exv10w1



 



Exhibit 10.1



AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT



     THIS
AMENDMENT TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (the “Amendment”) dated as of March 12,
2003, is by and between SIEMENS HEARING INSTRUMENTS, INC., a Delaware
corporation (“Lender”), with offices at 10 Constitution Avenue, Piscataway, New
Jersey 08855, and HearUSA, Inc. (formerly known as HEARX LTD.), a Delaware
corporation (“Borrower”), with offices at 1250 Northpoint Parkway, West Palm
Beach, Florida 33407.


Background



     A.     Lender and Borrower are parties to a Credit Agreement dated as of
December 7, 2001 (the “Credit Agreement”). Pursuant to the Credit Agreement,
Lender extended certain loans to the Borrower, in the total original principal
amount of $51,875,000, which were evidenced by certain promissory notes of
equal date therewith.


     B.     Borrower has requested that Lender amend the Credit Agreement by, among
other things, extending a Tranche E term loan facility in the principal amount
of $3,500,000.00, pursuant to a new Tranche E Note.


     C.     Lender has agreed to Borrower’s request, on the terms and conditions
set forth herein. In connection with the execution and delivery of the new
Tranche E Note and the simultaneous amendment of various other related
documents and agreements, the parties have agreed to modify, amend and affirm
the Credit Agreement as set forth in this Amendment.


     D.     All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the
meanings ascribed to them in the Credit Agreement.


     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the Background, which is incorporated
by this reference, other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which is acknowledged, and the mutual promises and covenants
contained in this Amendment, the parties intending to be legally bound, agree
as follows:


     1.     Amendment of Credit Agreement.


          The parties agree that the Loan Agreement shall be amended and modified as
set forth below, effective as of the date hereof:



		
	 	     a.     Amendment of Section 1.01.



     i.     Definitions of the following defined terms set forth in Section 1.01 of
the Credit Agreement are hereby amended and restated in their entirety to read:



		
	 	“Loan Documents” means, collectively, this
Agreement, as amended, the Notes, the Collateral
Documents, as amended, and each certificate,
agreement, amendment, modification or document
executed by Borrower or any other Person (other
than the Lender) and delivered to the Lender in
connection with or pursuant to any of the
foregoing.



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Exhibit 10.1






		
	 	“Loans” means, collectively, the Tranche A Loan,
the Tranche B Loans, the Tranche C Loan, the
Tranche D Loans and the Tranche E Loan.
	 
	 	“Maturity Date” means the fifth anniversary of
the Closing Date with respect to the Tranche A
Loan, the Tranche B Loans, the Tranche C Loan,
and the Tranche D Loan; and the fifth
anniversary of the date the Tranche E Note is
funded.
	 
	 	“Notes” means, collectively, the Tranche A Note,
the Tranche B Note, the Tranche C Note, the
Tranche D Note and the Tranche E Note.



     ii.     Section 1.01 shall be further amended to include the following
additional defined terms:



		
	 	“Tranche E Loan” has the meaning specified in
Section 2.01(g).
	 
	 	“Tranche E Loan Closing Date” means March 12,
2003, or such later date as the Tranche E loan
is funded.
	 
	 	“Tranche E Note” means the promissory note of
the Borrower dated March 12, 2003, payable to
the order of the Lender in the aggregate
principal amount of $3,500,000.00.



                   b.     Amendment of Section 2.01. Section 2.01 of the Credit Agreement is
amended by adding the following:



			
	 	(g)	Tranche E Loan. On and subject to
the conditions contained in Article IV of the Credit
Agreement, on the Tranche E Loan Closing Date, the
Lender agrees to make a single term loan to the Borrower
(the “Tranche E Loan”) in the aggregate principal amount
of $3,500,000, which will be evidenced by the Tranche E
Note. The Tranche E Loan may, at the Borrower’s option,
be repaid pursuant to Section 2.04 hereof.



                   c.     Amendment of Section 2.03. Section 2.03 of the Credit Agreement is
amended by adding the following:



			
	 	(e)	Repayment of the Tranche E Loan.
Beginning on the first day of the month following the
Tranche E Closing Date, Borrower, shall repay the
Tranche E Loan in monthly payments over a period of five
years, with interest only during the twelve calendar
months immediately following the Tranche E Loan Closing
Date at the rate set forth in Section 2.06 (c) of this
Agreement, and equal payments of principal and interest
thereafter, in accordance with the repayment schedule
attached hereto as Schedule 2.03(e), and made a part
hereof.



                   d.     Amendment of Section 2.06. Section 2.06 of the Credit Agreement is
amended by adding the following:



		
	 	       (c) The Borrower shall pay accrued interest on the unpaid principal
amount of the Trance E Loan from the date made until the principal amount
thereof shall be paid in full, at a rate per annum equal at all times to
ten percent (10%), payable as set forth in Section 2.03(e) hereof.



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Exhibit 10.1




     2.     Affirmation.


            Except as modified herein, the Credit Agreement and Loan Documents shall
remain in full force and effect.


     3.     Non-Waiver.



		
	 	     Nothing contained herein and no action by Lender shall be deemed to
constitute a waiver of any Default (if any) under the Loan Documents.



     4.     Representations of Borrower.


            a.     Authority. Borrower has the authority to enter into and perform its
obligations under this Amendment. The execution, delivery and performance of
this Amendment have been duly authorized by all requisite action of Borrower.


            b.     Enforceability. This Amendment constitutes the legal, valid and
binding obligations of Borrower and is enforceable against Borrower in
accordance with its terms.


            c.     No Conflict. The execution and delivery of this Amendment and the
performance of the transactions contemplated hereby by Borrower do not conflict
with or result in any violation of Borrower’s organizational documents or any
statute, rule or regulation applicable to or binding upon Borrower. The
execution, delivery and performance of this Amendment will not conflict with or
result in any violation of any provision of any agreement, contract,
instrument, order, writ, judgment, decree or other undertaking to which
Borrower is a party or is obligated or by which Borrower’s property is bound.


            d.     Authorization. The signatory executing this Amendment on behalf of
Borrower has been authorized by Borrower to so execute this Amendment and the
execution of this Amendment has been authorized by proper resolution of
Borrower.



            e.     Credit Agreement Representations. Borrower hereby reaffirms all of its
representations and warranties set forth in Article IV of the Credit Agreement
as of the date hereof.


     5.     General Provisions.


            a.     Reaffirmation of Indebtedness. Borrower hereby acknowledges the
Indebtedness due to Lender and represents and warrants to Lender that it has no
counterclaim, defenses or offsets to any of its obligations under the Credit
Agreement and Loan Documents. Borrower acknowledges that Lender has not by
virtue of this Amendment waived any right or remedy which it may possess by
virtue of any actions or defaults of Borrower in conjunction with its
obligations under the Loan Documents.


            b.     Entire Agreement. This Amendment together with amendments to certain
other Loan Documents delivered simultaneously herewith, if any, or referred to
herein, constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the
subject matter hereof, and supersede all prior and contemporaneous agreements,
whether written or oral, except as otherwise provided herein.


            c.     Amendment. No provision of this Amendment may be waived or changed
orally, but only by instrument in writing, signed by the party against whom
enforcement of such change or waiver is sought.


            d.     Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be effective when delivered personally or when mailed by
certified or registered mail (return receipt requested) addressed at the
addresses set forth hereinabove or to such other addresses as a party may
designate to the other in writing.



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Exhibit 10.1




            e.     Effective Date. This Amendment and the amendments provided for herein
shall take effect as of the date provided for herein or otherwise as of the
date of this Amendment set forth hereinabove.


            f.     Unenforceability. Any provision of this Amendment which is prohibited
or unenforceable shall be deemed severed from this Amendment without
invalidating the remaining provisions or affecting the validity or
enforceability of the remainder of this Amendment.


            g.     Counterpart Execution. This Amendment may be signed in any number of
counterparts with the same effect as if the signatures thereto were upon the
same instrument.


            h.     Headings. The Section headings contained herein are for convenience of
reference only and are not intended to define, limit or describe the scope or
intent of any provision of this Amendment.


            i.     Third
Parties. None of the obligations hereunder of any party shall
inure to or be enforceable by any party other than a party of this Amendment.


            j.     Binding Effect. This Amendment shall be binding upon, and shall inure
to the benefit of, the successors in interest and the permitted assigns of the
parties hereto.


            k.     Default. Except as expressly set forth herein, Lender hereby
specifically reserves all of its rights and remedies under the Credit Agreement
and Loan Documents. If Borrower fails to perform its obligations under this
Amendment, Borrower shall be in default hereunder and said default shall be a
Default under the Loan Documents.


            l.     Other Documents. Lender and Borrower agree to execute any and all
other documents and to take such other actions as may be necessary to carry out
the terms of this Amendment. All other documents shall be in a form and
content acceptable to Lender.


            m.     Release and Covenant Not to Sue. Borrower for itself, its officers,
directors, employees, affiliates, successors and assigns, and all others
claiming by or through them, hereby covenant that they will not bring,
commence, prosecute or maintain any suit, action or proceeding, either at law
or in equity, in any court of the United States or of any State thereof,
arising up to the date of this Amendment under or by virtue of the Loan
Documents or with respect to the Loans in any manner or arising out of any
negotiations or communications entertained in connection with this Amendment.
The Borrower, for itself, its officers, directors, employees, affiliates,
successors and assigns, and all others claiming by or through it, hereby fully
and forever release and discharge Lender, its officers, directors, agents and
employees, affiliates, predecessors in interest, successors and assigns, from
any and all causes of action, whether sounding in contract or in tort, or
otherwise, and any and all liability, accrued or unaccrued, known or unknown,
fixed or contingent, on account of any and all claims, demands, and causes of
action for all losses, damages, expenses or liabilities to Borrower, its
officers, directors, employees, affiliates, successors and assigns, and all
others claiming by or through them, arising up to the date of this Amendment
out of the Loan Documents or with respect to the Loans in any manner or arising
out of any negotiations or communications entertained in connection with this
Amendment. The parties acknowledge and agree that Borrower’s release and
covenant not to sue contained in this Section does not apply to claims, actions
and causes of action arising after the date of this Amendment.


            n.     Waiver of Trial by Jury. BORROWER HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND
INTENTIONALLY, WAIVES ANY RIGHT BORROWER MAY HAVE OR HEREAFTER ACQUIRES TO A
TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT TO ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR
RELATING TO THIS AMENDMENT. Borrower hereby certifies that neither Lender nor
any of its representatives, agents or counsel has represented, expressly or
otherwise, that Lender would not, in the


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Exhibit 10.1





event of any such suit, action or
proceeding seek to enforce this waiver of right to trial by jury. Borrower
acknowledges that it has made this waiver knowingly, voluntarily and
intentionally.




            o.     Governing Law. This Amendment shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with New York law without regard to conflict of law principles.




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Exhibit 10.1




     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed or caused this
Amendment to be executed, all as of the day and year first above written.



	 
	HearUSA, Inc.
	 
	By:  /s/ Stephen Hansbrough

Name: Stephen Hansbrough

Title: Chief Executive Officer
	 
	Siemens Hearing Instruments, Inc.
	 
	By: /s/ John R. Krauter

Name: John R. Krauter

Title: Senior Vice President, CFO



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