exh_101.htm


EXHIBIT 10.1


 


EXECUTION COPY


 


LIMITED WAIVER AND THIRD AMENDMENT TO FIRST LIEN REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT


 


THIS LIMITED WAIVER AND THIRD AMENDMENT TO FIRST LIEN REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of March 13, 2014 (this “Third Amendment”), by and among GSE ENVIRONMENTAL, INC., a Delaware corporation f/k/a Gundle/SLT Environmental, Inc. (the “Borrower”), the other Persons party hereto that are designated as a “Credit Party” on the signature pages hereof, GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (in its individual capacity, “GE”), as Agent and as a Lender, and the other LENDERS signatory hereto.


 


W I T N E S S E T H:


 


WHEREAS, the Borrower, the other Credit Parties, GE, as Agent and as a Lender, and the other Lenders from time to time party thereto are parties to that certain First Lien Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of January 10, 2014 (as the same has been and may hereafter be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”); and


 


WHEREAS, the Borrower and the other Credit Parties have requested that Agent and Lenders (i) waive certain potential Events of Default under the Credit Agreement and (ii) amend certain provisions of the Credit Agreement and Agent and Lenders signatory hereto constituting the Required Lenders are willing to do so, but only on the terms and conditions set forth herein;


 


NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, provisions and covenants contained herein, the parties agree as follows:


 


1. Defined Terms.  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Credit Agreement.


 


2. Limited Waiver.  Events of Default may occur pursuant to Section 7.1(e)(ii) of the Credit Agreement due to the Credit Parties’ potential failure to comply with Section 4.19(a) of the Existing Credit Agreement (any and all such Events of Default described in foregoing, together with any Event of Default arising from the Borrower’s failure to provide notice of same to the Agent, collectively, the “Designated Potential Defaults”).  Effective as of the date hereof, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 4 hereof, to the extent constituting Events of Default, Agent and the Lenders signatory hereto, constituting the Required Lenders and the Required Revolving Lenders, hereby waive the Designated Potential Defaults.


 


The waiver contained in this Section 2 is a limited waiver and (i) shall only be relied upon and used for the specific purposes expressly set forth herein, (ii) shall not constitute nor be deemed to constitute a waiver, except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, of (a) any Default or Event of Default (other than the Designated Potential Defaults) or (b) any term or condition of the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (iii) shall not constitute nor be deemed to constitute a consent by the Agent or any Lender to anything other than the specific purpose set forth herein and (iv) shall not constitute a custom or course of dealing among the parties hereto.


 




  





 











  






3. Amendments to Credit Agreement.  The Credit Agreement is hereby amended as follows:


 


(a) Section 4.17(a)(iii) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by (i) deleting the text “March 7” appearing in clause (y) thereof, (ii) inserting the text “March 21” in lieu thereof, (iii) deleting the text “March 30” appearing in clause (z) thereof and (iv) inserting the text “April 30” in lieu thereof.


 


(b) Section 4.17(a) of the Credit Agreement is hereby further amended by deleting the text “by up to five (5) Business Days” immediately preceding the period at the end of such subsection.


 


(c) The Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents are hereby amended by deleting (i) the definition of “Interest Reserve” set forth in Section 11.1 of the Credit Agreement and (ii) all references to such term appearing elsewhere in the Credit Agreement and in any other Loan Documents (and the relevant provisions thereof adjusted accordingly to give effect thereto).


 


4. Conditions Precedent.  This Third Amendment shall become effective as of the date first written above (the “Third Amendment Effective Date”) when each of the following has been satisfied or waived in accordance with the terms hereof:


 


(a) the execution and delivery to Agent of this Third Amendment by each Credit Party, Agent and the Required Lenders;


 


(b) after giving effect to this Third Amendment, the truth and accuracy in all material respects of the representations and warranties contained in Section 5 hereof; and


 


(c) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or arise as a direct result of the effectiveness of this Third Amendment.


 


5. Representations and Warranties.   Each Credit Party hereby represents and warrants to Agent and each Lender as follows:


 


(a) the representations and warranties made by such Credit Party contained in the Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects (without duplication of any materiality qualifier contained therein) as of the date hereof, except to the extent such representation or warranty expressly relates to an earlier date (in which event such representations and warranties were true and correct in all material respects (without duplication of any materiality qualifier contained therein) as of such earlier date;


 


(b) such Credit Party is a corporation or limited liability company, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation, as applicable;


 




  





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(c) such Credit Party has the power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Third Amendment and the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby;


 


(d) the execution, delivery and performance by such Credit Party of this Third Amendment and the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, have been duly authorized by all necessary action;


 


(e) this Third Amendment and the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Credit Party, enforceable against such Person in accordance with their terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditor’s rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability;


 


(f) the execution, delivery and performance by each of the Credit Parties of this Third Amendment have been duly authorized by all necessary action, and do not and will not: (a) contravene the terms of any of that Person’s Organization Documents; (b) conflict with or result in any breach or contravention of, or result in the creation of any Lien under, any document evidencing any material Contractual Obligation to which such Person is a party or any material order, injunction, writ or decree of any Governmental Authority to which such Person or its Property is subject; or (c) violate any material Requirement of Law in any material respect; and


 


(g) no Default or Event of Default exists or shall arise as a direct result of the effectiveness of this Third Amendment.


 


6. No Modification.  Except as expressly set forth herein, nothing contained herein shall be deemed to constitute a waiver of compliance with any term or condition contained in the Credit Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents or constitute a course of conduct or dealing among the parties.  Except as expressly stated herein, the Agent and Lenders reserve all rights, privileges and remedies under the Loan Documents.  Except as amended, waived or consented to hereby, the Credit Agreement and other Loan Documents remain unmodified and in full force and effect.  All references in the Loan Documents to the Credit Agreement shall be deemed to be references to the Credit Agreement as amended and waived hereby.


 


7. Counterparts.  This Third Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.  Signature pages may be detached from multiple separate counterparts and attached to a single counterpart.  Delivery of an executed signature page of this Third Amendment by facsimile transmission or Electronic Transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart hereof.


 


8. Successors and Assigns.  The provisions of this Third Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided that none of the Credit Parties may assign or transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Third Amendment without the prior written consent of the Agent.


 




  





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9. Further Assurance.  The Borrower hereby agrees from time to time, as and when requested by the Agent or Lender, to execute and deliver or cause to be executed and delivered, all such documents, instruments and agreements and to take or cause to be taken such further or other action as the Agent or Lender may reasonably deem necessary or desirable in order to carry out the intent and purposes of this Third Amendment, the Credit Agreement and the Loan Documents.


 


10. Governing Law and Jurisdiction.


 


(a) Governing Law.  The laws of the State of New York shall govern all matters arising out of, in connection with or relating to this Third Amendment, including, without limitation, its validity, interpretation, construction, performance and enforcement (including, without limitation, any claims sounding in contract or tort law arising out of the subject matter hereof and any determinations with respect to post-judgment interest) (without regard to conflicts of law principles (other than Sections 5-1401 and 5-1402 of the New York General Obligations Law)).


 


(b) Submission to Jurisdiction.  Any legal action or proceeding with respect to this Third Amendment shall be brought exclusively in the courts of the State of New York located in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, or of the United States of America sitting in the Southern District of New York and, by execution and delivery of this Third Amendment, each Credit Party hereby accepts for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, the jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts.  The parties hereto hereby irrevocably waive any objection, including any objection to the laying of venue or based on the grounds of forum non conveniens, that any of them may now or hereafter have to the bringing of any such action or proceeding in such jurisdictions.


 


(c) Service of Process.  Each Credit Party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of any and all legal process, summons, notices and other documents and other service of process of any kind and consents to such service in any suit, action or proceeding brought in the United States of America with respect to or otherwise arising out of or in connection with this Agreement by any means permitted by applicable Requirements of Law, including by the mailing thereof (by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid) to the address of such Person specified in the Credit Agreement (and shall be effective when such mailing shall be effective, as provided therein).  Each Credit Party agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.


 


(d) Non-Exclusive Jurisdiction.  Nothing contained in this Section 10 shall affect the right of Agent to serve process in any other manner permitted by applicable Requirements of Law or commence legal proceedings or otherwise proceed against any Credit Party in any other jurisdiction.


 


(e) Waiver of Jury Trial.  THE PARTIES HERETO, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, WAIVE ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, SUIT, OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF, IN CONNECTION WITH OR RELATING TO, THIS THIRD AMENDMENT, THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS AND ANY OTHER TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY. THIS WAIVER APPLIES TO ANY ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING WHETHER SOUNDING IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE.


 




  





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11. Severability.  The illegality or unenforceability of any provision of this Third Amendment or any instrument or agreement required hereunder shall not in any way affect or impair the legality or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Third Amendment or any instrument or agreement required hereunder.


 


 


12. Reaffirmation. Each of the Credit Parties as debtor, grantor, pledgor, guarantor, assignor, or in other any other similar capacity in which such Credit Party grants liens or security interests in its property or otherwise acts as accommodation party or guarantor, as the case may be, hereby (i) ratifies and reaffirms all of its payment and performance obligations, contingent or otherwise, under each of the Loan Documents to which it is a party (after giving effect hereto) and (ii) to the extent such Credit Party granted liens on or security interests in any of its property pursuant to any such Loan Document as security for or otherwise guaranteed the Borrower’s Obligations under or with respect to the Loan Documents, ratifies and reaffirms such guarantee and grant of security interests and liens and confirms and agrees that such security interests and liens hereafter secure all of the Obligations as amended hereby.  Each of the Credit Parties hereby consents to this Third Amendment and acknowledges that each of the Loan Documents remains in full force and effect and is hereby ratified and reaffirmed.  Except as expressly set forth herein, the execution of this Third Amendment shall not operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of the Agent or Lenders, constitute a waiver of any provision of any of the Loan Documents or serve to effect a novation of the Obligations.  In addition, the Credit Parties hereby acknowledge and agree that (x) pursuant to that certain Consulting Services Agreement dated as of July 2, 2013 (as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Consulting Agreement”) by and among, inter alia, Agent and Richter Consulting, Inc. (“Consultant”), Agent has engaged Consultant to assist Agent and the Lenders in evaluating, among other things, the current and projected financial performance of the Credit Parties, (y) the Credit Parties shall cooperate in good faith with (1) Consultant in connection with the performance by Consultant of its engagement pursuant to the Consulting Agreement or any other consulting arrangement for which Consultant may be engaged by Agent in connection with the Credit Agreement and (2) such other consultant or advisor as may be engaged by Agent in connection with the Credit Agreement and shall provide Consultant or any such other consultant or advisor access to the Credit Parties’ senior management and professionals and (z) all expenses incurred by Agent in connection with any of the foregoing shall constitute Obligations and shall be paid by the Credit Parties (or the Credit Parties shall reimburse Agent therefor) within five (5) Business Days after demand by Agent (and notwithstanding the waiver set forth in Section 2 hereof).


 







 


[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank; Signature Pages Follow]


 




  





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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Third Amendment as of the date set forth above.


 


BORROWER:












GSE ENVIRONMENTAL, INC.


 


 


By:           /s/ Mark A. Whitney


Name:      Mark A. Whitney


Title:        Vice President












CREDIT PARTIES:












GSE HOLDING, INC.


 

 


By:           /s/ Mark A. Whitney


Name:      Mark A. Whitney


Title:        Vice President












GSE ENVIRONMENTAL, LLC


 

 


By:           /s/ Mark A. Whitney


Name:      Mark A. Whitney


Title:        Vice President







 







SYNTEC LLC







By: GSE Environmental, LLC, its sole member


 

 


By:           /s/ Mark A. Whitney


Name:      Mark A. Whitney


Title:        Vice President


 




  





  











  






IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the each of the undersigned has executed this Third Amendment as of the date set forth above.


 


AGENT AND LENDERS:


 


GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, as Agent and as a Lender







By:           /s/ Brad Kimme


Name:      Brad Kimme


Title:        Duly Authorized Signatory







 




  





  











  






IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Third Amendment as of the date set forth above.


 


MUBADALA GE CAPITAL LTD, as a Lender







By: General Electric Capital Corporation, as Servicer







By:           /s/ Brad Kimme


Name:      Brad Kimme


Title:        Duly Authorized Signatory







 







 




  





  











  






IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Third Amendment as of the date set forth above.


 


MGEC HOLDINGS LTD, as a Lender







By: General Electric Capital Corporation, as Servicer







By:           /s/ Brad Kimme


Name:      Brad Kimme


Title:        Duly Authorized Signatory














  





  











  






IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Third Amendment as of the date set forth above.


 


ING CAPITAL LLC, as a Lender


 


By:           /s/ Andrew C. Sepe


Name:      Andrew C. Sepe


Title:        Director







ING CAPITAL LLC, as a Lender


 


By:           /s/ Lawrence P. Eyink


Name:      Lawrence P. Eyink


Title:        Director


 




  





  











  






IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Third Amendment as of the date set forth above.


 


Harleysville Life Insurance Company, as a Lender







By:           /s/ Ronald R. Serpico


Name:      Ronald R. Serpico


Title:        Authorized Signatory









  





  











  






IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Third Amendment as of the date set forth above.


 


Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, as a Lender







By:           /s/ Ronald R. Serpico


Name:      Ronald R. Serpico


Title:        Authorized Signatory