Exhibit 10.3
SECURED CONTINUING CORPORATE GUARANTY
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, and in consideration of any loan or other
financial accommodation heretofore or hereafter at any time made or granted to
U.S. PLASTIC LUMBER LTD. a Delaware corporation ("Borrower"), by GUARANTY
BUSINESS CREDIT CORPORATION ("Lender"), the undersigned, U.S. PLASTIC LUMBER
FINANCE CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation ("Guarantor"), hereby agrees as
follows:
1. GUARANTY OF OBLIGATIONS. Guarantor unconditionally,
absolutely and irrevocably guarantees the full and prompt payment and
performance when due, whether by acceleration or otherwise, and at all times
thereafter, of all obligations of Borrower to Lender, howsoever created, arising
or evidenced, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, or now or
hereafter existing or due or to become due, including, without limitation, under
or in connection with that certain Loan and Security Agreement of even date,
between Borrower and Lender (as amended, supplemented or modified from time to
time, the "Loan Agreement") and each of the documents, instruments and
agreements executed and delivered in connection therewith, as each may be
modified, amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time (all such
obligations are herein referred to collectively as the "Liabilities", and all
documents evidencing or securing any of the Liabilities are herein referred to,
collectively, as the "Loan Documents"). This Secured Continuing Corporate
Guaranty (this "Continuing Guaranty") is a guaranty of payment and performance
when due and not of collection.
In the event of an Event of Default (as defined in the Loan
Agreement), Guarantor agrees on demand by Xxxxxx to pay and perform all of the
Liabilities as are then or thereafter become due and owing or are to be
performed under the terms of the Loan Documents. Guarantor further agrees to pay
all reasonable expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses) paid
or incurred by Lender in endeavoring to collect the Liabilities, or any part
thereof, and in enforcing this Continuing Guaranty.
2. SECURITY FOR CONTINUING GUARANTY. This Continuing
Guaranty is secured by the security interest granted by Guarantor pursuant to
that certain Security Agreement between Guarantor and Lender dated as of even
date herewith (the "Security Document").
3. CONTINUING NATURE OF GUARANTY AND LIABILITIES. This
Continuing Guaranty shall be continuing and shall not be discharged, impaired or
affected by:
(a) the insolvency of Borrower or the payment in
full of all of the Liabilities at any time or from time to time;
(b) the power or authority or lack thereof of
Borrower to incur the Liabilities;
(c) the validity or invalidity of any of the
Loan Documents or the documents securing the same;
(d) the existence or non-existence of Borrower
as a legal entity;
(e) any transfer by Borrower of all or any part
of any collateral in which Lender has been granted a lien or security interest
pursuant to the Loan Documents;
(f) any statute of limitations affecting the
liability of Guarantor under this Continuing Guaranty or the Loan Documents or
the ability of Lender to enforce this Continuing Guaranty or any provision of
the Loan Documents or the Security Document; or
(g) any right of offset, counterclaim or defense
of Guarantor, including, without limitation, those which have been waived by
Guarantor pursuant to Paragraph 7 hereof.
4. INSOLVENCY OF BORROWER OR GUARANTOR. Without limiting the
generality of any other provision hereof, Guarantor agrees that, to the extent
permitted by applicable law, in the event of the dissolution or insolvency of
Borrower or Guarantor or the inability of Borrower or Guarantor to pay their
respective debts as they mature, or an assignment by Borrower or Guarantor for
the benefit of creditors, or the institution of any proceeding by or against
Borrower or Guarantor alleging that Borrower or Guarantor is insolvent or unable
to pay their respective debts as they mature, Guarantor will pay to Lender
forthwith the full amount which would be payable hereunder by Guarantor if all
of the Liabilities were then due and payable, whether or not such event occurs
at a time when any of the Liabilities are otherwise due and payable.
5. PAYMENT OF THE LIABILITIES. Any amounts received by Lender
from whatever source on account of the Liabilities may be applied by Lender
toward the payment of such of the Liabilities, and in such order of application,
as Lender may from time to time elect, and notwithstanding any payments made by
or for the account of Guarantor pursuant to this Continuing Guaranty.
Guarantor agrees that, if at any time all or any part of any
payment theretofore applied by Lender to any of the Liabilities is or must be
rescinded or returned by Lender for any reason whatsoever (including, without
limitation, the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of Borrower), such
Liabilities shall, for the purposes of this Continuing Guaranty and to the
extent that such payment is or must be rescinded or returned, be deemed to have
continued in existence notwithstanding such application by Xxxxxx, and this
Continuing Guaranty shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case
may be, as to such Liabilities, all as though such application by Xxxxxx had not
been made.
6. PERMITTED ACTIONS OF LENDER. Lender may from time to
time, in its sole discretion and without notice to Guarantor, take any or all of
the following actions:
(a) retain or obtain a security interest in any
assets of Borrower or any third party to secure any of the Liabilities or any
obligations of Guarantor hereunder;
(b) retain or obtain the primary or secondary
obligation of any obligor or obligors, in addition to Guarantor, with respect to
any of the Liabilities;
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(c) extend or renew for one or more periods
(whether or not longer than the original period), alter or exchange any of the
Liabilities;
(d) waive, ignore or forbear from taking action
or otherwise exercising any of its default rights or remedies with respect to
any default by Borrower under the Loan Documents;
(e) release, waive or compromise any obligation
of Guarantor hereunder or any obligation of any nature of any other obligor
primarily or secondarily obligated with respect to any of the Liabilities;
(f) release its security interest in, or
surrender, release or permit any substitution or exchange for, all or any part
of any collateral now or hereafter securing any of the Liabilities or any
obligation hereunder, or extend or renew for one or more periods (whether or not
longer than the original period) or release, waive, compromise, alter or
exchange any obligations of any nature of any obligor with respect to any such
property; and
(g) demand payment or performance of any of the
Liabilities from Guarantor at any time or from time to time, whether or not
Lender shall have exercised any of its rights or remedies with respect to any
property securing any of the Liabilities or any obligation hereunder or
proceeded against any other obligor primarily or secondarily liable for payment
or performance of any of the Liabilities.
7. SPECIFIC WAIVERS. Without limiting the generality of
any other provision of this Continuing Guaranty, Guarantor hereby expressly
waives:
(a) notice of the acceptance by Xxxxxx of this
Continuing Guaranty;
(b) notice of the existence, creation, payment,
nonpayment, performance or nonperformance of all or any of the Liabilities;
(c) presentment, demand, notice of dishonor,
protest, notice of protest and all other notices whatsoever with respect to the
payment or performance of the Liabilities or the amount thereof or any payment
or performance by Guarantor hereunder;
(d) all diligence in collection or protection of
or realization upon the Liabilities or any thereof, any obligation hereunder or
any security for or guaranty of any of the foregoing;
(e) any right to direct or affect the manner or
timing of Lender's enforcement of its rights or remedies;
(f) any and all defenses which would otherwise
arise upon the occurrence of any event or contingency described in Paragraph 3
hereof or upon the taking of any action by Xxxxxx permitted hereunder;
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(g) any defense, right of set-off, claim or
counterclaim whatsoever and any and all other rights, benefits, protections and
other defenses available to Guarantor now or at any time hereafter, including,
without limitation, under California Civil Code Sections 2787 to 2855,
inclusive, and California Code of Civil Procedure Sections 580a, 580b, 580d or
726, and all successor sections; and
(h) all other principles or provisions of law,
if any, that conflict with the terms of this Continuing Guaranty, including,
without limitation, the effect of any circumstances that may or might constitute
a legal or equitable discharge of a guarantor or surety.
8. IRREVOCABILITY. Guarantor hereby further waives all rights
to revoke this Continuing Guaranty at any time, and all rights to revoke any
agreement executed by Guarantor at any time to secure the payment and
performance of Guarantor's obligations under this Continuing Guaranty,
including, without limitation, the Security Document.
9. STATUTORY WAIVER OF RIGHTS AND DEFENSES REGARDING ELECTION
OF REMEDIES. Guarantor waives all rights and defenses arising out of an election
of remedies by Xxxxxx, even though that election of remedies, such as a
nonjudicial foreclosure with respect to security for a guaranteed obligation,
has destroyed Guarantor's rights of subrogation and reimbursement against
Borrower by the operation of any applicable law, including without limitation
Section 580d of the California Code of Civil Procedure, or otherwise.
10. SUBORDINATION. Guarantor hereby subordinates any and all
indebtedness of Borrower to Guarantor to the full and prompt payment and
performance of all of the Liabilities and Guarantor agrees that Lender shall be
entitled to receive payment of all Liabilities prior to Guarantor's receipt of
payment of any amount of any indebtedness of Borrower to Guarantor. Any payments
on such indebtedness to Guarantor, if Lender so requests, shall be collected,
enforced and received by Guarantor, in trust, as trustee for Lender and shall be
paid over to Lender on account of the Liabilities, but without reducing or
affecting in any manner the liability of Guarantor under the other provisions of
this Guaranty. Lender is authorized and empowered, but not obligated, in its
discretion, (a) in the name of Guarantor, to collect and enforce, and to submit
claims in respect of, any indebtedness of Borrower to Guarantor and to apply any
amounts received thereon to the Liabilities, and (b) to require Guarantor (i) to
collect and enforce, and to submit claims in respect of, any indebtedness of
Borrower to Guarantor, and (ii) to pay any amounts received on such indebtedness
to Lender for application to the Liabilities. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
Guarantor shall be permitted to receive and retain all payments of any amount of
indebtedness of Borrower to Guarantor in accordance with the terms and subject
to the conditions of the Loan Agreement until such time as Lender demands
payment under this Continuing Guaranty.
11. WAIVER OF SUBROGATION. Notwithstanding any other provision
of this Continuing Guaranty to the contrary, until the Liabilities are paid and
satisfied in full, the Loan Agreement has terminated and Lender shall have no
further obligation to provide financial accommodations to Borrower, Guarantor
hereby waives as to Lender (and no other third party) any claim or other rights
which Guarantor may now have or hereafter acquire against Borrower
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or any other guarantor of all or any of the Liabilities that arise from the
existence or performance of Guarantor's obligations under this Continuing
Guaranty or any other Loan Documents, including, without limitation, any right
of subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution, or indemnification,
any right to participate in any claim or remedy of the Lender against Borrower
or any collateral which the Lender now has or hereafter acquires, whether or not
such claim, remedy, or right arises in equity or under contract, statute or
common law, by any payment made hereunder or otherwise, including without
limitation the right to take or receive from Borrower, directly or indirectly,
in cash or other property or by setoff or in any other manner, payment or
security on account of such claim or other rights.
12. FRAUDULENT CONVEYANCES. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary herein, it is intended that this Guaranty and any liens and security
interests granted by Guarantor to secure this Guaranty shall not constitute a
"Fraudulent Conveyance" (as defined below). Consequently, Xxxxxxxxx agrees that
if the Guaranty or any liens or security interests securing this Guaranty would,
but for the application of this sentence, constitute a Fraudulent Conveyance,
this Guaranty and each such lien and security interest shall be valid and
enforceable only to the maximum extent that would not cause this Guaranty or
such lien or security interest to constitute a Fraudulent Conveyance, and this
Guaranty shall automatically be deemed to have been amended accordingly at such
time. For purposes hereof, "Fraudulent Conveyance" means a fraudulent conveyance
or fraudulent transfer under 11 U.S.C. Section.548 or a fraudulent conveyance or
fraudulent transfer under the provisions of any applicable fraudulent conveyance
or fraudulent transfer or similar law of any state, nation or other governmental
authority as in effect from time to time.
13. ASSIGNMENT OF XXXXXX'S RIGHTS. Lender may, from time to
time, without notice to Guarantor, assign or transfer any or all of the
Liabilities or any interest therein and, notwithstanding any such assignment or
transfer of the Liabilities or any subsequent assignment or transfer thereof,
the Liabilities shall be and remain the Liabilities for the purpose of this
Continuing Guaranty. Each and every immediate and successive assignee or
transferee of any of the Liabilities or of any interest therein shall, to the
extent of such party's interest in the Liabilities, be entitled to the benefits
of this Continuing Guaranty to the same extent as if such assignee or transferee
were Lender; provided, however, that unless Lender shall otherwise consent in
writing, Lender shall have an unimpaired right, prior and superior to that of
any such assignee or transferee, to enforce this Continuing Guaranty for its own
benefit as to those of the Liabilities which Xxxxxx has not assigned or
transferred.
14. INDULGENCES NOT WAIVERS. No delay in the exercise of any
right or remedy shall operate as a waiver thereof, and no single or partial
exercise by Lender of any right or remedy shall preclude other or further
exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or remedy; nor shall any
modification or waiver of any of the provisions of this Continuing Guaranty be
binding upon Lender, except as expressly set forth in a writing duly signed and
delivered by Xxxxxx. No action of Xxxxxx permitted hereunder shall in any way
affect or impair the rights of Lender or the obligations of Guarantor under this
Continuing Guaranty.
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15. FINANCIAL CONDITION OF BORROWER. Guarantor represents and
warrants that it is fully aware of the financial condition of Xxxxxxxx, and
Guarantor delivers this Continuing Guaranty based solely upon its own
independent investigation of Xxxxxxxx's financial condition and in no part upon
any representation or statement of Lender with respect thereto. Guarantor
further represents and warrants that it is in a position to and hereby does
assume full responsibility for obtaining such additional information concerning
Xxxxxxxx's financial condition as Guarantor may deem material to its obligations
hereunder, and Guarantor is not relying upon, nor expecting Lender to furnish it
any information in Xxxxxx's possession concerning Borrower's financial condition
or concerning any circumstances bearing on the existence or creation, or the
risk of nonpayment or nonperformance of the Liabilities.
Guarantor hereby waives any duty on the part of Lender to
disclose to Guarantor any facts it may now or hereafter know about Borrower,
regardless of whether Lender has reason to believe that any such facts
materially increase the risk beyond that which Guarantor intends to assume or
has reason to believe that such facts are unknown to Guarantor.
Guarantor hereby knowingly accepts the full range of risk
encompassed within a contract of "Continuing Guaranty" which includes, without
limitation, the possibility that Borrower will contract for additional
indebtedness for which Guarantor may be liable hereunder after Xxxxxxxx's
financial condition or ability to pay its lawful debts when they fall due has
deteriorated.
16. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. Guarantor represents
and warrants to Lender that each of the following statements is accurate and
complete as of the date of this Continuing Guaranty:
(a) this Continuing Guaranty has been duly
executed and delivered by Guarantor and constitutes a legal, valid and binding
obligation of Guarantor, enforceable against Guarantor in accordance with its
terms, except as limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or other laws or equitable
principles of general application relating to or affecting the enforcement of
creditors' rights generally;
(b) the execution, delivery and performance of
this Continuing Guaranty do not (i) violate any provisions of law or any order
of any court or other agency of government (each, a "Requirement of Law"), (ii)
contravene any provision of any material contract or agreement to which
Guarantor is a party or by which Guarantor or Guarantor's assets are bound
(each, a "Contractual Obligation"), or (iii) result in the creation or
imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance of any nature upon any property,
asset or revenue of Guarantor except pursuant to or as set forth in the Security
Document;
(c) all consents, approvals, orders and
authorizations of, and registrations, declarations and filings with, any
governmental agency or authority or other person or entity (including, without
limitation, the shareholders or partners of any entity), if any, which are
required to be obtained in connection with the execution and delivery of this
Continuing Guaranty or the performance of Guarantor's obligations hereunder have
been obtained, and each is in full force and effect;
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(d) Guarantor has paid all taxes and other
charges imposed by any governmental agency or authority due and payable by
Guarantor other than those which are being challenged in good faith by
appropriate proceedings;
(e) To Guarantor's best knowledge, Guarantor is
not in violation of any Requirement of Law or Contractual Obligation other than
any violation the consequences of which could not have a material adverse effect
on Guarantor's ability to perform its obligations hereunder (a "Material Adverse
Effect"); and
(f) no action, proceeding, investigation or
litigation is pending or, to the knowledge of Guarantor, overtly threatened
against Guarantor by any person or entity which, if adversely determined, could
have a Material Adverse Effect.
17. GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION. Guarantor will
provide Lender in writing such financial and other information with respect to
Guarantor's assets and liabilities as Lender shall reasonably request from time
to time, in form satisfactory to Lender.
18. BINDING UPON SUCCESSORS. This Continuing Guaranty
shall be binding upon Guarantor and Guarantor's successors and assigns and shall
inure to the benefit of Lender and its successors and assigns.
All references herein to a Borrower shall be deemed to include
its successors and assigns, and all references herein to Guarantor shall be
deemed to include Guarantor and Guarantor's successors and assigns.
In addition and notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained in this Continuing Guaranty or in any other document, instrument or
agreement between or among any of Lender, Borrower, Guarantor or any third
party, the obligations of Guarantor with respect to the Liabilities shall be
joint and several with any other person or entity that now or hereafter executes
a guaranty of any of the Liabilities separate from this Continuing Guaranty.
19. NOTICES. All notices required or permitted to be given
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be either personally delivered,
transmitted by facsimile to the facsimile numbers provided herein or sent by
United States certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, addressed
to Guarantor or Lender at their respective addresses stated below or at such
other address as either party hereafter notifies the other party as herein
provided. Notices shall be deemed received on the earlier of (i) the date noted
on the return receipt as delivered if mail delivery of the notice is successful
or the date inscribed on a confirmation of successful transmission, if sent by
facsimile; (ii) the last date of attempted delivery, as noted by the United
States Postal Service on the envelope containing the notice, if mail delivery is
unsuccessful; or (iii) the date of the actual delivery if personally delivered.
20. GOVERNING LAW; ADDITIONAL WAIVERS. This Continuing
Guaranty has been delivered and shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the internal laws (as opposed to the conflicts of law provisions) of the
State of California.
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GUARANTOR HEREBY
(i) WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY
ACTION TO ENFORCE OR DEFEND ANY MATTER ARISING FROM OR RELATED
TO THIS CONTINUING GUARANTY, AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT XXXXXX ALSO
WAIVES SUCH RIGHT;
(ii) IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY
STATE OR FEDERAL COURT LOCATED IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY,
CALIFORNIA, OVER ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING TO ENFORCE OR DEFEND
ANY MATTER ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO THIS CONTINUING
GUARANTY;
(iii) IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT
GUARANTOR MAY EFFECTIVELY DO SO, THE DEFENSE OF AN
INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF ANY SUCH ACTION OR
PROCEEDING;
(iv) agrees that a final judgment in any such action
or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in any
other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other
manner provided by law; and
(v) agrees not to institute any legal action or
proceeding against Lender or any of Xxxxxx's directors,
officers, employees, agents or property concerning any matter
arising out of or relating to this Continuing Guaranty in any
court other than one located in Los Angeles County,
California.
(vi) Nothing herein shall affect or impair Xxxxxx's
right to serve legal process in any manner permitted by law or
Xxxxxx's right to bring any action or proceeding against
Guarantor or its property in the courts of any other
jurisdiction. Wherever possible each provision of this
Continuing Guaranty shall be interpreted as to be effective
and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this
Continuing Guaranty shall be prohibited by or invalid under
such law, such provision shall be ineffective only to the
extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating
the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of
this Continuing Guaranty.
21. ADVICE OF COUNSEL. GUARANTOR ACKNOWLEDGES THAT
GUARANTOR HAS EITHER OBTAINED THE ADVICE OF COUNSEL OR HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
TO OBTAIN SUCH ADVICE IN CONNECTION WITH THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF THIS
CONTINUING GUARANTY.
22. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Continuing Guaranty contains
the complete understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the subject
matter herein. Guarantor acknowledges that Guarantor is not relying upon any
statements or representations of Lender not contained in this Continuing
Guaranty and that such statements or representations, if any, are of
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no force or effect and are fully superseded by this Continuing Guaranty. This
Continuing Guaranty may only be modified by a writing executed by Guarantor and
Xxxxxx
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Xxxxxxxxx has executed this Continuing
Guaranty this 19th day of December, 2002.
"Guarantor"
U.S. PLASTIC LUMBER FINANCE
CORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
-------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Title: Vice President and Secretary
Address for Notices:
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Address for Notices:
Guaranty Business Credit Corporation
000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Suite 1650
Los Angeles, California 90071
Attn: Portfolio Manager
With a copy to:
Guaranty Business Credit Corporation
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Attn: Corporate Counsel
