LOAN AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN RIDGESTONE BANK AND JOHNSON OUTDOORS WATERCRAFT INC.
Exhibit 99.6
BY
AND BETWEEN
RIDGESTONE
BANK
AND
XXXXXXX
OUTDOORS WATERCRAFT INC.
DATED
AS OF SEPTEMBER 29, 2009
[LOAN
NUMBER 15614]
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page |
ARTICLE
I
THE
LOAN
1.1
|
Term
Loan
|
1
|
1.2
|
Interest
|
1
|
1.3
|
Fees
|
1
|
1.4
|
Payments
|
1
|
1.5
|
Use
of Proceeds
|
2
|
1.6
|
Prepayment
|
2
|
1.7
|
Recordkeeping
|
2
|
1.8
|
Increased
Costs
|
2
|
ARTICLE
II
CONDITIONS
2.1
|
General
Conditions
|
3
|
2.2
|
Deliveries
at Closing
|
3
|
ARTICLE
III
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
3.1
|
Organization
and Qualification
|
6
|
3.2
|
Financial
Statements
|
6
|
3.3
|
Authorization;
Enforceability
|
6
|
3.4
|
Organization
and Ownership of Subsidiaries
|
6
|
3.5
|
Compliance
with Laws, Other Instruments, Etc
|
7
|
3.6
|
Governmental
Authorizations, Etc
|
7
|
3.7
|
Litigation;
Observance of Agreements, Statutes and Orders
|
7
|
3.8
|
Taxes
|
8
|
3.9
|
Title
to Property; Leases
|
8
|
3.10
|
Licenses,
Permits, Etc
|
8
|
3.11
|
Compliance
with ERISA
|
8
|
3.12
|
Fiscal
Year
|
9
|
3.13
|
Indebtedness;
No Default
|
9
|
3.14
|
Compliance
With Laws
|
9
|
3.15
|
Dump
Sites
|
9
|
3.16
|
Tanks
|
9
|
3.17
|
Other
Environmental Conditions
|
9
|
3.18
|
Environmental
Judgments, Decrees and Orders
|
9
|
3.19
|
Environmental
Permits and Licenses
|
9
|
3.20
|
Accuracy
of Information
|
10
|
3.21
|
Offering
of Term Note
|
10
|
3.22
|
Use
of Proceeds; Margin Stock
|
10
|
3.23
|
Subsidiaries
|
10
|
3.24
|
Solvency
|
10
|
i
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page |
ARTICLE
IV
NEGATIVE
COVENANTS
4.1
|
Liens
|
10
|
4.2
|
Indebtedness
|
10
|
4.3
|
Consolidation
or Merger or Recapitalization
|
10
|
4.4
|
Disposition
of Assets
|
11
|
4.5
|
Sale
and Leaseback
|
11
|
4.6
|
Restricted
Payments
|
11
|
4.7
|
Transactions
with Affiliates
|
11
|
4.8
|
Loans
and Advances
|
11
|
4.9
|
Guarantees
|
12
|
4.10
|
Subsidiaries
|
12
|
4.11
|
Capital
Expenditures
|
12
|
4.12
|
Notes
or Debt Securities Containing Equity Features
|
12
|
4.13
|
Nature
of Business
|
12
|
4.14
|
Other
Agreements
|
12
|
4.15
|
Sales
of Subsidiaries
|
12
|
4.16
|
Modification
of Organizational Documents
|
13
|
4.17
|
Compensation
|
13
|
ARTICLE
V
AFFIRMATIVE
COVENANTS
5.1
|
Payment
|
13
|
5.2
|
Existence;
Property
|
13
|
5.3
|
Licenses
|
13
|
5.4
|
Reporting
Requirements
|
13
|
5.5
|
Taxes
|
14
|
5.6
|
Inspection
of Property and Records
|
15
|
5.7
|
Compliance
with Laws
|
15
|
5.8
|
Compliance
with Agreements
|
15
|
5.9
|
Notices
|
15
|
5.10
|
Environmental
Assessment
|
16
|
5.11
|
Insurance
|
16
|
5.12
|
Financial
Covenants
|
18
|
5.13
|
Borrower’s
Certification
|
18
|
5.14
|
Maintenance
of Accounts; Tax Escrow Account
|
18
|
ii
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page |
ARTICLE
VI
REMEDIES
6.1
|
Acceleration
|
19
|
6.2
|
Ridgestone’s
Right to Cure Default
|
19
|
6.3
|
Remedies
Not Exclusive
|
19
|
6.4
|
Setoff
|
19
|
ARTICLE
VII
DEFINITIONS
7.1
|
Definitions
|
19
|
7.2
|
Interpretation
|
29
|
ARTICLE
VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
8.1
|
Expenses
and Attorneys’ Fees
|
30
|
8.2
|
Assignability;
Successors
|
30
|
8.3
|
Survival
|
30
|
8.4
|
Governing
Law
|
30
|
8.5
|
Counterparts;
Headings
|
30
|
8.6
|
Entire
Agreement
|
31
|
8.7
|
Notices
|
31
|
8.8
|
Amendment
|
31
|
8.9
|
Taxes
|
32
|
8.10
|
Severability
|
32
|
8.11
|
Indemnification
|
32
|
8.12
|
Participation
|
32
|
8.13
|
Inconsistent
Provisions
|
33
|
8.14
|
WAIVER
OF RIGHT TO JURY TRIAL
|
33
|
8.15
|
TIME
OF ESSENCE
|
33
|
8.16
|
SUBMISSION
TO JURISDICTION; SERVICE OF PROCESS
|
33
|
8.17
|
USA
Patriot Act
|
33
|
8.18
|
Joint
and Several Obligations
|
34
|
iii
Loan
Number 15614
THIS LOAN
AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made
as of the 29th day of September, 2009, by and among RIDGESTONE BANK, a Wisconsin
banking corporation (“Ridgestone”), and
XXXXXXX OUTDOORS WATERCRAFT INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”).
IN
CONSIDERATION of the mutual covenants, conditions and agreements set forth
herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, it is hereby agreed
that:
ARTICLE
I
THE
LOAN
1.1 Term
Loan. On the Closing Date and subject to the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement, Ridgestone agrees to make the Term Loan
to the Borrower in the original principal amount of Four Million Two Hundred
Forty Thousand Dollars ($4,240,000). The Term Loan shall be evidenced
by the Term Note and shall mature on the Term Loan Termination
Date.
1.2 Interest. The
unpaid principal of the Term Loan shall bear interest at the rate or rates set
forth in the Term Note. All interest, fees and other amounts due
under this Agreement and the Term Note shall be computed for the actual number
of days elapsed on the basis of a 365-day year.
1.3 Fees.
(a) Closing
Fee. The Borrower agrees to pay to Ridgestone a closing fee in
the amount of Twenty One Thousand Two Hundred Dollars ($21,200), which shall be
due and payable at the Closing.
(b) Loan Note Guarantee
Fee. The Borrower agrees to pay to the USDA on the Closing
Date a guarantee fee for the Loan Note Guarantee in the amount of Twenty Nine
Thousand Six Hundred Eighty Dollars ($29,680), which, at the election of the
Borrower, may be financed into the Term Loan.
1.4 Payments.
(a) Principal and
Interest. The Borrower shall make payments of principal and
interest in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Term
Note. Subject to adjustments for changes to the Prime Rate as
provided for in this Agreement and in the Term Note, monthly payments of
principal and interest are set forth on the amortization schedule attached as
Exhibit A
hereto and to the Term Note. The entire balance of principal and
interest outstanding under this Note shall be due and payable in full on Term
Loan Termination Date.
(b) Payment
Delivery. All payments of principal and interest on account of
the Term Note and all other payments made pursuant to this Agreement shall be
delivered to Ridgestone in immediately available funds by 12:00 P.M., Milwaukee,
Wisconsin time, on the date when due, and if received after such time on any day
shall be deemed to have been made on the next Business Day. Payments
of the Term Loan may be made by Ridgestone via electronic transfers from the
Borrower’s operating accounts or any other accounts maintained at
Ridgestone.
(c) No
Set-Offs. All payments owed by the Borrower to Ridgestone
under this Agreement and the Term Note shall be made without any counterclaim
and free and clear of any restrictions or conditions and free and clear of, and
without deduction for or on account of, any present or future taxes, levies,
imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions or withholdings of any nature now or
hereafter imposed on the Borrower by any governmental authority. If
the Borrower is compelled by Law to make any such deductions or withholdings it
will pay such additional amounts as may be necessary in order that the net
amount received by Ridgestone after such deductions or withholding shall equal
the amount Ridgestone would have received had no such deductions or withholding
been required to be made, and it will provide Ridgestone with evidence
satisfactory to Ridgestone that it has paid such deductions or
withholdings.
1
Loan Number
15614
1.5 Use of
Proceeds. The proceeds of the Term Loan shall be used for (a)
the repayment of existing debt of the Guarantor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.,
pursuant to loans made under that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
(Revolving) dated as of January 2, 2009, and the promissory notes executed and
delivered pursuant thereto, and (b) closing costs of approximately Sixty Nine
Thousand Four Hundred Two Dollars ($69,402) incurred by the Borrower in
connection with the transaction contemplated in this Agreement.
1.6 Prepayment. The
Borrower may, from time to time, prepay the principal outstanding on the Term
Loan subject to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Term
Note.
1.7 Recordkeeping. Ridgestone
shall record in its records the date and amount of the Term Loan and each
repayment of the Term Loan. The aggregate amounts so recorded shall
be rebuttable presumptive evidence of the principal and interest owing and
unpaid on the Term Note. The failure to so record any such amount or
any error in so recording any such amount shall not, however, limit or otherwise
affect the obligations of the Borrower under this Agreement or under the Term
Note to repay the principal amount of the Term Loan together with all interest
accruing thereon.
1.8 Increased
Costs. If Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System, or the adoption of any Law, or compliance by Ridgestone
with any Law:
(a) shall
subject Ridgestone to any tax, duty or other charge with respect to the Term
Loan or the Term Note, or shall change the basis of taxation of payments to
Ridgestone of the principal of or interest on the Term Loan or any other amounts
due under this Agreement in respect of the Term Loan; or
(b) shall
affect the amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by Ridgestone
or any corporation controlling Ridgestone; or
(c) shall
impose on Ridgestone any other condition affecting the Term Loan or the Term
Note;
and the
result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to (or in the case of
Regulation D referred to above, to impose a cost on) Ridgestone of making or
maintaining the Term Loan, or to reduce the amount of any sum received or
receivable by Ridgestone under this Agreement or under the Term Note with
respect thereto, then within thirty (30) days after demand by Ridgestone (which
demand shall be accompanied by a statement setting forth the basis of such
demand), the Borrower shall pay to Ridgestone such additional amount or amounts
as will compensate Ridgestone for such increased cost or such
reduction. Determinations by Ridgestone for purposes of this Section
of the effect of any change in Law on its costs of making or maintaining the
Term Loan, or sums receivable by it in respect of the Term Loan, and of the
additional amounts required to compensate Ridgestone in respect thereof, shall
be conclusive, absent manifest error.
2
Loan Number
15614
ARTICLE
II
CONDITIONS
2.1 General
Conditions. The obligation of Ridgestone to make the Term Loan
is subject to the satisfaction, on the date hereof of the following
conditions:
(a) the
representations and warranties of the Borrower contained in this Agreement shall
be true and accurate in all material respects on and as of such
date;
(b) there
shall not exist on such date any Default or Event of Default;
(c) the
making of the Term Loan shall not be prohibited by any applicable Law and shall
not subject Ridgestone to any penalty under or pursuant to any applicable Law;
and
(d) all
proceedings to be taken in connection with the Term Loan and all documents
incident thereto shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to
Ridgestone and its counsel.
2.2 Deliveries at
Closing. The obligation of Ridgestone to make the Term Loan is
further subject to the satisfaction on or before the Closing Date of each of the
following express conditions precedent:
(a) Ridgestone
shall have received each of the following (each to be properly executed, dated
and completed), in form and substance satisfactory to Ridgestone and Borrower
(or Guarantor, as applicable):
(i) this Agreement; | |
(ii) the Term Note; | |
(iii) the Mortgage; | |
(iv) the Security Agreement; | |
(v) the Environmental Indemnity Agreement; | |
(vi) the Guarantee Agreement; | |
(vii) the USDA Guarantee; | |
(viii) the Intercreditor Agreement; | |
(ix) the Acknowledgement; | |
(x) the Financing Statements; | |
(xi) a certificate of an officer of Borrower dated as of the Closing Date, in a form satisfactory to Ridgestone, as to: (A) the incumbency and signature of the officers of Borrower who have signed or will sign this Agreement, the Term Note and any other Loan Document; (B) the adoption and continued effect of resolutions in a form reasonably satisfactory to Ridgestone authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Term Note and the other Loan Documents, together with copies of those resolutions; and (C) the accuracy and completeness of copies of the of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Borrower, as amended to date; |
3
Loan Number
15614
(xii) a certificate of an officer for the Guarantor dated as of the Closing Date, in a form satisfactory to Ridgestone, as to: (A) the incumbency and signature of the officer of the Guarantor who has signed or will sign the Guaranty Agreement, the USDA Guarantee and any other Loan Document; (B) the adoption and continued effect of resolutions of the directors of the Guarantor authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Guarantee Agreement, the USDA Guarantee and the other Loan Documents executed by the Guarantor, together with copies of those resolutions; and (C) the accuracy and completeness of copies of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Guarantor, as amended to date; | |
(xiii) the Closing Date Balance Sheet showing the Borrower to have a tangible net worth of at least ten percent (10%) of the total, combined assets of the Borrower as of the Closing Date, and otherwise acceptable to Ridgestone in its discretion; |
(b) Ridgestone
shall have received a commitment of title insurance covering Ridgestone’s
interest in the Washington Property, together with such endorsements thereto as
Ridgestone may reasonably require and as are generally available in the State in
which the Washington Property is located at a commercially reasonable cost,
written by a title insurance company reasonably acceptable to Ridgestone, on a
current ALTA form in the total face amount of the Term Loan, insuring to
Ridgestone that: (i) the Borrower owns marketable, fee simple title to the
Washington Property, subject only to the Permitted Liens; and (ii) Ridgestone
holds a valid, first-lien mortgage on the Washington Property pursuant to the
Mortgage. The Borrower shall pay for the title insurance commitment
and the policy subsequently issued and all such endorsements
thereto.
(c) Ridgestone
shall have received an ALTA improvement survey or surveys for the Washington
Property, prepared within the past twelve (12) months by a surveyor licensed by
the State in which the Washington Property is located, which survey shall be
prepared in form satisfactory to the title company for the issuance of a
lender’s policy of title for the Washington Property, as Ridgestone may require,
with no exceptions for matters of survey, and shall meet the Minimum Standard
Detail Requirements for ALTA/ACSM Land Title Surveys;
(d) Ridgestone
shall have received a certificates of the Delaware Department of State, the
Maine Secretary of State and the Washington Secretary of State as to the good
standing and existence of the Borrower, dated as of a recent date;
(e) Ridgestone
shall have received a certificate of the Wisconsin Department of Financial
Institutions as to the good standing of the Guarantor, dated as of a recent
date;
(f) Ridgestone
shall have received searches of the appropriate public offices demonstrating
that no Lien or other charge or encumbrance is of record affecting the Borrower,
its Subsidiaries, or their respective properties, except those which are
Permitted Liens;
(g) Ridgestone
shall have received a certificate or certificates, as necessary, evidencing the
insurance coverages required under this Agreement and the Collateral
Documents;
(h) Ridgestone
shall have received a favorable opinion of Borrower’s counsel, in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to Ridgestone and its counsel;
4
Loan Number
15614
(i) Ridgestone
will have been satisfied, in its commercially reasonable discretion, with its
due diligence investigations of the Borrower, the Guarantor and their
Subsidiaries;
(j) Ridgestone
shall have received the closing fee set forth in Section 1.3(a) and the USDA
guarantee fee set forth in Section 1.3(b), and all reasonable fees and expenses
of Ridgestone’s legal counsel (which fees and expenses are estimated not to
exceed Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000) shall have been paid or will be paid at
Closing;
(k) Ridgestone
shall have received payoff letters and/or lien releases, in form and substance
satisfactory to Ridgestone, from the holders of all Indebtedness which is not
Permitted Indebtedness and all holders of Liens which are not Permitted
Liens;
(l) Ridgestone
shall have received copies of all Material Agreements;
(m) Ridgestone
shall have received and approved all appraisals requested by
Ridgestone;
(n) USDA
Rural Development will have approved the Term Loan and all Loan Documents
required to be approved by the USDA;
(o) Ridgestone
shall have received a completed FEMA Form 81-93, “Standard Flood Hazard
Determination,” for the Washington Property;
(p) the
Borrower shall have established the Tax Escrow Account;
(q) Ridgestone
shall have received an Automatic Transfer Authorization executed by the Borrower
allowing Ridgestone to make payments toward the Term Loan via electronic
transfers from the Borrower’s operating or other deposit account maintained at
Ridgestone or at other financial institutions; and
(r) Ridgestone
shall have received such other agreements, instruments, documents, certificates
and opinions as Ridgestone or its counsel may reasonably request.
ARTICLE
III
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
The
Borrower hereby represents and warrants to Ridgestone as follows:
3.1 Organization and
Qualification. The Borrower is a corporation duly and validly
organized and existing under the laws of the state of Delaware, and has the
corporate power and authority, and all necessary licenses, permits and
franchises, to own its assets and properties and to carry on its business as now
conducted or presently contemplated. The Borrower is duly licensed or
qualified to do business and is in good standing in all other jurisdictions in
which failure to do so would have a Material Adverse
Effect. The Guarantor is a corporation duly organized and
validly existing under the laws of the state of Wisconsin, and has the corporate
power and authority, and all necessary licenses, permits and franchises, to own
its assets and properties and to carry on its business as now conducted or
presently contemplated. The Guarantor is duly licensed or qualified
to do business and is in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which
failure to do so would have a Material Adverse Effect.
5
Loan Number
15614
3.2 Financial
Statements. All of the financial statements of Borrower, its
Subsidiaries, and the Guarantor heretofore furnished to Ridgestone by such
parties are accurate and complete in all material respects and fairly present
the financial condition and the results of operations of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries for the periods covered thereby and as of the relevant dates
thereof. All such financial statements for the Borrower, its
Subsidiaries and the Guarantor were prepared in accordance with
GAAP. There has been no material adverse change in the business,
properties or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower, its
Subsidiaries or the Guarantor since the date of the latest of such financial
statements. As of the Closing Date, the Borrower has no knowledge of
any material liabilities of any nature of the Borrower, its Subsidiaries or the
Guarantor other than as disclosed in the financial statements heretofore
furnished to Ridgestone, and as otherwise disclosed in writing to
Ridgestone.
The
Closing Date Balance Sheet attached hereto as Schedule 3.2 is
complete and correct in all material respects and presents fairly in all
material respects the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries,
on a consolidated basis, as of the Closing Date, based upon the balance sheet of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries prepared as of July 3, 2009.
3.3 Authorization;
Enforceability. The making, execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement, the Term Note and the Collateral Documents, and
compliance with their respective terms, have been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate, limited liability company or partnership action of the
Borrower, its Subsidiaries, or the Guarantor, as the case may
be. This Agreement, the Term Note and the other Loan Documents are
the valid and binding obligations of the Borrower and the Guarantor, as
applicable, enforceable against the Borrower the Guarantor, as applicable, in
accordance with their respective terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be
limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or
similar Laws generally affecting the rights of creditors and subject to general
equity principles.
3.4 Organization and Ownership
of Subsidiaries. (a) Schedule 3.4
contains complete and correct lists, as of the Closing Date, of: (i)
the Borrower’s and the Guarantor’s Subsidiaries, showing, as to each Subsidiary,
the correct name thereof, the jurisdiction of its organization, and the
percentage of shares of each class of its equity interests outstanding owned by
the Borrower and each other Subsidiary or other Persons; and (ii) of the
ownership of the Borrower and the Guarantor and the percentage of shares, units
or interests of each class of its equity outstanding and the ownership interests
of such shares, units or interests.
(b) All
of the outstanding shares, units or interests of equity of each such domestic
Subsidiary have been validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are
owned by the Borrower or another Subsidiary free and clear of any
Lien.
(c) Each
of the Borrower’s domestic Subsidiaries is a corporation or other legal entity
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of organization, and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation or
other legal entity and is in current status in each jurisdiction in which such
qualification is required by law, other than those jurisdictions as to which the
failure to be so qualified or in good standing could not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. Each such domestic Subsidiary has the corporate, company or
other power and authority to own or hold under lease the properties it purports
to own or hold under lease and to transact the business it transacts and
proposes to transact.
(d) None
of the Borrowers’ or Guarantor’s domestic Subsidiaries is a party to, or
otherwise subject to any legal restriction or any agreement (other than this
Agreement, the PNC Loan Agreement and customary limitations imposed by corporate
law statutes) restricting the ability of such Subsidiary to pay dividends out of
profits or make any other similar distributions of profits to the Borrower to
which it is a Subsidiary or any of the Subsidiaries that owns outstanding shares
of capital stock or similar equity interests of such Subsidiary.
6
Loan Number
15614
3.5 Compliance with Laws, Other
Instruments, Etc. The execution, delivery and performance of
the Borrower and the Guarantor, as applicable of this Agreement, the Term Note
and the other Loan Documents will not: (a) contravene, result in
any breach of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation of any
Lien in respect of any property of the Borrower, the Guarantor or any of their
Subsidiaries under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan, purchase or
credit agreement, lease, corporate charter or bylaws, or any other agreement or
instrument to which the Borrower, the Guarantor or any of their Subsidiaries is
bound; (b) conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms, conditions
or provisions of any material order, judgment, decree, or ruling of any court,
arbitrator or governmental authority applicable to the Borrower, the Guarantor
or any of their Subsidiaries; (c) violate any provision of any statute or other
rule or regulation of any governmental authority applicable to the Borrower, the
Guarantor or any of their Subsidiaries; or (d) violate the articles of
incorporation, articles of organization, certificate of limited partnership,
bylaws, partnership agreement or operating agreement, or other documents of
formation, of the Borrower, the Guarantor or any of their
Subsidiaries.
3.6 Governmental Authorizations,
Etc. No consent, approval or authorization of, or
registration, filing or declaration with, any governmental authority is required
in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by the Borrower or the
Guarantor of this Agreement, the Term Note or any other Loan Document except
those consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations and filings which have
already been made or obtained and filings necessary to perfect the Liens under
the Collateral Documents.
3.7 Litigation; Observance of
Agreements, Statutes and Orders. Except as set forth on Schedule
3.7:
(a) Neither
the Borrower, the Guarantor nor any of their domestic Subsidiaries is a party
to, and so far as is known to the Borrower there is no credible threat of, any
litigation or administrative proceeding which would, if adversely determined,
cause any Material Adverse Effect; and
(b) Neither
the Borrower, the Guarantor nor any of their domestic Subsidiaries is in default
under any term of any agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which
it is bound, or any order, judgment, decree or ruling of any court, arbitrator
or governmental authority or is in violation of any applicable Law (including
without limitation Environmental Laws) of any governmental authority, which in
the event of any of the foregoing defaults or violations, individually or in the
aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Effect.
3.8 Taxes. The
Borrower, the Guarantor and their Subsidiaries have filed all tax returns that
are required to have been filed in any jurisdiction, and have paid all taxes
shown to be due and payable on such returns and all other taxes and assessments
levied upon them or their properties, assets, income or franchises, to the
extent such taxes and assessments have become due and payable and before they
have become delinquent, except for any taxes and assessments, the amount,
applicability or validity of which is currently being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings and with respect to which the Borrower, the Guarantor or
any of their Subsidiaries, as the case may be, has established adequate reserves
in accordance with GAAP or other accounting principles applicable to the
Guarantor’s Subsidiaries in foreign jurisdictions.
3.9 Title to Property;
Leases. The Borrower has marketable title to the Owned
Property subject to the Permitted Liens. To the Borrower’s knowledge,
there are no Liens on the Owned Property other than Permitted
Liens. All leases to which the Borrower or their domestic
Subsidiaries is a party are valid and subsisting and are in full force and
effect. All leases relating to the Property are set forth on Schedule 3.9
hereto. A copy of each lease set forth on Schedule 3.9 hereto
has been provided to Ridgestone and, to Borrower’s knowledge, the Guarantor is
not in default under any provision contained in any such lease which has not
been cured.
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Loan Number
15614
3.10 Licenses, Permits,
Etc. (a) To Borrower’s knowledge without investigation,
Borrower and its Subsidiaries own or possess all licenses, permits, franchises,
authorizations, patents, copyrights, service marks, trademarks and trade names,
or rights thereto necessary in the ownership of their properties and operation
of their businesses, the absence of which would cause a Material Adverse Effect;
(b) to Borrower’s knowledge without investigation, no product of the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries infringes any license, permit, franchise,
authorization, patent, copyright, service xxxx, trademark, trade name or other
right owned by any other Person which would cause a Material Adverse Effect; and
(c) to the knowledge of Borrower without investigation, there is no violation by
any Person of any right of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries with respect
to any patent, copyright, service xxxx, trademark, trade name or other right
owned or used by the Borrower, the Guarantor or any of their Subsidiaries, which
violation would cause a Material Adverse Effect.
3.11 Compliance with
ERISA. (a) The Borrower has no knowledge that any Plan is in
noncompliance in any material respect with the applicable provisions of ERISA or
the Internal Revenue Code; (b) the Borrower has no knowledge of any pending or
threatened litigation or governmental proceeding or investigation against or
relating to any Plan; (c) the Borrower has no knowledge of any reasonable basis
for any material proceedings, claims or actions against or relating to any Plan;
(d) the Borrower has no knowledge that it has incurred any “accumulated funding
deficiency” within the meaning of Section 302(a)(2) of ERISA in connection with
any Plan; and (e) the Borrower has no knowledge that there has been any
Reportable Event or Prohibited Transaction (as such terms are defined in ERISA)
with respect to any Plan, or that the Borrower, any of their Subsidiaries or the
Guarantor, or all of them, has incurred any material liability to the PBGC under
Section 4062 of ERISA in connection with any Plan.
3.12 Fiscal
Year. Borrower’s fiscal year for accounting and tax purposes
is a period consisting of a 52/53 calendar week year ending on or about
September 30 of each year. The current fiscal year, which is the 2009
fiscal year, ends on October 2, 2009.
3.13 Indebtedness; No
Default. Other than inter-company Indebtedness among Borrower,
Guarantor and their respective Subsidiaries, neither any Borrower nor any of its
Subsidiaries has any outstanding Indebtedness except for Permitted
Indebtedness. There exists no default nor has any act or omission
occurred which, with the giving of notice or the passage of time, would
constitute a default under any material provisions of (a) any instrument
evidencing such Indebtedness or any agreement relating thereto or (b) any other
agreement or instrument to which the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or the
Guarantor is a party.
3.14 Compliance With
Laws. Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.14, to
Borrower’s knowledge after reasonable investigation: (a) Borrower is in
compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws and all other Laws applicable
to Borrower’s respective assets or operations, except where such non-compliance
would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (b) the
Borrower has not received any written notice from any governmental entity or
authority that it is not in compliance with any Environmental Laws which
non-compliance has not been cured.
3.15 Dump
Sites. Except as previously disclosed to Ridgestone in writing
and except as set forth on Schedule 3.15, with
respect to any period during which the Borrower, the Guarantor or any of their
Subsidiaries has occupied the Property, neither Borrower, the Guarantor nor any
of their Subsidiaries (nor any agent or invitee of any of the foregoing) has
caused or permitted petroleum products or hazardous substances or other
materials to be stored, deposited, treated, recycled or disposed of on, under or
at the Property in violation of Environmental Laws, which materials, if known to
be present, would require cleanup, removal or other remedial action under
Environmental Laws.
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Loan Number
15614
3.16 Tanks. Except
as previously disclosed to Ridgestone in writing and except as set forth on
Schedule 3.16,
to Borrower’s knowledge after reasonable investigation, there are not now nor
have there ever been tanks, containers or other vessels on, under or at the
Property that contained petroleum products or hazardous substances or other
materials which, if known to be present in soils or ground water, would require
cleanup, removal or other remedial action under Environmental Laws.
3.17 Other Environmental
Conditions. To the knowledge of the Borrower after reasonable
investigation and except as previously disclosed to Ridgestone in writing and as
set forth on Schedule
3.17, there are no conditions existing currently that would subject the
Borrower, the Guarantor or any of their Subsidiaries to damages, penalties,
injunctive relief or cleanup costs under any Environmental Laws that would
reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect or require cleanup,
removal or other remedial action by the Borrower, the Guarantor or any of their
Subsidiaries under Environmental Laws.
3.18 Environmental Judgments,
Decrees and Orders. Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.18, no
unsatisfied judgment, decree, order or citation relating to the Property or the
current operations of the Property and related to or arising out of
Environmental Laws is applicable to or binds the Borrower, the Guarantor, any of
their Subsidiaries, or the Property.
3.19 Environmental Permits and
Licenses. Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.19, to the
knowledge of the Borrower after reasonable investigation, all permits, licenses
and approvals required under Environmental Laws necessary for the Borrower to
own or operate the Facilities and to conduct its business as now conducted or
proposed to be conducted, have been obtained and are in full force and effect,
the failure of which would cause a Material Adverse Effect.
3.20 Accuracy of
Information. All documents, certificates or statements by the
Borrower, its Subsidiaries, and the Guarantor given in, or pursuant to, this
Agreement shall be accurate, true and complete in all material respects when
given.
3.21 Offering of Term
Note. Neither the Borrower nor any agent acting for the
Borrower has offered the Term Note or any similar obligation of the Borrower for
sale to, or solicited any offers to buy the Term Note or any similar obligation
of the Borrower from, any Person other than Ridgestone, and neither the Borrower
nor any agent acting for the Borrower will take any action that would subject
the sale of the Term Note to the registration provisions of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended.
3.22 Use of Proceeds; Margin
Stock. The Borrower shall use the proceeds of the Term Loan
solely for the purposes set forth in Section 1.5 hereof. No part of
the proceeds of the Term Loan will be used, directly or indirectly, for the
purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock within the meaning of
Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or to
extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any such
margin stock.
3.23 Subsidiaries. The
Borrower does not have any Subsidiaries other than those set forth on Schedule
3.4.
3.24 Solvency. The
Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, and the Guarantor, are able to
pay their debts as they become due in the ordinary course of business and have sufficient
capital to carry on their businesses and all businesses in which they are about
to engage in; and the amount that will be required to pay the Borrower’s and
each of its Subsidiary’s, and to pay the Guarantor’s, probable liabilities as
they become absolute and mature in the ordinary course of business is less than
the sum of the present fair sale value of their assets valued on a going concern
basis.
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Loan Number
15614
ARTICLE
IV
NEGATIVE
COVENANTS
From and
after the date of this Agreement and until (i) the entire amount of principal of
and interest due on the Term Loan, and all other amounts of fees and payments
due under this Agreement, the Collateral Documents and the Term Note is paid in
full and (ii) all Obligations have been paid in full including any obligations
under any Swap Agreements and Ridgestone shall have no obligations under any
Swap Agreements:
4.1 Liens. The
Borrower, the Guarantor and their Subsidiaries shall not incur, create, assume
or permit to be created or allow to exist any Lien upon or in any of its assets
or properties, except Permitted Liens.
4.2 Indebtedness. The
Borrower, the Guarantor and their Subsidiaries shall not incur, create, assume,
permit to exist, guarantee, endorse or otherwise become directly or indirectly
or contingently responsible or liable for any Indebtedness, except Permitted
Indebtedness.
4.3 Consolidation or Merger or
Recapitalization. Excepting Permitted Transactions (defined in
Article 7), the Guarantor or the Borrower shall not consolidate with or merge
into any other Person, or permit another Person to merge into it, or acquire all
or substantially all of the assets or equity of any other Person or allow
another Person to acquire all or substantially of its assets or equity, whether
in one or a series of transactions or liquidate, dissolve or effect a
recapitalization or reorganization in any form (including, without limitation,
any reorganization after which the Borrower becomes a Subsidiary of another
Person). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Guarantor shall be
permitted to engage in any consolidation, merger, acquisition or similar
transaction: (a) with respect to any such transaction wherein the aggregate
purchase price does not exceed Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000), the Guarantor
shall be permitted to engage in such transaction without consent or notice to
Ridgestone; (b) with respect to any such transaction wherein the aggregate
purchase price is more than Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000) but less than
Seven Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($7,500,000), the Guarantor shall be
permitted to engage in such transaction, however, the Borrower shall provide to
Ridgestone written notice of the Guarantor’s completion of such transaction
within a reasonable time thereafter; and (c) with respect to any such
transaction wherein the aggregate purchase price exceeds Seven Million Five
Hundred Thousand Dollars ($7,500,000), the Guarantor must obtain Ridgestone’s
written consent prior to entering into a definitive agreement for such
transaction.
4.4 Disposition of
Assets. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall not sell,
lease, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of (collectively, “Dispositions”) any of
their now owned or hereafter acquired assets or properties except, prior to the
occurrence of an Event of Default: (a) Dispositions of inventory
in the ordinary course of business; (b) Dispositions of used, obsolete,
worn out or surplus equipment or property in the ordinary course of business;
(c) Dispositions to the Borrower, Guarantor, or any of their Subsidiaries; (d)
Dispositions of receivables in connection with the compromise, settlement or
collection thereof; (e) Dispositions resulting from any casualty or other
insured damage to, or any taking under power of eminent domain or by
condemnation or similar proceeding of, any property or asset; (f) the leasing of
intellectual property rights to third parties; (g) Dispositions of non-strategic
assets in the ordinary course of business; and (h) Dispositions of equipment or
other property not permitted under any other subsection of this Section,
provided that such equipment or other property is either replaced by equipment
or property of a similar kind and equivalent value or sold or otherwise disposed
of in the ordinary course of business, provided the value of such equipment or
property sold or otherwise disposed of and not replaced during any fiscal year
does not exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars
($100,000). Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon or following a
Disposition made in accordance with this Agreement the Borrower may assign or
transfer the Term Loan and its rights and obligations under this Agreement, the
Term Note and the other Loan Documents provided that such assignment or transfer
(y) has been approved by the USDA and met all applicable USDA requirements,
including those set forth in USDA RD Instruction 4287-B, and (z) Ridgestone
has approved such assignment or transfer, which approval may be granted or
withheld in Ridgestone’s reasonable discretion.
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Loan Number
15614
4.5 Sale and
Leaseback. Neither the Borrower nor the Guarantor shall enter
into any agreement, directly or indirectly, to sell or transfer any real
property used in its business and thereafter to lease back the same or similar
property other than for property with a selling price of less than Five Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($500,000) or less.
4.6 Restricted
Payments. Neither the Borrower nor the Guarantor shall make or
agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, or incur
any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to do so, except Borrower and the
Guarantor may make Restricted Payments pursuant to and in accordance with the
PNC Loan Agreement, stock option plans, grants of restricted stock, employee
stock purchase plans, or other benefit plans for management or employees of
Borrower, Guarantor, and their Subsidiaries pursuant to such plans as are
currently in effect as set forth on Schedule 4.6 hereto,
or as may be in effect from time to time hereafter.
4.7 Transactions with
Affiliates. The Borrower shall not engage in any transaction
with an Affiliate involving the payment or exchange of funds in any single
instance in excess of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) and on terms that
are materially less favorable to the Borrower than would be available at the
time from a Person who is not an Affiliate.
4.8 Loans and
Advances. The Borrower shall not make any loan or advance to
any Person, except: (a) extensions of credit in the ordinary course
of business by the Borrower to its customers; (b) advances to officers and
employees of the Borrower for travel and other expenses in the ordinary course
of business; and (c) loans, advances or guarantees made among Borrower,
Guarantor and any of their respective Subsidiaries which loans, advances or
guarantees are reflected in the books and records of the respective
entities. In addition, the Borrower may make any loans or advances to
any of its Subsidiaries.
4.9 Guarantees. Neither
the Borrower nor the Guarantor shall, without the prior written consent of
Ridgestone, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or
delayed, guarantee the Indebtedness of any Person or co-signing or otherwise
becoming liable for the Indebtedness of another Person, except for: (a) any
guarantee or co-signing made for the benefit of Borrower, Guarantor or any of
their respective Subsidiaries; (b) such guarantees or co-signings which are
currently in effect and are set forth in Schedule 4.9 hereof;
and (c) any guarantee or co-signing in which the Indebtedness so guaranteed does
not exceed, in the aggregate as to the Borrower, the Guarantor and Subsidiaries
taken as a whole, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) in any single
instance, or Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) in any fiscal year.
4.10 Subsidiaries. The
Borrower shall not form any Subsidiary other than those set forth on Schedule 3.4
hereof.
4.11 Capital
Expenditures. The Guarantor shall not make or enter into any
binding agreement(s) to make Capital Expenditures in excess of the Capital
Expenditure Limit, as defined in this Section. “Capital Expenditure
Limit” shall mean: (a) for the Guarantor’s 2009 fiscal year ending
October 2, 2009, Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000) in the aggregate; (b) for the
Guarantor’s 2010 fiscal year ending on or about September 30, 2010, Eleven
Million Dollars ($11,000,000) in the aggregate; (c) for the Guarantor’s 2011
fiscal year ending on or about September 30, 2011, Twelve Million Dollars
($12,000,000) in the aggregate; and (d) for the Guarantor’s 2012 fiscal year
ending on or about September 30, 2012 and for each fiscal year thereafter, one
hundred five percent (105%) of the Capital Expenditure Limit for the immediately
preceding fiscal.
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Loan Number
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4.12 Notes or Debt Securities
Containing Equity Features. Neither the Borrower nor the
Guarantor shall authorize, issue or enter into any agreement providing for the
issuance (contingent or otherwise) of any notes or debt securities containing
equity features (including, without limitation, any notes or debt securities
convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock or other equity securities,
issued in connection with the issuance of capital stock or other equity
securities or containing profit participation features), other than any
agreement authorized, issued or entered into with any member of the Xxxxxxx
Family which shall be permitted hereby.
4.13 Nature of
Business. The Borrower shall not enter into the ownership, act
of management, or operation of any business other than the manufacture,
distribution or sale of outdoor equipment and any activities incidental
thereto.
4.14 Other
Agreements. Neither the Borrower nor the Guarantor shall enter
into, become subject to, amend, modify or waive, or permit any of their
Subsidiaries to enter into, become subject to, amend, modify or waive, any
agreement or instrument (other than the Loan Documents and the Other Loan
Documents (as such term is defined in the PNC Loan Agreement)) which by its
terms would (under any circumstances) restrict (i) the right of any of
their Subsidiaries or the Guarantor to make loans or advances or pay dividends
to, transfer property to, or repay any Indebtedness owed to, the Borrower, the
Guarantor or their Subsidiaries, or (ii) the Borrowers’ right to perform
the provisions of any of the Loan Documents.
4.15 Sales of
Subsidiaries. Neither the Borrower nor the Guarantor shall
sell or otherwise dispose of any stock (or other ownership interest), or
securities convertible into stock (or other ownership interest), of any domestic
Subsidiary (however, the liquidation or dissolution of non-operating entities
shall not be prohibited hereby).
4.16 Modification of
Organizational Documents. The Borrower shall not permit the
articles of incorporation or organization, certificate of partnership, bylaws,
operating agreement or other organizational documents of the Borrower, its
Subsidiaries, or the Guarantor to be amended or modified in a manner adverse to
the interests of Ridgestone, except for such amendments or modifications as may
be required by Law.
4.17 Compensation. The
current compensation of all officers of the Guarantor are as set forth on Schedule
4.18. Compensation of the Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer, and the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer shall be limited to
an amount that shall not cause a Material Adverse Effect and shall not be
increased in any year unless: (a) such increase will not cause Borrower to
breach any covenant of this Agreement; (b) the Borrower is current in all
material respects on its Indebtedness; and (c) such increase has been approved
by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Guarantor which
committee is comprised solely of independent outside directors.
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Loan Number
15614
ARTICLE
V
AFFIRMATIVE
COVENANTS
From and
after the date of this Agreement and until (i) the entire amount of principal of
and interest due on the Term Loan, and all other amounts of fees and payments
due under this Agreement, the Collateral Documents and the Term Note is paid in
full and (ii) all Obligations to Ridgestone have been paid in full including,
without limitation, any obligations to Ridgestone under any Swap
Agreements:
5.1 Payment. The
Borrower shall timely pay or cause to be paid the principal of and interest on
the Term Loan and all other amounts due under this Agreement, the Term Note and
the Collateral Documents.
5.2 Existence;
Property. The Borrower shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries
to: (a) maintain its limited liability company, corporate
existence or partnership status; (b) conduct its business substantially as
now conducted or as described in any business plans delivered to Ridgestone
prior to the Closing Date unless otherwise consented to by Ridgestone;
(c) maintain the Property or cause other Persons to maintain the Property;
and (d) maintain accurate records and books of account, consistently
applied throughout all accounting periods.
5.3 Licenses. The
Borrower shall, and the Borrower shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to,
maintain in good standing and in full force and effect each license, permit and
franchise granted or issued by any federal, state or local governmental agency
or regulatory authority that is necessary to or used in the Borrower’s or any of
its Subsidiary’s businesses, the failure of which would cause a Material Adverse
Effect.
5.4 Reporting
Requirements. The Borrower and the Guarantor shall furnish to
Ridgestone such information respecting the business, assets and financial
condition of the Borrower and the Guarantor and their Subsidiaries as Ridgestone
may reasonably request and, without request:
(a) as soon
as available, and in any event within sixty (60) days after the end of each
fiscal quarter (i) a company prepared consolidated balance sheet of the
Guarantor and its Subsidiaries as of the end of each such quarter and of the
comparable quarter in the preceding fiscal year; and (ii) consolidated
statements of income of each Guarantor and its Subsidiaries for each such
quarter and for that part of the fiscal year ending with each quarter and for
the corresponding periods of the preceding fiscal year, all in reasonable detail
and certified as true and correct, subject to audit and normal year-end
adjustments, by the chief financial officer or treasurer of the reporting
entity; and
(b) as soon
as available, and in any event within sixty (60) days after the end of each
fiscal year a company prepared consolidated balance sheet of the Guarantor and
its Subsidiaries as of the end of each such fiscal year, all in reasonable
detail and certified as true and correct, subject to audit and normal year-end
adjustments, by the chief financial officer or treasurer of the reporting entity
(Borrower and/or the Guarantor shall be in compliance with Section 5.4(a) and
this Section 5.4(b) by timely providing to Ridgestone a hyperlink to Guarantor’s
SEC Form 10-K and 10-Q Statements, as appropriate); and
(c) as soon
as available, and in any event within one hundred ten (110) days after the close
of each fiscal year, a copy of the detailed annual audit report for such year
and accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries and of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries prepared in reasonable
detail and in accordance with GAAP and prepared by the independent certified
public accountants ratified by Guarantor’s shareholders at its annual meeting,
which audit report shall be accompanied by: (i) an unqualified
opinion of such accountants, to the effect that the same fairly presents the
financial condition and the results of operations of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries and of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries, respectively, for the
periods and as of the relevant dates thereof, and (ii) a certificate of such
accountants setting forth their computations as to Borrower’s compliance with
Section 5.12 of this Agreement; and
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Loan Number
15614
(d) together
with each delivery required by Sections 5.4(a), 5.4(b) and 5.4(c) of this
Agreement, an executed Officer’s Certificate or Member’s Certificate, as
applicable, in the form of Exhibit B attached to
this Agreement containing information as to the financial statements so
delivered; and
(e) as soon
as available, and in any event within forty-five (45) days of filing, a copy of
the annual federal corporate tax returns for the Guarantor (including its
domestic Subsidiaries); and
(f) as soon
as received, but in any event not later than ten (10) days after receipt, copies
of all management letters and other reports submitted to the Borrower or its
domestic Subsidiaries, by independent certified public accountants in connection
with any examination of the financial statements of the Borrower or its domestic
Subsidiaries or the Guarantor, and notify Ridgestone promptly of any material
change in any accounting method used by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries in the
preparation of the financial statements to be delivered to Ridgestone pursuant
to this Section; and
(g) as soon
as available, and in any event within forty-five (45) days after the end of each
fiscal year, business projections for the Borrower and the Guarantor for the
upcoming fiscal year.
5.5 Taxes. The
Borrower shall, and the Borrower shall cause each of its Subsidiaries and the
Guarantor and its Subsidiaries, to pay all taxes and assessments prior to the
date on which penalties attach thereto, except for any tax or assessment which
is either not delinquent or which is being contested in good faith and by proper
proceedings and against which adequate reserves have been provided in accordance
with GAAP.
5.6 Inspection of Property and
Records. The Borrower shall, and the Borrower shall cause its
Subsidiaries and the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries to, permit Ridgestone or its
agents or representatives, at Ridgestone’s expense, to visit any of their
properties and examine and audit any of its books and records after delivery of
reasonable advance written notice, and provided such activities occur during
normal business hours and in a manner that does not cause unreasonable
interruptions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless an Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing hereunder, such visits, examinations and
audits shall be limited to not more than one (1) visit to each Property per
fiscal year. The Borrower, the Guarantor or their Subsidiaries shall
reimburse Ridgestone, up to a maximum of Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars
($2,500) in the aggregate, per fiscal year, for travel and lodging expenses
incurred by Ridgestone in connection with visits made pursuant to this Section
5.6 and pursuant to the similar provisions of other loan agreements between the
Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries and Ridgestone. Notwithstanding
anything contained herein to the contrary, the Borrower shall be responsible for
all costs and expenses incurred by Ridgestone in connection with any visit to
any Facility following the occurrence of an Event of Default, and for visits to
any Facility made pursuant to any other section of this Agreement.
5.7 Compliance with
Laws. The Borrower shall, and the Borrower shall cause its
Subsidiaries and the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries
to: (a) comply in all material respects with all applicable
Environmental Laws, and orders of regulatory and administrative authorities with
respect thereto, and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, promptly
undertake and diligently pursue to completion appropriate and legally authorized
containment, investigation and clean-up action in the event of any release of
petroleum products or hazardous materials or substances on, upon or into any
real property owned, operated or within the control of the Borrower, the
Guarantor or any of their Subsidiaries; and (b) comply in all material
respects with all other Laws applicable to the Borrower, the Guarantor, and any
of their Subsidiaries, their assets or operations where failure to so comply
could have a Material Adverse Effect.
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Loan Number
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5.8 Compliance with
Agreements. The Borrower shall, and the Borrower shall cause
the Guarantor and their Subsidiaries to, perform and comply in all respects with
the provisions of any agreement (including without limitation any collective
bargaining agreement), license, regulatory approval, permit and franchise
binding upon the Borrower, the Guarantor, their Subsidiaries, or their
properties, if the failure to so perform or comply would have a Material Adverse
Effect.
5.9 Notices. The
Borrower shall:
(a) as soon
as possible and in any event within five (5) Business Days after the occurrence
of any Default or Event of Default, notify Ridgestone in writing of such Default
or Event of Default and set forth the details thereof and the action which is
being taken or proposed to be taken by the Borrower with respect
thereto;
(b) promptly
notify Ridgestone of the commencement of any litigation or administrative
proceeding that would cause the representation and warranty of the Borrower
contained in Section 3.7 of this Agreement to be untrue;
(c) promptly
notify Ridgestone: (i) of the occurrence of any Reportable Event
or, to the extent a Prohibited Transaction would have a Material Adverse Effect,
a Prohibited Transaction (as such terms are defined in ERISA) that has occurred
with respect to any Plan; and (ii) of the institution by the PBGC or the
Borrower of proceedings under Title IV of ERISA to terminate any
Plan;
(d) unless
prohibited by applicable Law, notify Ridgestone, and provide copies, immediately
upon receipt but in any event not later than ten (10) days after receipt, of any
written notice, pleading, citation, indictment, complaint, order or decree from
any federal, state or local government agency or regulatory body, asserting or
alleging a circumstance or condition that is reasonably expected to require a
clean-up, removal, remedial action or other response by or on the part of the
Borrower, the Guarantor or any Subsidiary under Environmental Laws or which
seeks damages or civil, criminal or punitive penalties from or against the
Borrower, the Guarantor or any Subsidiary, for an alleged violation of
Environmental Laws, in each of the foregoing which, if adversely determined,
would reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect or would
reasonably be expected to cause or require the Borrower, the Guarantor or any of
their Subsidiaries to expend, in the aggregate, in excess of Two Hundred Fifty
Thousand Dollars ($250,000) in costs and expenses; and provide Ridgestone with
written notice of any condition or event which would make the representations
and warranties contained in Sections 3.14 through 3.19 of this Agreement
inaccurate, as soon as ten (10) Business Days after the Borrower becomes aware
of such condition or event;
(e) notify
Ridgestone at least thirty (30) days prior to any change of either of the
Borrower’s, the Guarantor’s or their Subsidiary’s name or its use of any trade
name;
(f) promptly
notify Ridgestone of any damage to, or loss of, any of the assets or properties
of the Borrower, the Guarantor or of their Subsidiaries if the net book value of
the damaged or lost asset or property at the time of such damage or loss exceeds
Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000); and
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(g) promptly
notify Ridgestone of the commencement of any investigation, litigation, or
administrative or regulatory proceeding by, or the receipt of any notice,
citation, pleading, order, decree or similar document issued by, any federal,
state or local governmental agency or regulatory authority that results in the
termination or suspension of any license, permit or franchise necessary to the
Borrower’s, the Guarantor’s or any of their Subsidiary’s business, or that
imposes a material fine or penalty on the Borrower, the Guarantor or any of
their Subsidiaries.
5.10 Environmental
Assessment. Within ten (10) Business Days after the Borrower
or Guarantor learns of the occurrence of any event or condition described in
Section 5.9(d) of this Agreement, the Borrower shall undertake and, within a
reasonable time thereafter, obtain an Environmental Assessment (the scope of
which shall be limited to the event or condition giving rise to the disclosure
requirement under Section 5.9(d) hereof), at the Borrower’s expense, and provide
promptly to Ridgestone a written report of the results of such Environmental
Assessment, which report shall recite that Ridgestone is entitled to rely
thereon. Except as otherwise required by applicable Law or as may be reasonably
necessary, in the opinion of Ridgestone, for evaluation and analysis by
Ridgestone, any participating financial institution, or their attorneys, agents
and consultants, any Environmental Assessment provided to Ridgestone pursuant to
this Section shall be treated as confidential and shall not be disclosed without
the prior written consent of the Borrower.
5.11 Insurance.
(a) The
Borrower shall, and Borrower shall cause its Subsidiaries and the Guarantor to,
obtain and maintain at their own expense the following insurance, which shall be
with insurers satisfactory to Ridgestone (Ridgestone hereby acknowledging and
agreeing that the insurers providing the insurance coverages in effect as of the
Closing Date are satisfactory to Ridgestone):
(i) insurance against physical loss or damage to the Collateral as provided under a standard “All Risk” property policy including but not limited to flood (if required by Ridgestone), fire, windstorm, lightning, hail, explosion, riot, civil commotion, smoke, sewer back-up, business interruption and such other risks of loss generally and customarily maintained by companies of similar size in the same industry and line of business as Borrower, the Guarantor and their Subsidiaries, in amounts not less than the actual replacement cost of the Collateral or the balance of the Term Loan, whichever is greater. Such policies shall contain replacement cost and agreed amount endorsements and shall contain deductibles of not more than Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000) per occurrence. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to earthquake insurance covering Collateral located in the state of California, the deductible may be increased to the greater of five percent (5%) of the total insured value or Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000), and with respect to windstorm insurance covering Collateral located in the state of Florida, the deductible may be increased to the greater of five percent (5%) of the total insured value or Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000); | |
(ii) commercial general liability insurance covered under a comprehensive general liability policy including contractual liability in an amount not less than Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) per occurrence for bodily injury, including personal injury, and property damage with umbrella coverage in an amount at least equal to the balance of the Term Loan; | |
(iii) product liability insurance in such amounts as is customarily maintained by companies engaged in the same or similar businesses as the Borrower; |
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(iv) worker’s compensation insurance in amounts meeting all statutory state and local requirements; | |
(v) comprehensive Automobile Liability covering all owned, non-owned and hired vehicles with limits of not less than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) combined single limit; and | |
(vi) during construction of any improvements at the Facilities and during any period in which substantial alterations or repairs at the Facilities are being undertaken, (i) builder’s risk insurance (on a completed value, non-reporting basis) against “all risks of physical loss,” including collapse and transit coverage, with deductibles not to exceed Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000), in non-reporting form, covering the total replacement cost of work performed and equipment, supplies and materials furnished in connection with such construction or repair of improvements or equipment, together with “soft cost” and such other endorsements as Ridgestone may reasonably require, and (ii) general liability, worker’s compensation and automobile liability insurance with respect to the improvements being constructed, altered or repaired; and | |
(vii) Such other insurance as Ridgestone may reasonably require, that at the time is commonly obtained in connection with similar businesses and is generally available at commercially reasonable rates. |
(b) Each
insurance policy described in Section 5.11(a)(i), (ii) or (vi) with respect to
any Collateral shall name Ridgestone as a lender’s loss payee, and shall require
the insurer to provide at least thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to
Ridgestone of any material change or cancellation of such policy.
5.12 Financial
Covenants.
(a) Current
Ratio. The Guarantor will not permit as of the end of any
fiscal year end of the Guarantor, commencing with the 2009 fiscal year ending
October 2, 2009, its Current Ratio to be less than 1.75 to 1.
(b) Tangible Net
Worth. The Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall have a tangible
net worth of at least ten percent (10%) of the total assets of the Borrower as
of the Closing Date as verified by the Closing Date Balance Sheet.
(c) Total Debt to Book Net
Worth. The Guarantor shall not permit the ratio of Total Debt
to Book Net Worth for the Guarantor to exceed 2.00 to 1 beginning as of the last
day of the Guarantor’s 2009 fiscal year ending October 2, 2009, and at the end
of each fiscal quarter thereafter.
(d) Fixed Charge Coverage
Ratio. Commencing with the fiscal quarter ending December 31,
2009, the Guarantor shall maintain as of the end of each fiscal quarter, a Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio of not less than 1.15 to 1.0, to be tested based on a
rolling four quarter basis.
(e) Minimum Book Net
Worth. The Guarantor shall not permit its consolidated Book
Net Worth, as of the last day of each calendar year, to be less than the Book
Net Worth Requirement. As used herein, the term “Book Net Worth
Requirement” shall mean: (i) Ninety Five Million Dollars ($95,000,000) as
the last day of the Guarantor’s 2009 fiscal year ending October 2, 2009; (ii)
One Hundred Million Dollars ($100,000,000) by the last day of the Guarantor’s
2010 fiscal year ending on or about September 30, 2010; and (iii) One Hundred
Five Million Dollars ($105,000,000) by the last day of the Guarantor’s 2011
fiscal year ending on or about September 30, 2011, and at all times
thereafter.
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5.13 Borrower’s
Certification. At the request of Ridgestone, Borrower shall
deliver to Ridgestone a fully executed Borrower’s Certification in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit
C.
5.14 Maintenance of Accounts; Tax
Escrow Account. The Borrower shall maintain an escrow account
for real estate taxes at Ridgestone (the “Tax Escrow Account”)
into which the Borrower shall make an initial deposit at the Closing in an
amount equal to thirty percent (30%) of aggregate 2008 real estate taxes for the
Properties securing all loans. Funds maintained in the Tax Escrow
Account may be used by Ridgestone to pay any delinquent real estate taxes and
special assessments relating to the Property. The Borrower shall
provide to Ridgestone a copy of all annual real estate tax bills for the
Properties within thirty (30) days following the Borrower’s receipt of the
same. Following the fifth (5th)
anniversary of the Closing Date and after each five (5)-year period thereafter,
Ridgestone shall have the right to re-examine and adjust the amount the Borrower
is required to maintain in the Tax Escrow Account so that at such times the
amount maintained by the Borrower in the Tax Escrow Account is equal to thirty
percent (30%) of all real estate taxes for the Property for the immediately
preceding calendar year.
ARTICLE
VI
REMEDIES
6.1 Acceleration. (a) Upon
the occurrence of an Automatic Event of Default, then, without notice, demand or
action of any kind by Ridgestone the entire unpaid principal of, and accrued
interest on, the Term Note, and any other amount due under this Agreement and
the Collateral Documents, shall be automatically and immediately due and
payable.
(b) Upon
the occurrence of a Notice Event of Default, Ridgestone may, upon written notice
and demand to the Borrower declare the entire unpaid principal of, and accrued
interest on, the Term Note, and any other amount due under this Agreement and
the Collateral Documents, immediately due and payable.
6.2 Ridgestone’s Right to Cure
Default. In case of failure by the Borrower or any Subsidiary
or the Guarantor to procure or maintain insurance, or to pay any fees,
assessments, charges or taxes arising with respect to any properties and assets
pledged or secured under any Collateral Documents, Ridgestone shall have the
right, but shall not be obligated, to effect such insurance or pay such fees,
assessments, charges or taxes, as the case may be, and, in that event, the cost
thereof shall be payable by the Borrower to Ridgestone immediately upon demand
together with interest at an annual rate equal to the Default Rate for Advances
(to the extent permitted by applicable Law) from the date of disbursement by
Ridgestone to the date of payment by the Borrower.
6.3 Remedies Not
Exclusive. Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default
Ridgestone may implement any remedies available to it under or in connection
with the Loan Documents. No remedy conferred upon Ridgestone herein
or in any other Loan Document is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy
and each and every such remedy shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to
every other remedy given under this Agreement, the Term Note or the Collateral
Documents or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity. No
failure or delay on the part of Ridgestone in exercising any right or remedy
shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise of
any right preclude other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any
other right or remedy.
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Loan Number
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6.4 Setoff. The
Borrower agrees that Ridgestone and its affiliates shall have all rights of
setoff and bankers’ lien provided by applicable Law, and in addition thereto,
the Borrower agrees that if at any time any payment or other amount owing by the
Borrower under the Term Note or this Agreement is then due to Ridgestone,
Ridgestone may apply to the payment of such payment or other amount any and all
balances, credits, deposits, accounts or moneys of the Borrower then or
thereafter with Ridgestone or any affiliates of
Ridgestone. Ridgestone rights under this Section 6.4 shall be limited
to the Borrower’s accounts maintained at Ridgestone.
ARTICLE
VII
DEFINITIONS
7.1 Definitions. When
used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings
specified:
“Acknowledgement”
shall mean the Acknowledgement by the Borrower of even date herewith to the
Intercreditor Agreement.
“Affiliate” shall mean
any Person that directly or indirectly controls, or is controlled by, or is
under common control with, the Borrower. The term “control” means the
possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the
ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Agreement” shall mean
this Loan Agreement, together with the Exhibits and Schedules attached hereto,
as the same shall be amended or amended and restated from time to time in
accordance with the terms hereof.
“Automatic Event of
Default” shall mean any one or more of the following:
(a) The
Borrower, the Guarantor or any of their domestic Subsidiaries shall become
insolvent or generally not pay, or be unable to pay, or admit in writing its
inability to pay, its debts as they mature; or
(b) The
Borrower, the Guarantor or any of their Subsidiaries shall make a general
assignment for the benefit of creditors or to an agent authorized to liquidate
any substantial amount of its assets; or
(c) The
Borrower, the Guarantor or any of their Subsidiaries shall become the subject of
an “order for relief” within the meaning of the United States Bankruptcy Code or
a similar law of any other country, or shall file a petition in bankruptcy, for
reorganization or liquidation under any Federal, state or foreign Law;
or
(d) The
Borrower, the Guarantor or any of their Subsidiaries shall have a petition or
application filed against it in bankruptcy or any similar proceeding, or shall
have such a proceeding commenced against it, and such petition, application or
proceeding shall remain unstayed or undismissed for a period of sixty (60) days
or more, or the Borrower or any Subsidiary shall file an answer to such a
petition or application, admitting the material allegations thereof;
or
(e) The
Borrower, the Guarantor or any of their Subsidiaries shall apply to a court for
the appointment of a receiver or custodian for any of its assets or properties,
or shall have a receiver or custodian appointed for any of its assets or
properties, with or without consent, and such receiver shall not be discharged
or dismissed within sixty (60) days after his appointment;
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Loan Number
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(f) The
Borrower, the Guarantor or any of their Subsidiaries shall adopt a plan of
complete liquidation of its assets; or
(g) The USDA
refuses or fails to issue the Loan Note Guarantee to Ridgestone, or the Loan
Note Guarantee shall be rescinded, retracted or becomes otherwise unenforceable,
in whole or in part, for any reason whatsoever;
(h) Provided,
however, that nowithstanding any other language in this definition, a “Permitted
Transaction” as defined below, shall not be an “Automatic Event of
Default.”
“Book Net Worth” shall
mean, at any date of determination, the difference between: (a) the total assets
appearing on the balance sheet at such date prepared in accordance with GAAP
after deducting adequate reserves in each case where, in accordance with GAAP, a
reserve is proper; and (b) the total liabilities appearing on such balance
sheet.
“Borrower” shall have
the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this
Agreement.
“Business Day” shall
mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, public holiday or other day when
commercial banks in Wisconsin are authorized or required by Law to
close.
“Capital Expenditure
Limit” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.11
hereof.
“Capital Expenditures”
shall mean expenditures made or liabilities incurred for the acquisition of any
fixed assets or improvements, replacements, substitutions or additions thereto
which have a useful life of more than one year, including the total principal
portion of Capitalized Lease Obligations, which, in accordance with GAAP, would
be classified as capital expenditures.
“Capitalized Lease
Obligation” shall mean any Indebtedness of the Guarantor or any of its
Subsidiaries represented by obligations under a lease that is required to be
capitalized for financial reporting purposes in accordance with
GAAP.
“Capital Securities”
shall mean, with respect to any Person, all shares, interests, participations or
other equivalents (however designated, whether voting or non-voting) of such
Person’s capital, whether now outstanding or issued or acquired after the
Closing Date, including common shares, preferred shares, membership interests in
a limited liability company, limited or general partnership interests in a
partnership, interests in a trust, interests in other unincorporated
organizations or any other equivalent of such ownership interest.
“Closing” shall mean
the consummation of the transaction(s) contemplated in this
Agreement.
“Closing Date” shall
mean September 29, 2009.
“Closing Date Balance
Sheet” shall mean the balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
attached hereto as Schedule 3.2, which
balance sheet is prepared in accordance with GAAP, not including subordinated
debt or appraisal surplus, and certified by an accountant acceptable to
Ridgestone, presents fairly in all material respects the financial condition of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as of Closing Date as if the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement had occurred immediately prior to such date, and
contains all pro forma adjustments necessary in order to fairly reflect such
assumption, all based upon the balance sheet of the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries prepared as of July 3, 2009.
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Loan Number
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“Collateral” shall
mean all of the real and personal property of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries
subject to a Lien in favor of Ridgestone pursuant to the Collateral Documents,
including, without limitation, the Owned Property and the equipment and
machinery set forth on Schedule 7.1(a)
hereto.
“Collateral Documents”
shall mean the Mortgages, the Security Agreement, the Guarantee Agreement and
such other guarantees, security agreements, mortgages, deeds of trust and other
credit enhancements as may be executed from time to time by the Borrower or
third parties in favor of Ridgestone in connection with this
Agreement.
“Current Ratio” shall
mean the relationship, expressed as a numerical ratio, which, with reference to
any period, that current assets bears to current
liabilities, measured on a first-in, first-out basis and including the borrowing
base on any lines of credit with other lenders as a current liability,
notwithstanding the maturity date for such lines of credit.
“Debt Payments” shall
mean and include for any period, and without duplication (a) all cash actually
expended by the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries to make interest payments on any
Advances, plus
(b) all cash actually expended by any the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries to make
payments for all fees, commissions and charges set forth in the PNC Loan
Agreement and with respect to any Advances, plus (c) all cash
actually expended by the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries to make payments on
Capitalized Lease Obligations, plus (d) without
duplication all cash actually expended by the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries to
make payments under any Plan to which the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries
is a party, plus (e) all cash
actually expended by the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries to make payments with
respect to any other Indebtedness for borrowed money (but excluding repayment of
Intercompany Loans and prepayments made on account of the loans under the
Ridgestone Loan Documents resulting from the sale of assets subject to the Liens
in favor of Ridgestone), plus (f) all cash expended by the Guarantor and its
Subsidiaries to make a prepayment of Revolving Advances to the extent that the
Maximum Revolving Advance Amount is permanently reduced by the amount of such
prepayment.
For
purposes of calculating Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio under this Agreement, (A)
interest payments for the quarters ending December 31, 2009, March 31, 2010 and
June 30, 2010 shall be calculated as follows: (i) for the quarter ending
December 31, 2009, interest payments will be the sum of (1) all cash actually
expended by the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries to make interest payments on any
Advances, plus
(2) $3,500,000; (ii) for the quarter ending March 31, 2010, interest payments
will be the sum of (1) all cash actually expended by the Guarantor and its
Subsidiaries to make interest payments on any Advances for the six month period
ending March 31, 2010, plus (2) $2,250,000;
and (iii) for the quarter ending June 30, 2010, interest payments will be the
sum of (1) all cash actually expended by the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries to
make interest payments on any Advances for the nine month period June 30, 2010,
plus (2)
$925,000, and (B) Debt Payments for the quarters ending December 31, 2009, March
31, 2010 and June 30, 2010 shall be modified to reflect an annualized payment on
account of the borrowed money from Ridgestone as follows: (i) for the quarter
ending December 31, 2009, the payments made to Ridgestone under the Ridgestone
Loan Documents for the period from the Closing Date through December 31, 2009
shall be multiplied by four (4); (ii) for the quarter ending March 31, 2010, the
payments made to Ridgestone under the Ridgestone Loan Documents for the period
from the Closing Date through March 31, 2010 shall be multiplied by two (2); and
(iii) for the quarter ending June 30, 2010, the payments made to Ridgestone
under the Ridgestone Loan Documents for the period from the Closing Date through
June 30, 2010 shall be multiplied by one and one-third (1 1/3).
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Loan Number
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For
purposes of calculating Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio under this Agreement, the
terms “Advances”, “Revolving Advances”, and “Maximum Revolving Advance Amount”
shall have the meanings given to such terms under the PNC Loan
Agreement.
“Default” shall mean
any event which would constitute an Event of Default but for the requirement
that notice be given or time elapse or both.
“Default Rate” shall
mean an annual rate equal to the Prime Rate plus
5.00%.
“Default Rate for
Advances” shall mean an annual rate equal to the Prime Rate plus
5.00%.
“Dispositions” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 4.4 of this Agreement.
“Distributions” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 4.6 of this Agreement.
“EBITDA” shall mean,
with respect to any period, the Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ net income
after taxes for such period (excluding any after-tax gains or losses on the sale
of assets and excluding other after-tax extraordinary gains or losses) plus interest
expense, income tax expense, depreciation, amortization and the items set forth
in Schedule
7.1(b) hereto for such period, less gains and losses
attributable to any fixed asset sales made during such period, plus or minus any other
non-cash charges or gains which have been subtracted or added in calculating net
income after taxes for such period, on a consolidated basis as determined in
accordance with GAAP and applied on a consistent basis to the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, for the applicable period preceding the date of
determination.
“Environmental
Assessment” shall mean a review of environmental conditions at the
Property undertaken by an independent environmental consultant satisfactory to
Ridgestone for the purpose of determining whether the Borrower, the Guarantor
and their Subsidiaries are in compliance with all Environmental Laws and whether
there exists any condition or circumstance which requires or will require
clean-up, removal or other remedial action under Environmental Laws on the part
of the Borrower, the Guarantor or their Subsidiaries and may include, but are
not limited to, some or all of the following: (a) on-site inspection,
including review of site geology, hydrogeology, demography, land use and
population; (b) taking and analyzing soil borings, installing ground water
monitoring xxxxx and analyzing samples taken from such xxxxx; (c) reviewing
plant permits, compliance records and regulatory correspondence relating to
environmental matters, and interviewing enforcement staff at regulatory
agencies; (d) reviewing the operations, procedures and documentation of the
Borrower, the Guarantor and their Subsidiaries relating to environmental
matters; (e) interviewing Xx. Xxxxx Xxxxx (or her successor, if applicable), and
interviewing past and present facility or plant managers of each Facility who,
through their employment, are or would have been familiar with such
environmental condition and who would typically be interviewed by an independent
environmental consulting conducting an environmental review; and
(f) reviewing all records and information regarding the past activities of
prior owners and prior or current tenants of the Facilities, to the extent such
information is available and is not required to be procured by the Borrower,
Guarantor or any of their Subsidiaries from a third party.
“Environmental Indemnity
Agreement” shall mean the Environmental Indemnity Agreement of even date
herewith between the Borrower, the Guarantor and Ridgestone, relating to the
Property, as the same may be amended or otherwise modified from time to
time.
“Environmental Laws”
shall mean any Law, including any common law, which relates to or otherwise
imposes liability or standards of conduct concerning discharges, emissions,
releases or threatened releases of pollutants, contaminants or hazardous or
toxic wastes, substances or materials, into air, water or groundwater, or land,
or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, generation, distribution,
use, treatment, storage, disposal, cleanup, transport or handling of pollutants,
contaminants, or hazardous or toxic wastes, substances or materials, including,
but not limited to CERCLA as amended, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
of 1976, as amended, the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, as amended, the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, the Clean Water Act of
1977, as amended, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, as amended, any so-called
“Superlien” law, and any other similar Federal, state or local
statutes.
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Loan Number
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“ERISA” shall mean the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended and as in effect
from time to time.
“Event of Default”
shall mean any Automatic Event of Default or any Notice Event of
Default.
“Facilities” shall
mean all real property and improvements now or hereafter owned, used or occupied
by the Borrower, the Guarantor or any of their Subsidiaries including, without
limitation, the Property.
“Financing Statements”
shall mean Uniform Commercial Code financing statements related to the
Collateral Documents.
“Fixed Charge Coverage
Ratio” shall mean and include, with respect to a fiscal period, the ratio
of (a) EBITDA, minus the sum of,
without duplication, Unfunded Capital Expenditures made during such period,
distributions (including tax distributions made during such period) and
dividends, cash taxes paid during such period to (b) all Debt Payments made
during such period.
“GAAP” shall mean
generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from time to time in the
United States of America, applied by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a
basis consistent with the preparation of the Borrower’s most recent financial
statements furnished to Ridgestone pursuant to Section 5.4(c)
hereof.
“Guarantee Agreement”
shall mean an unlimited guarantee agreement made by the Guarantor in favor of
Ridgestone, as the same is amended or otherwise modified from time to
time.
“Guarantor” shall mean
Xxxxxxx Outdoors Inc., a Wisconsin corporation, its successors and
assigns.
“Indebtedness” shall
mean all liabilities or obligations, whether primary or secondary or absolute or
contingent: (a) for borrowed money or for the deferred purchase
price of property or services (excluding trade obligations incurred in the
ordinary course of business, which are not the result of any borrowing or which
are not more than ninety (90) days past due); (b) as lessee under leases
that have been or should be capitalized according to GAAP; (c) evidenced by
notes, bonds, debentures or similar obligations; (d) under any guarantee or
endorsement (other than in connection with the deposit and collection of checks
in the ordinary course of business), and other contingent obligations to
purchase, provide funds for payment, supply funds to invest in any Person, or
otherwise assure a creditor against loss; (e) secured by any Liens on
assets, whether or not the obligations secured have been assumed; (f) any
unsatisfied obligation for “withdrawal liability” to a “multiemployer plan” as
such terms are defined under ERISA; or (g) any interest rate swap obligations or
similar obligations including all obligations under Swap
Agreements.
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Loan Number
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“Intercompany Loans”
shall mean temporary loans incurred from time to time by the Guarantor or any of
its Subsidiaries from another Subsidiary or Affiliate of the
Guarantor.
“Intercreditor
Agreement” shall mean the Intercreditor Agreement of even date herewith
by and between Ridgestone and PNC, as the same is amended or otherwise modified
from time to time.
“Investment” shall
mean: (a) any transfer or delivery of cash, Capital Securities
or other property or value by such Person in exchange for Indebtedness, Capital
Securities or any other security of another Person; (b) any loan, advance
or capital contribution to or in any other Person; (c) any guarantee,
creation or assumption of any liability or obligation of any other Person; and
(d) any investment in any fixed property or fixed assets other than fixed
properties and fixed assets acquired and used in the ordinary course of the
business of that Person.
“Xxxxxxx Family” shall
mean at any time, collectively, the estate of Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, the widow of
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, and the children and grandchildren of Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, the
executor or administrator of the estate or legal representative of any such
Person, all trusts for the benefit of the foregoing or their heirs or any one or
more of them, and all partnerships, corporations, or other entities directly or
indirectly controlled by the foregoing or any one or more of them.
“Law” shall mean any
federal, state, local or other law, rule, regulation or governmental requirement
of any kind, and the rules, regulations, written interpretations and orders
promulgated thereunder.
“Lien” shall mean,
with respect to any asset: (a) any mortgage, pledge, lien,
charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset;
or (b) the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale
agreement, financing lease or other title retention agreement relating to such
asset.
“Loan Documents” shall
mean this Agreement, the Term Note, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Collateral
Documents and any other document, instrument, contract or agreement executed by
the Borrower, the Guarantor or a Subsidiary in connection with this Agreement or
the Term Loan.
“Loan Note Guarantee”
shall mean a USDA Rural Development guarantee of repayment of seventy percent
(70%) of the Term Loan.
“Maine Property” shall
mean the land, together with the buildings and improvements thereon, located at
000 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx (a/k/a 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx), 00 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Street (a/k/a
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx), and 00 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxxxx, as more
particularly described on Exhibit E-1 attached
hereto.
“Maine Leased
Property” shall mean the land, together with the buildings and
improvements thereon, located at 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxxxx, as
more particularly described on Exhibit E-2 attached
hereto.
“Material Adverse
Effect” shall mean a material adverse effect on: (a) the
business, operations or financial condition of the Borrower, the Guarantor or
any of their Subsidiaries taken as a whole; or (b) the ability of the Borrower
or the Guarantor to perform their respective obligations under this Agreement,
the Collateral Documents, the Term Note or the other Obligations; or (c) the
validity or enforceability of this Agreement, the Term Note, any Collateral
Documents, any other Loan Document or the other Obligations.
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Loan Number
15614
“Material Agreements”
shall mean any and all written or oral material agreements or instruments to
which any Borrower or their assets or properties is subject, and all documents
or agreements to be executed in connection with the Senior Liens, including, but
not limited to, intercreditor agreements, subordination agreements, third party
financing agreements, leases, subleases, loan agreements, promissory notes and
partnership agreements.
“Mortgage” shall mean
the Mortgage, Assignment of Rents and Leases and Fixture Financing Statement of
even date herewith made by the Borrower in favor of Ridgestone granting to
Ridgestone a first-lien mortgage on the Washington Property, as the same are
amended or otherwise modified from time to time.
“Notice Event of
Default” shall mean any one or more of the following:
(a) the
Borrower shall fail to pay, within five (5) Business Days after written notice
from Ridgestone to the Borrower specifying such failure: (i) any
installment of the principal of the Term Note or any interest on the Term Note;
or (ii) any of the other Obligations; or (iii) any fee, expense or other
amount due under the Loan Documents or any of the other Obligations;
or
(b) there
shall be a default in the performance or observance of any of the covenants and
agreements contained in Article IV or Sections 5.2, 5.4, 5.6, 5.9, 5.10,
5.11 or 5.12 of this Agreement and, if such default is of a nature that can be
cured, such default shall have continued for a period of five (5) Business Days
after written notice from Ridgestone to the Borrower specifying such default and
requiring it to be remedied; or
(c) there
shall be a default in the performance or observance of any of the other
covenants, agreements or conditions contained in any Loan Document and such
default shall have continued for a period of thirty (30) calendar days after
written notice from Ridgestone to the Borrower specifying such default and
requiring it to be remedied; or
(d) any
representation or warranty made by the Borrower, the Guarantor or any of their
Subsidiaries in any Loan Document or financial statement delivered pursuant to
this Agreement shall prove to have been false in any material respect as of the
time when made or given; or
(e) any
non-appealable, final judgment or binding settlement agreement (or any final
judgment whatsoever that could reasonably be expected to result in a loss to the
Borrower, the Guarantor and/or their Subsidiaries, individually or together, in
an amount greater than Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000) higher than the
limit of the insurance policy coverage amount(s) that are reasonably likely to
be paid against such loss) shall be entered against the Borrower or any of its
Subsidiaries which, when aggregated with other final judgments against the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries would reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Effect and shall remain outstanding and unsatisfied, unbonded
or unstayed after sixty (60) days from the date of entry thereof; provided that
no final judgment shall be included in the calculation under this subsection to
the extent that the claim underlying such judgment is covered by insurance and
defense of such claim has been tendered to and accepted by the insurer without
reservation; or
(f) (i) any
Reportable Event (as defined in ERISA) shall have occurred which constitutes
grounds for the termination of any Plan by the PBGC or for the appointment of a
trustee to administer any Plan, or any Plan shall be terminated within the
meaning of Title IV of ERISA, or a trustee shall be appointed by the appropriate
court to administer any Plan, or the PBGC shall institute proceedings to
terminate any Plan or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan, or the
Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any trade or business which together with
the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries would be treated as a single employer
under Section 4001 of ERISA shall withdraw in whole or in part from a
multiemployer Plan, and (ii) the aggregate amount of the Borrower’s and its
Subsidiaries’ liability for all such occurrences, whether to a Plan, the PBGC or
otherwise, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect
and such liability is not covered for the benefit of the Borrower or its
Subsidiaries by insurance; or
25
Loan Number
15614
(g) the
Borrower, the Guarantor or any of their Subsidiaries (i) fail to perform or
observe any term, covenant or condition on its part to be performed or observed
under any agreement or instrument relating to any such Indebtedness to PNC or to
any other Secured Lender when required to be performed or observed, and (ii) such failure
shall not be waived and shall continue after the applicable grace period, if
any, specified in such agreement or instrument, and (iii) in the case
of PNC only, PNC has accelerated, with the giving of notice if required, the
maturity of such Indebtedness; or
(h) the
Borrower, the Guarantor or any of their Subsidiaries: (i) fail
to pay any amount of principal or interest when due (whether by scheduled
maturity, required prepayment, acceleration or otherwise) under any Indebtedness
to Ridgestone (other than the Term Note) and such failure shall continue after
the applicable grace period, if any, specified in any agreement or instrument
relating to such Indebtedness; or (ii) fail to perform or observe any term,
covenant or condition on its part to be performed or observed under any
agreement or instrument relating to any such Indebtedness to Ridgestone when
required to be performed or observed, and such failure shall not be waived and
shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in such
agreement or instrument, if the effect of such failure to perform or observe is
to accelerate, or to permit acceleration of, with the giving of notice if
required, the maturity of such Indebtedness; or
(i) any
Collateral Document shall cease to be in full force and effect as a result of
the default, negligent act or inaction, or misconduct of the Borrower;
or
(j) the
Borrower shall fail to pay any amount owed by it under any Swap Agreement or
shall fail to perform any terms or conditions or covenants contained in any Swap
Agreement and any grace periods provided therefore shall have
lapsed.
“OFAC” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 8.17 of this Agreement.
“Obligations” shall
mean: (a) the outstanding principal of, and all interest on, the
Term Note, and any renewal, extension or refinancing thereof; (b) all
debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and agreements of the Borrower
contained in this Agreement, the Term Note and the Collateral Documents,
including, without limitation, any and all fees and expenses, including
reasonably attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with enforcing any obligations
of Ridgestone under any of the Loan Documents or any other Obligations, both
before and after judgment and all other fees and expenses set forth in the
Obligations; and (c) all debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and
agreements of Borrower to Ridgestone contained in any Swap Agreement; and (d)
any and all other debts, liabilities and obligations of the Borrower to
Ridgestone.
“Owned Property” shall
mean the Maine Property and the Washington Property.
“Patriot Act” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 8.17 of this Agreement.
“PBGC” shall mean
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any entity succeeding to any or all of
its functions under ERISA.
26
Loan Number
15614
“Permitted
Indebtedness” shall mean: (a) Indebtedness of the
Borrower and its Subsidiaries to Ridgestone; (b) Purchase Money Indebtedness
secured by Purchase Money Liens, which Indebtedness shall not exceed One Million
Dollars ($1,000,000) per year on a noncumulative consolidated basis; (c) other
Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business, which Indebtedness
shall not exceed Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00) on a consolidated basis at
any time during the term of the Loan; (d) unsecured accounts payable and other
unsecured obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business and not as a
result of any borrowing; (e) Indebtedness secured by the Permitted Liens listed
on Exhibit D
attached hereto, and the Indebtedness of Borrower, Guarantor and their
Subsidiaries to PNC; (f) inter-company Indebtedness which is reflected on
Borrower’s and/or Guarantor’s financial statements; (g) Indebtedness incurred in
connection with any governmental loans, debt obligations, incentives, revenue
bonds, and similar loan or debt programs which provide funds at rates and on
terms that are generally more beneficial to Borrower, Guarantor and their
Subsidiaries, as applicable, than those commercially available from traditional
lenders such as Ridgestone and PNC, provided that such Indebtedness shall not
exceed the aggregate sum of Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000); (h) other
Indebtedness to PNC, other lenders, and/or the Xxxxxxx Family incurred on a
temporary basis in the ordinary course of business, which Indebtedness shall not
exceed Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000) outstanding at any given time; and (i)
with respect to each of the foregoing, all extensions, renewals and replacements
of such Indebtedness with Indebtedness of a similar type.
“Permitted Liens”
shall mean:
(a) Liens in
favor of Ridgestone;
(b) Liens for
taxes, assessments, or governmental charges, or levies that are not yet due and
payable or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and
for which adequate reserves have been established;
(c) zoning
ordinances, easements, restrictions, minor title irregularities and similar
matters which have no material adverse effect as a practical matter upon the
ownership and use of the affected property;
(d) Liens or
deposits in connection with workmen’s compensation, unemployment insurance,
social security, ERISA or similar legislation or to secure customs’ duties,
public or statutory obligations in lieu of surety, stay or appeal bonds, or to
secure performance of contracts or bids (other than contracts for the payment of
borrowed money) or deposits required by law as a condition to the transaction of
business or other liens or deposits of a like nature made in the ordinary course
of business;
(e) Purchase
Money Liens securing purchase money Indebtedness which is permitted
hereunder;
(f) Liens in
favor of bailees, shippers, or warehousemen arising in the ordinary course of
the Borrower’s business;
(g) any
Liens securing Permitted Indebtedness hereunder; and
(h) any
Liens that are approved by Ridgestone and listed on Exhibit D attached
hereto including, but not limited to, Liens in favor of PNC set forth on Exhibit D attached
hereto.
“Permitted
Transaction” shall mean and include (a) a merger of any of Guarantor’s
Subsidiaries into Guarantor or into any other of Guarantor’s Subsidiaries;
and/or (b) the liquidation or merger of any of Guarantor’s foreign
(non-domestic) Subsidiaries.
27
Loan Number
15614
“Person” shall mean
and include an individual, partnership, limited liability entity, corporation,
trust, unincorporated association and any unit, department or agency of
government.
“Plan” shall mean each
pension, profit sharing, stock bonus, thrift, savings and employee stock
ownership plan established or maintained, or to which contributions have been
made, by the Borrower, the Guarantor or any of their Subsidiaries or any trade
or business which together with the Borrower, the Guarantor or any of their
Subsidiaries would be treated as a single employer under Section 4001 of
ERISA.
“PNC” shall mean PNC
Bank, National Association, a national banking association, its successors and
assigns.
“PNC Loan Agreement”
shall mean that certain Revolving Credit and Security Agreement dated as of the
Closing Date, among the Guarantor, the Borrower, Xxxxxxx Outdoors Watercraft
Inc., Xxxxxxx Outdoors Gear LLC, Xxxxxxx Outdoors Diving LLC, Under Sea
Industries, Inc., the financial institutions which are now or which hereafter
become a party thereto, and PNC, as administrative
agent and collateral agent for the lenders named therein.
“PNC Loan Documents”
shall mean, collectively, (i) the PNC Loan Agreement and (ii) the Other
Documents (as such term is defined in the PNC Loan Agreement).
“Prime Rate” shall
mean the Prime Rate of interest published in The Wall Street Journal from
time to time. Each change in any rate of interest computed by
reference to the Prime Rate, if any, shall take effect on the first day of each
calendar quarter (i.e.,
January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1).
“Property” shall mean
the Owned Property and the Maine Leased Property.
“Purchase Money Liens”
shall mean Liens securing purchase money Indebtedness incurred in connection
with the acquisition of capital assets by the Borrower, Guarantor or any of
their Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, provided that such Liens
do not extend to or cover assets or properties other than those purchased in
connection with the purchase in which such Indebtedness was incurred and that
the obligation secured by any such Lien so created shall not exceed one hundred
percent (100%) of the cost of the property covered thereby.
“Renewal Fee” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 1.3(c) of this Agreement.
“Restricted Payments”
shall mean any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or
other property) with respect to any equity interests in Borrower, Guarantor or
any of their Subsidiaries, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other
property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the
purchase or repurchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or
termination of any such equity interests in the Borrower, Guarantor or any of
their Subsidiaries.
“Ridgestone” shall
have the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this
Agreement.
“Ridgestone Loan
Documents” shall mean, collectively (i) this Agreement, (ii) that
certain Loan Agreement by and between Ridgestone and Xxxxxxx Outdoors
Gear LLC dated as of the Closing Date, (iii) that certain Loan
Agreement by and between Ridgestone, Xxxxxxx Outdoors Marine Electronics LLC,
and Techsonic Industries, Inc. dated as of the Closing Date and (iv) each of the
other Loan Documents (as defined in each of the foregoing documents), together
with all schedules, exhibits, instruments and other documents executed or
delivered in connection therewith, each as the same may be amended, restated or
supplemented from time to time.
28
Loan Number
15614
“Secured Lender” shall
mean (a) any Person with which the Borrower, the Guarantor or any of their
Subsidiaries has any Indebtedness and who holds a Lien or Liens on any
Collateral to secure such Indebtedness and such Indebtedness is greater than One
Million Dollars ($1,000,000), or (b) any Person with which the Borrower, the
Guarantor or any of their Subsidiaries has any Indebtedness and such
Indebtedness is greater than Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000).
“Security Agreement”
shall mean the Security Agreement of even date herewith between the Guarantor
and Ridgestone, as the same are amended or otherwise modified from time to
time.
“Senior Liens” shall
mean the Liens that are set forth on Exhibit F attached
hereto.
“Subsidiary” shall
mean with respect to any Person (the “parent”) at any date, any corporation,
limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts
of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s
consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in
accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation, limited
liability company, partnership, association or other entity (a) of which Capital
Securities representing fifty percent (50%) of the equity or more than fifty
percent (50%) of the ordinary voting power are, as of such date, owned,
controlled or held, or (b) that is, as of such date, otherwise controlled by the
parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or
more subsidiaries of the parent.
“Swap Agreement” shall
mean any agreement governing any transaction now existing or hereafter entered
into between the Borrower and Ridgestone or any of its Subsidiaries or their
successors, which is a rate swap, basis swap, forward rate transaction,
commodity swap, commodity option, equity or equity index swap, equity or equity
index option, bond option, interest rate option, foreign exchange transaction,
cap transaction, floor transaction, collar transaction, forward transaction,
currency swap transaction, cross-currency rate swap transaction, currency option
or any other similar transaction (including any option with respect to any of
these transactions) or any combination thereof, whether linked to one or more
interest rates, foreign currencies, commodity prices, equity prices or other
financial measures.
“Tangible Net Worth”
shall mean the Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ shareholders’ or members’ equity
(including retained earnings), less the book value
of all intangible assets as determined by Borrower on a consistent basis, less prepaid
expenses, less
amounts due from officers, employees and Affiliates and investments, less leasehold
improvements, plus the amount of
any LIFO reserve, plus the amount of
any debt subordinated to Ridgestone, all as determined under GAAP applied on a
basis consistent with the financial statements dated July 3, 2009, except as set
forth herein.
“Term Loan” shall mean
the non-revolving basis loan made to the Borrower by Ridgestone pursuant to
Section 1.1 of this Agreement.
“Term Loan Termination
Date” shall mean the earlier of October 1, 2034, and the date on which
the Term Loan becomes due and payable pursuant to Section 6.1 of this
Agreement.
“Term Note” shall mean
the promissory note of even date herewith made by the Borrower to Ridgestone
evidencing the Term Loan and all amendments thereto and all renewals, extensions
or refinancings thereof.
29
Loan Number
15614
“Total Debt” shall
mean (i) all Indebtedness for borrowed money (including without limitation,
Indebtedness evidenced by promissory notes, bonds, debentures and similar
interest-bearing instruments), plus (ii) all purchase money Indebtedness, plus
(iii) the principal portion of capital lease obligations, plus (iv) all
reimbursement obligations and other obligations with respect to any letters of
credit, all as determined for the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis as of the date of determination, without duplication, and in
accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis.
“Total Debt to Book Net
Worth” shall mean the relationship, expressed as a numerical ratio,
between Total Debt and Book Net Worth.
“Unfunded Capital
Expenditures” shall mean Capital Expenditures made through Revolving
Advances (as such term is defined in the PNC Loan Agreement) or out of the
Guarantor’s own funds other than through equity contributed subsequent to the
Closing Date or purchase money or other financing or lease transactions
permitted hereunder.
“USDA” shall mean the
United States Department of Agriculture.
“USDA Guarantee” shall
mean a Rural Development Unconditional Guarantee (Form RD 4279-14) executed by
the Guarantor.
“Washington Property”
shall mean the land, together the buildings and improvements thereon, located at
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, as more particularly described on
Exhibit E-3
attached hereto.
7.2 Interpretation. The
foregoing definitions are equally applicable to both the singular and plural
forms of the terms defined. The words “hereof”, “herein”, and
“hereunder” as words of like import when used in this Agreement shall refer to
this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this
Agreement. Where the character or amount of any asset or liability or
item of income or expense is required to be determined or any consolidation or
other accounting computation is required to be made for the purposes of this
Agreement, it shall be done in accordance with GAAP except where such principles
are inconsistent with the specific provisions of this Agreement.
ARTICLE
VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
8.1 Expenses and Attorneys’
Fees. The Borrower shall pay all reasonable fees
and expenses incurred by Ridgestone and any loan participants, including the
reasonable fees of counsel (written invoices for which shall be delivered to the
Borrower upon written request for the same), in connection with the preparation,
issuance, maintenance and amendment of the Loan Documents and the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and the administration,
protection and enforcement of Ridgestone’s rights under the Loan Documents, or
with respect to the Collateral, including without limitation the protection and
enforcement of such rights in any bankruptcy, reorganization or insolvency
proceeding involving the Borrower, the Guarantor or any of their Subsidiaries,
both before and after judgment. The Borrower further agrees to pay on
demand all reasonable internal audit fees and accountants’ fees incurred by
Ridgestone in connection with the maintenance and enforcement of the Loan
Documents or any other collateral security.
8.2 Assignability;
Successors. The Borrower’s rights and liabilities under this
Agreement are not assignable or delegable, in whole or in part, without the
prior written consent of Ridgestone. The provisions of this Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the permitted successors and
assigns of the parties.
30
Loan Number
15614
8.3 Survival. All
agreements, representations and warranties made in this Agreement or in any
document delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the execution and
delivery of this Agreement, the issuance of the Term Note and the delivery of
any such document.
8.4 Governing
Law. To the extent permitted by the laws of the State of
Washington, this Agreement, the Term Note, the Collateral Documents and the
other instruments, agreements and documents issued pursuant to this Agreement
shall be governed by, and construed and interpreted in accordance with, the Laws
of the State of Wisconsin applicable to agreements made and wholly performed
within such state.
8.5 Counterparts;
Headings. This Agreement may be executed in several
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed original, but such counterparts
shall together constitute but one and the same agreement. The table
of contents and article and section headings in this Agreement are inserted for
convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this
Agreement.
8.6 Entire Agreement;
Schedules. This Agreement, the Term Note, the Collateral
Documents and the other documents referred to herein and therein contain the
entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter
hereof. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties, covenants or
undertakings other than those expressly set forth in this
Agreement. This Agreement supersedes all prior negotiations,
agreements and undertakings between the parties with respect to such subject
matter. Ridgestone agrees that for purposes of completing and
delivering the Schedules to this Agreement any information disclosed by the
Borrower in one Schedule shall be deemed to be a disclosure on other Schedule(s)
provided that the Schedule in which the information is disclosed is specifically
referenced in such other Schedule(s).
8.7 Notices. All
communications or notices required or permitted by this Agreement shall be in
writing and shall be deemed to have been given: (a) upon
delivery if hand delivered; or (b) upon deposit in the United States mail,
postage prepaid, or with a nationally recognized overnight commercial carrier,
airbill prepaid; or (c) upon transmission if by facsimile, provided that
such transmission is promptly confirmed by hand delivery, mail or courier as
provided above, and each such communication or notice shall be addressed as
follows, unless and until any party notifies the other in accordance with this
Section 8.7 of a change of address:
If
to the Borrower:
Xxxxxxx
Outdoors Global
000
Xxxx Xx.
Xxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxxx Xxxxx
Fax
No.: (000) 000-0000
with
a copy to:
Xxxxxxx
& Xxxx, S.C.
000
X. Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Fax
No.: (000) 000-0000
If
to Ridgestone:
Ridgestone
Bank
00000
Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Fax
No.: (000) 000-0000
with
a copy to:
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx LLP
0000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Fax
No.: (000) 000-0000
|
31
Loan
Number 15614
8.8 Amendment. No
amendment of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing and signed by
the Borrower and Ridgestone.
8.9 Taxes. If
any transfer or documentary taxes, assessments or charges levied by any
governmental authority shall be payable by reason of the execution, delivery or
recording of this Agreement, the Term Note, the Collateral Documents or any
other document or instrument issued or delivered pursuant to this Agreement, the
Borrower shall pay all such taxes, assessments and charges, including interest
and penalties, and hereby indemnifies Ridgestone against any liability
therefor.
8.10 Severability. Any
provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of
such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining
provisions of this Agreement in such jurisdiction or affecting the validity or
enforceability of any provision in any other jurisdiction.
8.11 Indemnification. Unless
caused by the negligence or willful misconduct of Ridgestone or Ridgestone’s
failure to comply with any of its obligations hereunder, the Borrower hereby
agrees to indemnify, defend and hold Ridgestone harmless from and against all
loss, liability, damage and expense, including costs associated with
administrative and judicial proceedings and attorneys’ fees, suffered or
incurred by Ridgestone arising out of or related to: (i) any
Borrower’s or any Subsidiary’s failure to comply with any Environmental Law, or
any order of any regulatory or administrative authority with respect thereto;
(ii) any release of petroleum products or hazardous materials or substances on,
upon or into real property owned, operated or controlled by the Borrower or any
Subsidiary; and (iii) any and all damage to natural resources or real property
or harm or injury to Persons resulting or alleged to have resulted from any
failure to comply or any release of petroleum products or hazardous materials or
substances as described in clauses (i) and (ii) above. All
indemnities set forth in this Agreement shall survive the execution and delivery
of this Agreement and the Term Note and the making and repayment of the Term
Loan.
The
Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify Ridgestone against all losses, liabilities,
claims, damages and expenses including, but not limited to, reasonable
attorneys’ fees and settlement costs resulting from or relating to: (a) any
Borrower’s or any Subsidiary’s failure to comply with any of its obligations
hereunder, its negligence or its intentional misconduct; (b) the Borrower’s use
of any proceeds of the Term Loan.
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Loan Number
15614
Upon and
after an Event of Default, the Borrower hereby grants and licenses to Ridgestone
full and complete access, for itself, its employees and representatives
(including without limitation independent engineering consultants retained by
Ridgestone), to the Property, and to the books and records of the Borrower
relating to the Facilities, in order to conduct an Environmental Assessment from
time to time as Ridgestone may deem necessary in its commercially reasonable
discretion for the purpose of confirming Borrower’s compliance with
Environmental Laws. The license granted by this paragraph is
irrevocable. The Borrower shall reimburse Ridgestone for all
reasonable costs and expenses associated with any Environmental Assessment
obtained by Ridgestone under this paragraph if the Borrower were obligated to
obtain and provide to Ridgestone an Environmental Assessment pursuant to Section
5.10 of this Agreement and failed to do so or if any Event of Default shall have
occurred. The Borrower and Ridgestone agree that there is no adequate
remedy at law for the damage that Ridgestone might sustain for failure of the
Borrower to permit Ridgestone to exercise and enjoy the license granted by this
paragraph and, accordingly, Ridgestone shall be entitled at its option to the
remedy of specific performance to enforce such license.
8.12 Participation. Ridgestone
may at any time and from time to time, grant to any bank or banks a
participation in any part of the Term Loan. All of the
representations, warranties and covenants of the Borrower in this Agreement are
also made to any participant with the same force and effect as if expressly so
made.
8.13 Inconsistent
Provisions. The provisions of the Collateral Documents, the
Term Note and this Agreement are not intended to supersede the provisions of
each other or this Agreement, but shall be construed as supplemental to this
Agreement and to each other. In the event of any inconsistency
between the provisions of the Collateral Documents and this Agreement, it is
intended that the provisions of this Agreement shall control. In the
event of any inconsistency between the provisions of the Term Note and this
Agreement, it is intended that the provisions of this the Term Note shall
control.
8.14 WAIVER OF
RIGHT TO JURY TRIAL. RIDGESTONE AND THE BORROWER ACKNOWLEDGE
AND AGREE THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, THE TERM
NOTE AND THE COLLATERAL DOCUMENTS OR WITH RESPECT TO THE TRANSACTION
CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY WOULD BE BASED UPON DIFFICULT AND COMPLEX ISSUES
AND, THEREFORE, THE PARTIES AGREE THAT ANY LAWSUIT ARISING OUT OF ANY SUCH
CONTROVERSY SHALL BE TRIED IN A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION BY A JUDGE
SITTING WITHOUT A JURY AND THE BORROWER HEREBY WAIVES ALL RIGHTS TO A JURY
TRIAL.
8.15 TIME OF
ESSENCE. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE FOR THE PERFORMANCE BY THE
BORROWER OF THE OBLIGATIONS SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT, THE NOTE, THE
COLLATERAL DOCUMENTS AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS.
8.16 SUBMISSION
TO JURISDICTION; SERVICE OF PROCESS. AS A MATERIAL
INDUCEMENT TO RIDGESTONE TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT:
(a) THE
BORROWER AGREES THAT, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON, ALL ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS IN ANY MANNER RELATING TO OR ARISING OUT
OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE NOTE OR THE OTHER COLLATERAL DOCUMENTS MAY BE BROUGHT
ONLY IN COURTS OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN LOCATED IN MILWAUKEE COUNTY OR THE
FEDERAL COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF WISCONSIN AND THE BORROWER CONSENTS TO
THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS. THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON WILL GOVERN
THE FORECLOSURE AND DISPOSITON OF THE PROPERTY. THE BORROWER WAIVES
ANY OBJECTION IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH COURT AND
ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH ACTION OR
PROCEEDING IS IN AN INCONVENIENT COURT; and
33
Loan Number
15614
(b) The
Borrower consents to the service of process in any such action or proceeding by
certified mail sent to the address specified in Section 8.7; and
(c) Nothing
contained herein shall affect the right of Ridgestone to serve process in any
other manner permitted by law or to commence an action or proceeding in any
other jurisdiction.
8.17 USA Patriot
Act. Ridgestone hereby notifies the Borrower and each of its
Subsidiaries that pursuant to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III
of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Patriot Act”), it is
required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies the Borrower
and each of its Subsidiaries, which information includes the name and address of
the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries and other information that will allow
Ridgestone to identify the Borrower, each of its Subsidiaries in accordance with
the Patriot Act and the Borrower agree to provide such information. Borrower
shall (a) ensure that no person who owns a controlling interest in or otherwise
controls Borrower or any affiliated entity is or shall be listed on the
“Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Person List” or other similar lists
maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), the
Department of the Treasury, or included in any Executive Orders, (b) not use or
permit the use of the proceeds of the loans to violate any of the foreign asset
control regulations of OFAC or any enabling statute or Executive Order relating
thereto, and (c) comply, and cause each affiliated entity to comply, with all
applicable Bank Secrecy Act laws and regulations, as amended.
8.18 Joint and Several
Obligations. In the event the Borrower consists of more than
one Person, then all liabilities, obligations and undertakings of the Borrower
pursuant to this Agreement and each other Loan Document to which any Borrower is
a party shall be the joint and several obligations of the Borrower.
[Signature
Page Follows]
34
Loan
Number 15614
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day
and year first above written.
XXXXXXX
OUTDOORS WATERCRAFT INC.,
a
Delaware corporation
By: /s/
Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxxxxx
Name:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx
Title:
Treasurer
RIDGESTONE
BANK,
a
Wisconsin banking corporation
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxx
Name:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Title:
Vice President
35
Loan
Number 15614
LIST OF EXHIBITS AND
SCHEDULES
Exhibits
|
|
Exhibit
A
|
Amortization
Schedule
|
Exhibit
B
|
Form
of Officer’s Certificate
|
Exhibit
C
|
Form
of Borrower’s Certification
|
Exhibit
D
|
Permitted
Liens
|
Exhibit
E-1
|
Description
of Maine Property
|
Exhibit
E-2
|
Description
of Maine Leased Property
|
Exhibit
E-3
|
Description
of Washington Property
|
Exhibit
F
|
Senior
Liens
|
Schedules
|
|
Schedule
3.2
|
Closing
Date Balance Sheet
|
Schedule
3.4
|
Ownership
Structure
|
Schedule
3.7
|
Litigation
and Defaults
|
Schedule
3.9
|
Leases
|
Schedule
3.14
|
Compliance
with Laws
|
Schedule
3.15
|
Environmental
|
Schedule
3.16
|
Tanks
|
Schedule
3.17
|
Other
Environmental Conditions
|
Schedule
3.18
|
Environmental
Judgments, Decrees and Orders
|
Schedule
3.19
|
Environmental
Permits and Licenses
|
Schedule
4.6
|
Stock
Option and Other Benefit Plans
|
Schedule
4.9
|
Guarantees
|
Schedule
4.18
|
Compensation
|
Schedule
7.1(a)
|
Description
of Certain Collateral
|