodollar Rate Loan" means any Advance made or outstanding hereunder
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during any period when interest on such Advance is payable based on the Adjusted
Eurodollar Rate.
"Existing Lender" means Xxxxx Fargo.
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"FEIN" means Federal Employer Identification Number.
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"Foothill" means Foothill Capital Corporation, a California
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corporation.
"Funding Date" means the date on which a Borrowing occurs.
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"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles as in effect
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from time to time in the United States, consistently applied.
"GEI" means Green Equity Investors II, L.P. or, after a pro rata
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distribution of all of the capital stock of Poolmart to its partners, such
partners.
"General Intangibles" means all of any Person's present and future
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general intangibles and other personal property (including contract rights,
rights arising under common law, statutes, or regulations, choses or things in
action, goodwill, patents, trade names, trademarks, service marks, copyrights,
blueprints, drawings, purchase orders, customer lists, monies due or recoverable
from pension funds, route lists, rights to payment and other rights under any
royalty or licensing agreements, infringement claims, computer programs,
information contained on computer disks or tapes, literature, reports, catalogs,
deposit accounts, insurance premium rebates, tax refunds, and tax refund
claims), other than goods, Accounts, and Negotiable Collateral.
"Governing Documents" means the certificate or articles of
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incorporation, by-laws, or other organizational or governing documents of any
Person.
"Governmental Authority" means any nation or government, any state or
----------------------
other political subdivision thereof and any entity exercising executive,
legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining
to government.
"Hazardous Materials" means (a) substances that are defined or listed
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in, or otherwise classified pursuant to, any applicable laws or regulations as
"hazardous substances," "hazardous materials," "hazardous wastes," "toxic
substances," or any other formulation intended to define, list, or classify
substances by reason of deleterious properties such as
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ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity,
or "EP toxicity", (b) oil, petroleum, or petroleum derived substances, natural
gas, natural gas liquids, synthetic gas, drilling fluids, produced waters, and
other wastes associated with the exploration, development, or production of
crude oil, natural gas, or geothermal resources, (c) any flammable substances or
explosives or any radioactive materials, and (d) asbestos in any form or
electrical equipment that contains any oil or dielectric fluid containing levels
of polychlorinated biphenyls in excess of 50 parts per million.
"Hedge Agreement" means, any interest rate swap, cap or collar
---------------
agreements, interest rate future or option contracts, currency swap agreements,
currency future option contracts and other similar agreements.
"Incremental Advances" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).
-------------------- --------------
"Indebtedness" means: (a) all obligations of a Person for borrowed
------------
money, (b) all obligations of a Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, or
other similar instruments and all reimbursement or other obligations of a Person
in respect of letters of credit, bankers acceptances, interest rate swaps, or
other similar financial products, (c) all obligations of a Person under capital
leases, (d) all obligations or liabilities of others secured by a Lien on any
property or asset of a Person, irrespective of whether such obligation or
liability is assumed, to the extent, if such obligation or liability is non-
recourse, of the lesser of (x) the value of such asset and (y) the amount of the
obligation or liability so secured, and (e) any obligation of a Person
guaranteeing or intended to guarantee (whether guaranteed, endorsed, co-made,
discounted, or sold with recourse to such Person) any indebtedness, lease,
dividend, letter of credit, or other obligation of any other Person.
"Indemnified Liabilities" has the meaning set forth in Section 11.3.
----------------------- ------------
"Indemnified Person" has the meaning set forth in Section 11.3.
------------------ ------------
"Indenture" means that certain 10-3/8% Senior Notes Indenture, dated
---------
as of June 11, 1997, between U.S. Trust Company of California, N.A., as Trustee,
and Borrower, as Issuer, as amended from time to time.
"Insolvency Proceeding" means any proceeding commenced by or against
---------------------
any Person under any provision of the Bankruptcy Code or under any other
bankruptcy or insolvency law, assignments for the benefit of creditors, formal
or informal moratoria, compositions, extensions generally with creditors, or
proceedings seeking reorganization, arrangement, or other similar relief.
"Intangible Assets" means, with respect to any Person, that portion of
-----------------
the book value of all of such Person's assets that would be treated as
intangibles under GAAP.
"Intellectual Property Security Agreement" means any one of those
----------------------------------------
certain Intellectual Property Security Agreements, of even date herewith,
between a Borrower and Foothill.
9
"Interest Period" means, for any Eurodollar Rate Loan, the period
---------------
commencing on the Business Day such Eurodollar Rate Loan is disbursed or
continued, or on the Business Day on which a Reference Rate Loan is converted to
such Eurodollar Rate Loan, and ending on the date that is one, two, three, or
six months thereafter, as selected by Borrower and notified to Agent as provided
in Sections 2.13(a) and (b).
------------------------
"Inventory" means all present and future inventory in which a Person
---------
has any interest, including goods held for sale or lease or to be furnished
under a contract of service and all of such Person's present and future raw
materials, work in process, finished goods, and packing and shipping materials,
wherever located.
"Inventory Reserves" means the reserves, if applicable, as provided
------------------
under Section 2.1(b).
--------------
"Investment Property" means all of a Person's presently existing and
-------------------
hereafter acquired or arising investment property (as that term is defined in
Section 9115 of the Code).
"IRC" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the
---
regulations thereunder.
"L/C" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).
--- --------------
"L/C Guaranty" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).
------------ --------------
"Lender" and "Lenders" have the respective meanings set forth in the
--------------------
preamble to this Agreement, and shall include any other Person made a party to
this Agreement in accordance with the provisions of Section 15.1.
------------
"Lender Group" means, individually and collectively, each of the
------------
individual Lenders and Agent.
"Lender Group Expenses" means:
---------------------
(a) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default, the
reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs or expenses (including taxes and
insurance premiums) that are paid or incurred by Agent that are required under
any of the Loan Documents to be reimbursed by Borrowers; fees or charges paid or
incurred by Agent in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby,
including out-of-pocket fees or charges for photocopying, notarization, couriers
and messengers, public record searches (including tax lien, litigation, and UCC
searches and including searches with the patent and trademark office or the
copyright office), filing or recording; costs and expenses incurred by Agent in
the disbursement of funds to Borrower (by wire transfer or otherwise); charges
paid or incurred by Agent resulting from the dishonor of checks; reasonable and
documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses paid or incurred by Agent to enforce
any provision of the Loan Documents, or in gaining possession of, maintaining,
handling, preserving, storing, shipping, selling, preparing for sale, or
advertising to sell the Collateral, or any portion thereof, irrespective of
whether a sale is consummated; reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and
expenses paid or incurred by Agent in
10
examining Borrowers' Books (subject to the limitations in Section 2.12(c));
---------------
reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses of third party claims
or any other suit paid or incurred by Agent in enforcing or defending the Loan
Documents or in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Loan
Documents or the Lender Group's relationship with Borrower or any guarantor; and
the Agent's reasonable and documented attorneys fees and expenses incurred in
structuring, drafting, reviewing, administering, amending, terminating or
enforcing or defending or concerning the Loan Documents (including attorneys
fees and expenses incurred in connection with a "workout," a "restructuring," or
an Insolvency Proceeding concerning Borrower or any guarantor of the
Obligations), irrespective of whether suit is brought;
(b) after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event
of Default, with respect to Agent, all of items referenced in subsection (a)
above, and, in addition, any member of the Lender Group's reasonable and
documented attorneys fees and expenses incurred in amending or enforcing the
Loan Documents (including attorneys fees and expenses incurred in connection
with a "workout," a "restructuring," or an Insolvency Proceeding concerning
Borrower or any guarantor of the Obligations), irrespective of whether suit is
brought; and
(c) after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event
of Default, all reasonable appraisal (including periodic Collateral appraisals)
fees and charges.
"Letter of Credit" means an L/C or an L/C Guaranty, as the context
----------------
requires.
"Lien" means any interest in property securing an obligation owed to,
----
or a claim by, any Person other than the owner of the property, whether such
interest shall be based on the common law, statute, or contract, whether such
interest shall be recorded or perfected, and whether such interest shall be
contingent upon the occurrence of some future event or events or the existence
of some future circumstance or circumstances, including the lien or security
interest arising from a mortgage, deed of trust, encumbrance, pledge,
hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, security agreement, adverse
claim or charge, conditional sale or trust receipt, or from a lease,
consignment, or bailment for security purposes and also including reservations,
exceptions, encroachments, easements, rights-of-way, covenants, conditions,
restrictions, leases, and other title exceptions and encumbrances affecting Real
Property.
"Loan Account" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11.
------------ ------------
"Loan Documents" means this Agreement, the Disbursement Letter, the
--------------
Letters of Credit, the Blocked Account Agreement, the Intellectual Property
Security Agreement, the Agent's Fee Letter, any note or notes executed by
Borrower and payable to the Lender Group, and any other agreement entered into,
now or in the future, in connection with this Agreement.
"Management Agreement" means that certain Management Agreement, dated
--------------------
June 11, 1997, between Poolmart and Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Partners, L.P., in the form
delivered by Poolmart to Agent prior to the Closing Date.
11
"Material Adverse Change" means (a) a material adverse change in the
-----------------------
business, prospects, operations, results of operations, assets, liabilities or
condition (financial or otherwise) of Poolmart on a consolidated basis, (b) the
material impairment of the Borrowers' ability to perform their obligations under
the Loan Documents or of the Lender Group to enforce the Obligations or realize
upon the Collateral, (c) a material adverse effect on the value of the
Collateral or the amount that the Lender Group would be likely to receive (after
giving consideration to delays in payment and costs of enforcement) in the
liquidation of such Collateral, or (d) a material impairment of the priority of
the Lender Group's Liens with respect to the Collateral.
"Maturity Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4.
------------- -----------
"Maximum Amount" means $65,000,000, subject to reduction pursuant to
--------------
Section 3.6 but in no event less than $40,000,000.
-----------
"Multiemployer Plan" means a "multiemployer plan" (as defined in
------------------
Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA) to which a Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, or
------------------
any ERISA Affiliate has contributed, or was obligated to contribute, within the
past six years.
"Negotiable Collateral" means all of a Person's present and future
---------------------
letters of credit, notes, drafts, instruments, Investment Property, securities
(including the shares of stock of Subsidiaries of such Person), documents,
personal property leases (wherein such Person is the lessor), and chattel paper.
"Net Book Value" means, at any time, the gross amount of the
--------------
Borrower's Inventory that is located in the United States, conforms to the
representations and warranties contained in Section 5.3 hereof, less reserves
-----------
required by GAAP, and is reflected on the most recent consolidated balance sheet
of Poolmart delivered pursuant to Section 6.3 hereof.
-----------
"Obligations" means all Advances, including the principal thereof and
-----------
interest thereon (including any interest that, but for the provisions of the
Bankruptcy Code, would have accrued), contingent reimbursement obligations under
any outstanding Letters of Credit, premiums (including Early Termination
Premiums), liabilities (including all amounts charged to Borrowers' Loan Account
pursuant hereto), obligations, fees, charges, costs, or Lender Group Expenses
(including any fees or expenses that, but for the provisions of the Bankruptcy
Code, would have accrued), covenants, and duties owing by a Borrower to any
member of the Lender Group under any of the Loan Documents, and irrespective of
whether for the payment of money, whether absolute or contingent, due or to
become due, now existing or hereafter arising, and further including all
interest not paid when due and all Lender Group Expenses that a Borrower is
required to pay or reimburse by the Loan Documents, by law, or otherwise.
"Originating Lender" has the meaning set forth in Section 15.1(e).
------------------ ---------------
"Overadvance" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6.
----------- -----------
"Participant" has the meaning set forth in Section 15.1(e).
----------- ---------------
12
"Pay-Off Letter" means a letter, in form and substance reasonably
--------------
satisfactory to Agent, from Existing Lender respecting the amount necessary to
repay in full all of the obligations of Borrower owing to Existing Lender and
obtain a termination or release of all of the Liens existing in favor of
Existing Lender in and to the properties or assets of Borrowers.
"PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation as defined in
------
Title IV of ERISA, or any successor thereto.
"Permitted Hedge Agreement" means any interest rate swap, cap, collar
-------------------------
or similar agreement entered into between a Borrower and any of the Lenders in
respect of notional amounts corresponding to the obligations under this
Agreement.
"Permitted Holder" means GEI and any Affiliate thereof.
------------------
"Permitted Investments" means (a) investments in Cash Equivalents, (b)
---------------------
investments in negotiable instruments for collection, and (c) advances made in
connection with purchases of goods or services in the ordinary course of
business.
"Permitted Liens" means (a) Liens held by the Lender Group, (b) Liens
---------------
for unpaid taxes that either (i) are not yet due and payable or (ii) are the
subject of Permitted Protests, (c) Liens set forth on Schedule P-1, (d) the
------------
interests of lessors under operating leases and purchase money security
interests and Liens of lessors under capital leases to the extent that the
acquisition or lease of the underlying asset is permitted under Section 7.21 and
------------
so long as the Lien only attaches to the asset purchased or acquired and only
secures the purchase price of the asset, (e) Liens arising by operation of law
in favor of warehousemen, landlords, carriers, mechanics, materialmen, laborers,
or suppliers, incurred in the ordinary course of business of Borrower and not in
connection with the borrowing of money, and which Liens either (i) are for sums
not yet due and payable, or (ii) are the subject of Permitted Protests, (f)
Liens arising from deposits made in connection with obtaining worker's
compensation or other unemployment insurance, (g) Liens or deposits to secure
performance of bids, tenders, or leases (to the extent permitted under this
Agreement), incurred in the ordinary course of business of Borrower and not in
connection with the borrowing of money, (h) Liens arising by reason of security
for surety or appeal bonds in the ordinary course of business of a Borrower, (i)
Liens of or resulting from any judgment or award that would not cause a Material
Adverse Change and as to which the time for the appeal or petition for rehearing
of which has not yet expired, or in respect of which a Borrower is in good faith
prosecuting an appeal or proceeding for a review, and in respect of which a stay
of execution pending such appeal or proceeding for review has been secured, and
(j) easements, rights of way, zoning and similar covenants and restrictions, and
similar encumbrances that do not materially interfere with or impair the use or
operation of the Collateral by any Borrower, or materially interfere with the
ordinary conduct of the business of a Borrower.
"Permitted Protest" means the right of Borrower to protest any Lien
-----------------
(other than any such Lien that secures the Obligations), tax (other than payroll
taxes or taxes that are the subject of a United States federal tax lien), or
rental payment, provided that (a) Borrower establishes any reserve required in
respect of such obligation in accordance with GAAP, (b) any
13
such protest is instituted and diligently prosecuted by such Borrower in good
faith, and (c) Agent is satisfied that, while any such protest is pending, there
will be no impairment of the enforceability, validity, or priority of any of the
Liens of the Lender Group in and to the Collateral or, if Agent is not so
satisfied, Agent shall have established such reserve against Availability as it
deems appropriate in its reasonable commercial judgment.
"Person" means and includes natural persons, corporations, limited
------
liability companies, limited partnerships, general partnerships, limited
liability partnerships, joint ventures, trusts, land trusts, business trusts, or
other organizations, irrespective of whether they are legal entities, and
governments and agencies and political subdivisions thereof.
"Plan" means any employee benefit plan, program, or arrangement
----
maintained or contributed to by a Borrower or with respect to which it may incur
liability.
"Pool Brite" has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this
------------
Agreement.
"Poolmart" has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this
----------
Agreement.
"Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement" means the Preferred Stock and
----------------------------------
Warrant Purchase Agreement dated as of June 11, 1997 between Poolmart and GEI.
"Preferred Stock" means Poolmart's Exchangeable Cumulative Redeemable
---------------
Stock, Series A, the terms of which are designated in the Preferred Stock
Designation Certificate.
"Preferred Stock Designation Certificate" means the Certificate of
---------------------------------------
Designation, Preferences and Rights of Exchangeable Cumulative Redeemable
Preferred Stock, Series A, pursuant to Section 151(g) of the General Corporation
Law of the State of Delaware, in the form of Exhibit A to the Preferred Stock
Purchase Agreement.
"Pro-Rata Share" means, with respect to a Lender, a fraction
--------------
(expressed as a percentage), the numerator of which is the amount of such
Lender's Commitment and the denominator of which is the aggregate amount of the
Commitments.
"Real Property" means any estates or interests in real property now
---------------
owned or hereafter acquired by a Borrower.
"Reference Rate" means the rate of interest announced within Xxxxx
--------------
Fargo at its principal office in San Francisco as its "prime rate," with the
understanding that the "prime rate" is one of Xxxxx Fargo's base rates (not
necessarily the lowest of such rates) and serves as the basis upon which
effective rates of interest are calculated for those loans making reference
thereto and is evidenced by the recording thereof after its announcement in such
internal publication or publications as Xxxxx Fargo may designate.
"Reference Rate Loans" means any Advance made or outstanding hereunder
--------------------
during any period when interest on such Advance is payable based on the
Reference Rate.
14
"Reportable Event" means any of the events described in Section
---------------- -------
4043(c) of ERISA or the regulations thereunder other than a Reportable Event as
-------
to which the provision of 30 days notice to the PBGC is waived under applicable
regulations.
"Required Lenders" means, at any time, Agent together with such other
----------------
Lenders whose Pro Rata Shares together with Agent aggregate 50.1% or more of the
Commitments; provided that, at any time there are two or more Lenders, "Required
Lenders shall be comprised of at least two Lenders.
"Requirement of Law" means, as to any Person: (a) (i) all statutes and
------------------
regulations and (ii) court orders and injunctions, arbitrators' decisions,
and/or similar rulings, in each instance by any Governmental Authority or
arbitrator applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of such Person's
property or to which such Person or any of such Person's property is subject;
and (b) that Person's organizational documents, by-laws and/or other instruments
which deal with corporate or similar governance, as applicable.
"Reserve Percentages" for any Interest Period means, as of the date of
-------------------
determination thereof, the maximum percentage (rounded upward, if necessary to
the nearest 1/100th of 1%), that is in effect on such date as prescribed by the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for determining the reserve
requirements (including supplemental, marginal, and emergency reserve
requirements) with respect to "eurocurrency liabilities" (as defined in Federal
Reserve Board Regulation D).
"Retiree Health Plan" means an "employee welfare benefit plan" within
-------------------
the meaning of Section 3(1) of ERISA that provides benefits to individuals after
------------
termination of their employment, other than as required by Section 601 of ERISA.
"Revolving Facility Usage" means, as of any date of determination, the
------------------------
aggregate amount of Advances and undrawn Letters of Credit, and unpaid
reimbursement obligations in respect of drawings under Letter of Credit, then
outstanding.
"Settlement" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(i)(i).
------------ -----------------
"Settlement Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(i)(i).
----------------- -----------------
"Solvent" means, with respect to any Person on a particular date, that
-------
on such date, on a consolidated basis, (a) at fair valuations, all of the
properties and assets of such Person as an entirety on a going concern basis are
greater than the sum of the debts, including contingent liabilities, of such
Person, (b) the present fair salable value of the properties and assets of such
Person as an entirety on a going concern basis is not less than the amount that
will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts as
they become absolute and matured, (c) such Person is able to pay its debts and
other liabilities, contingent obligations and other commitments as they mature
in the normal course of business, (d) such Person does not intend to, and does
not believe that it will, incur debts beyond such Person's ability to pay as
such debts mature, and (e) such Person is not engaged in business or a
transaction, and is not about to engage in business or a transaction, for which
such Person's properties and assets would constitute unreasonably small capital
after giving due consideration to the prevailing practices in the industry in
which such Person is engaged. In computing the amount of contingent liabilities
15
at any time, it is intended that such liabilities will be computed at the amount
that, in light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time,
represents the amount that reasonably can be expected to become an actual or
matured liability.
"Stock" means all shares, options, warrants, interests,
-----
participations, or other equivalents (regardless of how designated) of or in a
Person, whether voting or nonvoting, including common stock, preferred stock, or
any other "equity security" (as such term is defined in Rule 3a11-1 of the
General Rules and Regulations promulgated by the Securities Exchange Commission
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).
"Subsidiary" of a Person means a corporation, partnership, limited
----------
liability company, or other entity in which that Person directly or indirectly
owns or controls the shares of stock or other ownership interests having
ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors (or appoint
other comparable managers) of such corporation, partnership, limited liability
company, or other entity.
"Subordinated Exchange Indebtedness" has the meaning set forth in
------------------------------------
Section 7.22 hereof.
------------
"Voidable Transfer" has the meaning set forth in Section 18.6.
------------------- ------------
"Xxxxx Fargo" means Xxxxx Fargo Bank, National Association.
-------------
1.2 Accounting Terms. All accounting terms not specifically defined herein
shall be construed in accordance with GAAP. When used herein, the term
"financial statements" shall include the notes and schedules thereto. Whenever
the term "Borrower" is used in respect of a financial covenant or a related
definition, it shall be understood to mean Borrowers on a consolidated basis
unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
1.3 Code. Any terms used in this Agreement that are defined in the Code
shall be construed and defined as set forth in the Code unless otherwise defined
herein.
1.4 Construction. Unless the context of this Agreement clearly requires
otherwise, references to the plural include the singular, references to the
singular include the plural, the term "including" is not limiting, and the term
"or" has, except where otherwise indicated, the inclusive meaning represented by
the phrase "and/or." The words "hereof," "herein," "hereby," "hereunder," and
similar terms in this Agreement refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to
any particular provision of this Agreement. An Event of Default shall "continue"
or be "continuing" until such Event of Default has been cured or waived in
writing by the requisite members of the Lender Group. Section, subsection,
clause, schedule, and exhibit references are to this Agreement unless otherwise
specified. Any reference in this Agreement or in the Loan Documents to this
Agreement or any of the Loan Documents shall include all alterations,
amendments, changes, extensions, modifications, renewals, replacements,
substitutions, and supplements, thereto and thereof, as applicable.
1.5 Schedules and Exhibits. All of the schedules and exhibits attached to
this Agreement shall be deemed incorporated herein by reference.
16
2. LOAN AND TERMS OF PAYMENT.
2.1 Revolving Advances.
(a) Amounts. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
each Lender agrees to make advances ("Advances") to Borrowers in an amount at
any one time outstanding not to exceed such Lender's Pro Rata Share of an amount
equal to the lesser of (i) the Maximum Amount less the outstanding balance of
----
all undrawn or unreimbursed Letters of Credit, or (ii) the Borrowing Base less
----
the aggregate amount of all undrawn or unreimbursed Letters of Credit.
For purposes of this Agreement, "Borrowing Base", as of any date of
determination, means the lesser of the amount:
(I) determined monthly, as: (A) for the period ending September 30, 2000,
four times Borrower's EBITDA, (B) thereafter through September 30, 2001, three
and one-half times Borrower's EBITDA, and (C) thereafter, three times Borrower's
EBITDA; or
(II) determined as: (x) 60% of the Net Book Value (70% for Advances made
during the months of November through July) (collectively, "Core Advances"),
plus (y) an additional 10% of the Net Book Value ("Incremental Advances"), less
the Net Book Value of parts Inventory which is in excess of 30% (based upon Net
Book Value thereof) of all Inventory;
and, whether calculated under clause (I) or (II), the amount of the
Borrowing Base shall be calculated minus the amount of the Inventory Reserve (if
any and if applicable under subsection (b) below) and the aggregate amount of
other reserves, if any, established by Agent under Sections 6.15 and 10.
--------------------
(b) Inventory Reserves. Agent may establish reserves against the
------------------
Borrowing Base in such amounts as Agent in its reasonable credit judgment (from
the perspective of an asset-based lender) shall deem necessary or appropriate,
for (x) sums that Borrower is required to pay (such as taxes, assessments,
insurance premiums, or, in the case of leased assets, rents or other amounts
payable under such leases other than locations subject to Collateral Access
Agreements) and has failed to pay when due under any section of this Agreement
or any other Loan Document and (y) without duplication of the foregoing, amounts
owing by Borrower to any Person that the Borrower has not paid when due, to the
extent secured by a Lien on, or trust over, any of the Collateral, which Lien or
trust, in the reasonable determination of Agent (from the perspective of an
asset-based lender), would be likely to have a priority superior to the Liens of
Agent (such as landlord liens, ad valorem taxes, or sales taxes where given
priority under applicable law) in and to such item of the Collateral.
(c) Revolving Nature. Amounts borrowed pursuant to this Section 2.1
---------------- -----------
may be repaid and, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
reborrowed at any time during the term of this Agreement.
(d) Procedure for Borrowing. Each Borrowing shall be made upon
-----------------------
Borrower's irrevocable request therefor delivered to Agent (which notice must be
received by Agent no later than 11:00 a.m. (California time) on the Funding Date
specifying (i) the amount
17
of the Borrowing; and (ii) the requested Funding Date, which shall be a Business
Day.
(e) Agent's Election. Promptly after receipt of a request for a
----------------
Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.1(d) in excess of $5,000,000, the Agent shall
--------------
elect, in its discretion, (i) to have the terms of Section 2.1(f) apply to such
--------------
requested Borrowing, or (ii) to make an Agent Loan pursuant to the terms of
Section 2.1(g) in the amount of the requested Borrowing. Any requested Borrowing
--------------
of $5,000,000 or less shall be made as an Agent Loan pursuant to the terms of
Section 2.1(g).
--------------
(f) Making of Advances.
------------------
(i) In the event that the Agent shall elect to have the terms of
this Section 2.1(f) apply to a requested Borrowing in excess of $5,000,000 as
--------------
described in Section 2.1(e), then promptly after receipt of a request for a
--------------
Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.1(d), the Agent shall notify the Lenders, not
--------------
later than 1:00 p.m. (California time) on the Business Day immediately preceding
the Funding Date applicable thereto, by telephone and promptly followed by
telecopy, or other similar form of transmission, of the requested Borrowing.
Each Lender shall make the amount of such Lender's Pro Rata Share of the
requested Borrowing available to the Agent in same day funds, to such account of
the Agent as the Agent may designate, not later than 12:00 p.m. (California
time) on the Funding Date applicable thereto. After the Agent's receipt of the
proceeds of such Advances, upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions
precedent set forth in Sections 3.1 and 3.2, the Agent shall make the proceeds
------------ ---
of such Advances available to Borrower on the applicable Funding Date by
transferring same day funds equal to the proceeds of such Advances received by
the Agent to the Designated Deposit Account; provided, however, that, subject
-------- -------
to the provisions of Section 2.1(l), the Agent shall not request any Lender to
-------------
make, and no Lender shall have the obligation to make, any Advance if the Agent
has actual knowledge, that (A) one or more of the applicable conditions
precedent set forth in Sections 3.1 or 3.2 will not be satisfied on the
------------ ---
requested Funding Date for the applicable Borrowing, or (B) the requested
Borrowing would exceed the Availability on such Funding Date.
(ii) Unless Agent receives notice from a Lender on or prior to
the Closing Date or, with respect to any Borrowing after the Closing Date, at
least one Business Day prior to the date of such Borrowing, that such Lender
will not make available as and when required hereunder to Agent for the account
of Borrower the amount of that Lender's Pro Rata Share of the Borrowing, Agent
may assume that each Lender has made or will make such amount available to Agent
in immediately available funds on the Funding Date and Agent may (but shall not
be so required), in reliance upon such assumption, make available to Borrower on
such date a corresponding amount. If and to the extent any Lender shall not have
made its full amount available to Agent in immediately available funds and Agent
in such circumstances has made available to Borrower such amount, that Lender
shall on the Business Day following such Funding Date make such amount available
to Agent, together with interest at the Defaulting Lenders Rate for each day
during such period. A notice from Agent submitted to any Lender with respect to
amounts owing under this subsection shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
If such amount is paid to Agent such payment to Agent shall constitute such
Lender's Advance on the date of Borrowing for all purposes of this Agreement. If
such amount is not paid to Agent
18
on the Business Day following the Funding Date, Agent will notify Borrower of
such failure to fund and, upon demand by Agent, Borrower shall pay such amount
to Agent for Agent's account, together with interest thereon for each day
elapsed since the date of such Borrowing, at a rate per annum equal to the
interest rate applicable at the time to the Advances composing such Borrowing.
The failure of any Lender to make any Advance on any Funding Date shall not
relieve any other Lender of any obligation hereunder to make an Advance on such
Funding Date, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other
Lender to make the Advance to be made by such other Lender on any Funding Date.
Any Lender that fails to make any Advance that it is required to make hereunder
on any Funding Date and that has not cured such failure by making such Advance
within one Business Day after written demand upon it by Agent to do so, shall
constitute a "Defaulting Lender" for purposes of this Agreement until such
Advance is made.
(iii) Agent shall not be obligated to transfer to a Defaulting
Lender any payments made by Borrower to Agent for the Defaulting Lender's
benefit unless and until all Advances made by other Lenders and the Agent are
repaid in full and either (x) the Commitments are terminated or (y) the
Borrowers so request; nor shall a Defaulting Lender be entitled to the sharing
of any payments hereunder unless and until all Advances made by other Lenders
and the Agent are repaid in full and either (x) the Commitments are terminated
or (y) the Borrowers so request. Amounts payable to a Defaulting Lender shall
instead be paid to or retained by Agent. Agent may hold and, in its discretion,
re-lend to Borrower the amount of all such payments received or retained by it
for the account of such Defaulting Lender. Solely for the purposes of voting or
consenting to matters with respect to the Loan Documents and determining Pro
Rata Shares, such Defaulting Lender shall be deemed not to be a "Lender" and
such Defaulting Lender's Commitment shall be deemed to be zero. This section
shall remain effective with respect to such Defaulting Lender until (A) the
Obligations under this Agreement shall have been declared or shall have become
immediately due and payable or (B) the requisite non-Defaulting Lenders, Agent,
and Borrower shall have waived such Defaulting Lender's default in writing. The
operation of this section shall not be construed to increase or otherwise affect
the Commitment of any non-Defaulting Lender, or relieve or excuse the
performance by Borrower of their duties and obligations hereunder.
(g) Making of Agent Loans.
---------------------
(i) In the event the Agent shall elect to have the terms of this
Section 2.1(g) apply to a requested Borrowing in excess of $5,000,000 as
--------------
described in Section 2.1(e) or in the event of any requested Borrowing of
--------------
$5,000,000 or less, Agent shall make an Advance in the amount of such Borrowing
(any such Advance made solely by Agent pursuant to this Section 2.1(g) being
--------------
referred to as an "Agent Loan" and such Advances being referred to collectively
as "Agent Loans") available to Borrower on the Funding Date applicable thereto
by transferring same day funds to Borrower's Designated Account. Each Agent Loan
is an Advance hereunder and shall be subject to all the terms and conditions
applicable to other Advances, except that all payments thereon shall be payable
to Agent solely for its own account (and for the account of the holder of any
participation interest with respect to such Advance). Subject to the provisions
of Section 2.1(l), the Agent shall not make any Agent Loan if the Agent has
--------------
actual knowledge, that (i) one or more of the applicable conditions precedent
set forth in Sections 3.1 or 3.2 will not be satisfied on the requested
------------ ---
Funding Date for the applicable
19
Borrowing, or (ii) the requested Borrowing would exceed the Availability on such
Funding Date. Agent shall not otherwise be required to determine whether the
applicable conditions precedent set forth in Sections 3.1 or 3.2 have been
------------ ---
satisfied on the Funding Date applicable thereto prior to making, in its sole
discretion, any Agent Loan.
(ii) The Agent Loans shall be secured by the Collateral and shall
constitute Advances and Obligations hereunder, and shall bear interest at the
rate applicable from time to time to Obligations pursuant to Section 2.7.
-----------
(h) Agent Advances.
--------------
(i) Agent hereby is authorized by Borrower and the Lenders, from
time to time in Agent's sole discretion, (1) after the occurrence of a Default
or an Event of Default (but without constituting a waiver of such Default or
Event of Default), or (2) at any time that any of the other applicable
conditions precedent set forth in Section 3.1 or 3.2 have not been satisfied,
----------- ---
to make Advances to Borrower on behalf of the Lenders which Agent, in its
reasonable business judgment, deems necessary or desirable (A) to preserve or
protect the Collateral, or any portion thereof, (B) to enhance the likelihood
of, or maximize the amount of, repayment of the Obligations, or (C) to pay any
other amount chargeable to Borrower pursuant to the terms of this Agreement,
including Lender Group Expenses and the costs, fees, and expenses described in
Section 10 (any of the Advances described in this Section 2.1(h) being
---------- --------------
hereinafter referred to as "Agent Advances"); provided, that Agent shall not
--------
make any Agent Advances to Borrower without the consent of the Required Lenders
if the amount thereof would exceed $5,000,000 in the aggregate at any one time.
(ii) Agent Advances shall be repayable on demand and secured by
the Collateral, shall constitute Advances and Obligations hereunder, and shall
bear interest at the rate applicable from time to time to the Obligations
pursuant to Section 2.7.
-----------
(i) Settlement. It is agreed that each Lender's funded portion of the
----------
Advances is intended by the Lenders to be equal at all times to such Lender's
Pro Rata Share of the outstanding Advances. Such agreement notwithstanding, the
Agent and the Lenders agree (which agreement shall not be for the benefit of or
enforceable by Borrower) that in order to facilitate the administration of this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents, settlement among them as to the
Advances, the Agent Loans, and the Agent Advances shall take place on a periodic
basis in accordance with the following provisions:
(i) The Agent shall request settlement ("Settlement") with the
Lenders on a weekly basis, or on a more frequent basis if so determined by the
Agent, (1) for itself, with respect to each Agent Loan and Agent Advance, and
(2) with respect to Collections received, as to each by notifying the Lenders by
telephone and promptly followed by telecopy, or other similar form of
transmission, of such requested Settlement, no later than 1:00 p.m. (California
time) on the Business Day immediately preceding the date of such requested
Settlement (the "Settlement Date"). Such notice of a Settlement Date shall
include a summary statement of the amount of outstanding Advances, Agent Loans,
and Agent Advances for the period since the prior Settlement Date, the amount of
repayments received in such period, and the amounts allocated to each Lender of
the principal, interest, fees, and other charges for such
20
period. Subject to the terms and conditions contained herein (including Section
-------
2.1(i)(ii)): (y) if a Lender's balance of the Advances, Agent Loans, and Agent
----------
Advances exceeds such Lender's Pro Rata Share of the Advances, Agent Loans, and
Agent Advances as of a Settlement Date, then Agent shall by no later than 1:00
p.m. (California time) on the Settlement Date transfer in same day funds to the
account of such Lender as Lender may designate, an amount such that each such
Lender shall, upon receipt of such amount, have as of the Settlement Date, its
Pro Rata Share of the Advances, Agent Loans, and Agent Advances; and (z) if a
Lender's balance of the Advances, Agent Loans, and Agent Advances is less than
such Lender's Pro Rata Share of the Advances, Agent Loans, and Agent Advances as
of a Settlement Date, such Lender shall no later than 1:00 p.m. (California
time) on the Settlement Date transfer in same day funds to such account of the
Agent as the Agent may designate, an amount such that each such Lender shall,
upon transfer of such amount, have as of the Settlement Date, its Pro Rata Share
of the Advances, Agent Loans, and Agent Advances. Such amounts made available to
the Agent under clause (z) of the immediately preceding sentence shall be
applied against the amounts of the applicable Agent Loan or Agent Advance and,
together with the portion of such Agent Loan or Agent Advance representing
Foothill's Pro Rata Share thereof, shall constitute Advances of such Lenders. If
any such amount is not made available to the Agent by any Lender on the
Settlement Date applicable thereto to the extent required by the terms hereof,
the Agent shall be entitled to recover for its account such amount on demand
from such Lender together with interest thereon at the Defaulting Lenders Rate.
(ii) In determining whether a Lender's balance of the Advances,
Agent Loans, and Agent Advances is less than, equal to, or greater than such
Lender's Pro Rata Share of the Advances, Agent Loans, and Agent Advances as of a
Settlement Date, Agent shall, as part of the relevant Settlement, apply to such
balance the portion of payments actually received by Agent with respect to
principal, interest, fees payable by Borrower and allocable to the Lenders
hereunder, and proceeds of Collateral. To the extent that a net amount is owed
to any such Lender after such application, such net amount shall be distributed
by Agent to that Lender as part of such Settlement; provided, however, that the
-------- -------
closing fee payable by Borrower under Section 2.12(a) shall be distributed to
---------------
the Lenders within three Business Days following the Closing Date without regard
to the netting of amounts owing to or owed by any Lender as part of a
Settlement.
(iii) Between Settlement Dates, the Agent, to the extent no Agent
Advances or Agent Loans are outstanding, may pay over to Foothill any payments
received by the Agent, which in accordance with the terms of the Agreement would
be applied to the reduction of the Advances, for application to Foothill's Pro
Rata Share of the Advances. If, as of any Settlement Date, Collections received
since the then immediately preceding Settlement Date have been applied to
Foothill's Pro Rata Share of the Advances other than to Agent Loans or Agent
Advances, as provided for in the previous sentence, Foothill shall pay to the
Agent for the accounts of the Lenders, and Agent shall pay to the Lenders, to be
applied to the outstanding Advances of such Lenders, an amount such that each
Lender shall, upon receipt of such amount, have, as of such Settlement Date, its
Pro Rata Share of the Advances. During the period between Settlement Dates, the
Agent with respect to Agent Loans and Agent Advances, and each Lender with
respect to the Advances other than Agent Loans and Agent Advances, shall be
entitled to interest at the applicable rate or rates payable under this
Agreement on the daily amount of funds employed by the Agent or the Lenders, as
applicable.
21
(j) Notation. The Agent shall record on its books the principal
--------
amount of the Advances owing to each Lender, including the Agent Loans and Agent
Advances owing to the Agent, and the interests therein of each Lender, from time
to time. In addition, each Lender is authorized, at such Lender's option, to
note the date and amount of each payment or prepayment of principal of such
Lender's Advances in its books and records, including computer records, such
books and records constituting rebuttably presumptive evidence, absent manifest
error, of the accuracy of the information contained therein.
(k) Lenders' Failure to Perform. All Advances (other than Agent
---------------------------
Loans and Agent Advances) shall be made by the Lenders simultaneously and in
accordance with their Pro Rata Shares. It is understood that (i) no Lender shall
be responsible for any failure by any other Lender to perform its obligation to
make any Advances hereunder, nor shall any Commitment of any Lender be increased
or decreased as a result of any failure by any other Lender to perform its
obligation to make any Advances hereunder, and (ii) no failure by any Lender to
perform its obligation to make any Advances hereunder shall excuse any other
Lender from its obligation to make any Advances hereunder.
(l) Overadvances. Agent may make voluntary Overadvances without
------------
the written consent of the Required Lenders for amounts charged to the
applicable Loan Account for interest, fees or Lender Group Expenses pursuant to
Section 2.1(h)(i)(2)(C). If the conditions for borrowing under Section 3.2(d)
----------------------- --------------
cannot be fulfilled, the Agent may, but is not obligated to, knowingly and
intentionally continue to make Advances (including Agent Loans) to Borrower such
failure of condition notwithstanding, so long as, at any time, (i) either (A)
the outstanding Revolving Facility Usage would not exceed the Borrowing Base by
more than $2,000,000 or (B) (y) the outstanding Revolving Facility Usage would
not exceed the Borrowing Base by more than the amount proposed by Agent and
agreed to by the Required Lenders, and (z) such Advances are made pursuant to a
plan (proposed by Agent and agreed to by the Required Lenders) for the
elimination of the outstanding Revolving Facility Usage in excess of the
Borrowing Base, and (ii) the outstanding Revolving Facility Usage (except for
and excluding amounts charged to the applicable Loan Account for interest, fees,
or Lender Group Expenses) does not exceed the Maximum Amount. The foregoing
provisions are for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Agent and the Lenders
and are not intended to benefit Borrower in any way. The Advances and Agent
Loans, as applicable, that are made pursuant to this Section 2.1(l) shall be
--------------
subject to the same terms and conditions as any other Agent Advance or Agent
Loan, as applicable, except that the rate of interest applicable thereto shall
be the rates set forth in Section 2.7(c)(i) without regard to the presence or
-----------------
absence of a Default or Event of Default; provided, that the Required Lenders
--------
may, at any time, revoke Agent's authorization contained in this Section 2.1(l)
to make Overadvances (except for and excluding amounts charged to the applicable
Loan Account for interest, fees, or Lender Group Expenses), any such revocation
to be in writing and to become effective upon Agent's receipt thereof; provided
--------
further, however, that the making of such Overadvances shall not constitute a
------- -------
waiver of such Event of Default arising therefrom.
In the event Agent obtains actual knowledge that Revolving Facility
Usage exceeds the amount permitted by the preceding paragraph, regardless of the
amount of or reason for such excess, Agent shall notify Lenders as soon as
practicable (and prior to making any (or any further) intentional Overadvances
(except for and excluding amounts
22
charged to the applicable Loan Account for interest, fees, or Lender Group
Expenses) unless Agent determines that prior notice would result in imminent
harm to the Collateral or its value), and Lenders thereupon shall, together with
Agent, jointly determine the terms of arrangements that shall be implemented
with Borrower intended to reduce, within a reasonable time, the outstanding
principal amount of the Advances to Borrower to an amount permitted by the
preceding paragraph. In the event any Lender disagrees over the terms of
reduction and/or repayment of any Overadvance, the terms of reduction and/or
repayment thereof shall be implemented according to the determination of the
Required Lenders.
Each Lender shall be obligated to settle with Agent as provided in
Section 2.1(i) for the amount of such Lender's Pro Rata Share of any
--------------
unintentional Overadvances by Agent reported to such Lender, any intentional
Overadvances made as permitted under this Section 2.1(l), and any Overadvances
--------------
resulting from the charging to the applicable Loan Account of interest, fees, or
Lender Group Expenses.
(m) Effect of Bankruptcy. If a case is commenced by or against any
--------------------
Borrower under the Bankruptcy Code, or other statute providing for debtor
relief, then, without the approval of Required Lenders the Lender Group shall
not make additional loans or provide additional financial accommodations under
the Loan Documents to such Borrower as debtor or debtor-in-possession, or to any
trustee for such Borrower, nor consent to the use of cash collateral (provided
that the applicable Loan Account shall continue to be charged, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, for accruing interest, fees, and Lender Group
Expenses).
2.2 Letters of Credit.
(a) Agreement to Cause Issuance; Amounts; Outside Expiration Date.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Agent agrees to issue
letters of credit for the account of a Borrower (each, an "L/C") or to issue
guarantees of payment (each such guaranty, an "L/C Guaranty") with respect to
letters of credit issued by an issuing bank for the account of a Borrower. Agent
shall have no obligation to issue a Letter of Credit if any of the following
would result:
(i) the aggregate amount of all undrawn and unreimbursed Letters
of Credit would exceed the Borrowing Base less the amount of outstanding
Advances (including any Agent Advances and Agent Loans); or
(ii) the aggregate amount of all undrawn or unreimbursed Letters
of Credit would exceed the lower of: (x) the Maximum Amount less the amount of
outstanding Advances (including any Agent Advances and Agent Loans); or (y)
$5,000,000.
Each Borrower expressly understands and agrees that Agent shall have no
obligation to arrange for the issuance by issuing banks of the letters of credit
that are to be the subject of L/C Guarantees. Each Borrower and the Lender
Group acknowledge and agree that certain of the letters of credit that are to be
the subject of L/C Guarantees may be outstanding on the Closing Date. Each
Letter of Credit shall have an expiry date no later than 60 days prior to the
date on which this Agreement is scheduled to terminate under Section 3.4
-----------
(without regard to any potential renewal term) and all such Letters of Credit
shall be in form and substance acceptable
23
to Agent in its sole discretion. If the Lender Group is obligated to advance
funds under a Letter of Credit, Borrowers immediately shall reimburse such
amount to Agent and, in the absence of such reimbursement, the amount so
advanced immediately and automatically shall be deemed to be an Advance
hereunder and, thereafter, shall bear interest at the rate then applicable to
Advances under Section 2.7.
-----------
(b) Indemnification. Each Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify,
---------------
save, defend, and hold the Lender Group harmless from any loss, cost, reasonable
and documented out-of-pocket expense, or liability, including payments made by
the Lender Group, and reasonable and documented attorneys fees incurred by the
Lender Group arising out of or in connection with any Letter of Credit; provided
that the Borrowers shall have no obligation to indemnify any issuing bank
(including the Agent) (x) in respect of its failure to make payment of a draft
that strictly conforms to the requirements of the Letter of Credit under which
it is drawn or (y) in respect of its payment of a draft that does not so
strictly conform (and, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the
Borrowers do not herein waive any claim they may have against such issuing bank
in respect of such payment). Each Borrower agrees to be bound by the issuing
bank's regulations and interpretations of any letters of credit guarantied by
the Lender Group and opened to or for such Borrower's account or by Agent's
interpretations of any Letter of Credit issued by Agent to or for such
Borrower's account, even though this interpretation may be different from such
Borrower's own, and Borrowers understands and agrees that the Lender Group shall
not be liable for any error, negligence, or mistake, whether of omission or
commission, in following Borrower's instructions or those contained in the
Letter of Credit or any modifications, amendments, or supplements thereto. Each
Borrower understands that the L/C Guarantees may require the Lender Group to
indemnify the issuing bank for certain costs or liabilities arising out of
claims by a Borrower against such issuing bank. Each Borrower hereby agrees to
indemnify, save, defend, and hold the Lender Group harmless with respect to any
loss, cost, reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expense (including
reasonable and documented attorneys fees), or liability incurred by the Lender
Group under any L/C Guaranty as a result of the Lender Group's indemnification
of any such issuing bank.
(c) Supporting Materials. Each Borrower hereby authorizes and
--------------------
directs any bank that issues a letter of credit guaranteed by an L/C Guaranty to
deliver to Agent all instruments, documents, and other writings and property
received by the issuing bank pursuant to such letter of credit, and to accept
and rely upon Agent's instructions and agreements with respect to all matters
arising in connection with such letter of credit and the related application. A
Borrower may or may not be the "applicant" or "account party" with respect to
such letter of credit.
(d) Costs of Letters of Credit. Any and all charges,
--------------------------
commissions, fees, and costs incurred by Agent relating to the letters of credit
guaranteed by an L/C Guaranty shall be considered Lender Group Expenses for
purposes of this Agreement and immediately shall be reimbursable by Borrowers to
Agent.
(e) Indemnification. Immediately upon the termination of this
---------------
Agreement, Borrowers agrees to either (i) provide cash collateral to be held by
Agent in an amount equal to 105% of the maximum amount of the Lender Group's
obligations under outstanding Letters of Credit (which cash collateral shall be
returned to Borrowers by Agent net
24
of the amount of all drawings under such Letters of Credit and all costs and
expenses associated therewith), or (ii) cause to be delivered to Agent releases
of all of the Lender Group's obligations under outstanding Letters of Credit. At
Agent's discretion, any proceeds of Collateral received by Agent after the
occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default may be held as the
cash collateral required by this Section 2.2(e).
--------------
(f) Increased Costs. If by reason of (i) any change in any
---------------
applicable law, treaty, rule, or regulation or any change in the interpretation
or application by any governmental authority of any such applicable law, treaty,
rule, or regulation, or (ii) compliance by the issuing bank or the Lender Group
with any direction, request, or requirement (irrespective of whether having the
force of law) of any governmental authority or monetary authority including,
without limitation, Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System as from time to time in effect (and any successor thereto):
(i) any reserve, deposit, or similar requirement is or
shall be imposed or modified in respect of any Letters of Credit issued
hereunder, or
(ii) there shall be imposed on the issuing bank or the
Lender Group any other condition regarding any letter of credit, or Letter of
Credit, as applicable, issued pursuant hereto;
and the result of the foregoing is to increase, directly or indirectly, the cost
to the issuing bank or the Lender Group of issuing, making, guaranteeing, or
maintaining any letter of credit, or Letter of Credit, as applicable, or to
reduce the amount receivable in respect thereof by such issuing bank or the
Lender Group, then, and in any such case, Agent may, at any time within a
reasonable period after the additional cost is incurred or the amount received
is reduced, notify Borrowers, and Borrowers shall pay on demand such amounts as
the issuing bank or Agent may specify to be necessary to compensate the issuing
bank or Agent for such additional cost or reduced receipt, together with
interest on such amount from the date of such demand until payment in full
thereof at the rate set forth in Section 2.7(a) or (c)(i), as applicable. The
-------------- ------
determination by the issuing bank or Agent, as the case may be, of any amount
due pursuant to this Section 2.2(f), as set forth in a certificate setting forth
--------------
the calculation thereof in reasonable detail, shall, in the absence of manifest
or demonstrable error, be final and conclusive and binding on all of the parties
hereto.
(g) Participations.
--------------
(i) Purchase of Participations. Immediately upon issuance
--------------------------
of any Letter of Credit in accordance with this Section 2.2, each Lender shall
-----------
be deemed to have irrevocably and unconditionally purchased and received without
recourse or warranty, an undivided interest and participation in the credit
support or enhancement provided through the Agent to such issuer in connection
with the issuance of such Letter of Credit, equal to such Lender's Pro Rata
Share of the face amount of such Letter of Credit (including, without
limitation, all obligations of Borrower with respect thereto, and any security
therefor or guaranty pertaining thereto).
25
(ii) Documentation. Upon the request of any Lender, the
-------------
Agent shall furnish to such Lender copies of any Letter of Credit, reimbursement
agreements executed in connection therewith, application for any Letter of
Credit and credit support or enhancement provided through the Agent in
connection with the issuance of any Letter of Credit, and such other
documentation as may reasonably by requested by such Lender.
(iii) Obligations Irrevocable. The obligations of each
-----------------------
Lender to make payments to the Agent with respect to any Letter of Credit or
with respect to any credit support or enhancement provided through the Agent
with respect to a Letter of Credit, and the obligations of Borrower to make
payments to the Agent, for the account of the Lenders, shall be irrevocable, not
subject to any qualification or exception whatsoever, including, without
limitation, any of the following circumstances:
(A) any lack of validity or enforceability of this
Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents;
(B) the existence of any claim, setoff, defense, or
other right which any Borrower may have at any time against a beneficiary named
in a Letter of Credit or any transferee of any Letter of Credit (or any Person
for whom any such transferee may be acting), any Lender, the Agent, the issuer
of such Letter of Credit, or any other Person, whether in connection with this
Agreement, any Letter of Credit, the transactions contemplated herein or any
unrelated transactions (including any underlying transactions between such
Borrower or any other Person and the beneficiary named in any Letter of Credit);
(C) any draft, certificate, or any other document
presented under the Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, or
invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in
any respect;
(D) the surrender or impairment of any security for
the performance or observance of any of the terms of any of the Loan Documents;
or
(E) the occurrence of any Default or Event of
Default.
2.3 Intentionally Omitted.
2.4 Intentionally Omitted.
26
2.5 Payments.
(a) Payments by Borrower.
--------------------
(i) All payments to be made by Borrower shall be made
without set-off, recoupment, deduction, or counterclaim, except as otherwise
required by law. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by
Borrower shall be made to Agent for the account of the Lenders or Agent, as the
case may be, at Agent's address set forth in Section 12, and shall be made in
----------
immediately available funds, no later than 11:00 a.m. (California time) on the
date specified herein. Any payment received by Agent later than 11:00 a.m.
(California time), at the option of Agent, shall be deemed to have been received
on the following Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue
to accrue until such following Business Day.
(ii) Whenever any payment is due on a day other than a
Business Day, such payment shall be made on the following Business Day, and such
extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of interest
or fees, as the case may be.
(iii) Unless Agent receives notice from Borrower prior to
the date on which any payment is due to the Lenders that Borrower will not make
such payment in full as and when required, Agent may assume that Borrower has
made such payment in full to Agent on such date in immediately available funds
and Agent may (but shall not be so required), in reliance upon such assumption,
distribute to each Lender on such due date an amount equal to the amount then
due such Lender. If and to the extent Borrower has not made such payment in full
to Agent, each Lender shall repay to Agent on demand such amount distributed to
such Lender, together with interest thereon at the Reference Rate for each day
from the date such amount is distributed to such Lender until the date repaid.
(b) Apportionment and Application of Payments. Except as
-----------------------------------------
otherwise provided with respect to Defaulting Lenders, aggregate principal and
interest payments shall be apportioned ratably among the Lenders (according to
the unpaid principal balance of the Advances to which such payments relate held
by each Lender) and payments of the fees (other than fees designated for Agent's
separate account) shall, as applicable, be apportioned ratably among the
Lenders. All payments shall be remitted to Agent and all such payments not
relating to principal or interest on specific Advances, or not constituting
payment of specific fees and all proceeds of Collateral received by Agent, shall
be applied, first, to pay any fees or expense reimbursements then due to Agent
from Borrower; second, to pay any fees or expense reimbursements then due to the
Lenders from Borrower; third, to pay interest due in respect of all Advances,
including Agent Loans and Agent Advances; fourth, to pay or prepay principal of
Agent Loans and Agent Advances; fifth, ratably to pay principal of the Advances
(other than Agent Loans and Agent Advances) and unreimbursed obligations in
respect of Letters of Credit; and sixth, ratably to pay any other Obligations
due to Agent or any Lender by Borrower. Agent shall promptly distribute to each
Lender, pursuant to the applicable wire transfer instructions received from each
Lender in writing, such funds as it may be entitled to receive, subject to a
Settlement delay as provided for in Section 2.1(i).
--------------
27
2.6 Overadvances. If, at any time or for any reason, the amount of
Obligations owed by Borrowers to the Lender Group pursuant to Sections 2.1 and
------------
2.2 is greater than either the Dollar or percentage limitations set forth in
---
Sections 2.1 or 2.2 (an "Overadvance"), Borrowers immediately shall pay to
------------ ---
Agent, in cash, the amount of such excess to be used by Agent to reduce the
Obligations pursuant to the terms of Section 2.5(b).
--------------
2.7 Interest and Letter of Credit Fees: Rates, Payments, and
Calculations.
(a) Interest Rate. Except as provided in Section 2.7(c), all
------------- --------------
Obligations (except for undrawn Letters of Credit), shall bear interest as
follows: (i) each Eurodollar Rate Loan shall bear interest at a per annum rate
equal to the Adjusted Eurodollar Rate plus the Applicable Margin for Eurodollar
----
Rate Loans, and (ii) each Reference Rate Loan shall bear interest at a per annum
rate equal to the Reference Rate plus the Applicable Margin for
----
Reference Rate Loans; provided that Incremental Advances shall be Reference Rate
--------
Loans only.
(b) Letter of Credit Fee. Borrower shall pay Agent, for the
--------------------
benefit of the Lender Group, a fee (in addition to the charges, commissions,
fees, and costs set forth in Section 2.2(d)) equal to 1.25% per annum times the
--------------
aggregate undrawn amount of all Letters of Credit outstanding as of the end of
the day.
(c) Default Rate. Upon the occurrence and during the
------------
continuation of an Event of Default, (i) all Obligations (except for undrawn
Letters of Credit) shall bear interest on the Daily Balance at a per annum rate
equal to two percentage points above the sum of the Reference Rate plus the
----
Applicable Margin, and (ii) the Letter of Credit fee provided in Section 2.7(b)
--------------
shall be increased to 3.25% per annum times the aggregate undrawn amount of all
Letters of Credit outstanding as of the end of each day.
(d) Intentionally Omitted.
(e) Payments. Interest in respect of Reference Rate Loans and
--------
Letter of Credit fees payable hereunder shall be due and payable, in arrears, on
the first day of each month during the term hereof. Interest in respect of each
Eurodollar Rate Loan shall be due and payable, in arrears, on (i) the last day
of the applicable Interest Period, and (ii) for Interest Periods longer than
three months, on the three-month anniversary date of the commencement of such
Interest Period. Each Borrower hereby authorizes Agent, at its option, without
prior notice to such Borrower, to charge such interest and Letter of Credit
fees, all Lender Group Expenses (as and when incurred), the charges,
commissions, fees, and costs provided for in Section 2.2(d) (as and when accrued
--------------
or incurred), the fees and charges provided for in Section 2.12 (as and when
------------
accrued or incurred), and all installments or other payments due under any Loan
Document to the applicable Borrowers' Loan Account, which amounts thereafter
shall accrue interest at the rate then applicable to Advances hereunder. Any
interest not paid when due shall be compounded and shall thereafter accrue
interest at the rate then applicable to Advances hereunder.
(f) Computation. The Reference Rate as of the date of this
-----------
Agreement is 9.50% per annum. In the event the Reference Rate is changed from
time to time hereafter, the
28
applicable rate of interest hereunder automatically and immediately shall be
increased or decreased by an amount equal to such change in the Reference Rate.
All interest and fees chargeable under the Loan Documents shall be computed on
the basis of a 360 day year for the actual number of days elapsed.
(g) Intent to Limit Charges to Maximum Lawful Rate. In no event
----------------------------------------------
shall the interest rate or rates payable under this Agreement, plus any other
amounts paid in connection herewith, exceed the highest rate permissible under
any law that a court of competent jurisdiction shall, in a final determination,
deem applicable. Borrowers and the Lender Group, in executing and delivering
this Agreement, intend legally to agree upon the rate or rates of interest and
manner of payment stated within it; provided, however, that, anything contained
-------- -------
herein to the contrary notwithstanding, if said rate or rates of interest or
manner of payment exceeds the maximum allowable under applicable law, then, ipso
facto as of the date of this Agreement, Borrowers are and shall be liable only
for the payment of such maximum as allowed by law, and payment received from
Borrower in excess of such legal maximum, whenever received, shall be applied to
reduce the principal balance of the Obligations to the extent of such excess.
2.8 Collection of Accounts. Borrowers shall at all times maintain a
blocked deposit account (the "Blocked Account") and, immediately after the
Closing Date, shall deposit all Collections in respect thereof to such Blocked
Account. Borrowers, Agent, and the Blocked Account Bank shall enter into the
Blocked Account Agreement, which among other things shall provide for the
opening of the Blocked Account for the deposit of Collections at the Blocked
Account Bank. Each Borrower agrees that all Collections and other amounts
received by such Borrower from any Account Debtor or any other source
immediately upon receipt shall be deposited into the Blocked Account. The
Blocked Account Agreement and arrangement contemplated thereby shall not be
modified by a Borrower without the prior written consent of Agent. Upon the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Blocked Account Agreement,
so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, Borrowers shall
have the right to have the entire collected balance in the Blocked Account
transferred, on a daily basis, to the Operating Account (as defined in the
Blocked Account Agreement), and upon the occurrence and during the continuation
of an Event of Default and direction by Agent to the Blocked Account Bank,
amounts on deposit in the Blocked Account may be retained therein or
transferred, all at the direction of the Agent, or, the Blocked Account may be
transferred, at the direction of the Agent, into the name of Agent and all
amounts received in the Blocked Account wired each Business Day into an account
(the "Agent's Account") maintained by Agent at a depositary selected by Agent.
2.9 Crediting Payments; Application of Collections. The receipt of
any Collections by Agent immediately shall be applied provisionally to reduce
the Obligations outstanding under Section 2.1, but shall not be considered a
-----------
payment on account unless such Collection item is a wire transfer of immediately
available federal funds and is made to the Agent's Account or unless and until
such Collection item is honored when presented for payment. Should any
Collection item not be honored when presented for payment, then Borrowers shall
be deemed not to have made such payment, and interest shall be recalculated
accordingly. Anything to the contrary contained herein notwithstanding, any
Collection item shall be deemed received by Agent only if it is received into
the Agent's
29
Account on a Business Day on or before 11:00 a.m. California time. If any
Collection item is received into the Agent's Account on a non-Business Day or
after 11:00 a.m. California time on a Business Day, it shall be deemed to have
been received by Agent as of the opening of business on the immediately
following Business Day.
2.10 Designated Account. Agent and the Lender Group are authorized
to make the Advances and the Letters of Credit under this Agreement based upon
telephonic or other instructions received from anyone purporting to be an
Authorized Person, or without instructions if pursuant to Section 2.7(e).
--------------
Borrowers agrees to establish and maintain a single Designated Account with the
Designated Account Bank for the purpose of receiving the proceeds of the
Advances requested by Borrowers and made by the Lender Group hereunder. Unless
otherwise agreed by Agent and Borrowers, any Advance requested by Borrowers and
made by the Lender Group hereunder shall be made to the Designated Account.
2.11 Maintenance of Loan Account; Statements of Obligations. At the
request of Borrowers, to facilitate and expedite the administration and
accounting processes and procedures of their borrowings under this Agreement,
Agent shall maintain a single account on its books in the names of Borrowers
(the "Loan Account") on which Borrowers will be charged with all Advances made
by the Lender Group to Borrowers or for Borrower's account, including, accrued
interest, Lender Group Expenses, and any other payment Obligations of Borrower.
In accordance with Section 2.9, the Loan Account will be credited with all
-----------
payments received by Agent from any Borrowers or for any Borrowers' account.
Agent shall render one statement regarding the Loan Account to Poolmart on
behalf of Borrowers, including principal, interest, fees, and including an
itemization of all charges and expenses constituting the Lender Group Expenses
owing, and such statements shall be conclusively presumed to be correct and
accurate and constitute an account stated between Borrowers and the Lender Group
unless, within 30 days after receipt thereof by Borrowers, Borrowers shall
deliver to Agent written objection thereto describing the error or errors
contained in any such statements. Each Borrower hereby expressly agrees and
acknowledges that Foothill shall have no obligation to account separately to
such Borrower.
2.12 Fees. Borrowers shall pay to Agent the following fees and
charges, which fees and charges shall be non-refundable when paid (irrespective
of whether this Agreement is terminated thereafter) and shall be apportioned
among the Lenders in accordance with the terms of letter agreements between
Agent and individual Lenders:
(a) Fee Letter Fees. As and when due and payable under the
---------------
terms of the Fee Letter, Borrowers shall pay to Agent the fees set forth in the
Agent's Fee Letter;
(b) Unused Line Fee. On the first day of each month during the
---------------
term of this Agreement, an unused line fee in an amount equal to 0.30% per annum
times the Average Monthly Availability; and
(c) Financial Examination and Appraisal Fees. For the sole
----------------------------------------
account of Agent: (i) a fee of $750 per day per examiner, plus out-of-pocket
expenses for each financial analysis and examination (i.e., audits) of Borrower
performed in connection with the audit performed prior to the Closing Date and
any audits performed after the occurrence and during the continuation of an
Event of Default; and (ii) the actual charges paid or incurred by Agent
30
after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, to
appraise the Collateral; provided that if no Event of Default shall have
--------
occurred and be continuing the audits (other than the pre-Closing Date audit)
referenced in the foregoing clause (i) shall be conducted at Lenders' expense,
and, if Borrower's average Availability is at least $8,000,000 for the six-month
period preceding the date of determination, then the audits referenced in the
foregoing clause (i) shall be conducted no more frequently than once per year.
2.13 Eurodollar Rate Loans. Any other provisions herein to the
contrary notwithstanding, the following provisions shall govern with respect to
Eurodollar Rate Loans as to the matters covered:
(a) Borrowing; Conversion; Continuation. Borrower may from
-----------------------------------
time to time, on or after the Closing Date (and subject to the satisfaction of
the requirements of Sections 3.1 and 3.2), request in a written or telephonic
------------ ---
communication with Agent: (i) Advances (consisting only of Core Advances) made
up of Eurodollar Rate Loans; (ii) that Reference Rate Loans (consisting only of
Core Advances) be converted into Eurodollar Rate Loans; or (iii) that existing
Eurodollar Rate Loans continue for an additional Interest Period. Any such
request shall specify the aggregate amount of the requested Eurodollar Rate
Loans, the proposed Funding Date therefor (which shall be a Business Day, and
with respect to continued Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be the last day of the
Interest Period of the existing Eurodollar Rate Loans being continued), and the
proposed Interest Period (in each case subject to the limitations set forth
below). Eurodollar Rate Loans may only be made, continued, or extended if, as of
the proposed Funding Date therefor, each of the following conditions is
satisfied:
(v) no Event of Default exists;
(w) no more than five Interest Periods would be in effect
at any one time;
(x) the amount of each Eurodollar Rate Loan borrowed,
converted, or continued must be in an amount not less than $500,000 and
integral multiples of $100,000 in excess thereof;
(y) Agent shall have determined that the Interest Period
or Adjusted Eurodollar Rate is available to it and can be readily
determined as of the date of the request for such Eurodollar Rate Loan by
Borrower; and
(z) Agent shall have received such request at least two
Business Days prior to the proposed Funding Date therefor.
Any request by Borrower to borrow Eurodollar Rate Loans, to
convert Reference Rate Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans, or to continue any
existing Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be irrevocable, except to the extent that
the Agent shall determine under Section 2.13(a), or as to any Lender that
---------------
determines under Section 2.14, that such Eurodollar Rate Loans cannot be made or
------------
continued.
31
(b) Determination of Interest Period. By giving notice as set
--------------------------------
forth in Section 2.13(a), Borrower shall select an Interest Period for such
---------------
Eurodollar Rate Loan. The determination of the Interest Period shall be subject
to the following provisions:
(i) in the case of immediately successive Interest
Periods, each successive Interest Period shall commence on the day on which the
next preceding Interest Period expires;
(ii) if any Interest Period would otherwise expire on a
day which is not a Business Day, the Interest Period shall be extended to expire
on the next succeeding Business Day; provided, however, that if the next
-----------------
succeeding Business Day occurs in the following calendar month, then such
Interest Period shall expire on the immediately preceding Business Day;
(iii) if any Interest Period begins on the last Business
Day of a month, or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day
in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period, then the Interest
Period shall end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of
such Interest Period; and
(iv) Borrower may not select an Interest Period which
expires later than the Maturity Date.
(c) Automatic Conversion. Any Eurodollar Rate Loan shall
--------------------
automatically convert to a Reference Rate Loan upon the last day of the
applicable Interest Period, unless Agent has received a request to continue such
Eurodollar Rate Loan at least two Business Days prior to the end of such
Interest Period in accordance with the terms of Section 2.13(a).
---------------
2.14 Illegality. Any other provision herein to the contrary
notwithstanding, if the adoption of or any change in any Requirement of Law or
in the interpretation or application thereof by a Governmental Authority made
subsequent to the Closing Date shall make it unlawful for any Lender to make or
maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans as contemplated by this Agreement, (a) the
obligation of such Lender hereunder to make Eurodollar Rate Loans, continue
Eurodollar Rate Loans as such, and convert Reference Rate Loans to Eurodollar
Rate Loans shall forthwith be suspended and (b) such Lender's then outstanding
Eurodollar Rate Loans, if any, shall be converted automatically to Reference
Rate Loans on the respective last days of the then current Interest Periods with
respect thereto or within such earlier period as required by law; provided,
however, that before making any such demand, each Lender agrees to use
reasonable efforts (consistent with its internal policy and legal and regulatory
restrictions and so long as such efforts would not be disadvantageous to it, in
its reasonable discretion, in any legal, economic, or regulatory manner) to
designate a different lending office if the making of such a designation would
allow such Lender or its lending office to continue to perform its obligations
to make Eurodollar Rate Loans. If any such conversion of a Eurodollar Rate Loan
occurs on a day which is not the last day of the then current Interest Period
with respect thereto, Borrower shall pay to such Lender such amounts, if any, as
may be required pursuant to Section 2.16. If circumstances subsequently change
------------
so that such Lender shall determine that it is no longer so affected, such
Lender will promptly notify Agent and Borrower, and upon receipt of
32
such notice, the obligations of such Lender to make or continue Eurodollar Rate
Loans or to convert Reference Rate Loans into Eurodollar Rate Loans shall be
reinstated.
2.15 Requirements of Law.
(a) If the adoption of or any change in any Requirement of Law
or in the interpretation or application thereof by a Governmental Authority made
subsequent to the Closing Date or compliance by any Lender with any request or
directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any central bank or
other Governmental Authority made subsequent to the Closing Date
(i) shall subject such Lender to any tax, levy, charge,
fee, reduction, or withholding of any kind whatsoever with respect to Eurodollar
Rate Loans, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such Lender in
respect thereof (except for (x) the establishment of a tax based on the net
income of such Lender or changes in the rate of tax on the net income of such
Lender and (y) United States withholding taxes in respect of payments made to
any Lender that is organized under the law of any jurisdiction other than the
United States or a political subdivision thereof);
(ii) shall in respect of Eurodollar Rate Loans impose,
modify or hold applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, or
similar requirement against assets held by, deposits or other liabilities in or
for the account of, Advances or other extensions of credit by, or any other
acquisition of funds by, any office of such Lender; or
(iii) shall impose on such Lender any other condition with
respect to Eurodollar Rate Loans;
and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender,
by an amount which such Lender deems to be material, of making, converting into,
continuing, or maintaining Eurodollar Rate Loans or to increase the cost to such
Lender in respect of Eurodollar Rate Loans, by an amount which such Lender deems
to be material, or to reduce any amount receivable hereunder in respect of
Eurodollar Rate Loans, or to forego any other sum payable thereunder or make any
payment on account thereof in respect of Eurodollar Rate Loans, then, in any
such case, if such Lender is demanding payment of additional amounts in respect
thereof by borrowers generally that are reasonably similarly situated with the
Borrowers, Borrowers shall promptly pay to Agent (for the benefit of such
Lender), upon such Lender's demand, any additional amounts necessary to
compensate such Lender for such increased cost or reduced amount receivable;
provided, however, that before making any such demand, each Lender agrees to use
reasonable efforts (consistent with its internal policy and legal and regulatory
restrictions and so long as such efforts would not be disadvantageous to it, in
its reasonable discretion, in any legal, economic, or regulatory manner) to
designate a different Eurodollar lending office if the making of such
designation would allow such Lender or its Eurodollar lending office to continue
to perform its obligations to make Eurodollar Rate Loans or to continue to fund
or maintain Eurodollar Rate Loans and avoid the need for, or materially reduce
the amount of, such increased cost; provided, further, that the Lender shall not
be entitled to demand payment of any such amount that is attributable to any
period prior to 60 days before such demand is made. If a Lender becomes
entitled to claim any additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.15, such
------------
33
Lender shall promptly notify Agent and Borrower of the event by reason of which
it has become so entitled. A certificate as to any additional amounts payable
pursuant to this Section 2.15 submitted in reasonable detail by such Lender to
------------
Agent and Borrower shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error. Within
five Business Days after a Lender notifies Borrower and Agent of any increased
cost pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.15, Borrower may
------------
convert all Eurodollar Rate Loans then outstanding into Reference Rate Loans in
accordance with Section 2.13 and, additionally, reimburse such Lender for any
------------
cost in accordance with Section 2.16. This covenant shall survive the
------------
termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Advances and all other
amounts payable hereunder for nine months following such termination and
repayment.
(b) If a Lender shall have determined that the adoption of or
any change in any Requirement of Law regarding capital adequacy or in the
interpretation or application thereof by a Governmental Authority made
subsequent to the Closing Date or compliance by such Lender or any Person
controlling such Lender with any request or directive regarding capital adequacy
(whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority made
subsequent to the Closing Date does or shall have the effect of increasing the
amount of capital required to be maintained or reducing the rate of return on
such Lender's or such Person's capital as a consequence of its obligations
hereunder to a level below that which such Lender or such Person could have
achieved but for such change or compliance (taking into consideration such
Lender's or such Person's policies with respect to capital adequacy) by an
amount deemed by such Lender to be material, then from time to time, after
submission by such Lender to Agent and Borrower of a prompt written request
therefor accompanied by a certified calculation in reasonable detail, Borrower
shall pay to Agent (for the benefit of such Lender) such additional amount or
amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Person for such reduction. This
covenant shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the
Advances and all other amounts payable hereunder for nine months following such
termination and repayment.
2.16 Indemnity. Borrower agrees to indemnify Agent and each Lender
and to hold Agent and Lenders harmless from any loss or expense which Agent or
any Lender may sustain or incur as a consequence of (a) default by Borrower in
payment when due of the principal amount of or interest on any Eurodollar Rate
Loan, (b) default by Borrower in making a Borrowing of, conversion into, or
continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans after Borrower has given a notice
requesting the same in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, (c)
default by Borrower in making any prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Loan after
Borrower has given a notice thereof in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement, or (d) the making of a prepayment of Eurodollar Rate Loans on a day
which is not the last day of an Interest Period with respect thereto (whether
due to the termination of this Agreement, upon an Event of Default, or
otherwise), including, in each case, any such loss or expense (but excluding
loss of margin or anticipated profits) arising from the reemployment of funds
obtained by it or from fees payable to terminate the deposits from which such
funds were obtained; provided, however, that Agent or any Lender, if requesting
indemnification, shall have delivered to the Borrower a certificate as to the
amount of such loss or expense, which certificate shall be conclusive in the
absence of manifest error. Calculation of all amounts payable to any such Lender
under this Section 2.16 shall be made as though such Lender had actually funded
------------
the relevant Eurodollar Rate Loan through the purchase of a deposit bearing
interest at the Eurodollar Rate in an amount
34
equal to the amount of such Eurodollar Rate Loan and having a maturity
comparable to the relevant Interest Period; provided, however, that each Lender
may fund each of the Eurodollar Rate Loans in any manner it sees fit, and the
foregoing assumption shall be utilized only for the calculation of amounts
payable under this Section 2.16. This covenant shall survive the termination of
------------
this Agreement and the payment of the Obligations hereunder.
3. CONDITIONS; TERM OF AGREEMENT.
3.1 Conditions Precedent to the Initial Advance and the Initial Letter of
Credit. The obligation of the Lender Group to make the initial Advance or to
issue the initial Letter of Credit is subject to the fulfillment, to the
satisfaction of Agent and its counsel, of each of the following conditions on or
before the Closing Date:
(a) the Closing Date shall occur on or before June 30, 2000;
(b) Agent shall have received searches reflecting the filing of its
financing statements and fixture filings;
(c) Agent shall have received each of the following documents, duly
executed, and each such document shall be in full force and effect:
a. the Disbursement Letter;
b. the Agent's Fee Letter;
c. the Pay-Off Letter, together with UCC termination statements
and other documentation evidencing the termination by Existing
Lender of its Liens in and to the properties and assets of
Borrowers; and
d. the Intellectual Property Security Agreement.
(d) Agent shall have received a certificate from the Secretary of
Borrower attesting to the resolutions of each Borrower's Board of Directors
authorizing its execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement and the
other Loan Documents to which such Borrower is a party and authorizing specific
officers of such Borrower to execute the same;
(e) Agent shall have received copies of each Borrower's Governing
Documents, as amended, modified, or supplemented to the Closing Date, certified
by the Secretary of such Borrower;
(f) Agent shall have received a certificate of status with respect to
each Borrower, dated within 10 days of the Closing Date, such certificate to be
issued by the appropriate officer of the jurisdiction of organization of such
Borrower, which certificate shall indicate that such Borrower is in good
standing in such jurisdiction;
(g) Agent shall have received certificates of status with respect to
each Borrower, each dated within 15 days of the Closing Date, such certificates
to be issued by the
35
appropriate officer of the jurisdictions in which its failure to be duly
qualified or licensed would constitute a Material Adverse Change, which
certificates shall indicate that such Borrower is in good standing in such
jurisdictions;
(h) Agent shall have received a certificate of insurance, together
with the endorsements thereto, as are required by Section 6.10, the form and
------------
substance of which shall be satisfactory to Agent and its counsel;
(i) Agent shall have received the Business Plan;
(j) Agent shall have received an opinion of Borrowers' counsel in form
and substance satisfactory to Agent in its sole discretion;
(k) Borrower shall have, net of all refinancing and payments to the
Existing Lender and of the Indebtedness under the Indenture to be paid on the
Closing Date and net of such amounts as Agent determines are necessary to
maintain Borrower's trade accounts payable not more than 60 days past due, at
least $5,000,000 of Availability and unrestricted cash;
(l) Agent shall have received a copy of management letter from Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx with respect to Borrowers' fiscal year 1999 audited financial
statements which shall be in form and substance satisfactory to Agent; and
(m) all other documents and legal matters in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been delivered, executed,
or recorded and shall be in form and substance satisfactory to Agent.
3.2 Conditions Precedent to all Advances and all Letters of Credit. The
following shall be conditions precedent to all Advances and all Letters of
Credit hereunder:
(a) the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement and
the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all respects on and as of
the date of such extension of credit, as though made on and as of such date
(except to the extent that such representations and warranties relate solely to
an earlier date);
(b) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing on the date of such extension of credit, nor shall either result from
the making thereof;
(c) no injunction, writ, restraining order, or other order of any
nature prohibiting, directly or indirectly, the extending of such credit shall
have been issued and remain in force by any governmental authority against any
Borrower, the Lender Group or any of their Affiliates;
(d) the amount of any requested Advance or Letter of Credit shall not
exceed the Availability at such time; and
(e) no Material Adverse Change shall have occurred.
36
3.3 Condition Subsequent. As a condition subsequent to initial
closing hereunder, Borrowers shall perform or cause to be performed the
following (the failure by Borrowers to so perform or cause to be performed
constituting an Event of Default ):
(a) within 30 days of the Closing Date, deliver to Agent the
certified copies of the policies of insurance, together with the endorsements
thereto, as are required by Section 6.10, the form and substance of which shall
------------
be satisfactory to Agent;
(b) within 15 days of the Closing Date, cause to be delivered
to Agent the fully executed Blocked Account Agreement; and
(c) within 45 days of the Closing Date, cause to be delivered
to Agent the fully executed Collateral Access Agreements with respect to
Borrowers' distribution centers and Poolmart's chief executive office.
3.4 Term; Automatic Renewal. This Agreement shall become effective
upon the execution and delivery hereof by Borrowers and the Lender Group and
shall continue in full force and effect for a term ending on January 31, 2004
(the "Maturity Date"). The foregoing notwithstanding, the Lender Group, upon the
election of the Required Lenders, shall have the right to terminate the Lender
Group's obligations under this Agreement immediately and without notice upon the
occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default.
3.5 Effect of Termination. On the date of termination of this
Agreement, all Obligations (including contingent reimbursement obligations of
Borrowers with respect to any outstanding Letters of Credit) immediately shall
become due and payable without notice or demand. No termination of this
Agreement, however, shall relieve or discharge Borrowers or Borrowers' duties,
Obligations, or covenants hereunder, and the Lender Group's continuing security
interests in the Collateral shall remain in effect until all Obligations have
been fully and finally discharged and the Lender Group's obligation to provide
additional credit hereunder is terminated.
3.6 Early Termination or Reduction of Maximum Amount by Borrowers.
The provisions of Section 3.4 that allow termination of this Agreement by
-----------
Borrowers only on the Maturity Date notwithstanding, Borrowers have the option:
(A) at any time, without charge but upon at least 15 days prior written notice
to Agent, to reduce the Maximum Amount by minimum increments of $5,000,000 or
multiples thereof, but in no event to an amount less than $40,000,000 (provided
that Borrowers shall have no right to increase the Maximum Amount after any
reduction thereof and any and all fees paid by Borrowers prior to any such
reduction shall be deemed fully earned and no portion thereof shall be subject
to refund due to any such reduction); and (B) at any time upon at least 15 days
prior written notice to Agent, to terminate this Agreement by paying to Agent
(for the ratable benefit of the Lender Group), in cash, the Obligations
(including depositing with Agent an amount equal to 105% of the undrawn amount
of the Letters of Credit, which cash collateral shall be returned to Borrowers
by Agent net of the amount of all drawings under such Letters of Credit and all
costs and expenses associated therewith), in full, together with a premium (the
"Early Termination Premium") equal to the following amount:
37
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Effective Date of Termination Early Termination Premium
----------------------------- -------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prior to the first anniversary date of the Closing Date 0.50 % of the Maximum Amount
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thereafter No Early Termination Premium
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And, in any event, if Obligations are repaid in full from a refinancing by a
commercial banking unit of Xxxxx Fargo, then no Early Termination Premium shall
be payable.
3.7 Termination Upon Event of Default. If the Lender Group
terminates this Agreement upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an
Event of Default which Agent has reasonably determined to be been caused
intentionally by a Borrower, in view of the impracticability and extreme
difficulty of ascertaining actual damages and by mutual agreement of the parties
as to a reasonable calculation of the Lender Group's lost profits as a result
thereof, Borrowers shall pay to Agent (for the ratable benefit of the Lender
Group) upon the effective date of such termination, a premium in an amount equal
to the Early Termination Premium. The Early Termination Premium shall be
presumed to be the amount of damages sustained by the Lender Group as the result
of the early termination and Borrowers agree that it is reasonable under the
circumstances currently existing. The Early Termination Premium provided for in
this Section 3.7 shall be deemed included in the Obligations.
-----------
4. CREATION OF SECURITY INTEREST.
4.1 Grant of Security Interest. Each Borrower hereby grants to Agent
for the benefit of the Lender Group a continuing security interest in all of
such Borrower's currently existing and hereafter acquired or arising Collateral
in order to secure prompt repayment of any and all Obligations and in order to
secure prompt performance by such Borrower of each of its covenants and duties
under the Loan Documents. The security interests of Agent for the benefit of the
Lender Group in the Collateral shall attach to all Collateral without further
act on the part of the Lender Group or Borrowers.
4.2 Negotiable Collateral. In the event that any Collateral,
including proceeds, of value in excess of $250,000 is evidenced by or consists
of Negotiable Collateral, Borrowers, immediately upon the request of Agent,
shall endorse and deliver physical possession of such Negotiable Collateral to
Agent.
4.3 Collection of Accounts, General Intangibles, and Negotiable
Collateral. At any time after the occurrence and during the continuation of an
Event of Default, Agent or Agent's designee may (a) notify customers or Account
Debtors of any Borrower that the Accounts, General Intangibles, or Negotiable
Collateral of such Borrower have been assigned to Agent for the benefit of the
Lender Group or that Agent for the benefit of the Lender Group has a security
interest therein, and (b) collect the Accounts, General Intangibles, and
Negotiable Collateral of such Borrower directly and charge the collection costs
and expenses to the Loan Account. After the occurrence and during the
continuation of an Event of Default, each Borrower agrees that it will hold in
trust for the Lender Group, as the Lender Group's trustee,
38
any Collections that it receives and immediately will deliver said Collections
to Agent in their original form as received by Borrower.
4.4 Delivery of Additional Documentation Required. At any time upon
the request of Agent, Borrowers shall execute and deliver to Agent all financing
statements, continuation financing statements, fixture filings, security
agreements, pledges, assignments, control agreements, affidavits, reports,
notices, schedules of accounts, letters of authority, and, after the occurrence
and during the continuation of an Event of Default, endorsements of certificates
of title, applications for title, and, in any event (whether prior to or after
the occurrence of an Event of Default), all other documents that Agent
reasonably may request, in form satisfactory to Agent, to perfect and continue
perfected the Liens of the Lender Group in the Collateral, and in order to fully
consummate all of the transactions contemplated hereby and under the other the
Loan Documents.
4.5 Power of Attorney. Each Borrower hereby irrevocably makes,
constitutes, and appoints Agent (and any of Agent's officers, employees, or
agents designated by Agent) as such Borrower's true and lawful attorney, with
power to (a) if such Borrower refuses to, or fails timely to execute and deliver
any of the documents described in Section 4.4, sign the name of such Borrower on
-----------
any of the documents described in Section 4.4, (b) at any time that an Event of
-----------
Default has occurred and is continuing, sign such Borrower's name on any invoice
or xxxx of lading relating to any Account of such Borrower, drafts against
Account Debtors, schedules and assignments of Accounts of such Borrower,
verifications of Accounts of such Borrower, and notices to Account Debtors, (c)
send requests for verification of Accounts, (d) endorse such Borrower's name on
any Collection item that may come into the Lender Group's possession, (e) at any
time that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, notify the post
office authorities to change the address for delivery of such Borrower's mail to
an address designated by Agent, to receive and open all mail addressed to such
Borrower, and to retain all mail relating to the Collateral of such Borrower and
forward all other mail to such Borrower, (f) at any time that an Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing, make, settle, and adjust all claims
under such Borrower's policies of insurance and make all determinations and
decisions with respect to such policies of insurance, and (g) at any time that
an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, settle and adjust disputes
and claims respecting the Accounts of such Borrower directly with Account
Debtors, for amounts and upon terms that Agent determines to be reasonable, and
Agent may cause to be executed and delivered any documents and releases that
Agent determines to be necessary. The appointment of Agent as such Borrower's
attorney, and each and every one of Agent's rights and powers, being coupled
with an interest, is irrevocable until all of the Obligations have been fully
and finally repaid and performed and the Lender Group's obligation to extend
credit hereunder is terminated.
4.6 Right to Inspect. Agent (through any of its officers, employees,
or agents) shall have the right, once per year so long as the trailing six-month
average Availability is at least $8,000,000 and otherwise from time to time
(upon reasonable intervals and upon reasonable notice so long as no Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing), to inspect Borrowers' Books and to
audit and, after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of
Default, appraise, the Collateral in order to verify Borrowers' financial
condition or the amount, quality, value, condition of, or any other matter
relating to, the Collateral.
39
5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.
In order to induce the Lender Group to enter into this Agreement, each Borrower
makes the following representations and warranties which shall be true, correct,
and complete in all respects as of the date hereof, and shall be true, correct,
and complete in all respects as of the Closing Date, and at and as of the date
of the making of each Advance or Letter of Credit made thereafter, as though
made on and as of the date of such Advance or Letter of Credit (except to the
extent that such representations and warranties relate solely to an earlier
date) and such representations and warranties shall survive the execution and
delivery of this Agreement:
5.1 No Encumbrances. Each Borrower has good and indefeasible title
to its Collateral, free and clear of Liens except for Permitted Liens.
5.2 Intentionally Omitted
5.3 Inventory. The Borrowers have established such reserves with
respect to their Inventory as are adequate in accordance with GAAP, and such
reserves are reflected on Poolmart's most recent consolidated balance sheet
delivered pursuant to Section 6.3; such Inventory is owned solely by a Borrower
-----------
and such Borrower has good title thereto, subject to no Liens that are
prohibited hereby; is located at one of the locations set forth on Schedule E-1
------------
(as amended from time to time in accordance with Section 6.12) or in transit in
------------
the United States to such a location; such Inventory, if located at a
distribution center of a Borrower, is subject to a Collateral Access Agreement;
and such Inventory is subject to a valid and perfected first priority security
interest in favor of the Lender Group.
5.4 Equipment. All of the Equipment of Borrowers is used or held for
use in Borrowers' business and is fit for such purposes.
5.5 Location of Inventory and Equipment. The Inventory and Equipment
of Borrowers are not stored with a bailee, warehouseman, or similar party
(without delivery to Agent of a Collateral Access Agreement or Agent's prior
written consent) and are located only at the locations identified on Schedule
--------
6.12 or otherwise permitted by Section 6.12.
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5.6 Inventory Records. Consistent with past practices, each Borrower
keeps records itemizing and describing the kind, type and quantity of its
Inventory and the Net Book Value thereof.
5.7 Location of Chief Executive Office; FEIN. The chief executive
office of each Borrower and Borrower's FEIN is set forth on Schedule 5.7.
5.8 Due Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries.
(a) Each Borrower is duly organized and existing and in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and qualified
and licensed to do business in, and in good standing in, any state where the
failure to be so licensed or qualified reasonably could be expected to cause a
Material Adverse Change.
40
(b) Set forth on Schedule 5.8, is a complete and accurate list
------------
of each Borrower's direct and indirect Subsidiaries, showing: (i) the
jurisdiction of their incorporation; (ii) the number of shares of each class of
common and preferred stock authorized for each of such Subsidiaries; and (iii)
the number and the percentage of the outstanding shares of each such class owned
directly or indirectly by such Borrower. All of the outstanding capital stock of
each such Subsidiary has been validly issued and is fully paid and non-
assessable.
(c) Except as set forth on Schedule 5.8, no capital stock (or
------------
any securities, instruments, warrants, options, purchase rights, conversion or
exchange rights, calls, commitments or claims of any character convertible into
or exercisable for capital stock) of any direct or indirect Subsidiary of any
Borrower is subject to the issuance of any security, instrument, warrant,
option, purchase right, conversion or exchange right, call, commitment or claim
of any right, title, or interest therein or thereto.
5.9 Due Authorization; No Conflict.
(a) The execution, delivery, and performance by each Borrower
of this Agreement and the Loan Documents to which it is a party have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action.
(b) The execution, delivery, and performance by each Borrower
of this Agreement and the Loan Documents to which it is a party do not and will
not (i) violate any provision of federal, state, or local law or regulation
(including Regulations T, U, and X of the Federal Reserve Board) applicable to
such Borrower, the Governing Documents of such Borrower, or any order, judgment,
or decree of any court or other Governmental Authority binding on such Borrower,
(ii) conflict with, result in a breach of, or constitute (with due notice or
lapse of time or both) a default under any material contractual obligation or
material lease of such Borrower, (iii) result in or require the creation or
imposition of any Lien of any nature whatsoever upon any properties or assets of
such Borrower, other than Permitted Liens, or (iv) require any approval of
stockholders or any approval or consent of any Person under any material
contractual obligation of such Borrower.
(c) Other than the filing of appropriate financing statements,
fixture filings, and mortgages, the execution, delivery, and performance by each
Borrower of this Agreement and the Loan Documents to which such Borrower is a
party do not and will not require any registration with, consent, or approval
of, or notice to, or other action with or by, any federal, state, foreign, or
other Governmental Authority or other Person.
(d) This Agreement and the Loan Documents to which any Borrower
is a party, and all other documents contemplated hereby and thereby, when
executed and delivered by such Borrower will be the legally valid and binding
obligations of such Borrower, enforceable against such Borrower in accordance
with their respective terms, except as enforcement may be limited by equitable
principles or by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar
laws relating to or limiting creditors' rights generally.
(e) The Liens granted by each Borrower to Agent (for the
benefit of the Lender Group) in and to its properties and assets pursuant to
this Agreement and the other
41
Loan Documents are validly created, perfected, and first priority Liens, subject
only to Permitted Liens.
5.10 Litigation. There are no actions or proceedings pending by or
against any Borrower before any court or administrative agency and no Borrower
does not have knowledge or belief of any pending, threatened, or imminent
litigation, governmental investigations, or claims, complaints, actions, or
prosecutions involving any Borrower or any guarantor of the Obligations, except
for: (a) ongoing collection matters in which a Borrower is the plaintiff; (b)
matters disclosed on Schedule 5.10; and (c) matters that would not reasonably be
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expected to cause a Material Adverse Change.
5.11 No Material Adverse Change. All of Poolmart's consolidated
financial statements that have been delivered to the Lender Group have been
prepared in accordance with GAAP (except, in the case of unaudited financial
statements, for the lack of footnotes and being subject to year-end audit
adjustments) and fairly present Poolmart's consolidated financial condition as
of the date thereof and results of operations for the period then ended. There
has not been a Material Adverse Change on or before the Closing Date with
respect to Borrowers (taken as a whole) since the date of the latest financial
statements submitted to the Lender Group on or before the Closing Date.
5.12 Solvency. Borrowers are Solvent. No transfer of property is
being made by any Borrower and no obligation is being incurred by any Borrower
in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other
Loan Documents with the intent to hinder, delay, or defraud either present or
future creditors of any Borrower.
5.13 Employee Benefits. Each Borrower and each Subsidiary of a
Borrower are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable
provisions of ERISA; each Borrower and each such Subsidiary have not violated in
any material respect any provision of any Benefit Plan maintained or contributed
to by Borrower or any such Subsidiary; no Reportable Event as defined in ERISA
has occurred and is continuing with respect to any Benefit Plan initiated by a
Borrower or any such Subsidiary; Borrowers and each Subsidiary of a Borrower
have met their minimum funding requirements under ERISA with respect to each
Benefit Plan; and each Benefit Plan will be able to fulfill its benefit
obligations as they come due in accordance with the Benefit Plan documents and
under GAAP.
5.14 Environmental Condition. Except as disclosed by Borrowers to
Agent in writing prior to the date hereof, to the best of Borrowers' knowledge,
Borrowers and each Subsidiary of a Borrower are in compliance in all material
respects with all applicable environmental, hazardous waste, health, and safety
statutes and regulations governing their operations and/or properties or
relating to the disposal, handling, production, storage, transport or release of
Hazardous Materials. To the best of Borrowers' knowledge, none of the operations
of Borrowers or any Subsidiary of a Borrower are the subject of any federal or
state investigation evaluating whether any remedial action involving a material
expenditure is needed to respond to a release of any Hazardous Material into the
environment. To the best of Borrowers' knowledge, no Borrower nor any such
Subsidiary has any material contingent liability in connection with any such
release.
42
5.15 Taxes. Borrowers have timely filed all tax returns required to
be filed by Borrowers and all taxes upon each Borrower or its properties,
assets, income, and franchises (including real property taxes and payroll taxes)
have been paid prior to delinquency, except such taxes that are the subject of a
Permitted Protest;
6. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.
Each Borrower covenants and agrees that, so long as any credit
hereunder shall be available and until full and final payment of the
Obligations, such Borrower shall do all of the following:
6.1 Accounting System. Maintain a system of accounting that enables
such Borrower to produce financial statements in accordance with GAAP,
consistent with past practices.
6.2 Collateral Reporting. Provide Agent (and if so requested by
Agent, with copies for each Lender) with the following documents at the
following times in form satisfactory to Agent: (a) on a monthly basis and, in
any event, by no later than the 30th day of each month during the term of this
Agreement, a detailed calculation of the Borrowing Base, including Inventory mix
by major category (including a separate parts inventory category), all in such
form and detail as Agent may reasonably require, (b) on a monthly basis and, in
any event, by no later than the 30th day of each month during the term of this
Agreement, a summary aging, by vendor, of such Borrower's accounts payable and
any book overdraft, (c) the semi-annual physical inventory report required under
Section 6.4, together with an inventory shrinkage reconciliation schedule based
-----------
upon such count, (d) on a quarterly basis, a reconciliation of the Borrowers'
general ledger to the perpetual inventory report, and (e) such other reports as
to the Collateral or the financial condition of such Borrower as Agent may
reasonably request from time to time.
6.3 Financial Statements, Reports, Certificates. Deliver to Agent:
(a) as soon as available, but in any event within 30 days after the end of each
month during each of such Borrower's fiscal years (or 45 days after end of the
last month in each fiscal quarter), a company prepared balance sheet, income
statement, and, on a quarterly basis only, a statement of cash flow covering
such Borrower's operations during such period; and (b) as soon as available, but
in any event within 90 days after the end of each of such Borrower's fiscal
years, financial statements of such Borrower for each such fiscal year, audited
by independent certified public accountants from a "Big 5" accounting firm or
such other accounting firm as is reasonably acceptable to Agent and certified,
without any material qualifications, by such accountants to have been prepared
in accordance with GAAP, together with a certificate of such accountants
addressed to Agent stating that such accountants do not have knowledge of the
existence of any Default or Event of Default. Such audited financial statements
shall include a balance sheet, profit and loss statement, and statement of cash
flow and, if prepared, such accountants' letter to management.
Together with the above, such Borrower also shall deliver to
Agent such Borrower's Form 10-Q Quarterly Reports, Form 10-K Annual Reports, and
Form 8-K Current Reports, and any other filings made by such Borrower with the
Securities and Exchange
43
Commission, if any, as soon as the same are filed, and any other report
reasonably requested by Agent relating to the financial condition of such
Borrower.
Each month, together with the financial statements provided
pursuant to Section 6.3(a), such Borrower shall deliver to Agent a Compliance
Certificate signed by its chief financial officer to the effect that: (i) all
financial statements delivered or caused to be delivered to Agent hereunder have
been prepared in accordance with GAAP (except, in the case of unaudited
financial statements, for the lack of footnotes and being subject to year-end
audit adjustments) and fairly present the consolidated financial condition of
such Borrower, (ii) the representations and warranties of such Borrower
contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are true and correct in
all material respects on and as of the date of such certificate, as though made
on and as of such date (except to the extent that such representations and
warranties relate solely to an earlier date), (iii) for each month that also is
the date on which a financial covenant in Section 7.20 is to be tested, such
------------
Borrower is in compliance at the end of such period with the applicable
financial covenants contained in Section 7.20 (and demonstrating such compliance
------------
in reasonable detail), (iv) in any month in which any principal amount of
Indebtedness arising under the Indenture is redeemed, a statement of the
principal amount of such Indebtedness redeemed during such month and during the
term hereof; and (v) on the date of delivery of such certificate to Agent there
does not exist any condition or event that constitutes a Default or Event of
Default (or, in the case of clauses (i), (ii), or (iii), to the extent of any
non-compliance, describing such non-compliance as to which he or she may have
knowledge and what action such Borrower has taken, is taking, or proposes to
take with respect thereto).
Poolmart shall, from time to time, not more frequently than once
in any year unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, at the
request of the Agent cause its independent certified public accountants to meet
and confer with Agent, in the presence of management of Poolmart, to discuss
with Agent the Borrowers' financial affairs.
6.4 Inventory at Net Book Value; Physical Count. Reflect on its
financial statements such Borrower's Inventory at Net Book Value, conduct, on a
semi-annual basis (except for distribution centers, which shall be on an annual
basis), a physical inventory count including all store locations, promptly
adjust its financial statements to reflect the results of each such physical
inventory, and promptly deliver to Agent copies of the results of such physical
inventory count.
6.5 Intentionally Omitted.
6.6 Returns. Cause returns and allowances, if any, as between such
Borrower and its Account Debtors to be on the same basis and in accordance with
the usual customary practices of such Borrower, as they exist at the time of the
execution and delivery of this Agreement.
6.7 Title to Equipment. Upon Agent's request after the occurrence
and during the continuation of an Event of Default, such Borrower immediately
shall deliver to Agent, properly endorsed, any and all evidences of ownership
of, certificates of title, or applications for title to any items of Equipment.
44
6.8 Maintenance of Equipment. Maintain the Equipment in good
operating condition and repair (ordinary wear and tear excepted), and make all
necessary replacements thereto so that the value and operating efficiency
thereof shall at all times be maintained and preserved. Other than those items
of Equipment that constitute fixtures on the Closing Date, such Borrower shall
not permit any item of Equipment to become a fixture to real estate or an
accession to other property, and such Equipment shall at all times remain
personal property.
6.9 Taxes. Cause all assessments and taxes, whether real, personal,
or otherwise, due or payable by, or imposed, levied, or assessed against such
Borrower or any of its property to be paid in full, before delinquency or before
the expiration of any extension period, except to the extent that the validity
of such assessment or tax shall be the subject of a Permitted Protest. Such
Borrower shall make due and timely payment or deposit of all such federal,
state, and local taxes, assessments, or contributions required of it by law, and
will execute and deliver to Agent, on demand, appropriate certificates attesting
to the payment thereof or deposit with respect thereto. Such Borrower will make
timely payment or deposit of all tax payments and withholding taxes required of
it by applicable laws, including those laws concerning F.I.C.A., F.U.T.A., state
disability, and local, state, and federal income taxes, and will, upon request,
furnish Agent with proof satisfactory to Agent indicating that such Borrower has
made such payments or deposits.
6.10 Insurance.
(a) Maintain and keep in force, and cause each Subsidiary of
such Borrower to maintain and keep in force, insurance of the types and in
amounts customarily carried in similar lines of business, including but not
limited to fire, extended coverage, public liability, property damage, and
workers' compensation, carried with companies and in amounts reasonably
satisfactory to Agent, and deliver to Agent from time to time at Agent's request
certificates of insurance setting forth all insurance then in effect; provided,
however, that (a) with respect to Borrowers' and each such Subsidiary's
commercial liability insurance, each Borrower and each such Subsidiary may
maintain deductibles which do not exceed, in the aggregate, $500,000 per
occurrence, (b) each Borrower and each such Subsidiary may self-insure for
workers' compensation upon disclosure by Borrower to Agent in writing, so long
as such self-insurance program is instituted and maintained in compliance with
all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and (c) with respect to each
Borrower's and each such Subsidiary's fire and property damage insurance, each
Borrower and each Subsidiary may maintain deductibles which do not exceed, in
the aggregate, five percent (5%) of their combined net current assets per
occurrence.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in (a) above, all hazard
insurance and such other insurance as Agent shall specify, shall contain a
California Form 438BFU (NS) mortgagee endorsement, or an equivalent endorsement
satisfactory to Agent, showing Agent (for the ratable benefit of the Lenders) as
sole loss payee thereof, and shall contain a waiver of warranties. Every policy
of insurance referred to in this Section 6.10 shall contain an agreement by the
------------
insurer that it will not cancel such policy except after 30 days prior written
notice to Agent (for the ratable benefit of the Lenders) and that any loss
payable thereunder shall be payable notwithstanding any act or negligence of
such Borrower or the Lender Group which might, absent such agreement, result in
a forfeiture of all or a part of such insurance payment.
45
(c) Original policies or certificates thereof satisfactory to
Agent evidencing such insurance shall be delivered to Agent at least 30 days
prior to the expiration of the existing or preceding policies. Such Borrower
shall give Agent prompt notice of any loss covered by such insurance, and, after
the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, Agent shall
have the right to adjust any loss. In such event, Agent shall have the exclusive
right to adjust all losses payable under any such insurance policies without any
liability to such Borrower whatsoever in respect of such adjustments.
(d) Such Borrower shall not take out separate insurance
concurrent in form or contributing in the event of loss with that required to be
maintained under this Section 6.10, unless Agent is included thereon as named
------------
insured with the loss payable to Agent (for the ratable benefit of Lenders)
under a standard California 438BFU (NS) Mortgagee endorsement, or its local
equivalent. Such Borrower immediately shall notify Agent whenever such separate
insurance is taken out, specifying the insurer thereunder and full particulars
as to the policies evidencing the same, and originals of such policies
immediately shall be provided to Agent.
6.11 No Setoffs or Counterclaims. Make payments hereunder and under
the other Loan Documents by or on behalf of such Borrower without setoff or
counterclaim and free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for or
on account of, any federal, state, or local taxes.
6.12 Location of Inventory and Equipment. Except for in-transit
Inventory, keep the Inventory and Equipment only at the locations (including
store locations) identified on Schedule 6.12; provided, however, that Borrower
------------- -------- -------
may amend Schedule 6.12 so long as such amendment occurs by written notice to
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Agent not less than 30 days prior to the date on which the Inventory or
Equipment of Borrower is moved to such new location, so long as such new
location is within the continental United States, and so long as, at the time of
such written notification, Borrower provides any financing statements or fixture
filings necessary to perfect and continue perfected (the Lien of Agent for the
benefit of the Lender Group), security interests in such assets and also
provides to Agent, if requested by Agent, a Collateral Access Agreement.
6.13 Compliance with Laws. Comply with the requirements of all
applicable laws, rules, regulations, and orders of any governmental authority,
including the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Americans With Disabilities Act,
other than laws, rules, regulations, and orders the non-compliance with which,
individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to cause a
Material Adverse Change.
6.14 Employee Benefits. Deliver to Agent: (i) promptly, and in any
event within 10 Business Days after such Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries
knows or has reason to know that an ERISA Event has occurred that reasonably
could be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change, a written statement of
the chief financial officer of such Borrower describing such ERISA Event and any
action that is being taking with respect thereto by Borrower, any such
Subsidiary or ERISA Affiliate, and any action taken or threatened by the IRS,
Department of Labor, or PBGC. Such Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable,
shall be deemed to know all facts known by the administrator of any Benefit Plan
of which it is the plan sponsor, (ii) promptly, and in any event within three
Business Days after the filing thereof with the IRS, a
46
copy of each funding waiver request filed with respect to any Benefit Plan and
all communications received by such Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or, to the
knowledge of such Borrower, any ERISA Affiliate with respect to such request,
and (iii) promptly, and in any event within three Business Days after receipt by
such Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of such Borrower,
any ERISA Affiliate, of the PBGC's intention to terminate a Benefit Plan or to
have a trustee appointed to administer a Benefit Plan, copies of each such
notice.
6.15 Leases. Pay when due all rents and other amounts payable under
any leases to which such Borrower is a party or by which such Borrower's
properties and assets are bound, unless such payments are the subject of a
Permitted Protest. To the extent that such Borrower fails timely to make payment
of such rents and other amounts payable when due under its leases, Agent shall
be entitled, in its discretion, to reserve an amount equal to such unpaid
amounts against the Borrowing Base.
6.16 Notices Under Preferred Stock, Subordinated Exchange
Indebtedness and Bond Indenture. Promptly (upon delivery by Borrower of any such
notice or certificate and in no event more than seven (7) Business Days after
receipt by Borrower of any such notice or certificate) provide a copy of any
material notice or certificate delivered to or by Borrower under the Indenture
or under the Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement or otherwise in respect of the
Preferred Stock, including, without limitation, (i) any notice or certificate
delivered under Section 3.01, 3.02, 3.03, 4.03, 4.08(c), 4.16, 4.17, 6.01, 6.02,
6.04, 7.08, 8.01, 8.02, 8.04, 10.04 or 10.05 of the Indenture or in respect of
any amendment, supplement or other modification of the Indenture or the terms of
the Bonds; (ii) any notice or certificate in respect of any redemption of any
Preferred Stock; (iii) any notice or certificate in respect of any default or
event of default under any Subordinated Exchange Indebtedness; or (iv) any
conversion notice by Borrower pursuant to Section (g)(i)(A) of the Preferred
Stock Designation Certificate in respect of a contemplated exercise of
Borrower's right to convert Preferred Stock into subordinated Indebtedness,
provided that notice of proposed delivery of such a conversion notice shall be
provided to Agent at least sixty (60) days prior to the contemplated conversion.
7. NEGATIVE COVENANTS.
Each Borrower covenants and agrees that, so long as any credit
hereunder shall be available and until full and final payment of the
Obligations, such Borrower will not do any of the following:
7.1 Indebtedness. Create, incur, assume, permit, guarantee, or
otherwise become or remain, directly or indirectly, liable with respect to any
Indebtedness, except:
(a) Indebtedness evidenced by this Agreement, together with
Indebtedness to issuers of letters of credit that is the subject of L/C
Guarantees and Indebtedness under Permitted Hedging Agreements;
(b) Indebtedness under the Indenture outstanding as of the
Closing Date (after any repayment thereof from proceeds of the initial Advances)
and such other Indebtedness as set forth on Schedule 7.1;
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47
(c) Intentionally Omitted
(d) Indebtedness incurred by Poolmart hereafter to finance the
acquisition by Poolmart of real estate or other fixed assets for use in the on-
going operations of Poolmart, provided (i) that such Indebtedness is secured
only by the real estate or other assets financed thereby, and that such
investments in real estate or other assets are permitted under Section 7.21
------------
hereof and (ii) that the aggregate amount of such Indebtedness outstanding at
any time shall not exceed $5,000,000;
(e) Subordinated Exchange Indebtedness, if any;
(f) Indebtedness arising under Capital Leases entered into by
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, provided
that the aggregate amount of such Indebtedness outstanding at any time shall not
exceed $5,000,000;
(g) Indebtedness incurred by Borrower (exclusive of
Subordinated Exchange Indebtedness) in an aggregate amount not to exceed
$5,000,000 at any time outstanding, which Indebtedness is subordinated to the
Obligations on terms and conditions, including repayment terms and subordination
provisions, acceptable to Agent;
(h) Indebtedness of any Subsidiary of a Borrower to a Borrower
incurred in the ordinary course of business; and
(i) refinancings, renewals, or extensions of Indebtedness
permitted under clauses (b) (other than Indebtedness under the Indenture), (d),
and (g) of this Section 7.1 (and continuance or renewal of any Permitted Liens
-----------
associated therewith) so long as: (i) the terms and conditions of such
refinancings, renewals, or extensions do not materially impair the prospects of
repayment of the Obligations by Borrowers, (ii) the net cash proceeds of such
refinancings, renewals, or extensions do not result in an increase in the
aggregate principal amount of the Indebtedness so refinanced, renewed, or
extended, (iii) such refinancings, renewals, refundings, or extensions do not
result in a shortening of the average weighted maturity of the Indebtedness so
refinanced, renewed, or extended, and (iv) to the extent that Indebtedness that
is refinanced was subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, then the
subordination terms and conditions of the refinancing Indebtedness must be at
least as favorable to the Lender Group as those applicable to the refinanced
Indebtedness.
7.2 Liens. Create, incur, assume, or permit to exist, directly or
indirectly, any Lien on or with respect to any of its property or assets, of any
kind, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or any income or profits
therefrom, except for Permitted Liens (including Liens that are replacements of
Permitted Liens to the extent that the original Indebtedness is refinanced under
Section 7.1(d) and so long as the replacement Liens only encumber those assets
--------------
or property that secured the original Indebtedness); provided that in any event,
--------
with respect to any of fee interest in Real Property, Borrower shall not create
or suffer to exist any consensual Liens, or sell or enter into any sale and
leaseback transaction relating to any such interest in any Real Property which
is owned by a Borrower on the Closing Date.
7.3 Restrictions on Fundamental Changes. Enter into any merger or
consolidation (other than of a Subsidiary of a Borrower into a Borrower, or a
Borrower into the
48
other Borrower), reorganization or recapitalization (other than in connection
with an acquisition permitted by Section 7.13 in which the Borrower or a
------------
Subsidiary is the surviving corporation), or reclassify its capital stock, or
liquidate, wind up, or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or
dissolution), or convey, sell, assign, lease, transfer, or otherwise dispose of,
in one transaction or a series of transactions, all or substantially all of its
property or assets.
7.4 Disposal of Assets. Sell, lease, assign, transfer, or otherwise
dispose of any of such Borrower's properties or assets other than sales of or
other disposition of (a) Inventory, (b) obsolete Equipment, (c) Equipment not
used or useful in the conduct of the applicable Borrower's business, (d) sale
and leasebacks of the properties listed on Schedule 7.4 or of any Real Property
or fixed assets acquired after the Closing Date, and (e) other assets (other
than Inventory) not exceeding $500,000 per year in book value.
7.5 Change Name. Change such Borrower's name, FEIN, corporate
structure (within the meaning of Section 9402(7) of the Code), or identity, or
---------------
add any new fictitious name.
7.6 Guarantee. Guarantee or otherwise become in any way liable with
respect to the obligations of any third Person except by endorsement of
instruments or items of payment for deposit to the account of such Borrower or
which are transmitted or turned over to Agent.
7.7 Nature of Business. Make any material change in the principal
nature of such Borrower's business.
7.8 Prepayments and Amendments.
(a) Except (i) in connection with a refinancing permitted by
Section 7.1(i), and (ii) for payment of up to $10,000,000 in connection with the
--------------
redemption of Indebtedness arising under the Indenture (provided that after
giving effect to any such redemption, there shall exist at least $8,000,000 of
Availability), prepay, redeem, retire, defease, purchase, or otherwise acquire
any subordinated Indebtedness owing to any third Person, other than the
Obligations in accordance with this Agreement, and
(b) Directly or indirectly, amend, modify, alter, increase, or
change any of the terms or conditions of the Indenture or any other agreement,
instrument, document, indenture, or other writing evidencing or concerning
Indebtedness permitted under Sections 7.1(b), (c), or (d).
--------------- --- ---
7.9 Change of Control. Cause, permit, or suffer, directly or
indirectly, any Change of Control.
7.10 Consignments. Consign any Inventory or sell any Inventory on
xxxx and hold, sale or return, sale on approval, or other conditional terms of
sale.
7.11 Distributions. Make any distribution or declare or pay any
dividends (in cash or other property, other than capital stock) on, or purchase,
acquire, redeem, or retire any of such Borrower's capital stock, of any class,
whether now or hereafter outstanding; provided, however, that (a) each
Subsidiary of a Borrower may pay cash dividends or distributions to a
49
Borrower and (b) a Borrower (i) may pay dividends payable on the Preferred Stock
in the form of additional shares of Preferred Stock, (ii) may, so long as no
Default or Event of Default shall have occurred or be continuing or would result
therefrom, pay dividends payable in cash on the shares of Preferred Stock with
(x) the net proceeds of a sale for cash (other than to a Subsidiary of a
Borrower) of shares of capital stock of Poolmart or (y) the net proceeds of any
capital contribution to Poolmart, (iii) may, so long as no Default or Event of
Default shall have occurred or be continuing or would result therefrom,
repurchase capital stock of a Borrower or options, warrants or other securities
exercisable or convertible into capital stock of a Borrower from employees and
directors of a Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or their authorized
representatives upon the death, disability or termination of employment or
directorship of such employees or directors, in an aggregate amount not to
exceed $500,000 in any calendar year and $2,000,000 in the aggregate plus, in
the case of any such repurchase of capital stock, the amount of net cash
proceeds received by the Borrower from the resale of repurchased capital stock
to officers or directors of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries; and (iv) may
declare and pay dividends on its capital stock other than the Preferred Stock in
the form of additional shares of such capital stock.
7.12 Accounting Methods. Other than pursuant to GAAP or with the
concurrence of a "Big 5" accounting firm, modify or change its method of
accounting.
7.13 Investments. Directly or indirectly make, acquire, or incur any
liabilities (including contingent obligations) for or in connection with (a) the
acquisition of the securities (whether debt or equity) of, or other interests
in, a Person, (b) loans, advances, capital contributions, or transfers of
property to a Person, or (c) the acquisition of all or substantially all of the
properties or assets of a Person, other than (x) Permitted Investments and
acquisitions which do not exceed $2,500,000 in the aggregate during any fiscal
year for Borrowers and their Subsidiaries combined, (y) loans by a Borrower to
employees which do not exceed $250,000 in the aggregate outstanding at any time,
and (z) trade credit extended to customers of Borrowers in the ordinary course
of business.
7.14 Transactions with Affiliates. Directly or indirectly enter into
or permit to exist any material transaction with any Affiliate of such Borrower
except for (x) transactions contemplated under the Management Agreement as in
effect as of the Closing Date and (y) transactions that are in the ordinary
course of such Borrower's business and upon fair and reasonable terms, and that
are no less favorable to such Borrower than would be obtained in an arm's length
transaction with a non-Affiliate.
7.15 Suspension. Suspend or go out of a substantial portion of its
business.
7.16 Intentionally Omitted.
7.17 Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the Advances for any
purpose other than (i) on the Closing Date, to repay in full the outstanding
principal, accrued interest, and accrued fees and expenses owing to Existing
Lender and to pay transactional costs and expenses incurred in connection with
this Agreement, and (ii) consistent with the terms and conditions hereof, for
its lawful and permitted corporate purposes.
50
7.18 Change in Location of Chief Executive Office; Inventory
and Equipment with Bailees. Relocate its chief executive office to a new
location without providing 30 days prior written notification thereof to Agent
and so long as, at the time of such written notification, such Borrower provides
any financing statements or fixture filings necessary to perfect and continue
perfected the Lien of Agent (for the benefit of the Lender Group) and also
provides to Agent a Collateral Access Agreement with respect to such new
location. The Inventory and Equipment of such Borrower shall not at any time now
or hereafter be stored with a bailee, warehouseman, or similar party without
Agent's prior written consent.
7.19 No Prohibited Transactions Under ERISA. Directly or indirectly:
(a) engage, or permit any Subsidiary of such Borrower to
engage, in any prohibited transaction which is reasonably likely to result in a
civil penalty or excise tax described in Sections 406 of ERISA or 4975 of the
------------
IRC for which a statutory or class exemption is not available or a private
exemption has not been previously obtained from the Department of Labor;
(b) permit to exist with respect to any Benefit Plan any
accumulated funding deficiency (as defined in Sections 302 of ERISA and 412 of
------------
the IRC), whether or not waived;
(c) fail, or permit any Subsidiary of such Borrower to fail, to
pay timely required contributions or annual installments due with respect to any
waived funding deficiency to any Benefit Plan;
(d) terminate, or permit any Subsidiary of such Borrower to
terminate, any Benefit Plan where such event would result in any liability of
such Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate under Title IV of
ERISA;
(e) fail, or permit any Subsidiary of such Borrower to fail, to
make any required contribution or payment to any Multiemployer Plan;
(f) fail, or permit any Subsidiary of such Borrower to fail, to
pay any required installment or any other payment required under Section 412 of
-----------
the IRC on or before the due date for such installment or other payment;
(g) amend, or permit any Subsidiary of such Borrower to amend,
a Plan resulting in an increase in current liability for the plan year such that
either of such Borrower, any Subsidiary of such Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate
is required to provide security to such Plan under Section 401(a)(29) of the
-----------------
IRC; or
(h) withdraw, or permit any Subsidiary of such Borrower to
withdraw, from any Multiemployer Plan where such withdrawal is reasonably likely
to result in any liability of any such entity under Title IV of ERISA;
which, individually or in the aggregate, results in or reasonably would be
expected to result in a claim against or liability of such Borrower, any of its
Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate in excess of $1,000,000.
51
7.20 Financial Covenants. Fail to maintain EBITDA, in each case
measured on a month-end basis, of Borrowers of at least the amounts set forth
below during the corresponding fiscal years:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minimum EBITDA During Fiscal Year Ending
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$13,000,000 September 30, 2000
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$14,000,000 September 30, 2001
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$15,000,000 Each Fiscal Year Thereafter
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7.21 Capital Expenditures. Make capital expenditures in any fiscal
year in excess of $10,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2000, and
one-half of EBITDA for the prior fiscal year with respect to each fiscal year
thereafter.
7.21 Conversion Of Preferred Stock; Subordinated Exchange
Indebtedness Payments. (a) Convert any Preferred Stock into Indebtedness as
contemplated by Section (g) of the Preferred Stock Designation Certificate
unless (i) such Indebtedness is subordinated to Obligations on terms and
pursuant to documentation in each case satisfactory to the Required Lenders in
their sole and absolute discretion (any such subordinated Indebtedness being the
"Subordinated Exchange Indebtedness") and (ii) at the time of any such
conversion no Default or Event of Default exists or would result therefrom, or
(b) without limiting the subordination provisions applicable under the terms of
the Subordinated Exchange Indebtedness, make any payment in respect of principal
of, or premium on, any Subordinated Exchange Indebtedness (including, without
limitation, any purchase or redemption of or sinking fund or other payment in
respect of principal of the Subordinated Exchange Indebtedness).
8. EVENTS OF DEFAULT.
Any one or more of the following events shall constitute an event of
default (each, an "Event of Default") under this Agreement:
8.1 If Borrowers fail to pay, within five (5) Business Days of the
date due or the date when declared due and payable, any portion of the
Obligations (whether of principal, interest (including any interest which, but
for the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, would have accrued on such amounts),
fees and charges due the Lender Group, reimbursement of Lender Group Expenses,
or other amounts constituting Obligations), provided that nothing contained
herein shall prohibit Agent from charging such amounts to the Borrowers' loan
account on the due date thereof;
8.2 If any Borrower fails to perform or observe any term, provision,
condition, covenant or agreement contained in Section 7 of this Agreement;
---------
8.3 If any Borrower fails to perform or observe any term, provision,
condition, covenant or agreement in this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents
(other than
52
those listed in Sections 8.1 or 8.2), and, with respect to any such failure
-------------------
which by its nature can be cured, such failure shall continue for a period of 20
days from the date of its occurrence; provided, however, that in the case of a
failure which by its nature can be cured under any of the following sections of
this Agreement, such failure shall continue for a period of 20 days from the
date the Borrower receives written notice from Agent of the existence of such
failure: Section 6.1 with respect to the maintenance of adequate books and
records; Section 6.3 with respect to Agent's satisfaction with form of the
financial statements furnished to Agent; Sections 6.8 and 6.9 with respect to
the failure to make provision to the satisfaction of Agent for payment of the
obligations described therein;
8.4 If any material portion of any Borrower's properties or assets
is attached, seized, subjected to a writ or distress warrant, or is levied upon,
or comes into the possession of any third Person;
8.5 If an Insolvency Proceeding is commenced by any Borrower;
8.6 If an Insolvency Proceeding is commenced against any Borrower
and any of the following events occur: (a) such Borrower consents to the
institution of the Insolvency Proceeding against it; (b) the petition commencing
the Insolvency Proceeding is not timely controverted; (c) the petition
commencing the Insolvency Proceeding is not dismissed within 60 calendar days of
the date of the filing thereof; provided, however, that, during the pendency of
such period, the Lender Group shall be relieved of its obligation to extend
credit hereunder; (d) an interim trustee is appointed to take possession of all
or a substantial portion of the properties or assets of, or to operate all or
any substantial portion of the business of, such Borrower; or (e) an order for
relief shall have been issued or entered therein;
8.7 If any Borrower is enjoined, restrained, or in any way prevented
by court order from continuing to conduct all or any material part of its
business affairs;
8.8 If a notice of Lien, levy, or assessment is filed of record with
respect to any of any Borrower's properties or assets by the United States
Government, or any department, agency, or instrumentality thereof, or by any
state, county, municipal, or governmental agency, or if any taxes or debts owing
at any time hereafter to any one or more of such entities becomes a Lien,
whether xxxxxx or otherwise, upon any of such Borrower's properties or assets
and the same is not paid on the payment date thereof; provided that any such
Lien, levy or assessment shall not be an Event of Default if for less than
$500,000 and if fully reserved by Agent against Availability;
8.9 If a judgment or other claim in excess of $500,000 becomes a
Lien or encumbrance upon any material portion of any Borrower's properties or
assets and is not stayed, satisfied or bonded against within ten days;
8.10 If there is a default in the Indenture or any other material
agreement to which any Borrower is a party with one or more third Persons and
such default (a) occurs at the final maturity of the obligations thereunder, or
(b) results in a right by such third Person(s), irrespective of whether
exercised, to accelerate the maturity of such Borrower's obligations thereunder;
53
8.11 If any Borrower makes any optional redemption of Indebtedness
under the Indenture (other than as contemplated under Section 7.8) or any
-----------
payment on account of Indebtedness that has been contractually subordinated in
right of payment to the payment of the Obligations, except to the extent such
payment is permitted by the terms of the subordination provisions applicable to
such Indebtedness; or
8.12 If any misstatement or misrepresentation exists now or hereafter
in any warranty, representation, statement, or report made to the Lender Group
by any Borrower or any officer, employee, agent, or director of any Borrower, on
the date any such warranty, representation, statement, or report is made.
9. THE LENDER GROUP'S RIGHTS AND REMEDIES.
9.1 Rights and Remedies. Upon the occurrence, and during the
continuation, of an Event of Default Agent may, pursuant to Sections 17.4 and
-------------
17.5, without notice of its election and without demand, do any one or more of
----
the following, all of which are authorized by Borrower:
(a) Declare all Obligations immediately due and payable;
(b) Cease advancing money or extending credit to or for the
benefit of Borrower under this Agreement or under any of the Loan Documents;
(c) Terminate this Agreement and any of the other Loan
Documents as to any future liability or obligation of the Lender Group, but
without affecting the Lender Group's rights and security interests in the
Collateral and without affecting the Obligations;
(d) Settle or adjust disputes and claims directly with Account
Debtors for amounts and upon terms which Agent considers advisable, and in such
cases, Agent will credit Borrowers' Loan Account with only the net amounts
received by Agent in payment of such disputed Accounts after deducting all
Lender Group Expenses incurred or expended in connection therewith;
(e) Cause Borrower to hold all of their returned Inventory in
trust for the Lender Group, segregate all such returned Inventory from all other
property of any Borrower or in any Borrower's possession and conspicuously label
said returned Inventory as the property of the Lender Group;
(f) Without notice to or demand upon any Borrower or any
guarantor, make such payments and do such acts as Agent considers necessary or
reasonable to protect its security interests in the Collateral. Borrowers agree
to assemble the Collateral if Agent so requires, and to make the Collateral
available to Agent as Agent may designate. Each Borrower authorizes Agent to
enter the premises where the Collateral is located, to take and maintain
possession of the Collateral, or any part of it, and to pay, purchase, contest,
or compromise any encumbrance, charge, or Lien that in Agent's determination
appears to conflict with the Liens of Agent (for the benefit of the Lender
Group) in the Collateral and to pay all expenses incurred in connection
therewith. With respect to any of Borrowers' owned or leased premises, each
Borrower hereby grants Agent a license to enter into possession of such premises
and to occupy
54
the same, without charge, for up to 120 days in order to exercise any of the
Lender Group's rights or remedies provided herein, at law, in equity, or
otherwise;
(g) Without notice to any Borrower (such notice being expressly
waived), and without constituting a retention of any collateral in satisfaction
of an obligation (within the meaning of Section 9505 of the Code), set off and
apply to the Obligations any and all (i) balances and deposits of Borrower held
by the Lender Group (including any amounts received in the Blocked Account), or
(ii) indebtedness at any time owing to or for the credit or the account of any
Borrower held by the Lender Group;
(h) Hold, as cash collateral, any and all balances and deposits
of any Borrower held by the Lender Group, and any amounts received in the
Blocked Account, to secure the full and final repayment of all of the
Obligations;
(i) Ship, reclaim, recover, store, finish, maintain, repair,
prepare for sale, advertise for sale, and sell (in the manner provided for
herein) the Collateral. Agent is hereby granted a license or other right to use,
without charge, any Borrower's labels, patents, copyrights, rights of use of any
name, trade secrets, trade names, trademarks, service marks, and advertising
matter, or any property of a similar nature, as it pertains to the Collateral,
in completing production of, advertising for sale, and selling any Collateral
and each Borrower's rights under all licenses and all franchise agreements shall
inure to the Lender Group's benefit;
(j) Sell the Collateral at either a public or private sale, or
both, by way of one or more contracts or transactions, for cash or on terms, in
such manner and at such places (including any Borrower's premises) as Agent
determines is commercially reasonable. It is not necessary that the Collateral
be present at any such sale;
(k) Agent shall give notice of the disposition of the
Collateral as follows:
(1) Agent shall give Borrower and each holder of a
security interest in the Collateral who has filed with Agent a written
request for notice, a notice in writing of the time and place of public
sale, or, if the sale is a private sale or some other disposition other
than a public sale is to be made of the Collateral, then the time on or
after which the private sale or other disposition is to be made;
(2) The notice shall be personally delivered or mailed,
postage prepaid, to Borrowers as provided in Section 12, at least five days
----------
before the date fixed for the sale, or at least five days before the date
on or after which the private sale or other disposition is to be made; no
notice needs to be given prior to the disposition of any portion of the
Collateral that is perishable or threatens to decline speedily in value or
that is of a type customarily sold on a recognized market. Notice to
Persons other than Borrowers claiming an interest in the Collateral shall
be sent to such addresses as they have furnished to Agent;
(3) If the sale is to be a public sale, Agent also shall
give notice of the time and place by publishing a notice one time at least
five days before the date of the sale in a newspaper of general circulation
in the county in which the sale is to be held;
55
(l) Agent may credit bid and purchase at any public sale; and
(m) Any deficiency that exists after disposition of the
Collateral as provided above will be paid immediately by Borrower. Any excess
will be returned, without interest and subject to the rights of third Persons,
by Agent to Borrower.
9.2 Remedies Cumulative. The Lender Group's rights and remedies
under this Agreement, the Loan Documents, and all other agreements shall be
cumulative. The Lender Group shall have all other rights and remedies not
inconsistent herewith as provided under the Code, by law, or in equity. No
exercise by the Lender Group of one right or remedy shall be deemed an election,
and no waiver by the Lender Group of any Event of Default shall be deemed a
continuing waiver. No delay by the Lender Group shall constitute a waiver,
election, or acquiescence by it.
10. TAXES AND EXPENSES.
If, after written request by Agent to Borrower, any Borrower fails to
pay any monies (whether taxes, assessments, insurance premiums, or, in the case
of leased properties or assets, rents or other amounts payable under such
leases) due to third Persons, or fails to make any deposits or furnish any
required proof of payment or deposit, all as required under the terms of this
Agreement, then, to the extent that Agent determines that such failure by such
Borrower could result in a Material Adverse Change, in its discretion and
without prior notice to Borrower, Agent may do any or all of the following:
(a) make payment of the same or any part thereof; (b) set up such reserves in
Borrowers' Loan Account as Agent deems necessary to protect the Lender Group
from the exposure created by such failure; or (c) obtain and maintain insurance
policies of the type described in Section 6.10, and take any action with respect
------------
to such policies as Agent deems prudent. Any such amounts paid by Agent shall
constitute Lender Group Expenses. Any such payments made by Agent shall not
constitute an agreement by the Lender Group to make similar payments in the
future or a waiver by the Lender Group of any Event of Default under this
Agreement. Agent need not inquire as to, or contest the validity of, any such
expense, tax, or Lien and the receipt of the usual official notice for the
payment thereof shall be conclusive evidence that the same was validly due and
owing.
11. WAIVERS; INDEMNIFICATION.
11.1 Demand; Protest; etc. Each Borrower waives demand, protest,
notice of protest, notice of default or dishonor, notice of payment and
nonpayment, nonpayment at maturity, release, compromise, settlement, extension,
or renewal of accounts, documents, instruments, chattel paper, and guarantees at
any time held by the Lender Group on which such Borrower may in any way be
liable.
11.2 The Lender Group's Liability for Collateral. So long as the
Lender Group complies with its obligations, if any, under Section 9207 of the
Code, the Lender Group shall not in any way or manner be liable or responsible
for: (a) the safekeeping of the Collateral; (b) any loss or damage thereto
occurring or arising in any manner or fashion from any cause; (c) any diminution
in the value thereof; or (d) any act or default of any carrier, warehouseman,
56
bailee, forwarding agency, or other Person. All risk of loss, damage, or
destruction of the Collateral shall be borne by Borrower.
11.3 Indemnification. Borrowers shall pay, indemnify, defend, and
hold each Agent-Related Person, each Lender, each Participant, and each of their
respective officers, directors, employees, agents (each, an "Indemnified
Person") harmless (to the fullest extent permitted by law) from and against any
and all claims, demands, suits, actions, investigations, proceedings, and
damages, and all reasonable attorneys fees and disbursements and other
reasonable and documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses actually incurred in
connection therewith (as and when they are incurred and irrespective of whether
suit is brought), at any time asserted against, imposed upon, or incurred by any
of them in connection with or as a result of or related to the execution,
delivery, enforcement, performance, and administration (including any of the
foregoing arising out of the administration of the credit facilities hereunder
on a joint borrowing basis) of this Agreement and any other Loan Documents or
the transactions contemplated herein, and with respect to any investigation,
litigation, or proceeding related to this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or
the use of the proceeds of the credit provided hereunder (irrespective of
whether any Indemnified Person is a party thereto), or any act, omission, event
or circumstance in any manner related thereto (all the foregoing, collectively,
the "Indemnified Liabilities"). Borrower shall have no obligation to any
Indemnified Person under this Section 11.3 with respect to any Indemnified
------------
Liability that a court of competent jurisdiction finally determines to have
resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnified
Person. This provision shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the
repayment of the Obligations.
11.4 Joint Borrowers; Release of Pool Brite.
(a) Each Borrower agrees that it is jointly and severally,
directly and primarily liable to Foothill for payment in full of all
Obligations, whether for principal, interest or otherwise and that such
liability is independent of the duties, obligations, and liabilities of the
other Borrowers. Foothill may bring a separate action or actions on each, any,
or all of the Obligations against any Borrower, whether action is brought
against the other Borrowers or whether the other Borrowers are joined in such
action. In the event that any Borrower fails to make any payment of any
Obligations on or before the due date thereof, the other Borrowers immediately
shall cause such payment to be made or each of such Obligations to be performed,
kept, observed, or fulfilled. Agent and Lenders agree that Borrowers may cause
Pool Brite to be released from liability hereunder and the Liens of Agent and
Lenders upon the assets of Pool Brite to be released, without premium or
penalty, upon 30 days' prior written request by Borrowers to Agent and upon the
repayment in full of all Advances outstanding made in reliance on the assets of
Pool Brite (i.e., repayment of such Advances as would exceed Availability after
giving effect to the removal of such assets of Pool Brite from the Borrowing
Base). In such event, Agent shall deliver to Pool Brite all such UCC partial
releases, termination statements and other Lien releases, instruments and
documents as may be required to effect the release of the Liens of Agent and the
Lenders on such assets.
(b) The Loan Documents are a primary and original obligation of
each Borrower, are not the creation of a surety relationship, and are an
absolute, unconditional, and continuing promise of payment and performance which
shall remain in full force and effect
57
without respect to future changes in conditions, including any change of law or
any invalidity or irregularity with respect to the Loan Documents. Each Borrower
agrees that its liability under the Loan Documents shall be immediate and shall
not be contingent upon the exercise or enforcement by Foothill of whatever
remedies it may have against the other Borrowers, or the enforcement of any lien
or realization upon any security Foothill may at any time possess. Each Borrower
consents and agrees that Foothill shall be under no obligation (under Section
2899 or 3433 of the California Civil Code or otherwise) to marshal any assets of
any Borrower against or in payment of any or all of the Obligations.
(c) Each Borrower acknowledges that it is presently informed as
to the financial condition of the other Borrowers and of all other circumstances
which a diligent inquiry would reveal and which bear upon the risk of nonpayment
of the Obligations. Each Borrower hereby covenants that it will continue to keep
informed as to the financial condition of the other Borrowers, the status of the
other Borrowers and of all circumstances which bear upon the risk of nonpayment
of the Obligations. Absent a written request from any Borrower to Foothill for
information, such Borrower hereby waives any and all rights it may have to
require Foothill to disclose to such Borrower any information which Foothill may
now or hereafter acquire concerning the condition or circumstances of the other
Borrowers.
(d) The liability of each Borrower under the Loan Documents
includes Obligations arising under successive transactions continuing,
compromising, extending, increasing, modifying, releasing, or renewing the
Obligations, changing the interest rate, payment terms, or other terms and
conditions thereof, or creating new or additional Obligations after prior
Obligations have been satisfied in whole or in part. To the maximum extent
permitted by law, each Borrower hereby waives any right to revoke its liability
under the Loan Documents as to future indebtedness, and in connection therewith,
each Borrower hereby waives any rights it may have under Section 2815 of the
California Civil Code. If such a revocation is effective notwithstanding the
foregoing waiver, each Borrower acknowledges and agrees that (a) no such
revocation shall be effective until written notice thereof has been received by
Foothill, (b) no such revocation shall apply to any Obligations in existence on
such date (including, any subsequent continuation, extension, or renewal
thereof, or change in the interest rate, payment terms, or other terms and
conditions thereof), (c) no such revocation shall apply to any Obligations made
or created after such date to the extent made or created pursuant to a legally
binding commitment of Foothill in existence on the date of such revocation, (d)
no payment by such Borrower or from any other source prior to the date of such
revocation shall reduce the maximum obligation of the other Borrowers hereunder,
and (e) any payment by such Borrower or from any source other than Borrowers,
subsequent to the date of such revocation, shall first be applied to that
portion of the Obligations as to which the revocation is effective and which are
not, therefore, guaranteed hereunder, and to the extent so applied shall not
reduce the maximum obligation of each Borrower hereunder.
(e) (i) Each Borrower absolutely, unconditionally,
knowingly, and expressly waives:
(1) (A) notice of acceptance hereof; (B) notice of any
loans or other financial accommodations made or extended under the Loan
Documents or the creation or existence of any Obligations; (C) notice of
the amount of the Obligations,
58
subject, however, to each Borrower's right to make inquiry of Foothill to
ascertain the amount of the Obligations at any reasonable time; (D) notice
of any adverse change in the financial condition of the other Borrowers or
of any other fact that might increase such Borrower's risk hereunder; (E)
notice of presentment for payment, demand, protest, and notice thereof as
to any instruments among the Loan Documents; and (F) all notices (except if
such notice is specifically required to be given to Borrowers hereunder or
under the Loan Documents) and demands to which such Borrower might
otherwise be entitled.
(2) its right, under Sections 2845 or 2850 of the
California Civil Code, or otherwise, to require Foothill to institute suit
against, or to exhaust any rights and remedies which Foothill has or may
have against, the other Borrowers or any third party, or against any
Collateral provided by the other Borrowers, or any third party. In this
regard, each Borrower agrees that it is bound to the payment of all
Obligations, whether now existing or hereafter accruing, as fully as if
such Obligations were directly owing to Foothill by such Borrower. Each
Borrower further waives any defense arising by reason of any disability or
other defense (other than the defense that the Obligations shall have been
fully and finally performed and indefeasibly paid) of the other Borrowers
or by reason of the cessation from any cause whatsoever of the liability of
the other Borrowers in respect thereof.
(3) (A) any rights to assert against Foothill any
defense (legal or equitable), set-off, counterclaim, or claim which such
Borrower may now or at any time hereafter have against the other Borrowers
or any other party liable to Foothill; (B) any defense, set-off,
counterclaim, or claim, of any kind or nature, arising directly or
indirectly from the present or future lack of perfection, sufficiency,
validity, or enforceability of the Obligations or any security therefor;
(C) any defense such Borrower has to performance hereunder, and any right
such Borrower has to be exonerated, provided by Sections 2819, 2822, or
2825 of the California Civil Code, or otherwise, arising by reason of: the
impairment or suspension of Foothill's rights or remedies against the other
Borrowers; the alteration by Foothill of the Obligations; any discharge of
the other Borrowers' obligations to Foothill by operation of law as a
result of Foothill's intervention or omission; or the acceptance by
Foothill of anything in partial satisfaction of the Obligations; (D) the
benefit of any statute of limitations affecting such Borrower's liability
hereunder or the enforcement thereof, and any act which shall defer or
delay the operation of any statute of limitations applicable to the
Obligations shall similarly operate to defer or delay the operation of such
statute of limitations applicable to such Borrower's liability hereunder.
(ii) Each Borrower absolutely, unconditionally,
knowingly, and expressly waives any defense arising by reason of or deriving
from (i) any claim or defense based upon an election of remedies by Foothill
including any defense based upon an election of remedies by Foothill under the
provisions of Sections 580a, 580b, 580d, and 726 of the California Code of Civil
Procedure or any similar law of California or any other jurisdiction; or (ii)
any election by Foothill under Bankruptcy Code Section 1111(b) to limit the
amount of, or any collateral securing, its claim against the Borrowers. Pursuant
to California Civil Code Section 2856(b):
59
"Each Borrower waives all rights and defenses arising out of an
election of remedies by the creditor, even though that election of
remedies, such as a nonjudicial foreclosure with respect to security for a
guaranteed obligation, has destroyed such Borrower's rights of subrogation
and reimbursement against the other Borrowers by the operation of Section
580(d) of the California Code of Civil Procedure or otherwise."
"Each Borrower waives all rights and defenses that such Borrower
may have because the Obligations are secured by real property. This means,
among other things:
a. Foothill may collect from such Borrower without
first foreclosing on any real or personal property collateral pledged by
the other Borrower or any third Person.
b. If Foothill forecloses on any real property
collateral pledged by the other Borrower or any third Person:
1) The amount of the Obligations may be reduced
only by the price for which that collateral is sold at the
foreclosure sale, even if the collateral is worth more than the
sale price.
2) Foothill may collect from such Borrower even if
Foothill, by foreclosing on the real property collateral, has
destroyed any right such Borrower may have to collect from the
other Borrower or any third Person.
This is an unconditional and irrevocable waiver of any rights and
defenses each Borrower may have because the Obligations are secured by real
property. These rights and defenses include, but are not limited to, any
rights or defenses based upon Section 580a, 580b, 580d, or 726 of the
California Code of Civil Procedure."
If any of the Obligations at any time is secured by a mortgage or deed of trust
upon real property, Foothill may elect, in its sole discretion, upon a default
with respect to the Obligations, to foreclose such mortgage or deed of trust
judicially or nonjudicially in any manner permitted by law, before or after
enforcing the Loan Documents, without diminishing or affecting the liability of
any Borrower hereunder except to the extent the Obligations are repaid with the
proceeds of such foreclosure. Each Borrower understands that (a) by virtue of
the operation of California's antideficiency law applicable to nonjudicial
foreclosures, an election by Foothill nonjudicially to foreclose such a mortgage
or deed of trust probably would have the effect of impairing or destroying
rights of subrogation, reimbursement, contribution, or indemnity of such
Borrower against the other Borrowers or other guarantors or sureties, and (b)
absent the waiver given by such Borrower, such an election would prevent
Foothill from enforcing the Loan Documents against such Borrower. Understanding
the foregoing, and understanding that such Borrower is hereby relinquishing a
defense to the enforceability of the Loan Documents, such Borrower hereby waives
any right to assert against Foothill any defense to the enforcement of the Loan
Documents, whether denominated "estoppel" or otherwise, based on or arising from
an election by Foothill nonjudicially to foreclose any such mortgage or deed of
trust. Each Borrower
60
understands that the effect of the foregoing waiver may be that each Borrower
may have liability hereunder for amounts with respect to which such Borrower may
be left without rights of subrogation, reimbursement, contribution, or indemnity
against the other Borrower or other guarantors or sureties. Each Borrower also
agrees that the "fair market value" provisions of Section 580a of the California
Code of Civil Procedure shall have no applicability with respect to the
determination of such Borrower's liability under the Loan Documents.
(iii) Until such time as all Obligations have been fully,
finally, and indefeasibly paid in full, in cash, each Borrower hereby
absolutely, unconditionally, knowingly, and expressly postpones: (1) any right
of subrogation such Borrower has or may have as against the other Borrowers with
respect to the Obligations; (2) any right to proceed against the other Borrowers
or any other Person, now or hereafter, for contribution, indemnity,
reimbursement, or any other suretyship rights and claims, whether direct or
indirect, liquidated or contingent, whether arising under express or implied
contract or by operation of law, which such Borrower may now have or hereafter
have as against the other Borrowers with respect to the Obligations; and (3) any
right to proceed or seek recourse against or with respect to any property or
asset of the other Borrowers.
(iv) WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF ANY OTHER WAIVER
OR OTHER PROVISION SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION 11.4, EACH BORROWER HEREBY
ABSOLUTELY, KNOWINGLY, UNCONDITIONALLY, AND EXPRESSLY WAIVES AND AGREES NOT TO
ASSERT ANY AND ALL BENEFITS OR DEFENSES ARISING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY UNDER ANY
ONE OR MORE OF CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE SECTIONS 2799, 2808, 2809, 2810, 2815,
2819, 2820, 2821, 2822, 2825, 2839, 2845, 2848, 2849, AND 2850, CALIFORNIA CODE
OF CIVIL PROCEDURE SECTIONS 580a, 580b, 580c, 580d, AND 726, CALIFORNIA UNIFORM
COMMERCIAL CODE SECTIONS 3116, 3118, 3119, 3419, 3605, 9504, 9505, AND 9507, AND
CHAPTER 2 OF TITLE 14 OF PART 4 OF DIVISION 3 OF THE CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE.
(f) Each Borrower consents and agrees that, without notice to
or by such Borrower, and without affecting or impairing the liability of such
Borrower hereunder, Foothill may, by action or inaction:
(i) compromise, settle, extend the duration or the time
for the payment of, or discharge the performance of,
or may refuse to or otherwise not enforce the Loan
Documents, or any part thereof, with respect to the
other Borrowers;
(ii) release the other Borrowers or grant other
indulgences to the other Borrowers in respect
thereof; or
(iii) release or substitute any guarantor, if any, of the
Obligations, or enforce, exchange, release, or waive
any security for the Obligations or any guaranty of
the Obligations, or any portion thereof.
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(g) Foothill shall have the right to seek recourse against each
Borrower to the fullest extent provided for herein, and no election by Foothill
to proceed in one form of action or proceeding, or against any party, or on any
obligation, shall constitute a waiver of Foothill's right to proceed in any
other form of action or proceeding or against other parties unless Foothill has
expressly waived such right in writing. Specifically, but without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, no action or proceeding by Foothill under the Loan
Documents shall serve to diminish the liability of any Borrower thereunder
except to the extent that Foothill finally and unconditionally shall have
realized indefeasible payment by such action or proceeding.
(h) The Obligations shall not be considered indefeasibly paid
for purposes of this Section 11.4 unless and until all payments to Foothill are
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no longer subject to any right on the part of any person, including any
Borrower, any Borrower as a debtor in possession, or any trustee (whether
appointed pursuant to 11 U.S.C., or otherwise) of any Borrower's assets to
invalidate or set aside such payments or to seek to recoup the amount of such
payments or any portion thereof, or to declare same to be fraudulent or
preferential. Upon such full and final performance and indefeasible payment of
the Obligations, Foothill shall have no obligation whatsoever to transfer or
assign its interest in the Loan Documents to any Borrower. In the event that,
for any reason, any portion of such payments to Foothill is set aside or
restored, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, after the making thereof, then
the obligation intended to be satisfied thereby shall be revived and continued
in full force and effect as if said payment or payments had not been made, and
each Borrower shall be liable for the full amount Foothill is required to repay
plus any and all costs and expenses (including attorneys' fees and attorneys'
fees incurred pursuant to 11 U.S.C.) paid by Foothill in connection therewith.
Borrowers and each of them warrant and agree that each of the waivers
and consents set forth herein are made after consultation with legal counsel and
with full knowledge of their significance and consequences, with the
understanding that events giving rise to any defense or right waived may
diminish, destroy or otherwise adversely affect rights which Borrowers otherwise
may have against other Borrowers, the Lender Group or others, or against
Collateral. If any of the waivers or consents herein are determined to be
contrary to any applicable law or public policy, such waivers and consents shall
be effective to the maximum extent permitted by law.
12. NOTICES.
Unless otherwise provided in this Agreement, all notices or demands by
any party relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be in
writing and (except for financial statements and other informational documents
which may be sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid) shall be personally
delivered or sent by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return
receipt requested), overnight courier, or telefacsimile to Borrower or to Agent,
as the case may be, at its address set forth below:
62
If to Borrowers: 00000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Chief Financial Officer
Fax No. 000.000.0000
with copies to: XXXXXX, XXXX & XXXXXXXX LLP
000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attn: Xxxxx X. Xxxx, Esq.
Fax No. 000.000.0000
If to Agent or FOOTHILL CAPITAL CORPORATION
the Lender Group 00000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
in case of Agent: Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attn: Business Finance Division Manager
Fax No. 000.000.0000
with copies to: BUCHALTER, NEMER, FIELDS & YOUNGER
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
Fax No. 000.000.0000
The parties hereto may change the address at which they are to receive
notices hereunder, by notice in writing in the foregoing manner given to the
other. All notices or demands sent in accordance with this Section 12, other
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than notices by Agent in connection with Sections 9504 or 9505 of the Code,
shall be deemed received on the earlier of the date of actual receipt or three
days after the deposit thereof in the mail. Each Borrower acknowledges and
agrees that notices sent by Agent in connection with Sections 9504 or 9505 of
the Code shall be deemed sent when deposited in the mail or personally
delivered, or, where permitted by law, transmitted by telefacsimile or other
similar method set forth above.
13. CHOICE OF LAW AND VENUE; JURY TRIAL WAIVER.
THE VALIDITY OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS (UNLESS
EXPRESSLY PROVIDED TO THE CONTRARY IN ANOTHER LOAN DOCUMENT), THE CONSTRUCTION,
INTERPRETATION, AND ENFORCEMENT HEREOF AND THEREOF, AND THE RIGHTS OF THE
PARTIES HERETO AND THERETO WITH RESPECT TO ALL MATTERS ARISING HEREUNDER OR
THEREUNDER OR RELATED HERETO OR THERETO SHALL BE DETERMINED UNDER, GOVERNED BY,
AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. THE
PARTIES AGREE THAT ALL ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS ARISING IN CONNECTION WITH THIS
AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS SHALL BE TRIED AND
63
LITIGATED ONLY IN THE STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS LOCATED IN THE COUNTY OF LOS
ANGELES, STATE OF CALIFORNIA OR, AT THE SOLE OPTION OF THE LENDER GROUP, IN ANY
OTHER COURT IN WHICH THE LENDER GROUP SHALL INITIATE LEGAL OR EQUITABLE
PROCEEDINGS AND WHICH HAS SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION OVER THE MATTER IN
CONTROVERSY. EACH BORROWER AND EACH MEMBER OF THE LENDER GROUP WAIVES, TO THE
EXTENT PERMITTED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT EACH MAY HAVE TO ASSERT THE
DOCTRINE OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS OR TO OBJECT TO VENUE TO THE EXTENT ANY
PROCEEDING IS BROUGHT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION 13. EACH BORROWER AND EACH
----------
MEMBER OF THE LENDER GROUP HEREBY WAIVES ITS RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL
OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF ANY OF THE LOAN
DOCUMENTS OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREIN, INCLUDING CONTRACT
CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS, AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW OR
STATUTORY CLAIMS. BORROWER AND EACH MEMBER OF THE LENDER GROUP REPRESENTS THAT
IT HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER AND EACH KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY
TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL. IN THE EVENT OF
LITIGATION, A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED AS A WRITTEN CONSENT TO A
TRIAL BY THE COURT.
14. DESTRUCTION OF BORROWERS' DOCUMENTS.
All documents, schedules, invoices, agings, or other papers delivered
to Agent may be destroyed or otherwise disposed of by Agent four months after
they are delivered to or received by Agent, unless Borrowers requests, in
writing, the return of said documents, schedules, or other papers and makes
arrangements, at Borrowers' expense, for their return.
15. ASSIGNMENTS AND PARTICIPATIONS; SUCCESSORS.
15.1 Assignments and Participations.
(a) Any Lender may, with the written consent of Agent, assign
and delegate to one or more Eligible Transferees (each an "Assignee") all, or
any ratable part, of the Obligations, the Commitments, and the other rights and
obligations of such Lender hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, in a
minimum amount of $5,000,000; provided, however, that Borrower and Agent may
-----------------
continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with the
interest so assigned to an Assignee until (i) written notice of such assignment,
together with payment instructions, addresses, and related information with
respect to the Assignee, shall have been given to Borrower and Agent by such
Lender and the Assignee; (ii) such Lender and its Assignee shall have delivered
to Borrower and Agent a fully executed Assignment and Acceptance ("Assignment
and Acceptance") in the form of Exhibit A-1; and (iii) the assignor Lender or
Assignee has paid to Agent for Agent's sole and separate account a processing
fee in the amount of $5,000. Anything contained herein to the contrary
notwithstanding, the consent of Agent shall not be required (and payment of any
fees shall not be
64
required) if such assignment is in connection with any merger, consolidation,
sale, transfer, or other disposition of all or any substantial portion of the
business or loan portfolio of such Lender.
(b) From and after the date that Agent notifies the assignor
Lender that it has received a fully executed Assignment and Acceptance and
payment of the above-referenced processing fee, (i) the Assignee thereunder
shall be a party hereto and, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder
have been assigned to it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance, shall have
the rights and obligations of a Lender under the Loan Documents, and (ii) the
assignor Lender shall, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder and
under the other Loan Documents have been assigned by it pursuant to such
Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish its rights and be released from its
obligations under this Agreement (and in the case of an Assignment and
Acceptance covering all or the remaining portion of an assigning Lender's rights
and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, such Lender
shall cease to be a party hereto and thereto), and such assignment shall effect
a novation between Borrower and the Assignee.
(c) By executing and delivering an Assignment and Acceptance,
the assigning Lender thereunder and the Assignee thereunder confirm to and agree
with each other and the other parties hereto as follows: (1) other than as
provided in such Assignment and Acceptance, such assigning Lender makes no
representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any
statements, warranties, or representations made in or in connection with this
Agreement or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness,
sufficiency, or value of this Agreement or any other Loan Document furnished
pursuant hereto; (2) such assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty
and assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial condition of
Borrower or any guarantor or the performance or observance by Borrower or any
guarantor of any of its obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan
Document furnished pursuant hereto; (3) such Assignee confirms that it has
received a copy of this Agreement, together with such other documents and
information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and
decision to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance; (4) such Assignee will,
independently and without reliance upon Agent, such assigning Lender, or any
other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem
appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or
not taking action under this Agreement; (5) such Assignee appoints and
authorizes Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such
powers under this Agreement as are delegated to Agent by the terms hereof,
together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto; and (6) such
Assignee agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the
obligations which by the terms of this Agreement are required to be performed by
it as a Lender.
(d) Immediately upon each Assignee's making its processing fee
payment under the Assignment and Acceptance, this Agreement shall be deemed to
be amended to the extent, but only to the extent, necessary to reflect the
addition of the Assignee and the resulting adjustment of the Commitments of the
Assignor and Assignee arising therefrom. The Commitment allocated to each
Assignee shall reduce such Commitment of the assigning Lender pro tanto.
(e) Any Lender may at any time, with the written consent of
Agent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, sell to one or more
Persons (a "Participant")
65
participating interests in the Obligations, the Commitment, and the other rights
and interests of that Lender (the "Originating Lender") hereunder and under the
other Loan Documents; provided, however, that (i) the Originating Lender's
-------- -------
obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) the Originating
Lender shall remain solely responsible for the performance of such obligations,
(iii) Borrower and Agent shall continue to deal solely and directly with the
Originating Lender in connection with the Originating Lender's rights and
obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (iv) no
Originating Lender shall transfer or grant any participating interest under
which the Participant has any right to approve or consent to, or vote with
respect to, any amendment to, or waiver with respect to, this Agreement or any
other Loan Document, except to the extent such amendment to, or consent or
waiver with respect to this Agreement or of any other Loan Document would (A)
extend the final maturity date of the Obligations hereunder in which such
participant is participating; (B) reduce the interest rate applicable to the
Obligations hereunder in which such Participant is participating; (C) release
all or a material portion of the Collateral (except to the extent expressly
provided herein or in any of the Loan Documents) supporting the Obligations
hereunder in which such Participant is participating; (D) postpone the payment
of, or reduce the amount of, the interest or fees hereunder in which such
Participant is participating; or (E) change the amount or due dates of scheduled
principal repayments or prepayments or premiums in respect of the Obligations
hereunder in which such Participant is participating; and (v) all amounts
payable by Borrower hereunder shall be determined as if such Originating Lender
had not sold such participation. The rights of any Participant shall only be
derivative through the Originating Lender with whom such Participant
participates and no Participant shall have any direct rights as to the other
Lenders, Agent, Borrower, the Collections, the Collateral, or otherwise in
respect of the Advances or the Letters of Credit. No Participant shall have the
right to participate directly in the making of decisions by the Lenders among
themselves.
(f) In connection with any such assignment or participation or
proposed assignment or participation, a Lender may disclose to the proposed
assignee or participant all documents and information which it now or hereafter
may have relating to Borrower or Borrower's business if such Person has agreed
to be bound by the confidentiality provisions of this Agreement.
(g) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, any
Lender may at any time create a security interest in, or pledge, all or any
portion of its rights under and interest in this Agreement in favor of any
Federal Reserve Bank in accordance with Regulation A of the FRB or U.S. Treasury
Regulation 31 CFR (S)203.14, and such Federal Reserve Bank may enforce such
pledge or security interest in any manner permitted under applicable law.
15.2 Successors. This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit
of the respective successors and permitted assigns of each of the parties;
provided, however, that no Borrower may assign this Agreement or any rights or
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duties hereunder without the Lenders' prior written consent and any prohibited
assignment shall be absolutely void. No consent to assignment by the Lenders
shall release Borrower from its Obligations. A Lender may assign this Agreement
and its rights and duties hereunder pursuant to Section 15.1 and, except as
------------
expressly required pursuant to Section 15.1, no consent or approval by Borrower
------------
is required in connection with any such assignment.
66
16. AMENDMENTS; WAIVERS.
16.1 Amendments and Waivers. No amendment or waiver of any
provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent with
respect to any departure by Borrower therefrom, shall be effective unless the
same shall be in writing and signed by the Required Lenders (or by Agent at the
written request of the Required Lenders) and Borrower and then any such waiver
or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific
purpose for which given; provided, however, that no such waiver, amendment, or
consent shall, unless in writing and signed by all the Lenders and Borrower and
acknowledged by Agent, do any of the following:
(a) increase or extend the Commitment of any Lender;
(b) postpone or delay any date fixed by this Agreement or any
other Loan Document for any payment of principal, interest, fees, or other
amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) hereunder or under any other Loan
Document;
(c) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest specified
herein on, any Loan, or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or under any
other Loan Document;
(d) change the percentage of the Commitments or of the
aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Advances which is required for the
Lenders or any of them to take any action hereunder;
(e) increase the advance rate with respect to Advances
(except for the restoration of an advance rate after the prior reduction
thereof), or change Section 2.1(b);
--------------
(f) amend this Section or any provision of the Agreement
providing for consent or other action by all Lenders;
(g) release Collateral other than as permitted by
Section 17.11;
-------------
(h) change the definition of "Required Lenders";
(i) release Borrower from any Obligation for the payment of
money; or
(j) amend any of the provisions of Article 17.
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and, provided further, that no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in
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writing and signed by Agent, affect the rights or duties of Agent under this
Agreement or any other Loan Document; and, provided further, that the limitation
-------- -------
contained in clause (e) above shall not be deemed to limit the ability of Agent
to make Advances or Agent Loans, as applicable, in accordance with the
provisions of Sections 2.1(g), (h), or (l). The foregoing notwithstanding, any
--------------- --- ---
amendment, modification, waiver, consent, termination, or release of or with
respect to any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document that
relates only to the relationship of the Lender Group among themselves, and that
does not affect the rights or obligations of Borrower, shall not require consent
by or the agreement of Borrower.
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16.2 No Waivers; Cumulative Remedies. No failure by Agent or any
Lender to exercise any right, remedy, or option under this Agreement, any other
Loan Document, or any present or future supplement hereto or thereto, or in any
other agreement between or among Borrower and Agent and/or any Lender, or delay
by Agent or any Lender in exercising the same, will operate as a waiver thereof.
No waiver by Agent or any Lender will be effective unless it is in writing, and
then only to the extent specifically stated. No waiver by Agent or the Lenders
on any occasion shall affect or diminish Agent's and each Lender's rights
thereafter to require strict performance by Borrower of any provision of this
Agreement. Agent's and each Lender's rights under this Agreement and the other
Loan Documents will be cumulative and not exclusive of any other right or remedy
which Agent or any Lender may have.
17. AGENT; THE LENDER GROUP.
17.1 Appointment and Authorization of Agent. Each Lender hereby
designates and appoints Foothill as its Agent under this Agreement and the other
Loan Documents and each Lender hereby irrevocably authorizes Agent to take such
action on its behalf under the provisions of this Agreement and each other Loan
Document and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are expressly
delegated to it by the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document,
together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Agent agrees to
act as such on the express conditions contained in this Article 17. The
----------
provisions of this Article 17 are solely for the benefit of Agent and the
----------
Lenders, and Borrower shall not have any rights as a third party beneficiary of
any of the provisions contained herein; provided, however, that the provisions
of Sections 17.10, 17.11, and 17.16(d) also shall be for the benefit of
--------------------- --------
Borrower. Any provision to the contrary contained elsewhere in this Agreement or
in any other Loan Document notwithstanding, Agent shall not have any duties or
responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein, nor shall Agent have
or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any Lender, and no implied
covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties, obligations, or liabilities
shall be read into this Agreement or any other Loan Document or otherwise exist
against Agent. Except as expressly otherwise provided in this Agreement, Agent
shall have and may use its sole discretion with respect to exercising or
refraining from exercising any discretionary rights or taking or refraining from
taking any actions which Agent is expressly entitled to take or assert under or
pursuant to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including making the
determinations contemplated by Section 2.1(b). Without limiting the generality
--------------
of the foregoing, or of any other provision of the Loan Documents that provides
rights or powers to Agent, Lenders agree that Agent shall have the right to
exercise the following powers as long as this Agreement remains in effect: (a)
maintain, in accordance with its customary business practices, ledgers and
records reflecting the status of the Advances, the Collateral, the Collections,
and related matters; (b) execute and/or file any and all financing or similar
statements or notices, amendments, renewals, supplements, documents,
instruments, proofs of claim for Lenders, notices and other written agreements
with respect to the Loan Documents; (c) make Advances for itself or on behalf of
Lenders as provided in the Loan Documents; (d) exclusively receive, apply, and
distribute the Collections as provided in the Loan Documents; (e) open and
maintain such bank accounts and lock boxes as Agent deems necessary and
appropriate in accordance with the Loan Documents for the foregoing purposes
with respect to the Collateral and the Collections; (f) perform, exercise, and
enforce any and all other rights and remedies of the Lender Group with respect
to Borrower, the Advances, the Collateral, the Collections, or otherwise related
to any of same as provided in the Loan Documents; and (g)
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incur and pay such Lender Group Expenses as Agent may deem necessary or
appropriate for the performance and fulfillment of its functions and powers
pursuant to the Loan Documents.
17.2 Delegation of Duties. Except as otherwise provided in this
Section, Agent may execute any of its duties under this Agreement or any other
Loan Document by or through agents, employees, or attorneys-in-fact and shall be
entitled to advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to such duties.
Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agent or
attorney-in-fact that it selects as long as such selection was made in
compliance with this Section and without gross negligence or willful misconduct.
The foregoing notwithstanding, Agent shall not make any material delegation of
duties to subagents or non-employee delegees without the prior written consent
of Required Lenders (it being understood that routine delegation of such
administrative matters as filing financing statements, or conducting appraisals
or audits, is not viewed as a material delegation that requires prior Required
Lender approval).
17.3 Liability of Agent-Related Persons. None of the Agent-Related
Persons shall (i) be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by any
of them under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document or
the transactions contemplated hereby (except for its own gross negligence or
willful misconduct), or, (ii) be responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders
for any recital, statement, representation or warranty made by Borrower, or any
Subsidiary or Affiliate of Borrower, or any officer or director thereof,
contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, or in any
certificate, report, statement, or other document referred to or provided for
in, or received by Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any
other Loan Document, or the validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability
or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or for any failure
of Borrower or any other party to any Loan Document to perform its obligations
hereunder or thereunder. No Agent-Related Person shall be under any obligation
to any Lender to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of
any of the agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement or any
other Loan Document, or to inspect the properties, books, or records of
Borrower, or any of Borrower's Subsidiaries or Affiliates.
17.4 Reliance by Agent. Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall
be fully protected in relying, upon any writing, resolution, notice, consent,
certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram, facsimile, telex, or telephone
message, statement or other document or conversation believed by it to be
genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent, or made by the proper Person
or Persons, and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including counsel
to Borrower or counsel to any Lender), independent accountants, and other
experts selected by Agent. Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing
to take any action under this Agreement or any other Loan Document unless it
shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the Required Lenders or all
Lenders, as applicable, and until such instructions are received, Agent shall
act, or refrain from acting, as it deems advisable so long as it is not grossly
negligent or guilty of willful misconduct. If Agent so requests, it shall first
be indemnified to its reasonable satisfaction by Lenders against any and all
liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or
continuing to take any such action. Agent shall in all cases be fully protected
in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement or any other Loan
Document in accordance with a request or consent of the Required Lenders or all
Lenders, as
69
applicable, and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant
thereto shall be binding upon all of the Lenders.
17.5 Notice of Default or Event of Default. Agent shall not be
deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any Default or Event of
Default, except with respect to defaults in the payment of principal, interest,
fees, and expenses required to be paid to Agent for the account of Agent or the
Lenders, except with respect to actual knowledge of the existence of an
Overadvance, and except with respect to Defaults and Events of Default of which
Agent has actual knowledge, unless Agent shall have received written notice from
a Lender or Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such Default or
Event of Default, and stating that such notice is a "notice of default." Agent
promptly will notify the Lenders of its receipt of any such notice or of any
Event of Default of which Agent has, or is deemed to have, actual knowledge. If
any Lender obtains actual knowledge of any Event of Default, such Lender
promptly shall notify the other Lenders and Agent of such Event of Default. Each
Lender shall be solely responsible for giving any notices to its Participants,
if any. Subject to Section 17.4, Agent shall take such action with respect to
------------
such Default or Event of Default as may be requested by the Required Lenders;
provided, however, that:
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(a) At all times, Agent may propose and, with the consent of
Required Lenders (which shall not be unreasonably withheld and which shall be
deemed to have been given by a Lender unless such Lender has notified Agent to
the contrary in writing within three Business Days of notification of such
proposed actions by Agent) exercise, any remedies on behalf of the Lender Group;
and
(b) At all times, once Required Lenders or all Lenders, as
the case may be, have approved the exercise of a particular remedy or pursuit of
a course of action, Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make all
administrative decisions in connection therewith or take all other actions
reasonably incidental thereto (for example, if the Required Lenders approve the
foreclosure of certain Collateral, Agent shall not be required to seek consent
for the administrative aspects of conducting such sale or handling of such
Collateral).
17.6 Credit Decision. Each Lender acknowledges that none of the
Agent-Related Persons has made any representation or warranty to it, and that no
act by Agent hereinafter taken, including any review of the affairs of Borrower
and its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, shall be deemed to constitute any
representation or warranty by any Agent-Related Person to any Lender. Each
Lender represents to Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon
any Agent-Related Person and based on such documents and information as it has
deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and investigation into the
business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition, and
creditworthiness of Borrower and any other Person (other than the Lender Group)
party to a Loan Document, and all applicable bank regulatory laws relating to
the transactions contemplated hereby, and made its own decision to enter into
this Agreement and to extend credit to Borrower. Each Lender also represents
that it will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person
and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the
time, continue to make its own credit analysis, appraisals, and decisions in
taking or not taking action under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents,
and to make such investigations as it deems necessary to inform itself as to the
business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition, and
70
creditworthiness of Borrower, and any other Person (other than the Lender Group)
party to a Loan Document. Except for notices, reports, and other documents
expressly herein required to be furnished to the Lenders by Agent, Agent shall
not have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or
other information concerning the business, prospects, operations, property,
financial and other condition, or creditworthiness of Borrower, and any other
Person party to a Loan Document that may come into the possession of any of the
Agent-Related Persons.
17.7 Costs and Expenses; Indemnification. Agent may incur and pay
Lender Group Expenses to the extent Agent deems reasonably necessary or
appropriate for the performance and fulfillment of its functions, powers, and
obligations pursuant to the Loan Documents, including without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, but subject to any requirements of the Loan
Documents that it obtain any applicable consents or engage in any required
consultation, court costs, reasonable attorneys fees and expenses, costs of
collection by outside collection agencies and auctioneer fees and costs of
security guards or insurance premiums paid to maintain the Collateral, whether
or not Borrower are obligated to reimburse Agent or Lenders for such expenses
pursuant to the Loan Agreement or otherwise. Agent is authorized and directed to
deduct and retain sufficient amounts from Collections to reimburse Agent for
such out-of-pocket costs and expenses prior to the distribution of any amounts
to Lenders. In the event Agent is not reimbursed for such costs and expenses
from Collections, each Lender hereby agrees that it is and shall be obligated to
pay to or reimburse Agent for the amount of such Lender's Pro Rata Share
thereof. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated,
the Lenders shall indemnify upon demand the Agent-Related Persons (to the extent
not reimbursed by or on behalf of Borrower and without limiting the obligation
of Borrower to do so), according to their Pro Rata Shares, from and against any
and all Indemnified Liabilities; provided, however, that no Lender shall be
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liable for the payment to the Agent-Related Persons of any portion of such
Indemnified Liabilities resulting solely from such Person's gross negligence,
bad faith, or willful misconduct. Without limitation of the foregoing, each
Lender shall reimburse Agent upon demand for its ratable share of any costs or
out-of-pocket expenses (including attorney fees and expenses) incurred by Agent
in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration,
modification, amendment, or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal
proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or
responsibilities under, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any document
contemplated by or referred to herein, to the extent that Agent is not
reimbursed for such expenses by or on behalf of Borrower. The undertaking in
this Section 17.7 shall survive the payment of all Obligations hereunder and the
-----------
resignation or replacement of Agent.
17.8 Agent in Individual Capacity. Foothill and its Affiliates may
make loans to, issue letters of credit for the account of, accept deposits from,
acquire equity interests, in and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust,
financial advisory, underwriting, or other business with Borrower and its
Subsidiaries and Affiliates and any other Person party to any Loan Documents as
though Foothill were not Agent hereunder without notice to or consent of the
Lenders. The Lenders acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, Foothill and
its Affiliates may receive information regarding Borrower or its Affiliates and
any other Person party to any Loan Documents that is subject to confidentiality
obligations in favor of Borrower or such other Person and that prohibit the
disclosure of such information to the Lenders, and the Lenders acknowledge that,
in such circumstances (and in the absence of a waiver of such
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confidentiality obligations, which waiver Agent will use its reasonable best
efforts to obtain), Agent shall be under no obligation to provide such
information to them. With respect to the Agent Loans and Agent Advances,
Foothill shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other
Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not Agent, and the terms
"Lender" and "Lenders" include Foothill in its individual capacity.
17.9 Successor Agent. Agent may resign as Agent following notice of
such resignation ("Notice") to the Lenders and Borrower, and effective upon the
appointment of and acceptance of such appointment by, a successor Agent. If
Agent resigns under this Agreement, the Required Lenders shall appoint any
Lender or Eligible Transferee as successor Agent for the Lenders. If no
successor Agent is appointed within 30 days of such retiring Agent's Notice,
Agent may appoint a successor Agent, after consulting with the Lenders and
Borrower. In any such event, upon the acceptance of its appointment as successor
Agent hereunder, such successor Agent shall succeed to all the rights, powers
and duties of the retiring Agent and the term "Agent" shall mean such successor
Agent and the retiring Agent's appointment, powers, and duties as Agent shall be
terminated. After any retiring Agent's resignation hereunder as Agent, the
provisions of this Section 17 shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken
or omitted to be taken by it while it was Agent under this Agreement.
17.10 Withholding Tax.
(a) If any Lender is a "foreign corporation, partnership or
trust" within the meaning of the IRC and such Lender claims exemption from, or a
reduction of, U.S. withholding tax under Sections 1441 or 1442 of the IRC, such
Lender agrees with and in favor of Agent and Borrower, to deliver to Agent and
Borrower:
(i) if such Lender claims an exemption from, or a
reduction of, withholding tax under a United States tax treaty, properly
completed IRS Forms 1001 and W-8 before the payment of any interest in the first
calendar year and before the payment of any interest in each third succeeding
calendar year during which interest may be paid under this Agreement;
(ii) if such Lender claims that interest paid under
this Agreement is exempt from United States withholding tax because it is
effectively connected with a United States trade or business of such Lender, two
properly completed and executed copies of IRS Form 4224 before the payment of
any interest is due in the first taxable year of such Lender and in each
succeeding taxable year of such Lender during which interest may be paid under
this Agreement, and IRS Form W-9; and
(iii) such other form or forms as may be required under
the IRC or other laws of the United States as a condition to exemption from, or
reduction of, United States withholding tax.
Such Lender agrees to promptly notify Agent and Borrower of any change in
circumstances which would modify or render invalid any claimed exemption or
reduction.
(b) If any Lender claims exemption from, or reduction of,
withholding tax under a United States tax treaty by providing IRS Form 1001 and
such Lender sells, assigns,
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grants a participation in, or otherwise transfers all or part of the Obligations
of Borrower, such Lender agrees to notify Agent and Borrower of the percentage
amount in which it is no longer the beneficial owner of Obligations of Borrower
to such Lender. To the extent of such percentage amount, Agent and Borrower will
treat such Lender's IRS Form 1001 as no longer valid.
(c) If any Lender claiming exemption from United States
withholding tax by filing IRS Form 4224 with Agent sells, assigns, grants a
participation in, or otherwise transfers all or part of the Obligations of
Borrower to such Lender, such Lender agrees to undertake sole responsibility for
complying with the withholding tax requirements imposed by Sections 1441 and
1442 of the IRC.
(d) If any Lender is entitled to a reduction in the
applicable withholding tax, Agent may withhold from any interest payment to such
Lender an amount equivalent to the applicable withholding tax after taking into
account such reduction. If the forms or other documentation required by
subsection (a) of this Section are not delivered to Agent, then Agent may
withhold from any interest payment to such Lender not providing such forms or
other documentation an amount equivalent to the applicable withholding tax.
(e) If the IRS or any other Governmental Authority of the
United States or other jurisdiction asserts a claim that Agent or Borrower did
not properly withhold tax from amounts paid to or for the account of any Lender
(because the appropriate form was not delivered, was not properly executed, or
because such Lender failed to notify Agent and Borrower of a change in
circumstances which rendered the exemption from, or reduction of, withholding
tax ineffective, or for any other reason) such Lender shall indemnify Agent and
Borrower fully for all amounts paid, directly or indirectly, by Agent or
Borrower as tax or otherwise, including penalties and interest, and including
any taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on the amounts payable to Agent or
Borrower under this Section, together with all costs and expenses (including
attorneys fees and expenses). The obligation of the Lenders under this
subsection shall survive the payment of all Obligations and the resignation of
Agent.
17.11 Collateral Matters.
(a) The Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize Agent, to
release any Lien on any Collateral (i) upon the termination of the Commitments
and payment and satisfaction in full by Borrower of all Obligations; and upon
such termination and payment Agent shall deliver to Borrower, at Borrower's sole
cost and expense, all UCC termination statements and any other documents
necessary to terminate the Loan Documents and release the Liens with respect to
the Collateral; (ii) constituting property being sold or disposed of if a
release is required or desirable in connection therewith and if Borrower
certifies to Agent that the sale or disposition is permitted under Section 7.4
-----------
of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (and Agent may rely conclusively
on any such certificate, without further inquiry); (iii) constituting property
in which Borrower owned no interest at the time the Lien was granted or at any
time thereafter; or (iv) constituting property leased to Borrower under a lease
that has expired or been terminated in a transaction permitted under this
Agreement. Except as provided above, Agent will not release any Lien on any
Collateral without the prior written authorization of the Lenders; provided,
--------
however, that Agent may, in its discretion, without prior authorization
-------
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of Lenders, release any Lien on Collateral where the value of such Collateral
released at any one time is not in excess of $100,000 and the value of all such
Collateral released in any calendar year is not in excess of $250,000. Upon
request by Agent or Borrower at any time, the Lenders will confirm in writing
Agent's authority to release any such Liens on particular types or items of
Collateral pursuant to this Section 17.11; provided, however, that (i) Agent
------------- -------- -------
shall not be required to execute any document necessary to evidence such release
on terms that, in Agent's opinion, would expose Agent to liability or create any
obligation or entail any consequence other than the release of such Lien without
recourse, representation, or warranty, and (ii) such release shall not in any
manner discharge, affect or impair the Obligations or any Liens (other than
those expressly being released), upon (or obligations of Borrower in respect of)
all interests retained by Borrower, including, the proceeds of any sale, all of
which shall continue to constitute part of the Collateral.
(b) Agent shall have no obligation whatsoever to any of the
Lenders to assure that the Collateral exists or is owned by Borrower, is cared
for, protected, or insured or has been encumbered, or that the Liens of the
Agent (for the benefit of the Lender Group) have been properly or sufficiently
or lawfully created, perfected, protected, or enforced or are entitled to any
particular priority, or to exercise at all or in any particular manner or under
any duty of care, disclosure, or fidelity, or to continue exercising, any of the
rights, authorities and powers granted or available to Agent pursuant to any of
the Loan Documents, it being understood and agreed that in respect of the
Collateral, or any act, omission or event related thereto, subject to the terms
and conditions contained herein, Agent may act in any manner it may deem
appropriate, in its sole discretion given Agent's own interest in the Collateral
in its capacity as one of the Lenders and that Agent shall have no other duty or
liability whatsoever to any Lender as to any of the foregoing, except as
otherwise provided herein.
17.12 Restrictions on Actions by Lenders; Sharing of Payments.
(a) Each of the Lenders agrees that it shall not, without the
express consent of Agent, and that it shall, to the extent it is lawfully
entitled to do so, upon the request of Agent, set off against the Obligations
any amounts owing by such Lender to Borrower or any accounts of Borrower now or
hereafter maintained with such Lender. Each of the Lenders further agrees that
it shall not, unless specifically requested to do so by Agent, take or cause to
be taken any action, including the commencement of any legal or equitable
proceedings, to foreclose any Lien on, or otherwise enforce any security
interest in, any of the Collateral the purpose of which is, or could be, to give
such Lender any preference or priority against the other Lenders with respect to
the Collateral.
(b) Subject to Section 17.8, if, at any time or times any
-----------
Lender shall receive (i) by payment, foreclosure, setoff, or otherwise, any
proceeds of Collateral or any payments with respect to the Obligations of
Borrower to such Lender arising under, or relating to, this Agreement or the
other Loan Documents, except for any such proceeds or payments received by such
Lender from Agent pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, or (ii) payments from
Agent in excess of such Lender's Pro Rata Share of all such distributions by
Agent, such Lender shall promptly (1) turn the same over to Agent, in kind, and
with such endorsements as may be required to negotiate the same to Agent, or in
same day funds, as applicable, for the account of all of the Lenders and for
application to the Obligations in accordance with the
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applicable provisions of this Agreement, or (2) purchase, without recourse or
warranty, an undivided interest and participation in the Obligations owed to the
other Lenders so that such excess payment received shall be applied ratably as
among the Lenders in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares; provided, however,
-------- -------
that if all or part of such excess payment received by the purchasing party is
thereafter recovered from it, those purchases of participations shall be
rescinded in whole or in part, as applicable, and the applicable portion of the
purchase price paid therefor shall be returned to such purchasing party, but
without interest except to the extent that such purchasing party is required to
pay interest in connection with the recovery of the excess payment.
17.13 Agency for Perfection. Agent and each Lender hereby appoints
each other Lender as agent for the purpose of perfecting the Liens of the Lender
Group in assets which, in accordance with Division 9 of the UCC can be perfected
only by possession. Should any Lender obtain possession of any such Collateral,
such Lender shall notify Agent thereof, and, promptly upon Agent's request
therefor shall deliver such Collateral to Agent or in accordance with Agent's
instructions.
17.14 Payments by Agent to the Lenders. All payments to be made by
Agent to the Lenders shall be made by bank wire transfer or internal transfer of
immediately available funds pursuant to the instructions set forth on
Schedule C-1, or pursuant to such other wire transfer instructions as each
------------
party may designate for itself by written notice to Agent. Concurrently with
each such payment, Agent shall identify whether such payment (or any portion
thereof) represents principal, premium or interest on revolving advances or
otherwise.
17.15 Concerning the Collateral and Related Loan Documents. Each
member of the Lender Group authorizes and directs Agent to enter into this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents relating to the Collateral, for the
ratable benefit (subject to Section 4.1) of the Lender Group. Each member of
-----------
the Lender Group agrees that any action taken by Agent, Required Lenders, or all
Lenders, as applicable, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or the
other Loan Documents relating to the Collateral and the exercise by Agent,
Required Lenders, or all Lenders, as applicable, of their respective powers set
forth therein or herein, together with such other powers that are reasonably
incidental thereto, shall be binding upon all of the Lenders.
17.16 Field Audits and Examination Reports; Confidentiality;
Disclaimers by Lenders; Other Reports and Information. By signing this
Agreement, each Lender;
(a) is deemed to have requested that Agent furnish such
Lender, promptly after it becomes available, a copy of each field audit or
examination report (each a "Report" and collectively, "Reports") prepared by
Agent, and Agent shall so furnish each Lender with such Reports;
(b) expressly agrees and acknowledges that Agent (i) does not
make any representation or warranty as to the accuracy of any Report, and (ii)
shall not be liable for any information contained in any Report;
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(c) expressly agrees and acknowledges that the Reports are
not comprehensive audits or examinations, that Agent or other party performing
any audit or examination will inspect only specific information regarding
Borrower and will rely significantly upon Borrowers' Books and records, as well
as on representations of Borrower's personnel;
(d) agrees to keep all Reports and other material
information obtained by it pursuant to the requirements of this Agreement in
accordance with its reasonable customary procedures for handling confidential
information; it being understood and agreed by Borrower that in any event such
Lender may make disclosures (i) reasonably required by any bona fide potential
or actual Assignee, transferee, or Participant in connection with any
contemplated or actual assignment or transfer by such Lender of an interest
herein or any participation interest in such Lender's rights hereunder, (ii) of
information that has become public by disclosures made by Persons other than
such Lender, its Affiliates, assignees, transferees, or participants, or (iii)
as required or requested by any court, governmental or administrative agency,
pursuant to any subpoena or other legal process, or by any law, statute,
regulation, or court order; provided, however, that, unless prohibited by
-------- -------
applicable law, statute, regulation, or court order, such Lender shall notify
Borrower of any request by any court, governmental or administrative agency, or
pursuant to any subpoena or other legal process for disclosure of any such non-
public material information concurrent with, or where practicable, prior to the
disclosure thereof; and
(e) without limiting the generality of any other
indemnification provision contained in this Agreement, agrees: (i) to hold Agent
and any such other Lender preparing a Report harmless from any action the
indemnifying Lender may take or conclusion the indemnifying Lender may reach or
draw from any Report in connection with any loans or other credit accommodations
that the indemnifying Lender has made or may make to Borrower, or the
indemnifying Lender's participation in, or the indemnifying Lender's purchase
of, a loan or loans of Borrower; and (ii) to pay and protect, and indemnify,
defend, and hold Agent and any such other Lender preparing a Report harmless
from and against, the claims, actions, proceedings, damages, costs, expenses and
other amounts (including, attorney costs) incurred by Agent and any such other
Lender preparing a Report as the direct or indirect result of any third parties
who might obtain all or part of any Report through the indemnifying Lender.
In addition to the foregoing: (x) any Lender may from time to time request of
Agent in writing that Agent provide to such Lender a copy of any report or
document provided by Borrower to Agent, and, upon receipt of such request, Agent
shall provide a copy of same to such Lender promptly upon receipt thereof; (y)
to the extent that Agent is entitled, under any provision of the Loan Documents,
to request additional reports or information from Borrower, any Lender may, from
time to time, reasonably request Agent to exercise such right as specified in
such Lender's notice to Agent, whereupon Agent promptly shall request of
Borrower the additional reports or information specified by such Lender, and,
upon receipt thereof, Agent promptly shall provide a copy of same to such
Lender; and (z) any time that Agent renders to Borrower a statement regarding
the Loan Account, Agent shall send a copy of such statement to each Lender.
17.17 Several Obligations; No Liability. Notwithstanding that
certain of the Loan Documents now or hereafter may have been or will be executed
only by or in favor of Agent in its capacity as such, and not by or in favor of
the Lenders, any and all obligations on the part of Agent (if any) to make any
Advances shall constitute the several (and not joint)
76
obligations of the respective Lenders on a ratable basis, according to their
respective Commitments, to make an amount of such Advances not to exceed, in
principal amount, at any one time outstanding, the amount of their respective
Commitments. Nothing contained herein shall confer upon any Lender any interest
in, or subject any Lender to any liability for, or in respect of, the business,
assets, profits, losses, or liabilities of any other Lender. Each Lender shall
be solely responsible for notifying its Participants of any matters relating to
the Loan Documents to the extent any such notice may be required, and no Lender
shall have any obligation, duty, or liability to any Participant of any other
Lender. Except as provided in Section 17.7, no member of the Lender Group shall
------------
have any liability for the acts of any other member of the Lender Group. No
Lender shall be responsible to Borrower or any other Person for any failure by
any other Lender to fulfill its obligations to make Advances, nor to advance for
it or on its behalf in connection with its Commitment, nor to take any other
action on its behalf hereunder or in connection with the financing contemplated
herein.
18. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
18.1 Effectiveness. This Agreement shall be binding and deemed
effective when executed by Borrowers and the Lender Group.
18.2 Section Headings. Headings and numbers have been set forth
herein for convenience only. Unless the contrary is compelled by the context,
everything contained in each section applies equally to this entire Agreement.
18.3 Interpretation. Neither this Agreement nor any uncertainty or
ambiguity herein shall be construed or resolved against the Lender Group or
Borrower, whether under any rule of construction or otherwise. On the contrary,
this Agreement has been reviewed by all parties and shall be construed and
interpreted according to the ordinary meaning of the words used so as to fairly
accomplish the purposes and intentions of all parties hereto.
18.4 Severability of Provisions. Each provision of this Agreement
shall be severable from every other provision of this Agreement for the purpose
of determining the legal enforceability of any specific provision.
18.5 Counterparts; Telefacsimile Execution. This Agreement may be
executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties on separate
counterparts, each of which, when executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be
an original, and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute but one and
the same Agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Agreement by
telefacsimile shall be equally as effective as delivery of an original executed
counterpart of this Agreement. Any party delivering an executed counterpart of
this Agreement by telefacsimile also shall deliver an original executed
counterpart of this Agreement but the failure to deliver an original executed
counterpart shall not affect the validity, enforceability, and binding effect of
this Agreement.
18.6 Revival and Reinstatement of Obligations.
(a) If the incurrence or payment of the Obligations by any
Borrower or any guarantor of the Obligations or the transfer by any or all of
such parties to the Lender Group of any property of either or both of such
parties should for any reason subsequently be declared
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to be void or voidable under any state or federal law relating to creditors'
rights, including provisions of the Bankruptcy Code relating to fraudulent
conveyances, preferences, and other voidable or recoverable payments of money or
transfers of property (collectively, a "Voidable Transfer"), and if the Lender
Group is required to repay or restore, in whole or in part, any such Voidable
Transfer, or elects to do so upon the reasonable advice of its counsel, then, as
to any such Voidable Transfer, or the amount thereof that the Lender Group is
required or elects to repay or restore, and as to all reasonable costs,
expenses, and attorneys fees of the Lender Group related thereto, the liability
of Borrowers or such guarantor automatically shall be revived, reinstated, and
restored and shall exist as though such Voidable Transfer had never been made.
18.7 Integration. This Agreement, together with the other Loan
Documents, reflects the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the
transactions contemplated hereby and shall not be contradicted or qualified by
any other agreement, oral or written, before the date hereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be executed in Los Angeles, California.
LESLIE'S POOLMART, INC.,
a Delaware corporation
By /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
----------------------
Title: EVP & CFO
------------------
LESLIE'S POOL BRITE, INC.,
a California corporation
By /s/ Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
-----------------------
Title: President and CEO
-------------------
FOOTHILL CAPITAL CORPORATION,
a California corporation, as Agent and as a Lender
By /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
-------------------------
Title: Senior Vice President
---------------------
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