**Exhibit10.31**

 

**LOAN AGREEMENT**

 

Wachovia Bank, National Association 

123 South Broad Street 

Philadelphia,Pennsylvania 19109 

(Hereinafter referred to as the “Bank”) 

 

Covalent Group, Inc. 

1275 Drummers Lane, Suite 100 

Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087 

(Individually and collectively “Borrower”) 

 

This Loan Agreement (“Agreement”) is entered into August 1, 2002, by and between Bank and Borrower. 

 

This Agreement amends and restates in its entirety that certain Loan Agreement dated September 26, 2001 and applies to the loan or loans (individually andcollectively, the “Loan”) evidenced by one or more promissory notes dated August 1, 2002 or other notes subject hereto, as modified from time to time (whether one or more, the “Note”) and all Loan Documents. The terms “LoanDocuments” and “Obligations,” as used in this Agreement, are defined in the Note. 

 

Relying upon the covenants, agreements, representations and warranties contained in this Agreement, Bank is willing to extend credit to Borrower upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forthherein, and Bank and Borrower agree as follows: 

 

**AVAILABILITY.**With respect to the line of credit Promissory Note in the amount of $2,500,00.00, dated August 1, 2002, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the aggregate outstanding principal balance of Advances (as defined in the Note)(the “Total Outstandings”) at any one time shall not exceed the lesser of $2,500,000.00 or the Borrowing Base (as hereinafter defined). In the event that the Total Outstandings at any time exceeds the Borrowing Base, Borrower shall pay toBank the amount of such excess immediately upon receipt by Borrower of written notice that the Borrowing Base has been exceeded. 

 

**REPRESENTATIONS.**Borrower represents that from the date of this Agreement and until final payment in full of the Obligations: **AccurateInformation.**All information now and hereafter furnished to Bank is and will be true, correct and complete. Any such information relating to Borrower’s financial condition will accurately reflect Borrower’s financial condition as ofthe date(s) thereof, (including all contingent liabilities of every type), and Borrower further represents that its financial condition has not changed materially or adversely since the date(s) of such documents. **Authorization; Non-Contravention.**The execution, delivery and performance by Borrower and any guarantor, as applicable, of this Agreement and other Loan Documents to which it is a party are within its power, have been duly authorized as may be required and, if necessary, bymaking appropriate filings with any governmental agency or unit and are the legal, binding, valid and enforceable obligations of Borrower and any guarantors; and do not (i) contravene, or constitute (with or without the giving of notice or lapse oftime or both) a violation of any provision of applicable law, a violation of the organizational documents of Borrower or any guarantor, or a default under any agreement, judgment, injunction, order, decree or other instrument binding upon oraffecting Borrower or any guarantor, (ii) result in the creation or imposition of any lien (other than the lien(s) created by the Loan Documents) on any of Borrower’s or any guarantor’s assets, or (iii) give cause for the acceleration ofany obligations of Borrower or any guarantor to any other creditor. **Asset Ownership.**Borrower has good and marketable title to all of the properties and assets reflected on the balance sheets and financial statements supplied Bank byBorrower, and all such properties and assets are free and clear of mortgages, security deeds, pledges, liens, charges, and all other encumbrances, except as otherwise disclosed to Bank by Borrower in writing and approved by Bank (“PermittedLiens”). To Borrower’s knowledge, no default has occurred under any Permitted Liens and no claims or interests adverse to Borrower’s present rights in its properties and assets have arisen. **Discharge of Liens and**

 

**Taxes.**Borrower hasduly filed, paid and/or discharged all taxes or other claims which may become a lien on any of its property or assets, except to the extent that such items are being appropriately contested in good faith and an adequate reserve for the paymentthereof is being maintained. **Sufficiency of Capital.**Borrower is not, and after consummation of this Agreement and after giving effect to all indebtedness incurred and liens created by Borrower in connection with the Note and any other LoanDocuments, will not be, insolvent within the meaning of 11 U.S.C. § 101(32). **Compliance with Laws.** Borrower is in compliance in all respects with all federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations applicable to its properties,operations, business, and finances, including, without limitation, any federal or state laws relating to liquor (including 18 U.S.C. § 3617, et seq.) or narcotics (including 21 U.S.C. § 801, et seq.) and/or any commercial crimes; allapplicable federal, state and local laws and regulations intended to protect the environment; and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), if applicable. **Organization and Authority**. Each corporateor limited liability company Borrower and/or guarantor, as applicable, is duly created, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of its organization, and has all powers, governmental licenses, authorizations, consents andapprovals required to operate its business as now conducted. Each corporate or limited liability company Borrower and/or guarantor, as applicable, is duly qualified, licensed and in good standing in each jurisdiction where qualification or licensingis required by the nature of its business or the character and location of its property, business or customers, and in which the failure to so qualify or be licensed, as the case may be, in the aggregate, could have a material adverse effect on thebusiness, financial position, results of operations, properties or prospects of Borrower or any such guarantor. **No Litigation.**There are no pending or threatened suits, claims or demands against Borrower or any guarantor that have not beendisclosed to Bank by Borrower in writing, and approved by Bank. 

 

**AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.**Borrower agrees that from the date hereof and until final payment in full of the Obligations, unless Bank shall otherwise consent in writing, Borrower will: **Access to Books and****Records.**Allow Bank, or its agents, during normal business hours, access to the books, records and such other documents of Borrower as Bank shall reasonably require, and allow Bank, at Borrower’s expense, to inspect, audit and examine the same and tomake extracts therefrom and to make copies thereof. **Accounts Receivable Aging.**Deliver to Bank, from time to time hereafter but not less than monthly within 15 days of the end of each such period, a detailed receivables report includingtotals, customer names and addresses, a reconciliation statement, and the original date of each invoice. **Business Continuity.**Conduct its business in substantially the same manner and locations as such business is now and has previously beenconducted.**Compliance with Other Agreements.**Comply with all terms and conditions contained in this Agreement, and any other Loan Documents, and swap agreements, if applicable, as defined in the 11 U.S.C. § 101. **Estoppel****Certificate**. Furnish, within 15 days after request by Bank, a written statement duly acknowledged of the amount due under the Loan and whether offsets or defenses exist against the Obligations.**Insurance.**Maintain adequateinsurance coverage with respect to its properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds and in the amounts customarily insured against by companies of established reputation engaged in the same or similar businesses including, withoutlimitation, commercial general liability insurance, workers compensation insurance, and business interruption insurance; all acquired in such amounts and from such companies as Bank may reasonably require. **Maintain Properties.**Maintain,preserve and keep its property in good repair, working order and condition, making all needed replacements, additions and improvements thereto, to the extent allowed by this Agreement. **Non-Default Certificate From Borrower.**Deliver to Bank,with the Financial Statements required below, a certificate signed by Borrower, in the form attached hereto as exhibit A, if Borrower is an individual, or by a principal financial officer of Borrower warranting that no “Default” asspecified in the Loan Documents nor any event which, upon the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a Default, has occurred and demonstrating Borrower’s compliance with the financial covenants contained herein.**Notice of Default and Other Notices.**(a) **Notice of Default.**Furnish to Bank immediately upon becoming aware of the existence of any condition or event which constitutes a Default (as defined in the Loan Documents) or any event which, uponthe giving of notice or lapse of time or both, may become a Default, written notice specifying the nature and period of existence thereof and the action which Borrower is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto. (b) **Other Notices.**Promptly notify Bank in writing of (i) any material adverse change in its financial condition or its business; (ii) any default under any material agreement, contract or other instrument to which it is a party or by which any of its propertiesare bound, or any acceleration of the maturity of any indebtedness owing by Borrower; (iii) any material adverse claim against or affecting Borrower or any part of its properties; (iv) the commencement of, and any material 

 

determination in, anylitigation with any third party or any proceeding before any governmental agency or unit affecting Borrower; and (v) at least 30 days prior thereto, any change in Borrower’s name or address as shown above, and/or any change in Borrower’sstructure. **Other Financial Information.**Deliver promptly such other information regarding the operation, business affairs, and financial condition of Borrower which Bank may reasonably request. **Payment of Debts.**Pay and discharge whendue, and before subject to penalty or further charge, and otherwise satisfy before maturity or delinquency, all obligations, debts, taxes, and liabilities of whatever nature or amount, except those which Borrower in good faith disputes.**Reportsand Proxies.**Deliver to Bank, promptly, a copy of all financial statements, reports, notices, and proxy statements, sent by Borrower to stockholders, and all regular or periodic reports required to be filed by Borrower with any governmentalagency or authority. 

 

**NEGATIVE COVENANTS.**Borrower agreesthat from the date of this Agreement and until final payment in full of the Obligations, unless Bank shall otherwise consent in writing, Borrower will not: **Change in Fiscal Year.**Change its fiscal year. **Change of Control.**Make orsuffer a change of ownership that effectively changes control of Borrower from current ownership.**Encumbrances.**Create, assume, or permit to exist any mortgage, security deed, deed of trust, pledge, lien, charge or other encumbrance on any ofits assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than: (i) security interests required by the Loan Documents; (ii) liens for taxes contested in good faith; (iii) liens accruing by law for employee benefits; or (iv) Permitted Liens.**Guarantees.**Guarantee or otherwise become responsible for obligations of any other person or persons, other than the endorsement of checks and drafts for collection in the ordinary course of business. **Investments.**Purchase any stock,securities, or evidence of indebtedness of any other person or entity except investments in direct obligations of the United States Government, certificates of deposit of United States commercial banks having a tier 1 capital ratio of not less than6% and then in an amount not exceeding 10% of the issuing bank’s unimpaired capital and surplus, and investment accounts managed by Bank or Wachovia Securities, Inc. **Default on Other Contracts or Obligations.**Default on any materialcontract with or obligation when due to a third party or default in the performance of any obligation to a third party incurred for money borrowed. **Government Intervention.**Permit the assertion or making of any seizure, vesting orintervention by or under authority of any government by which the management of Borrower or any guarantor is displaced of its authority in the conduct of its respective business or its such business is curtailed or materially impaired. **JudgmentEntered.**Permit the entry of any monetary judgment or the assessment against, the filing of any tax lien against, or the issuance of any writ of garnishment or attachment against any property of or debts due. **Retire or Repurchase CapitalStock.**Retire or otherwise acquire any of its capital stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Borrower may repurchase its shares during the period beginning August 1, 2002 and ending June 30, 2003 for an amount not to exceed $500,000.00 in theaggregate for all shares repurchased. 

 

**ANNUAL FINANCIALSTATEMENTS.**Borrower shall deliver to Bank, within 120 days after the close of each fiscal year, audited financial statements reflecting its operations during such fiscal year, including, without limitation, a balance sheet, profit and lossstatement and statement of cash flows, with supporting schedules and in reasonable detail, prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, applied on a basis consistent with that of the preceding year. If audited statements arerequired, all such statements shall be examined by an independent certified public accountant acceptable to Bank. The opinion of such independent certified public accountant shall not be acceptable to Bank if qualified due to any limitations inscope imposed by Borrower or any other person or entity. Any other qualification of the opinion by the accountant shall render the acceptability of the financial statements subject to Bank’s approval. 

 

**PERIODIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.**Borrower shall deliver to Bank unauditedmanagement-prepared quarterly financial statements including, without limitation, a balance sheet, profit and loss statement and statement of cash flows, with supporting schedules, as soon as available and in any event within 45 days after the closeof each such period; all in reasonable detail and prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, applied on a basis consistent with that of the preceding year. Such statements shall be certified as to their correctness by aprincipal financial officer of Borrower and in each case, if audited statements are required, subject to audit and year-end adjustments. 

 

**FINANCIAL COVENANTS.**Borrower agrees to the following provisions from the date hereof until final 

 

payment in full of theObligations, unless Bank shall otherwise consent in writing, using the financial information for Borrower, its subsidiaries, affiliates and its holding or parent company, as applicable: **Tangible Net Worth.**Borrower shall, at all times,maintain a Tangible Net Worth of not less than $ 9,000,000.00. “Tangible Net Worth” shall mean total assets minus Total Liabilities. For purposes of this computation, the aggregate amount of any intangible assets of Borrower including,without limitation, goodwill, franchises, licenses, patents, trademarks, trade names, copyrights, service marks, and brand names, shall be subtracted from total assets. **Total Liabilities to Tangible Net Worth Ratio.**Borrower shall, at alltimes, maintain a ratio of Total Liabilities to Tangible Net Worth of not more than 1.25 to 1.00. “Total Liabilities” shall mean all liabilities of Borrower, including capitalized leases and all reserves for deferred taxes, debt fullysubordinated to Bank on terms and conditions acceptable to Bank, and other deferred sums appearing on the liabilities side of a balance sheet of Borrower, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis.“Tangible Net Worth” shall mean total assets minus Total Liabilities. For purposes of this computation, the aggregate amount of any intangible assets of Borrower including, without limitation, goodwill, franchises, licenses, patents,trademarks, trade names, copyrights, service marks, and brand names, shall be subtracted from total assets. **Deposit Relationship.**Borrower shall maintain its primary depository account with Bank. **Limitation on Debt.**Borrower shall not,directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or become liable for any additional indebtedness, excluding obligations to Bank related to Permitted Liens. 

 

**BORROWING BASE.**“Borrowing Base” means 75.00% of the net amount of Eligible Accounts, less the amount of any Reserves required by Bank.“Eligible Account” means an account receivable not more than 90 days from the date of the original invoice that arises in the ordinary course of Borrower’s business and meets the following eligibility requirements: (a) the sale ofgoods or services reflected in such account is final and such goods and services have been delivered or provided and accepted by the account debtor and payment for such is owing; (b) the invoices comprising an account are not subject to any claims,returns or disputes of any kind; (c) the account debtor is not insolvent; (d) the account debtor has its principal place of business in the United States; (e) the account debtor is not an Affiliate of Borrower and is not a supplier to Borrower andthe account is not otherwise exposed to risk of set-off; (f) not more than 30% of the original invoices owing Borrower by the account debtor are more than 90 days from the date of the original invoice; and (g) the account is not subject to any lienprior to the lien of Bank. “Reserves” means such amounts as may be required by Bank, at any time and from time to time without prior notice to Borrower, which Bank deems to be adequate to reserve against outstanding letters of credit,outstanding banker’s acceptances, Borrower’s obligations to Bank or its affiliates or any guaranties or other contingent debts of Borrower. 

 

**Required Reports.**Borrower shall certify to Bank, at any time Advances exceed $1,000,000.00 in the aggregate, by the 15th day of each month or asrequested by Bank, the amount of Eligible Accounts as of the last day of each preceding month, on forms required by Bank, together with all detail and supporting documents requested by Bank. Bank may at any time and from time to time, duringBorrower’s normal business hours, enter upon any business premises of Borrower and audit Borrower’s accounts. Bank’s determination of the amount of Eligible Accounts shall at all times be indisputable and deemed correct. Borrower, atall times, shall cooperate with Bank by providing Bank information and access to Borrower’s premises and business records and shall be courteous to Bank’s agents. 

 

**CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.**The obligations of Bank to make the loan and any advances pursuant to this Agreement are subjectto the following conditions precedent: **Additional Documents.**Receipt by Bank of such additional supporting documents as Bank or its counsel may reasonably request. 

**IN WITNESS WHEREOF**, Borrower and Bank, on the day and year first written above, have caused thisAgreement to be executed under seal. 

 

Covalent Group, Inc.
  
By:
 
/s/  Jorge A. Leon    
 
(SEAL)
  
Jorge A. Leon, CFO/EVP
  
 

 

Wachovia Bank, National Association
  
By:
 
/s/    Linda M.Douglas        
 
(SEAL)
  
Linda M. Douglas, Vice President
  
 

 

 

**EXHIBIT A**

 

**NON-DEFAULT CERTIFICATE**

 

In accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents dated August 1, 2002 by andbetween Wachovia Bank, National Association and Covalent Group, Inc. (“Borrower”), I hereby certify that: 

 
1. I am a principal financial officer of Borrower; 
 
2. The enclosed financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; 
 
3. No Default (as defined in the Loan Documents) or any event which, upon the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a Default, has occurred.
 

Name: Jorge A. Leon

Title: CFO/EVP