Document:

ex_407171.htm

EXHIBIT 10.9

 

OPEN-END MORTGAGE, ASSIGNMENT OF LEASES, 

SECURITY AGREEMENT AND FIXTURE FILING

 

 

 

THE HAVANA CIGAR SHOP, INC.,

D/B/A AVALON FIELD CLUB AT NEW CASTLE

 

MORTGAGOR,

 

 

AND

 

 

LAUREL CAPITAL CORPORATION,

 

MORTGAGEE

 

 

Dated as of August 1, 2022

and Effective as of August 5, 2022

 

 

 

 

OPEN-END MORTGAGE, ASSIGNMENT OF LEASES,

SECURITY AGREEMENT AND FIXTURE FILING

 

THIS MORTGAGE SECURES FUTURE ADVANCES

 

(All notices to be given to Mortgagee pursuant to

42 Pa. C.S.A. § 8143 shall be given as set forth in

Section 9.1 of this Mortgage.)

 

 

This Open-End Mortgage, Assignment of Leases, Security Agreement and Fixture Filing (this "Mortgage") dated as of August 1, 2022 and effective as of August 5, 2022 (the "Effective Date") by THE HAVANA CIGAR SHOP, INC., d/b/a Avalon Field Club at New Castle, a Pennsylvania corporation, with an address at 1030 Forker Blvd., Hermitage, PA 16148-1566 ("Mortgagor"), in favor of LAUREL CAPITAL CORPORATION, with an address at 6600 Brooktree Court, Suite 3000, Wexford, PA 15090-0839 ("Mortgagee").

 

This Mortgage is an "Open-End Mortgage" as set forth in 42 Pa. C.S.A. §8143 and secures obligations up to a maximum amount of indebtedness outstanding at any time equal to double the face amount of the Note (as hereinafter defined), plus accrued and unpaid interest, including, but not limited to, advances for the payment of taxes and municipal assessments, maintenance charges, insurance premiums, costs incurred for the protection of the Mortgaged Property or the lien of this Mortgage, expenses incurred by Mortgagee by reason of default by Mortgagor under this Mortgage and advances for construction, alteration or renovation on the Mortgaged Property or for any other purpose, together with all other sums due hereunder or secured hereby.

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, Mortgagor is the owner of certain real estate situate in the City of New Castle, Mercer County, Pennsylvania, as more fully described in Exhibit A attached hereto and made a part hereof (the "Premises"), together with the improvements now or hereafter erected thereon.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for the purpose of securing the payment and performance of the following obligations (collectively called the "Secured Obligations"):

 

(A)    All indebtedness, together with all interest thereon, evidenced by that certain Mortgage Note dated the Effective Date from Mortgagor, Avalon Holdings Corporation, Avalon Resort and Spa, LLC, Avalon Resorts and Clubs, Inc., Avalon Clubs, Inc., Avalon Resorts, Inc., Avalon Golf and Country Club, Inc., Avalon Lakes Golf, Inc., Avalon Country Club at Sharon, Inc., Avalon Travel, Inc., Avalon Mahoning Sports Center, Inc., Avalon Cigar Shop, Inc., TBG, Inc., American Waste Management Services, Inc., American Waste NJ, LLC, American Landfill Management, Inc. and American Construction Supply, Inc. (together with Mortgagor, the "Borrowers") to Mortgagee in the principal face amount of $31,000,000 (as the same may be amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time, the "Note"), the provisions of the Note being incorporated herein by this reference, and all other Obligations (as such term is defined in the Loan Agreement dated the effective date hereof among the Borrowers and Mortgagee (as the same may be amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time, the "Loan Agreement"));

 

(B)    Any sums advanced by Mortgagee or which may otherwise become due pursuant to the provisions of the Note, this Mortgage or pursuant to any other document or instrument at any time delivered to Mortgagee to evidence or secure any of the Secured Obligations or which otherwise relate to any of the Secured Obligations or the Loan Documents (as such term is defined in the Loan Agreement).

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgagor, for good and valuable consideration, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, does hereby give, grant, bargain, sell, convey, mortgage, pledge and confirm unto Mortgagee and does agree that Mortgagee shall have a mortgage and security interest in, and lien upon, the following described property (collectively, the "Mortgaged Property"), now owned or held or hereafter acquired, to wit:

 

(i)         All of Mortgagor's estate in the Premises, together with all of the easements, rights of way, privileges, liberties, hereditaments, rights and appurtenances thereunto belonging and all of the estate, right, title, interest, claim and demand whatsoever of Mortgagor therein and in the public streets and ways adjacent thereto, either in law or in equity, in possession or expectancy (collectively, the "Realty");

 

(ii)         The structures and buildings, and all additions and improvements thereto, now or hereafter erected upon the Realty (including all Equipment, as hereinafter defined, constituting fixtures) (collectively, the "Improvements");

 

(iii)         All present and future leases, subleases licenses and concessions or grants of any possessory interest covering all or any portion of the Mortgaged Property whether written or oral; all agreements for use, occupancy or enjoyment of any portion of the Mortgaged Property and any leases, lettings or agreements (including rights in respect of tenants holding over and tenancies following attornment) of all or any part of the Mortgaged Property; any and all guarantees of the performance of any lessee under any lease; and any extensions, amendments, modifications, substitutions or supplements to any lease (collectively, the "Leases" or singularly, a "Lease"), and including further, the right to receive and collect the rents (the "Rents") thereunder and all guaranties thereof;

 

(iv)         All machinery, apparatus, equipment, fittings, appliances and fixtures of every kind and nature whatsoever, and regardless of whether the same may now or hereafter be attached or affixed to the Realty or the Improvements (collectively, the "Equipment");

 

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the Mortgaged Property unto Mortgagee, its successors and assigns, to its own use forever in accordance with the provisions hereof,

 

Article 1

Representations and Warranties

 

Mortgagor represents and warrants to Mortgagee as follows:

 

1.1     Warranty of Title. Mortgagor has good and marketable title to an estate in fee simple absolute in the Realty and Improvements and has all right, title and interest in all other property constituting a part of the Mortgaged Property, in each case free and clear of all liens and encumbrances, except as may otherwise be approved in writing by Mortgagee. This Mortgage is a valid and enforceable first lien on the Mortgaged Property, and Mortgagee shall, subject to Mortgagor's right of possession prior to an Event of Default, quietly enjoy and possess the Mortgaged Property. Mortgagor shall preserve such title as it warrants herein and the validity and priority of the lien hereof and shall forever warrant and defend the same to Mortgagee against the claims of all persons and parties whomsoever.

 

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Article 2

Affirmative Covenants

 

2.1     Payment and Performance of Secured Obligations. Mortgagor shall pay and perform all Secured Obligations when due as provided in the Loan Documents.

 

2.2     Legal Requirements. Mortgagor shall promptly comply with and conform to all present and future laws, statutes, codes, ordinances, orders and regulations and all covenants, restrictions and conditions which may be applicable to Mortgagor or to any of the Mortgaged Property (collectively, the "Legal Requirements").

 

2.3     Impositions.

 

(a)     Before interest or penalties are due thereon and otherwise when due, Mortgagor shall pay all taxes of every kind and nature, all charges for any easement or agreement maintained for the benefit of any of the Mortgaged Property, all general and special assessments (including, without limitation, any condominium or planned unit development assessments, if any), levies, permits, inspection and license fees, all water and sewer rents and charges, and all other charges and liens, whether of a like or different nature, imposed upon or assessed against Mortgagor or any of the Mortgaged Property. The obligations referred to in this Section are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Impositions." Within thirty (30) days after the payment of any Imposition, Mortgagor shall deliver to Mortgagee evidence acceptable to Mortgagee of such payment.

 

(b)     Mortgagee may pay or perform any Imposition not paid by Mortgagor within 30 days of the due date and add the amount so paid or the cost incurred to the Secured Obligations, and all such amounts shall on demand be due and payable.

 

2.4     Maintenance and Impairment of Security. Mortgagor shall keep the Mortgaged Property in good condition and order and in a rentable and tenantable state of repair and will make or cause to be made, as and when necessary, all repairs, renewals, and replacements, structural and nonstructural, exterior and interior, foreseen and unforeseen, ordinary and extraordinary, provided, however, that no structural repairs, renewals or replacements shall be made without Mortgagee's prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. Mortgagor shall not remove, demolish or alter the Mortgaged Property nor commit or suffer waste with respect thereto, nor permit the Mortgaged Property to become deserted or abandoned. Mortgagor shall permit Mortgagee and its agents at any time, and from time to time, to enter upon and visit the Mortgaged Property for the purpose of inspecting and appraising the same. Mortgagor covenants and agrees not to take or permit any action with respect to the Mortgaged Property which will in any manner impair the security of this Mortgage.

 

2.5     Use of Mortgaged Property. Mortgagor shall use, and permit others to use, the Mortgaged Property only for uses permitted under applicable laws.

 

2.6     Books and Records. Mortgagor shall maintain and Mortgagee shall have access to complete and adequate books of account and other records relating to the Mortgaged Property as Mortgagee may reasonably require. Mortgagor shall permit Mortgagee to photocopy such books and records.

 

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Article 3

Negative Covenants

 

Until all of the Secured Obligations shall have been fully paid, satisfied and discharged:

 

3.1     Leases. Mortgagor shall not (a) execute an assignment or pledge of the Rents and/or the Leases other than in favor of Mortgagee; (b) accept any prepayment of an installment of any Rents prior to the due date of such installment in excess of 30 days in advance; or (c) enter into or amend any of the terms of any of the Leases without Mortgagee's prior written consent, which consent shall not be withheld if to do so would be detrimental to the Project or the Mortgagor.

 

3.2     Sale of Mortgaged Property, Etc. Mortgagor shall not sell, assign, give, mortgage, pledge, hypothecate, encumber, lease or otherwise transfer the Mortgaged Property, or any part thereof or interest therein, voluntarily or involuntarily, without Mortgagee's prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

Article 4

Insurance, Condemnation and Restoration

 

4.1     Insurance.

 

(a)     Mortgagor shall maintain comprehensive public liability insurance, fire insurance with extended coverage, builder's risk insurance with respect to any construction, renovation or reconstruction, contractual liability insurance for all indemnification obligations of Mortgagor under all Leases and such other insurance as shall be required under Section 6.6 of the Loan Agreement or as otherwise may be required from time to time by Mortgagee. The amounts, coverages and other terms and conditions of the insurance policies shall at all times be satisfactory to Mortgagee and shall satisfy any coinsurance requirements of Mortgagee. Mortgagor shall pay as they become due all premiums for such insurance, shall keep each policy in full force and effect, shall deliver to Mortgagee evidence of the payment of the full premium therefor at least twenty (20) days prior to the expiration date of each policy and shall deliver to Mortgagee original policies of insurance, with noncontributory mortgagee clause, and lender loss payee endorsement in favor of and acceptable to Mortgagee. Mortgagor's liability insurance policy shall specifically name Mortgagee as an additional insured, and Mortgagor's fire and builder's risk insurance shall name Mortgagee as mortgagee. Each policy shall provide for written notice to Mortgagee at least thirty (30) days prior to any cancellation, nonrenewal or amendment of such insurance.

 

(b)     If the Mortgaged Property is located in an area which has been identified by any governmental agency, authority or body as a flood hazard area or the like, then Mortgagor shall maintain a flood insurance policy covering the Mortgaged Property in an amount not less than the full replacement value of the Mortgaged Property or the maximum limit of coverage available under the federal program, whichever amount is less.

 

(c)     If Mortgagor shall not at any time comply with the terms of this Section, irrespective of the passage of any grace period, Mortgagee may cure such non-compliance and may purchase such insurance as it may elect. Mortgagor shall reimburse Mortgagee on demand for any costs incurred by Mortgagee in connection with any such actions, together with interest at the Default Rate (as defined in the Loan Agreement). Any such actions by Mortgagee shall not constitute a waiver of any non-compliance of the terms of this Mortgage by Mortgagor.

 

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4.2     Rights of Mortgagee to Proceeds. In the event of loss, Mortgagee shall have the exclusive right to adjust, collect and compromise all insurance claims, and Mortgagor shall not adjust, collect or compromise any claims under such policies without the prior written consent of Mortgagee, which shall not be unreasonably withheld. Each insurer is hereby authorized and directed to make payment under such policies, including return of unearned premiums, directly to Mortgagee instead of to Mortgagor and Mortgagee jointly, and Mortgagor appoints Mortgagee as Mortgagor's attorney-in-fact to endorse any draft therefor. All insurance proceeds shall be payable to Mortgagee and such proceeds may, at Mortgagee's sole option, be applied to all or any part of the Secured Obligations and in any order (notwithstanding that such Secured Obligations may not then otherwise be due and payable) or to the repair and restoration of any of the Mortgaged Property under such terms and conditions as Mortgagee may reasonably impose. Mortgagee shall not be deemed to have elected such option until such option is elected specifically in writing. Until so elected, Mortgagee shall not in any circumstances be deemed to have waived its right to make such election.

 

4.3     Condemnation. Mortgagor, immediately upon obtaining knowledge of the institution of any proceedings for the condemnation or taking by eminent domain of any of the Mortgaged Property, shall notify Mortgagee of the pendency of such proceedings. Mortgagee may participate in any such proceedings and Mortgagor shall deliver to Mortgagee all instruments requested by it to permit such participation. Any award or compensation for property taken or for damage to property not taken, whether as a result of such proceedings or in lieu thereof, is hereby assigned to and shall be received and collected directly by Mortgagee, and any award or compensation shall be applied, at Mortgagee's option, to any part of the Secured Obligations and in any order (notwithstanding that any of such Secured Obligations may not then be due and payable) or to the repair and restoration of any of the Mortgaged Property under such terms and conditions as Mortgagee may impose. Mortgagee shall not be deemed to have elected such option until such option is elected specifically in writing. Until so elected, Mortgagee shall not in any circumstances be deemed to have waived its right to make such election.

 

Article 5

Assignment of Leases

 

5.1         Assignment. Mortgagor hereby absolutely and unconditionally conveys, grants, bargains, sells, assigns, transfers, sets over and delivers to Mortgagee, and its successors and assigns, as of the date hereof, all of Mortgagor's rights, title, interests and privileges in all present and future Leases, including without limitation the following:

 

(i)         All rents, revenues, issues, income, receipts, profits and other amounts now or hereafter becoming due to Mortgagor under the Leases (whether due for the letting of space, for services, materials or installations supplied by Mortgagor, or for any other reason whatsoever), including without limitation all insurance, tax and other contributions, insurance proceeds, condemnation awards, damages following defaults by tenants under the Leases (hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Tenants", and singularly as a "Tenant"), cash or securities deposited by Tenants to secure performance of their obligations under the Leases, minimum rents, additional rents, percentage rents, concession rents, room receipt revenues, and all other extraordinary receipts, and all proceeds thereof, both cash and non-cash (all of the foregoing are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Rents") and all rights to make claim for, collect, receive and receipt for the Rents;

 

(ii)         Any sums to which Mortgagor may become entitled in any court proceeding involving the bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of any Tenant;

 

(iii)         All claims, rights, privileges and remedies on the part of Mortgagor, whether arising under the Leases or by statute or at Law or in equity or otherwise, arising out of or in connection with any failure by any Tenant to pay the Rents or to perform any other obligation under any of the Leases;

 

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(iv)         All rights, powers and privileges of Mortgagor to exercise any election or option or to give or receive any notice, consent, waiver or approval under or with respect to the Leases;

 

(v)         Any payments made by any of the Tenants in lieu of Rents; and

 

(vi)         All other claims, rights, powers, privileges and remedies of Mortgagor under or with respect to the Leases, including without limitation the right, power and privilege (but not the obligation) to do any and all acts, matters and other things that Mortgagor is entitled to do thereunder or with respect thereto.

 

The foregoing assignment by Mortgagor to Mortgagee is referred to hereinafter as the "Assignment".

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing Assignment, however, Mortgagee hereby grants to Mortgagor a revocable license to receive and use the Rents, and to exercise all of Mortgagor's rights, powers, privileges and remedies under the Leases to the extent not prohibited by paragraph (c) below or by any Financing Documents, until the occurrence of an Event of Default.

 

Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the Assignment set forth herein is an absolute assignment from Mortgagor to Mortgagee of all of Mortgagor's right, title and interest in and to the Leases and the Rents. It is the express intent of the parties hereto that the Assignment is not merely the granting of a security interest as additional collateral, but is an absolute assignment, vesting Mortgagee with full and clear title to the Leases and the Rents as of the date hereof, subject only to the terms and provisions of the Assignment, including the license of Mortgagor to collect rents and operate the Mortgaged Property so long as no Event of Default shall exist hereunder.

 

5.2         Warranties of Mortgagor. Mortgagor hereby represents and warrants to Mortgagee, as a material inducement to Mortgagee to accept the Assignment, that:

 

(i)         Mortgagor has full right and power to assign the Leases and Rents and Mortgagor has not assigned, transferred, mortgaged, pledged or otherwise encumbered any of its right, title and interest in, to or under the Leases or the Rents (which prior assignment will not be terminated with the proceeds from the loan evidenced by the Note) and no part of such right, title and interest is subject to any lien or other encumbrance, except in favor of Mortgagee;

 

(ii)         To its knowledge, Mortgagor has not done anything which might prevent Mortgagee from or limit Mortgagee in operating under any of the provisions hereof;

 

(iii)         To its knowledge, each of the Leases is a legal, valid and binding obligation of each of the Tenants thereof, enforceable in accordance with its terms;

 

(iv)         To its knowledge, no material default exists by Mortgagor or any of the Tenants under any of the Leases;

 

(v)         No Rents have been received by Mortgagor more than thirty (30) days in advance of the time when the same became or becomes due under the terms of the Leases; and

 

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(vi)         There are, as of the date hereof, no Leases in existence which affect all or any portion of the Mortgaged Property other than as disclosed in writing by Mortgagor to Mortgagee prior to the date hereof. Mortgagor covenants and agrees that all future Leases will be subordinate to the lien of this Mortgage.

 

5.3    Affirmative Covenants of Mortgagor. Mortgagor shall promptly (i) perform all of the material provisions of the Leases on the part of the landlord thereunder to be performed; (ii) enforce all of the material provisions of the Leases on the part of the Tenants thereunder to be performed; (iii) appear in and defend any action or proceeding arising under, growing out of or in any manner connected with the Leases or the obligations of Mortgagor as landlord or of the tenants thereunder; (iv) deliver to Mortgagee, within ten (10) days after a request by Mortgagee, but not more frequently than once in each year unless Mortgagor is in default hereunder, a written statement containing the names of all tenants, the terms of all Leases and the spaces occupied and rentals payable thereunder, and a statement of all Leases which are then in default, including the nature and magnitude of the default, and including such other information as Mortgagee may reasonably request; (v) following the request of Mortgagee for the same, deliver fully executed copies of any future Lease or Leases to the Mortgagee within five (5) days of the execution and delivery of said Lease or Leases; and (vi) upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default hereunder, to deposit in a special account with the Mortgagee any and all Rents derived from the Mortgaged Property and hereby assigns, grants, conveys and transfers to Mortgagee a security interest in such account.

 

5.4    Attornment. Following the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default by Mortgagor and Mortgagee's exercise of any remedy under this Mortgage, the Tenant under each Lease shall at Mortgagee's request attorn in writing to Mortgagee or any other person succeeding to the interest of Mortgagee as a result of such enforcement and shall recognize Mortgagee or such successor in interest as landlord under the Lease without change in the provisions thereof; provided, however, that Mortgagee or such successor in interest shall not be bound by any payment of an installment of rent or additional rent which may have been made more than thirty (30) days before the due date of such installment or sixty (60) days before the end of the period covered by such installment, unless received by Mortgagee.

 

5.5    Notice of Lease Defaults. Mortgagor shall notify Mortgagee immediately of any default of Mortgagor asserted by any Tenant under a Lease. If Mortgagor fails to contest or cure such default within a reasonable period after notice of such default then Mortgagor expressly authorizes Mortgagee, at its option, to cure such default in order to prevent termination of any Lease by any tenant. If any such Lease is assigned to Mortgagee by separate instrument of assignment, and if, by reason of default of Mortgagor in the performance of any such Lease, the Tenant has the right to cancel such Lease or to claim any diminution of or offset against future rents, then, at the option of Mortgagee, such default shall be an Event of Default hereunder.

 

5.6    Statement of Receipts and Disbursements. Mortgagor will render to Mortgagee, within twenty (20) days after written demand therefor, a detailed certified statement specifying the rents and profits received from the Mortgaged Property for the period specified in such demand, the disbursements made for such period and the names of all tenants of the Mortgaged Property, together with true and correct copies of all Leases for which rent is so accounted, and including such other information as Mortgagee may request.

 

5.7         Management Agreements. Mortgagor shall not enter into any agreement for the management or operation of all or part of the Mortgaged Property (a "Management Agreement") without (i) furnishing to Mortgagee a copy of such Management Agreement together with such information with respect to the managing party as Mortgagee may reasonably request, (ii) receiving Mortgagee's prior written consent thereto, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, (iii) executing an assignment of such Management Agreement in favor of Mortgagee of all of Mortgagor's rights under such Management Agreement, and (iv) delivering a subordination and attornment agreement executed by Mortgagor and Mortgagor's managing agent in favor of Mortgagee, with all documentation described in clauses (i) through (iv) above to be in form and content satisfactory to Mortgagee.

 

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5.8    Negative Covenants of Mortgagor. Mortgagor hereby covenants with Mortgagee that Mortgagor shall not without the consent of Mortgagee: (i) assign, transfer, mortgage, pledge or otherwise encumber, or permit to accrue or suffer to exist any lien or other encumbrance on or in any of the right, title or interest of Mortgagor in, to or under the Leases or the Rents, except in favor of Mortgagee or as otherwise permitted under the Loan Agreement; (ii) accept any prepayment of Rents under any of the Leases earlier than one (1) month in advance of its due date; (iii) settle or compromise any claim against any Tenant arising out of or in respect of any Lease with respect to a claim in excess of $50,000; or (vii) take any other action in connection with any Lease which would materially impair the value of the rights or interest of Mortgagor or Mortgagee thereunder or therein.

 

5.9    Obligations under Leases. Notwithstanding any presumption or any provision contained herein or in the Leases to the contrary, until such time, if any, that Mortgagee takes title to, or control of, the Mortgaged Property, or any part thereof: (i) Mortgagor shall at all times remain solely liable under the Leases to perform all of the obligations of Mortgagor thereunder to the same extent as if the Assignment had not been executed; (ii) neither the Assignment nor any action or inaction on the part of Mortgagor or Mortgagee shall release Mortgagor from any of its obligations under the Leases or constitute an assumption of any such obligations by Mortgagee; and (iii) Mortgagee shall not have any obligation or liability under the Leases or otherwise by reason of or arising out of the Assignment, nor shall Mortgagee be required or obligated in any manner to make any payment or perform any other obligation of Mortgagor under or pursuant to the Leases, or to make any inquiry as to the nature or sufficiency of any payment received by Mortgagee, or to present or file any claim, or to take any action to collect or enforce the payment of any amounts which have been assigned to Mortgagee or to which it may be entitled at any time or times. The exercise of any rights under the Assignment by Mortgagee shall not be deemed or construed to constitute Mortgagee as a mortgagee-in-possession as to the Mortgaged Property nor obligate Mortgagee to take any action hereunder, nor to incur any expenses or perform or discharge any obligation, duty or liability hereunder the Leases.

 

Article 6

Default

 

6.1    Events of Default. The occurrence of any one or more of the following events shall constitute an "Event of Default" hereunder:

 

(a)    A failure to pay any Secured Obligations when due in accordance with the terms thereof, subject to all applicable grace, notice and cure periods; or

 

(b)    Mortgagor shall fail to perform or observe any of the obligations in Article 3 or 4 of this Mortgage, subject to all applicable grace, notice and cure periods; or

 

(c)    A failure by Mortgagor to duly perform and observe any other provision in this Mortgage, and such failure shall continue for a period of thirty (30) days after written notice from Mortgagee to Mortgagor, or Mortgagor has knowledge that such failure has occurred, or such longer period to which Mortgagee may agree in the case of a default not curable by the exercise of due diligence within such thirty (30) day period, provided that Mortgagor shall have commenced to cure such default within such thirty (30) day period and shall complete such cure as quickly as reasonably possible with the exercise of due diligence; or

 

(d)    Any representation or warranty made by Mortgagor herein or in any of the Loan Documents or in any other instrument or document which pertains to or is delivered in connection with any of the Secured Obligations proves to be incorrect, now or hereafter, in any material respect; or

 

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(e)    An Event of Default (as defined in the Loan Agreement) shall occur; or

 

(f)    Mortgagor, or any other obligor or guarantor of any of the Secured Obligations, shall become insolvent or unable to pay its or his or her debts as the same mature, or a petition shall be filed by or against Mortgagor or any such party in bankruptcy or seeking the appointment of a receiver, trustee or conservator for Mortgagor or any such party or for any portion of its or his or her property, or for reorganization or to effect a plan or other arrangement with or for the benefit of creditors or Mortgagor or any such party shall consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee or conservator for Mortgagor or any such party or for any portion of its or his or her property which shall not have been dismissed or stayed within sixty (60) calendar days after such proceedings were instituted; or

 

(g)    Foreclosure proceedings are instituted against the Mortgaged Property upon any other lien or claim, whether alleged to be superior or junior to the lien of this Mortgage; or

 

(h)    Mortgagor shall fail to comply with any duty or obligation imposed pursuant to Article 7 hereof or any warranty or representation contained therein shall be incorrect or misleading; or

 

(i)    Mortgagor shall at any time deliver or cause to be delivered to Mortgagee a notice pursuant to 42 Pa. C.S.A. §8143 electing to limit the indebtedness secured by this Mortgage.

 

Article 7

Remedies

 

7.1         Rights and Remedies of Mortgagee. If an Event of Default occurs, Mortgagee may, at its option and notwithstanding any contrary provisions in the Loan Documents, without demand, notice or delay, do one or more of the following:

 

(a)    Mortgagee may declare the entire unpaid principal balance of the Secured Obligations, together with all interest thereon, to be due and payable immediately (and in the case of an Event of Default under subsection 5.1(e), all such indebtedness shall automatically and immediately become due and payable without notice or any other act).

 

(b)    Mortgagee may (i) institute and maintain an action of mortgage foreclosure against the Mortgaged Property and the interests of Mortgagor therein, (ii) institute and maintain an action on any instruments evidencing the Secured Obligations or any portion thereof, and (iii) take such other action at law or in equity for the enforcement of any of the Loan Documents as the law may allow, and in each such action Mortgagee shall be entitled to all costs of suit and attorneys' fees.

 

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(c)    Mortgagee may, in its sole and absolute discretion, and without releasing Mortgagor or any other obligor or guarantor from any obligation under any of the Loan Documents and without waiving any Event of Default: (i) collect any or all of the Rents, including any Rents past due and unpaid, (ii) perform any obligation or exercise any right or remedy of Mortgagor under any Lease, or (iii) enforce any obligation of any tenant of any of the Mortgaged Property. Mortgagee may exercise any right under this subsection (c), whether or not Mortgagee shall have entered into possession of any of the Mortgaged Property, and nothing herein contained shall be construed as constituting Mortgagee a "mortgagee in possession," unless Mortgagee shall have entered into and shall continue to be in actual possession of the Mortgaged Property. Mortgagor hereby authorizes and directs each and every present and future tenant of any of the Mortgaged Property to pay all Rents directly to Mortgagee and to perform all other obligations of that tenant for the direct benefit of Mortgagee, as if Mortgagee were the landlord under the Lease with that tenant, immediately upon receipt of a demand by Mortgagee to make such payment or perform such obligations. Mortgagor hereby waives any right, claim or demand it may now or hereafter have against any such tenant by reason of such payment of Rents or performance of obligations to Mortgagee, and any such payment or performance to Mortgagee shall discharge the obligations of the tenant to make such payment or performance to Mortgagor.

 

7.2         Sale in Parcels or Units. In case any sale under this Mortgage occurs by virtue of judicial proceedings, the Mortgaged Property may be sold in one parcel or unit and as an entity, or in such parcels or units, and in such manner or order, as Mortgagee in its sole discretion may elect.

 

7.3         Confession of Judgment in Ejectment. At any time after the occurrence of an Event of Default, without further notice, regardless of whether Mortgagee has asserted any other right or exercised any other remedy under this Mortgage or any of the other Loan Documents, it shall be lawful for any attorney licensed in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as attorney for Mortgagor to confess judgment in ejectment against Mortgagor and all persons claiming under Mortgagor for the recovery by Mortgagee of possession of all or any part of the Mortgaged Property, for which this Mortgage shall be sufficient warrant. If for any reason after such action shall have commenced the same shall be determined and the possession of the Mortgaged Property remain in or be restored to Mortgagor, Mortgagee shall have the right upon any subsequent default or defaults to bring one or more amicable action or actions as hereinbefore set forth to recover possession of all or any part of the Mortgaged Property.

 

7.4    Remedies Cumulative. All remedies contained in this Mortgage are cumulative and Mortgagee also has all other remedies provided by law or in equity or in any of the other Loan Documents. No delay or failure by Mortgagee to exercise any right or remedy under this Mortgage will be construed to be a waiver of that right or remedy or a waiver of any Event of Default. Mortgagee may exercise any one or more of its rights and remedies without regard to the adequacy of its security.

 

Article 8

Environmental Matters

 

8.1     Environmental Warranty. Mortgagor represents and warrants to Mortgagee:

 

(a)         Neither Mortgagor nor, to the best of Mortgagor's knowledge, any previous owner, lessee, or other occupant of all or any part of the Mortgaged Property, nor any third party, has used, generated, released, discharged, spilled, emitted, stored or otherwise managed any hazardous waste, toxic substances or other regulated materials (all of which are collectively called "Regulated Substances") on any part of the Mortgaged Property, except in compliance with Environmental Laws (as hereinafter defined). For purposes of this representation and warranty, Regulated Substances shall include (but are not necessarily limited to) any substances that are defined as "hazardous" or "toxic" or otherwise regulated under any local, state or federal Environmental Law (as hereinafter defined).

 

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(b)     Neither the Mortgagor, nor, to the best of Mortgagor's knowledge, any previous owner, Lessee, or other occupant of all or any part of the Mortgaged Property, nor any third party, has disposed of any Regulated Substances on any part of the Mortgaged Property.

 

(c)     There is no asbestos or asbestos-containing material located on any part of the Mortgaged Property.

 

(d)     The Mortgaged Property is being operated in compliance with the Sewage Facilities Act, 35 Purdon's Stats. 750.1, et seq. If there is on-site sewage treatment, all necessary permits have been obtained and remain in effect with respect to those treatment facilities, and no discharge of raw, untreated or inadequately treated sewage from the Mortgaged Property has occurred or will occur at any time that this Mortgage remains in effect.

 

(e)     No part of the Mortgaged Property, nor any property adjoining, or in the proximity of, the Mortgaged Property is presently listed as a Superfund Site on the National Priorities List, has been listed on CERCLIS, or has been identified on any similar list compiled by any governmental agency.

 

(f)     To the best of Mortgagor's knowledge, there are no underground storage tanks located on the Mortgaged Property. Any underground storage tanks located on the Mortgaged Property shall be properly registered under the Storage Tank and Spill Prevention Act, 35 Purdon's Stats. 6021.101 et seq., and all tanks, fuel lines and dispensing equipment shall be maintained in compliance with that act and with all other Environmental Laws pertaining to underground storage tanks and dispensing of any product therefrom.

 

(g)     Mortgagor shall promptly notify Mortgagee in writing of any pending or threatened investigation or litigation by any governmental authority or by any third party relating to the Mortgaged Property and arising under any Environmental Law or alleging a common law or statutory nuisance. Mortgagor shall, within two (2) business days of receipt, deliver to Mortgagee a copy of all notices, pleadings or other materials of any kind received from any public authority or any third party relating in any manner to any of the matters set forth in this Section 7.1.

 

(h)     Mortgagee shall, within two (2) business days after becoming aware of the release, discharge, spill, or other disposal of any Regulated Substances on any part of the Mortgaged Property, notify Mortgagee in writing as to such occurrence, and Mortgagor shall forthwith proceed to correct or remedy such condition as expeditiously as possible in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws and in full cooperation with any appropriate governmental authority.

 

(i)     For purposes of this Section 8.1, the term "Environmental Laws" shall mean all federal, state and local laws, statutes, codes, and ordinances pertaining to the protection of human health or the environment, together with any administrative regulations promulgated under any of the foregoing, including those statutes previously identified above, and further including, but not limited to, the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, 42 U.S.C.A. 9601, et seq., the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C.A. 6901, et seq., the Solid Waste Management Act, 35 Purdon's Stats. 6018.101, et seq., the Clean Streams Law, 35 Purdon's Stats. 591.1, et seq., the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act, 35 Purdon's Stats. 6020.101, et seq., and the Dam Safety Encroachments Act, 32 Purdon's Stats. 693.1, et seq., all as amended from time to time.

 

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8.2         Environmental Indemnification. Mortgagor covenants and agrees, at its sole cost and expense, to indemnify, protect and hold Mortgagee harmless against and from all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, penalties, fines or judgments, including any attorney's fees, expert fees or costs incurred, arising in any manner out of any of the matters set forth in Section 7.1 above or otherwise arising under any Environmental Law, whether such matters arise before or after the exercise of any remedies by Mortgagee under this Mortgage or the taking of title by Mortgagee to all or any portion of the Mortgaged Property. Indemnified matters shall include, without limitation, all of the following: (i) the costs of removal of any and all Regulated Substances from all or any portion of the Mortgaged Property or any surrounding areas, (ii) additional costs required to take necessary precautions to protect against the release of Regulated Substances on, in, under or affecting the Mortgaged Property onto the land and into the air, any body of water, any other public domain or any surrounding areas and (iii) costs incurred to comply, in connection with all or any portion of the Mortgaged Property or any surrounding areas, with all Environmental Laws with respect to Regulated Substances. The indemnification obligations of this Section 7.2 shall survive repayment of the Secured Obligations and satisfaction of this Mortgage.

 

Article 9

Additional Rights and Obligations

 

9.1         Installments for Insurance, Taxes and Other Charges. Without limiting the effect of any other provision of this Mortgage, upon the occurrence and existence of an Event of Default, Mortgagor shall pay to Mortgagee monthly with its payment on the Note, an amount equal to one-twelfth (1/12) of the annual premiums for the insurance policies referred to hereinabove and the annual Impositions and any other item which at any time may be or become a lien upon the Mortgaged Property (the "Escrow Charges"); and on demand, from time to time, Mortgagor shall pay to Mortgagee any additional sums necessary to pay when due all Escrow Charges. No amount so paid to Mortgagee shall be deemed to be trust funds but may be commingled with general funds of Mortgagee, nor shall any sums paid bear interest. Mortgagee shall have the right, at its election, to apply any amount so held against the Secured Obligations due and payable in such order as Mortgagee may deem fit, and Mortgagor hereby grants to Mortgagee a lien upon and security interest in such amounts for such purpose.

 

9.2         Mortgagee's Right to Protect Security. Mortgagee is hereby authorized to do any one or more of the following, irrespective of whether an Event of Default has occurred: (a) appear in and defend any action or proceeding purporting to affect the security hereof or the rights or powers of Mortgagee hereunder; (b) take such action as Mortgagee may determine to pay, perform or comply with any applicable laws, to cure any Events of Default and to protect its security in the Mortgaged Property.

 

9.3         Mortgagee's Costs and Expenses. In the event of an Event of Default or the exercise by Mortgagee of any of its rights hereunder, or if Mortgagee shall become a party, either as plaintiff or defendant or otherwise, to any suit or legal proceeding affecting any of the Mortgaged Property or the Secured Obligations, or if review and approval of any document, or any other matter related to any of the Secured Obligations, is required by, or requested of, Mortgagee, Mortgagor shall pay to Mortgagee on demand its costs, expenses and attorneys' fees incurred in connection therewith. If such amounts are not paid, they shall be added to the principal secured hereby, shall be included as part of the Secured Obligations and shall bear interest at the Default Rate (as defined in the Loan Agreement) from the date of demand.

 

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9.4         Further Assurances. Mortgagor agrees to execute such further assurances, documents and instruments as may be desirable by Mortgagee for the purposes of further evidencing, carrying out and/or confirming this Mortgage and for all other purposes intended by this Mortgage.

 

Article 10

Miscellaneous Matters

 

10.1         Notice.

 

(a)    Except as otherwise provided in this Mortgage, all notices hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given for all purposes when delivered in person, or when deposited in the United States mail, by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or delivered to an express courier service for delivery on the next business day, directed in each case to the party to receive the same at the addresses set forth at the beginning of this Mortgage or at such other address as may be substituted by notice given as herein provided. The giving of any notice required hereunder may be waived.

 

(b)    All notices given by Mortgagor to Mortgagee pursuant to 42 Pa. C.S.A. § 8143(c) shall be given to Mortgagee in accordance with this Section 9.1 and must be signed by all parties necessary to bind Mortgagor in accordance with the applicable documents of formation of Mortgagor and all applicable laws.

 

10.2         Severability. In the event any one or more of the provisions contained in this Mortgage shall for any reason be held to be inapplicable, invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any respect, such inapplicability, invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Mortgage, but this Mortgage shall be construed as if such inapplicable, invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

 

10.3         Successors and Assigns. All of the grants, covenants, terms, provisions and conditions herein shall run with the land and shall apply to, bind and inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of Mortgagor and Mortgagee.

 

10.4         No Oral Modification. This Mortgage may be modified, amended, discharged or waived only by an agreement in writing, signed by all of the parties hereto.

 

10.5         Defeasance. If Mortgagor pays to Mortgagee in full the Secured Obligations, then this Mortgage shall become void.

 

[The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank.]

 

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[Signature Page to Open-End Mortgage and Security Agreement]

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Mortgagor has caused this Mortgage to be duly executed the day and year first above written.

 

	
			WITNESS:

				
			MORTGAGOR:

				 
	 	 	 
	 	
			THE HAVANA CIGAR SHOP, INC.,

				 
	 	D/B/A AVALON FIELD CLUB AT NEW	 
	 	CASTLE	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	
			By:

				
			/s/ Bryan P. Saksa

				 
	
			/s/ Richard R Fees

				
			Name:

				
			Bryan P. Saksa

				 
	 	
			Title:

				
			Treasurer and Secretary

				 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	
			STATE OF OHIO

				
			)

				 	 
	 	
			)

				
			SS:

				 
	
			COUNTY OF TRUMBULL, OHIO

				
			)

				 	 

 

 

 

On this, the 3rd day of August, 2022, before me, the undersigned officer, personally appeared Bryan P. Saksa, who acknowledged himself to be the Treasurer and Secretary of THE HAVANA CIGAR SHOP, INC., d/b/a Avalon Field Club at New Castle, a Pennsylvania corporation, and that as such officer being authorized to do so, executed the foregoing document on behalf of such corporation.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and official seal.

 

	 	 	 
	 	 	 
	 	
			/s/ Angela K. Marimpietri

				 
	 	
			Notary Public

				 
	 	 	 
	
			My commission expires: 11/5/2025

				 	 

 

 

 

 

 

CERTIFICATE OF RESIDENCE

 

The undersigned certifies that the address of Mortgagee is Laurel Capital Corporation, 6600 Brooktree Drive, Suite 3000, Box 839, Wexford, Pennsylvania, 15090.

 

	 	 	/s/ William C. Zopf Jr.	 
	 	 	Agent for Mortgagee	 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

Legal Description

 

 

ALL THAT CERTAIN piece, parcel or lot of land situate in the Township of Neshannock, County of Lawrence, and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, being known and designated as Lot 226 and on Section 2403 being more particularly bounded and described as follows, to-wit:

 

BEGINNING at a point on the New Castle-New Wilmington concrete road which point is 220 feet Southwardly form the line of land of John Donaldson; thence Southwardly along the New Castle-New Wilmington concrete road a distance of 167 feet to a point; on the South by land belonging to William D. Keller, and on the West by the center line of the old New Castle-New Wilmington Public Road, and on the North by lands belonging to Robert J. Keller. Having a frontage of 167 feet on the New Castle-New Wilmington concrete road, extending back of even width to the center line of the old abandoned New Wilmington Road.

 

BEING known as Parcel No. Parcel No. 25-2403-226 (Control No. 25-115500).acu-ex1010_301.htm

Exhibit 10.10

 

EIGHTH AMENDMENT TO

LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

This EIGHTH AMENDMENT TO LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (the “Amendment”) is entered into as of May 31, 2022 between ACME UNITED CORPORATION, a Connecticut corporation (the “Borrower”) and HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (the “Lender”).

RECITALS

The Borrower and the Lender are parties to a Loan and Security Agreement dated as of April 5, 2012, as amended (collectively, the “Loan Agreement”). Capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Loan Agreement unless otherwise specified.

The Borrower has requested that the Lender amend certain terms and conditions of the Loan Agreement, pursuant to the terms of this Amendment.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises, covenants and understandings set forth in this Amendment and the benefits to be received from the performance of such promises, covenants and understandings, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

1.Amendment to Loan Agreement. Subject to satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 3 below, the Loan Agreement is effective as of the Eighth Closing Date (as defined in Section 3 below), hereby amended to delete the stricken text (indicated as set forth in the following example: stricken text) and to add the double-underlined text (indicated as set forth in the following example: double-underlined text) as set forth in the copy of the Loan Agreement attached as Exhibit A hereto.

2.No Other Changes. Except as explicitly amended by this Amendment, all of the terms and conditions of the Loan Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

3.Conditions Precedent. This Amendment shall be effective (the “Eighth Amendment Closing Date”) when the Lender shall have received (a) a copy hereof executed by the Borrower, (b) all documents, instruments and information identified on Schedule I hereto and (c) a facility fee in an amount equal 0.15% (15 basis points) of the aggregate commitments under the Loan Agreement (after giving effect to this Amendment) (i.e., $97,500.00).

4.Treatment of Existing LIBOR Rate Advances. As of the date of this Amendment, there may be one or more outstanding LIBOR Rate Advances (as defined in the Original Loan Agreement, as defined below, the “Existing LIBOR Advances”) under the Original Loan Agreement (as defined below). Prior to being repaid or prepaid, the Existing LIBOR Advances shall bear interest, and interest shall be payable by the Borrower, in accordance with the Original Loan Agreement. The Original Loan Agreement shall be applicable solely to Existing LIBOR Advances, and shall cease to apply or have any further force and effect if there are no Existing LIBOR Advances outstanding. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, from and after the date of this Amendment, no further LIBOR Rate Advances will be made and any outstanding LIBOR Advances will be converted to a SOFR Rate Advance at the end of the applicable Interest Period. For purposes of this Section 4, “Original Loan Agreement” means the Loan Agreement as in effect immediately prior to giving effect to this Amendment.

 

472780/113 - 7621522.3

 

5.Representations and Warranties. The Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the Lender as follows:

(a)The Borrower has all requisite power and authority to execute this Amendment and to perform all of the obligations hereunder and thereunder, and this Amendment has been duly executed and delivered by the Borrower and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable in accordance with its terms.

(b)The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Amendment has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and does not (i) require any authorization, consent or approval by any governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, (ii) violate any provision of any law, rule or regulation or of any order, writ, injunction or decree presently in effect, having applicability to the Borrower, or the articles of incorporation or by-laws of the Borrower, or (iii) result in a breach of or constitute a default under any indenture or loan or loan agreement or any other agreement, lease or instrument to which the Borrower is a party or by which it or its properties may be bound or affected.

(c)All of the representations and warranties contained in Section 5 of the Loan Agreement are correct on and as of the date hereof as though made on and as of such date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties relate solely to an earlier date.

(d)No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or will result from Borrower entering into this Amendment.

6.References. All references in the Loan Agreement to “this Agreement” shall be deemed to refer to the Loan Agreement as amended hereby; and any and all references in the Loan Documents to the Loan Agreement shall be deemed to refer to the Loan Agreement as amended hereby.

7.No Other Waiver. The execution of this Amendment and acceptance of any documents related hereto shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any Default or Event of Default under the Loan Agreement, or breach, default or event of default under any Loan Documents or other document held by the Lender, whether or not known to the Lender and whether or not existing on the date of this Amendment.

8.Costs and Expenses. The Borrower hereby reaffirms its agreement under the Loan Agreement to pay or reimburse the Lender on demand for all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Lender in connection with the Loan Documents, including without limitation all reasonable fees and disbursements of legal counsel. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Borrower specifically agrees to pay all reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Lender for the services performed by such counsel in connection with the preparation of this Amendment and the documents and instruments incidental hereto.

9.Miscellaneous. This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed an original and all of which counterparts, taken together, shall constitute one and the same instrument.

10.Reaffirmation. The Borrower as debtor, grantor, pledgor, assignor, or in any other similar capacity in which the Borrower grants liens or security interests in its property hereby (i) ratifies and reaffirms all of its payment and performance obligations, contingent or otherwise, 

 

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under the Loan Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents to which it is a party (after giving effect hereto) and (ii) ratifies and reaffirms the liens on or security interests in any of its property granted pursuant to the Loan Agreement and any such other Loan Document as security for the Obligations under or with respect to the Loan Agreement or the other Loan Documents, and confirms and agrees that such security interests and liens hereafter secure all of the Obligations as amended hereby. The Borrower acknowledges that the Loan Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents remains in full force and effect and are hereby ratified and reaffirmed.   The execution of this Amendment shall not operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of the Lender (except as expressly provided for herein), constitute a waiver of any provision of any of the Loan Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents (except as expressly provided for herein) or serve to effect a novation of the Obligations.

11.Release.

(a)Borrower hereby releases and forever discharges Lender and its parents, subsidiaries and affiliates, past or present, and each of them, as well as their respective directors, officers, agents, servants, employees, shareholders, representatives, attorneys, administrators, executors, heirs, assigns, predecessors and successors in interest, and all other persons, firms or corporations with whom any of the former have been, are now, or may hereafter be affiliated, and each of them (collectively, the “Releasees”), from and against any and all claims, demands, liens, agreements, contracts, covenants, actions, suits, causes of action in law or equity, obligations, controversies, debts, costs, expenses, damages, judgments, orders and liabilities of whatever kind or nature in law, equity or otherwise, whether known or unknown, fixed or contingent, suspected or unsuspected by Borrower, and whether concealed or hidden (collectively, “Claims”), which Borrower now owns or holds or has at any time heretofore owned or held, which are based upon or arise out of or in connection with any matter, cause or thing existing at any time prior to the date hereof or anything done, omitted or suffered to be done or omitted at any time prior to the date hereof in connection with the Loan Agreement or the other Loan Documents (collectively the “Released Matters”).

(b)Borrower represents, warrants and agrees, that in executing and entering into this release, it is not relying and have not relied upon any representation, promise or statement made by anyone which is not recited, contained or embodied in this Amendment, the Loan Agreement or the other Loan Documents. Borrower has reviewed this release with Borrower’s legal counsel, and understands and acknowledges the significance and consequence of this release and of the specific waiver thereof contained herein. Borrower understands and expressly assumes the risk that any fact not recited, contained or embodied therein may turn out hereafter to be other than, different from, or contrary to the facts now known to Borrower or believed by Borrower to be true. Nevertheless, Borrower intends by this release to release fully, finally and forever all Released Matters and agrees that this release shall be effective in all  respects notwithstanding any such difference in facts, and shall not be subject to termination, modification or rescission by reason of any such difference in facts.

 

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(c)Borrower, on behalf of itself and its successors, assigns, and other legal representatives, hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably, covenants and agrees with each Releasee that it will not sue (at law, in equity, in any regulatory proceeding or otherwise) any Releasee on the basis of any Claims released, remised and discharged by Borrower pursuant to this Section 11. If Borrower violates the foregoing covenant, Borrower agrees to pay, in addition to such other damages as any Releasee may sustain as a result of such violation, all attorneys’ fees and costs incurred by any Releasee as a result of such violation.

REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

 

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

							
	
HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL

ASSOCIATION
	
ACME UNITED CORPORATION

	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
/s/ David M. Nackley
	
 
	
By:
	
 
	
 

	
Name:
	
David M. Nackley
	
 
	
Name:
	
 

	
Title
	
Senior Vice President 
	
 
	
Title
	
 

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO EIGHTH AMENDMENT TO

LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed as of the date first written above.

 

							
	
HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL

ASSOCIATION
	
ACME UNITED CORPORATION

	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
By:
	
 
	
/s/ Paul Driscoll

	
Name:
	
 
	
 
	
Name:
	
Paul Driscoll

	
Title
	
 
	
 
	
Title
	
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer,

	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
Secretary and Treasurer of the Corporation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE TO EIGHTH AMENDMENT TO

LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Conformed as Amended][Annex A to Amendment No. 8]

 

LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) dated as of April 5, 2012 (the “Effective Date”) by and between HSBC BANK, USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association (“HSBC”), and ACME UNITED CORPORATION, a Connecticut corporation (“Borrower”). The parties agree as follows:

 

1ACCOUNTING AND OTHER TERMS; DEFINITIONS

 

1.1Accounting and Other Terms. As used in this Agreement, the Revolving Note, any other Loan Document, or any certificate, report or other document made or delivered pursuant to this Agreement, accounting terms not defined in Section 1.2 or elsewhere in this Agreement and accounting terms partly defined in Section 1.2 to the extent not defined, shall have the respective meanings given to them under GAAP; provided, however, whenever such accounting terms are used for the purposes of determining compliance with financial covenants in this Agreement, such accounting terms shall be defined in accordance with GAAP as applied in preparation of the audited financial statements of Borrower for the fiscal year ended December 31, 20102021. If at any time any change in GAAP would affect the computation of any financial ratio set forth in any Loan Document, and Borrower or HSBC shall so request, HSBC and Borrower shall negotiate in good faith to amend such ratio or requirement to preserve the original intent thereof in light of such change in GAAP (subject to approval by HSBC and Borrower); provided that, until so amended, such ratio shall continue to be computed in accordance with GAAP prior to such change therein, and Borrowers shall provide to HSBC within five days after delivery of each certificate or financial report required hereunder that is affected thereby a written statement of a Responsible Officer of Borrowers setting forth in reasonable detail the differences (including any differences that would affect any calculations relating to the financial covenants) that would have resulted if such financial statements had been prepared without giving effect to such change. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings set forth in Section 1.2. All other terms contained in this Agreement, unless otherwise indicated, shall have the meaning provided by the Code to the extent such terms are defined therein.

 

The terms “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section, paragraph or subdivision. Each reference to a Section, an Exhibit or a Schedule shall be deemed to refer to a Section, an Exhibit or a Schedule, as applicable, of this Agreement, as modified or supplemented pursuant to the terms hereof. Any pronoun used shall be deemed to cover all genders. Wherever appropriate in the context, terms used herein in the singular also include the plural and vice versa. All references to statutes (including the Code) and related regulations shall include any amendments of same and any successor statutes and regulations. Unless otherwise provided, all references to any instruments or agreements to which HSBC is a party, including, without limitation, references to any of the other Loan Documents, shall include any and all modifications or amendments thereto and any and all extensions or renewals thereof. All references herein to the time of day shall mean the time in New York.   A Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to exist at all times during the period commencing on the date that such Default or Event of Default occurs to the date on which such Default or Event of Default is waived in writing pursuant to this Agreement or, in the case of a Default that is capable of being cured, is cured within any period of cure expressly provided for in this Agreement; and an Event of Default shall “continue” or be “continuing” until such Event of Default has been waived in writing by HSBC. Wherever the phrase “to the best of Borrower’s knowledge” or words of similar import relating to the knowledge or the awareness of Borrower are used in this Agreement or other Loan Documents, such phrase shall mean and refer to (i) the actual knowledge of a senior officer of Borrower or (ii) the knowledge that a senior officer would have obtained if he had engaged in good faith and diligent performance of his duties, including the making of such reasonably specific inquiries as may be necessary of the employees or agents of Borrower and a good faith attempt to ascertain the existence or accuracy of the matter to which such phrase relates.

 

472780/113 - 7620217.17620217.2

 

1.2Definitions.  As used in the Loan Documents, the word “shall” is mandatory, the word “may” is permissive, the word “or” is not exclusive, the words “includes” and “including” are not limiting, the singular includes the plural, and numbers denoting amounts that are set off in brackets are negative.  As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms have the following meanings:

“Account” is any “account” as defined in the Code with such additions to such term as may hereafter be made, and includes, without limitation, all accounts receivable and other sums owing to any Borrower.

“Account Debtor” is any “account debtor” as defined in the Code with such additions to such term as may hereafter be made.

“Adjusted LIBO Rate” shall mean, with respect to any LIBOR Rate Loan for any Interest Period, a rate of interest equal to the greater of (x) zero and (y):

(a)the offered rate for deposits in U.S. dollars in the London interbank market for an Interest Period of one month which is shown on the Bloomberg Page BBAM1 (or on such other substitute Bloomberg page that displays rates at which U.S. dollar deposits are offered by leading banks in the London interbank market) as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the day which is two (2) Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period for a term of one month; provided, however, that if, for any reason, such a rate is not published by ICE Benchmark Administration (or any successor thereto) or available on the Bloomberg Page BBAM1 (or on such other substitute Bloomberg page that displays rates at which U.S. dollar deposits are offered by leading banks in the London interbank market), Adjusted LIBO Rate shall be equal to a rate per annum equal to the average rate (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the nearest 1/100 of 1%) at which HSBC determines that U.S. dollars in an amount comparable to the amount of the applicable Advances are being offered to prime banks at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the day which is two (2) Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period for a term of one month for settlement in immediately available funds by leading banks in the London interbank market selected by HSBC; divided by

(b)a number equal to 1.0 minus the aggregate (but without duplication) of the rates (expressed as a decimal fraction) of reserve requirements in effect on the day which is two (2) Business Days prior to the beginning of such Interest Period (including, without limitation, basic, supplemental, marginal and emergency reserves under any regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or other governmental authority having jurisdiction with respect thereto, as now and from time to time in effect) for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency Liabilities” in Regulation D of such Board) which are required to be maintained by a member bank of the Federal Reserve System (the “LIBOR-Rate Reserve Percentage”); such rate (if greater than zero) to be rounded upward to the next whole multiple of one-sixteenth of one percent (0.0625%).Term SOFR” means, for purposes of any calculation, the rate per annum equal to (a) Term SOFR for such calculation plus (b) the Term SOFR Adjustment; provided that if Adjusted Term SOFR as so determined shall ever be less than the Floor, then such rate shall be deemed to be equal to the Floor for purposes of this Agreement.

“Advance” or “Advances” means an advance (or advances) under the Revolving Line.

“Affiliate” is, with respect to any Person, each other Person that owns or controls directly or indirectly the Person, any Person that controls or is controlled by or is under common control with the Person.

“Agreement” is defined in the preamble hereof.

“Annual Financial Statements” is defined in Section 5.2(b).

“Availability Amount” is (a) the Revolving Line, minus (b) the outstanding principal balance of any Advances.

 

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“Available Tenor” means, as of any date of determination and with respect to the then-current Benchmark, as applicable, (x) if such Benchmark is a term rate, any tenor for such Benchmark (or component thereof) that is or may be used for determining the length of an interest period pursuant to this Agreement or (y) otherwise, any payment period for interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark (or component thereof) that is or may be used for determining any frequency of making payments of interest calculated with reference to such Benchmark, in each case, as of such date and not including, for the avoidance of doubt, any tenor for such Benchmark that is then-removed from the definition of “Interest Period” pursuant to Section 3.7(d).

“Bank Products” means the following services or facilities extended to Borrower by Administrative HSBC or its Affiliates: (a) credit cards, (b) credit card processing services, (c) debit cards, (d) purchase cards, (e) ACH transactions, or (f) cash management, including controlled disbursement accounts or services.

“Base Rate” shall mean a variable rate of interest per annum equal to the highest of the “prime rate,” “reference rate,” “base rate” or other similar rate as announced from time to time by HSBC (with the understanding that any such rate may merely be a reference rate and may not necessarily represent the lowest or best rate actually charged to any customer by HSBC), such rate to be adjusted automatically, without notice, on the effective date of any change in such rate.

“Base Rate Advance” means an Advance that bears interest based at the Base Rate.

“Base Rate Margin” means one and one quarter of one percent (1.251.00%).

“Benchmark” means, initially, the Term SOFR Reference Rate; provided that if a Benchmark Transition Event has occurred with respect to the Term SOFR Reference Rate or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” shall mean the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has replaced such prior benchmark rate pursuant to Section 3.7.

“Benchmark Replacement” means, with respect to any Benchmark Transition Event, the sum of: (a) the alternate benchmark rate that has been selected by Lender and Borrowing Agent as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation of a replacement benchmark rate or the mechanism for determining such rate by the Relevant Governmental Body or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a benchmark rate as a replacement to the then-current Benchmark for U.S. Dollar-denominated syndicated or bilateral credit facilities and (b) the related Benchmark Replacement Adjustment; provided that, if such Benchmark Replacement as so determined would be less than the Floor, such Benchmark Replacement will be deemed to be the Floor for the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

“Benchmark Replacement Adjustment” means, with respect to any replacement of the then-current Benchmark with an Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement, the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by the Lender giving due consideration to (a) any selection or recommendation of a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement by the Relevant Governmental Body or (b) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for the replacement of such Benchmark with the applicable Unadjusted Benchmark Replacement for Dollar-denominated syndicated or bilateral credit facilities.

“Benchmark Replacement Date” means the earliest to occur of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:

(a)in the case of clause (a) or (b) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event”, the later of (i) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (ii) the date on 

 

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which the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or

(b)in the case of clause (c) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event”, the first date on which such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) has been determined and announced by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) or the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) to be non-representative or non-compliant with or non-aligned with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Principles for Financial Benchmarks; provided that such non-representativeness, non-compliance or non-alignment will be determined by reference to the most recent statement or publication referenced in such clause (c) and even if any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) continues to be provided on such date

For the avoidance of doubt, the “Benchmark Replacement Date” will be deemed to have occurred in the case of clause (a) or (b) with respect to any Benchmark upon the occurrence of the applicable event or events set forth therein with respect to all then-current Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

“Benchmark Transition Event” means the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:

(a)a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) announcing that such administrator has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof), permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof);

(b)a public statement or publication of information by the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof), the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, an insolvency official with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), a resolution authority with jurisdiction over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component) or a court or an entity with similar insolvency or resolution authority over the administrator for such Benchmark (or such component), which states that the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component) has ceased or will cease to provide all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) permanently or indefinitely; provided that, at the time of such statement or publication, there is no successor administrator that will continue to provide any Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or such component thereof); or

(c)a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the administrator of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof) or the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) announcing that all Available Tenors of such Benchmark (or such component thereof) are not, or as of a specified future date will not be, representative or in compliance with or aligned with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Principles for Financial Benchmarks.

For the avoidance of doubt, a “Benchmark Transition Event” will be deemed to have occurred with respect to any Benchmark if a public statement or publication of information set forth above has occurred with respect to each then-current Available Tenor of such Benchmark (or the published component used in the calculation thereof).

 

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“Benchmark Transition Start Date” means, in the case of a Benchmark Transition Event, the earlier of (a) the applicable Benchmark Replacement Date and (b) if such Benchmark Transition Event is a public statement or publication of information of a prospective event, the 90th day prior to the expected date of such event as of such public statement or publication of information (or if the expected date of such prospective event is fewer than ninety (90) days after such statement or publication, the date of such statement or publication).

“Benchmark Unavailability Period” means, the period (if any) (a) beginning at the time that a Benchmark Replacement Date has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Other Document in accordance with Section 3.7 and (b) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced the then-current Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under this Agreement or any Other Document in accordance with Section 3.7.

“Beneficial Ownership Certification” means a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

“Beneficial Ownership Regulation” means 31 C.F.R. §1010.230, as amended.

“Borrower” and “Borrowers” are defined in the preamble hereof.

“Borrower’s Books” are all Borrower’s books and records including ledgers, federal and state tax returns, records regarding Borrower’s assets, liabilities, the Collateral, business operations or financial condition, and all computer programs or storage or any equipment containing such information.

“Borrowing Resolutions” are, with respect to any Person, those resolutions adopted by such Person’s Board of Directors and delivered by such Person to HSBC approving the Loan Documents to which such Person is a party and the transactions contemplated thereby, together with a certificate executed by its Secretary on behalf of such Person certifying that (a) such Person has the authority to execute, deliver, and perform its obligations under each of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (b) that attached as Exhibit A to such certificate is a true, correct, and complete copy of the resolutions then in full force and effect authorizing and ratifying the execution, delivery, and performance by such Person of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, (c) the name(s) of the Person(s) authorized to execute the Loan Documents on behalf of such Person, together with a sample of the true signature(s) of such Person(s), and (d) that HSBC may conclusively rely on such certificate unless and until such Person shall have delivered to HSBC a further certificate canceling or amending such prior certificate.

“Business Day” is (i) any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or required by law or other governmental action to close, except thatand (ii) if any determination of a “Business Day” shall relate to a LIBORSOFR Rate Loan, the term “Business Day” shall also mean a day on which dealings are carried on in the London interbank marketor any funding, conversion, continuation, Interest Period or payment of any SOFR Rate Loan, any day that is also U.S. Government Securities Business Day..

“Cash” means unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents.

“Cash Equivalents” means (a) marketable securities issued, or directly, unconditionally and fully guaranteed or insured, by the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support thereof) having maturities of not more than one (1) year from the date of acquisition by such person, (b) time deposits and certificates of deposit of HSBC or any commercial bank having, or which is the principal banking subsidiary of a bank holding company organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia having, capital and surplus aggregating in excess of $500,000,000 and a rating of "A" (or such other similar equivalent rating) or higher 

 

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by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (as defined in Rule 436 under the Securities Act) with maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition by such person, (c) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than 30 days for underlying securities of the types described in clause (a) above entered into with any person meeting the qualifications specified in clause (b) above, (d) commercial paper issued by any person incorporated in the United States having one of the two highest ratings obtainable from S&P or Moody's, in each case maturing not more than one year after the date of acquisition by such person, (e) investments in money market funds at least 95% of whose assets are comprised of securities of the types described in clauses (a) through (d) above, and (f) demand deposit accounts maintained in the ordinary course of business with any bank meeting the qualifications specified in clause (b) above.

“Change in Control” means any event, transaction, or occurrence as a result of which (a) any “person” (as such term is defined in Sections 3(a)(9) and 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of Borrower, is or becomes a beneficial owner (within the meaning Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of Borrower, representing more than 50% of the combined voting power of Borrower’s then outstanding securities; or (b) during any period of twelve consecutive calendar months, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board of Directors of Borrower (together with any new directors whose election by the Board of Directors of Borrower was approved by a vote of not less than two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directions at the beginning of such period  or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved) cease for any reason other than death or disability to constitute a majority of the directors then in office.

“Change in Law” means (a) the adoption of any treaty, law, rule or regulation after the date of this Agreement, (b) any change in any treaty, law, rule or regulation or in the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority after the date of this Agreement or (c) compliance by HSBC with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith as well as Basel III and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States regulatory authorities shall each be deemed to be a “Change in Law,” regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.  For purposes of this definition references to HSBC also shall include any corporation or bank controlling HSBC.

“Code” is the Uniform Commercial Code, as the same may, from time to time, be enacted and in effect in the State of New York; provided, that, to the extent that the Code is used to define any term herein or in any Loan Document and such term is defined differently in different Articles or Divisions of the Code, the definition of such term contained in Article 9 shall govern; provided further, that in the event that, by reason of mandatory provisions of law, any or all of the attachment, perfection, or priority of, or remedies with respect to, HSBC’s Lien on any Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of New York, the term “Code” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as enacted and in effect in such other jurisdiction solely for purposes of the provisions thereof relating to such attachment, perfection, priority, or remedies and for purposes of definitions relating to such provisions.

“Collateral is any and all properties, rights and assets of Borrower described on Exhibit B.

“Collateral Account” is any Deposit Account, Securities Account, or Commodity Account.

“Committed Availability” means, as the date of determination, an amount equal to the Availability Amount.

“Commodity Account” is any “commodity account” as defined in the Code with such additions to such terms as may hereafter be made.

“Compliance Certificate” is that certain certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.

 

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“Conforming Changes” means, with respect to either the use or administration of Term SOFR or the use, administration, adoption or implementation of any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the definition of “Base Rate,” the definition of “Business Day,” the definition of “U.S. Government Securities Business Day,” the definition of “Interest Period” or any similar or analogous definition (or the addition of a concept of “interest period”), timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, timing of borrowing requests or prepayment, conversion or continuation notices, the applicability and length of lookback periods, the applicability of Section 3.7 and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that Lender decides may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of any such rate or to permit the use and administration thereof by Lender in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if Lender decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if Lender determines that no market practice for the administration of any such rate exists, in such other manner of administration as Lender decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents).

“Contingent Obligation” is, for any Person, any direct or indirect liability, contingent or not, of that Person for (a) any indebtedness, lease, declared dividend, letter of credit or other obligation of another such as an obligation, in each case, directly or indirectly guaranteed, endorsed, co-made, discounted or sold with recourse by that Person, or for which that Person is directly or indirectly liable; (b) any obligations for undrawn letters of credit for the account of that Person; and (c) all obligations from any interest rate, currency or commodity swap agreement, interest rate cap or collar agreement, or other agreement or arrangement designated to protect a Person against fluctuation in interest rates, currency exchange rates or commodity prices; but “Contingent Obligation” does not include endorsements in the ordinary course of business.  The amount of a Contingent Obligation is the stated or determined amount of the primary obligation for which the Contingent Obligation is made or, if not determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability for it determined by the Person in good faith; but the amount may not exceed the maximum of the obligations under any guarantee or other support arrangement.

“Control Agreements”. is any control agreement entered into among the depository institution at which Borrower maintains a Deposit Account or the securities intermediary or commodity intermediary at which Borrower maintains a Securities Account or a Commodity Account, Borrower, and HSBC pursuant to which HSBC obtains control (within the meaning of the Code) over such Deposit Account, Securities Account, or Commodity Account.

“Copyrights” are any and all copyright rights, copyright applications, copyright registrations and like protections in each work or authorship and derivative work thereof, whether published or unpublished and whether or not the same also constitutes a trade secret.

“Credit Extension” is any Advance or any other extension of credit by HSBC for Borrower’s benefit.

“Credit Party” means Borrower and each Guarantor.

“Default” shall mean an event which, with the giving of notice or passage of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

“Default Rate” is defined in Section 2.3(c).

“Deposit Account” has the meaning given to such term in the Security Agreement.

“Designated Deposit Account” are Borrower’s deposit accounts, account numbers 812011996 and 797047727, maintained with HSBC.

 

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“Dollars,” “dollars” or use of the sign “$” means only lawful money of the United States and not any other currency, regardless of whether that currency uses the “$” sign to denote its currency or may be readily converted into lawful money of the United States.

“Domestic Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary organized under the laws of the United States or any state or territory thereof or the District of Columbia.

“Effective Date” is defined in the preamble hereof.

“Environmental Laws” means any present or future federal, state or local law, rule, regulation or order relating to pollution, waste, disposal or the protection of human health or safety, plant life or animal life, natural resources or the environment.

“Equipment” is all “equipment” as defined in the Code with such additions to such term as may hereafter be made, and includes without limitation all machinery, fixtures, goods, vehicles (including motor vehicles and trailers), and any interest in any of the foregoing.

“ERISA” is the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and its regulations.

“Event of Default” is defined in Section 8.

“Exchange Act” is the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“Floor” shall mean 0% per annum.

“Foreign Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary which is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

“Funding Date” is any date on which a Loan is made to or for the account of the Borrower, which shall be a Business Day.

“GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America in effect from time to time.

“Governmental Approval” is any consent, authorization, approval, order, license, franchise, permit, certificate, accreditation, registration, filing or notice, of, issued by, from or to, or other act by or in respect of, any Governmental Authority.

“Governmental Authority” is any nation or government, any state or other political subdivision thereof, any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, any securities exchange and any self-regulatory organization.

“Guarantor” is any present or future guarantor of the Obligations.  As of the Effective Date there are no Guarantors.

“Guaranty” means a Guaranty in a form reasonably acceptable to HSBC.

 

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“Hazardous Material” means all or any of the following: (a) substances that are defined or listed in, or otherwise classified pursuant to, any Environmental Laws or regulations as “hazardous substances”, “hazardous materials”, “hazardous wastes”, “toxic substances” or any other formulation intended to define, list or classify substances by reason of deleterious properties such as ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, carcinogenicity, or toxicity; (b) oil, petroleum or petroleum derived substances, natural gas, natural gas liquids or synthetic gas and drilling fluids, produced waters and other wastes associated with the exploration, development or production of crude oil, natural gas or geothermal resources; (c) any flammable substances or explosives or any radioactive materials; and (d) asbestos in any form or electrical equipment which contains any oil or dielectric fluid containing polychlorinated biphenyls.

“HSBC” is defined in the preamble hereof.

“HSBC Expenses” are all costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) for preparing, amending, negotiating, administering, defending and enforcing the Loan Documents (including, without limitation, those incurred in connection with appeals or Insolvency Proceedings) or otherwise incurred with respect to any Borrower.

“Imprest Balance” is $0.

“Indebtedness” is (a) indebtedness for borrowed money or the deferred price of property or services, such as reimbursement and other obligations for surety bonds and letters of credit, (b) obligations evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments, (c) capital lease obligations, and (d) Contingent Obligations.

“Insolvency Proceeding” is any proceeding by or against any Person under the United States bankruptcy Code, or any other bankruptcy or insolvency law, including assignments for the benefit of creditors, compositions, extensions generally with its creditors, or proceedings seeking dissolution, liquidation, reorganization, arrangement, or other relief.

“Intellectual Property” means all of Borrower’s right, title, and interest in and to the following:

(a)its Copyrights, Trademarks and Patents;

(b)any and all trade secrets and trade secret rights, including, without limitation, any rights to unpatented inventions, know-how, operating manuals;

(c)any and all source code;

(d)any and all design rights;

(e)any and all claims for damages by way of past, present and future infringement of any of the foregoing, with the right, but not the obligation, to sue for and collect such damages for said use or infringement of the Intellectual Property rights identified above;

(f)All licenses or other rights to use any of the Copyrights, Patents or Trademarks, and all license fees and royalties arising from such use to the extent permitted by such license or rights;

(g)All amendments, renewals and extensions of any of the Copyrights,

Trademarks or Patents; and

(h)All proceeds and products of the foregoing, including without limitation all payments under insurance or any indemnity or warranty payable in respect of any of the foregoing.

 

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“Interest Payment Date” means, (i) with respect to any LIBORSOFR Rate Advance, the last day of each Interest Period applicable to such LIBORSOFR Rate LoanAdvance and, (ii) with respect to Base Rate Advances, the first day of each calendar month (or, if that day of the calendar month does not fall on a Business Day, then on the first Business Day following such date) and each date a Base Rate Advance is converted into a LIBORSOFR Rate Loan to the extent of the amount converted to a LIBORSOFR Rate Advance.

“Interest Period” shall mean, with respect to any LIBORSOFR Rate Advance, the period commencing on the date such Advance is made as, renewed as or converted into a LIBORSOFR Rate Advance and ending on the date one monthor three months thereafter as selected by Borrower pursuant to the provisions below and, thereafter, each subsequent period commencing on the last day of the immediately preceding Interest Period and ending one monthor three months thereafter, as selected by Borrower pursuant to the provisions below.  The duration of each Interest Period for any LIBORSOFR Rate Advance shall be for one month or three months; provided that:

(i)whenever the last day of any Interest Period would otherwise occur on a day other than a Business Day, the last day of such Interest Period shall occur on the next succeeding Business Day; provided, that if such extension of time would cause the last day of such Interest Period to occur in the next following calendar month, the last day of such Interest Period shall occur on the last Business Day immediately preceding the last day of such Interest Period;

(ii)if Borrower renews any LIBORSOFR Rate Advance for an additional Interest Period, the first day of the new Interest Period shall be the last day of the preceding Interest Period; however, interest shall only be charged once for such day at the rate applicable to the LIBORSOFR Rate Advance for the new Interest Period; and

(iii)no tenor that has been removed from this definition pursuant to Section 3.7(d) shall be available for specification.

“Inventory” is all “inventory” as defined in the Code in effect on the date hereof with such additions to such term as may hereafter be made, and includes without limitation all merchandise, raw materials, parts, supplies, packing and shipping materials, work in process and finished products, including without limitation such inventory as is temporarily out of any Borrower’s custody or possession or in transit and including any returned goods and any documents of title representing any of the above.

“LIBOR Rate Advance” means an Advance that bears interest based at the LIBOR Rate.

“LIBOR Rate” means for any LIBOR Rate Loan for the then current Interest Period relating thereto the rate per annum (such LIBOR Rate to be adjusted to the next higher 1/100 of 1%) equal to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

“LIBOR Rate Margin” means one and three quarters of one percent (1.75%)..

“LIBOR-Rate Reserve Percentage” shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of Adjusted LIBO Rate.

“Lien” is a claim, mortgage, deed of trust, levy, charge, pledge, security interest or other encumbrance of any kind, whether voluntarily incurred or arising by operation of law or otherwise against any property.

 

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“Lien Waiver Agreement” shall mean an agreement which is executed in favor of HSBC by a Person who owns or occupies premises at which any Collateral may be located from time to time and by which such Person shall waive any Lien that such Person may ever have with respect to any of the Collateral and shall authorize HSBC from time to time to enter upon the premises to inspect or remove the Collateral from such premises or to use such premises to store or dispose of such Inventory.

“Loan Documents” are, collectively, this Agreement, the Control Agreements, the Perfection Certificate, the Revolving Note, any other note or notes or guaranties executed by Borrower or any Guarantor, and any other present or future agreement between Borrower any Guarantor and/or for the benefit of HSBC in connection with this Agreement, all as amended, restated, or otherwise modified.

“Material Adverse Change” is (a) a material impairment in the perfection or priority of HSBC’s Lien in the Collateral or in the value of such Collateral; (b) a material adverse change in the business, operations, or condition (financial or otherwise) of Borrower; or (c) a material impairment of the prospect of repayment of any portion of the Obligations or (d) HSBC determines, based upon information available to it and in its reasonable judgment, that there is a reasonable likelihood that Borrower shall fail to comply with one or more of the financial covenants in Section 6.7 during the next succeeding financial reporting period.

“Notice of Borrowing” means a notice given by Borrower to HSBC in accordance with Section 3.5(b), substantially in the form of Exhibit D, with appropriate insertions.

“Notice of Conversion” means a notice given by Borrower to HSBC in accordance with Section 3.5(g), substantially in the form of Exhibit E, with appropriate insertions.

“Obligations” are Borrower’s obligations to pay when due any debts, principal, interest, HSBC Expenses and other amounts Borrower owes HSBC now or later, whether under this Agreement, the Loan Documents, or otherwise, including, without limitation, all obligations relating to Bank Products and foreign exchange contracts, if any, and including interest accruing after Insolvency Proceedings begin and debts, liabilities, or obligations of Borrower assigned to HSBC, and to perform Borrower’s duties under the Loan Documents.

“Operating Documents” are, for any Person, such Person’s formation documents, as certified with the Secretary of State of such Person’s state of formation on a date that is no earlier than 30 days prior to the Effective Date, and, (a) if such Person is a corporation, its bylaws in current form, (b) if such Person is a limited liability company, its limited liability company agreement (or similar agreement), and (c) if such Person is a partnership, its partnership agreement (or similar agreement), each of the foregoing with all current amendments or modifications thereto.

“Patents” means all patents, patent applications and like protections including without limitation improvements, divisions, continuations, renewals, reissues, extensions and continuations-in-part of the same.

“PATRIOT Act” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Pub. L. 107-56, signed into law October 26, 2001.

“Payment Office” shall mean initially 452 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10018; thereafter, such other office of HSBC, if any, which it may designate by notice to Borrower to be the Payment Office.

“Perfection Certificate” is defined in Section 5.1.

 

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“Permitted Indebtedness” is:

(a)Borrower’s Indebtedness to HSBC under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;

(b)Indebtedness existing on the Effective Date and shown on Schedule 7.4;

(c)Subordinated Debt;

(d)unsecured Indebtedness to trade creditors incurred in the ordinary course of business;

(e)Indebtedness incurred as a result of endorsing negotiable instruments received in the ordinary course of business;

(f)Indebtedness secured by Liens permitted under clauses (a)(i) and (c) of the definition of “Permitted Liens” hereunder;

(g)Indebtedness of Borrower to any Subsidiary and Contingent Obligations of any Subsidiary with respect to obligations of Borrower (provided that the primary obligations are not prohibited hereby), and Indebtedness of any Subsidiary to Borrower or any other Subsidiary and Contingent Obligations of any Subsidiary with respect to obligations of any other Subsidiary (provided that the primary obligations are not prohibited hereby);

(h)other Indebtedness not otherwise permitted by Section 7.4 not exceeding One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) in the aggregate outstanding at any time; and

(i)extensions, refinancings, modifications, amendments and restatements of any items of Permitted Indebtedness (a) through (h) above, provided that the principal amount thereof is not increased or the terms thereof are not modified to impose more burdensome terms upon Borrower or its Subsidiary, as the case may be.

“Permitted Liens” are:

(a)(i) Liens existing on the Effective Date and shown on Schedule 7.5 or (ii) Liens arising under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents;

(b)Liens for taxes, fees, assessments or other government charges or levies, either (i) not due and payable or (ii) being contested in good faith and for which Borrower maintains adequate reserves on its Books, provided that no notice of any such Lien has been filed or recorded under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the Treasury Regulations adopted thereunder;

(c)purchase money Liens (i) on Equipment acquired or held by Borrower incurred for financing the acquisition of the Equipment securing no more than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) in the aggregate amount outstanding, or (ii) existing on Equipment when acquired, if the Lien is confined to the property and improvements and the proceeds of the Equipment;

(d)Liens of carriers, warehousemen, suppliers, or other Persons that are possessory in nature arising in the ordinary course of business so long as such Liens attach only to Inventory, securing liabilities which are not delinquent or remain payable without penalty or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings which proceedings have the effect of preventing the forfeiture or sale of the property subject thereto;

(e)Liens to secure payment of workers’ compensation, employment insurance, old-age pensions, social security and other like obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business (other than Liens imposed by ERISA);

 

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(f)Liens incurred in the extension, renewal or refinancing of the indebtedness secured by Liens described in (a) through (c), but any extension, renewal or replacement Lien must be limited to the property encumbered by the existing Lien and the principal amount of the indebtedness may not increase;

(g)leases or subleases of real property granted in the ordinary course of Borrower’s business (or, if referring to another Person, in the ordinary course of such Person’s business), and leases, subleases, non-exclusive licenses or sublicenses of personal property (other than Intellectual Property) granted in the ordinary course of Borrower’s business (or, if referring to another Person, in the ordinary course of such Person’s business), if the leases, subleases, licenses and sublicenses do not prohibit granting HSBC a security interest therein;

(h)licenses of Intellectual Property granted to third parties in the ordinary course of business; and

(i)Liens arising from attachments or judgments, orders, or decrees in circumstances not constituting an Event of Default under Sections 8.4 and 8.7.

 “Person” is any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, company, trust, unincorporated organization, association, corporation, institution, public benefit corporation, firm, joint stock company, estate, entity or government agency.

“Registered Organization” is any “registered organization” as defined in the Code with such additions to such term as may hereafter be made.

“Regulatory Change” means, with respect to HSBC, any change on or after the date of this Agreement in United States federal, state, or foreign laws or regulations, including Regulation D, or the adoption or making on or after such date of any interpretations, directives, or requests applying to a class of lenders including HSBC, of or under any United States federal or state, or any foreign laws or regulations (whether or not having the force of law) by any court or governmental or monetary authority charged with the interpretation or administration thereof.

“Relevant Governmental Body” means the Federal Reserve Board or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Federal Reserve Board or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or any successor thereto.

“Requirement of Law” is as to any Person, the organizational or governing documents of such Person, and any law (statutory or common), treaty, rule or regulation or determination of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.

“Reserve Requirement” means, for any Interest Period, the average maximum rate at which reserves (including any marginal, supplemental, or emergency reserves) are required to be maintained during such Interest Period under Regulation D against “Eurocurrency liabilities” (as such term is used in Regulation D) by member banks of the Federal Reserve System. Without limiting the effect of the foregoing, the Reserve Requirement shall reflect any other reserves required to be maintained by HSBC by reason of any Regulatory Change against (a) any category of liabilities which includes deposits by reference to which the LIBOR Rate is to be determined as provided in the definition of LIBOR or (b) any category of extensions of credit or other assets which include Advances.

“Responsible Officer” is any of the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer and Controller of Borrower.

“Restricted License” is any material license or other agreement with respect to which Borrower is the licensee (a) that prohibits or otherwise restricts Borrower from granting a security interest in Borrower’s 

 

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interest in such license or agreement or any other property, or (b) for which a default under or termination of could interfere with the HSBC’s right to sell any Collateral.

“Revolving Line” is an Advance or Advances in an aggregate principal amount up to (x) FiftySixty Five Million Dollars ($55,000,000.00) during the period commencing on April 1, 2017 and ending on September 30, 2017, and (y) Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000.00) at all other times65,000,000.00).

“Revolving Line Maturity Date” is May 2431, 20232026.

“Revolving Note” means a Promissory Note in substantially the form of Exhibit A.

“SEC” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission, any successor thereto, and any analogous Governmental Authority.

“SOFR” means a rate equal to the secured overnight financing rate as administered by the SOFR Administrator.

“SOFR Administrator” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).

“SOFR Rate Advance” means an Advance that bears interest based on Adjusted Term SOFR.

“SOFR Rate Margin” means one and three quarters of one percent (1.75%).

“Securities Account” is any “securities account” as defined in the Code with such additions to such term as may hereafter be made.

“Subordinated Debt” is indebtedness incurred by Borrower subordinated to all of Borrower’s now or hereafter indebtedness to HSBC (pursuant to a subordination, intercreditor, or other similar agreement in form and substance satisfactory to HSBC entered into between HSBC and the other creditor), on terms acceptable to HSBC.

“Subsidiary” is, as to any Person, a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which shares of stock or other ownership interests having ordinary voting power (other than stock or such other ownership interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) to elect a majority of the board of directors or other managers of such corporation, partnership or other entity are at the time owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person.  Unless the context otherwise requires, each reference to a Subsidiary herein shall be a reference to a Subsidiary of Borrower.

“Term SOFR” means, for any calculation with respect to a SOFR Rate Advance, the Term SOFR Reference Rate for a tenor comparable to the applicable Interest Period on the day (such day, the “Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day”) that is two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to the first day of such Interest Period, as such rate is published by the Term SOFR Administrator; provided, however, that if as of 5:00 p.m. on any Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day the Term SOFR Reference Rate for the applicable tenor has not been published by the Term SOFR Administrator and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to the Term SOFR Reference Rate has not occurred, then Term SOFR will be the Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor as published by the Term SOFR Administrator on the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which such Term SOFR Reference Rate for such tenor was published by the Term SOFR Administrator so long as such first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day is not more than three (3) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to such Periodic Term SOFR Determination Day, and

provided, further, that if Term SOFR determined as provided above (including pursuant to the proviso above) shall ever be less than the Floor, then Term SOFR shall be deemed to be the Floor.

 

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“Term SOFR Adjustment” means, for any calculation with respect to a SOFR Rate Advance, a percentage per annum as set forth below for the applicable Interest Period therefor:

 

	
Interest Period
	
Percentage

	
One month
	
0.10%

	
Three months
	
0.15%

“Term SOFR Administrator” means CME Group Benchmark Administration Limited (CBA) (or a successor administrator of the Term SOFR Reference Rate selected by Lender in its reasonable discretion).

“Term SOFR Reference Rate” means the forward-looking term rate based on SOFR.

“Trademarks” means any trademark and servicemark rights, whether registered or not, applications to register and registrations of the same and like protections, and the entire goodwill of the business of Borrower connected with and symbolized by such trademarks.

“Trading with the Enemy Act” means the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) and any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto.

 

“Transfer” is defined in Section 7.1.

“USA PATRIOT Act” shall mean the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required To Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Public Law 107-56, as the same has been, or shall hereafter be renewed, extended, amended or replaced from time to time.

“U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any day except for (a) a Saturday, (b) a Sunday or (c) a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in United States government securities.

1.3Rates. The interest rate on the Advances may be derived from an interest rate benchmark that may be discontinued or is, or may in the future become, the subject of regulatory reform. Upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, Section 3.7 provides a mechanism for determining an alternative rate of interest. The Lender does not warrant or accept responsibility for, and shall not have any liability with respect to (a) the continuation of, administration of, submission of, calculation of or any other matter related to the Base Rate, the Term SOFR Reference Rate, or Term SOFR, or any component definition thereof or rates referred to in the definition thereof, or any alternative, successor or replacement rate thereto (including any Benchmark Replacement), including whether the composition or characteristics of any such alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) will be similar to, or produce the same value or economic equivalence of, or have the same volume or liquidity as, the Base Rate, the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Term SOFR or any other Benchmark prior to its discontinuance or unavailability, or (b) the effect, implementation or composition of any Conforming Changes. The Lender and its affiliates or other related entities may engage in transactions that affect the calculation of the Base Rate, the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Term SOFR, any alternative, successor or replacement rate (including any Benchmark Replacement) or any relevant adjustments thereto, in each case, in a manner adverse to the Borrower. The Lender may select information sources or services in its reasonable discretion to ascertain the Base Rate, the Term SOFR Reference Rate, Term SOFR, or any other Benchmark including any component thereof, or rates referenced in the definition thereof, in each case pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and shall have no liability to the Loan Parties or any other person or entity for damages of any kind, including direct or indirect, special, punitive, incidental or consequential damages, costs, losses or expenses (whether in tort, contract or otherwise and whether at law or in equity), for any error or calculation of any such rate (or component thereof) provided by any such information source or service.

 

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2LOAN AND TERMS OF PAYMENT

2.1Promise to Pay. Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay HSBC the outstanding principal amount of all Credit Extensions and accrued and unpaid interest thereon as and when due in accordance with this Agreement.

2.1.1Revolving Advances.

(a)Availability. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, HSBC shall make Advances not exceeding the Availability Amount. Amounts borrowed hereunder may be repaid and, prior to the Revolving Line Maturity Date, reborrowed, subject to the applicable terms and conditions precedent herein.

(b)Termination; Repayment. The Revolving Line terminates on the Revolving Line Maturity Date, when the principal amount of all Advances, the accrued and unpaid interest thereon, and all other Obligations relating to the Revolving Line shall be immediately due and payable.

2.1.2[Intentionally Omitted].

2.1.3General Provisions Relating to the Advances. Each Advance shall, at Borrower’s option in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, be either in the form of a Base Rate Advance or a LIBORSOFR Rate Advance; provided, that in no event shall there be outstanding more than three LIBORSOFR Rate Advances at any time. Borrower shall pay interest accrued on the Advances at the rates and in the manner set forth in Section 2.3.

2.2Overadvances. If, at any time, the outstanding principal amount of all Advances exceeds the Revolving Line, Borrower shall immediately pay to HSBC in cash such excess.

2.3Payment of Interest on the Credit Extensions.

(a)Computation of Interest. Interest on the Credit Extensions and all fees payable hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed in the period during which such interest accrues. In computing interest on any Credit Extension, the date of the making of such Credit Extension shall be included and the date of payment shall be excluded; provided, however, that if any Credit Extension is repaid on the same day on which it is made, such day shall be included in computing interest on such Credit Extension.

(b)Interest; Payment. Each Advance shall bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the date when made, continued or converted until paid in full at a rate per annum equal to (i) for Base Rate Advances, the Base Rate minus the applicable Base Rate Margin and (ii) for LIBORSOFR Rate Advances, the LIBOR RateAdjusted Term SOFR plus the applicable LIBORSOFR Rate Margin. Pursuant to the terms hereof, interest on each Advance shall be paid in arrears on each Interest Payment Date. Interest shall also be paid on the date of any prepayment of any Advance pursuant to this Agreement for the portion of any Advance so prepaid and upon payment (including prepayment) in full thereof. All accrued and unpaid interest on the Advances shall be due and payable on the Revolving Line Maturity Date.

(c)Default Rate. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, Obligations shall bear interest at a rate 2% above the rate that would otherwise be applicable thereto (the “Default Rate”). Payment or acceptance of the increased interest provided in this Section 2.3(c) is not a permitted alternative to timely payment and shall not constitute a waiver of any Event of Default or otherwise prejudice or limit any rights or remedies of HSBC.

 

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(d)Debit of Accounts. HSBC may debit any of Borrower’s deposit accounts, including the Designated Deposit Account, for principal and interest payments or any other amounts Borrower owes HSBC when due. These debits shall not constitute a set-off.

2.4Fees. Borrower shall pay to HSBC:

	
 
	
(a)
	
[Intentionally Omitted].

(b)HSBC Expenses. All HSBC Expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses for documentation and negotiation of this Agreement) incurred through and after the Effective Date, when due.

(c)Sweep Fees. Borrower agrees to pay HSBC's fees for the sweep service described in Sections 2.5(b) and 3.5(b) in an amount equal to $150 per month and authorizes the Bank to deduct the fees from the Designated Deposit Account or any other account of Borrower maintained at HSBC Intentionally Omitted.  .

(d)Unused Revolving Line Facility Fee. A fee, payable quarterly, in arrears, on the last day of each calendar quarter (commencing June 30, 20162022), in an amount equal to two tenthsone eighth of one percent (0.200.125%) per annum of the average daily unused portion of the Revolving Line, as determined by HSBC. Borrower shall not be entitled to any credit, rebate or repayment of any Unused Revolving Line Facility Fee previously earned by HSBC pursuant to this Section notwithstanding any termination of the Agreement or the suspension or termination of HSBC’s obligation to make loans and advances hereunder

2.5Payments; Application of Payments.

(a)All payments (including prepayments) to be made by Borrower under any Loan Document shall be made in immediately available funds in Dollars, without setoff or counterclaim, before 1:00 PM (New York time) on the date when due to HSBC at the Payment Office. Payments of principal and/or interest received after 1:00 PM (New York time) are considered received at the opening of business on the next Business Day. When a payment is due on a day that is not a Business Day, the payment shall be due the next Business Day, and additional fees or interest, as applicable, shall continue to accrue until paid; provided, that with respect to LIBORSOFR Rate Advances, if extending such payment would cause the last day of the applicable Interest Period to be extended into the next calendar month, then the due date for such payment shall be the immediately preceding Business Day.

(b)If on any Business Day, there are excess funds in the Designated Deposit Account after covering the presentment amounts made against the Disbursement Account and maintaining the Imprest Balance, HSBC is authorized, at its discretion, to repay any outstanding balance of the Advances. Amounts to be applied pursuant to this Section 2.5(b) to the prepayment of Advances shall be applied, as applicable, first to reduce outstanding Base Rate Advances. If the amount of any prepayment of Advances under this Section 2.5(b) shall be in excess of the amount of the Base Rate Advances at the time outstanding (an “Excess Amount”), only the portion of the amount of such prepayment as is equal to the amount of such outstanding Base Rate Advances shall be immediately prepaid and, at the election of the Borrower, the Excess Amount shall be either (A) deposited in the Designated Deposit Account and applied to the prepayment of LIBORSOFR Rate Advances on the last day of the then next-expiring Interest Period for the applicable LIBORSOFR Rate Advances, as the case may be or (B) applied to the immediate repayment of LIBORSOFR Rate Advances (first to the LIBORSOFR Rate Advances with the next expiring Interest Periods), together with any amounts owing to HSBC under Section 3.5(j).

(c)HSBC shall apply the whole or any part of collected funds against the Revolving Line and other Obligations or credit such collected funds to a depository account of Borrower with HSBC (or an account maintained by an Affiliate of HSBC), the order and method of such application to be in the sole 

 

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discretion of HSBC. Borrower shall have no right to specify the order or the accounts to which HSBC shall allocate or apply any payments required to be made by Borrower to HSBC or otherwise received by HSBC under this Agreement when any such allocation or application is not specified elsewhere in this Agreement.

3CONDITIONS OF LOANS

3.1Conditions Precedent to Initial Credit Extension. HSBC’s obligation to make the initial Credit Extension is subject to the condition precedent that HSBC shall have received, in form and substance satisfactory to HSBC in its sole discretion, such documents, and completion of such other matters, as HSBC may reasonably deem necessary or appropriate, including, without limitation:

(a)duly executed original signatures to the Loan Documents;

(b)Borrower’s Operating Documents and a good standing certificate of Borrower certified by the Secretary of State of the State of Connecticut as of a date no earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the Effective Date;

(c)duly executed original signatures to the completed Borrowing Resolutions for

Borrower;

(d)duly executed original signature to a payoff letter from Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.;

 

(e)evidence that (i) the Liens securing Indebtedness owed by Borrower to Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. will be terminated prior to or concurrent with the initial Credit Extension and (ii) the documents and/or filings evidencing the perfection of such Liens, including without limitation any financing statements and/or control agreements, have or will, concurrently with the initial Credit Extension, be terminated;

(f)certified copies, dated as of a recent date, of bankruptcy, judgment and lien searches, as HSBC shall request, accompanied by written evidence (including any UCC termination statements) that the Liens and judgments indicated in any such search results either constitute Permitted Liens or have been or, in connection with the initial Credit Extension, will be terminated or released;

(g)the Perfection Certificate(s) of Borrower, together with the duly executed original signature thereto;

(h)a legal opinion of Borrower’s counsel dated as of the Effective Date together with the duly executed original signature thereto;

(i)the duly executed original signatures to the Pledge Agreement, together with stock certificates and related stock powers;

(j)evidence satisfactory to HSBC that the insurance policies required by Section 6.5 hereof are in full force and effect, together with appropriate evidence showing lender loss payable and/or additional insured clauses or endorsements in favor of HSBC;

(k)payment of the fees and HSBC Expenses then due as specified in Section 2.4 hereof; and

(l)receipt all documentation and other information required by bank regulatory authorities under applicable “know-your-customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including the PATRIOT Act.

 

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3.2Conditions Precedent to all Credit Extensions. HSBC’s obligations to make each Credit Extension, including the initial Credit Extension, is subject to the following conditions precedent:

(a)except as otherwise provided in Section 3.5(b), timely receipt of an executed Notice of Borrowing;

(b)the representations and warranties in this Agreement shall be true, accurate, and complete in all material respects on the date of the Notice of Borrowing and on the Funding Date of each Credit Extension; provided, however, that such materiality qualifier shall not be applicable to any representations and warranties that already are qualified or modified by materiality in the text thereof; and provided, further that those representations and warranties expressly referring to a specific date shall be true, accurate and complete in all material respects as of such date, and no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or result from the Credit Extension. Each Credit Extension is Borrower’s representation and warranty on that date that the representations and warranties in this Agreement remain true, accurate, and complete in all material respects; provided, however, that such materiality qualifier shall not be applicable to any representations and warranties that already are qualified or modified by materiality in the text thereof; and provided, further that those representations and warranties expressly referring to a specific date shall be true, accurate and complete in all material respects as of such date; and

(c)in HSBC’s sole discretion, there has not been a Material Adverse Change.

3.3Reserved.

3.4Covenant to Deliver. Borrower agrees to deliver to HSBC each item required to be delivered to HSBC under this Agreement as a condition precedent to any Credit Extension. Borrower expressly agrees that a Credit Extension made prior to the receipt by HSBC of any such item shall not constitute a waiver by HSBC of Borrower’s obligation to deliver such item, and the making of any Credit Extension in the absence of a required item shall be in HSBC’s sole discretion.

3.5Procedures for Borrowing.

(a)Subject to Section 3.5(b) and to the prior satisfaction of all other applicable conditions to the making of an Advance set forth in this Agreement, each Advance shall be made upon Borrower’s irrevocable written notice delivered to HSBC in the form of a Notice of Borrowing, each executed by a Responsible Officer of Borrower or his or her designee or without instructions if the Advances are necessary to meet Obligations which have become due. HSBC may rely on any telephone notice given by a person whom HSBC believes is a Responsible Officer or designee. Borrower will indemnify HSBC for any loss HSBC suffers due to such reliance.

(b)Notwithstanding the foregoing, HSBC shall monitor daily balances in the Designated Deposit Account and presentment amounts for disbursement account number 797046844 maintained at HSBC (the “Disbursement Account”). If HSBC determines that funds in the Designated Deposit Account are insufficient to pay the amount of the items presented for that day in the Disbursement Account and to maintain the Imprest Balance in the Designated Deposit Account, Borrower shall be deemed to have made a request for an Advance to be maintained as a Base Rate Advance as of such date in the amount of such shortfall, such Advance to be deposited in the Designated Deposit Account or the Disbursement Account, as appropriate. In addition, any amount required to be paid as interest hereunder, or as fees or other charges under this Agreement or any other agreement with HSBC, or with respect to any other Obligation, which shall become due, shall be deemed a request for an Advance to be maintained as a Base Rate Advance as of the date such payment is due, in the amount required to pay in full such interest, fee, charge or Obligation under this Agreement, or any other agreement with HSBC and such request shall be irrevocable.

 

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(c)Excluding Advances that have been deemed to have been requested under Section 3.5(b) (which shall not require the delivery of a Notice of Borrowing), each Notice of Borrowing must be received by HSBC prior to 11:00 AM (New York time), on the requested Funding Date, specifying: (1) the amount of the Advance which, for LIBORSOFR Rate Advances, shall be in a minimum amount of $500,000 and in integral multiples of $100,000 in excess thereof; (2) the requested Funding Date; (3) if the Advance shall be transferred to the Designated Deposit Account or to another account set forth in the Notice of Borrowing, and (4) whether the Advance is to be comprised of LIBORSOFR Rate Advances or Base Rate Advances. Interest Periods for LIBORSOFR Rate Advances shall be for one month. No LIBORSOFR Rate Advance shall be made available to Borrower during the continuance of a Default or an Event of Default. After giving effect to each such borrowing, there shall not be outstanding more than three (3) LIBORSOFR Rate Advances, in the aggregate at any time. HSBC shall provide Borrower with a quote of the actual interest rate available for the LIBORSOFR Rate Advance requested by Borrower, which quote shall be given on the day such LIBORSOFR Rate Advance is requested and such quote shall be effective from the day provided by HSBC until one (1) Business Day thereafter.

(d)Except as provided in sub-clause (b) of this Section 3.5, the proceeds of all such Advances will then be made available to Borrower on the Funding Date by HSBC by transfer to the Designated Deposit Account and, subsequently, by wire transfer to such other account as Borrower may instruct in the Notice of Borrowing.

(e)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, HSBC shall not be required to purchase United States Dollar deposits in the London interbank market or other applicable LIBOR Rate market to fund any LIBOR Rate Advances, but the provisions hereof shall be deemed to apply as if HSBC had purchased such deposits to fund the LIBOR Rate Advances[Reserved].

(f)Each Interest Period of a LIBORSOFR Rate Advance shall commence on the date such LIBORSOFR Rate Advance is made and shall be for a period of one-month or three-months, provided that the exact length of each Interest Period shall be determined in accordance with themarket practice of the interbank market for offshore Dollar deposits and no Interest Period shall end after the Revolving Line Maturity Date.

(g)Provided that no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Borrower, may, on the last Business Day of the then current Interest Period applicable to any outstanding LIBORSOFR Rate Advance, or on any Business Day with respect to Base Rate Advances, convert any such advance into an advance of another type in the same aggregate principal amount provided that any conversion of a LIBORSOFR Rate Advance shall be made only on the last Business Day of the then current Interest Period applicable to such LIBORSOFR Rate Advance. If Borrower desires to convert an advance, Borrower shall give HSBC a Notice of Conversion by no later than 11:00 AM (New York time)

(i) on the day which such conversion is to occur with respect to a conversion from a Base Rate Advance to a LIBORSOFR Rate Advance, or (ii) on the day which such conversion is to occur with respect to a conversion from a LIBORSOFR Rate Advance to a Base Rate Advance, specifying, in each case, the date of such conversion and the loans to be converted.

(h)At its option and upon written notice given prior to 11:00 AM (New York time) on the date of such prepayment, Borrower may prepay the LIBORSOFR Rate Advances in whole at any time or in part from time to time, together with amounts which may be owed to HSBC pursuant to Section 3.5(i)), and with accrued interest on the principal being prepaid to the date of such repayment. Borrower shall specify the date of prepayment of LIBORSOFR Rate Advances and the amount of such prepayment. In the event that any prepayment of a LIBORSOFR Rate Advance is required or permitted on a date other than the last Business Day of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto, Borrower shall indemnify HSBC therefor in accordance with Section 3.5(i).

 

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(i)Borrower shall indemnify HSBC and hold HSBC harmless from and against any and all losses or expenses that HSBC may sustain or incur as a consequence of any prepaymentIn the event that (i) any payment of a SOFR Rate Advance is required, made or permitted on a date other than the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable thereto (including upon demand by Lender), (ii) the conversion of or any default by Borrower in the payment of the principal of or interest on any LIBORSOFR Rate Advance other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, or (iii)the failure by Borrower to complete a borrowing of, a prepayment of or conversion of or to a LIBORconvert, continue, borrow or prepay any SOFR Rate Advance afteron the date specified in any notice thereof has been givendelivered pursuant hereto, then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate the Lender for any loss, cost and expense attributable to such event, including, but not limited to, any interest payable by HSBC to lenders of funds obtained by it in order to make or maintain its LIBOR Rate Advance hereunderloss, cost or expense arising from the liquidation or redeployment of funds. A certificate as toof the Lender delivered to the Borrower and setting forth any additionalamount or amounts payablethat the Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to the foregoing sentence submitted by HSBC to Borrowerthis paragraph shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay the Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate upon demand.

(j)Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, if any Requirement of Law, treaty, regulation or directive, or any change therein or in the interpretation or application thereof, shall make it unlawful for HSBC (for purposes of this Section 3.5(j), “HSBC” shall include the office or branch where HSBC or any corporation or bank controlling HSBC makes or maintains any LIBORSOFR Rate Advances) to make or maintain its LIBORSOFR Rate Advances, the obligation of HSBC to make LIBORSOFR Rate Advances hereunder shall forthwith be cancelled and Borrower shall, if any affected LIBORSOFR Rate Advances are then outstanding, promptly upon request from HSBC, either pay all such affected LIBORSOFR Rate Advances or convert such affected LIBORSOFR Rate Advances into Base Rate Advances. If any such payment or conversion of any LIBORSOFR Rate Advances is made on a day that is not the last day of the Interest Period applicable to such LIBORSOFR Rate Advances, Borrower shall pay HSBC, upon HSBC’s request, such amount or amounts as may be necessary to compensate HSBC for any loss or expense sustained or incurred by HSBC in respect of such LIBORSOFR Rate Advance as a result of such payment or conversion, including (but not limited to) any interest or other amounts payable by HSBC to lenders of funds obtained by HSBC in order to make or maintain such LIBORSOFR Rate Advance. A certificate as to any additional amounts payable pursuant to the foregoing sentence submitted by HSBC to Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

3.6Additional Provisions Governing LIBORSOFR Rate Advances.    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, the following provisions shall govern with respect to LIBORSOFR Rate Advances as to the matters covered:

 

(a)Increased Costs. In the event that any applicable law, treaty or governmental regulation, or any Change in Law or in the interpretation or application thereof, or compliance by HSBC (for purposes of this Section 3.6(a), references to HSBC shall also include any corporation or bank controlling HSBC) and the office or branch where HSBC makes or maintains any LIBORSOFR Rate Advances with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any central bank or other financial, monetary or other authority, shall:

 

(i)subject HSBC to any tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or change the basis of taxation of payments to HSBC of principal, fees, interest or any other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Documents (except for changes in the rate of tax on the overall net income of HSBC by the jurisdiction in which it maintains its principal office);

 

(ii)impose, modify or hold applicable any reserve, special deposit, assessment or similar requirement against assets held by, or deposits in or for the account of, advances or loans by, 

 

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or other credit extended by, any office of HSBC, including (without limitation) pursuant to Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; or

 

(iii)impose on HSBC or the London interbank LIBORTerm SOFR Rate market any other condition with respect to this Agreement or any other Loan Document;

 

and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to HSBC of making, renewing or maintaining its Advances hereunder by an amount that HSBC reasonably deems to be material or to reduce the amount of any payment (whether of principal, interest or otherwise) in respect of any of the Advances by an amount that HSBC reasonably deems to be material, then, in any case Borrower shall promptly pay HSBC, upon its demand, such additional amount as will compensate HSBC for such additional cost or such reduction, as the case may be, provided that the foregoing shall not apply to increased costs which are reflected in the Adjusted LIBOTerm SOFR Rate. HSBC shall certify the amount of such additional cost or reduced amount to Borrower, and such certification shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

(b)Basis For Determining Interest Rate Inadequate or Unfair. In the event that HSBC shall have determined that:

 

(i)reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBOTerm SOFR Rate applicable pursuant to Section 3.5 for any Interest Period; or

 

(ii)Dollar deposits in the relevant amount and for the relevant maturity are not available in the London interbank LIBOR RateTerm SOFR market, with respect to an outstanding LIBORSOFR Rate Advance, a proposed LIBORSOFR Rate Advance, or a proposed conversion of a Base Rate Advance into a LIBORSOFR Rate Advance,

 

then HSBC shall give Borrower prompt written, telephonic or telegraphic notice of such determination. If such notice is given, (i) any such requested LIBORSOFR Rate Advance shall be made as a Base Rate Advance, unless Borrower shall notify HSBC no later than 10:00 AM (New York time) two (2) Business Days prior to the date of such proposed borrowing, that its request for such borrowing shall be cancelled or made as an unaffected type of LIBORSOFR Rate Advance, (ii) any Base Rate Advance or LIBORSOFR Rate Advance which was to have been converted to an affected type of LIBORSOFR Rate Advance shall be continued as or converted into a Base Rate Advance, or, if Borrower shall notify HSBC, no later than 10:00 AM (New York time) two (2) Business Days prior to the proposed conversion, shall be maintained as an unaffected type of LIBORSOFR Rate Advance, and (iii) any outstanding affected LIBORSOFR Rate Advances shall be converted into a Base Rate Advance, or, if Borrower shall notify HSBC, no later than 10:00 AM (New York time) two (2) Business Days prior to the last Business Day of the then current Interest Period applicable to such affected LIBORSOFR Rate Advance, shall be converted into an unaffected type of LIBORSOFR Rate Advance, on the last Business Day of the then current Interest Period for such affected LIBORSOFR Rate Advance. Until such notice has been withdrawn, HSBC shall have no obligation to make an affected type of LIBORSOFR Rate Advance or maintain outstanding affected LIBORSOFR Rate Advances and Borrower shall have no right to convert a Base Rate Advance or an unaffected type of LIBORSOFR Rate Advance into an affected type of LIBORSOFR Rate Advance.

 

(c)Capital Adequacy.

 

(i)In the event that HSBC shall have determined that any applicable law, rule, regulation or guideline regarding capital adequacy or liquidity, or any Change in Law, or any change in the interpretation or administration thereof by any governmental authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by HSBC (for purposes of this Section 3.6(c), references to HSBC shall also include any corporation or bank controlling HSBC) and the office or branch where HSBC makes or maintains any LIBORSOFR Rate Advances with any request or directive regarding capital 

 

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adequacy or liquidity (whether or not having the force of law) of any such authority, central bank or comparable agency, has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on HSBC’s capital as a consequence of its obligations hereunder to a level below that which HSBC could have achieved but for such adoption, change or compliance (taking into consideration HSBC’s policies with respect to capital adequacy) by an amount reasonably deemed by HSBC to be material, then, from time to time, Borrower shall pay upon demand to HSBC such additional amount or amounts as will compensate HSBC for such reduction. In determining such amount or amounts, HSBC may use any reasonable averaging or attribution methods. The protection of this Section 3.6(c) shall be available to HSBC regardless of any possible contention of invalidity or inapplicability with respect to the applicable law, regulation or condition.

 

(ii)A certificate of HSBC setting forth such amount or amounts as shall be necessary to compensate it with respect to Section 3.6(c)(i) when delivered to Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

3.7Benchmark Replacement Setting.

(a)Benchmark Replacement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any Other Document, if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred prior any setting of the then-current Benchmark, then (x) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (a) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Other Document in respect of such Benchmark setting and subsequent Benchmark settings without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any Other Document and (y) if a Benchmark Replacement is determined in accordance with clause (b) of the definition of “Benchmark Replacement” for such Benchmark Replacement Date, such Benchmark Replacement will replace such Benchmark for all purposes hereunder and under any Other Document in respect of any Benchmark setting at or after 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the fifth (5th) Business Day after the date notice of such Benchmark Replacement is provided to the Borrowing Agent without any amendment to, or further action or consent of any other party to, this Agreement or any Other Document.

 

(b)Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. In connection with the use, administration, adoption or implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, the Lender will have the right to make Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any Other Document, any amendments implementing such Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any Other Document.

 

(c)Notices; Standards for Decisions and Determinations. The Lender will promptly notify the Borrowing Agent of (i) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement and (ii) the effectiveness of any Conforming Changes in connection with the use, administration, adoption or implementation of a Benchmark Replacement. The Lender will promptly notify the Borrowing Agent of the removal or reinstatement of any tenor of a Benchmark pursuant to Section 3.11(d). Any determination, decision or election that may be made by the Lender pursuant to this Section 3.11, including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action or any selection, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in its or their sole discretion and without consent from any other party to this Agreement or any Other Document, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Section 3.11.

 

(d)Unavailability of Tenor of Benchmark. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any Other Document, at any time (including in connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement), (i) if the then-current Benchmark is a term rate (including the Term SOFR Reference Rate) and either (A) any tenor for such Benchmark is not displayed on a screen or other information service that 

 

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publishes such rate from time to time as selected by Lender in its reasonable discretion or (B) the administrator of such Benchmark or the regulatory supervisor for the administrator of such Benchmark has provided a public statement or publication of information announcing that any tenor for such Benchmark is not or will not be representative or in compliance with or aligned with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Principles for Financial Benchmarks, then Lender may modify the definition of “Interest Period” (or any similar or analogous definition) for any Benchmark settings at or after such time to remove such unavailable, non-representative, non-compliant or non-aligned tenor and (ii) if a tenor that was removed pursuant to clause (i) above either (A) is subsequently displayed on a screen or information service for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement) or (B) is not, or is no longer, subject to an announcement that it is not or will not be representative or in compliance with or aligned with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Principles for Financial Benchmarks for a Benchmark (including a Benchmark Replacement), then the Lender may modify the definition of “Interest Period” (or any similar or analogous definition) for all Benchmark settings at or after such time to reinstate such previously removed tenor.

 

(e)Benchmark Unavailability Period. Upon the Borrowers’ receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, the Borrower may revoke any request for a SOFR Rate Loan, or any conversion to or continuation of a SOFR Rate Loan, to be made, converted or continued during any Benchmark Unavailability Period and, failing that, the Borrowers will be deemed to have converted any such request into a request for a Base Rate Loan or a conversion to a Base Rate Loan. During a Benchmark Unavailability Period or at any time that a tenor for the then-current Benchmark is not an Available Tenor, the component of the Base Rate based upon the then-current Benchmark or such tenor for such Benchmark, as applicable, will not be used in any determination of Base Rate.

 

(f)Conforming Changes. In connection with the use or administration of Term SOFR, Lender will have the right to make Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any Other Document, any amendments implementing such Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to this Agreement or any Other Document. Lender will promptly notify the Borrowing Agent of the effectiveness of any Conforming Changes in connection with the use or administration of Term SOFR.

 

	
 
	
4
	
CREATION OF SECURITY INTEREST

 

4.1Grant of Security Interest. Borrower hereby grants to HSBC, to secure the payment and performance in full of all of the Obligations, a continuing security interest in and to, and pledges to

HSBC, all of the Collateral, wherever located, whether now owned or existing or hereafter acquired or arising, and all proceeds and products thereof.

 

4.2Priority of Security Interest. Borrower represents, warrants, and covenants that the security interest granted herein is and shall at all times continue to be a first priority perfected security interest in the Collateral (subject only to Permitted Liens that may have superior priority to HSBC’s Lien under this Agreement). If Borrower shall acquire a commercial tort claim, Borrower shall promptly notify HSBC in a writing signed by Borrower of the general details thereof and grant to HSBC in such writing a security interest therein and in the proceeds thereof, all upon the terms of this Agreement, with such writing to be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to HSBC.

 

If this Agreement is terminated, HSBC’s Lien in the Collateral shall continue until the Obligations (other than inchoate indemnity obligations) are repaid in full in cash.   Upon payment in full in cash of the Obligations and at such time as HSBC’s obligation to make Credit Extensions has terminated, HSBC shall, at Borrower’s sole cost and expense, release its Liens in the Collateral and all rights therein shall revert to Borrower.

 

 

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4.3Authorization to File Financing Statements. Borrower hereby authorizes HSBC to file financing statements, without notice to Borrower, with all appropriate jurisdictions to perfect or protect HSBC’s interest or rights hereunder, including a notice that any disposition of the Collateral, by either Borrower or any other Person, shall be deemed to violate the rights of HSBC under the Code. Such financing statements may indicate the Collateral as “all assets of the Debtor” or words of similar effect, or as being of an equal or lesser scope, or with greater detail, all in HSBC’s discretion.

 

5REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

Borrower represents and warrants as follows:

 

5.1Due Organization, Authorization; Power and Authority. Borrower is duly existing and in good standing as a Registered Organization in its jurisdiction of formation and is qualified and licensed to do business and is in good standing in any jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership of property requires that it be qualified except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Borrower’s business. In connection with this Agreement, Borrower has delivered to HSBC a completed certificate signed by Borrower, entitled “Perfection Certificate”.   Borrower represents and warrants to HSBC that (a) Borrower’s exact legal name is that indicated on the Perfection Certificate and on the signature page hereof; (b) Borrower is an organization of the type and is organized in the jurisdiction set forth in the Perfection Certificate; (c) the Perfection Certificate accurately sets forth Borrower’s organizational identification number or accurately states that Borrower has none; (d) the Perfection Certificate accurately sets forth Borrower’s place of business, or, if more than one, its chief executive office as well as Borrower’s mailing address (if different than its chief executive office); (e) Borrower (and each of its predecessors) has not, in the past five (5) years, changed its jurisdiction of formation, organizational structure or type, or any organizational number assigned by its jurisdiction; and (f) all other information set forth on the Perfection Certificate pertaining to Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries is accurate and complete (it being understood and agreed that Borrower may from time to time update certain information in the Perfection Certificate after the Effective Date to the extent permitted by one or more specific provisions in this Agreement). If Borrower is not now a Registered Organization but later becomes one, Borrower shall promptly notify HSBC of such occurrence and provide HSBC with Borrower’s organizational identification number.

 

The execution, delivery and performance by Borrower of the Loan Documents to which it is a party have been duly authorized, and do not (i) conflict with any of Borrower’s Operating Documents, (ii) contravene, conflict with, constitute a default under or violate any material Requirement of Law, (iii) contravene, conflict or violate any applicable order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination or award of any Governmental Authority by which Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their property or assets may be bound or affected, (iv) require any action by, filing, registration, or qualification with, or Governmental Approval from, any Governmental Authority (except such Governmental Approvals which have already been obtained and are in full force and effect, or (v) constitute an event of default under any material agreement by which Borrower is bound.   Borrower is not in default under any agreement to which it is a party or by which it is bound in which the default could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Borrower’s business.

 

 

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5.2Collateral. Borrower has good title to, has rights in, and the power to transfer each item of the Collateral upon which it purports to grant a Lien hereunder, free and clear of any and all Liens except Permitted Liens. Borrower has no deposit accounts other than the deposit accounts with HSBC, the deposit accounts, if any, described in the Perfection Certificate delivered to HSBC in connection herewith, or of which Borrower has given HSBC notice and taken such actions as are necessary to give HSBC a perfected security interest therein.

 

The Collateral is not in the possession of any third party bailee (such as a warehouse) except as otherwise provided in the Perfection Certificate. None of the components of the Collateral shall be maintained at locations other than as provided in the Perfection Certificate or as permitted pursuant to Section 7.2.

 

Borrower is not a party to, nor is it bound by, any Restricted License.

 

5.3Environmental Compliance. Borrower and its Subsidiaries conduct in the ordinary course of business a review of the effect of existing Environmental Laws and claims alleging potential liability or responsibility for violation of any Environmental Law on their respective businesses, operations and properties, and as a result thereof the Borrower has reasonably concluded that such Environmental Laws and claims are not reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Change.

 

5.4Litigation. There are no actions, or proceedings to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened in writing, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority, by or against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or against any of their properties or revenues, and not otherwise disclosed in the Borrower’s public filings with the SEC, that (a) purport to affect or pertain to this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or any of the transactions contemplated hereby, or (b) either individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely, are reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Change.

 

5.5Financial Statements; Financial Condition. All consolidated financial statements for Borrower and any of its Subsidiaries delivered to HSBC fairly present in all material respects Borrower’s consolidated financial condition and Borrower’s consolidated results of operations. There has not been any material adverse change in Borrower’s consolidated financial condition since the date of the most recent financial statements submitted to HSBC.

 

5.6Solvency. The fair salable value of Borrower’s assets (including goodwill minus disposition costs) exceeds the fair value of its liabilities; Borrower is not left with unreasonably small capital after the transactions in this Agreement; and Borrower is able to pay its debts (including trade debts) as they mature.

 

5.7Regulatory Compliance. Borrower is not an “investment company” or a company “controlled” by an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. Borrower is not engaged as one of its important activities in extending credit for margin stock (under Regulations X, T and U of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors). Borrower has complied in all material respects with the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act. Neither Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is a “holding company” or an “affiliate” of a “holding company” or a “subsidiary company” of a “holding company” as each term is defined and used in the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 2005. Borrower has not violated any laws, ordinances or rules, the violation of which could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on its business.None of Borrower’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ properties or assets has been used by Borrower or any Subsidiary or, to the best of Borrower’s knowledge, by previous Persons, in disposing, producing, storing, treating, or transporting any hazardous substance other than legally. Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries have obtained all consents, approvals and authorizations of, made all declarations or filings with, and given all notices to, all Government Authorities that are necessary to continue their respective businesses as currently conducted.

 

 

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5.8Subsidiaries; Investments. Borrower does not have any Subsidiaries or own any stock, partnership interest or other equity securities except as set forth in item 18 of the Perfection Certificate.

 

5.9Tax Returns and Payments; Pension Contributions. Borrower has timely filed all required tax returns and reports, and Borrower has timely paid all foreign, federal, state and local taxes, assessments, deposits and contributions owed by Borrower.Borrower may defer payment of any contested taxes, provided that Borrower (a) in good faith contests its obligation to pay the taxes by appropriate proceedings promptly and diligently instituted and conducted, (b) notifies HSBC in writing of the commencement of, and any material development in, the proceedings, (c) takes proper reserves, and (d) posts bonds or takes any other steps required to prevent the governmental authority levying such contested taxes from obtaining a Lien upon any of the Collateral that is other than a “Permitted Lien”. Borrower is unaware of any claims or adjustments proposed for any of Borrower's prior tax years which could result in additional taxes becoming due and payable by Borrower. Borrower has paid all amounts necessary to fund all present pension, profit sharing and deferred compensation plans in accordance with their terms, and Borrower has not withdrawn from participation in, and has not permitted partial or complete termination of, or permitted the occurrence of any other event with respect to, any such plan which could reasonably be expected to result in any liability of Borrower, including any liability to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or its successors or any other governmental agency.

 

5.10Use of Proceeds. Borrower shall use the proceeds of the Credit Extensions solely for commercial purposes as follows: for general corporate purposes, including working capital needs of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (including repayment of such Subsidiaries’ debts), capital expenditures, acquisitions, and for stock repurchases and dividend payments by the Borrower, in each case, to the extent permitted by this Agreement.

 

5.11Sanctions; Anti-Bribery.

 

5.11.1None of the Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries, any director or officer, or any employee, agent, or Affiliate, of the Borrower or any of its respective Subsidiaries is an individual or entity (“Person”) that is, or is owned or controlled by Persons that are, (i) the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the US Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), or (ii) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is, or whose government is, the subject of Sanctions, including, without limitation, currently, Cuba, the Crimea region, Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria.

 

5.11.2None of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, nor to the knowledge of the Borrower, any director, officer, agent, employee, Affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Borrower or any of its respective Subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of any applicable anti-bribery law, including but not limited to, the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (the “FCPA”). Furthermore, the Borrower and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, its Affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and similar laws, rules or regulations and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

 

 

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5.11.3The information included in each Beneficial Ownership Certification to the extent required and supplied by the Company under the Beneficial Ownership Regulation, if applicable, is true and correct in all respects.

5.12Full Disclosure. No written representation, warranty or other statement of Borrower in any certificate or written statement given to HSBC, as of the date such representation, warranty, or other statement was made, taken together with all such written certificates and written statements given to HSBC, contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained in the certificates or statements not misleading (it being recognized by HSBC that the projections and forecasts provided by Borrower in good faith and based upon reasonable assumptions are not viewed as facts and that actual results during the period or periods covered by such projections and forecasts may differ from the projected or forecasted results).

 

6AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

Borrower shall do all of the following:

 

6.1Government Compliance.   Maintain its and all its Subsidiaries’ legal existence and good standing in their respective jurisdictions of formation and maintain qualification in each jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Borrower’s business or operations. Borrower shall comply, and have each Subsidiary comply, with all laws, ordinances and regulations to which it is subject, noncompliance with which could have a material adverse effect on Borrower’s business.

 

6.2Financial Statements, Reports, Certificates. Deliver to HSBC:

 

(a)Intentionally Omitted;

 

(b)Quarterly Financial Statements. As soon as available, but no later than forty-five (45) days after the last day of each fiscal, a company prepared consolidated balance sheet and income statement covering Borrower’s consolidated operations for such fiscal quarter certified by a Responsible Officer and in a form acceptable to HSBC (the “Quarterly Financial Statements”);

 

(c)Quarterly Compliance Certificate.   Within forty-five (45) days after the last day of each fiscal quarter and together with the Quarterly Financial Statements, a duly completed Compliance Certificate signed by a Responsible Officer, certifying that as of the end of such fiscal quarter, Borrower was in full compliance with all of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and setting forth calculations showing compliance with the financial covenants set forth in this Agreement and such other information as HSBC shall reasonably request;

 

(d)Annual Audited Financial Statements. As soon as available, but no later than ninety (90) days after the last day of Borrower’s fiscal year, audited consolidated financial statements prepared under GAAP, consistently applied, together with an unqualified opinion on the financial statements from an independent certified public accounting firm acceptable to HSBC in its reasonable discretion;

 

(e)Other Statements. Within five (5) days of delivery, copies of all statements, reports and notices made available to Borrower’s security holders or to any holders of Subordinated Debt;

(f)SEC Filings. Within five (5) days of filing, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by Borrower with the SEC, any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of the SEC or with any national securities exchange, or distributed to its shareholders, as the case may be. Documents required to be delivered pursuant to the terms hereof (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered 

 

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electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date on which Borrower posts such documents, or provides a link thereto, on Borrower’s website on the Internet at Borrower’s website address. As to any information contained in the materials furnished pursuant to this clause (f), Borrower shall not be required separately to furnish such information under clauses (b), (c) and (e), but the foregoing shall not be in derogation of the obligation of Borrower to furnish the information and materials described in such clauses (b), (c) and (e) at the times specified therein.

 

(g)Legal Action Notice. A prompt report of any legal actions pending or threatened in writing against Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that could result in damages or costs to Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Change with respect to Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

(h)[Intentionally Omitted]; and

 

(i)Other Financial Information. Budgets, sales projections, operating plans and other financial information reasonably requested by HSBC.

 

6.3Inventory; Returns. Keep all Inventory in good and marketable condition, free from material defects. Returns and allowances between Borrower and its Account Debtors shall follow Borrower’s customary practices as they exist at the Effective Date.

 

6.4Taxes; Pensions. Timely file, and require each of its Subsidiaries to timely file, all required tax returns and reports and timely pay, and require each of its Subsidiaries to timely pay, all foreign, federal, state and local taxes, assessments, deposits and contributions owed by Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries, except for deferred payment of any taxes contested pursuant to the terms of Section 5.9 hereof, and shall deliver to HSBC, on demand, appropriate certificates attesting to such payments, and pay all amounts necessary to fund all present pension, profit sharing and deferred compensation plans in accordance with their terms.

 

In the event any payments are received by HSBC from Borrower pursuant to this Agreement, such payments will be made subject to applicable withholding for any taxes, levies, fees, deductions, withholding, restrictions or conditions of any nature whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time any Governmental Authority, applicable law, regulation or international agreement requires Borrower to make any such deduction or withholding from any such payment or other sum payment hereunder to HSBC, the amount due from Borrower with respect to such payment or other sum payable hereunder will be increased to the extent necessary to ensure that, after the making of such required deduction or withholding, HSBC receives a net sum equal to the sum which it would have received had no deductions or withholding been required, and Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority. Borrower will, upon request, furnish HSBC with proof satisfactory to HSBC indicating that Borrower has made such withholding payment; provided, however, that Borrower need not make any withholding payment if the amount or validity of such withholding payment is contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and as to which payment in full is bonded or reserved against by Borrower. The agreements and obligations of Borrower contained in this provision shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

6.5Insurance. Keep its business and the Collateral insured for risks and in amounts standard for companies in Borrower’s industry and location and as HSBC may reasonably request. Insurance policies shall be in a form, with companies, and in amounts that are satisfactory to HSBC. All property policies shall have a lender’s loss payable endorsement showing HSBC as the sole lender loss payee and waive subrogation against HSBC. All liability policies shall show, or have endorsements showing, HSBC as an additional insured. All policies (or the loss payable and additional insured endorsements) shall provide that the insurer shall give HSBC at least twenty (20) days notice before canceling, amending, or declining to renew its policy. At HSBC’s request, Borrower shall deliver certified copies of policies and evidence of all premium payments. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 6.5, proceeds payable under any policy shall, at HSBC’s option, 

 

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be payable to HSBC on account of the Obligations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, Borrower shall have the option of (i) applying the proceeds of any casualty policy up to Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) for all losses under all casualty policies in any one year, as it determines in its discretion and (ii) applying the proceeds of any casualty policy in excess of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) for all losses under all casualty policies in any one year, toward the replacement or repair of destroyed or damaged property; provided that any such replaced or repaired property shall be deemed Collateral in which HSBC has been granted a first priority security interest, and (b) after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, all proceeds payable under such casualty policy shall, at the option of HSBC, be payable to HSBC on account of the Obligations. If Borrower fails to obtain insurance as required under this Section 6.5 or to pay any amount or furnish any required proof of payment to third persons and HSBC, HSBC may make all or part of such payment or obtain such insurance policies required in this Section 6.5, and take any action under the policies HSBC deems prudent.

 

6.6Operating Accounts.  Maintain its primary depository account and cash management account with HSBC.

 

6.7Financial Covenants. Maintain as of the last day of each quarter, unless otherwise noted, on a consolidated basis with respect to Borrower and its Subsidiaries

 

(a)Funded Debt/Net Worth RatioEBITDA. Measured as of the end of each fiscal quarter, a ratio of Total Liabilities less Subordinated Funded Debt to Tangible Net Worth EBITDA for the four (4) fiscal quarter period then-ended, of not more than 2.50(x) 4.25 to 1.00 commencing with the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2022 through and including the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2023 and (y) 4.00 to 1.00, as of the end of each fiscal quarter ending thereafter.

 

(b)Tangible Net Worth.  A Tangible Net Worth of at least $20,000,000[Reserved].

 

(c)Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. Measured as of the end of each fiscal quarter for the four (4) fiscal quarter period then-ended, a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of at least 1.1 to 1.0.

 

(d)No Net Loss. Measured as of the end of each fiscal year for the four (4) fiscal quarter period then-ended, Net Income of greater than $0.

 

(e)Definitions. As used in this Section 6.7 or elsewhere in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms have the following meanings:

 

“EBITDA” shall mean (a) Net Income, plus (b) Interest Expense, plus (c) to the extent deducted in the calculation of Net Income, depreciation expense and amortization expense, plus (d) income tax expense.

 

“Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, for any period, the ratio of (x) EBITDA minus capital expenditures (net of Unfinanced Capital Expenditures) to (y) the sum of (i) Interest Expense, plus (ii) income tax expense plus (iii) all dividends and distributions actually paid in such period (including all share repurchases), plus (iv) all scheduled payments of principal with respect to Indebtedness (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, repayments of principal of the Advances).

 

“Funded Debt” means Indebtedness described in sub-clauses (a) and  (b) of the definition thereof.

 

“Interest Expense” means for any period, interest expense (whether cash or non-cash) determined in accordance with GAAP for the relevant period ending on such date, including, in any event, interest expense with respect to any Loan and other Indebtedness of Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including, without limitation or duplication, all commissions, discounts, or related amortization and other fees and charges with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and the net costs associated with interest rate 

 

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swap, cap, and similar arrangements, and the interest portion of any deferred payment obligation (including leases of all types).

 

“Net Income” means, as calculated on a consolidated basis for Borrower and its Subsidiaries for any period as at any date of determination, the net profit (or loss), after provision for taxes, of Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period taken as a single accounting period.

 

“Tangible Net Worth” is, on any date, the consolidated total assets of Borrower and its Subsidiaries, including any tax receivables, minus (a) any amounts attributable to (i) goodwill, (ii) intangible items including unamortized debt discount and expense, Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, and research and development expenses except prepaid expenses, (iii) notes, accounts receivable and other obligations owing to Borrower from its officers or other Affiliates, and (iv) reserves not already deducted from assets, minus (b) Total Liabilities plus Subordinated Debt.

 

“Total Liabilities” is on any day, obligations that should, under GAAP, be classified as liabilities on Borrower’s consolidated balance sheet.

 

“Unfinanced Capital Expenditures” means all capital expenditures of the Borrower other than those made utilizing financing provided by the applicable seller or third party lenders. For the avoidance of doubt, capital expenditures made by the Borrower utilizing Advances shall be deemed Unfinanced Capital Expenditures.

 

6.8[Intentionally Omitted].

 

6.9Litigation Cooperation.   From the date hereof and continuing through the termination of this Agreement, make available to HSBC, without expense to HSBC, Borrower and its officers, employees and agents and Borrower's books and records, to the extent that HSBC may deem them reasonably necessary to prosecute or defend any third-party suit or proceeding instituted by or against HSBC with respect to any Collateral or relating to Borrower.

 

6.10Access to Collateral; Books and Records. Allow HSBC, or its agents, at reasonable times, on one (1) Business Day’s notice (provided no notice is required if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing), to inspect the Collateral and audit and copy Borrower’s Books. The foregoing inspections and audits shall be at Borrower’s expense.

 

6.11Formation or Acquisition of Subsidiaries. At the time that Borrower forms any direct or indirect Subsidiary or acquires any direct or indirect Subsidiary after the Effective Date, Borrower shall (a) in the case of a Domestic Subsidiary cause such new Domestic Subsidiary to provide to HSBC either a joinder to the Loan Agreement to cause such Domestic Subsidiary to become a co-borrower hereunder or an executed Guaranty to cause such Domestic Subsidiary to become a Guarantor hereunder, together with such appropriate financing statements and/or Control Agreements, all in form and substance satisfactory to HSBC (including being sufficient to grant HSBC a first priority Lien (subject to Permitted Liens) in and to the assets of such newly formed or acquired Domestic Subsidiary), (b) in case of a direct Subsidiary, provide to HSBC appropriate certificates and powers and financing statements, pledging all of the direct or beneficial ownership interest in such new Subsidiary (to the extent permitted), in form and substance satisfactory to HSBC, and (c) provide to HSBC all other documentation in form and substance satisfactory to HSBC, including one or more opinions of counsel satisfactory to HSBC, which in its opinion is appropriate with respect to the execution and delivery of the applicable documentation referred to above. Any document, agreement, or instrument executed or issued pursuant to this Section 6.11 shall be a Loan Document.

 

 

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6.12Environmental Compliance. Comply in all respects with all Environmental Laws, except if such failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to result in an Material Adverse Change. Not suffer, cause or permit any disposal of Hazardous Materials at any property owned, leased or operated by Borrower or any Subsidiary except in accordance with applicable Environmental Laws. Promptly notify Lender in the event of the disposal of any Hazardous Materials in violation of any Environmental Law at any property owned, leased or operated by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or in the event of any release, or threatened release, of a Hazardous Materials in violation of any Environmental Law from any such property, in each case, if such violation could reasonably be expected to result in an Material Adverse Change. Deliver promptly to Lender copies of any documents received from the United States Environmental Protection Agency or any state, provincial, county or municipal environmental or health agency concerning a violation or alleged violation by Borrower or any Subsidiary of any Environmental Law that could reasonably be expected to result in an Material Adverse Change.

 

6.13Further Assurances. Execute any further instruments and take further action as HSBC reasonably requests to perfect or continue HSBC’s Lien in the Collateral or to effect the purposes of this Agreement. Deliver to HSBC, within five (5) days after the same are sent or received, copies of all correspondence, reports, documents and other filings with any Governmental Authority regarding compliance with or maintenance of Governmental Approvals or Requirements of Law or that could reasonably be expected to have a material effect on any of the Governmental Approvals or otherwise on the operations of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

7NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

Borrower shall not do any of the following without HSBC’s prior written consent:

 

7.1Dispositions. Convey, sell, lease, transfer, assign, or otherwise dispose of (collectively, “Transfer”), or permit any of its Subsidiaries to Transfer, all or any part of its business or property, except for Transfers (a) of Inventory in the ordinary course of business; (b) of worn-out or obsolete Equipment; (c) in connection with Permitted Liens and investments permitted by Section 7.7(b); and (d) other sales in an aggregate not to exceed One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) in any fiscal year.

 

7.2Changes in Business, Control, or Business Locations.

 

(a)Engage in or permit any of its Subsidiaries to engage in any business that is materially different from the businesses currently engaged in by Borrower and such Subsidiary, as applicable, or reasonably related thereto; (b) liquidate or dissolve; or (c) permit or suffer any Change in Control.

 

Borrower shall not, without at least thirty (30) days prior written notice to HSBC: (1) add any new offices or business locations, including warehouses (unless such new offices or business locations contain less than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) in Borrower’s assets or property) or deliver any portion of the Collateral valued, individually or in the aggregate, in excess of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) to a bailee at a location other than to a bailee and at a location already disclosed in the Perfection Certificate, (2) change its jurisdiction of organization, (3) change its organizational structure or type, (4) change its legal name, or (5) change any organizational number (if any) assigned by its jurisdiction of organization.

 

7.3Mergers or Acquisitions. Merge or consolidate, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to merge or consolidate, with any other Person, or acquire, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to acquire, all or substantially all of the capital stock or property of another Person except where (I) if the total consideration including cash and the value of any non-cash consideration, for all such transactions does not in the aggregate exceed Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) in any fiscal year of Borrower (a) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would exist after giving effect to the transactions; (b) Borrower is the surviving legal entity; and (c) immediately after giving effect to such acquisition Borrower’s unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents plus the Committed Availability is at least Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,500,000); or (II) if the total consideration including cash and the value of any non-cash consideration, for all such transactions in the aggregate exceeds Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) in any fiscal year of Borrower (a) HSBC shall have consented to such transaction in its sole and absolute discretion; (b) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would exist after giving effect to the transactions; (c) Borrower is the surviving legal entity; (d) immediately after giving effect to such acquisition Borrower’s unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents plus the Committed Availability is at least Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars 

 

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($2,500,000); and (e) no later than thirty (30) days prior to the closing of such acquisition, Borrower has delivered to HSBC a Compliance Certificate demonstrating that after giving effect to such acquisition Borrower will be in compliance with all covenants on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such acquisition. A Subsidiary may merge or consolidate into another Subsidiary or into Borrower.

 

7.4Indebtedness. Create, incur, assume, or be liable for any Indebtedness, or permit any Subsidiary to do so, other than Permitted Indebtedness; provided that prior to incurring any Subordinated Debt after the Effective Date, Borrower shall deliver to HSBC a Compliance Certificate demonstrating that after giving effect to such incurrence of Subordinated Debt, Borrower will be in compliance with all covenants in this Agreement on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such incurrence.

 

7.5Encumbrance. Create, incur, allow, or suffer any Lien on any of the Collateral other than Permitted Liens.

 

7.6Maintenance of Collateral Accounts. Maintain any Collateral Account unless HSBC has a first priority perfected security interest in such Collateral Account pursuant to a Control Agreement.

 

7.7Distributions; Investments.

 

(a)Pay any dividends or make any distribution or payment or redeem, retire or purchase any capital stock; provided that Borrower may pay dividends or make any distribution or payment or redeem, retire or purchase any capital stock, so long as after giving effect to such repurchase no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and Borrower will be in compliance with all covenants on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such repurchase; provided further that Borrower may only repurchase up to $2,000,000 of its common stock in any fiscal year, and only so long as after giving effect to such repurchase no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and Borrower will be in compliance with all covenants on a pro forma basis after giving effect to such repurchase; or

 

(b)directly or indirectly make any investments, loans or advances, excepting investments, loans and advances to any Subsidiary, suppliers or vendors in the ordinary course of business, and ordinary course of business travel and expense advances, to any Person, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to do so, so long as after giving effect thereto no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

7.8Transactions with Affiliates. Directly or indirectly enter into or permit to exist any material transaction with any Affiliate of Borrower, except for transactions that are in the ordinary course of Borrower’s business, upon fair and reasonable terms that are no less favorable to Borrower than would be obtained in an arm’s length transaction with a non-affiliated Person.

 

7.9Subordinated Debt. (a) Make or permit any payment on any Subordinated Debt, except under the terms of the subordination, intercreditor, or other similar agreement to which such Subordinated Debt is subject, or (b) amend any provision in any document relating to the Subordinated Debt which would increase the amount thereof or adversely affect the subordination thereof to Obligations owed to HSBC.

 

 

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7.10Sanctions; Anti-Bribery.

 

7.10.1Borrower will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the Advances, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person, (i) to fund any activities or business of or with any Person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such funding, is, or whose government is, the subject of Sanctions or (ii) in any other manner that would result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the Advances, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise).

 

7.10.2No part of the proceeds of the Advances will be used, directly or indirectly, for any payments that could constitute a violation of any applicable anti-bribery law.

 

7.11Compliance. Become an “investment company” or a company controlled by an “investment company”, under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or undertake as one of its important activities extending credit to purchase or carry margin stock (as defined in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), or use the proceeds of any Credit Extension to purchase or carry margin stock or to extend credit to purchase or carry margin stock (as defined in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) (as defined in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System); fail to meet the minimum funding requirements of ERISA, permit a Reportable Event or Prohibited Transaction, as defined in ERISA, to occur; fail to comply with the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act or violate any other law or regulation, if the violation could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Borrower’s business, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to do so; withdraw or permit any Subsidiary to withdraw from participation in, permit partial or complete termination of, or permit the occurrence of any other event with respect to, any present pension, profit sharing and deferred compensation plan which could reasonably be expected to result in any liability of Borrower, including any liability to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or its successors or any other governmental agency.

 

8EVENTS OF DEFAULT

 

Any one of the following shall constitute an event of default (an “Event of Default”) under this Agreement:

 

8.1Payment Default. Borrower fails to (a) make any payment of principal or interest on any Credit Extension on its due date, or (b) pay any other Obligations within three (3) Business Days after such Obligations are due and payable (which three (3) Business Day cure period shall not apply to payments due on the Revolving Line Maturity Date). During the cure period, the failure to make or pay any payment specified under clause (a) or (b) hereunder is not an Event of Default (but no Credit Extension will be made during the cure period);

 

8.2Covenant Default.

 

(a)Borrower fails or neglects to perform any obligation in Sections 6.2, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.10, or violates any covenant in Section 7; or

 

(b)Borrower fails or neglects to perform, keep, or observe any other term, provision, condition, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement or any Loan Documents, and as to any default (other than those specified in this Section 8) under such other term, provision, condition, covenant or agreement that can be cured, has failed to cure the default within ten (10) days after the occurrence thereof. Cure periods provided under this section shall not apply, among other things, to financial covenants or any other covenants set forth in clause (a) above;

 

8.3Material Adverse Change. A Material Adverse Change occurs;

 

 

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8.4Attachment; Levy; Restraint on Business.

 

(a)(i) The service of process seeking to attach, by trustee or similar process, any funds of Borrower or of any entity under the control of Borrower (including a Subsidiary) on deposit or otherwise maintained with HSBC or any HSBC Affiliate, or (ii) a notice of lien or levy is filed against any of Borrower’s assets by any government agency, and the same under subclauses (i) and (ii) hereof are not, within sixty (60) days after the occurrence thereof, discharged or stayed (whether through the posting of a bond or otherwise); provided, however, no Credit Extensions shall be made during any sixty (60) day cure period; or

(b)(i) any material portion of Borrower’s assets is attached, seized, levied on, or comes into possession of a trustee or receiver, or (ii) any court order enjoins, restrains, or prevents Borrower from conducting any material part of its business;

 

8.5Insolvency   (a) Borrower is unable to pay its debts (including trade debts) as they become due or otherwise becomes insolvent; (b) Borrower begins an Insolvency Proceeding; or (c) an Insolvency Proceeding is begun against Borrower and not dismissed or stayed within thirty (30) days (but no Credit Extensions shall be made while of any of the conditions described in clause (a) exist and/or until any Insolvency Proceeding is dismissed);

 

8.6Other Agreements. There is, under any agreement to which Borrower or any Guarantor is a party with a third party or parties, (a) any default resulting in a right by such third party or parties, whether or not exercised, to accelerate the maturity of any Indebtedness in an amount individually or in the aggregate in excess of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000); or (b) any default by Borrower or Guarantor, the result of which could have a material adverse effect on Borrower’s or any Guarantor’s business: provided, however, that the Event of Default under this Section 8.6 caused by the occurrence of a default under such other agreement shall be cured or waived for purposes of this Agreement upon HSBC receiving written notice from the party asserting such default of such cure or waiver of the default under such other agreement, if at the time of such cure or waiver under such other agreement (x) HSBC has not declared an Event of Default under this Agreement and/or exercised any rights with respect thereto; (y) any such cure or waiver does not result in an Event of Default under any other provision of this Agreement or any Loan Document; and (z) in connection with any such cure or waiver under such other agreement, the terms of any agreement with such third party are not modified or amended in any manner which could in the good faith judgment of HSBC be materially less advantageous to Borrower or any Guarantor;

 

8.7Judgments. One or more final judgments, orders, or decrees for the payment of money in an amount, individually or in the aggregate, of at least One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) (not covered by independent third-party insurance as to which liability has been accepted by such insurance carrier) shall be rendered against Borrower and the same are not, within sixty (60) days after the entry thereof, discharged or execution thereof stayed or bonded pending appeal, or such judgments are not discharged prior to the expiration of any such stay (provided that no Credit Extensions will be made prior to the discharge, stay, or bonding of such judgment, order, or decree);

8.8Misrepresentations. Borrower or any Person acting for Borrower makes any representation, warranty, or other statement now or later in this Agreement, any Loan Document or in any writing delivered to HSBC or to induce HSBC to enter this Agreement or any Loan Document, and such representation, warranty, or other statement is incorrect in any material respect when made;

 

8.9Subordinated Debt. Any document, instrument, or agreement evidencing any Subordinated Debt shall for any reason be revoked or invalidated or otherwise cease to be in full force and effect, any Person shall be in breach thereof or contest in any manner the validity or enforceability thereof or deny that it has any further liability or obligation thereunder, or the Obligations shall for any reason be subordinated or shall not have the priority contemplated by this Agreement;

 

 

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8.10Guaranty. (a) Any guaranty of any Obligations to HSBC terminates or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect; (b) any Guarantor does not perform any obligation or covenant under any guaranty of the Obligations to HSBC; (c) any circumstance described in Sections 8.3, 8.4, 8.5, 8.7, or 8.8 occurs with respect to any Guarantor, (d) the liquidation, winding up, or termination of existence of any Guarantor; or (e) (i) a material impairment in the perfection or priority of HSBC’s Lien in the collateral provided by Guarantor or in the value of such collateral or (ii) a material adverse change in the general affairs, management, results of operation, condition (financial or otherwise) or the prospect of repayment of the Obligations occurs with respect to any Guarantor; or

8.11HSBC Group. Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries defaults under any agreement (other than any Loan Document) with HSBC or any of its Affiliates.

8.12Governmental Approvals.  Any Governmental Approval shall have been (a) revoked, rescinded, suspended, modified in an adverse manner or not renewed in the ordinary course for a full term or (b) subject to any decision by a Governmental Authority that designates a hearing with respect to any applications for renewal of any of such Governmental Approval or that could result in the Governmental Authority taking any of the actions described in clause (a) above, and such decision or such revocation, rescission, suspension, modification or non-renewal (i) has, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Change, or (ii) adversely affects the legal qualifications of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to hold such Governmental Approval in any applicable jurisdiction and such revocation, rescission, suspension, modification or non-renewal could reasonably be expected to affect the status of or legal qualifications of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to hold any Governmental Approval in any other jurisdiction.

9HSBC’S RIGHTS AND REMEDIES

9.1Rights and Remedies.  While an Event of Default occurs and continues HSBC may, without notice or demand, do any or all of the following:

(a)declare all Obligations immediately due and payable (but if an Event of Default

described in Section 8.5 occurs all Obligations are immediately due and payable without any action by HSBC);

(b)stop advancing money or extending credit for Borrower’s benefit under this

Agreement or under any other agreement between Borrower and HSBC;

(c)[Intentionally Omitted];

(d)settle or adjust disputes and claims directly with Account Debtors for amounts on terms and in any order that HSBC considers advisable, notify any Person owing Borrower money of HSBC’s security interest in such funds, and verify the amount of such account;

(e)make any payments and do any acts it considers necessary or reasonable to protect the Collateral and/or its security interest in the Collateral.  Borrower shall assemble the Collateral if HSBC requests and make it available as HSBC designates.  HSBC may enter premises where the Collateral is located, take and maintain possession of any part of the Collateral, and pay, purchase, contest, or compromise any Lien which appears to be prior or superior to its security interest and pay all expenses incurred. Borrower grants HSBC a license to enter and occupy any of its premises, without charge, to exercise any of HSBC’s rights or remedies;

(f)apply to the Obligations any (i) balances and deposits of Borrower it holds, or (ii) any amount held by HSBC owing to or for the credit or the account of Borrower;

 

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(g)ship, reclaim, recover, store, finish, maintain, repair, prepare for sale, advertise for sale, and sell the Collateral.  HSBC is hereby granted a non-exclusive, royalty-free license or other right to use, without charge, Borrower’s labels, Patents, Copyrights, mask works, rights of use of any name, trade secrets, trade names, Trademarks, and advertising matter, or any similar property as it pertains to the Collateral, in completing production of, advertising for sale, and selling any Collateral and, in connection with HSBC’s exercise of its rights under this Section, Borrower’s rights under all licenses and all franchise agreements inure to HSBC’s benefit;

(h)place a “hold” on any account maintained with HSBC and/or deliver a notice of exclusive control, any entitlement order, or other directions or instructions pursuant to any Control Agreement or similar agreements providing control of any Collateral;

(i)demand and receive possession of Borrower’s Books; and

(j)exercise all rights and remedies available to HSBC under the Loan Documents or at law or equity, including all remedies provided under the Code (including disposal of the Collateral pursuant to the terms thereof).

9.2Power of Attorney.  Borrower hereby irrevocably appoints HSBC as its lawful attorney-in-fact, exercisable upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, to: (a) endorse Borrower’s name on any checks or other forms of payment or security; (b) sign Borrower’s name on any invoice or bill of lading for any Account or drafts against Account Debtors; (c) settle and adjust disputes and claims about the Accounts directly with Account Debtors, for amounts and on terms HSBC determines reasonable; (d) make, settle, and adjust all claims under Borrower’s insurance policies; (e) pay, contest or settle any Lien, charge, encumbrance, security interest, and adverse claim in or to the Collateral, or any judgment based thereon, or otherwise take any action to terminate or discharge the same; and (f) transfer the Collateral into the name of HSBC or a third party as the Code permits. Borrower hereby appoints HSBC as its lawful attorney-in-fact to sign Borrower’s name on any documents necessary to perfect or continue the perfection of HSBC’s security interest in the Collateral regardless of whether an Event of Default has occurred until all Obligations have been satisfied in full and HSBC is under no further obligation to make Credit Extensions hereunder.  HSBC’s foregoing appointment as Borrower’s attorney in fact, and all of HSBC’s rights and powers, coupled with an interest, are irrevocable until all Obligations have been fully repaid and performed and HSBC’s obligation to provide Credit Extensions terminates.

9.3Protective Payments.  If Borrower fails to obtain the insurance called for by Section 6.5 or fails to pay any premium thereon or fails to pay any other amount which Borrower is obligated to pay under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, HSBC may obtain such insurance or make such payment, and all amounts so paid by HSBC are HSBC Expenses and immediately due and payable, bearing interest at the then highest rate applicable to the Obligations, and secured by the Collateral. HSBC will make reasonable efforts to provide Borrower with notice of HSBC obtaining such insurance at the time it is obtained or within a reasonable time thereafter.  No payments by HSBC are deemed an agreement to make similar payments in the future or HSBC’s waiver of any Event of Default.

9.4Application of Payments and Proceeds Upon Default.  If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, HSBC may apply any funds in its possession, whether from Borrower account balances, payments, proceeds realized as the result of any collection of Accounts or other disposition of the Collateral, or otherwise, to the Obligations in such order as HSBC shall determine in its sole discretion.  Any surplus shall be paid to Borrower or other Persons legally entitled thereto; Borrower shall remain liable to HSBC for any deficiency.  If HSBC, in its good faith business judgment, directly or indirectly enters into a deferred payment or other credit transaction with any purchaser at any sale of Collateral, HSBC shall have the option, exercisable at any time, of either reducing the Obligations by the principal amount of the purchase price or deferring the reduction of the Obligations until the actual receipt by HSBC of cash therefor.

 

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9.5HSBC’s Liability for Collateral.  So long as HSBC complies with reasonable banking practices regarding the safekeeping of the Collateral in the possession or under the control of HSBC, HSBC shall not be liable or responsible for: (a) the safekeeping of the Collateral; (b) any loss or damage to the Collateral; (c) any diminution in the value of the Collateral; or (d) any act or default of any carrier, warehouseman, bailee, or other Person.  Borrower bears all risk of loss, damage or destruction of the Collateral.

9.6No Waiver; Remedies Cumulative.  HSBC’s failure, at any time or times, to require strict performance by Borrower of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall not waive, affect, or diminish any right of HSBC thereafter to demand strict performance and compliance herewith or therewith.  No waiver hereunder shall be effective unless signed by the party granting the waiver and then is only effective for the specific instance and purpose for which it is given.  HSBC’s rights and remedies under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are cumulative.  HSBC has all rights and remedies provided under the Code, by law, or in equity.  HSBC’s exercise of one right or remedy is not an election and shall not preclude HSBC from exercising any other remedy under this Agreement or other remedy available at law or in equity, and HSBC’s waiver of any Event of Default is not a continuing waiver.  HSBC’s delay in exercising any remedy is not a waiver, election, or acquiescence.

9.7Demand Waiver.  Borrower waives demand, notice of default or dishonor, notice of payment and nonpayment, notice of any default, nonpayment at maturity, release, compromise, settlement, extension, or renewal of accounts, documents, instruments, chattel paper, and guarantees held by HSBC on which Borrower is liable.

10NOTICES

All notices, consents, requests, approvals, demands, or other communication by any party to this Agreement or any other Loan Document must be in writing and shall be deemed to have been validly served, given, or delivered: (a) upon the earlier of actual receipt and three (3) Business Days after deposit in the U.S. mail, first class, registered or certified mail return receipt requested, with proper postage prepaid; (b) upon transmission, when sent by electronic mail or facsimile transmission; (c) one (1) Business Day after deposit with a reputable overnight courier with all charges prepaid; or (d) when delivered, if hand-delivered by messenger, all of which shall be addressed to the party to be notified and sent to the address, facsimile number, or email address indicated below.  HSBC or Borrower may change its mailing or electronic mail address or facsimile number by giving the other party written notice thereof in accordance with the terms of this Section 10.

 

		
	
If to Borrower:
	
Acme United Corporation

55 Walls1 Waterview Drive, Suite 200

FairfieldShelton, Connecticut 0682406484

Attn:  Chief Financial Officer

Fax:  (203) 254-6521

Email:  PDriscoll@AcmeUnited.com

	
With a copy to:
	
Brody Wilkinson PC

2507 Post Road

Southport, Connecticut  06890

Attn:  James RiceJustin L. Galletti

Fax: (203) 319-7112319-7135

Email:  jrice@brodywilk.com jgalletti@brodywilk.com

	
If to HSBC:
	
HSBC Bank USA, National Association

452 Fifth Avenue

New York, New York

Attn: Relationship Manager - Acme United

Fax:  (212) 525-2555

Email:  Peter.I.Sanchez@us.hsbc.comdavid.m.nackley@us.hsbc.com

 

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11CHOICE OF LAW, VENUE, JURY TRIAL WAIVER, AND JUDICIAL REFERENCE

This Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applied to contracts to be performed wholly within the State of New York.  Any judicial proceeding brought by HSBC against Borrower with respect to any of the Obligations, this Agreement or any other Loan Document or related agreement may be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction in the County of New York, State of New York, United States of America, and, by execution and delivery of this Agreement, Borrower accepts for itself and in connection with its properties, generally and unconditionally, the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts in connection with any such judicial proceeding brought by HSBC against Borrower, and irrevocably agrees to be bound by any judgment rendered thereby in connection with this Agreement.  Borrower hereby waives personal service of any and all process upon it and consents that all such service of process may be made by registered mail (return receipt requested) directed to Borrower at its address set forth in Section 10 and service so made shall be deemed completed five (5) days after the same shall have been so deposited in the mails of the United States of America.  Nothing herein shall affect the right to serve process in any manner permitted by law or shall limit the right of HSBC to bring proceedings against Borrower in the courts of any other jurisdiction.  Borrower waives any objection to jurisdiction and venue of any action instituted hereunder and shall not assert any defense based on lack of jurisdiction or venue or based upon forum non conveniens.  Any judicial proceeding by Borrower against HSBC involving, directly or indirectly, any matter or claim in any way arising out of, related to or connected with this Agreement or any related agreement, shall be brought only in a federal or state court located in the County of New York, State of New York.

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, BORROWER AND HSBC EACH WAIVE THEIR RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR BASED UPON THIS AGREEMENT, THE LOAN DOCUMENTS OR ANY CONTEMPLATED TRANSACTION, INCLUDING CONTRACT, TORT, BREACH OF DUTY AND ALL OTHER CLAIMS. THIS WAIVER IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR BOTH PARTIES TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT.  EACH PARTY HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS COUNSEL.

12GENERAL PROVISIONS

12.1Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement binds and is for the benefit of the successors and permitted assigns of each party.  Borrower may not assign this Agreement or any rights or obligations under it without HSBC’s prior written consent (which may be granted or withheld in HSBC’s discretion).  HSBC has the right, without the consent of or notice to Borrower, to sell, transfer, assign, negotiate, or grant participation in all or any part of, or any interest in, HSBC’s obligations, rights, and benefits under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

12.2Indemnification.

(a)Borrower shall indemnify HSBC and its officers, directors, Affiliates, employees and agents from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses and disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) which may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against HSBC in any litigation, proceeding or investigation instituted or conducted by any governmental agency or instrumentality or any other Person with respect to any aspect of, or any transaction contemplated by, or referred to in, or any matter related to, this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, whether or not HSBC is a party thereto, except to the extent that any of the foregoing is caused by the gross  negligence or willful 

 

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misconduct of the party being indemnified (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable judgment).

(b)Borrower shall indemnify HSBC and its officers, directors, Affiliates, employees and agents from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses and disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) which may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against HSBC (i) under or on account of Borrower’s violation of any applicable Environmental Laws, including, without limitation, the assertion of any Lien thereunder and/or (ii) with respect to any discharge of Hazardous Materials, the presence of any Hazardous Materials affecting real property owned or leased by Borrower, whether or not the same originates or emerges from such real property or any contiguous real estate.  Borrower’s obligations under this sub-section shall arise upon the discovery of the presence of any Hazardous Material at any real property owned or leased by Borrower, whether or not any federal, state, or local environmental agency has taken or threatened any action in connection with the presence of any Hazardous Materials.

(c)Borrower shall indemnify HSBC and hold HSBC harmless from and against any and all losses or expenses that HSBC may sustain or incur as a consequence of any prepayment, conversion of or any default by Borrower in the payment of the principal of or interest on any LIBORSOFR Rate Advance or failure by Borrower to complete a borrowing of, a prepayment of or conversion of or to a LIBORSOFR Rate Advance after notice thereof has been given, including, but not limited to, any interest payable by HSBC to lenders of funds obtained by it in order to make or maintain its LIBORSOFR Rate Advances hereunder.  A certificate as to any additional amounts payable pursuant to the foregoing sentence submitted by HSBC to Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

12.3Time of Essence.  Time is of the essence for the performance of all Obligations in this Agreement.

12.4Severability of Provisions.  Each provision of this Agreement is severable from every other provision in determining the enforceability of any provision.

12.5Correction of Loan Documents. HSBC may correct patent errors and fill in any blanks in the Loan Documents consistent with the agreement of the parties so long as HSBC provides Borrower with written notice of such correction and allows Borrower at least ten (10) days to object to such correction. In the event of such objection, such correction shall not be made except by an amendment signed by both HSBC and Borrower.

12.6Amendments in Writing; Waiver; Integration. No purported amendment or modification of any Loan Document, or waiver, discharge or termination of any obligation under any Loan Document, shall be enforceable or admissible unless, and only to the extent, expressly set forth in a writing signed by the party against which enforcement or admission is sought. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no oral promise or statement, nor any action, inaction, delay, failure to require performance or course of conduct shall operate as, or evidence, an amendment, supplement or waiver or have any other effect on any Loan Document. Any waiver granted shall be limited to the specific circumstance expressly described in it, and shall not apply to any subsequent or other circumstance, whether similar or dissimilar, or give rise to, or evidence, any obligation or commitment to grant any further waiver. The Loan Documents represent the entire agreement about this subject matter and supersede prior negotiations or agreements. All prior agreements, understandings, representations, warranties, and negotiations between the parties about the subject matter of the Loan Documents merge into the Loan Documents.

12.7Maximum Charges. In no event whatsoever shall interest and other charges charged hereunder exceed the highest rate permissible under law. In the event interest and other charges as computed 

 

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hereunder would otherwise exceed the highest rate permitted under law, such excess amount shall be first applied to any unpaid principal balance owed by Borrower, and if the then remaining excess amount is greater than the previously unpaid principal balance, HSBC shall promptly refund such excess amount to Borrower and the provisions hereof shall be deemed amended to provide for such permissible rate.

12.8Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties on separate counterparts, each of which, when executed and delivered, is an original, and all taken together, constitute one Agreement.

12.9Survival. All covenants, representations and warranties made in this Agreement continue in full force until this Agreement has terminated pursuant to its terms and all Obligations (other than inchoate indemnity obligations and any other obligations which, by their terms, are to survive the termination of this Agreement) have been paid in full and satisfied. The obligation of Borrower in Section 12.2 to indemnify HSBC shall survive until the statute of limitations with respect to such claim or cause of action shall have run.

12.10Confidentiality/Sharing of Information.

(a)HSBC shall hold all non-public information obtained by Borrower pursuant to the requirements of this Agreement in accordance with HSBC’s customary procedures for handling confidential information of this nature; provided, however, HSBC may disclose such confidential information (i) to its examiners, affiliates, outside auditors, counsel and other professional advisors, (ii) to any prospective transferees, and (iii) as required or requested by any Governmental Authority or pursuant to legal process or applicable law; provided, further that (x) unless specifically prohibited by applicable law or court order, HSBC shall use reasonable efforts prior to disclosure thereof, to notify Borrower of the applicable request for disclosure of such non-public information (A) by a Governmental Authority (other than any such request in connection with an examination of the financial condition of HSBC by such Governmental Authority) or (B) pursuant to legal process and (y) in no event shall HSBC be obligated to return any materials furnished by Borrower other than those documents and instruments in possession of HSBC in order to perfect its Lien on the Collateral once the Obligations have been paid in full and this Agreement has been terminated.

(b)Borrower acknowledges that from time to time financial advisory, investment banking and other services may be offered or provided to Borrower or one or more of its Affiliates (in connection with this Agreement or otherwise) by HSBC or by one or more Subsidiaries or Affiliates of HSBC and Borrower hereby authorizes HSBC, following HSBC’s receipt of Borrower’s prior written consent, to share any information delivered to HSBC by Borrower and its Subsidiaries pursuant to this Agreement, or in connection with the decision of HSBC to enter into this Agreement, to any such Subsidiary or Affiliate of HSBC, it being understood that any such Subsidiary or Affiliate of any Lender receiving such information shall be bound by the provision of this Section 12.10. Such authorization shall survive the repayment of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement

12.11Attorneys’ Fees, Costs and Expenses. All costs and expenses may be charged to the Designated Deposit Account and shall be part of the Obligations, including, without limitation: (a) reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements incurred by HSBC, (i) in all efforts made to enforce payment of any Obligation or effect collection of any Collateral, or (ii) in connection with the entering into, modification, amendment and administration of this Agreement or any consents or waivers hereunder and all related agreements, documents and instruments, or (iii) in instituting, maintaining, preserving, enforcing and foreclosing on HSBC’s security interest in or Lien on any of the Collateral, whether through judicial proceedings or otherwise, or (iv) in defending or prosecuting any actions or proceedings arising out of or relating to HSBC’s transactions with Borrower, or (v) in connection with any advice given to HSBC with respect to its rights and obligations under this Agreement and all related agreements, or (vi) in connection with the enforcement of this Agreement or any consent or waivers hereunder and all related agreements, documents and instruments; and (b) reasonable fees and disbursements incurred by HSBC in connection with 

 

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any appraisals of Inventory or other Collateral, field examinations, collateral analysis or monitoring or other business analysis conducted by outside Persons in connection with this Agreement and all related agreements.

12.12Electronic Execution of Documents. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature” and words of like import in any Loan Document shall be deemed to include electronic signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping systems, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for in any applicable law, including, without limitation, any state law based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act. 

12.13Captions. The headings used in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.

12.14Construction of Agreement. The parties mutually acknowledge that they and their attorneys have participated in the preparation and negotiation of this Agreement. In cases of uncertainty this Agreement shall be construed without regard to which of the parties caused the uncertainty to exist.

 

12.15Relationship. The relationship of the parties to this Agreement is determined solely by the provisions of this Agreement. The parties do not intend to create any agency, partnership, joint venture, trust, fiduciary or other relationship with duties or incidents different from those of parties to an arm’s-length contract.

 

12.16Third Parties. Nothing in this Agreement, whether express or implied, is intended to:

(a) confer any benefits, rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement on any persons other than the express parties to it and their respective permitted successors and assigns; (b) relieve or discharge the obligation or liability of any person not an express party to this Agreement; or (c) give any person not an express party to this Agreement any right of subrogation or action against any party to this Agreement.

 

12.17[Intentionally Omitted].

 

12.18PATRIOT Act Notice. HSBC hereby notifies Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the PATRIOT Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies Borrower, which information includes the names and addresses of Borrower and other information that will allow HSBC to identify Borrower in accordance with the PATRIOT Act. Promptly following any request therefor, the Borrower will provide the Lender with such information and documentation reasonably requested by Lender for purpose of compliance with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money-laundering rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the PATRIOT ACT and the Beneficial Ownership Regulation.

 

12.19Injunctive Relief. Borrower recognizes that, in the event Borrower fails to perform, observe or discharge any of its obligations or liabilities under this Agreement, any remedy at law may prove to be inadequate relief to Lenders; therefore, HSBC, if HSBC so requests, shall be entitled to temporary and permanent injunctive relief in any such case without the necessity of proving that actual damages are not an adequate remedy.

 

12.20Consequential Damages. None of HSBC nor any agent or attorney for any of them, shall be liable to Borrower for indirect, punitive, exemplary, incidental, special or consequential damages arising from any breach of contract, tort or other wrong relating to the establishment, administration or collection of the Obligations.

 

[Signature page follows.]

 

 

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the Effective Date.

 

	
BORROWER:

	
 

	
ACME UNITED CORPORATION

	
By
	
 

	
Name: 
	
Walter C. Johnsen

	
Title: 
	
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

	
HSBC:
	
 

 

		
	
HSBC Bank USA, National Association

	
 

	
By
	
 

	
Name:
	
 

	
Title:
	
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

THIRDFOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED 

SECURED REVOLVING NOTE

 

$55,000,000$65,000,000

 

Maturity Date: May 631, 20192026

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, ACME UNITED CORPORATION, a Connecticut corporation (“Borrower”) hereby promises to pay to the order of HSBC Bank, National Association or the holder (the “Lender”) of this Secured Revolving Note (this “Revolving Note”) at 452 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York or such other place of payment as the holder of this Revolving Note may specify from time to time in writing, in lawful money of the United States of America, the principal amount of Fifty Sixty-Five Million Dollars ($55,000,00065,000,000) or such other principal amount as Lender has advanced to Borrower, together with interest at a rate as specified in the Loan Agreement (defined hereafter).

 

This Revolving Note is the Revolving Note referred to in, and is executed and delivered in connection with, that certain Loan and Security Agreement dated April 5, 2012, by and between Borrower and Lender (as the same may from time to time be amended, modified or supplemented in accordance with its terms, the “Loan Agreement”), and is entitled to the benefit and security of the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents (as defined in the Loan Agreement), to which reference is made for a statement of all of the terms and conditions thereof. All payments shall be made in accordance with the Loan Agreement. All terms defined in the Loan Agreement shall have the same definitions when used herein, unless otherwise defined herein. An Event of Default under the Loan Agreement shall constitute a default under this Revolving Note.

 

Borrower waives presentment and demand for payment, notice of dishonor, protest and notice of protest under the UCC or any applicable law. Borrower agrees to make all payments under this Revolving Note without setoff, recoupment or deduction and regardless of any counterclaim or defense. This Revolving Note has been negotiated and delivered to Lender and is payable in the State of New York. This Revolving Note shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, excluding any conflicts of law rules or principles that would cause the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction.

 

This Revolving Note amends and restates in its entirety and is given in substitution for (but not in satisfaction of) that certain Third Amended and Restated Secured Revolving executed by Borrower in favor of Lender in the original principal amount of $55,000,000.

 

		
	
BORROWER FOR ITSELF
	
ACME UNITED CORPORATION

	
 
	
 

	
 
	
By:

	
 
	
Title:

 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

COLLATERAL DESCRIPTION ATTACHMENT TO LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

All personal property of Borrower (herein referred to as “Borrower” or “Debtor”) whether presently existing or hereafter created or acquired, and wherever located, including, but not limited to:

 

	
 
	
•
	
all accounts (including health-care-insurance receivables), chattel paper (including tangible and electronic chattel paper), deposit accounts, documents (including negotiable documents), equipment (including all accessions and additions thereto), financial assets, general intangibles (excluding patents, trademarks, copyrights, but including goodwill, payment intangibles and software), goods (including fixtures), instruments (including promissory notes), inventory (including all goods held for sale or lease or to be furnished under a contract of service, and including returns and repossessions), investment property (including securities and securities entitlements), letter of credit rights, money, and all of Debtor’s books and records with respect to any of the foregoing, and the computers and equipment containing said books and records;

 

	
 
	
•
	
any and all cash proceeds and/or noncash proceeds of any of the foregoing, including, without limitation, insurance proceeds, and all supporting obligations and the security therefor or for any right to payment. All terms above have the meanings given to them in the New York Uniform Commercial Code, as amended or supplemented from time to time, including revised Division 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code-Secured Transactions.

 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT C

COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

The undersigned, the [Chief Financial Officer] [Chief Executive Officer] of ACME UNITED CORPORATION, a Connecticut corporation (the “Borrower”), gives this certificate to HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (the “HSBC”), in accordance with the requirements of Sections 6.2(d) of that certain Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of April , 2012 (including all annexes, exhibits or schedules thereto, and as from time to time amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Loan Agreement”), by and between Acme United Corporation, a Connecticut corporation (“Borrower”) and HSBC Bank USA, National Association (“HSBC”). Capitalized terms used herein without definition are so used as defined in the Loan Agreement.

 

1.No Default or Event of Default has occurred or is continuing, except for such conditions or events listed on Schedule 1 attached hereto, specifying the nature and status and period of existence thereof and what action the Borrower has taken, is taking, or proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

2.Borrower is in compliance in all material respects with all representations, warranties, and covenants set forth in the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents, except as set forth on Schedule 2 attached hereto. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Borrower is in compliance with the financial covenants contained in Section 6.7 of the Loan Agreement as demonstrated by the calculations set forth on Schedule 3 hereof.

 

		
	
ACME UNITED CORPORATION

	
 
	
 

	
 
	
 

	
By:
	
 

	
 
	
Name:

	
 
	
Title:

 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT D

NOTICE OF BORROWING

Reference is made to that certain Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of April 5, 2012 (including all annexes, exhibits or schedules thereto, and as from time to time amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Loan Agreement”), by and between Acme United Corporation, a Connecticut corporation (“Borrower”) and HSBC Bank USA, National Association (“HSBC”). Capitalized terms used herein without definition are so used as defined in the Loan Agreement.

Pursuant to Section 3.2 of the Loan Agreement, please take notice that Borrower requests a Revolving Loan as follows:

Funding Date of Proposed Advance:                  , 200        

Amount of Advance: $                     

The proposed Advance will be [Base Rate Advance][an LIBORSOFR Rate Advance with an Interest Period of            ].

To induce HSBC to make the requested Advance, Borrower hereby represents and warrants that all of the conditions contained in Section 3.2 of the Loan Agreement have been satisfied on and as of the date hereof, and will continue to be satisfied on and as of the Funding Date of the requested Advance, before and after giving effect thereto.

 

		
	
ACME UNITED CORPORATION

	
 

	
By:
	
 

	
Name:
	
 

	
Title:
	
 

 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT E

NOTICE OF CONVERSION

Reference is made to that certain Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of April 5, 2012 (including all annexes, exhibits or schedules thereto, and as from time to time amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Loan Agreement”), by and between Acme United Corporation, a Connecticut corporation (“Borrower”) and HSBC Bank USA, National Association (“HSBC”). Capitalized terms used herein without definition are so used as defined in the Loan Agreement.

Borrower hereby gives irrevocable notice, pursuant to Section 3.5 of the Loan Agreement, of its request to:

(a)on [ date ] convert $[________] of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Advances, bearing interest at the [Base][LIBORAdjusted Term SOF] Rate, into a(n) [Base Rate][LIBORSOFR Rate] Advance [and, in the case of a LIBORSOFR Rate Advance, having an Interest Period of [one][three][six] month(s)];

[(b)on [ date ] continue $[________] of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the LIBORSOFR Rate Advance, bearing interest at the LIBOR RateAdjusted Term SOFR Rate, as a LIBORSOFR Rate RateAdvance having an Interest Period of [one][three][six] month(s)].

Borrower hereby represents and warrants that all of the conditions contained in Section 3.2 of the Loan Agreement have been satisfied on and as of the date hereof, and will continue to be satisfied on and as of the date of the conversion/continuation requested hereby, before and after giving effect thereto.

 

		
	
ACME UNITED CORPORATION

	
 

	
By:
	
 

	
Name:
	
 

	
Title:
	
 

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule 7.4

Existing Indebtedness

None

 

 

 

 

Schedule 7.5

Existing Liens

None

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule 1

HSBC/Acme United

Closing Document Index

 

	
Document:

	
1.      Eighth Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement and Annex A thereto

	
2.       Fourth Amended and Restated Secured Revolving Note

	
3.       UCC, tax lien and judgment bring down searches against Borrower

	
4.       Officer’s Certificate of Borrower with Incumbency Certificate attaching:

	
(a)       Certified Articles of Incorporation

	
(b)       By-Laws

	
(c)       Authorizing Resolutions

	
(d)       Good Standing Certificate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

214516/215731 - 7621221.1

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