THIS FACILITY AGREEMENT is made on April 30, 2004
BETWEEN:
(1) |
XXXX XXXXXXX (U.K.) LIMITED whose company number is 02553316 and whose
registered office is at Hanover House, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX0 0XX (the Borrower); and |
(2) |
GMAC COMMERCIAL FINANCE PLC whose company number is 661920 and whose
registered office is at Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, XX0 0XX
(GMAC). |
WHEREAS
(A) |
GMAC has agreed to make available to the Borrower financing facilities upon the
terms and subject to the conditions set out in this Agreement. |
IT IS AGREED as follows:
1. CONSTRUCTION
1.1 Definitions
|
In
this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, the following words and expressions
will have the meaning set out opposite them: |
Account Balance: the debit balance on the Loan Account from time to time;
Advance: a cash advance made or to be made under the Facility or (as the context may admit or
require) the principal amount of that cash advance;
Agreement: this Agreement as the same may be amended or supplemented in writing by the parties
from time to time and shall include the schedules hereto;
|
Annual
Renewal Period: the period of twelve months commencing on the expiry of the Initial
Term and thereafter each successive period of twelve calendar months commencing on the
expiry of the previous such period; |
|
Approved
Locations: those warehouses or shops of the Borrower that have for the time being been
approved in writing by GMAC, that are located in the United Kingdom and in respect of
which irrevocable distraint waivers in favour of GMAC have been provided by the relevant
landlords or in respect of which GMAC holds a Reserve on account of rent as referred to in
paragraph (iii) of the definition of Reserves (as being as at the date of this
Agreement, those set out in Schedule 6); |
|
Arrangement
Fee: an amount of £100,000 payable pursuant to clause 7.2 (of which GMAC
acknowledges that £25,000 has been paid by the Borrower prior to the date of this
Agreement); |
Availability Period: the period commencing on the date of this Agreement and ending five Business
Days
prior to the Maturity Date;
|
Available
Inventory Facility: at any time, the Facility Limit less the Account Balance, provided
that in relation to a proposed Advance, there will be added back any amount of the Account
Balance that is due to be paid or repaid (as the case may be) on the proposed Drawdown
Date; |
Banner: Banner Investments (U.K.) Limited whose company number is 02192316 and whose registered
address is Xxxxx Xxxxx, 000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX;
Borrowings:
the following:
(i) |
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money borrowed or raised and includes capitalised interest; |
(ii) |
|
any liability under any bond, note, debenture, loan stock, instrument or
security; |
(iii) |
|
any liability for acceptance or documentary credits or discounted instruments; |
(iv) |
|
any liability for the acquisition cost of assets or services payable on deferred
payment terms where the period of deferment is more than 90 days; |
(v) |
|
any liability under debt purchase, factoring and similar agreements and capital
amounts owing under finance leases, hire purchase or conditional sale agreements
or arrangements; and |
(vi) |
|
any liability under any guarantee or indemnity (except product warranties); |
Business Day: a day (other than a Saturday or Sunday) on which banks are open in London for
business of the nature required for the purposes of this Agreement;
Cash Account: an account in the name of GMAC maintained with such bank as GMAC may select from
time to time, to which sums will be credited in accordance with clause 12 (Cash Account);
|
Cash
Account Memorandum: means the proceeds memorandum agreed between GMAC and the Borrower
(and reproduced in schedule 5) with regard to the payment of sums into, and the
application of the credit balance for the time being on, the Cash Account; |
Collateral Management Fee: the fee referred to in schedule 3;
|
Default:
an Event of Default or any event or circumstance which could (with the expiry of a
grace period, the giving of notice, the making of any determination or any confirmation of
any of the foregoing) be an Event of Default; |
Default
Rate: the rate which is two per cent per annum above the Interest Rate;
Drawdown Date: the date on which an Advance is made;
Early Termination Fee: means the fee payable by the Borrower on the expiry of a notice of
cancellation given in accordance with clause 9.2.2 (Cancellation), being computed as:
(i) |
|
if the relevant notice of cancellation expires on or before the first
anniversary of the date of this Agreement, 3% (three per cent.) of the Total
Line Size; or |
(ii) |
|
if the relevant notice of cancellation expires after the first anniversary but
on or before the second anniversary of the date of this Agreement, 2% (two per
cent.) of the Total Line Size; or |
(iii) |
|
if the relevant notice of cancellation expires at any time after the second
anniversary of the date of this Agreement but prior to any subsequent
anniversary of the date of this Agreement, 1% (one per cent.) of the Total Line
Size; |
Eligible Inventory: Finished Goods Inventory that is unencumbered and is not Ineligible Inventory;
Environmental Approval: any permit, licence, approval, ruling, exemption or other authorisation
required
under applicable Environmental Laws;
|
Environmental
Laws: any and all laws, rules, orders, regulations, statutes, ordinances or codes of
any Governmental Authority regulating, relating to or imposing liability or standards of
conduct concerning environmental protection matters, including without limitation, in
relation to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal,
transport or handling of Materials of Environmental Concern, as now or may at any time
hereafter be in effect; |
Event
of Default: any of the events specified in clause 20 (Events of Default);
Existing Charges: the charges over credit balances, dated 5 September 2003 and 15 October 2003
respectively, granted by the Borrower in favour of Barclays Bank PLC;
|
Facility:
the inventory-based revolving credit facility, in a maximum principal amount not
exceeding the Facility Limit from time to time, made available by GMAC to the Borrower
upon and subject to the terms of this Agreement; |
Facility Limit: at any time the lesser of:
(ii) |
|
an amount equal to 50% of the cost price of Eligible Inventory (as evidenced by
the most recently delivered Inventory Designation Form or, at GMAC’s
option, the most recently delivered Inventory Valuation), |
and
in either case minus the amount of any Reserves;
Fairchild: The Xxxxxxxxx Corporation of 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, XxXxxx, XX 00000-0000;
|
Finance
Documents: this Agreement, the Put Option and the Security Documents and all other
deeds and documents entered into pursuant to or ancillary to such documents; |
Finished Goods Inventory: unsold finished goods of the Borrower that are stored or located at
Approved
Locations;
|
Governmental
Authority: any nation or government, any state or political sub-division thereof and
any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative
functions of |
any
of the foregoing;
|
Group:
the Borrower and all of its Subsidiaries and any Subsidiaries of such Subsidiaries from
time to time and includes Banner for the purposes of this Agreement and member of the
Group or Group Company means any of them; |
Guarantor: Banner and any other person for the time being who guarantees the due performance and
discharge of the Borrower's obligations and liabilities to GMAC in relation to the Facility;
HG Deutschland GmbH: Xxxx Xxxxxxx Deutschland GmbH whose registered office is at Reisholzer,
Werftstrasse, 190-40589, Dusseldorf, Germany;
HG Deutschland Group: HG Deutschland GmbH and each of its Subsidiaries from time to time;
|
HG
Intellectual Property: is the right to use the name “Xxxx Xxxxxxx”, the Xxxx
Xxxxxxx logo and such other intellectual property as GMAC (acting reasonably) stipulates
as being required to enable the Borrower to trade in the ordinary course of its business; |
|
Hilco
UK: means Hilco UK Limited (company number 03944915) whose registered office is at
Xxxx 0, Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, XX0 0XX; |
Ineligible Inventory: any item of Finished Goods Inventory at any time:
(i) |
|
that is not fit for its purpose or is not usable or readily saleable at a price
not less than the lower of cost or market value; |
(ii) |
|
that constitutes returned, damaged, defective or obsolete goods or goods that
were purchased by the Borrower more than two years before that time; |
(iii) |
|
that is subject to retention of title provisions in favour of a third party; |
(iv) |
|
that would, when aggregated with all other items of Finished Goods Inventory,
cause the cost value of Finished Goods Inventory to exceed the Insurance Limit,
or that is uninsured; |
(v) |
|
that is held by the Borrower as consignee or bailee for a third party, or that
has been conditionally delivered to the Borrower; and/or |
(vi) |
|
that has been sold or constructively delivered to customers of the Borrower, |
or
such criteria as may be revised by GMAC from time to time in its sole discretion;
|
Inventory
Designation Form: a certificate signed by a director of the Borrower as to the value
of the Finished Goods Inventory and Preferential Creditors in the form shown in schedule 4
(or in such other form as GMAC shall from time to time reasonably require); |
Initial
Term: shall be three (3) years from the date of this Agreement;
|
Insurance
Limit: is, at the date of this Agreement, €165,000,000 and thereafter shall be
such amount as notified in writing to GMAC by the Borrower’s insurers as representing
the amount of insurance cover provided to the Borrower in respect of the Unfinished Goods
Inventory; |
|
Intellectual
Property Rights: know-how, patents, trademarks, service marks, designs, business
names, topographical or similar rights, copyrights or other intellectual property monopoly
rights, and any licence or other interest in any such rights (including, without
limitation, any licence granted to the Borrower in relation to the HG Intellectual
Property whether in accordance with clause 18.3 (Positive Covenants) or otherwise); |
Interest
Payment Date: the last day of each calendar month after the date of this Agreement;
Interest Rate: the rate which is 2.25 per cent. per annum above the base rate of Lloyds TSB Bank
Plc as fluctuating from time to time;
|
Inventory
Valuation: a valuation of the Finished Goods Inventory, addressed by a Valuer to GMAC
and carried out on the basis of market value and on the assumption of a disposal within 90
days; |
|
Loan
Account: an account or accounts in the name of the Borrower with GMAC opened in
connection with, and for the purpose of recording all amounts outstanding from time to
time under, the Facility; |
|
Letters
of Credit: the following letters of credit, each issued by Barclays Bank PLC on the
Borrower’s behalf and unmatured as at the date of this Agreement, or (as the context
may admit or require) the maximum amount for which the Borrower is actually or
contingently liable to Barclays Bank PLC in respect of such letters of credit: |
(i) |
|
the letter of credit (reference MRDC4746718) dated 19 February 2004 addressed to
Alpinestars SpA and expiring on 6 May 2004 with a maximum liability of
£567,815.15; and |
(ii) |
|
the letter of credit (reference MRDC4752247) dated 1 April 2004 addressed to
Alpinestars SpA and expiring on 22 July 2004 with a maximum liability of
£117,502.09; |
Material
Adverse Effect: any effect which could reasonably be expected to be materially adverse
to:
(i) |
|
the ability of any member of the Group to perform its payment obligations under
any of the Finance Documents; |
(ii) |
|
the business, assets, financial condition or prospects of the Group taken as a
whole; |
|
Materials
of Environmental Concern: chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic
substances, petroleum and petroleum products and distillates, and all hazardous substances
defined or regulated as such in or under any Environmental Law; |
Maturity
Date: in relation to the Facility, the date on which:
(i) |
|
the Facility is terminated pursuant to clause 3.2 (Availability and
term); or |
(ii) |
|
GMAC notifies the Borrower at any time in writing of termination of the Facility
pursuant to clause 20 (Events of Default); |
|
Non-Utilisation
Fee: a fee, payable by the Borrower in accordance with clause 7.3 (Fees) in
respect of each calendar month or part thereof, computed at a rate of 0.75% per annum on
the average daily amount during the calendar month (and calculated on the last Business
Day of that calendar month) of the Available Inventory Facility; |
|
Obligors:
the Guarantor, the Borrower and each other member of the Group which has undertaken (or in
the future undertakes) obligations to GMAC pursuant to one or more of the Finance
Documents, and Obligor means any of them; |
Permitted Borrowings: Borrowings under any of the following:
(ii) |
|
the master lease purchase agreement dated 17 February 2003 between the Borrower
and Barclays Mercantile Business Finance Limited; |
(iii) |
|
the PDQ hire agreement dated 19 September 1998 between the Borrower and Barclays
Bank PLC in relation to the hiring of PDQ terminals by the Borrower; |
(iv) |
|
the Letters of Credit (but not, for the avoidance of doubt, any extension,
renewal or replacement of any of them); or |
(v)
outstanding invoices relating to the supply of goods to the Borrower by HG
Deutschland GmbH;
Permitted
Security Interest: means
(i) |
|
a lien or right of set off arising in the ordinary course of trading solely by
operation of law (or by contractual provisions having a substantially similar
effect) except for any lien the rights to which have been asserted; |
(ii) |
|
Security Interests arising under the Security Documents; |
(iii) |
|
the Existing Charges, provided that the Borrower will that procure that each of
the Existing Charges will be released by Barclays Bank PLC reasonably promptly
upon the expiry of the Letters of Credit; and |
(iv) |
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Security Interests which GMAC has at any time in writing agreed shall be a
Permitted Security Interest; |
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Preferential
Creditors: those creditors of an Obligor who, upon the insolvency of such Obligor,
would have preference or priority to payment over the holder of a floating charge; |
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Prior
Chargeholders: the holder or beneficiary of any mortgage, charge, trust, lien,
reservation of ownership, security interest or any other interest affecting the absolute
and unfettered ownership of the charged property; |
|
Proceeds:
the gross proceeds (including any value added tax included therein) of the sale by the
Borrower of each and every item of Finished Goods Inventory, including but not limited to: |
(i)
cash;
(ii)
the cleared proceeds of cheques;
(iii)
all amounts received under credit card/charge/debit card merchant agreements or
arrangements;
(iv)
all amounts received under H-G branded charge card agreements;
Put Option: means the option deed made or to be made between GMAC (1) and Hilco UK (2) and the
Borrower
(3);
Reservations:
means
(i) |
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the principle that equitable remedies and awards of enforcement costs are
remedies which may be granted or refused at the discretion of the court; |
(ii) |
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the limitation on enforcement as a result of laws relating to bankruptcy,
insolvency, liquidation, reorganisation, court schemes, moratoria,
administration, and other laws generally affecting the rights of creditors; |
(iii) |
|
the principle that certain types of security expressed to take effect as fixed
security may, as a result of the ability of an Obligor to deal with the assets
subject to that security on terms permitted under the Finance Documents, take
effect as floating security; |
(iv) |
|
the requirement that an assignment must be notified to the relevant counterparty
if it is to take effect as a legal assignment; |
(v) |
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the principle that, if security is purported to be created (or an assignment is
purported to be made) by an Obligor in breach of any prohibition imposed on that
Obligor creating security over (or assigning) that asset, this may affect the
validity of the security purported to be created; |
(vi) |
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the time barring of claims under the Limitation Acts; and |
(vii) |
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rules against penalties; |
Reserves:
means:
(i) |
|
such sums as GMAC decides (acting reasonably) may be payable to Preferential
Creditors; |
(ii) |
|
such sums of the Finished Goods Inventory where the discrepancy from book value
as determined by the test count or cost counts performed by or on behalf of GMAC
is greater than five (5) per cent.; |
(iii) |
|
such sums representing the aggregate amount of the rent payable by the Borrower
in any quarter in respect of all shops and/or warehouses of the Borrower that in
relation to which irrevocable distraint waivers in favour of (and in a form
approved by) GMAC have not been received from the relevant landlords; and |
(iv) |
|
such other sums as GMAC shall decide (acting reasonably) and notify in writing
to the Borrower from time to time; |
|
Security
Documents: those documents listed in part 2 of schedule 1 and any other documents for
the time being securing (directly or indirectly) all or any of the Borrower’s
obligations under this Agreement and/or all or any other obligation (present or future,
actual or contingent) of an Obligor to GMAC and references to any such documents shall
include the same as varied or amended in writing by the parties thereto from time to time; |
|
Security
Interest: any mortgage, pledge, lien of any kind and howsoever arising, charge,
assignment by way of security, hypothecation, security interest, standard security,
assignation in security or any other security agreement or arrangement relating to
existing or future assets (including, without limitation, the deposit of monies or
property with a person with the primary intention of affording such person a right of
set-off or lien); |
Shares: shares of any class or description in the Borrower;
Sterling: the lawful currency for the time being of the United Kingdom;
Subsidiary:
(i)
a subsidiary as defined in section 736 of the Companies Xxx 0000; and
(ii)
a subsidiary undertaking as defined in section 53(1) of the Companies Xxx 0000;
|
Tacana
Note: the Series 1 Managed Credit Portfolio Note due 2008 of Tacana Company Limited,
having a redemption amount of US$3,500,000, of which the registered holder as at the date
of this Agreement is Banner; |
|
Taxes:
all present and future taxes, levies, duties, withholdings or similar charges of whatever
nature and wherever levied or assessed, together with interest thereon and any penalties
in respect thereof; |
Total
Line Size: £5,000,000;
|
Unencumbered:
not subject to any Security Interest or any other interest (including, but not limited to,
reservation of ownership or any retention of title) affecting a Group Company’s
absolute and unfettered ownership; and |
Valuer:
any suitably qualified valuer appointed by GMAC from time to time.
1.2 In this Agreement:
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1.2.1 |
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a clause or schedule shall (except where the context otherwise requires) be construed as a
reference to the relevant clause in or schedule to (and forming a part of) this Agreement; |
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1.2.2 |
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a person shall include a body corporate, individual, firm or an unincorporated body of
persons (as the case may be); |
1.2.3 the singular shall include the plural and vice-versa and the masculine, the feminine and the neuter;
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1.2.4 |
|
any statutory provision shall be deemed to mean and to include a reference to any
modification, consolidation or re-enactment thereof for the time being in force and any
analogous provision or rule under any applicable law; |
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1.2.5 |
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the expressions Borrower, Guarantor, Obligor or GMAC shall,
where the context admits, include their respective personal representatives, successors in
title or permitted assigns (whether immediate or derivative); |
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1.2.6 |
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any reference herein to any document, including to this Agreement includes such document
as amended, novated, supplemented, substituted, extended, assigned or replaced from time
to time and includes any document which is supplemental hereto or thereto; |
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1.2.7 |
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the meaning of general words introduced by the word other and the word otherwise shall not
be limited by reference to any preceding words or enumeration including a particular class
of acts, matters or things; |
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1.2.8 |
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where a word or phrase has to be considered in relation to a jurisdiction outside England
and there is no exact equivalent of such word or phrase then it shall have the meaning of
the closest equivalent in such jurisdiction; and |
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1.2.9 |
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indebtedness includes any obligation (whether incurred as principal, guarantor or surety)
for the payment or repayment of money, whether present or future, actual or contingent. |
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1.2.10 |
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The headings in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect its
construction or interpretation. |
2. THE INVENTORY FACILITY
|
2.1 |
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On the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, GMAC agrees to make
available to the Borrower the Facility in an amount equal to the Facility Limit. |
2.2 At no time may the Account Balance exceed the Facility Limit.
2.3 The Facility will be used by the Borrower:
2.3.1 to fund the working capital requirements of the Group; and
2.3.2 for such other purposes as GMAC may agree,
|
but
GMAC shall not be bound to enquire as to, nor shall it be responsible for, the use or
application by the Borrower of all or any part of the Facility. |
3. AVAILABILITY AND TERM
|
3.1 |
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Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Facility shall be available for
drawing by the Borrower once per week during the Availability Period. |
3.2 Subject to the other provisions of this Agreement the Facility may be cancelled:
3.2.1 by the Borrower in accordance with clause 9.2 (Cancellation); or
|
|
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3.2.2 |
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(without prejudice to GMAC’s right to terminate at any time upon the occurrence of an
Event of Default) by GMAC serving on the Borrower not less than 90 days’ prior
written notice of such cancellation, such notice to take effect at any time on or after
the expiry of the Initial Term. |
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3.3 |
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The Facilities will be renewed for the first Annual Renewal Period and will continue to be
renewed annually thereafter if:: |
3.3.1 no notice of cancellation has been served pursuant to clause 3.2; and
3.3.2 no Default has occurred and is continuing on the relevant renewal date.
4. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
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4.1 |
|
The Facility will only become effective if GMAC has received (or waived its entitlement to
receive), in form and substance satisfactory to it, all of the documents and evidence
listed in part 1 of schedule 1. GMAC acknowledges and agrees that it has waived its
entitlement to receive the following documents, in each case subject to the following
conditions: |
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4.1.1 |
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the director’s fraud warranty of Mr Guy Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx (Xx Xxxxxxxxxx),
being one of the Security Documents, on condition that: |
(a) |
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the facility will not become effective unless and until GMAC has received a fax
copy of Xx Xxxxxxxxxx’x fraud warranty, duly executed by him; and |
(b) |
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the original such fraud warranty must be received by GMAC before 1 June 2004; |
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4.1.2 |
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the original certificate for the Tacana Note (together with a transfer certificate
thereto, undated and with the identity of the transferee left blank, but duly executed by
Banner) on condition that the same must be received by GMAC within seven days of the date
of this Agreement; and |
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4.1.3 |
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the Put Option, on condition that the same is delivered, duly executed by all the parties
thereto (other than GMAC) to GMAC within 30 days of the date of this Agreement. |
4.2 The Facility will only be available for utilisation if and for so long as:
4.2.1 there is no Default; and
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4.2.2 |
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the representations and warranties set out in clause 14 (Representations and
Warranties) are true and accurate as of the date of the proposed first Drawdown Date
and would remain true following such drawdown and thereafter the representation and
warranties set out in clause 14 (Representations and Warranties) which are deemed
to be repeated are true and accurate as of the date of the proposed subsequent Drawdown
Dates and would remain true following such drawdown. |
5. DRAWDOWN OF ADVANCES
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5.1 |
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The Borrower may draw down an Advance by delivering to GMAC at least two Business
Days’ prior written notice of its intention to borrow the relevant Advance,
identifying the bank account of the Borrower (being a bank account in the United Kingdom)
to which the amount of such Advance is to be credited. |
5.2 The Borrower may not borrow an Advance unless:
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5.2.1 |
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the Drawdown Date (other than the first Drawdown Date) is a Business Day during the
Availability Period and is not less than 2 Business Days after the preceding Drawdown
Date; |
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5.2.2 |
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the Borrower has delivered to GMAC, in relation to the Advance, an Inventory Designation
Form in compliance with paragraphs 1 and 2 of schedule 2; and |
5.2.3 the amount of the relevant Advance is not greater than the Available Inventory Facility.
6. INTEREST
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6.1 |
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Interest on the Facility will be charged on the Account Balance at the Interest Rate and
will be due and payable on each Interest Payment Date. |
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6.2 |
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All interest shall accrue from day to day and shall be computed on the basis of a 365 day
year and the number of days elapsed. |
6.3 Interest payable under this clause 6 (Interest) shall be paid in accordance with clause 11
(Payments).
7. FEES
7.1 The Collateral Management Fee shall be payable to GMAC in accordance with schedule 3.
7.2 The Arrangement Fee shall be paid by the Borrower to GMAC on the date of this Agreement.
7.3 The Non-Utilisation Fee shall be payable monthly in arrears to GMAC;
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7.4 |
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Fees payable under this clause 7 (Fees) shall be fully earned upon becoming due,
will not be refundable and will be paid in accordance with clause 11 (Payments). |
8. REPAYMENT
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8.1 |
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The Facility shall terminate on the Maturity Date and save as otherwise provided in this
Agreement, all amounts outstanding under or in respect of the Facility shall be paid or
repaid on that date. |
9. PREPAYMENT AND
CANCELLATION
9.1 Compulsory Prepayment
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9.1.1 |
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If at any time the Account Balance exceeds the Facility Limit, the Borrower will prepay to
GMAC on demand such amount as GMAC certifies is necessary to ensure that the Account
Balance is, after such prepayment, equal to or less than the Facility Limit and until such
prepayment is made no further Advances shall be made under the Facility. |
9.1.2 If at any time:
(a) |
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the Put Option is exercised by GMAC; or |
(b) |
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Hilco UK notifies GMAC that the Put Option will not be renewed in accordance
with its terms in any circumstances in which the Put Option is due to expire
(unless so renewed) before the Maturity Date, |
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the
Borrower will prepay to GMAC on demand the Account Balance and any other amounts due
hereunder, together with all outstanding interest and any other amounts due and payable
under the Finance Documents. |
9.2 Cancellation
|
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9.2.1 |
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The Borrower may cancel without penalty the whole (but not part only) of the Facility on
giving GMAC not less than 90 days’ prior written notice, such notice to take effect
on the expiry of the Initial Period or any subsequent Annual Renewal Period. |
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9.2.2 |
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In addition to its right to cancel the Facilities under Clause 9.2.1, the Borrower may
cancel the whole (but not part only) of the Facilities on giving GMAC not less than 90
days’ prior written notice at any time, subject to payment by the Borrower of the
applicable Early Termination Fee to GMAC forthwith on the expiry of any such notice. Any
Early Termination Fee payable under this Clause 9.2.2 will be paid in accordance with
Clause 11 (Payments). |
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9.2.3 |
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Forthwith on the expiry of a notice of cancellation under Clause 9.2.1 or 9.2.2, the
Borrower must prepay to GMAC the Account Balance (together with accrued interest and/or
commission, and all other amounts accrued or outstanding under the Finance Documents). |
9.2.4 No amount of the Facility
cancelled under this Agreement may be subsequently reinstated.
10. DEFAULT INTEREST
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10.1 |
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If the Borrower fails to pay any amount due under this Agreement on its due date, the
Borrower shall be liable (if GMAC so requires) for interest on such amount from the date
of such default until the date of actual payment (as well after as before judgement or
demand) at the Default Rate. The Borrower’s liability under this clause shall be in
substitution for the liability for interest on such defaulted amount at the otherwise
applicable rate of interest under this Agreement. Such interest shall be payable on demand
and, to the extent not actually paid, shall be compounded monthly in arrears and will be
paid in accordance with Clause 10 (Payments). |
|
10.2 |
|
For so long as any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (if GMAC so requires)
the rate specified for the purpose of the definition of “Interest Rate” shall be
increased so that such rate is equal to the Default Rate. The other provisions of this
Agreement relating to the calculation and payment of interest shall continue to apply.
This clause 10.2 shall not apply to any amount on which the Borrower is liable to pay
interest under clause 10.1. |
|
10.3 |
|
GMAC and the Borrower agree that the Default Rate and any increase to the Interest Rate
which takes effect pursuant to clause 10.2 represents a genuine pre-estimate of
GMAC’s administrative, funding and other costs, loss and increased risk and is not a
penalty. |
11. PAYMENTS
11.1 The Borrower will make all payments due under this Agreement:
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11.1.1 |
|
in cleared funds for value on the relevant date (which, unless otherwise provided, shall
be the last Business Day of each month); and |
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11.1.2 |
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without set-off or counterclaim and, except when required by law, without any deduction
for Taxes or for any other reason. |
11.2 If the Borrower is required to make any deduction or withholding on account of Taxes, it will:
11.2.1 promptly notify GMAC of the amount which it is required to deduct or withhold; and
|
|
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11.2.2 |
|
pay such additional amounts as are necessary to ensure that GMAC receives and retains a
net amount equal to the full amount that it would have received, had the payment not been
made subject to such deduction or withholding. |
|
11.3 |
|
Without prejudice to the provisions of clause 11.2, if GMAC is required to make any
payment on account of Tax on or in relation to any sum received or receivable by it under
the Finance Documents, the Borrower will, upon demand by GMAC, indemnify GMAC against such
payment, together with any interest, penalties and expenses payable or incurred in
connection with it. |
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11.4 |
|
For the purposes of this clause, GMAC confirms that it is the person beneficially entitled
to interest under this Agreement and is a company resident, for United Kingdom tax
purposes, in the United Kingdom. |
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11.5 |
|
GMAC shall be entitled (and is hereby authorised by the Borrower) to debit all payments
(including, without limitation, principal, interest and fees) due under this Agreement or
any of the Security Documents to the Loan Account and to apply any balances for the time
being standing to the credit of the Cash Account in or towards the immediate reduction or
discharge of the same. |
12. CASH ACCOUNT
|
12.1 |
|
The Borrower will forthwith upon receipt of the same pay all Proceeds to GMAC for credit
to the Cash Account in accordance with the Cash Account Memorandum. |
|
12.2 |
|
Subject always to its other rights under the Finance Documents, GMAC will apply the
balance for the time being standing to the credit of the Cash Account on a weekly basis in
accordance with the Cash Account Memorandum, as follows: |
12.2.1 first, in or towards the reduction of the Account Balance to zero; and
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12.2.2 |
|
secondly, if any surplus then remains, in payment to the Borrower by remitting the same to
such bank account (located in the United Kingdom) as the Borrower may direct GMAC in
writing for this purpose, provided that GMAC at its sole discretion may retain all or any
part of such surplus in the Cash Account only in order to meet any interest or fees that
are due to become payable in respect of the Facility during the period of five Business
Days following the date of the relevant application. |
13. CHANGES IN
CIRCUMSTANCES AND INCREASED COSTS
|
13.1 |
|
If at any time it becomes unlawful or impossible for GMAC to advance, maintain or fund the
whole or any part of the Facility or the Account Balance, GMAC may at any time by written
notice to the Borrower require the Borrower to repay the whole or any part of the Facility
or the Account Balance immediately, together with any outstanding interest and all other
sums due under this Agreement and the Security Documents. |
|
13.2 |
|
The Borrower shall pay to GMAC on demand such amount as GMAC may from time to time certify
as being necessary to compensate it for any increase in the cost of funding the facility
or the Account Balance or for any reduction in the rate of return under this Agreement,
incurred by GMAC as a result of compliance with any official directives, requirements or
requests of any regulatory authority (whether or not having the force of law) or any law
or regulation (including, without limitation, those relating to reserve assets, special
deposits, taxes (other than tax on its overall net income), capital adequacy and/or asset
ratios) which come into force on or after the date of this Agreement. |
14. REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES
14.1 The Borrower hereby represents and warrants that:
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14.1.1 |
|
each Obligor is a limited liability company incorporated under the laws of its
jurisdiction and has the power to own its property and assets and carry on its business as
it is now being and will be conducted; |
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14.1.2 |
|
each Obligor has the power to enter into and perform its obligations under each of the
Finance Documents to which it is a party and all necessary action (corporate or otherwise)
has been taken to authorise the relevant Obligor’s unconditional entry into and
performance of its obligations under each of the Finance Documents to which it is a party
and (in the case of the Borrower) the borrowing or utilising of the Facility upon the
terms and conditions contained herein; |
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14.1.3 |
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all authorisations, approvals, consents, licences, exemptions, filings, registrations,
notarisations and other matters required in connection with the entry into, performance
and validity of the Finance Documents, the borrowing or utilisation of the Facility and
the granting of the Security Documents have been obtained and are in full force and
effect, and any requirements thereof have been or will be at the appropriate time complied
with or fulfilled; |
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14.1.4 |
|
the Finance Documents to which each Obligor is a party constitute or will, following
appropriate registration, constitute legal valid and (subject to the Reservations)
enforceable obligations of that Obligor; |
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14.1.5 |
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a relation to each Obligor, the entry into and performance of the Finance Documents to
which it is party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not and will not
conflict with (a) any law or regulation or any official or judicial order, or (b) its
memorandum or articles of association; or (c) any agreement or document to which it is a
party or which is binding upon it or its assets; |
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14.1.6 |
|
no member of the Group is in default under any agreement to which it is a party which
would have a Material Adverse Effect and no litigation, arbitration or administrative
proceedings are current or pending or (to the knowledge of the Borrower) threatened which
would have a Material Adverse Effect; |
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14.1.7 |
|
it is not aware of any material fact or circumstances that has not been disclosed to GMAC
which, if disclosed, would be likely at the date of this Agreement to be relevant in
relation to (a) any material liability of GMAC in its capacity as lender under this
Agreement or (b) in respect of Environmental Laws; |
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14.1.8 |
|
each member of the Group is in all material respects in full compliance with all
Environmental Laws as presently applied and enforced which are currently applicable to its
operations and all Environmental Approvals required in respect thereof have been obtained
from the appropriate authorities and are in full force and effect; |
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14.1.9 |
|
the latest consolidated audited accounts delivered to GMAC under clause 15.1 (Financial
Information) have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles which have been consistently applied (or if not consistently applied, such
inconsistency has been notified to GMAC) and such audited accounts represent (in
conjunction with any notes to such accounts) a true and fair view of the financial
position of the companies in the Group for the relevant period for which such accounts
were prepared; |
14.1.10 the management accounts
delivered to GMAC under clause 15.2 (Financial Information):
(a) |
|
fairly represent the financial condition and operations of the Group as at the
date up to which they have been prepared and for the period for which such
management accounts relate; and |
(b) |
|
were or will when the same are produced be prepared on a basis substantially in
accordance with the accounting principles used in the latest audited accounts
(other than in the event of any change notified to GMAC), |
|
in
each case within the reasonable parameters which may be expected of management accounts
not the subject of audit procedures; |
|
|
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14.1.11 |
|
there are no members of the Group other than the Borrower, the Borrower and any other
person that has become a member of the Group with the consent of GMAC in accordance with
clause 17.1.4 (Negative Covenants); |
|
|
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14.1.12 |
|
none of the assets, property and undertaking of any member of the Group are subject to any
Security Interest (other than as constituted by Permitted Security Interests) and no
member of the Group is a party to, nor are its assets bound by any order, agreement or
instrument under which it is, or in certain events may be, required to create, assume or
permit to arise any Security Interest; |
14.1.13 no Default has occurred and is continuing unremedied;
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14.1.14 |
|
each Obligor has good valid and marketable freehold or leasehold title to each or valid
leases or licences of the properties over which it purports to create security under the
Security Documents; |
14.1.15 the Intellectual Property Rights owned by, or licensed to, an Obligor:
(a) |
|
are all of the Intellectual Property Rights required by it in order for it to
carry on its business as currently conducted, and the relevant Obligor, in
carrying on its business, does not infringe any Intellectual Property Rights of
any third party; |
(b) |
|
are (in the case of Intellectual Property Rights which are owned) free of any
Security Interests (save for those created by Permitted Security Interests) and
any right or interest in favour of a third party and there is no actual or, to
the best of the relevant Obligor’s knowledge and belief, threatened
infringement of the Intellectual Property Rights owned by such Obligor; and |
|
|
|
14.1.16 |
|
any Intellectual Property Rights licensed to the relevant Obligor are free from any
Security Interests created by or through the Borrower, and any rights or interests in
favour of a third party created by or through the Borrower, save for those created by this
Deed and for those in favour of the owner(s) of such Intellectual Property Rights. |
|
14.2 |
|
The representations and warranties set out in this clause 14 shall be deemed to be
repeated on each Drawdown Date and on each Interest Payment Date with reference to the
facts and circumstances then subsisting as if made at each such time. |
15. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
|
15.1 |
|
As soon as available and in any event within 150 days after the end of each of its
financial years the Borrower will deliver to GMAC the audited consolidated accounts of the
Group as at the end of such financial year which shall have been audited or certified by
an accountant acceptable to GMAC. |
|
15.2 |
|
No later than 30 days after the end of each calendar month the Borrower will deliver to
GMAC monthly management accounts of the Group for the most recent calendar month in a form
acceptable to GMAC. |
|
15.3 |
|
Notwithstanding the specific provisions set out in clauses 15.1 and 15.2, GMAC reserves
the right so long as the Facility remain in place to require the Borrower to provide GMAC
(at the Borrower’s cost) with such financial information or other information about
the Borrower and/or the Group as GMAC may from time to time reasonably require. |
15.4 The Borrower will
provide:
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|
15.4.1 |
|
twelve month forecast profit and loss, cash flow statement and balance sheet of the
Borrower in the form accepted by GMAC prior to the date of this Agreement and thereafter,
within 45 days of the year end of a Financial Year prior to the year of forecast, and when
otherwise reasonably requested by GMAC (in the format accepted by GMAC prior to the date
of this Agreement and therefore, or as otherwise advised); |
|
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|
15.4.2 |
|
weekly Inventory Designation Forms, one of which must be as at month end, each to be
supported by an open item stock listing by location at that date; |
|
|
|
15.4.3 |
|
monthly aged debtors and creditors analysis with such reconciliation as GMAC shall
reasonably require within 15 days of month end; |
15.4.4 confirmation of the inter-company trading for the month, within 30 days of month end;
|
|
|
15.4.5 |
|
any contract or purchase order with any customer or supplier, resulting in an outstanding
balance of £1,000 or more: |
(a)
to which the Borrower wishes to become party; or
(b)
which is amended, varied or substituted,
in
each case, after the date of this Agreement;
|
|
|
15.4.6 |
|
such other documents as GMAC shall reasonably request in respect of the trading of the
Borrower and its assets. |
16. FINANCIAL COVENANTS
|
16.1 |
|
The Borrower undertakes that it shall procure, for so long as this Agreement is in force
and effect, that: |
|
|
|
16.1.1 |
|
Tangible Net Worth will not be less than £5,000,000 at any time, tested as at 31
December, 31 March, 30 June and 30 September in each year; |
|
|
|
16.1.2 |
|
EBITDA shall not in respect of the period ending on each of the dates specified in Column
A and, tested as at the last day of each such period, be less than the amount specified in
Column B opposite that date: |
Column A Column B
for the six month period (pound)300,000
ending 31 March 2004
for the nine month period (pound)1,200,000
ending 30 June 2004
for the twelve month period (pound)1,900,000
ending 30 September 2004
|
and
thereafter GMAC will stipulate a required minimum EBITDA in respect of each Financial Year
being not less than 85% of forecast EBITDA as directed by the forecast for that year
delivered by the Borrower in accordance with Clause 15.4.1 and tested on such dates as
GMAC may specify. |
16.2 With regard to the financial covenants specified in clause 16.1:
16.2.1 each of the financial covenants will be tested on the dates specified therein for the relevant
periods;
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|
16.2.2 |
|
each of the covenants will be tested by reference to the most recent monthly management
accounts delivered under clause 15.2 unless in any such case the consolidated audited
accounts required to be delivered to GMAC pursuant to clause 15.1 for the relevant period
are available on the relevant testing date, in which case such audited accounts shall be
used instead; |
|
|
|
16.2.3 |
|
if the audited accounts are not available when any covenant is tested but when such
audited accounts become available they demonstrate that the figures in any monthly
management accounts by reference to which the relevant financial covenant was tested were
not substantially accurate, then GMAC shall require such adjustment to the calculations
made as it, in its sole discretion, considers appropriate to rectify such inaccuracy, and
compliance with the financial covenants in clause 16.1 will be determined by reference to
such adjusted figures; and |
|
|
|
16.2.4 |
|
the components of each definition contained in clause 16.3 will be calculated in
accordance with accounting principles, standards and practices generally accepted from
time to time in the United Kingdom and approved by the Accounting Standards Board (UK
GAAP). In the case of any component calculated by reference to management accounts or
unaudited financial statements, UK GAAP will be applied within the reasonable parameters
which may be expected of such accounts or financial statements not the subject of audit
procedures. |
|
16.3 |
|
In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, the following expressions shall
have the following meanings: |
EBITDA: in respect of the relevant testing period, the consolidated profit (or loss) of the
Group for such period:
(a) |
|
before any deduction for or on account of corporation tax or other taxes, income
or gains; |
(b) |
|
before any deduction for Interest Payable; |
(c) |
|
after deducting (to the extent included) Interest Receivable; |
(d) |
|
after deducting (to the extent otherwise included) the amount of profit (or
adding back the loss) of any member of the Group (other than the Borrower) which
is attributable to any third party (not being a member of the Group) which is a
shareholder in such member of the Group; |
(e) |
|
after deducting (to the extent otherwise included) any gain over book value
arising in favour of a member of the Group on the disposal of any assets (not
being stock disposed of in the normal course of trading) during such period and
any gain arising on any revaluation of any asset during such period; |
(f) |
|
after adding back (to the extent otherwise deducted) any loss against book value
incurred by a member of the Group on the disposal of any asset (not being stock
disposed of in the ordinary course of trading) during such period; |
(g) |
|
before deducting amortisation of any goodwill or any intangible assets; |
(h) |
|
before deducting any depreciation on fixed assets; and |
(i) |
|
before any deduction for or on account of corporation tax or other taxes, income
or gains. |
Financial Indebtedness: any indebtedness in respect of or arising under or in connection
with:
(a) |
|
monies borrowed or monies raised by way of borrowing (including overdrafts) and
debit balances at banks; or |
(b) |
|
monies raised including any debenture, bond (other than a performance bond
issued in the ordinary course of trading by one member of the Group in respect
of the obligations of another member of the Group), note or loan stock or other
similar instrument; or |
(c) |
|
any acceptance or documentary credit; or |
(d) |
|
receivables sold or discounted (otherwise than on a non-recourse basis); or |
(e) |
|
the acquisition cost of any asset to the extent payable after the time of
acquisition or possession by the person liable as principal obligor for the
payment thereof whether deferred payment is arranged primarily as a method of
raising finance or financing or refinancing the acquisition of the asset
acquired; or |
(f) |
|
the sale price of any asset to the extent paid before the time of sale or
delivery by the person liable to effect such sale or delivery where the advance
payment is arranged primarily as a method of raising finance or financing or
refinancing the manufacture, assembly, acquisition or holding of the asset to be
sold; or |
(g) |
|
finance leases, credit sale or conditional sale agreements (whether in respect
of land, buildings, plant, machinery, equipment or otherwise) entered into
primarily as a method of raising finance or financing or refinancing the
acquisition of the relevant asset (but not including liabilities under operating
leases); or |
(h) |
|
any agreement for managing or hedging currency and/or interest rate and/or
commodity risk whether by way of forward exchange, cap, collar, swap, forward
rate agreement or otherwise to the extent that the relevant contract does not
provide for such indebtedness to be netted-off against any payment due
thereunder, provided that where such agreement so provides for netting to occur
this paragraph (h) shall include the net amount of the payment obligation
outstanding thereunder after such netting-off has occurred; or |
(i) |
|
the amount payable under any put option or other arrangement whereby any member
of the Group is liable to purchase share capital or other securities issued by
it or any other member of the Group; or |
(j) |
|
the amount payable by any member of the Group in respect of the redemption of
any share capital or other securities issued by it or any other member of the
Group; or |
(k) |
|
amounts raised under any other transactions having the commercial effects of a
borrowing; or |
(l) |
|
any guarantee, indemnity or similar assurance against financial loss of any
person in respect of any indebtedness falling within paragraphs (a) to (k)
inclusive of this definition, |
|
and
so that where the amount of Financial Indebtedness falls to be calculated, no amount shall
be taken into account more than once in the same calculation; |
|
Interest:
interest and amounts in the nature of interest paid or payable in respect of any Financial
Indebtedness of any member of the Group excluding any interest paid or payable on
Financial Indebtedness between any member of the Group and any other member of the Group
but including, without limitation: |
(a) |
|
the interest element of finance leases; |
(b) |
|
discount and acceptance fees payable (or deducted) in respect of any Financial
Indebtedness; |
(c) |
|
fees payable in connection with the issue or maintenance of any bond, letter of
credit, guarantee or other assurance against financial loss which constitutes
Financial Indebtedness and is issued by a third party on behalf of a member of
the Group; |
(d) |
|
repayment and prepayment premiums payable or incurred in repaying or prepaying
any Financial Indebtedness; and |
(e) |
|
commitment, utilisation and non-utilisation fees payable or incurred in respect
of Financial Indebtedness; |
|
Interest
Payable: in respect of the relevant testing period, Interest payable (whether or not
paid) during that testing period (but excluding for this purpose financing and hedging
fees treated as interest under UK GAAP), as an obligation of any member of the Group
during that period and calculated on the basis that all interest payable by the Group
under or in connection with the Facility will be excluded; |
|
Interest
Receivable: in respect of the relevant testing period, the amount of Interest paid in
cash or credited as paid to members of the Group (other than by other members of the
Group) during such period; |
Projections: the forecasts and projections produced by the Borrower and for any Financial
Year that have been agreed by GMAC;
Tangible
Net Worth: at any time, the aggregate amount of:
(a) |
|
the issued and paid up share capital of the Borrower; |
(b) |
|
plus the aggregate amount standing to the credit of the capital and revenue
reserves of the Group (including, without limitation, any share premium account
and capital redemption reserve); |
(c) |
|
plus any balance standing to the credit, or minus any amount standing to the
debit, of the consolidated profit and loss account of the Group; |
(d) |
|
plus the amount of any accrued and unpaid dividends to the extent deducted and
arriving at retained profit and loss; |
|
as
derived from the then latest audited consolidated accounts of the Group or management
accounts or financial statements of the Group delivered under clause 15 (Financial
Information) but after deducting, or excluding, as the case may be: |
(e) |
|
minority interests in Subsidiaries of the Borrower |
(f) |
|
any amount shown in respect of goodwill or other intangible assets of the Group; |
(g) |
|
any amount equal to any distribution by any member of the Group to persons
outside the Group out of the profits earned prior to the date of such
consolidated balance sheet and which have been declared, recommended or made
since that date except in so far as provided for in such balance sheet; |
(h) |
|
any capital accounts or reserves derived from any writing-up of the book value
of any assets of any member of the Group above historic cost less accumulated
depreciation at any time after the date of Completion; |
(i) |
|
any sum set aside for future taxation; |
and
after:
(j) |
|
making such adjustments as appropriate in respect of any variation in the issued
and paid up share capital, the share premium account and the capital redemption
reserve of the Group since the date of its latest consolidated balance sheet; |
(k) |
|
making such adjustments as appropriate in respect of any variation in the
interests of the Borrower in its Subsidiaries and the acquisition or disposal of
any assets since the date of such balance sheet; |
(l) |
|
making such further adjustments as the auditors consider appropriate. |
|
17.1 |
|
So long as the Facility remains in place no member of the Group shall without GMAC’s
prior written consent: |
|
|
|
17.1.1 |
|
create or permit to subsist any Security Interest over any of its assets, property or
undertaking except for Permitted Security Interests; |
17.1.2 make any loans or otherwise make credit (other than normal trade credit) available to any person;
|
|
|
17.1.3 |
|
by one or a series of transactions, whether related or not, sell or otherwise dispose of
all or any material part of its property, assets or undertaking (other than in the normal
course of trading) including without limitation by any form of sale and leaseback or
factoring; |
|
|
|
17.1.4 |
|
acquire from or incorporate any person to be a member of the Group without the prior
consent of GMAC (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed provided that: |
(a) |
|
the relevant new member of the Group executes and delivers to GMAC such Security
Documents, in a form similar to those entered into by the Obligors, as GMAC may
require; and |
(b) |
|
GMAC shall be entitled to make such adjustments to the financial covenants and
definitions confirmed in clause 16 as it reasonably considers necessary to take
account the addition of the new member of the Group; |
|
|
|
17.1.5 |
|
carry on any trade or business with a company which is not an Obligor other than in the
normal course of trading; |
|
|
|
17.1.6 |
|
subscribe for any shares, loan notes, debentures, commercial paper or other financial
instrument issued or proposed to be issued by a company which is not an Obligor or make
any other type of investment in such a company; |
17.1.7 issue or redeem any Shares or repay any subordinated loans/ loan notes;
17.1.8 lend to or guarantee the obligations of any company (or person) which is not an Obligor; and
17.1.9 enter into any Borrowings other than Permitted Borrowings.
18. POSITIVE COVENANTS
18.1 The Borrower will:
18.1.1 promptly notify GMAC if any Event of Default arises and of anything which might result in an Event
of Default;
|
|
|
18.1.2 |
|
procure that each Group Company will pay all material Taxes due and payable by it or that
Group Company within a reasonable time of the relevant due date; and |
|
|
|
18.1.3 |
|
procure that each Group Company shall effect and maintain adequate insurances in relation
to its business and assets with reputable underwriters or insurers against such risks as
are usual for companies carrying on a business such as that carried out by such Group
Company. |
|
18.2 |
|
The Borrower shall at its own expense procure that an Inventory Valuation is delivered to
GMAC at the end of February and September in every year during the term of the Facility. |
|
18.3 |
|
The Borrower will at its own expense procure that, within seven days of the date of this
Agreement, HG Deutschland GmbH (or such other member of the HG Deutschland Group as owns
the HG Intellectual Property) grants to the Borrower a licence to use the HG Intellectual
Property, on such terms as may be approved by GMAC but in any event to contain provisions
having the following effect: |
|
|
|
18.3.1 |
|
such licence is to be an exclusive licence within the territory of the United Kingdom and
non-exclusive in relation to sales made via the HG Deutschland Group’s web-site); |
|
|
|
18.3.2 |
|
such licence is to be irrevocable by HG Deutschland GmbH for the period from the date on
which it is granted until the last day of the Initial Term; and |
18.3.3 if:
(a) |
|
an encumbrancer takes possession of or a receiver, liquidator, administrative
receiver, administrator or similar officer is appointed in respect of the
Borrower or all or any part of its undertaking, property or assets; or |
(b) |
|
anything analogous to the events set out in paragraph (a) above occurs in
relation to the Borrower or any of its undertaking, property or assets under the
laws of any jurisdiction other than England & Wales, |
|
such
licence is to continue in full force and effect for the benefit of any such encumbrancer
or appointee and will not expire, notwithstanding that the Initial Term may have expired,
until the date upon which such possession or appointment is terminated by reason of the
discharge of the order or other process by which such possession was taken or, as the case
may be, such appointment was made (and for the purposes of this clause 18.3.3, a reference
to an appointee is to be construed as a reference to any joint or joint and several
appointees and to any succeeding or substituted such appointee(s) taking office at any
time prior to the discharge of such order or other process). |
19. SPECIAL CONDITIONS
19.1 The Borrower agrees to perform, observe and comply with the special conditions set out in schedule 2.
20. EVENTS OF DEFAULT
20.1 In the event that:
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20.1.1 |
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any Obligor fails to pay on the due date any amount payable by it under any Finance
Document to which it is a party unless GMAC is satisfied that non-payment is due solely to
administrative or technical delays in the transmission of funds and payment is made within
3 Business Days of its due date; or |
20.1.2 any Obligor:
(a) |
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fails to comply with any of its obligations in clause 15 (Financial
Information) or clause 16 (Financial Covenants) or with any of the
conditions attaching to the waiver of certain conditions precedent under clause
4.1 (Conditions Precedent); or |
(b) |
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fails to perform any of its respective obligations under any Finance Document
(other than those specified in clause 20.1.1 or 20.1.2) and where such failure
is capable of remedy fails to remedy the same within 10 Business Days of a
notice from GMAC requiring such remedy; or |
(c) |
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any representation, warranty or statement made under or in connection with any
Finance Document is or proves to be untrue on the date as of which it was made
or deemed to be made or repeated; or |
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20.1.3 |
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any other present or future indebtedness of an Obligor or a member of the HG Deutschland
Group is declared or becomes capable of being declared due and payable prior to the stated
maturity thereof or is not paid on the due date therefor or the relevant Obligor or a
member of the HG Deutschland Group fails to pay when due any amount payable by it under
any present or future guarantee or indemnity or the security therefor becomes enforceable;
or |
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20.1.4 |
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a distress or other execution is levied against any part of an Obligor’s property or
assets or undertaking in respect of the present or future indebtedness of an Obligor; or |
20.1.5 a Group Company (or a member of the HG Deutschland Group):
(a) |
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is deemed to be unable to pay its debts within the meaning of section 123 of the
Insolvency Xxx 0000; or |
(b) |
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convenes a meeting of or proposes or enters into any arrangement or composition
for the benefit of its creditors generally; or |
(c) |
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ceases or threatens to cease to carry on all or a substantial part of its
business or disposes of or threatens to transfer or dispose of the whole or a
substantial part of its undertaking or assets (other than in the normal course
of trading); or |
(d) |
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an encumbrancer takes possession of or a receiver, liquidator, administrative
receiver, administrator or similar officer is appointed in respect of all or any
part of a Group company’s undertaking, property or assets; or |
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20.1.6 |
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any order is made, petition presented (unless the Borrower demonstrates to the
satisfaction of GMAC that the petition is vexatious and frivolous and is discharged within
5 Business Days) or effective resolution passed for the winding-up (except for the
purposes of amalgamation or reorganisation (not involving or arising out of insolvency)
the terms of which shall have received GMAC’s prior written approval) of a Group
Company, or any order is made or petition presented for the appointment of an
administrator in relation to a Group Company; or |
20.1.7 it becomes impossible or unlawful:
(a) |
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for an Obligor or any member of the Group to perform any of its respective
material obligations contained in the Finance Documents or any of them; or |
(b) |
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for GMAC to exercise any of its rights under this Agreement and/or the Security
Documents or any of them; or |
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20.1.8 |
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any Finance Document does not come into or ceases to be in full force and effect or is not
for any reason valid and binding upon and enforceable in all respects against an Obligor;
or |
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20.1.9 |
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GMAC is of the opinion that a material adverse change has occurred in relation to the
trading or financial position or condition of either the Borrower or the Group (taken as a
whole); |
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20.1.10 |
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anything is done or permitted or omitted to be done by an Obligor which GMAC reasonably
believes may materially impair the security created by the Security Documents and/or
prejudice or detract from an Obligor’s ability to perform the obligations contained
in any Finance Document; or |
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20.1.11 |
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there is any change of control of the Borrower and/or the Guarantor which for these
purposes shall mean a change in the beneficial ownership of 50 per cent. or more of the
issued share capital of the Borrower or the Guarantor (as the case may be), |
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then,
in any such event GMAC may by notice in writing (a) terminate the Facility and/or (b)
declare the Account Balance and any other amounts due hereunder immediately due and
payable whereupon the Borrower will immediately comply with such demand by repaying the
Account Balance together with all outstanding interest and any other amounts due under the
Finance Documents. |
21. ASSIGNMENT AND
TRANSFER
21.1 The Borrower may not transfer or assign any of its rights under the Finance Documents.
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21.2 |
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GMAC may, without notice, transfer or assign all or any part of and/or grant one or more
participations in the Facility and/or the Finance Documents to any company, person or body
and the Borrower hereby irrevocably consents to any such transfer, assignment or
participations (and the disclosure by GMAC to a transferee, assignee or participant of any
information about the Borrower or the Group and the Facility as GMAC may consider
appropriate) and undertakes to execute any documentation GMAC may require to effect any
such transfer or assignment or participation. |
22. NOTICES
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22.1 |
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Any notice by either party to another shall be sent to the address or telefax number and
marked for the attention set out on the signature page to this Agreement or such other
address or telefax number as may from time to time be notified by that party to the other
in accordance with this clause. Any notice shall be deemed duly given, if delivered
personally or sent by facsimile, when so delivered or sent and, if sent by first class,
registered or recorded delivery post, two days after the notice is posted. Any notice
which by virtue of the provisions of this clause 22 would be deemed served on a day which
is not a Business Day or after 5.30pm on a Business Day shall be deemed to have been
served at 9.00am on the next succeeding Business Day. |
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22.2 |
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GMAC will send a copy of any notice addressed to an Obligor to Xxxxxxxxx (marked “For
the attention of General Counsel”; tel: x000 000 0000; fax x000 000 0000) at the same
time as such notice is despatched to the relevant Obligor, provided always that failure by
GMAC to comply with this clause 22.2 will not render any such notice invalid as against
the Obligor to which it is addressed. |
23. WAIVERS
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No
failure or delay by GMAC in exercising any right, power or privilege under any Finance
Document shall operate as a waiver thereof nor will any single or partial exercise of any
right, power or privilege preclude any further exercise thereof or prejudice any other or
further exercise by GMAC of any of its rights or remedies under any Finance Document. Such
rights and remedies are cumulative and not exclusive of any right or remedy provided by
law. |
24. EXPENSES
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24.1 |
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The Borrower shall pay to GMAC on demand on a full indemnity basis whether or not there is
a drawing under the Facility: |
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24.1.1 |
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all costs properly incurred in relation to arrangements incurred by GMAC in connection
with the funding of the Account Balance and/or the Facility; and |
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24.1.2 |
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all costs and expenses properly incurred in connection with the negotiation, execution,
amendment or enforcement of any of the Finance Documents (including legal fees, charges,
disbursements, survey and valuation fees, and value added tax) and GMAC’s costs and
fees in administering the Facility and/or the Loan Account. |
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24.2 |
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On non-payment to GMAC of any of the above amounts GMAC shall be entitled to debit such
amounts to the Loan Account. |
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24.3 |
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The Borrower shall also indemnify GMAC against any loss or expense incurred by it as a
consequence of any non-payment by an Obligor of any of the above amounts. |
25. ILLEGALITY
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25.1 |
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If any of the provisions of this Agreement become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any
respect under any law, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining
provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired. |
26. SET-OFF
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In
addition to any right of set-off or other similar right to which GMAC may be entitled in
law, GMAC (through any of its branches) may at any time and without notice to the Borrower
combine and consolidate all or any of the accounts between the Borrower and GMAC and/or
set-off any monies and in any currency whatsoever, which GMAC may at any time hold for the
account of the Borrower, against any liabilities whatsoever which may be due and payable
to GMAC from the Borrower. |
27. GOVERNING LAW
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This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English law and the
Borrower hereby submits to the jurisdiction of the English Courts. |
28. DEMANDS AND
NOTIFICATION BINDING
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Any
demand notification or certificate given by GMAC in writing and signed by a duly
authorised officer of GMAC specifying any rate of interest or any amounts due and payable
under or in connection with any provision of the Finance Documents shall be conclusive and
binding upon the Borrower (in the absence of manifest error). |
29. EURO
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If
the United Kingdom adopts the euro as its lawful currency, GMAC shall be entitled to make
such changes to this Agreement as it reasonably considers are necessary to reflect the
changeover to the euro (including, without limitation, the rounding (up or down) of fixed
monetary amounts to convenient fixed amounts in the euro and amending any provisions to
reflect the market conventions for a euro facility of the kind contemplated in this
Agreement). |
30. COUNTERPARTS
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This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in
separate counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered to GMAC shall be an
original, but all counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. Upon
receipt by GMAC of counterparts executed by all parties hereto, GMAC shall forthwith date
each such counterpart and give notice in writing of such delivery and dating to all other
parties. |
31. JOINT AND SEVERAL
LIABILITY
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If
there are two or more persons comprised in the expressions Borrower, Guarantor,
Obligor or Obligors such persons shall be bound as joint and several obligors
and such expressions shall be deemed to include all or any or each of such persons. None
of such persons shall be released from liability hereunder by reason of this Agreement
never being or ceasing to be binding as a continuing security on any other or others of
them. |
IN WITNESS whereof the parties
have executed this Agreement as a deed on the date set out above.
SCHEDULE 1
Pre-Conditions
Documents
Part 1
1. |
Certified copy board resolutions of each Obligor approving and authorising the
execution of the Finance Documents to which it is a party (and containing
specimen signatures of the person(s) authorised to execute the Finance
Documents). |
2. |
A certified true copy of the Certificate of Incorporation of each Obligor. |
3. |
A certified true and up-to-date copy of the Memorandum and Articles of
Association of each Obligor. |
4. |
Such other documents, licences, waivers (including, but not limited to any
landlord’s distraint waivers), approvals, resolutions and evidence as GMAC
and its advisers shall deem necessary or advisable and notified to the Borrower
prior to the first Drawdown Date. |
5. |
An Inventory Valuation addressed to GMAC by Hilco Appraisal Limited. |
6. |
Originals of the Security Documents, duly executed by each party thereto other
than GMAC. |
7. |
A list of Approved Locations, together with letters of distraint waiver from the
landlord(s) in respect of any such Approved Locations. |
8. |
Evidence (including, without limitation, Forms DS1) of the discharge of all
security interests over the assets and the properties of the Obligors including,
in particular, and property and, in respect of any floating charges,
certificates of non-crystallisation from the relevant chargee (including without
limitation the termination of the Borrower’s existing financing
arrangements with HSBC Trinkaus & Xxxxxxxxx and confirmation that all
amounts due, charged or incurred by the Borrower to HSBC Trinkaus &
Xxxxxxxxx have been fully and finally repaid). |
9. |
All original title deeds and land certificates in respect of the relevant
Obligor’s interest in any property and a letter of undertaking providing
that the Borrower’s solicitors shall carry out all necessary stamping and
registration of the property transfers and relevant Security Documents. |
10. |
A search of the register of mortgages and charges for each Obligor at the
Companies Registry or Register showing, inter alia, no appointment of a
receiver, liquidator or administrator or the presentation of any petition in
respect of any of the same. |
11. |
Evidence that the insurances required to be taken out pursuant to the Security
Documents have been (or will prior to the first Drawdown Date be) taken out and
are in full force and effect. |
12. |
Management Accounts of both the Borrower up to the date of this Agreement. |
13. |
Annual audited accounts for both the Borrower and the Guarantor for the
financial year ending 30 September 2003 or confirmation from the auditors (of
both the Borrower and the Guarantor) that they envisage no material change to
the draft accounts already provided. |
14. |
The terms and conditions of any financial accommodation extend to or investments
made the Borrower or the Guarantor (including but not limited to any hire
purchase or leasing consents, bonds, preference shares or loans). |
15. |
Copies of all contracts or purchase orders with customers and suppliers of the
Borrower, together with a report addressed to GMAC by GMAC’s solicitors
advising on the terms of all such contracts and purchase orders, in each case in
form and content satisfactory to GMAC. |
16. |
A detailed analysis of all sources and uses of cash of the Borrower as at the
first Drawdown Date. |
17. |
A pro-forma balance sheet for the Borrower reflecting any closing adjustments. |
18. |
Compliance with GMAC’s anti-money laundering policy requests in respect of
all directors and beneficial owners of the Borrower. |
19. |
An interface agreement duly executed by the Borrower in GMAC’s standard
form. |
20. |
The original certificate for the Tacana Note, together with a transfer
certificate thereto, undated and with the identity of the transferee left blank,
but duly executed by Banner. |
21. |
Such evidence as is satisfactory to GMAC that: |
21.1 each shop and/or warehouse of the Borrower; and
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21.2 |
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each credit and/or debit card provider with which the Borrower has a merchant services
agreement, has been irrevocably instructed and directed to make pay all Proceeds into the
Cash Account. |
22. |
Such other documents as GMAC may reasonably request in respect of the trading of
the Borrower and its assets. |
Part 2
1. |
A composite guarantee and debenture in form and substance satisfactory to GMAC
from the Borrower and the Guarantor. |
2. |
Fraud warranties in form and substance satisfactory to GMAC from each of the
directors of the Borrower. |
3. |
Such other security or security documents, as GMAC’s advisers advise to be
necessary or advisable in connection with the foregoing and notified to the
Borrower prior to first Drawdown Date. |
SCHEDULE 2
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
RELATING TO THE FACILITY
1. |
The Borrower shall deliver to GMAC an Inventory Designation Form not less than
once each week. Each such Inventory Designation Form must be supported by an
average cost item report. |
2. |
Any Inventory Valuation Form delivered by the Borrower in accordance with
paragraph 1 above shall take into account the results of the most recent
Inventory Valuation. |
3. |
The Borrower will at all times keep the Finished Goods Inventory in a good state
of repair and insured with some insurance office approved by GMAC (such approval
not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) against loss or damage by accident,
fire and theft and such other risks as GMAC may from time to time reasonably
require to the full insurance value of such Finished Goods Inventory and with
GMAC noted upon such policy as loss payee. The Borrower will duly pay all
premiums and other sums for this purpose and produce the receipts therefor to
GMAC upon reasonable request. In default of such payment GMAC shall be at
liberty to pay the said premiums and sums and the same shall thereupon be
recoverable by GMAC from the Borrower. Any sums received by the Borrower under
such policy shall be held in trust for and payable on demand to GMAC and may be
applied by GMAC in reduction of any amount owing by the Borrower to GMAC on any
account whatsoever. |
4. |
The Borrower will at all times ensure that all of its Preferential Creditors are
duly and punctually paid on the due dates for payment to them and, in
particular, shall within five Business Days of the last Business Day of each
month produce a letter in a form acceptable to GMAC confirming that any payments
in respect of VAT and PAYE are up to date. |
5. |
The Borrower will upon request advise GMAC of the whereabouts of all Finished
Goods Inventory and shall keep proper books of account and make true and proper
entries of all dealings and transactions relating to Finished Goods Inventory
and shall permit GMAC and any person authorised by GMAC at all reasonable times
to inspect the same. GMAC and any person so authorised shall have the right to
enter upon any premises in which the Inventory or any part of it is for the time
being kept or stored and may inspect the books and accounts and documents and
shall at the expense of the Borrower supply to GMAC or to such persons all
information accounts and copies of documents as GMAC or such person shall
reasonably require. |
6. |
The Borrower will adhere to all the relevant provisions of the Companies Xxx
0000 (as amended from time to time) and especially in respect of filings and
authorisations. |
7. |
The Borrower will adhere to (and observe) all relevant Environmental Laws. |
8. |
All assets of the Company charged as security are to be insured for their full
replacement value and GMAC CF named as first loss payee except for those fixed
assets funded by another financier. |
9. |
The Borrower will observe and comply with all material obligations arising in
respect of all other security and liens other than permitted liens arising in
the ordinary course of trading and acceptable to GMAC CF in its sole discretion. |
10. |
The Borrower shall not make any payment of any dividend, distribution or
redemption of shares without GMAC’s prior written consent. |
SCHEDULE 3
COLLATERAL MANAGEMENT
FEE
1. |
The Borrower shall pay Collateral Management Fee of £1,000 per annum in
respect of each shop at which Finished Goods Inventory is located and
£10,000 per annum in respect of each warehouse at which Finished Goods
Inventory is located (subject to a minimum amount payable of £46,000 per
annum) monthly in arrears on each Interest Payment Date. |
2. |
The Borrower shall pay to Hilco UK a fee of £1,000 (plus VAT) per month in
arrears in consideration for the provision of the Put Option. Any amount to be
paid by the Borrower will be deducted from the Collateral Management Fee,
provided that if GMAC makes such payment on behalf of the Borrower, such
deduction will not apply. The Borrower hereby authorises GMAC to make all such
payments to Hilco UK on its behalf. |
3. |
In the event that GMAC determines that security monitoring and/or analysis of
the Finished Goods Inventory is required additional to that originally
contemplated by GMAC (such determination being made by GMAC at its sole
discretion acting reasonably) the Borrower shall additionally pay to GMAC on the
first Business Day of each calendar month following any month in which GMAC
performs such additional security monitoring, namely any audit visit to any
premises of the Borrower where the Borrower’s financial records are
maintained or where any Finished Goods Inventory or other collateral is kept or
other business analysis the need for which is determined by GMAC, an additional
collateral monitoring fee in an amount equal to GMAC’s standard rate
(currently £750 per day) for each GMAC person performing such monitoring
plus all costs and disbursements incurred by GMAC in the performance of such
additional examination or analysis and the fees and expenses of outside auditors
as billed. |
4. |
GMAC hereby gives notice to the Borrower that without prejudice to the
generality of paragraph 3, GMAC will require an audit visit each quarter for the
first 12 months during which the Facility is operated. |