Exhibit 10.4
MASTER AMENDMENT TO LOAN DOCUMENTS
(Sparton Corporation — Line of Credit)
     This Master Amendment to Loan Documents (the “Amendment”) dated as of
April 21, 2008 and effective as of March 31, 2008 is made by and between Sparton
Corporation, an Ohio corporation (“Borrower”); Sparton Medical Systems, Inc.
f/k/a Astro Instrumentation, Inc., a Michigan corporation (“Sparton Medical”);
Sparton Technology, Inc., a New Mexico corporation (“Sparton Technology”);
Spartronics, Inc., a Michigan corporation (“Spartronics”); Sparton Electronics
Florida, Inc., a Florida corporation (“Sparton Florida”) and Sparton of Canada,
Limited, a Canadian corporation (“Sparton Canada”) (each of Sparton Medical,
Sparton Technology, Spartronics, Sparton Florida and Sparton Canada may be
referred individually as a “Guarantor” and collectively, as the “Guarantors”)
and National City Bank, a national banking association (the “Lender”).
RECITALS
     A. The Lender has made a line of credit loan (the “Line of Credit Loan”) to
Borrower in the original principal amount of Twenty Million and No/100 Dollars
($20,000,000.00), which Line of Credit Loan is evidenced by, among other
documents, that certain: (1) Promissory Note and Promissory Note Covenant
Exhibit (the “Covenant Exhibit”), each dated January 22, 2008 (collectively, the
“Sparton Corporation Note”); and (2) Amended and Restated Security Agreement of
even date herewith (the “Sparton Corporation Security Agreement”, and together
with the Sparton Corporation Note and all other documents now or hereafter
executed in connection therewith, including, without limitation, the Guarantees
(defined below), the “Sparton Corporation Loan Documents”).
     B. The Borrower’s obligations under the Sparton Corporation Loan Documents
have been guaranteed by the Guarantors pursuant to those Commercial Security
Guaranty agreements, each dated January 22, 2008, signed by each Guarantor
(each, a “Guaranty” and collectively, the “Guarantees”).
     C. The Lender has also made a term loan (the “Term Loan”) to Sparton
Medical in the original principal amount of Ten Million and No/100 Dollars
($10,000,000.00), which Term Loan is evidenced by a Promissory Note dated
May 30, 2006, as amended and Promissory Note Covenant Exhibit dated August 1,
2007, as amended (the “Sparton Medical Note, and together with all other
documents now or hereafter executed in connection therewith including, without
limitation, the Guarantees, the “Sparton Medical Loan Documents”).
     D. Borrower has requested certain modifications to the terms of the Line of
Credit Loan and the Sparton Corporation Loan Documents and Lender is willing to
make such modifications subject to the terms of this Amendment.
     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing Recitals and other good
and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the
Borrower, Guarantors and the Lender hereby agree as follows:

 

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     1. Cross Default. Any default or Event of Default under any of the Sparton
Medical Loan Documents shall constitute a default and Event of Default under the
Sparton Corporation Loan Documents.
     2. Cross Collateralization. Any collateral now or hereafter given to Bank
as security for repayment of the Borrower’s obligations under Line of Credit
Loan and the Sparton Corporation Loan Documents shall be collateral for the
repayment of Sparton Medical’s obligations under the Term Loan and the Sparton
Medical Loan Documents. Any collateral now or hereafter given to Bank as
security for the repayment of Sparton Medical’s obligations under the Term Loan
and the Sparton Medical Loan Documents shall be collateral for the repayment of
obligations under the Line of Credit Loan and the Sparton Corporation Loan
Documents.
     3. Interest Rate. The third paragraph of the Sparton Corporation Note
entitled “Variable Interest Rate” shall be amended to replace “1.250 percentage
points over the Index” with “3.0 percentage points over the Index”.
     4. Discretionary Advances. The Sparton Corporation Note shall be amended to
add the following as a new paragraph on page 1 of the Sparton Corporation Note
before the paragraph entitled “DEFAULT”:
“ADVANCES: Any and all advances under the Line of Credit Loan shall be
discretionary and made only in the Lender’s sole and absolute discretion. Lender
shall have no obligation to make any advance under the Line of Credit Loan.”
     5. Financial Reporting Requirements. The following shall be added to
Section 1A of the Covenant Exhibit as new subsections (g), (h), and (i):
“(g) With respect to Borrower’s engagement of Chikol Equities, Inc. (“Chikol”)
as a consultant: (i) the Lender shall have the right to schedule weekly meetings
and/or conference calls with Chikol, in which Borrower shall be permitted to
participate; and (ii) within five (5) days following Lender’s request, Borrower
shall provide Lender with copies of such documents and information now or
hereafter prepared or delivered by Chikol, as may be reasonably requested by the
Lender.
(h) Within twenty-one (21) days following the date of the Master Amendment to
Loan Documents dated April 21, 2008 by and among the Lender, the Borrower and
the Guarantors (the “Master Amendment”), a thirteen (13) week cashflow
projection for the Borrower, Sparton Medical and their subsidiaries, on a
consolidating and consolidated basis, with detail on receipts, disbursements and
required borrowings under the Line of Credit, together with a complete set of
assumptions for the projections, all of which shall be acceptable to the Lender.
The Borrower hereby authorizes the Bank to review and discuss such projections
with Chikol;

 

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(i) Within seventy five (75) days following the date of the Master Amendment,
the Borrower shall provide the Bank with fiscal year 2009 projections for the
Borrower, Sparton Medical and their subsidiaries, on a consolidating and
consolidated basis, including, without limitation, an income statement and
balance sheet, together with a complete set of assumptions for the projections,
all of which shall be acceptable to the Lender;”
     6. Maximum Debt Covenant. Section 2.2 of the Promissory Note Covenant
Exhibit shall be amended and restated as follows:
“2.2 Maximum Net Debt. Borrower shall not suffer or permit the (i) the
Borrower’s and (ii) Sparton Medical Systems, Inc.’s aggregate senior Bank debt
less aggregate cash and marketable securities to be more than the following:

      Maximum Net Debt     Measurement Date   Maximum Net Debt
 
   
March 31, 2008
  $13,000,000

Each Maximum Net Debt Measurement Period shall be as of the Borrower’s fiscal
quarter-end as stated.
Within fifteen (15) days following receipt of the information and projections
required to be delivered under Section 1.A (g), (h), and (i) of the Loan
Agreement, Lender shall provide Borrower with the required Maximum Net Debt
amounts for the quarters ending June 30, 2008, September 30, 2008 and
December 31, 2008, together with an amendment to the Covenant Exhibit to
incorporate such required amounts. No advances under the Line of Credit Loan
shall be made following the Lender’s delivery of such amendment until such time
that the Borrower delivers to Lender a fully executed copy of such amendment
signed by the Borrower and the Guarantors. In the event such signed amendment is
not delivered within five (5) days following the Lender’s delivery thereof, it
shall constitute an immediate Event of Default.”
     7. Guarantees. The second sentence of the second paragraph contained in
each of the Guarantees shall be amended and restated as follows:
“‘Indebtedness’ includes, without limitation, loans, advances, debts, overdraft
indebtedness, credit card indebtedness, lease obligations, guaranty obligations,
liabilities and obligations under any interest rate protection agreements or
foreign currency exchange agreements or commodity price protection agreements,
other obligations, and liabilities of Borrower and/or Sparton Medical Systems,
Inc. (“Sparton Medical”), and any present or future judgments against Borrower
and/or Sparton Medical, future advances, loans or transactions that renew,
extend, modify,

 

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refinance, consolidate or substitute these debts, liabilities and obligations
whether: voluntarily or involuntarily incurred; due or to become due by their
terms of acceleration; absolute or contingent; liquidated or unliquidated;
determined or undetermined; direct or indirect; primary or secondary in nature
of arising from a guaranty or surety; secured or unsecured; joint or several or
joint and several; evidenced by a negotiable or non-negotiable instrument or
writing; originated by Lender or another or others; barred or unenforceable
against Borrower and/or Sparton Medical for any reason whatsoever; for any
transactions that may be voidable for any reason (such as infancy, insanity,
ultra vires or otherwise); and originated then reduced or extinguished and then
afterwards increased or reinstated.”
     8. Choice of Law. Notwithstanding anything contained to the contrary in any
of the Sparton Corporation Loan Documents (excluding the Security Agreement of
even date herewith executed and delivered by Sparton Canada) including, without
limitation, the Guarantees, the Sparton Corporation Loan Documents (excluding
the Security Agreement of even date herewith executed and delivered by Sparton
Canada) shall be governed by and construed according to the laws of the State of
Michigan without regard to conflict of law principles in such state.
     9. Conditions Precedent. Borrower shall satisfy the following conditions
simultaneous with delivery of this signed Amendment and this Amendment shall not
be effective until all of the following have been satisfied to Lender’s
reasonable satisfaction:

  (a)   Borrower shall have delivered to Lender a copy of its agreement for the
engagement of Chikol;     (b)   Borrower shall have delivered executed Security
Agreements in favor of Lender from each Guarantor;     (c)   Borrower shall have
delivered authorizing resolutions for Borrower and each Guarantor authorizing
each such party to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this
Amendment, the above referenced Security Agreements and all such other documents
executed in connection herewith;     (d)   Borrower and Guarantors shall have
delivered each of their certified articles of incorporation and certified bylaws
as requested by Lender; and     (e)   Borrower shall have paid all of Lender’s
costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Line of Credit Loan, the
Sparton Corporation Loan Documents and this Amendment including, without
limitation, UCC search expenses, certified organizational document fees and
Lender’s attorney fees.

     10. Reaffirmation of Borrower. Borrower hereby reaffirms the
representations and warranties contained in the Sparton Corporation Loan
Documents as if made as of the date of this Agreement. Borrower has fully
complied with all covenants and agreements to be complied with or performed by
it under the Sparton Corporation Loan Documents to which it is a party

 

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and Borrower is not presently in default under any Sparton Corporation Loan
Document to which it is a party. Borrower has the full power and authority to
enter into this Amendment.
     11. Reaffirmation of Guarantors. Guarantors agree to the terms set forth in
this Amendment, reaffirm all of their obligations under the Guarantees and
represent and warrant that no defenses or counterclaims exist with respect to
their obligations under the Guarantees. Each Guarantor reaffirms the
representations and warranties contained in the Guarantees as if made as of the
date of this Agreement. Each Guarantor represents and warrants that each of them
has fully complied with all covenants and agreements to be complied with or
performed by its under the Guarantees and no Guarantor is presently in default
under any term of the Guarantees. Each Guarantor has the full power and
authority to enter into this Agreement.
     12. Full Force and Effect. Borrower and Guarantors expressly acknowledge
and agree that except as expressly stated in this Amendment, the Sparton
Corporation Loan Documents, as amended, remain in full force and effect and are
ratified, confirmed and restated.
     13. Costs. Borrower is responsible for all costs incurred by Lender,
including without limit reasonable attorney fees, with regard to the Line of
Credit Loan, the Sparton Corporation Loan Documents and the preparation,
negotiation and execution of this Amendment and such other documents necessary
in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder.
     14. No Waiver. The execution of this Amendment shall not be deemed to be a
waiver of any now or hereafter existing default or Event of Default.
     15. Governing Law. This Amendment shall be governed by and construed
according to the laws of the State of Michigan without regard to conflict of law
principles in such state.
     16. Submission to Jurisdiction. Borrower and each Guarantor hereby waives
any plea of jurisdiction or venue on the ground that Borrower or any Guarantor
is not a resident of Oakland County or Wayne County, Michigan, and hereby
specifically authorizes any action brought to enforce Borrower’s or any
Guarantor’s obligations to the Lender to be instituted and prosecuted in either
the Circuit Court of Oakland County, Michigan, the Circuit Court of Wayne
County, Michigan, or in the United States District Court for the Eastern
District of Michigan at the election of Lender, and Borrower and each Guarantor
hereby submits to the jurisdiction of such Court. Borrower and each Guarantor
further agrees and consents that, in addition to any methods of service of
process provided for under applicable law, all service of process in any
proceeding in any Michigan State sitting in Oakland County, Michigan, Wayne
County, Michigan or United States District for the Eastern District of Michigan
Court may be made by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested,
directed to Borrower and each Guarantor, at the address indicated herein, and
service so made shall be complete upon receipt; except that if Borrower or any
Guarantor shall refuse to accept delivery, service shall be deemed complete five
(5) days after the same shall have been so mailed.
     17. Counterparts and Facsimiles. This Amendment may be executed in one or
more counterparts, each of which when taken together, shall constitute one and
the same original. Facsimile signatures are acceptable and may be relied upon as
if originals.
     18. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. BORROWER, GUARANTORS AND LENDER ACKNOWLEDGE THAT
THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IS A CONSTITUTIONAL ONE, BUT THAT IT MAY BE WAIVED,
EACH PARTY, AFTER CONSULTING (OR HAVING

 

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HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSULT) WITH COUNSEL OF ITS CHOICE, KNOWINGLY AND
VOLUNTARILY, AND FOR THEIR MUTUAL BENEFIT WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN
THE EVENT OF LITIGATION REGARDING THE PERFORMANCE OR ENFORCEMENT OF, OR IN ANY
WAY RELATED TO, THIS AMENDMENT OR ANY OF THE SPARTON CORPORATION LOAN DOCUMENTS.
     19. Release of Claims. Borrower and Guarantors each hereby waive,
discharge, and forever release Lender, Lender’s employees, officers, directors,
attorneys, stockholders, and their successors and assigns, from and of any and
all claims, causes of action, allegations or assertions that Borrower and/or
Guarantor has or may have had at any time up through and including the date of
this Amendment, against any or all of the foregoing, regardless of whether any
such claims, causes of action, allegations or assertions are known to Borrower
or any Guarantor or whether any such claims, causes of action, allegations or
assertions arose as result of Lender’s actions or omissions in connection with
the Line of Credit Loan or Sparton Corporation Loan Documents, or any
amendments, extensions or modifications thereto including, without limitation,
this Amendment or Lender’s administration of any debt evidenced by the Sparton
Corporation Loan Documents or otherwise.
     20. Amendment to Loan Documents. Each of the Sparton Corporation Loan
Documents is hereby amended to include all provisions of this Amendment. This
Amendment is not an agreement to any further or other amendment of the Sparton
Corporation Loan Documents and Lender shall have no obligation to agree to make
any other modifications to the Sparton Corporation Loan Documents now or
hereafter requested by Borrower.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

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     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Borrowers, Guarantors and Lender have executed and
delivered this Amendment as of the day and year first above written.

                  BORROWER:    
 
                SPARTON CORPORATION,
an Ohio corporation      
 
  By:   /s/
 
Richard L. Langley    
 
  Its:   Treasurer    
 
                GUARANTORS:    
 
                SPARTON MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
f/k/a Astro Instrumentation, Inc.,
a Michigan corporation    
 
           
 
  By:   /s/    
 
           
 
      Richard L. Langley    
 
  Its:   Treasurer    
 
                SPARTON TECHNOLOGY,
a New Mexico corporation    
 
           
 
  By:   /s/    
 
           
 
      Richard L. Langley    
 
  Its:   Treasurer    

[Signature Page to Master Amendment to Loan Documents
(Sparton Corporation — Line of Credit) dated April 21, 2008]
[Signatures Continued on Following Page]

 

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Signature Page to Master Amendment to Loan Documents
(Sparton Corporation — Line of Credit) dated April 21, 2008

                  SPARTRONICS, INC.,
a Michigan corporation    
 
           
 
  By:   /s/
 
Richard L. Langley    
 
  Its:   Treasurer           SPARTON ELECTRONICS FLORIDA, INC.,
a Florida corporation    
 
           
 
  By:   /s/    
 
           
 
      Richard L. Langley    
 
  Its:   Treasurer    
 
                SPARTON OF CANADA, LIMITED,
a Canadian corporation    
 
           
 
  By:   /s/    
 
           
 
      Richard L. Langley    
 
  Its:   Treasurer    
 
                LENDER:    
 
                NATIONAL CITY BANK, a national
banking association    
 
           
 
  By:   /s/    
 
           
 
      Robert A. Henry    
 
  Its:   Vice President