bbsi-ex41_417.htm



EXHIBIT 4.1

 

 

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT 

 

THIS THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") dated March 1, 2022, is by and between BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC., a Maryland corporation ("Borrower"), and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ("Bank").  This Agreement amends, restates and supersedes in its entirety, and is given as a replacement for, and not in satisfaction of or as a novation with respect to, that certain Credit Agreement dated August 5, 2019 by and between Borrower and Bank, as such may have been amended from time to time prior to the date hereof.

 

RECITALS

 

Borrower has requested that Bank extend or continue credit to Borrower as described below, and Bank has agreed to provide such credit to Borrower on the terms and conditions contained herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Bank and Borrower hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

CREDIT TERMS

 

SECTION 1.1.LINE OF CREDIT.

 

(a)Line of Credit.  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Bank hereby agrees to make advances to Borrower from time to time up to and including July 1, 2024, not to exceed at any time the aggregate principal amount of Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000.00) ("Line of Credit"), the proceeds of which shall be used for the purposes set forth in Section 7.11.  Borrower's obligation to repay advances under the Line of Credit shall be evidenced by a promissory note dated March 1, 2022, as modified from time to time ("Line of Credit Note").

 

(b)Borrowing and Repayment.  Borrower may from time to time during the term of the Line of Credit borrow, partially or wholly repay its outstanding borrowings, and reborrow, subject to all of the limitations, terms and conditions contained herein or in the Line of Credit Note; provided however, that the total outstanding borrowings under the Line of Credit shall not at any time exceed the maximum principal amount available thereunder, as set forth herein.

 

(c)Standby Letter of Credit Subfeature.  As a subfeature under the Line of Credit, Bank agrees from time to time during the term thereof to issue or cause an affiliate to issue standby letters of credit for the account of Borrower (each, a “Subfeature Standby Letter of Credit” and collectively, “Subfeature Standby Letters of Credit”); provided however, that the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Subfeature Standby Letters of Credit shall not at any time exceed Eight Million Dollars ($8,000,000.00).  The form and substance of each Subfeature Standby Letter of Credit shall be subject to approval by Bank, in its sole discretion.  No Subfeature Standby Letter of Credit shall have an expiration date subsequent to the maturity date of the Line of Credit.  The undrawn amount of all Subfeature Standby Letters of Credit shall be reserved under the Line of Credit and shall not be available for borrowings thereunder.  Each Subfeature Standby Letter of Credit shall be issued for a term not to exceed three hundred sixty five (365) days, as designated by Borrower; provided however, that no Subfeature Standby Letter of Credit shall be issued with, nor shall Bank be required to renew or (if applicable) allow automatic renewal of any Subfeature Standby Letter of Credit so that it will have, an expiration 

 

-1-



 

date that is subsequent to the maturity date of the Line of Credit (with any such Subfeature Standby Letter of Credit with an expiration date subsequent to the maturity of the Line of Credit to be referred to as an “Extended Date Letter of Credit”) unless Borrower immediately upon demand by Bank at any time, provides Bank with cash collateral (which may be in addition to or, if agreed by Bank, may be a replacement for, such other collateral that may have been granted by Borrower to Bank, pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise), consisting of a deposit account maintained by Borrower with Bank in an amount that is not less than one hundred five percent (105%) of the undrawn amount of such Extended Date Letter of Credit, as evidenced by and subject to the security agreements and other documents as Bank shall reasonably require, all in form and substance satisfactory to Bank; and provided further, that in no event shall any Extended Date Letter of Credit have a then current expiration date more than three hundred sixty five (365) days beyond the maturity date of the Line of Credit.

 

SECTION 1.2.INTEREST/FEES.

 

(a)Interest.  The outstanding principal balance of each credit subject hereto shall bear interest at the rate of interest set forth in each promissory note or other instrument or document executed in connection therewith.  

 

(b)Computation and Payment.  Interest shall be computed on the basis set forth in each promissory note or other instrument or document required hereby.  Interest shall be payable at the times and place set forth in each promissory note or other instrument or document required hereby.

 

(c)Unused Commitment Fee.  Borrower shall pay to Bank a fee equal to thirty hundredths percent (0.30%) per annum (computed on the basis of a 360-day year, actual days elapsed) on the daily unused amount of the Line of Credit, which fee shall be calculated on a quarterly basis by Bank and shall be due and payable by Borrower in arrears on the first day of each January, April, July and December (notwithstanding the foregoing, Borrower shall continue to be obligated to pay any unused commitment fee due and owing under the Credit Agreement dated August 5, 2019, for any period prior to the date of this Agreement).

 

(d)Subfeature Standby Letter of Credit Fees and Commissions.  Borrower shall pay to Bank; 

 

(i) non-refundable issuance fees or commissions for the issuance, extension or increase (including any auto-extension) of each Subfeature Standby Letter of Credit, determined in advance on the first day of each Calculation Period (as defined below), in an amount equal to 1.75% per annum (computed on the basis of a 360 day year, actual days projected to elapse) of the face or increased amount, as applicable, of such Subfeature Standby Letter of Credit, with such face or increased amount set at the time of issuance, extension or increase, calculated over the projected term thereof for the Calculation Period, with such fees and commissions payable on the first day of each Calculation Period or, if applicable, by such later date as may be specified in a billing for such amount sent by Bank to Borrower, and with “Calculation Period” defined as the initial period from the date of issuance, extension or increase, as applicable, up to, but not including, the first day of the next annual period, and each annual period thereafter; and

 

(ii) fees or commissions for each drawing under any such Subfeature Standby Letter of Credit and for the occurrence of any transfer, assignment, amendment, cancellation or other activity with respect to such Subfeature Standby Letter of Credit (including without limitation 

 

-2-



 

fees for document examination, discrepancies, reinstatement, document delivery, special handling and other trade services), determined in accordance with Bank’s standard fees and charges then in effect for such activity, and correspondent bank fees and fees of any adviser, confirming institution or entity or other nominated person, with such fees and commissions payable at the time of such activity or, if applicable, by such later date as may be specified in a billing for such amount sent by Bank to Borrower. 

 

SECTION 1.3.     COLLECTION OF PAYMENTS.  Except to the extent expressly specified otherwise in any Loan Document other than this Agreement, Borrower authorizes Bank to collect all amounts due to Bank from Borrower under this Agreement or any other Loan Document (whether for principal, interest or fees, or as reimbursement of drafts paid or other payments made by Bank under any credit subject to this Agreement) by debiting any deposit account maintained by Borrower with Bank for the full amount thereof.  Should there be insufficient funds in Borrower's deposit accounts with Bank to pay all such sums when due, the full amount of such deficiency shall be immediately due and payable by Borrower.

 

SECTION 1.4.COLLATERAL.

 

As security for all indebtedness and other obligations of Borrower to Bank, other than indebtedness that is excluded from such secured obligations by the terms of the security agreement(s) required hereunder, Borrower shall grant to Bank security interests of first priority in all of Borrower's property described in the Security Agreement between Bank and Borrower of even date herewith.

 

All of the foregoing shall be evidenced by and subject to the terms of such security agreements, financing statements, deeds or mortgages, and other documents as Bank shall reasonably require, all in form and substance satisfactory to Bank.  Borrower shall pay to Bank immediately upon demand the full amount of all reasonable and customary charges, costs and expenses (to include fees paid to third parties and all allocated costs of Bank personnel), expended or incurred by Bank in connection with any of the foregoing security, including without limitation, filing and recording fees and costs of appraisals, audits and title insurance.

 

ARTICLE II

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

Borrower makes the following representations and warranties to Bank, on the date hereof, on the date of Borrower’s execution hereof, and on the date of each subsequent request for any extension of credit hereunder (including, without limitation, the issuance of any product under any subfeature contained herein, to the extent applicable), which representations and warranties shall survive the execution of this Agreement and shall continue in full force and effect until the full and final payment, and satisfaction and discharge, of all obligations of Borrower to Bank subject to this Agreement.

 

SECTION 2.1.LEGAL STATUS.  (a) Borrower is a corporation, duly organized and existing and in good standing under the laws of Maryland, and is qualified or licensed to do business (and is in good standing as a foreign corporation, if applicable) in all jurisdictions in which such qualification or licensing is required other than those in which the failure to so qualify or to be so licensed could have a material adverse effect on Borrower; and (b) no member of the Borrowing Group (as defined below) is a Sanctioned Target (as defined below) of economic or financial sanctions, sectoral sanctions, secondary sanctions, trade embargoes or restrictions and anti-terrorism laws imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by the United 

 

-3-



 

States of America, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, the United Kingdom, any other governmental authority with jurisdiction over Borrower or any member of the Borrowing Group (collectively, “Sanctions”). As used herein, “Borrowing Group” means: (i) Borrower, (ii) any direct or indirect parent of Borrower, (iii) any affiliate or subsidiary of Borrower, (iv) any Third Party Obligor (as defined below), and (v) any officer, director or agent acting on behalf of any of the parties referred to in items (i) through and including (iv) with respect to the obligations hereunder, this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents. “Sanctioned Target” means any target of Sanctions, including (i) persons on any list of targets identified or designated pursuant to any Sanctions, (ii) persons, countries, or territories that are the target of any territorial or country-based Sanctions program, (iii) persons that are a target of Sanctions due to their ownership or control by any Sanctioned Target(s), or (iv) persons otherwise a target of Sanctions, including vessels and aircraft, that are designated under any Sanctions program.

 

SECTION 2.2.AUTHORIZATION AND VALIDITY.  This Agreement and each promissory note, contract, instrument and other document required hereby or at any time hereafter delivered to Bank in connection herewith (collectively, the "Loan Documents") have been duly authorized, and upon their execution and delivery in accordance with the provisions hereof will constitute legal, valid and binding agreements and obligations of Borrower or the party which executes the same, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms.

 

SECTION 2.3.NO VIOLATION.  The execution, delivery and performance by Borrower of each of the Loan Documents do not violate any provision of any law or regulation, or contravene any provision of the organizational and governing documents of Borrower, or result in any breach of or default under any contract, obligation, indenture or other instrument to which Borrower is a party or by which Borrower may be bound.

 

SECTION 2.4.LITIGATION.  There are no pending, or to the best of Borrower's knowledge threatened, actions, claims, investigations, suits or proceedings by or before any governmental authority, arbitrator, court or administrative agency which could have a material adverse effect on the financial condition or operation of Borrower other than those disclosed by Borrower to Bank in writing prior to the date hereof.

 

SECTION 2.5.CORRECTNESS OF FINANCIAL STATEMENT AND OTHER INFORMATION.  The annual financial statement of Borrower dated December 31, 2020, and all interim financial statements delivered to Bank since said date, true copies of which have been delivered by Borrower to Bank prior to the date hereof, (a) are complete and correct in all material respects and present fairly in all material respects the financial condition of Borrower, (b) disclose all liabilities of Borrower that are required to be reflected or reserved against under generally accepted accounting principles, whether liquidated or unliquidated, fixed or contingent, and (c) have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied.  Since the dates of such financial statements there has been no material adverse change in the financial condition of Borrower, nor has Borrower mortgaged, pledged, granted a security interest in or otherwise encumbered any of its assets or properties for which it has granted a security interest to Bank except in favor of Bank, or Permitted Liens or as otherwise permitted by Bank in writing.  All information provided from time to time by Borrower or any Third Party Obligor to Bank for the purpose of enabling Bank to fulfill its regulatory and compliance requirements, standards and processes was complete and correct at the time such information was provided and, except as specifically identified to Bank in a subsequent writing, remains complete and correct today.  For purposes of this Agreement and any other Loan Documents, “Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, leasehold mortgage, lien, 

 

-4-



 

pledge, charge, security interest, hypothecation or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, and “Permitted Lien” means:

 

(a)Liens for taxes, fees, assessments or other governmental charges or levies either not delinquent or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

 

(b)Purchase money Liens, whether now existing or hereafter arising (i) on equipment and software acquired or held by the Borrower incurred for financing the acquisition of the equipment and software, or (ii) existing on equipment when acquired, if the Lien is confined to the property and improvements and the proceeds of the equipment and software;

 

(c)Leases or subleases and licenses or sublicenses granted in the ordinary course of business;

 

(d)Liens arising from judgments, decrees or attachments in circumstances not constituting an Event of Default under Section 6.1;

 

(e)Liens in favor of financial institutions arising in connection with the Borrower’s deposit accounts held at such institutions to secure standard fees for deposit services charged by, but not financing made available by, such institutions;

 

(f)Liens of landlords and Liens of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen and other similar Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business for sums not overdue more than sixty (60) days;

 

(g)Liens (other than any Lien created by Section 4068 of ERISA and securing an obligation of any employer or employers which is delinquent) incurred or deposits or pledges made in the ordinary course of business in connection with worker’s compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security, or to secure the performance of bids, leases, customs, tenders, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, payment and performance bonds, return-of-money bonds and other similar obligations (not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money or the obtaining of advances or credits to finance the purchase price of property);

 

(h)Easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, covenants, conditions and other Liens incurred, licenses and sublicenses and other similar rights granted to others in the ordinary course of business and not, individually or in the aggregate, materially interfering with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable person;

 

(i)Liens which are incidental to the conduct of the Borrower’s business or the ownership of its property and assets (including, without limitation, leases entered into in the ordinary course of business) and which were not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money or the obtaining of advances or credit, and which do not in the aggregate materially impair the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable person;

 

(j)Liens securing Indebtedness incurred and used to finance insurance premiums, provided that the property encumbered thereby shall be limited to the proceeds of any such insurance policies;

 

(k)Any (i) interest or title of a lessor or sublessor under any lease not prohibited by this Agreement, (ii) Lien or restriction that the interest or title of such lessor or sublessor may be 

 

-5-



 

subject to, or (iii) subordination of the interest of the lessee or sublessee under such lease to any Lien or restriction referred to in the preceding clause (ii), so long as the holder of such Lien or restriction agrees to recognize the rights of such lessee or sublessee under such lease;

 

(l)Any zoning or similar law or right reserved to or vested in any Governmental Authority to control or regulate the use of any real property;

 

(m)Liens arising from UCC financing statement filings regarding operating leases and consignments;

 

(n)Liens consisting of rights of set-off or bankers’ liens or amounts on deposit, including, without limitation, in respect of Cash Management Agreements and similar arrangements in the ordinary course of business, and guarantees thereof; and

 

(o)Liens on any Borrower property or other assets that are not pledged to or otherwise subject to a Lien in favor of Bank under this Agreement or any other Loan Documents.

 

SECTION 2.6.INCOME TAX RETURNS.  Borrower has no knowledge of any pending assessments or adjustments of its income tax payable with respect to any year except as disclosed in writing to Bank.

 

SECTION 2.7.NO SUBORDINATION.  There is no agreement, indenture, contract or instrument to which Borrower is a party or by which Borrower may be bound that requires the subordination in right of payment of any of Borrower's obligations subject to this Agreement to any other obligation of Borrower.

 

SECTION 2.8.PERMITS, FRANCHISES.  Borrower possesses, and will hereafter possess, all permits, consents, approvals, franchises and licenses required and rights to all trademarks, trade names, patents, and fictitious names, if any, necessary to enable it to conduct the business in which it is now engaged in compliance with applicable law, except those the absence of which would not have a material adverse effect on Borrower.

 

SECTION 2.9.ERISA.  Borrower is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended or recodified from time to time ("ERISA"); Borrower has not violated any provision of any defined employee pension benefit plan (as defined in ERISA) maintained or contributed to by Borrower (each, a "Plan"); no Reportable Event as defined in ERISA has occurred and is continuing with respect to any Plan initiated by Borrower; Borrower has met its minimum funding requirements under ERISA with respect to each Plan; and each Plan will be able to fulfill its benefit obligations as they come due in accordance with the Plan documents and under generally accepted accounting principles.

 

SECTION 2.10.OTHER OBLIGATIONS.  Borrower is not in default on any obligation for borrowed money, any purchase money obligation or any other material lease, commitment, contract, instrument or obligation.

 

SECTION 2.11.ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.  Except as disclosed by Borrower to Bank in writing prior to the date hereof, Borrower is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal or state environmental, hazardous waste, health and safety statutes, and any rules or regulations adopted pursuant thereto, which govern or affect any of Borrower's operations and/or properties, including without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental 

 

-6-



 

Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, and the Federal Toxic Substances Control Act, as any of the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.  None of the operations of Borrower is the subject of any federal or state investigation evaluating whether any remedial action involving a material expenditure is needed to respond to a release of any toxic or hazardous waste or substance into the environment.  Borrower has no material contingent liability in connection with any release of any toxic or hazardous waste or substance into the environment.

 

SECTION 2.12SANCTIONS, ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING AND ANTI-CORRUPTION LAWS.  (a) each member of the Borrowing Group has instituted, maintains and complies with policies, procedures and controls reasonably designed to assure compliance with Anti-Money Laundering Laws and Anti-Corruption Laws (each as defined below), and Sanctions; and (b) to the best of Borrower’s knowledge, after due care and inquiry, no member of the Borrowing Group is under investigation for an alleged violation of any Sanctions, Anti-Money Laundering Laws or Anti-Corruption Laws by a governmental authority that enforces such laws. As used herein:  “Anti-Corruption Laws” means: (i) the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended; (ii) the U.K. Bribery Act 2010, as amended; and (iii) any other anti-bribery or anti-corruption laws, regulations or ordinances in any jurisdiction in which the Borrower or any member of the Borrowing Group is located or doing business. “Anti-Money Laundering Laws” means applicable laws or regulations in any jurisdiction in which the Borrower or any member of the Borrowing Group is located or doing business that relates to money laundering, any predicate crime to money laundering, or any financial record keeping and reporting requirements related thereto.

 

ARTICLE III

CONDITIONS

 

SECTION 3.1.CONDITIONS TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS AGREEMENT. The effective date of this Agreement shall be (a) the date that each of the following conditions set forth in this Section 3.1 have been satisfied or waived, as determined by Bank, or (b) such alternative date to which Bank and Borrower may mutually agree, in each case as evidenced by Bank’s system of record.  Notwithstanding the occurrence of the effective date of this Agreement, Bank shall not be obligated to extend credit under this Agreement or any other Loan Document until all conditions to each extension of credit set forth in Section 3.2 have been fulfilled to Bank's satisfaction.

 

(a)Approval of Bank Counsel.  All legal matters incidental to the effectiveness of this Agreement shall be satisfactory to Bank's counsel.

 

(b)Documentation.  Bank shall have received, in form and substance satisfactory to Bank, each of the following, duly executed by all parties:

 


	
 
	
(i)
	
This Agreement and each promissory note or other instrument or document required hereby.





	
 
	
(ii)
	
Corporate Resolution and Certificate of Incumbency: Borrower.





	
 
	
(iii)
	
Security Agreement: Business Assets.





	
 
	
(iv)
	
Certificate of Insurance.





	
 
	
(v)
	
Such other documents as Bank may require under any other Section of this Agreement.




 

 

-7-



 

 

(c)Satisfaction of Regulatory and Compliance Requirements.  In addition to any requirements set forth above, and notwithstanding Borrower’s execution or delivery of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, all regulatory and compliance requirements, standards and processes shall be completed to the satisfaction of Bank.

 

SECTION 3.2.CONDITIONS OF EACH EXTENSION OF CREDIT.  The obligation of Bank to make each extension of credit requested by Borrower hereunder shall be subject to the fulfillment to Bank's satisfaction of each of the following conditions:

 

(a)Compliance.  The representations and warranties contained herein and in each of the other Loan Documents shall be true on and as of the date of the signing of this Agreement and on the date of each extension of credit by Bank pursuant hereto, with the same effect as though such representations and warranties had been made on and as of each such date, and on each such date, no Event of Default as defined herein, and no condition, event or act which with the giving of notice or the passage of time or both would constitute such an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing or shall exist.

 

(b)Documentation.  Bank shall have received all additional documents which may be required in connection with such extension of credit including without limitation, the following:

 


	
 
	
(i)
	
For the issuance of a standby letter of credit under any credit subject to this Agreement, Bank's standard Application for Standby Letter of Credit.




 

(c)Letter of Credit Documentation.  Prior to the issuance of any letter of credit, Bank shall have received a Letter of Credit Agreement and any other letter of credit documentation required by Bank, in each case completed and duly executed by Borrower.

 

(d)Payment of Fees.  Bank shall have received payment in full of any fee required by any of the Loan Documents to be paid at the time such credit extension is made.

 

(e)Financial Condition.  There shall have been no material adverse change, as determined by Bank, in the financial condition or business of Borrower or any Third Party Obligor hereunder, if any, nor any material decline, as determined by Bank, in the market value of any collateral required hereunder or a substantial or material portion of the assets of Borrower or any such Third Party Obligor, if any.  

 

ARTICLE IV

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

Borrower covenants that so long as Bank remains committed to extend credit to Borrower pursuant hereto, or any liabilities (whether direct or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated) of Borrower to Bank under any of the Loan Documents remain outstanding, and until payment in full of all obligations of Borrower subject hereto, Borrower shall, unless Bank otherwise consents in writing:

 

SECTION 4.1.PUNCTUAL PAYMENTS.  Punctually pay all principal, interest, fees or other liabilities due under any of the Loan Documents at the times and place and in the manner specified therein, and immediately upon demand by Bank, the amount by which the outstanding principal balance of any credit subject hereto at any time exceeds any limitation on borrowings applicable thereto.

 

 

-8-



 

 

SECTION 4.2.ACCOUNTING RECORDS.  Maintain adequate books and records in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied, and permit any representative of Bank, at any reasonable time, to inspect, audit and examine such books and records, to make copies of the same, and to inspect the properties of Borrower.  If at any time any change in generally accepted accounting principles would affect the computation of any covenant (including the computation of any financial covenant) and/or pricing grid set forth in this Agreement or any other Loan Document, Borrower and Bank shall negotiate in good faith to amend such covenant and/or pricing grid to preserve the original intent in light of such change; provided, that, until so amended, (i) such covenant and/or pricing grid shall continue to be computed in accordance with the application of generally accepted accounting principles prior to such change and (ii) Borrower shall provide to Bank a written reconciliation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Bank, between calculations of such covenant and/or pricing grid made before and after giving effect to such change in generally accepted accounting principles.

 

SECTION 4.3.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND OTHER INFORMATION.  Provide to Bank all of the following, in form and detail satisfactory to Bank:

 

(a) not later than 120 days after and as of the end of each fiscal year, an audited consolidated financial statement of Borrower, prepared by a certified public accountant acceptable to Bank, to include balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows and sources, which shall be accompanied by the unqualified opinion of such accountant addressed to Bank, together with a copy of any management letters issued in connection therewith; and

 

(b) promptly upon their becoming available, copies of (i) all financial statements, reports, notices and proxy statements made publicly available by Borrower to its security holders; (ii) all regular and periodic reports and all registration statements and prospectuses, if any, filed by Borrower with any securities exchange or with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or any governmental or private regulatory authority, including, but not limited to (A) not later than 95 calendar days after the end of each fiscal year, Borrower’s 10-K filing with the SEC (including all exhibits and certifications) for the fiscal year just ended, and (B) not later than 50 calendar days after the end of each fiscal quarter, Borrower’s 10-Q filing with the SEC (including all exhibits and certifications) for the fiscal quarter just ended; and (iii) all press releases and other statements made available by Borrower to the public concerning material changes or developments in the business of Borrower; and 

 

(c)contemporaneously with each annual and quarterly financial statement of Borrower required hereby, a certificate of the president or chief financial officer of Borrower certifying that such financial statements are accurate and complete in all material respects, that Borrower is in compliance with all financial covenants in this Agreement (as evidenced by detailed calculations attached to such certificate), and except as otherwise previously reported in writing to Bank, that there exists no Event of Default nor any condition, act or event which with the giving of notice or the passage of time or both would constitute an Event of Default; and

 

(d)from time to time such other financial and business information as Bank may reasonably request, including without limitation, copies of rent rolls and other information with respect to any real property collateral required hereby; and 

 

(e)from time to time such other information as Bank may request for the purpose of enabling Bank to fulfill its regulatory and compliance requirements, standards and processes.

 

-9-



 



 

SECTION 4.4.COMPLIANCE.  

 

(a)Preserve and maintain all licenses, permits, governmental approvals, rights, privileges and franchises necessary for the conduct of its business except as would not have a material adverse effect on Borrower; comply with the provisions of all documents pursuant to which Borrower is organized and/or which govern Borrower's continued existence; comply with the requirements of all laws, rules, regulations and orders of any jurisdiction in which the Borrower is located or doing business, or otherwise is applicable to Borrower except as would not have a material adverse effect on Borrower; and

 

(b)comply with, and cause each member of the Borrowing Group to comply with, all Sanctions, Anti-Money Laundering Laws, and Anti-Corruption Laws.

 

SECTION 4.5.INSURANCE.  (a) Maintain and keep in force, for each business in which Borrower is engaged, insurance of the types and in amounts customarily carried in similar lines of business, including but not limited to fire, extended coverage, commercial general liability, flood, and, if required by governmental regulation or Bank, hurricane, windstorm, seismic property damage, workers' compensation, marine cargo insurance, and specific hazards affecting any real property, including terrorism, with all such insurance carried in amounts satisfactory to Bank and where required by Bank, with replacement cost, mortgagee loss payable and lender loss payable endorsements in favor of Bank, and (b) deliver to Bank prior to the date hereof, and from time to time at Bank's request, schedules setting forth all insurance then in effect, together with a lender’s loss payee endorsement for all such insurance naming Bank as a lender loss payee.  Such insurance may be obtained from an insurer or through an insurance agent of Borrower’s choice, provided that any insurer chosen by Borrower is acceptable to Bank on such reasonable grounds as may be permitted under applicable law.

 

SECTION 4.6.FACILITIES.  Keep all properties useful or necessary to Borrower's business in good repair and condition, and from time to time make necessary repairs, renewals and replacements thereto so that such properties shall be fully and efficiently preserved and maintained.

 

SECTION 4.7.TAXES AND OTHER LIABILITIES.  Pay and discharge when due any and all indebtedness, obligations, assessments and taxes, both real or personal, including without limitation federal and state income taxes and state and local property taxes and assessments, except (a) such as Borrower may in good faith contest or as to which a bona fide dispute may arise, and (b) for which Borrower has made provision, to Bank's satisfaction, for eventual payment thereof in the event Borrower is obligated to make such payment.

 

SECTION 4.8.LITIGATION.  Promptly give notice in writing to Bank of any litigation pending or threatened against Borrower or any Affiliate with a claim in excess of $1,000,000.00.

 

SECTION 4.9.FINANCIAL CONDITION.  Maintain Borrower's financial condition as follows using generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied and used consistently with prior practices (except to the extent modified by the definitions herein):

 

(a) ADJUSTED FREE CASH FLOW not less than $10,000,000 as of each fiscal quarter end, determined on a rolling 4-quarter basis, with “ADJUSTED FREE CASH FLOW” defined as net profit after taxes plus interest expense (net of capitalized interest expense), depreciation expense and amortization expense, less dividends/distributions. 

 

-10-



 

 

(b)Tangible Net Worth not less than $100,000,000 at each fiscal quarter end, with “Tangible Net Worth” defined as the aggregate of total stockholders' equity plus subordinated debt less any intangible assets and less any loans or advances to, or investments in, any related entities or individuals.

 

SECTION 4.10.NOTICE TO BANK.  Promptly (but in no event more than five (5) days after the occurrence of each such event or matter and in no event more than one (1) business day after the occurrence of each such event or matter described below with respect to Sanctions, Anti-Money Laundering Laws, and Anti-Corruption Laws) give written notice to Bank in reasonable detail of:  (a) the occurrence of any Event of Default, or any condition, event or act which with the giving of notice or the passage of time or both would constitute an Event of Default; (b) any change in the name or the organizational structure of Borrower, including, by illustration, merger, conversion or division; (c) the occurrence and nature of any Reportable Event or Prohibited Transaction, each as defined in ERISA, or any funding deficiency with respect to any Plan; (d) any termination or cancellation of any insurance policy which Borrower is required to maintain, or any uninsured or partially uninsured loss exceeding One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) through liability or property damage, or through fire, theft or any other cause affecting Borrower’s property; or (e) any breach of any covenant contained herein related to Sanctions, Anti-Money Laundering Laws, and Anti-Corruption Laws or the Borrower’s inability to make the representations and warranties contained herein related to Sanctions, Anti-Money Laundering Laws, and Anti-Corruption Laws on any date, or the failure of any representations and warranties contained herein related to Sanctions, Anti-Money Laundering Laws, and Anti-Corruption Laws to be true and correct in all respects on or as of any date. 

 

SECTION 4.11.DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS.  Maintain Borrower’s principal deposit accounts and other traditional banking relationships with Bank.

 

SECTION 4.12.COLLATERAL AUDITS.  Permit Bank to audit all Borrower's collateral required hereunder, with such audits to be performed from time to time at Bank’s option by collateral examiners acceptable to Bank and in scope and content satisfactory to Bank, and with all Bank's costs and expenses of each audit to be reimbursed in full by Borrower.  Bank shall not be required to share the results of the audit(s) with Borrower or any third party.

 

ARTICLE V

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

Borrower further covenants that so long as Bank remains committed to extend credit to Borrower pursuant hereto, or any liabilities (whether direct or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated) of Borrower to Bank under any of the Loan Documents remain outstanding, and until payment in full of all obligations of Borrower subject hereto, Borrower will not without Bank's prior written consent:

 

SECTION 5.1.USE OF FUNDS. SOURCES OF REPAYMENT AND COLLATERAL. 

 

(a)Use, or permit any member of the Borrowing Group to use, any of the proceeds of any credit extended hereunder except for the purposes stated in Article I hereof, or directly or indirectly use any such proceeds to fund, finance or facilitate any activities, business or transactions: (i) that are prohibited by Sanctions; (ii) that would be prohibited by Sanctions if conducted by Bank or any of Bank’s affiliates; or (iii) that would be prohibited by any Anti-Money Laundering Laws or Anti-Corruption Laws.  

 

-11-



 

 

(b)Fund any repayment of the obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document with proceeds, or provide any property as collateral for any such obligations, or permit any third party to provide any property as collateral for any such obligations, that is directly or indirectly derived from any transaction or activity that is prohibited by any Sanctions, Anti-Money Laundering Laws or Anti-Corruption Laws, or that could otherwise cause Bank or any of Bank’s affiliates to be in violation of any Sanctions, Anti-Money Laundering Laws or Anti-Corruption Laws.

 

SECTION 5.2.OTHER INDEBTEDNESS. Create, incur, assume or permit to exist any indebtedness or liabilities resulting from borrowings, loans or advances, whether secured or unsecured, matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, joint or several, except (a) the liabilities of Borrower to Bank, (b) purchase money indebtedness (including capitalized leases) for the acquisition of assets, provided that the aggregate of all purchase money indebtedness does not exceed One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) at any time, and (c) any other liabilities of Borrower or any of the affiliates existing as of, and disclosed to the Bank prior to, the date hereof; provided, however, that if Borrower or any of the affiliates incurs indebtedness or becomes liable to any third party to the extent permitted hereunder, neither Borrower nor any of the affiliates shall enter into any agreement with such other party that prohibits Borrower or any of the affiliates, as the case may be, from incurring indebtedness with Bank or any affiliate of Bank or that prohibits Borrower or any of the affiliates from granting a lien to Bank or any affiliate of Bank on any real or personal property owned by Borrower or any of the affiliates, as the case may be.

 

SECTION 5.3.MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, TRANSFER OF ASSETS, (a) Merge into or consolidate with any other entity; (b) make any substantial change in the nature of Borrower's or any Affiliate’s business as conducted as of the date hereof; (c) acquire all or substantially all of the assets of any other entity, except for a Permitted Acquisition (as defined below); (d) sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or a substantial or material portion of Borrower’s or any Affiliate’s assets except in the ordinary course of its business, nor (e) accomplish any of the above by virtue of a division or similar transaction. “Permitted Acquisition” means any acquisition by Borrower of all or substantially all of the operating assets of any person or entity so long as all of the following conditions are satisfied: (i) the acquisition is consummated in compliance with applicable law, (ii) there exists no Event of Default, nor any act, condition or event which with the giving of notice or the passage of time or both would constitute an Event of Default, and no such Event of Default or potential Event of Default results after giving effect to the acquisition, (iii) the aggregate consideration (valuing any non-cash consideration at its fair market value, and including without limitation the amount of all liabilities assumed or acquired) does not exceed $10,000,000 for each such acquisition and does not exceed $10,000,000 in the aggregate in any fiscal year, and (iv) Borrower provides Bank with notice of the acquisition at least thirty (30) days prior thereto.

 

SECTION 5.4.GUARANTIES.  Guarantee or become liable in any way as surety, endorser (other than as endorser of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business), accommodation endorser or otherwise for, nor pledge or hypothecate any assets of Borrower as security for, any liabilities or obligations of any other person or entity, except any of the foregoing in favor of Bank.

 

SECTION 5.5.LOANS, ADVANCES, INVESTMENTS.  Make any loans or advances to or investments in any person or entity, including any of the foregoing accomplished by a division 

 

-12-



 

or similar transaction, except any of the foregoing existing as of, and disclosed to Bank prior to, the date hereof, and Permitted Investments.  “Permitted Investments” means:

 

(a)investments in cash and cash equivalents;

 

(b)investments in marketable securities (including marketable securities held in trust for settlement of the Borrower’s obligations under certain of its deferred compensation plans or to secure obligations under Borrower’s insurance program) made in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in a manner substantially consistent with prior practices;

 

(c)investments in existing and future subsidiaries or in connection with an acquisition in an amount not to exceed Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000) for each such investment or acquisition and in an amount not to exceed Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000) in the aggregate in any fiscal year; and

 

(d)to the extent not otherwise permitted by the foregoing, intercompany loans or advances arising in the ordinary course of business between the Borrower and any subsidiary or between a subsidiary of the Borrower and another subsidiary in an amount not to exceed Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000) for each such investment or acquisition and in an amount not to exceed Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000) in the aggregate in any fiscal year.

 

SECTION 5.6.PLEDGE OF ASSETS. Mortgage, pledge, grant or permit to exist a security interest in, or lien upon, all or any portion of Borrower's assets now owned or hereafter acquired, except any of the foregoing in favor of Bank or which is existing as of, and disclosed to Bank in writing prior to, the date hereof and except purchase money liens to the extent they secure purchase money debt permitted under this Agreement and except Permitted Liens.

 

SECTION 5.7.DIVIDENDS, DISTRIBUTIONS. (a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur on a pro forma basis, declare or pay any dividend or distribution either in cash or any other property on Borrower’s stock, membership interest, partnership interest or other ownership interest now or hereafter outstanding, (b) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur on a pro forma basis, redeem, retire, repurchase or otherwise acquire any class or type of ownership interest now or hereafter outstanding except any of the foregoing in this subsection (b) in amounts not to exceed an aggregate of $15,000,000 in any rolling 12-month period. 

 

ARTICLE VI

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

 

SECTION 6.1.The occurrence of any of the following shall constitute an "Event of Default" under this Agreement:

 

(a)Borrower shall fail to pay when due any principal, interest, fees or other amounts payable under any of the Loan Documents. 

 

(b)Any financial statement or certificate furnished to Bank in connection with, or any representation or warranty made by Borrower or any other party under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall prove to be incorrect, false or misleading in any material respect when furnished or made. 

 

 

-13-



 

 

(c)Any default in the performance of or compliance with: (1) any collateral value requirement set forth herein or in any other Loan Document; (2) any negative covenant set forth in Article V hereof; (3) any affirmative covenant set forth in Article IV hereof requiring the delivery of financial statements and other information to Bank; or (4) any obligation, agreement or other provision contained herein or in any other Loan Document related to Sanctions, Anti-Money Laundering Laws, or Anti-Corruption Laws.

 

(d) Any default in the performance of or compliance with any obligation, agreement or other provision contained herein or in any other Loan Document (other than those defaults specifically described as constituting an “Event of Default” under any other subsection of this Section 6.1.), and with respect to such default(s) that by their nature can be cured (excluding any defaults specifically described as constituting an “Event of Default” under any other subsection of this Section 6.1., none of which shall be subject to a cure period), such default shall continue for a period of twenty (20) days after written notice from Bank.

 

(e)Any default in the payment or performance of any obligation, or any defined event of default, under the terms of any contract, instrument or document (other than any of the Loan Documents) pursuant to which Borrower, any guarantor hereunder, the owner of any collateral securing the obligations hereunder or under any other Loan Document, or any general partner or joint venturer in Borrower if a partnership or joint venture (with each such guarantor, owner of pledged collateral, general partner and/or joint venturer referred to herein as a "Third Party Obligor") has incurred any debt to any person or entity, including Bank. 

 

(f)Borrower or any Third Party Obligor shall become insolvent, or shall suffer or consent to or apply for the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or liquidator of itself or any of its property, or shall generally fail to pay its debts as they become due, or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; Borrower or any Third Party Obligor shall file a voluntary petition in bankruptcy, or seeking reorganization, in order to effect a plan or other arrangement with creditors or any other relief under the Bankruptcy Reform Act, Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended or recodified from time to time ("Bankruptcy Code"), or under any state or federal law granting relief to debtors, whether now or hereafter in effect; or Borrower or any Third Party Obligor shall file an answer admitting the jurisdiction of the court and the material allegations of any involuntary petition; or Borrower or any Third Party Obligor shall be adjudicated a bankrupt, or an order for relief shall be entered against Borrower or any Third Party Obligor by any court of competent jurisdiction under the Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable state or federal law relating to bankruptcy, reorganization or other relief for debtors.

 

(g)The filing of a notice of judgment lien against Borrower or any Third Party Obligor; or the recording of any abstract of judgment against Borrower or any Third Party Obligor in any county in which Borrower or such Third Party Obligor has an interest in real property; or the service of a notice of levy and/or of a writ of attachment or execution, or other like process, against the assets of Borrower or any Third Party Obligor; or the entry of a judgment against Borrower or any Third Party Obligor; provided the foregoing are of a material nature, with materiality being defined as having an aggregate value in excess of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000); or any involuntary petition or proceeding pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable state or federal law relating to bankruptcy, reorganization or other relief for debtors is filed or commenced against Borrower or any Third Party Obligor and such petition or proceeding has not been dismissed or otherwise discharged within 30 days thereafter, provided, however, nothing contained herein shall prevent Bank from declaring an Event of Default and 

 

-14-



 

filing a notice of claim or taking similar action during such 30 day period if failure to do so would foreclose Bank's rights in such matter.

 

(h)There shall exist or occur any event or condition that Bank in good faith believes impairs, or is substantially likely to impair, the prospect of payment or performance by Borrower, any Third Party Obligor, or the general partner of either if such entity is a partnership, of its obligations under any of the Loan Documents.

 

(i)The death or incapacity of Borrower or any Third Party Obligor if an individual.  The withdrawal, resignation or expulsion of any one or more of the general partners in Borrower or any Third Party Obligor if a partnership.  The dissolution, division, or liquidation of Borrower or any Third Party Obligor if a corporation, partnership, joint venture or other type of entity; or Borrower or any such Third Party Obligor, or any of its directors, stockholders or members, shall take action seeking to effect the dissolution, division, or liquidation of Borrower or such Third Party Obligor. 

 

(j)The withdrawal, resignation or expulsion of any one or more of the general partners in Borrower or any change in control of Borrower or any entity or combination of entities that directly or indirectly control Borrower, with “control” defined as ownership of an aggregate of twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the common stock, members' equity or other ownership interest (other than a limited partnership interest).

 

(k)The sale, transfer, hypothecation, assignment or encumbrance, whether voluntary, involuntary or by operation of law, without Bank's prior written consent, of all or any part of or interest in any real property collateral required hereby, except for any Permitted Lien.

 

SECTION 6.2.REMEDIES.  Upon the occurrence of any Event of Default:  (a) all principal, unpaid interest outstanding and other indebtedness of Borrower under each of the Loan Documents, any term thereof to the contrary notwithstanding, shall at Bank's option and without notice (except as expressly provided in any mortgage or deed of trust pursuant to which Borrower has provided Bank a lien on any real property collateral) become immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or any notices of any kind, including without limitation, notice of nonperformance, notice of protest, notice of dishonor, notice of intention to accelerate or notice of acceleration, all of which are hereby expressly waived by Borrower; (b) the obligation, if any, of Bank to extend any further credit under any of the Loan Documents shall immediately cease and terminate; and (c) Bank shall have all rights, powers and remedies available under each of the Loan Documents, or accorded by law, including without limitation the right to resort to any or all security for any credit subject hereto and to exercise any or all of the rights of a beneficiary or secured party pursuant to applicable law.  All rights, powers and remedies of Bank may be exercised at any time by Bank and from time to time after the occurrence of an Event of Default, are cumulative and not exclusive, and shall be in addition to any other rights, powers or remedies provided by law or equity.

 

ARTICLE VII

MISCELLANEOUS

 

SECTION 7.1. NO WAIVER.  No delay, failure or discontinuance of Bank in exercising any right, power or remedy under any of the Loan Documents shall affect or operate as a waiver of such right, power or remedy; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or remedy preclude, waive or otherwise affect any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy.  Any waiver, permit, consent or approval of any 

 

-15-



 

kind by Bank of any breach of or default under any of the Loan Documents must be in writing and shall be effective only to the extent set forth in such writing.

 

SECTION 7.2.NOTICES.  All notices, requests and demands which any party is required or may desire to give to any other party under any provision of this Agreement must be in writing delivered to each party at the following address:

 


	
BORROWER:
	
BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.

	
 
	
8100 NE Parkway Drive, Suite 200

	
 
	
Vancouver, Washington 98662

	
 
	
Attn:  Chief Financial Officer

	
 
	
 

	
BANK:
	
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

	
 
	
MAC P6101-250

	
 
	
1300 SW 5th Avenue, 25th Floor

	
 
	
Portland, Oregon 97201




 

or to such other address as any party may designate by written notice to all other parties.  Each such notice, request and demand shall be deemed given or made as follows:  (a) if sent by hand delivery, upon delivery; (b) if sent by mail, upon the earlier of the date of receipt or three (3) days after deposit in the U.S. mail, first class and postage prepaid; and (c) if sent by overnight delivery service, on the next business day.

 

SECTION 7.3.COSTS, EXPENSES AND ATTORNEYS' FEES.  Borrower shall pay to Bank immediately upon demand the full amount of all payments, advances, charges, costs and expenses, including, to the extent permitted by applicable law, reasonable attorneys' fees (to include outside counsel fees and all allocated costs of Bank's in-house counsel to the extent permissible), expended or incurred by Bank in connection with (a) the negotiation and preparation of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, Bank's continued administration hereof and thereof, and the preparation of any amendments and waivers hereto and thereto, (b) the enforcement of Bank's rights and/or the collection of any amounts which become due to Bank under any of the Loan Documents, whether or not suit is brought, and (c) the prosecution or defense of any action in any way related to any of the Loan Documents, including without limitation, any action for declaratory relief, whether incurred at the trial or appellate level, in an arbitration proceeding or otherwise, and including any of the foregoing incurred in connection with any bankruptcy proceeding (including without limitation, any adversary proceeding, contested matter or motion brought by Bank or any other person) relating to Borrower or any other person or entity. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, reasonable attorneys' fees shall not exceed the amount permitted by law.  

 

SECTION 7.4.SUCCESSORS, ASSIGNMENT.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the parties; provided however, that Borrower may not assign or transfer its interests or rights hereunder without Bank's prior written consent.  Bank reserves the right to sell, assign, transfer, negotiate or grant participations in all or any part of, or any interest in, Bank's rights and benefits under each of the Loan Documents.  In connection therewith, Bank may disclose all documents and information which Bank now has or may hereafter acquire relating to any credit subject hereto, Borrower or its business, any guarantor hereunder or the business of such guarantor, if any, or any collateral required hereunder.

 

 

-16-



 

 

SECTION 7.5.ENTIRE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENT.  To the full extent permitted by law, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents constitute the entire agreement between Borrower and Bank with respect to each credit subject hereto and supersede all prior negotiations, communications, discussions and correspondence concerning the subject matter hereof.  This Agreement may be amended or modified only in writing signed by each party hereto.

 

SECTION 7.6.NO THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES.  This Agreement is made and entered into for the sole protection and benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns, and no other person or entity shall be a third party beneficiary of, or have any direct or indirect cause of action or claim in connection with, this Agreement or any other of the Loan Documents to which it is not a party.

 

SECTION 7.7.TIME.  Time is of the essence of each and every provision of this Agreement and each other of the Loan Documents.

 

SECTION 7.8.SEVERABILITY OF PROVISIONS.  If any provision of this Agreement shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity without invalidating the remainder of such provision or any remaining provisions of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 7.9.COUNTERPARTS.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original, and all of which when taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.

 

SECTION 7.10.GOVERNING LAW.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Oregon (such State, Commonwealth or District is referred to herein as the “State”), but giving effect to federal laws applicable to national banks, without reference to the conflicts of law or choice of law principles thereof.

 

SECTION 7.11.BUSINESS PURPOSE.  Borrower represents and warrants that each credit subject hereto is made for (a) a business, commercial, investment, agricultural or other similar purpose, (b) the purpose of acquiring or carrying on a business, professional or commercial activity, or (c) the purpose of acquiring any real or personal property as an investment and not primarily for a personal, family or household use.

 

SECTION 7.12.RIGHT OF SETOFF; DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS. Upon and after the occurrence of an Event of Default, (a) Borrower hereby authorizes Bank, at any time and from time to time, without notice, which is hereby expressly waived by Borrower, and whether or not Bank shall have declared any credit subject hereto to be due and payable in accordance with the terms hereof, to set off against, and to appropriate and apply to the payment of, Borrower's obligations and liabilities under the Loan Documents (whether matured or unmatured, fixed or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated), any and all amounts owing by Bank to Borrower (whether payable in U.S. dollars or any other currency, whether matured or unmatured, and in the case of deposits, whether general or special (except trust and escrow accounts), time or demand and however evidenced), and (b) pending any such action, to the extent necessary, to hold such amounts as collateral to secure such obligations and liabilities and to return as unpaid for insufficient funds any and all checks and other items drawn against any deposits so held as Bank, in its sole discretion, may elect.  Bank may exercise this remedy regardless of the adequacy of any collateral for the obligations of Borrower to Bank and whether or not the Bank is otherwise fully secured.  Borrower hereby grants to Bank a security interest in all deposits and 

 

-17-



 

accounts maintained with Bank to secure the payment of all obligations and liabilities of Borrower to Bank under the Loan Documents.

 

SECTION 7.13.ARBITRATION.

 

(a)Arbitration.  The parties hereto agree, upon demand by any party, to submit to binding arbitration all claims, disputes and controversies between or among them (and their respective employees, officers, directors, attorneys, and other agents), whether in tort, contract or otherwise in any way arising out of or relating to (i) any credit subject hereto, or any of the Loan Documents, and their negotiation, execution, collateralization, administration, repayment, modification, extension, substitution, formation, inducement, enforcement, default or termination; or (ii) requests for additional credit.  In the event of a court ordered arbitration, the party requesting arbitration shall be responsible for timely filing the demand for arbitration and paying the appropriate filing fee within 30 days of the abatement order or the time specified by the court. Failure to timely file the demand for arbitration as ordered by the court will result in that party’s right to demand arbitration being automatically terminated.

 

(b)Governing Rules.  Any arbitration proceeding will (i) proceed in a location in the State selected by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”); (ii) be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act (Title 9 of the United States Code), notwithstanding any conflicting choice of law provision in any of the documents between the parties; and (iii) be conducted by the AAA, or such other administrator as the parties shall mutually agree upon, in accordance with the AAA’s commercial dispute resolution procedures, unless the claim or counterclaim is at least $1,000,000.00 exclusive of claimed interest, arbitration fees and costs in which case the arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the AAA’s optional procedures for large, complex commercial disputes (the commercial dispute resolution procedures or the optional procedures for large, complex commercial disputes to be referred to herein, as applicable, as the “Rules”).  If there is any inconsistency between the terms hereof and the Rules, the terms and procedures set forth herein shall control.  Any party who fails or refuses to submit to arbitration following a demand by any other party shall bear all costs and expenses incurred by such other party in compelling arbitration of any dispute.  Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to be a waiver by any party that is a bank of the protections afforded to it under 12 U.S.C. §91 or any similar applicable state law.

 

(c)No Waiver of Provisional Remedies, Self-Help and Foreclosure.  The arbitration requirement does not limit the right of any party to (i) foreclose against real or personal property collateral; (ii) exercise self-help remedies relating to collateral or proceeds of collateral such as setoff or repossession; or (iii) obtain provisional or ancillary remedies such as replevin, injunctive relief, attachment or the appointment of a receiver, before during or after the pendency of any arbitration proceeding.  This exclusion does not constitute a waiver of the right or obligation of any party to submit any dispute to arbitration or reference hereunder, including those arising from the exercise of the actions detailed in sections (i), (ii) and (iii) of this paragraph.

 

(d)Arbitrator Qualifications and Powers.  Any arbitration proceeding in which the amount in controversy is $5,000,000.00 or less will be decided by a single arbitrator selected according to the Rules, and who shall not render an award of greater than $5,000,000.00.  Any dispute in which the amount in controversy exceeds $5,000,000.00 shall be decided by majority vote of a panel of three arbitrators; provided however, that all three arbitrators must actively participate in all hearings and deliberations.  The arbitrator will be a neutral attorney licensed in the State or a neutral retired judge of the state or federal judiciary of the State, in either case 

 

-18-



 

with a minimum of ten years experience in the substantive law applicable to the subject matter of the dispute to be arbitrated.  The arbitrator will determine whether or not an issue is arbitratable and will give effect to the statutes of limitation in determining any claim.  In any arbitration proceeding the arbitrator will decide (by documents only or with a hearing at the arbitrator's discretion) any pre-hearing motions which are similar to motions to dismiss for failure to state a claim or motions for summary adjudication.  The arbitrator shall resolve all disputes in accordance with the substantive law of the State and may grant any remedy or relief that a court of such state could order or grant within the scope hereof and such ancillary relief as is necessary to make effective any award.  The arbitrator shall also have the power to award recovery of all costs and fees, to impose sanctions and to take such other action as the arbitrator deems necessary to the same extent a judge could pursuant to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the corresponding rules of civil practice and procedure applicable in the State or other applicable law.  Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction.  The institution and maintenance of an action for judicial relief or pursuit of a provisional or ancillary remedy shall not constitute a waiver of the right of any party, including the plaintiff, to submit the controversy or claim to arbitration if any other party contests such action for judicial relief.

 

(e)Discovery.  In any arbitration proceeding, discovery will be permitted in accordance with the Rules.  All discovery shall be expressly limited to matters directly relevant to the dispute being arbitrated and must be completed no later than 20 days before the hearing date.  Any requests for an extension of the discovery periods, or any discovery disputes, will be subject to final determination by the arbitrator upon a showing that the request for discovery is essential for the party's presentation and that no alternative means for obtaining information is available.

 

(f)Class Proceedings and Consolidations.  No party hereto shall be entitled to join or consolidate disputes by or against others in any arbitration, except parties who have executed any Loan Document, or to include in any arbitration any dispute as a representative or member of a class, or to act in any arbitration in the interest of the general public or in a private attorney general capacity. 

 

(g)Payment Of Arbitration Costs And Fees.  The arbitrator shall award all costs and expenses of the arbitration proceeding.

 

(h)Miscellaneous.  To the maximum extent practicable, the AAA, the arbitrators and the parties shall take all action required to conclude any arbitration proceeding within 180 days of the filing of the dispute with the AAA.  No arbitrator or other party to an arbitration proceeding may disclose the existence, content or results thereof, except for disclosures of information by a party required in the ordinary course of its business or by applicable law or regulation.  If more than one agreement for arbitration by or between the parties potentially applies to a dispute, the arbitration provision most directly related to the Loan Documents or the subject matter of the dispute shall control.  This arbitration provision shall survive termination, amendment or expiration of any of the Loan Documents or any relationship between the parties.

 

(i)Small Claims Court.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, each party retains the right to pursue in Small Claims Court any dispute within that court’s jurisdiction.  Further, this arbitration provision shall apply only to disputes in which either party seeks to recover an amount of money (excluding attorneys’ fees and costs) that exceeds the jurisdictional limit of the Small Claims Court.

 

 

-19-



 

 

UNDER OREGON LAW, MOST AGREEMENTS, PROMISES AND COMMITMENTS MADE BY BANK CONCERNING LOANS AND OTHER CREDIT EXTENSIONS WHICH ARE NOT FOR PERSONAL, FAMILY OR HOUSEHOLD PURPOSES OR SECURED SOLELY BY THE BORROWER'S RESIDENCE MUST BE IN WRITING, EXPRESS CONSIDERATION AND BE SIGNED BY BANK TO BE ENFORCEABLE.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound hereby, have caused this Agreement to be effective as of the effective date set forth above.

 


	
 
	
 
	
 
	
WELLS FARGO BANK,

	
BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
	
 
	
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
/s/ Anthony Harris
	
 
	
By:
	
/s/ Julie R. Wilson

	
 
	
ANTHONY HARRIS,
	
 
	
 
	
JULIE R. WILSON,

	
 
	
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
	
 
	
 
	
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT




 

 

-20-