Document:

a50659780ex10_2.htm

Exhibit 10.2

 

CONTINUING GUARANTY

TO:  WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

DATED:  as of June 24, 2013

1.                         GUARANTY; DEFINITIONS.  In consideration of any credit or other financial accommodation heretofore, now or hereafter extended or made to THE INTERNATIONAL METALS RECLAMATION COMPANY, INC. ("Borrower") by WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ("Bank"), and for other valuable consideration, the undersigned, HORSEHEAD HOLDING CORP. ("Guarantor"), unconditionally guarantees and promises to pay to Bank, or order, on demand in lawful money of the United States of America and in immediately available funds, any and all Indebtedness of any of the Borrower to Bank.  The term "Indebtedness" is used herein in its most comprehensive sense and includes any and all advances, debts, obligations and liabilities of Borrower, heretofore, now or hereafter made, incurred or created, whether voluntary or involuntary and however arising, whether due or not due, absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, determined or undetermined, including under any swap, derivative, foreign exchange, hedge, deposit, treasury management or other similar transaction or arrangement, and whether the Borrower may be liable individually or jointly with others, or whether recovery upon such Indebtedness may be or hereafter becomes unenforceable.  This Guaranty is a guaranty of payment and not collection.  Guarantor agrees that this Guaranty may be enforced by Bank without the necessity at any time of resorting to or exhausting any other security or collateral now or thereafter securing the Indebtedness or otherwise, and Guarantor hereby waives the right to require Bank to proceed against any other guarantors or to require the Bank to pursue any other remedy or enforce any other right.  Capitalized terms used in this Continuing Guaranty which are defined in that certain Credit Agreement of even date herewith between the Bank and the Borrower (the "Credit Agreement") have the meanings assigned to them in the Credit Agreement unless otherwise expressly defined in this Continuing Guaranty.

2.                         MAXIMUM LIABILITY; SUCCESSIVE TRANSACTIONS; REVOCATION; OBLIGATION UNDER OTHER GUARANTIES.  This is a continuing guaranty and all rights, powers and remedies hereunder shall apply to all past, present and future Indebtedness of Borrower to Bank, including that arising under successive transactions which shall either continue the Indebtedness, increase or decrease it, or from time to time create new Indebtedness after all or any prior Indebtedness has been satisfied, and notwithstanding the death, incapacity, dissolution, liquidation or bankruptcy of Borrower or Guarantor or any other event or proceeding affecting Borrower or Guarantor.  This Guaranty shall not apply to any new Indebtedness created after actual receipt by Bank of written notice of its revocation as to such new Indebtedness; provided, however, that loans or advances made by Bank to the Borrower after revocation under commitments existing prior to receipt by Bank of such revocation, and extensions, renewals or modifications, of any kind, of Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower or committed by Bank prior to receipt by Bank of such revocation, shall not be considered new Indebtedness.  Any such notice must be sent to Bank by registered U.S. mail, postage prepaid, addressed to its office at Four Gateway Center, 444 Liberty Avenue, Suite 1400, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, or at such other address as Bank shall from time to time designate.  Any payment by Guarantor shall not reduce Guarantor's maximum obligation hereunder unless written notice to that effect is actually received by Bank at or prior to the time of such payment.  The obligations of Guarantor hereunder shall be in addition to any obligations of Guarantor under any other guaranties of any liabilities or obligations of the Borrower or any other persons heretofore or hereafter given to Bank unless said other guaranties are expressly modified or revoked in writing; and this Guaranty shall not, unless expressly herein provided, affect or invalidate any such other guaranties.

 

  

  

  

        3.       OBLIGATIONS JOINT AND SEVERAL; SEPARATE ACTIONS; WAIVER OF STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS; REINSTATEMENT OF LIABILITY.  The obligations hereunder are joint and several and independent of the obligations of Borrower, and a separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against Guarantor whether action is brought against the Borrower or any other person, or whether the Borrower or any other person is joined in any such action or actions.  Guarantor acknowledges that this Guaranty is absolute and unconditional, there are no conditions precedent to the effectiveness of this Guaranty, and this Guaranty is in full force and effect and is binding on Guarantor as of the date written below, regardless of whether Bank obtains collateral or any guaranties from others or takes any other action contemplated by Guarantor.  To the extent permitted by applicable law, Guarantor waives the benefit of any statute of limitations affecting Guarantor's liability hereunder or the enforcement thereof, and Guarantor agrees that any payment of any Indebtedness or other act which shall toll any statute of limitations applicable thereto shall similarly operate to toll such statute of limitations applicable to Guarantor's liability hereunder.  The liability of Guarantor hereunder shall be reinstated and revived and the rights of Bank shall continue if and to the extent for any reason any amount at any time paid on account of any Indebtedness guaranteed hereby is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by Bank, whether as a result of any proceedings in bankruptcy or reorganization or otherwise, all as though such amount had not been paid.  The determination as to whether any amount so paid must be rescinded or restored shall be made by Bank in its sole discretion; provided however, that if Bank chooses to contest any such matter at the request of Guarantor, Guarantor agrees to indemnify and hold Bank harmless from and against all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, expended or incurred by Bank in connection therewith, including without limitation, in any litigation with respect thereto.

        4.       AUTHORIZATIONS TO BANK.  Guarantor authorizes Bank either before or after revocation hereof, without notice to or demand on Guarantor, and without affecting Guarantor's liability hereunder, from time to time to:  (a) alter, compromise, renew, extend, accelerate or otherwise change the time for payment of, or otherwise change the terms of the Indebtedness or any portion thereof, including increase or decrease of the rate of interest thereon; (b) take and hold security of the Borrower and/or security granted by any other person or entity for the payment of this Guaranty or the Indebtedness or any portion thereof, and exchange, enforce, waive, subordinate or release any such security; (c) apply any security and direct the order or manner of sale thereof, including without limitation, a non-judicial sale permitted by the terms of the controlling security agreement, mortgage or deed of trust, as Bank in its discretion may determine; (d) release or substitute any one or more of the endorsers or any other guarantors of the Indebtedness (if any), or any portion thereof, or any other party thereto; and (e) apply payments received by Bank from the Borrower to any Indebtedness of the Borrower to Bank, in such order as Bank shall determine in its sole discretion, whether or not such Indebtedness is covered by this Guaranty, and Guarantor hereby waives any provision of law regarding application of payments which specifies otherwise.  Bank may without notice assign this Guaranty in whole or in part.  Upon Bank's request, Guarantor agrees to provide to Bank copies of Guarantor's financial statements.

        5.       REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS.  Guarantor represents, warrants and covenants to Bank that: (a) this Guaranty is executed at Borrower' request; (b) Guarantor shall not, without Bank’s prior written consent, sell, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or a substantial or material part of Guarantor’s assets, other than in the ordinary course of the Guarantor’s business, if such sale, assignment, transfer and/or disposal could be reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect upon the Guarantor’s ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement; (c) Bank has made no representation to Guarantor as to the creditworthiness of the Borrower; and (d) Guarantor has established adequate means of obtaining from the Borrower on a continuing basis financial and other information pertaining to Borrower' financial condition.  Guarantor agrees to keep itself adequately informed from such means of any facts, events or circumstances which might in any way affect Guarantor’s risks hereunder, and Guarantor further agrees that Bank shall have no obligation to disclose to Guarantor any information or material about the Borrower which is acquired by Bank in any manner.

 

  

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        6.       GUARANTOR'S WAIVERS.

(a)           Guarantor waives any right to require Bank to: (i) proceed against the Borrower or any other person; (ii) marshal assets or proceed against or exhaust any security held from the Borrower or any other person; (iii) give notice of the terms, time and place of any public or private sale or other disposition of personal property security held from the Borrower or any other person; (iv) take any other action or pursue any other remedy in Bank's power; or (v) make any presentment or demand for performance, or give any notice of nonperformance, protest, notice of protest or notice of dishonor hereunder or in connection with any obligations or evidences of indebtedness held by Bank as security for or which constitute in whole or in part the Indebtedness guaranteed hereunder, or in connection with the creation of new or additional Indebtedness.

(b)           Guarantor waives any defense to its obligations hereunder based upon or arising by reason of: (i) any disability or other defense of the Borrower or any other person; (ii) the cessation or limitation from any cause whatsoever, other than payment in full, of the Indebtedness of the Borrower or any other person; (iii) any lack of authority of any officer, director, partner, agent or any other person acting or purporting to act on behalf of the Borrower which is a corporation, partnership or other type of entity, or any defect in the formation of the Borrower; (iv) the application by the Borrower of the proceeds of any Indebtedness for purposes other than the purposes represented by Borrower to, or intended or understood by, Bank or Guarantor; (v) any act or omission by Bank which directly or indirectly results in or aids the discharge of the Borrower or any portion of the Indebtedness by operation of law or otherwise, or which in any way impairs or suspends any rights or remedies of Bank against  the Borrower; (vi) any impairment of the value of any interest in any security for the Indebtedness or any portion thereof, including without limitation, the failure to obtain or maintain perfection or recordation of any interest in any such security, the release of any such security without substitution, and/or the failure to preserve the value of, or to comply with applicable law in disposing of, any such security; (vii) any modification of the Indebtedness, in any form whatsoever, including any modification made after revocation hereof to any Indebtedness incurred prior to such revocation, and including without limitation the renewal, extension, acceleration or other change in time for payment of, or other change in the terms of, the Indebtedness or any portion thereof, including increase or decrease of the rate of interest thereon; or (viii) any requirement that Bank give any notice of acceptance of this Guaranty.  Until all Indebtedness shall have been paid in full, Guarantor shall have no right of subrogation, and Guarantor waives any right to enforce any remedy which Bank now has or may hereafter have against the Borrower or any other person, and waives any benefit of, or any right to participate in, any security now or hereafter held by Bank.  Guarantor further waives all rights and defenses Guarantor may have arising out of (A) any election of remedies by Bank, even though that election of remedies, such as a non-judicial foreclosure with respect to any security for any portion of the Indebtedness, destroys Guarantor's rights of subrogation or Guarantor's rights to proceed against the Borrower for reimbursement, or (B) any loss of rights Guarantor may suffer by reason of any rights, powers or remedies of the Borrower in connection with any anti-deficiency laws or any other laws limiting, qualifying or discharging Borrower' Indebtedness, whether by operation of law or otherwise, including any rights Guarantor may have to a fair market value hearing to determine the size of a deficiency and any credit with respect to any deficiency following any foreclosure sale or other disposition of any real property security for any portion of the Indebtedness.

 

  

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        7.       BANK'S RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO GUARANTOR'S PROPERTY IN BANK'S POSSESSION.  In addition to all liens upon and rights of setoff against the monies, securities or other property of Guarantor given to Bank by law, Bank shall have a lien upon and, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, and after written notice to the Guarantor of such Event of Default and after a five (5) day period where the Guarantor and Bank shall discuss such Event of Default, Bank shall have a right of setoff against all monies, securities and other property of Guarantor now or hereafter in the possession of or on deposit with Bank, whether held in a general or special account or deposit or for safekeeping or otherwise, and every such lien and right of setoff may be exercised without demand upon or notice to Guarantor, provided, however, that after such written notice, the Bank shall have the right to place a hold on, and not permit the Guarantor, and Guarantor agrees that it shall not be permitted, to transfer and/or withdraw, any such monies, securities or other property of Guarantor.  No lien or right of setoff shall be deemed to have been waived by any act or conduct on the part of Bank, or by any neglect to exercise such right of setoff or to enforce such lien, or by any delay in so doing, and every right of setoff and lien shall continue in full force and effect until such right of setoff or lien is specifically waived or released by Bank in writing.

        8.       SUBORDINATION.  Any Indebtedness of the Borrower now or hereafter held by Guarantor is hereby subordinated to the Indebtedness of Borrower to Bank.  Such Indebtedness of Borrower to Guarantor is assigned to Bank as security for this Guaranty and the Indebtedness and, if Bank requests, shall be collected and received by Guarantor as trustee for Bank and paid over to Bank on account of the Indebtedness of Borrower to Bank but without reducing or affecting in any manner the liability of Guarantor under the other provisions of this Guaranty.  Any notes or other written instruments now or hereafter evidencing such Indebtedness of the Borrower to Guarantor shall be marked with a legend that the same is subject to this Guaranty and, if Bank so requests, shall be delivered to Bank.  Bank is hereby authorized in the name of Guarantor from time to time to file financing statements and continuation statements and execute such other documents and take such other action as Bank deems necessary or appropriate to perfect, preserve and enforce its rights hereunder.  The foregoing notwithstanding, the provisions of this Section 8 are subject to the INMETCO Intercreditor Agreement.

        9.       REMEDIES; NO WAIVER.  All rights, powers and remedies of Bank hereunder are cumulative.  No delay, failure or discontinuance of Bank in exercising any right, power or remedy hereunder shall affect or operate as a waiver of such right, power or remedy; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or remedy preclude, waive or otherwise affect any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy.  Any waiver, permit, consent or approval of any kind by Bank of any breach of this Guaranty, or any such waiver of any provisions or conditions hereof, must be in writing and shall be effective only to the extent set forth in writing.

 

  

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        10.                      COSTS, EXPENSES AND ATTORNEYS' FEES.  Guarantor shall pay to Bank immediately upon demand the full amount of all payments, advances, charges, costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees (to include outside counsel fees and all allocated costs of Bank's in-house counsel), expended or incurred by Bank in connection with the enforcement of any of Bank's rights, powers or remedies and/or the collection of any amounts which become due to Bank under this Guaranty, and the prosecution or defense of any action in any way related to this Guaranty, whether incurred at the trial or appellate level, in an arbitration proceeding or otherwise, and including any of the foregoing incurred in connection with any bankruptcy proceeding (including without limitation, any adversary proceeding, contested matter or motion brought by Bank or any other person) relating to Guarantor or any other person or entity.  All of the foregoing shall be paid by Guarantor with interest from the date of demand until paid in full at a rate per annum equal to the default rate of interest set forth in the Note.

        11.                      SUCCESSORS; ASSIGNMENT.  This Guaranty shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors, administrators, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the parties; provided however, that Guarantor may not assign or transfer any of its interests or rights hereunder without Bank's prior written consent.  Guarantor acknowledges that Bank has the right to sell, assign, transfer, negotiate or grant participations in all or any part of, or any interest in, any Indebtedness of Borrower to Bank and any obligations with respect thereto, including this Guaranty.  In connection therewith, Bank may disclose all documents and information which Bank now has or hereafter acquires relating to Guarantor and/or this Guaranty, whether furnished by Borrower, Guarantor or otherwise.  Guarantor further agrees that Bank may disclose such documents and information to Borrower.

        12.                      AMENDMENT.  This Guaranty may be amended or modified only in writing signed by Bank and Guarantor.

        13.                      APPLICATION OF SINGULAR AND PLURAL.  In all cases where there is but a single Borrower, then all words used herein in the plural shall be deemed to have been used in the singular where the context and construction so require; and when there is more than one Borrower named herein, or when this Guaranty is executed by more than one Guarantor, the word "Borrower" and the word "Guarantor" respectively shall mean all or any one or more of them as the context requires.

        14.                      UNDERSTANDING WITH RESPECT TO WAIVERS; SEVERABILITY OF PROVISIONS.  Guarantor warrants and agrees that each of the waivers set forth herein is made with Guarantor's full knowledge of its significance and consequences, and that under the circumstances, the waivers are reasonable and not contrary to public policy or law.  If any waiver or other provision of this Guaranty shall be held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable public policy or law, such waiver or other provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such waiver or other provision or any remaining provisions of this Guaranty.

        15.                      GOVERNING LAW.  This Guaranty shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

 

        16.                      ARBITRATION.

 

  

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(a)           Arbitration.  The parties hereto agree, upon demand by any party, to submit to binding arbitration all claims, disputes and controversies between or among them (and their respective employees, officers, directors, attorneys, and other agents), whether in tort, contract or otherwise, in any way arising out of or relating to this Guaranty and its negotiation, execution, collateralization, administration, repayment, modification, extension, substitution, formation, inducement, enforcement, default or termination, provided, however, that nothing herein shall preclude or limit the Bank's right to confess judgment pursuant to a warrant of attorney provision set forth in any document related to the Indebtedness, including, without limitation, this Guaranty; and provided, further, that no party shall have the right to demand binding arbitration of any claim, dispute or controversy seeking to (i) strike-off or open a judgment obtained by confession pursuant to a warrant of attorney contained in any document related to the Indebtedness, including, without limitation, this Guaranty, (ii) challenge the waiver of a right to prior notice and a hearing before judgment is entered, or after judgment is entered, but before execution upon the judgment, which such claims, disputes or controversies shall be commenced and prosecuted in accordance with the procedures set forth, and in the forum specified by, Rules 2950 through and including Rule 2986 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure or any such other applicable federal or state law.

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

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

(d)           Arbitrator Qualifications and Powers.  Any arbitration proceeding in which the amount in controversy is $5,000,000.00 or less will be decided by a single arbitrator selected according to the Rules, and who shall not render an award of greater than $5,000,000.00.  Any dispute in which the amount in controversy exceeds $5,000,000.00 shall be decided by majority vote of a panel of three arbitrators; provided however, that all three arbitrators must actively participate in all hearings and deliberations.  The arbitrator will be a neutral attorney licensed in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or a neutral retired judge of the state or federal judiciary of Pennsylvania, in either case with a minimum of ten years experience in the substantive law applicable to the subject matter of the dispute to be arbitrated.  The arbitrator will determine whether or not an issue is arbitratable and will give effect to the statutes of limitation in determining any claim.  In any arbitration proceeding the arbitrator will decide (by documents only or with a hearing at the arbitrator's discretion) any pre-hearing motions which are similar to motions to dismiss for failure to state a claim or motions for summary adjudication.  The arbitrator shall resolve all disputes in accordance with the substantive law of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and may grant any remedy or relief that a court of such state could order or grant within the scope hereof and such ancillary relief as is necessary to make effective any award.  The arbitrator shall also have the power to award recovery of all costs and fees, to impose sanctions and to take such other action as the arbitrator deems necessary to the same extent a judge could pursuant to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure or other applicable law.  Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction.  The institution and maintenance of an action for judicial relief or pursuit of a provisional or ancillary remedy shall not constitute a waiver of the right of any party, including the plaintiff, to submit the controversy or claim to arbitration if any other party contests such action for judicial relief.

  

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

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

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

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

 

17.           WARRANT OF ATTORNEY TO CONFESS JUDGMENT.  GUARANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AUTHORIZES AND EMPOWERS THE PROTHONOTARY, ANY ATTORNEY OR ANY CLERK OF ANY COURT OF RECORD, FOLLOWING THE OCCURRENCE OF AN EVENT OF DEFAULT, TO APPEAR FOR AND CONFESS JUDGMENT AGAINST GUARANTOR FOR SUCH SUMS AS ARE DUE AND/OR MAY BECOME DUE UNDER THIS GUARANTY, WITH OR WITHOUT DECLARATION, WITH COSTS OF SUIT, WITHOUT STAY OF EXECUTION AND WITH AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO 10% OF THE AMOUNT OF SUCH JUDGMENT BUT NOT LESS THAN $10,000 ADDED FOR ATTORNEYS' COLLECTION FEES.  TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, OTHER THAN MANIFEST ERROR, GUARANTOR RELEASES ALL ERRORS IN SUCH PROCEEDINGS.  IF A COPY OF THIS GUARANTY, VERIFIED BY AFFIDAVIT BY OR ON BEHALF OF THE HOLDER OF THIS GUARANTY SHALL HAVE BEEN FILED IN SUCH ACTION, IT SHALL NOT BE NECESSARY TO FILE THE ORIGINAL GUARANTY AS A WARRANT OF ATTORNEY.  THE AUTHORITY AND POWER TO APPEAR FOR AND CONFESS JUDGMENT AGAINST GUARANTOR SHALL NOT BE EXHAUSTED BY THE INITIAL EXERCISE THEREOF AND MAY BE EXERCISED AS OFTEN AS THE HOLDER SHALL FIND IT NECESSARY AND DESIRABLE AND THIS GUARANTY OR A COPY THEREOF SHALL BE A SUFFICIENT WARRANT THEREFOR.  THE HOLDER HEREOF MAY CONFESS ONE OR MORE JUDGMENTS IN THE SAME OR DIFFERENT JURISDICTIONS FOR ALL OR ANY PART OF THE AMOUNT OWING HEREUNDER, WITHOUT REGARD TO WHETHER JUDGMENT HAS THERETOFORE BEEN CONFESSED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION FOR THE SAME AMOUNT.  IN THE EVENT ANY JUDGMENT CONFESSED AGAINST GUARANTOR HEREUNDER IS STRICKEN OR OPENED UPON APPLICATION BY OR ON GUARANTOR’S BEHALF FOR ANY REASON, THE HOLDER IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED AND EMPOWERED TO AGAIN APPEAR FOR AND CONFESS JUDGMENT AGAINST GUARANTOR FOR ANY PART OR ALL OF THE AMOUNTS OWING HEREUNDER, AS PROVIDED FOR HEREIN, IF DOING SO WILL CURE ANY ERRORS OR DEFECTS IN SUCH PRIOR PROCEEDINGS.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

  

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Guarantor, intending to be legally bound hereby, has executed this Continuing Guaranty as of the date first written above.

 

	GUARANTOR:	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	HORSEHEAD HOLDING CORP.	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 
	
/s/ Robert D. Scherich

	 	 	
 

	 
	
Robert D. Scherich, Chief Financial Officer

	 	 	
 

	 
	
 

	 	 	
 

	 

 

[Signature Page to Continuing Guaranty]

 

 

8exh_107.htm

Exhibit 10.7

 

AWARD NOTICE OF

PERFORMANCE-BASED LONG-TERM COMPENSATION AWARD

GRANTED PURSUANT TO THE

TRANSCAT, INC. 2003 INCENTIVE PLAN

	
Grantee:

	  
	
Number of Restricted Stock Units Awarded:

	  
	
Date of Grant:

	  

	
1.  

	
Grant of Restricted Stock Unit Award.  This Award Notice serves to notify you that the Board of Directors of Transcat, Inc., an Ohio corporation (the “Company”), has granted to you, under the Company’s 2003 Incentive Plan, as amended and restated (the “Plan”), a restricted stock unit award (the “Award”), on the terms and conditions set forth in this Award Notice and the Plan, of the number of Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”) set forth above.  Each RSU entitles you to receive from the Company one Share of the Company’s Common Stock, $0.50 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), which will vest (become non-forfeitable) as set forth in Sections 2 and 3 and will be payable in the form of Shares of the Company’s Common Stock as set forth in Section 4, all in accordance with the terms of this Award Notice, the Plan, and any rules and procedures adopted by the Committee.  The Plan is incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Award Notice.  Capitalized terms not defined herein have the respective meanings set forth in the Plan.

 

	
2.  

	
Performance Criteria and Vesting.  The RSUs subject to the Award will vest based on the successful completion of all of the following:

 

	 	
a. 

	
Subject to Section 3 below, you are employed with the Company through [_____], which is the last day of the Company’s [_____] fiscal year (the “Vesting Date”);

 

	 	
b. 

	
The percentage of the RSUs that will vest, if any, is determined based on the Company’s performance against the performance measure set forth below over the three-year period ending on the Vesting Date, as validated by the Company’s external auditors.  The applicable performance measure for the Award and the percentage of RSUs that vest for the specified levels of performance are as follows:

	
Cumulative fully diluted EPS

for the three-year period ending

on the Vesting Date

	
Percentage of RSUs

that vest

	
[   ]

	
150%

	
[   ]

	
125%

	
[   ]

	
100%

	
[   ]

	
75%

	
[   ]

	
50%

No RSUs will vest for Company performance below 50%, and therefore all RSUs subject to the Award will be forfeited.  Performance above 100% and up to 150% will be determined using straight line interpolation; however the 50%, 75% and 100% levels are thresholds that must be achieved and no RSUs will be earned for performance between such levels.

  

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3.  

	
Effects of Certain Events.

	 	
a. 

	
General. Subject to Sections 3(b) through 3(d) of this Award Notice, in the event that your employment with the Company is terminated prior to the Vesting Date, all RSUs that are not vested as of the date of such termination are automatically forfeited.

	 	
b. 

	
Death or Disability. In the event of your death or termination of employment due to Disability prior to the Vesting Date, then the Award shall continue and the vested RSUs, if any, from such performance, shall be distributed on a pro-rata basis on the date that other active participants receive such distributions under their Award Notice for this program, based on actual performance, based on the following:

	
i.  

	
If you terminate employment in the first 15 months of the performance period you will forfeit all RSUs.

 

	
ii.  

	
If you terminate employment within the 16th through the 27th month of the performance period you will receive a pro-rated number of RSUs subject to the Award that become vested under Section 2 above.

 

	
iii.  

	
If you terminate employment after 27 months of the performance period have elapsed you will receive the full number of RSUs that become vested under Section 2 above.

 

The pro-rata portion shall be determined by multiplying the number of vested RSUs based on actual performance by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of completed months during the three-year period ending on the Vesting Date which you were employed by the Company, and the denominator of which is 36.  For purposes of this Award Notice, Disability has the meaning given to such term under the Plan.

	 	
c. 

	
Retirement.  If you terminate employment prior to the Vesting Date due to Retirement, then the Award shall continue and the vested RSUs, if any, shall be distributed on a pro-rata basis on the date that other active participants receive such distributions under their Award Notice for this program, based on actual performance, based on the following:

	
i.  

	
If you terminate employment in the first 15 months of the performance period you will forfeit all RSUs.

 

	
ii.  

	
If you terminate employment within the 16th through the 27th month of the performance period you will receive a pro-rated number of RSUs subject to the Award that become vested under Section 2 above.

 

	
iii.  

	
If you terminate employment after 27 months of the performance period have elapsed you will receive the full number of RSUs that become vested under Section 2 above.

 

The pro-rata portion shall be determined by multiplying the number of vested RSUs based on actual performance by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of completed months during the three-year period ending on the Vesting Date which you were employed by the Company, and the denominator of which is 36.  For purposes of this Award Notice, Retirement means your termination of employment on or after the date that you have attained age 55 and have completed five or more years of service with the Company.

	 	
d. 

	
Change in Control.  Upon a Change in Control of the Company, the provisions of Section 10.3 of the Plan shall automatically and immediately become operative with respect to the Award.

 

  

2

  

	
4.  

	
Issuance of Shares of Common Stock.  Unless the RSUs are forfeited prior to the Vesting Date as provided in Sections 2 and 3 above, the RSUs will be payable in the form of Common Stock as soon as administratively practicable following the release of the Company’s operating results for the [_____] fiscal year, but in no event later December 31, [_____] (the “Payment Date”).  Each vested RSU will be payable in the form of one share of Common Stock on the Payment Date.  Shares of Common Stock will be registered on the books of the Company in your name as of the Payment Date and delivered to you as soon as practical thereafter, in certificated or uncertificated form, as you shall direct.  You understand that the Company will, and you hereby authorize the Company to, issue such instructions to its transfer agent as the Company may deem necessary or proper to comply with the intent and the purposes of this Award Notice.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 4, if you make a valid election to defer receipt of the Shares of Common Stock pursuant to the terms of a nonqualified deferred compensation plan maintained by the Company, payment of vested RSUs shall be made in accordance with that election and the terms of such nonqualified deferred compensation plan.

 

	
5.  

	
Nontransferability.  The RSUs awarded pursuant to this Award Notice may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated (“Transfer”), other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, except as provided in the Plan. If any prohibited Transfer, whether voluntary or involuntary, of the RSUs is attempted to be made, or if any attachment, execution, garnishment, or lien shall be attempted to be issued against or placed upon the RSUs, your right to such RSUs shall be immediately forfeited to the Company, and this Award Notice shall be null and void.

 

	
6.  

	
No Shareholder Rights. The RSUs do not entitle the Grantee to any rights of a shareholder of Common Stock, including dividends or voting rights.

 

	
7.  

	
Restrictions on Issuance of Shares.  If at any time the Company determines that listing, registration or qualification of the shares of Common Stock subject to this Award upon any securities exchange or under any state or federal law, or the approval of any governmental agency, is necessary or advisable as a condition to the Award or issuance of certificate(s) for Common Stock hereunder, then, subject to the limitations imposed under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), such Award or issuance may not be made in whole or in part unless and until such listing, registration, qualification or approval shall have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Company.

 

	
8.  

	
Plan Controls.  The Award is subject to all of the provisions of the Plan, and is further subject to all the interpretations, amendments, rules and regulations that may from time to time be promulgated and adopted by the Committee pursuant to the Plan.  In the event of any conflict among the provisions of the Plan and this Award Notice, the provisions of the Plan will be controlling and determinative.

 

	
9.  

	
Taxes.  You are responsible for any and all federal, state and local taxes (other than stock transfer or issuance taxes) arising as a result of the vesting of the RSUs or the delivery of the shares of Common Stock to you pursuant to this Award or any subsequent sale of the shares of Common Stock by you.

 

	
10.  

	
Section 409A.  This Award Notice and the RSUs granted hereunder are intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and shall be construed and interpreted in a manner consistent with such intent.

 

  

3

  

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

           The undersigned Grantee acknowledges receipt of, and understands and agrees to, this Award Notice and the Plan.  The Grantee further acknowledges that as of the date of grant, this Award Notice and the Plan set forth the entire understanding between the Grantee and the Company regarding the grant of the RSUs under the Award and supercede all prior oral and written agreements on that subject.

	
Date:

	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	
Transcat, Inc.

	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	
By:

	  
	  	  	  	  	 
	  	  	  	  	 
	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	
Grantee:

	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  

 

 

 

 

 4

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