Document:

HOUSTON WIRE & CABLE COMPANY,

 

as Guarantor

 

and

 

HWC WIRE & CABLE COMPANY,

 

as Borrower

	 
	  
	
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

	 
	
Dated as of September 30, 2011

	  

 

$100,000,000

 

CERTAIN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS,

 

as Lenders

 

and

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

 

as Agent

 

  

  

  

 

	
TABLE OF CONTENTS

	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	
Page

	  	  	  	  
	
SECTION 1.

	  	
 
 
DEFINITIONS; RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

	
1

	  	  	  	  
	
1.1

	  	
Definitions

	
1

	
1.2

	  	
Accounting Terms

	
25

	
1.3

	  	
Uniform Commercial Code

	
25

	
1.4

	  	
Certain Matters of Construction

	
26

	  	  	  	  
	
SECTION 2.

	  	
CREDIT FACILITIES

	
26

	  	  	  	  
	
2.1

	  	
Revolver Commitment

	
26

	
2.2

	  	
Reserved

	
28

	
2.3

	  	
Letter of Credit Facility

	
28

	  	  	  	  
	
SECTION 3.

	  	
INTEREST, FEES AND CHARGES

	
31

	  	  	  	  
	
3.1

	  	
Interest

	
31

	
3.2

	  	
Fees

	
33

	
3.3

	  	
Computation of Interest, Fees, Yield Protection

	
34

	
3.4

	  	
Reimbursement Obligations

	
34

	
3.5

	  	
Illegality

	
34

	
3.6

	  	
Inability to Determine Rates

	
35

	
3.7

	  	
Increased Costs; Capital Adequacy

	
35

	
3.8

	  	
Mitigation

	
36

	
3.9

	  	
Funding Losses

	
36

	
3.10

	  	
Maximum Interest

	
37

	  	  	  	  
	
SECTION 4.

	  	
LOAN ADMINISTRATION

	
37

	  	  	  	  
	
4.1

	  	
Manner of Borrowing and Funding Revolver Loans

	
37

	
4.2

	  	
Defaulting Lender

	
39

	
4.3

	  	
Number and Amount of LIBOR Loans; Determination of Rate

	
39

	
4.4

	  	
Borrower Agent

	
40

	
4.5

	  	
One Obligation

	
40

	
4.6

	  	
Effect of Termination

	
40

	  	  	  	  
	
SECTION 5.

	  	
PAYMENTS

	
41

	  	  	  	  
	
5.1

	  	
General Payment Provisions

	
41

	
5.2

	  	
Repayment of Revolver Loans

	
41

	
5.3

	  	
Other Mandatory Prepayments

	
41

	
5.4

	  	
Payment of Other Obligations

	
42

	
5.5

	  	
Marshaling; Payments Set Aside

	
42

	
5.6

	  	
Post-Default Allocation of Payments

	
42

	
5.7

	  	
Application of Payments

	
43

 

  

i

  

 

	
TABLE OF CONTENTS

	
(continued)

	  	  	  	
Page

	  	  	  	  
	
5.8

	  	
Loan Account; Account Stated

	
43

	
5.9

	  	
Taxes

	
44

	
5.10

	  	
Foreign Lenders

	
44

	
5.11

	  	
Nature and Extent of Each Borrower’s Liability

	
45

	  	  	  	  
	
SECTION 6.

	  	
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

	
48

	  	  	  	  
	
6.1

	  	
Documentation

	
48

	
6.2

	  	
No Default

	
48

	
6.3

	  	
Conditions Precedent to All Credit Extensions

	
48

	  	  	  	  
	
SECTION 7.

	  	
COLLATERAL

	
49

	  	  	  	  
	
7.1

	  	
Grant of Security Interest

	
49

	
7.2

	  	
Lien on Deposit Accounts; Cash Collateral

	
50

	
7.3

	  	
Other Collateral

	
51

	
7.4

	  	
No Assumption of Liability

	
51

	
7.5

	  	
Further Assurances

	
51

	
7.6

	  	
Foreign Subsidiary Stock

	
51

	  	  	  	  
	
SECTION 8.

	  	
COLLATERAL ADMINISTRATION

	
52

	  	  	  	  
	
8.1

	  	
Borrowing Base Certificates

	
52

	
8.2

	  	
Administration of Accounts

	
52

	
8.3

	  	
Administration of Inventory

	
53

	
8.4

	  	
Administration of Equipment

	
54

	
8.5

	  	
Administration of Deposit Accounts

	
54

	
8.6

	  	
General Provisions

	
55

	
8.7

	  	
Power of Attorney

	
56

	  	  	  	  
	
SECTION 9.

	  	
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

	
56

	  	  	  	  
	
9.1

	  	
General Representations and Warranties

	
56

	
9.2

	  	
Complete Disclosure

	
62

	  	  	  	  
	
SECTION 10.

	  	
COVENANTS AND CONTINUING AGREEMENTS

	
63

	  	  	  	  
	
10.1

	  	
Affirmative Covenants

	
63

	
10.2

	  	
Negative Covenants

	
66

	
10.3

	  	
Financial Covenants

	
70

	  	  	  	  
	
SECTION 11.

	  	
EVENTS OF DEFAULT; REMEDIES ON DEFAULT

	
70

	  	  	  	  
	
11.1

	  	
Events of Default

	
70

  

ii

  

	
TABLE OF CONTENTS

	
(continued)

	  	  	  	
Page

	  	  	  	  
	
11.2

	  	
Remedies upon Default

	
72

	
11.3

	  	
License

	
73

	
11.4

	  	
Setoff

	
74

	
11.5

	  	
Remedies Cumulative; No Waiver

	
74

	  	  	  	  
	
SECTION 12.

	  	
AGENT

	
75

	  	  	  	  
	
12.1

	  	
Appointment, Authority and Duties of Agent

	
75

	
12.2

	  	
Agreements Regarding Collateral and Field Examination Reports

	
76

	
12.3

	  	
Reliance By Agent

	
77

	
12.4

	  	
Action Upon Default

	
77

	
12.5

	  	
Ratable Sharing

	
77

	
12.6

	  	
Indemnification of Agent Indemnitees

	
77

	
12.7

	  	
Limitation on Responsibilities of Agent

	
78

	
12.8

	  	
Successor Agent and Co-Agents

	
78

	
12.9

	  	
Due Diligence and Non-Reliance

	
79

	
12.10

	  	
Replacement of Certain Lenders

	
79

	
12.11

	  	
Remittance of Payments and Collections

	
80

	
12.12

	  	
Agent in its Individual Capacity

	
80

	
12.13

	  	
Agent Titles

	
81

	
12.14

	  	
No Third Party Beneficiaries

	
81

	  	  	  	  
	
SECTION 13.

	  	
BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS AND PARTICIPATIONS

	
81

	  	  	  	  
	
13.1

	  	
Successors and Assigns

	
81

	
13.2

	  	
Participations

	
81

	
13.3

	  	
Assignments

	
82

	  	  	  	  
	
SECTION 14.

	  	
MISCELLANEOUS

	
83

	  	  	  	  
	
14.1

	  	
Consents, Amendments and Waivers

	
83

	
14.2

	  	
Indemnity

	
85

	
14.3

	  	
Notices and Communications

	
85

	
14.4

	  	
Performance of Borrowers’ Obligations

	
86

	
14.5

	  	
Credit Inquiries

	
86

	
14.6

	  	
Severability

	
86

	
14.7

	  	
Cumulative Effect; Conflict of Terms

	
86

	
14.8

	  	
Counterparts; Facsimile Signatures

	
86

	
14.9

	  	
Entire Agreement

	
86

	
14.10

	  	
No Control; No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

	
87

	
14.11

	  	
Obligations of Lenders

	
87

	
14.12

	  	
No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

	
87

  

iii

  

	
TABLE OF CONTENTS

	
(continued)

	  	  	  	
Page

	 	 	 	 
	
14.13

	  	
Confidentiality

	
88

	
14.14

	  	
GOVERNING LAW

	
88

	
14.15

	  	
Consent to Forum

	
89

	
14.16

	  	
Waivers by Borrowers

	
89

	
14.17

	  	
Patriot Act Notice

	
90

	
14.18

	  	
No Novation

	
90

LIST OF EXHIBITS  AND SCHEDULES

 

	
Exhibit A

	
Revolver Note

	
Exhibit B

	
Reserved

	
Exhibit C

	
Assignment and Acceptance

	
Exhibit D

	
Assignment Notice

	  	  
	
Schedule 1.1

	
Commitments of Lenders

	
Schedule 6.1

	
Schedule of Documents

	
Schedule 8.5

	
Deposit Accounts

	
Schedule 8.6.1

	
Business Locations

	
Schedule 9.1.4

	
Names and Capital Structure

	
Schedule 9.1.8

	
Surety Obligations

	
Schedule 9.1.11

	
Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights and Licenses

	
Schedule 9.1.14

	
Environmental Matters

	
Schedule 9.1.15

	
Restrictive Agreements

	
Schedule 9.1.16

	
Litigation

	
Schedule 9.1.18

	
Pension Plan Disclosures

	
Schedule 10.2.2

	
Existing Liens

	
Schedule 10.2.17

	
Existing Affiliate Transactions

 

  

iv

  

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

THIS THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is dated as of September 30, 2011, among HWC WIRE & CABLE COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (“Borrower Agent”) with its chief executive office and principal place of business at 10201 North Loop East, Houston, Texas 77029, each of the Domestic Subsidiaries of Borrower Agent that are or become borrower parties thereto (individually a “Borrower” and collectively, “Borrowers”), the financial institutions party to this Agreement from time to time as lenders (collectively, “Lenders”), and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., a national banking association, as agent for the Lenders (“Agent”).

 

RECITALS:

 

WHEREAS, Borrower Agent, the lender signatories thereto and Bank of America, N.A. as agent for such lenders, entered into a certain Second Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement dated as of September 21, 2009 (said Second Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement as amended from time to time, the “2009 Loan Agreement”); and

 

WHEREAS, Borrower Agent, Lenders and Agent desire to amend and restate the 2009 Loan Agreement pursuant to the terms and conditions hereof.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for valuable consideration hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

 

SECTION 1.  DEFINITIONS; RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

 

 1.1       Definitions.  As used herein, the following terms have the meanings set forth below:

 

Account:  as defined in the UCC, including all rights to payment for goods sold or leased, or for services rendered.

 

Account Debtor:  a Person who is obligated under an Account, Chattel Paper or General Intangible.

 

Accounts Formula Amount:  85% of the Value of Eligible Accounts.

 

Affiliate:  with respect to any Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.  “Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise.  “Controlling” and “Controlled” have correlative meanings.

 

Agent Indemnitees:  Agent and its officers, directors, employees, Affiliates, agents and attorneys.

 

  

  

  

 

Agent Professionals:  attorneys, accountants, appraisers, auditors, business valuation experts, environmental engineers or consultants, turnaround consultants, and other professionals and experts retained by Agent.

 

Allocable Amount:  as defined in Section 5.11.3.

 

Anti-Terrorism Laws:  any laws relating to terrorism or money laundering, including the Patriot Act.

 

Applicable Law:  all laws, rules, regulations and governmental guidelines applicable to the Person, conduct, transaction, agreement or matter in question, including all applicable statutory law, common law and equitable principles, and all provisions of constitutions, treaties, statutes, rules, regulations, orders and decrees of Governmental Authorities.

 

Applicable Margin:  with respect to any Type of Loan, the margin set forth below, as determined by average Availability for the most recently ended Fiscal Quarter:

 

	

Level

	 	

Availability

	 	

Base Rate Revolver

Loans

	 	 	

LIBOR Revolver

Loans

	 
	 I	 	
> $50,000,000

	 	 	0.00	%	 	 	1.25	%
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	
II

	 	
< $50,000,000, but > $35,000,000

	 	 	0.00	%	 	 	1.50	%
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	
III

	 	
< $35,000,000, but > $20,000,000

	 	 	0.00	%	 	 	1.75	%
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	
IV

	 	
< $20,000,000

	 	 	0.25	%	 	 	2.00	%

Until January 1, 2012, margins shall be determined as if Level III were applicable.  Thereafter, the margins shall be subject to increase or decrease upon the first day of each Fiscal Quarter.

 

Approved Fund:  any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in its ordinary course of activities, and is administered or managed by a Lender, an entity that administers or manages a Lender, or an Affiliate of either.

 

Asset Disposition:  a sale, lease, license, consignment, transfer or other disposition of Property of an Obligor, including a disposition of Property in connection with a sale-leaseback transaction or synthetic lease.

 

Assignment and Acceptance:  an assignment agreement between a Lender and Eligible Assignee, in the form of Exhibit C.

 

  

2

  

 

Availability:  the Borrowing Base minus the principal balance of all Revolver Loans.

 

Availability Reserve:  the sum (without duplication) of (a) the Inventory Reserve; (b) the Rent and Charges Reserve; (c) the LC Reserve; (d) the Bank Product Reserve; (e) the aggregate amount of liabilities secured by Liens upon Collateral that are senior to Agent’s Liens (but imposition of any such reserve shall not waive an Event of Default arising therefrom) and (f) such additional reserves, in such amounts and with respect to such matters, as Agent in its reasonable credit judgment may elect to impose from time to time.

 

Bank of America:  Bank of America, N.A., a national banking association, and its successors and assigns.

 

Bank of America Indemnitees:  Bank of America and its officers, directors, employees, Affiliates, agents and attorneys.

 

Bank Product:  any of the following products, services or facilities extended to any Borrower or Subsidiary by any Lender or any of its Affiliates:  (a) Cash Management Services; (b) products under Hedging Agreements; (c) commercial credit card and merchant card services; and (d) leases and other banking products or services as may be requested by any Borrower or Subsidiary, other than Letters of Credit; provided, however, that for any of the foregoing to be included as an “Obligation” for purposes of a distribution under Section 5.6.1, the applicable Secured Party and Obligor must have previously provided written notice to Agent of (i) the existence of such Bank Product, (ii) the maximum dollar amount of obligations arising thereunder to be included as a Bank Product Reserve (“Bank Product Amount”), and (iii) the methodology to be used by such parties in determining the Bank Product Debt owing from time to time.  The Bank Product Amount may be changed from time to time upon written notice to Agent by the Secured Party and Obligor.  No Bank Product Amount may be established or increased at any time that a Default or Event of Default exists, or if a reserve in such amount would cause an Overadvance.

 

Bank Product Amount:  as defined in the definition of Bank Product.

 

Bank Product Debt:  Debt and other obligations of an Obligor relating to Bank Products.

 

Bank Product Reserve:  the aggregate amount of reserves established by Agent from time to time in its reasonable discretion in respect of Bank Product Debt, which shall be at least equal to the sum of all Bank Product Amounts.

 

Bankruptcy Code:  Title 11 of the United States Code.

 

Base Rate:  for any day, a per annum rate equal to the greater of (a) the Prime Rate for such day; (b) the Federal Funds Rate for such day, plus 0.50%; or (c) LIBOR for a 30 day interest period as determined on such day, plus 1.50%.

 

  

3

  

 

Base Rate Revolver Loan:  a Revolver Loan that bears interest based on the Base Rate.

 

Board of Governors:  the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

 

Borrowed Money:  with respect to any Obligor, without duplication, its (a) Debt that (i) arises from the lending of money by any Person to such Obligor, (ii) is evidenced by notes, drafts, bonds, debentures, credit documents or similar instruments, (iii) accrues interest or is a type upon which interest charges are customarily paid (excluding trade payables owing in the Ordinary Course of Business), or (iv) was issued or assumed as full or partial payment for Property; (b) Capital Leases; (c) reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit; and (d) guaranties of any Debt of the foregoing types owing by another Person.

 

Borrower Agent:  as defined in Section 4.4.

 

Borrowing:  a group of Loans of one Type that are made on the same day or are converted into Loans of one Type on the same day.

 

Borrowing Base:  on any date of determination, an amount equal to the lesser of (a) the aggregate amount of Revolver Commitments, minus the LC Reserve; or (b) the sum of the Accounts Formula Amount, plus the Inventory Formula Amount, minus the Availability Reserve.

 

Borrowing Base Certificate:  a certificate, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent, by which Borrowers certify calculation of the Borrowing Base.

 

Business Day:  any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized to close under the laws of, or are in fact closed in, North Carolina and Illinois, and if such day relates to a LIBOR Loan, any such day on which dealings in Dollar deposits are conducted between banks in the London interbank Eurodollar market.

 

Capital Expenditures:  all liabilities incurred or expenditures made by a Borrower or Subsidiary for the acquisition of fixed assets, or any improvements, replacements, substitutions or additions thereto with a useful life of more than one year.

 

Capital Lease:  any lease that is required to be capitalized for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP.

 

Cash Collateral:  cash, and any interest or other income earned thereon, that is delivered to Agent to Cash Collateralize any Obligations.

 

Cash Collateral Account:  a demand deposit, money market or other account established by Agent at such financial institution as Agent may select in its reasonable discretion, which account shall be subject to Agent’s Liens for the benefit of Secured Parties.

 

  

4

  

 

Cash Collateralize:  the delivery of cash to Agent, as security for the payment of Obligations, in an amount equal to (a) with respect to LC Obligations, 105% of the aggregate LC Obligations, and (b) with respect to any inchoate, contingent or other Obligations (including Obligations arising under Bank Products), Agent’s good faith estimate of the amount due or to become due, including all fees and other amounts relating to such Obligations.  “Cash Collateralization” has a correlative meaning.

 

Cash Equivalents:  (a) marketable obligations issued or unconditionally guaranteed by, and backed by the full faith and credit of, the United States government, maturing within 12 months of the date of acquisition; (b) certificates of deposit, time deposits and bankers’ acceptances maturing within 12 months of the date of acquisition, and overnight bank deposits, in each case which are issued by a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States or any state or district thereof, rated A-1 (or better) by S&P or P-1 (or better) by Moody’s at the time of acquisition, and (unless issued by a Lender) not subject to offset rights; (c) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than 30 days for underlying investments of the types described in clauses (a) and (b) entered into with any bank meeting the qualifications specified in clause (b); (d) commercial paper rated A-1 (or better) by S&P or P-1 (or better) by Moody’s, and maturing within nine months of the date of acquisition; and (e) shares of any money market fund that has substantially all of its assets invested continuously in the types of investments referred to above, has net assets of at least $500,000,000 and has the highest rating obtainable from either Moody’s or S&P.

 

Cash Management Services:  any services provided from time to time by any Lender or any of its Affiliates to any Borrower or Subsidiary in connection with operating, collections, payroll, trust, or other depository or disbursement accounts, including automated clearinghouse, e-payable, electronic funds transfer, wire transfer, controlled disbursement, overdraft, depository, information reporting, lockbox and stop payment services.

 

CERCLA:  the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. § 9601 et seq.).

 

Change in Law:  the occurrence, after the date hereof, of (a) the adoption or taking effect of any law, rule, regulation or treaty; (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority; or (c) the making or issuance of any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority.

 

Change of Control:  an event or series of events by which:

 

(a)           any “person” or “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than any such “person” or “group” existing as of the Closing Date, becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, provided that a person shall be deemed to have “beneficial ownership” of all Securities that such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of forty percent (40%) or more of the combined voting power of Guarantor’s outstanding Equity Interests ordinarily having the right to vote at an election of directors; or

 

  

5

  

 

(b)           the majority of the board of directors (or comparable governing body) of Guarantor fails to consist of Continuing Directors or other substitutes therefor reasonably acceptable to Agent.

 

Claims:  all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, judgments, proceedings, interest, costs and expenses of any kind (including remedial response costs, reasonable attorneys’ fees and Extraordinary Expenses) at any time (including after Full Payment of the Obligations, resignation or replacement of Agent, or replacement of any Lender) incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee in any way relating to (a) any Loans, Letters of Credit, Loan Documents, or the use thereof or transactions relating thereto, (b) any action taken or omitted to be taken by any Indemnitee in connection with any Loan Documents, (c) the existence or perfection of any Liens, or realization upon any Collateral, (d) the exercise of any rights or remedies under any Loan Documents or Applicable Law, or (e) the failure by any Obligor to perform or observe any terms of any Loan Document, in each case including all costs and expenses relating to any investigation, litigation, arbitration or other proceeding (including an Insolvency Proceeding or appellate proceedings), whether or not the applicable Indemnitee is a party thereto.

 

Closing Date:  as defined in Section 6.

 

Code:  the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

 

Collateral:  all Property described in Section 7.1, all Property described in any Security Documents as security for any Obligations, and all other Property that now or hereafter secures (or is intended to secure) any Obligations.

 

Commitment: for any Lender, the aggregate amount of such Lender’s Revolver Commitment. “Commitments” means the aggregate amount of all Revolver Commitments.

 

Commitment Termination Date:  the earliest to occur of (a) the Revolver Termination Date; (b) the date on which Borrowers terminate the Revolver Commitments pursuant to Section 2.1.6; or (c) the date on which the Revolver Commitments are terminated pursuant to Section 11.2.

 

Compliance Certificate:  a certificate, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent, by which Borrowers certify compliance with Section 10.2.3 and calculate the applicable Level for the Applicable Margin.

 

  

6

  

Consolidated Net Income:  with respect to any fiscal period of Guarantor determined in accordance with GAAP on a consolidated basis; provided, however, Consolidated Net Income shall not include (a) the income (or loss) of any Person (other than a subsidiary of Guarantor) in which Guarantor or any of its wholly-owned subsidiaries had an ownership interest unless received in a cash distribution or requiring the payment of cash; (b) the income (or loss) of any Person accrued prior to the date it became a subsidiary of Guarantor or is merged into or consolidated with Guarantor; (c) all amounts included in determining net income (or loss) in respect of the write-up of assets on or after the Closing Date, including the subsequent amortization or expensing of the written-up portion of the assets; (d) extraordinary gains as defined under GAAP and extraordinary non-cash losses and (e) gains (or losses) from asset dispositions (other than sales of inventory).

 

Contingent Obligation:  any obligation of a Person arising from a guaranty, indemnity or other assurance of payment or performance of any Debt, lease, dividend or other obligation (“primary obligation”) of another obligor (“primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including any obligation of such Person under any (a) guaranty, endorsement, co-making or sale with recourse of an obligation of a primary obligor; (b) obligation to make take-or-pay or similar payments regardless of nonperformance by any other party to an agreement; and (c) arrangement (i) to purchase any primary obligation or security therefor, (ii) to supply funds for the purchase or payment of any primary obligation, (iii) to maintain or assure working capital, equity capital, net worth or solvency of the primary obligor, (iv) to purchase Property or services for the purpose of assuring the ability of the primary obligor to perform a primary obligation, or (v) otherwise to assure or hold harmless the holder of any primary obligation against loss in respect thereof.  The amount of any Contingent Obligation shall be deemed to be the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation (or, if less, the maximum amount for which such Person may be liable under the instrument evidencing the Contingent Obligation) or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability with respect thereto.

 

Continuing Director:  with respect to any Person as of any date of determination, any member of the board of directors of such Person, who (a) was a member of such board of directors on the date of this Agreement, or (b) was nominated for election or elected to such board of directors with the recommendation or approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such board at the time of such nomination or election.

 

CWA:  the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq.).

 

Debt:  as applied to any Person, without duplication, (a) all items that would be included as liabilities on a balance sheet in accordance with GAAP, including Capital Leases, but excluding trade payables incurred and being paid in the Ordinary Course of Business; (b) all Contingent Obligations; (c) all reimbursement obligations in connection with letters of credit issued for the account of such Person; and (d) in the case of a Borrower, the Obligations.  The Debt of a Person shall include any recourse Debt of any partnership in which such Person is a general partner or joint venturer.

 

Default:  an event or condition that, with the lapse of time or giving of notice, would constitute an Event of Default.

 

  

7

  

 

Default Rate:  for any Obligation (including, to the extent permitted by law, interest not paid when due), 2% plus the interest rate otherwise applicable thereto.

 

Defaulting Lender:  any Lender that (a) fails to make any payment or provide funds to Agent or any Borrower as required hereunder or fails to perform its obligations under any Loan Document, and such failure is not cured within one Business Day, or (b) is the subject of any Insolvency Proceeding.

 

Deposit Account Control Agreements:  the Deposit Account control agreements to be executed by each institution maintaining a Deposit Account for a Borrower, in favor of Agent, for the benefit of Secured Parties, as security for the Obligations.

 

Distribution:  any declaration or payment of a distribution, interest or dividend on any Equity Interest (other than payment-in-kind); any distribution, advance or repayment of Debt to a holder of Equity Interests; or any purchase, redemption, or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interest.

 

Dollars:  lawful money of the United States.

 

Domestic Subsidiary:  any Subsidiary that is not a Foreign Subsidiary.

 

Dominion Account:  a special account established by Borrowers at Bank of America or another bank reasonably acceptable to Agent, over which, during any Trigger Period, Agent has exclusive control for withdrawal purposes.

 

EBITDA:  Consolidated Net Income for Guarantor and its Subsidiaries calculated before interest expense, provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization expense (in each case, to the extent included in determining net income).

 

Eligible Account:  an Account owing to a Borrower that arises in the Ordinary Course of Business from the sale of goods or rendition of services, is payable in Dollars and is deemed by Agent, in its reasonable credit judgment, to be an Eligible Account.  Without limiting the foregoing, no Account shall be an Eligible Account if (a) it is unpaid for more than 90 days after the original invoice date; (b) 25% or more of the Accounts owing by the Account Debtor are not Eligible Accounts under the foregoing clause; (c) when aggregated with other Accounts owing by the Account Debtor, it exceeds 20% of the aggregate Eligible Accounts (or such higher percentage as Agent may establish for the Account Debtor from time to time); (d) it does not conform with a covenant or representation herein; (e) it is owing by a creditor or supplier, or is otherwise subject to a potential offset, counterclaim, dispute, deduction, discount, recoupment, reserve, defense, chargeback, credit or allowance (but ineligibility shall be limited to the amount thereof); (f) an Insolvency Proceeding has been commenced by or against the Account Debtor; or the Account Debtor has failed, has suspended or ceased doing business, is liquidating, dissolving or winding up its affairs, or is not Solvent; or Borrowers are not able to bring suit or enforce remedies against the Account Debtor through judicial process; (g) the Account Debtor is organized or has its principal offices or assets outside the United States or Canada; (h) it is owing by a Government Authority, unless the Account Debtor is the United States or any department, agency or instrumentality thereof and the Account has been assigned to Agent in compliance with the Assignment of Claims Act; (i) it is not subject to a duly perfected, first priority Lien in favor of Agent, or is subject to any other Lien; (j) the goods giving rise to it have not been delivered to and accepted by the Account Debtor, the services giving rise to it have not been accepted by the Account Debtor, or it otherwise does not represent a final sale; (k) it is evidenced by Chattel Paper or an Instrument of any kind, or has been reduced to judgment; (l) its payment has been extended, the Account Debtor has made a partial payment, or it arises from a sale on a cash-on-delivery basis; (m) it arises from a sale to an Affiliate, from a sale on a bill-and-hold, guaranteed sale, sale-or-return, sale-on-approval, consignment, or other repurchase or return basis, or from a sale to a Person for personal, family or household purposes; (n) it represents a progress billing or retainage, or relates to services for which a performance, surety or completion bond or similar assurance has been issued; or (o) it includes a billing for interest, fees or late charges, but ineligibility shall be limited to the extent thereof.  In calculating delinquent portions of Accounts under clauses (a) and (b), credit balances more than 90 days old will be excluded.

 

  

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Eligible Assignee:  a Person that is (a) a Lender (other than a Defaulting Lender), U.S.-based Affiliate of a Lender (other than a Defaulting Lender) or Approved Fund; (b) any other financial institution approved by Agent and Borrower Agent (which approval by Borrower Agent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, and shall be deemed given if no objection is made within two Business Days after notice of the proposed assignment), that is organized under the laws of the United States or any state or district thereof, has total assets in excess of $5 billion, extends asset-based lending facilities in its ordinary course of business and whose becoming an assignee would not constitute a prohibited transaction under Section 4975 of the Code or any other Applicable Law; and (c) during any Event of Default, any Person acceptable to Agent in its discretion.

 

Eligible In-Transit Inventory:  Inventory owned by a Borrower that would be Eligible Inventory if it were not subject to a Document and in transit from a foreign location to a location of the Borrower within the United States, and that Agent, in its reasonable credit judgment, deems to be Eligible In-Transit Inventory.  Without limiting the foregoing, no Inventory shall be Eligible In-Transit Inventory unless it (a) is subject to a negotiable Document showing Agent (or, with the consent of Agent, the applicable Borrower) as consignee, which Document is in the possession of Agent or such other Person as Agent shall approve; (b) is fully insured in a manner satisfactory to Agent; (c) has been identified to the applicable sales contract and title has passed to the Borrower; (d) is not sold by a vendor that has a right to reclaim, divert shipment of, repossess, stop delivery, claim any reservation of title or otherwise assert Lien rights against the Inventory, or with respect to whom any Borrower is in default of any obligations; (e) is subject to purchase orders and other sale documentation satisfactory to Agent; (f) is shipped by a common carrier that is not affiliated with the vendor; and (g) is being handled by a customs broker, freight-forwarder or other handler that has delivered a Lien Waiver.

 

  

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Eligible Inventory:  Inventory owned by a Borrower that Agent, in its reasonable credit judgment, deems to be Eligible Inventory.  Without limiting the foregoing, no Inventory shall be Eligible Inventory unless it (a) is finished goods or raw materials, and not work-in-process, packaging or shipping materials, labels, samples, display items, bags, replacement parts or manufacturing supplies; (b) is not held on consignment, nor subject to any deposit or downpayment; (c) is in new and saleable condition and is not damaged, defective, shopworn or otherwise unfit for sale; (d) is not slow-moving, obsolete or unmerchantable, and does not constitute returned or repossessed goods; (e) meets all standards imposed by any Governmental Authority, and does not constitute hazardous materials under any Environmental Law; (f) conforms with the covenants and representations herein; (g) is subject to Agent’s duly perfected, first priority Lien, and no other Lien; (h) is within the continental United States or Canada, is not in transit except between locations of Borrowers, and is not consigned to any Person; (i) is not subject to any warehouse receipt or negotiable Document; (j) is not subject to any License or other arrangement that restricts such Borrower’s or Agent’s right to dispose of such Inventory, unless Agent has received an appropriate Lien Waiver; and (k) is not located on leased premises or in the possession of a warehouseman, processor, repairman, mechanic, shipper, freight forwarder or other Person, unless the lessor or such Person has delivered a Lien Waiver or an appropriate Rent and Charges Reserve has been established.

 

Enforcement Action:  any action to enforce any Obligations or Loan Documents or to realize upon any Collateral (whether by judicial action, self-help, notification of Account Debtors, exercise of setoff or recoupment, or otherwise).

 

Environmental Laws:  all Applicable Laws (including all programs, permits and guidance promulgated by regulatory agencies), relating to public health (but excluding occupational safety and health, to the extent regulated by OSHA) or the protection or pollution of the environment, including CERCLA, RCRA and CWA.

 

Environmental Notice:  a notice (whether written or oral) from any Governmental Authority or other Person of any possible noncompliance with, investigation of a possible violation of, litigation relating to, or potential fine or liability under any Environmental Law, or with respect to any Environmental Release, environmental pollution or hazardous materials, including any complaint, summons, citation, order, claim, demand or request for correction, remediation or otherwise.

 

Environmental Release:  a release as defined in CERCLA or under any other Environmental Law.

 

Equity Interest:  the interest of any (a) shareholder in a corporation; (b) partner in a partnership (whether general, limited, limited liability or joint venture); (c) member in a limited liability company; or (d) other Person having any other form of equity security or ownership interest.

 

ERISA:  the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

 

  

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ERISA Affiliate:  any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with an Obligor within the meaning of Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code (and Sections 414(m) and (o) of the Code for purposes of provisions relating to Section 412 of the Code).

 

ERISA Event:  (a) a Reportable Event with respect to a Pension Plan; (b) a withdrawal by any Obligor or ERISA Affiliate from a Pension Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations that is treated as such a withdrawal under Section 4062(e) of ERISA; (c) a complete or partial withdrawal by any Obligor or ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan or notification that a Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization; (d) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate, the treatment of a Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 or 4041A of ERISA, or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; (e) any Obligor or ERISA Affiliate fails to meet any funding obligations with respect to any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan, or requests a minimum funding waiver; (f) an event or condition which constitutes grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer, any Pension Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the imposition of any liability under Title IV of ERISA, other than for PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA, upon any Obligor or ERISA Affiliate.

 

Event of Default:  as defined in Section 11.1.

 

Exchange Act:  the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

 

Excluded Tax:  with respect to Agent or any Lender or any other recipient of a payment to be made by or on account of any Obligation, (a) taxes imposed on or measured by its overall net income (however denominated), and franchise taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income taxes), by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of a Lender, in which its applicable lending office is located; or (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which any Borrower is located.

 

Extraordinary Expenses:  all costs, expenses or advances that Agent may incur during a Default or Event of Default, or during the pendency of an Insolvency Proceeding of an Obligor, including those relating to (a) any audit, inspection, repossession, storage, repair, appraisal, insurance, manufacture, preparation or advertising for sale, sale, collection, or other preservation of or realization upon any Collateral; (b) any action, arbitration or other proceeding (whether instituted by or against Agent, any Lender, any Obligor, any representative of creditors of an Obligor or any other Person) in any way relating to any Collateral (including the validity, perfection, priority or avoidability of Agent’s Liens with respect to any Collateral), Loan Documents, Letters of Credit or Obligations, including any lender liability or other Claims; (c) the exercise, protection or enforcement of any rights or remedies of Agent in, or the monitoring of, any Insolvency Proceeding; (d) settlement or satisfaction of any taxes, charges or Liens with respect to any Collateral; (e) any Enforcement Action; (f) negotiation and documentation of any modification, waiver, workout, restructuring or forbearance with respect to any Loan Documents or Obligations; and (g) Protective Advances.  Such costs, expenses and advances include transfer fees, Other Taxes, storage fees, insurance costs, permit fees, utility reservation and standby fees, legal fees, appraisal fees, brokers’ fees and commissions, auctioneers’ fees and commissions, accountants’ fees, environmental study fees, wages and salaries paid to employees of any Obligor or independent contractors in liquidating any Collateral, and travel expenses.

 

  

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Federal Funds Rate:  (a) the weighted average of interest rates on overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by federal funds brokers on the applicable Business Day (or on the preceding Business Day, if the applicable day is not a Business Day), as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the next Business Day; or (b) if no such rate is published on the next Business Day, the average rate (rounded up, if necessary, to the nearest 1/8 of 1%) charged to Agent on the applicable day on such transactions, as determined by Agent.

 

Fee Letter:  the fee letter agreement between Agent and Borrower Agent.

 

Fiscal Quarter:  each period of three months, commencing on the first day of a Fiscal Year.

 

Fiscal Year:  the fiscal year of Borrowers and Subsidiaries for accounting and tax purposes, ending on December 31 of each year.

 

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio:   with respect to any period of determination, the ratio of (a) the remainder of EBITDA for such period less cash taxes paid within such period, less non-financed Capital Expenditures to (b) Fixed Charges.

 

Fixed Charges:  for any period of determination, the sum of (a) scheduled principal payments on Borrowed Money (including the principal portion of scheduled payments of Capital Lease Obligations), (b) Interest Expense included in the determination of Consolidated Net Income, but excluding any interest paid in kind, with respect to Borrowed Money and (c) Distributions paid in cash within such period.

 

FLSA:  the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.

 

Foreign Lender:  any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the laws of the United States, or any state or district thereof.

 

Foreign Plan:  any employee benefit plan or arrangement (a) maintained or contributed to by any Obligor or Subsidiary that is not subject to the laws of the United States; or (b) mandated by a government other than the United States for employees of any Obligor or Subsidiary.

 

Foreign Subsidiary:  a Subsidiary that is a “controlled foreign corporation” under Section 957 of the Code, such that a guaranty by such Subsidiary of the Obligations or a Lien on the assets of such Subsidiary to secure the Obligations would result in material tax liability to Borrowers.

 

  

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Full Payment:  with respect to any Obligations, (a) the full and indefeasible cash payment thereof, including any interest, fees and other charges accruing during an Insolvency Proceeding (whether or not allowed in the proceeding); (b) if such Obligations are LC Obligations or inchoate or contingent in nature, Cash Collateralization thereof (or delivery of a standby letter of credit acceptable to Agent in its discretion, in the amount of required Cash Collateral); and (c) a release of any Claims of Obligors against Agent, Lenders and Issuing Bank arising on or before the payment date.  No Loans shall be deemed to have been paid in full until all Commitments related to such Loans have expired or been terminated.

 

GAAP:  generally accepted accounting principles in effect in the United States from time to time.

 

Governmental Approvals:  all authorizations, consents, approvals, licenses and exemptions of, registrations and filings with, and required reports to, all Governmental Authorities.

 

Governmental Authority:  any federal, state, municipal, foreign or other governmental department, agency, commission, board, bureau, court, tribunal, instrumentality, political subdivision, or other entity or officer exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions for or pertaining to any government or court, in each case whether associated with the United States, a state, district or territory thereof, or a foreign entity or government.

 

Guarantor Payment:  as defined in Section 5.11.3.

 

Guarantor:  Houston Wire & Cable Company, a Delaware corporation.

 

Guaranty:  the Amended and Restated Continuing Guaranty Agreement which is to be executed by Guarantor in form and substance satisfactory to Agent.

 

Hedging Agreement:  an agreement relating to any swap, cap, floor, collar, option, forward, cross right or obligation, or combination thereof or similar transaction, with respect to interest rate, foreign exchange, currency, commodity, credit or equity risk.

 

Indemnified Taxes:  Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

 

Indemnitees:  Agent Indemnitees, Lender Indemnitees, Issuing Bank Indemnitees and Bank of America Indemnitees.

 

Insolvency Proceeding:  any case or proceeding commenced by or against a Person under any state, federal or foreign law for, or any agreement of such Person to, (a) the entry of an order for relief under the Bankruptcy Code, or any other insolvency, debtor relief or debt adjustment law; (b) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, liquidator, administrator, conservator or other custodian for such Person or any part of its Property; or (c) an assignment or trust mortgage for the benefit of creditors.

 

  

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Intellectual Property:  all intellectual and similar Property of a Person, including inventions, designs, patents, copyrights, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trade secrets, confidential or proprietary information, customer lists, know-how, software and databases; all embodiments or fixations thereof and all related documentation, applications, registrations and franchises; all licenses or other rights to use any of the foregoing; and all books and records relating to the foregoing.

 

Intellectual Property Claim:  any claim or assertion (whether in writing, by suit or otherwise) that a Borrower’s or Subsidiary’s ownership, use, marketing, sale or distribution of any Inventory, Equipment, Intellectual Property or other Property violates another Person’s Intellectual Property.

 

Interest Expense:  with respect to any fiscal period, the interest expense incurred for such period as determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Interest Period:  as defined in Section 3.1.3.

 

Inventory:  as defined in the UCC, including all goods intended for sale, lease, display or demonstration; all work in process; and all raw materials, and other materials and supplies of any kind that are or could be used in connection with the manufacture, printing, packing, shipping, advertising, sale, lease or furnishing of such goods, or otherwise used or consumed in a Borrower’s business (but excluding Equipment).

 

Inventory Formula Amount:  the sum of (x) the lesser of (i) 65% of the Value of Eligible Inventory; or (ii) 85% of the NOLV Percentage of the Value of Eligible Inventory, plus (y) the lesser of (i) 65% of the Value of Eligible In-Transit Inventory or (ii) 85% of the NOLV Percentage of the Value of Eligible In-Transit Inventory.

 

Inventory Reserve:  reserves established by Agent to reflect factors that may negatively impact the Value of Inventory, including change in salability, obsolescence, seasonality, theft, shrinkage, imbalance, change in composition or mix, markdowns and vendor chargebacks.

 

Investment:  any acquisition of all or substantially all assets of a Person; any acquisition of record or beneficial ownership of any Equity Interests of a Person; or any advance or capital contribution to or other investment in a Person.

 

IRS:  the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

Issuing Bank:  Bank of America or an Affiliate of Bank of America.

 

Issuing Bank Indemnitees:  Issuing Bank and its officers, directors, employees, Affiliates, agents and attorneys.

 

LC Application:  an application by Borrower Agent to Issuing Bank for issuance of a Letter of Credit, in form and substance satisfactory to Issuing Bank.

 

  

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LC Conditions:  the following conditions necessary for issuance of a Letter of Credit:  (a) each of the conditions set forth in Section 6; (b) after giving effect to such issuance, total LC Obligations do not exceed the Letter of Credit Subline, no Overadvance exists and, if no Revolver Loans are outstanding, the LC Obligations do not exceed the Borrowing Base (without giving effect to the LC Reserve for purposes of this calculation); (c) the expiration date of such Letter of Credit is (i) no more than 365 days from issuance, in the case of standby Letters of Credit, (ii) no more than 120 days from issuance, in the case of documentary Letters of Credit, and (iii) at least 20 Business Days prior to the Revolver Termination Date; (d) the Letter of Credit and payments thereunder are denominated in Dollars; and (e) the purpose and form of the proposed Letter of Credit is satisfactory to Agent and Issuing Bank in their reasonable discretion.

 

LC Documents:  all documents, instruments and agreements (including LC Requests and LC Applications) delivered by Borrowers or any other Person to Issuing Bank or Agent in connection with issuance, amendment or renewal of, or payment under, any Letter of Credit.

 

LC Obligations:  the sum (without duplication) of (a) all amounts owing by Borrowers for any drawings under Letters of Credit; (b) the stated amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit; and (c) all fees and other amounts owing with respect to Letters of Credit.

 

LC Request:  a request for issuance of a Letter of Credit, to be provided by Borrower Agent to Issuing Bank, in form satisfactory to Agent and Issuing Bank.

 

LC Reserve:  the aggregate of all LC Obligations, other than (a) those that have been Cash Collateralized; and (b) if no Default or Event of Default exists, those constituting charges owing to Agent.

 

Lender Indemnitees:  Lenders and their officers, directors, employees, Affiliates, agents and attorneys.

 

Lenders:  as defined in the preamble to this Agreement, including Agent in its capacity as a provider of Swingline Loans and any other Person who hereafter becomes a “Lender” pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance.

 

Lending Office:  the office designated as such by the applicable Lender at the time it becomes party to this Agreement or thereafter by notice to Agent and Borrower Agent.

 

Letter of Credit:  any standby or documentary letter of credit issued by Issuing Bank for the account of a Borrower, or any indemnity, guarantee, exposure transmittal memorandum or similar form of credit support issued by Agent or Issuing Bank for the benefit of a Borrower.

 

Letter of Credit Subline:  $10,000,000.

 

  

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LIBOR:  for any Interest Period with respect to a LIBOR Loan, the per annum rate of interest (rounded up, if necessary, to the nearest 1/8th of 1%), determined by Agent at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to commencement of such Interest Period, for a term comparable to such Interest Period, equal to (a) the British Bankers Association LIBOR Rate (“BBA LIBOR”), as published by Reuters (or other commercially available source designated by Lender); or (b) if BBA LIBOR is not available for any reason, the interest rate at which Dollar deposits in the approximate amount of the LIBOR Loan would be offered by Agent’s London branch to major banks in the London interbank Eurodollar market.  If the Board of Governors imposes a Reserve Percentage with respect to LIBOR deposits, then LIBOR shall be the foregoing rate, divided by 1 minus the Reserve Percentage.

 

LIBOR Loan:  each set of LIBOR Revolver Loans having a common length and commencement of Interest Period.

 

LIBOR Revolver Loan:  a Revolver Loan that bears interest based on LIBOR.

 

License:  any license or agreement under which an Obligor is authorized to use Intellectual Property in connection with any manufacture, marketing, distribution or disposition of Collateral, any use of Property or any other conduct of its business.

 

Licensor:  any Person from whom an Obligor obtains the right to use any Intellectual Property.

 

Lien:  any Person’s interest in Property securing an obligation owed to, or a claim by, such Person, whether such interest is based on common law, statute or contract, including liens, security interests, pledges, hypothecations, statutory trusts, reservations, exceptions, encroachments, easements, rights-of-way, covenants, conditions, restrictions, leases, and other title exceptions and encumbrances affecting Property.

 

Lien Waiver:  an agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent, by which (a) for any material Collateral located on leased premises, the lessor waives or subordinates any Lien it may have on the Collateral, and agrees to permit Agent to enter upon the premises and remove the Collateral or to use the premises to store or dispose of the Collateral; (b) for any Collateral held by a warehouseman, processor, shipper, customs broker or freight forwarder, such Person waives or subordinates any Lien it may have on the Collateral, agrees to hold any Documents in its possession relating to the Collateral as agent for Agent, and agrees to deliver the Collateral to Agent upon request; (c) for any Collateral held by a repairman, mechanic or bailee, such Person acknowledges Agent’s Lien, waives or subordinates any Lien it may have on the Collateral, and agrees to deliver the Collateral to Agent upon request; and (d) for any Collateral subject to a Licensor’s Intellectual Property rights, the Licensor grants to Agent the right, vis-à-vis such Licensor, to enforce Agent’s Liens with respect to the Collateral, including the right to dispose of it with the benefit of the Intellectual Property, whether or not a default exists under any applicable License.

 

Loan:  a Revolver Loan.

 

  

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Loan Account:  the loan account established by each Lender on its books pursuant to Section 5.8.

 

Loan Documents:  this Agreement, Other Agreements and Security Documents.

 

Loan Year:  each 12 month period commencing on the Closing Date and on each anniversary of the Closing Date.

 

Margin Stock:  as defined in Regulation U of the Board of Governors.

 

Material Adverse Effect:  the effect of any event or circumstance that, taken alone or in conjunction with other events or circumstances, (a) has or could be reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, operations, Properties, or financial condition of any Obligor, on the value of any material Collateral, on the enforceability of any Loan Documents, or on the validity or priority of Agent’s Liens on any Collateral; (b) impairs the ability of any Obligor to perform any obligations under the Loan Documents, including repayment of any Obligations; or (c) otherwise impairs the ability of Agent or any Lender to enforce or collect any Obligations or to realize upon any Collateral.

 

Material Contract:  any agreement or arrangement to which a Borrower or Subsidiary is party (other than the Loan Documents) (a) that is deemed to be a material contract under any securities law applicable to such Obligor, including the Securities Act of 1933; (b) for which breach, termination, nonperformance or failure to renew could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or (c) that relates to Subordinated Debt, or Debt in an aggregate amount of $150,000 or more.

 

Moody’s:  Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., and its successors.

 

Multiemployer Plan:  any employee benefit plan of the type described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA, to which any Obligor or ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions, or during the preceding five plan years, has made or been obligated to make contributions.

 

Net Proceeds:  with respect to an Asset Disposition, proceeds (including, when received, any deferred or escrowed payments) received by a Borrower or Subsidiary in cash from such disposition, net of (a) reasonable and customary costs and expenses actually incurred in connection therewith, including legal fees and sales commissions; (b) amounts applied to repayment of Debt secured by a Permitted Lien senior to Agent’s Liens on Collateral sold; (c) transfer or similar taxes; and (d) reserves for indemnities, until such reserves are no longer needed.

 

NOLV Percentage:  the net orderly liquidation value of Inventory, expressed as a percentage, expected to be realized at an orderly, negotiated sale held within a reasonable period of time, net of all liquidation expenses, as determined from the most recent appraisal of Borrowers’ Inventory performed by an appraiser and on terms satisfactory to Agent.

 

  

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Notes:  each Revolver Note or other promissory note executed by a Borrower to evidence any Obligations.

 

Notice of Borrowing:  a Notice of Borrowing to be provided by Borrower Agent to request a Borrowing of Revolver Loans, in form satisfactory to Agent.

 

Notice of Conversion/Continuation:  a Notice of Conversion/Continuation to be provided by Borrower Agent to request a conversion or continuation of any Loans as LIBOR Loans, in form satisfactory to Agent.

 

Obligations:  all (a) principal of and premium, if any, on the Loans, (b) LC Obligations and other obligations of Obligors with respect to Letters of Credit, (c) interest, expenses, fees and other sums payable by Obligors under the Loan Documents, (d) obligations of Obligors under any indemnity for Claims, (e) Extraordinary Expenses, (f) Bank Product Debt, and (g) other Debts, obligations and liabilities of any kind owing by Obligors pursuant to the Loan Documents, whether now existing or hereafter arising, whether evidenced by a note or other writing, whether allowed in any Insolvency Proceeding, whether arising from an extension of credit, issuance of a letter of credit, acceptance, loan, guaranty, indemnification or otherwise, and whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, primary or secondary, or joint or several.

 

Obligor:  each Borrower, Guarantor, or other Person that is liable for payment of any Obligations or that has granted a Lien in favor of Agent on its assets to secure any Obligations.

 

Ordinary Course of Business:  the ordinary course of business of any Borrower or Subsidiary, consistent with past practices and undertaken in good faith.

 

Organic Documents:  with respect to any Person, its charter, certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws, articles of organization, limited liability agreement, operating agreement, members agreement, shareholders agreement, partnership agreement, certificate of partnership, certificate of formation, voting trust agreement, or similar agreement or instrument governing the formation or operation of such Person.

 

OSHA:  the Occupational Safety and Hazard Act of 1970.

 

Other Agreement:  each Note; LC Document; Fee Letter; Lien Waiver; Borrowing Base Certificate, Compliance Certificate, financial statement or report delivered hereunder; or other document, instrument or agreement (other than this Agreement or a Security Document) now or hereafter delivered by an Obligor or other Person to Agent or a Lender in connection with any transactions relating hereto.

 

Other Taxes:  all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made under any Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document.

 

  

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Overadvance:  as defined in Section 2.1.4.

 

Overadvance Loan:  a Base Rate Revolver Loan made when an Overadvance exists or is caused by the funding thereof.

 

Participant:  as defined in Section 13.2.

 

Patent Assignment:  each patent collateral assignment agreement pursuant to which an Obligor assigns to Agent, for the benefit of Secured Parties, such Obligor’s interests in its patents, as security for the Obligations.

 

Patriot Act:  the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Pub. L. No. 107-56, 115 Stat. 272 (2001).

 

Payment Item:  each check, draft or other item of payment payable to a Borrower, including those constituting proceeds of any Collateral.

 

PBGC:  the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

 

Pension Plan:  any employee pension benefit plan (as such term is defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), other than a Multiemployer Plan, that is subject to Title IV of ERISA and is sponsored or maintained by any Obligor or ERISA Affiliate or to which the Obligor or ERISA Affiliate contributes or has an obligation to contribute, or in the case of a multiple employer or other plan described in Section 4064(a) of ERISA, has made contributions at any time during the preceding five plan years.

 

Participating Lender:  each Person who shall be granted the right by any Lender to participate in any of the Loans described in the Agreement and who shall have entered into a participation agreement in form and substance satisfactory to such Lender.

 

Permitted Acquisition(s):  means any acquisition(s) by a Borrower of all or substantially all of the assets or outstanding capital stock or other ownership interests of a Person, or an operating division of a Person or a merger of a Person with a Borrower, which in either case, constitutes a business unit so long as each of the following conditions precedent (collectively, the “Acquisition Conditions”) have been fulfilled to the reasonable satisfaction of Agent:  (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such acquisition or would occur as a result thereof; (ii) the business unit being acquired (the “Target”) is primarily located in the United States of America and is in the same or related line of business as Borrower Agent; (iii) immediately after giving effect to any such Acquisition, Borrowers shall be in compliance with Section 10.1.9; (iv) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be greater than or equal to 1.10 to 1 (x) for the twelve-month period immediately preceding the making of such acquisition, and (y)  on a pro forma basis for the twelve-month period following the making of such acquisition, after giving effect to the making of such acquisition, such pro forma calculation to be demonstrated to Agent and to be reasonably acceptable to Agent based on projections prepared using reasonable assumptions by Borrower; (v) Availability was or will not be less than $15,000,000 at any time within the 90 days immediately prior to the date of the consummation of the proposed Acquisition or after giving effect to such Acquisition; (vi) all conditions precedent to the consummation of the transactions under such acquisition shall have been satisfied in all material respects; and (vii) Agent shall have received a copy of the purchase agreement with respect to such Permitted Acquisition, certified as true and correct by Borrower Agent and such other agreements, documents, and instruments as Agent may reasonably request.

 

  

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Permitted Asset Disposition:  as long as no Default or Event of Default exists and, during a Trigger Period, all Net Proceeds are remitted to Agent, an Asset Disposition that is (a) a sale of Inventory in the Ordinary Course of Business; (b) a disposition of Equipment that, in the aggregate during any 12 month period, has a fair market or book value (whichever is more) of $100,000 or less; (c) a disposition of Inventory that is obsolete, unmerchantable or otherwise unsalable in the Ordinary Course of Business; (d) termination of a lease of real or personal Property that is not necessary for the Ordinary Course of Business, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and does not result from an Obligor’s default; or (e) approved in writing by Agent and Required Lenders.

 

Permitted Contingent Obligations:  Contingent Obligations (a) arising from endorsements of Payment Items for collection or deposit in the Ordinary Course of Business; (b) arising from Hedging Agreements permitted hereunder; (c) existing on the Closing Date, and any extension or renewal thereof that does not increase the amount of such Contingent Obligation when extended or renewed; (d) incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business with respect to surety, appeal or performance bonds, or other similar obligations; (e) arising from customary indemnification obligations in favor of purchasers in connection with Permitted Asset Dispositions; or (f) arising under the Loan Documents.

 

Permitted Lien:  as defined in Section 10.2.2.

 

Permitted Purchase Money Debt:  Purchase Money Debt of Borrowers and Subsidiaries that is unsecured or secured only by a Purchase Money Lien, as long as the aggregate amount does not exceed $3,000,000 at any time and its incurrence does not violate Section 10.2.2.

 

Person:  any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, joint stock company, land trust, business trust, unincorporated organization, Governmental Authority or other entity.

 

Plan:  any employee benefit plan (as such term is defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA) established by an Obligor or, with respect to any such plan that is subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA, an ERISA Affiliate.

 

  

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Prime Rate:  the rate of interest announced by Agent from time to time as its prime rate.  Such rate is set by Agent on the basis of various factors, including its costs and desired return, general economic conditions and other factors, and is used as a reference point for pricing some loans, which may be priced at, above or below such rate.  Any change in such rate announced by Agent shall take effect at the opening of business on the day specified in the public announcement of such change.

 

Pro Rata:  with respect to any Lender, a percentage (carried out to the ninth decimal place) determined (a) while Revolver Commitments are outstanding, by dividing the amount of such Lender’s Revolver Commitment by the aggregate amount of all Revolver Commitments; and (b) at any other time, by dividing the amount of such Lender’s Loans and LC Obligations by the aggregate amount of all outstanding Loans and LC Obligations.

 

Properly Contested:  with respect to any obligation of an Obligor, (a) the obligation is subject to a bona fide dispute regarding amount or the Obligor’s liability to pay; (b) the obligation is being properly contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently pursued; (c) appropriate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP; (d) non-payment could not have a Material Adverse Effect, nor result in forfeiture or sale of any assets of the Obligor; (e) no Lien is imposed on assets of the Obligor, unless bonded and stayed to the satisfaction of Agent; and (f) if the obligation results from entry of a judgment or other order, such judgment or order is stayed pending appeal or other judicial review.

 

Property:  any interest in any kind of property or asset, whether real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible.

 

Protective Advances:  as defined in Section 2.1.5.

 

Purchase Money Debt:  (a) Debt (other than the Obligations) for payment of any of the purchase price of fixed assets; (b) Debt (other than the Obligations) incurred within 10 days before or after acquisition of any fixed assets, for the purpose of financing any of the purchase price thereof; and (c) any renewals, extensions or refinancings (but not increases) thereof.

 

Purchase Money Lien:  a Lien that secures Purchase Money Debt, encumbering only the fixed assets acquired with such Debt and constituting a Capital Lease or a purchase money security interest under the UCC.

 

RCRA:  the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. §§ 6991-6991i).

 

Real Estate:  all right, title and interest (whether as owner, lessor or lessee) in any real Property or any buildings, structures, parking areas or other improvements thereon.

 

Refinancing Conditions:  the following conditions for Refinancing Debt:   (a) it is in an aggregate principal amount that does not exceed the principal amount of the Debt being extended, renewed or refinanced; (b) it has a final maturity no sooner than, a weighted average life no less than, and an interest rate no greater than, the Debt being extended, renewed or refinanced; (c) it is subordinated to the Obligations at least to the same extent as the Debt being extended, renewed or refinanced; (d) the representations, covenants and defaults applicable to it are no less favorable to Borrowers than those applicable to the Debt being extended, renewed or refinanced; (e) no additional Lien is granted to secure it; (f) no additional Person is obligated on such Debt; and (g) upon giving effect to it, no Default or Event of Default exists.

 

  

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Refinancing Debt:  Borrowed Money that is the result of an extension, renewal or refinancing of Debt permitted under Section 10.2.1(e) or (h).

 

Reimbursement Date:  as defined in Section 2.3.2.

 

Rent and Charges Reserve:  the aggregate of (a) all past due rent and other amounts owing by an Obligor to any landlord, warehouseman, processor, repairman, mechanic, shipper, freight forwarder, broker or other Person who possesses any Collateral or could assert a Lien on any Collateral; and (b) a reserve at least equal to three months rent and other charges that could be payable to any such Person, unless it has executed a Lien Waiver.

 

Report:  as defined in Section 12.2.3.

 

Reportable Event:  any of the events set forth in Section 4043(c) of ERISA, other than events for which the 30 day notice period has been waived.

 

Required Lenders:  Lenders (subject to Section 4.2) having (a) Revolver Commitments in excess of 50% of the aggregate Revolver Commitments; and (b) if the Revolver Commitments have terminated, Loans in excess of 50% of all outstanding Loans; provided that in each case, if there are 2 or more Lenders with outstanding Loans or Revolver Commitments, at least 2 Lenders shall be required to constitute Required Lenders.

 

Reserve Percentage:  the reserve percentage (expressed as a decimal, rounded up to the nearest 1/8th of 1%) applicable to member banks under regulations issued from time to time by the Board of Governors for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including any emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) with respect to Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency liabilities”).

 

Restricted Investment:  any Investment by a Borrower or Subsidiary, other than (a) Investments in Subsidiaries to the extent existing on the Closing Date; (b) Cash Equivalents that are subject to Agent’s Lien and control, pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to Agent; (c) loans and advances permitted under Section 10.2.7; and (d) Investments in Permitted Acquisitions.

 

Restrictive Agreement:  an agreement (other than a Loan Document) that conditions or restricts the right of any Borrower, Subsidiary or other Obligor to incur or repay Borrowed Money, to grant Liens on any assets, to declare or make Distributions, to modify, extend or renew any agreement evidencing Borrowed Money, or to repay any intercompany Debt.

 

  

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Revolver Commitment:  for any Lender, its obligation to make Revolver Loans and to participate in LC Obligations up to the maximum principal amount shown on Schedule 1.1, or as hereafter determined pursuant to each Assignment and Acceptance to which it is a party.  “Revolver Commitments” means the aggregate amount of such commitments of all Lenders.

 

Revolver Loan:  a loan made pursuant to Section 2.1.1, and any Swingline Loan, Overadvance Loan or Protective Advance.

 

Revolver Note:  a promissory note to be executed by Borrowers in favor of a Lender in the form of Exhibit A, which shall be in the amount of such Lender’s Revolver Commitment and shall evidence the Revolver Loans made by such Lender.

 

Revolver Termination Date:  September 30, 2016.

 

Royalties:  all royalties, fees, expense reimbursement and other amounts payable by a Borrower under a License.

 

S&P:  Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and its successors.

 

Secured Parties:  Agent, Issuing Bank, Lenders and providers of Bank Products.

 

Security Documents:  the Guaranty, Patent Assignments, Trademark Security Agreements, Deposit Account Control Agreements, and all other documents, instruments and agreements now or hereafter securing (or given with the intent to secure) any Obligations.

 

Senior Officer:  the chairman of the board, president, chief executive officer or chief financial officer of a Borrower or, if the context requires, an Obligor.

 

Settlement Report:  a report delivered by Agent to Lenders summarizing the Revolver Loans and participations in LC Obligations outstanding as of a given settlement date, allocated to Lenders on a Pro Rata basis in accordance with their Revolver Commitments.

 

Solvent:  as to any Person, such Person (a) owns Property whose fair salable value is greater than the amount required to pay all of its debts (including contingent, subordinated, unmatured and unliquidated liabilities); (b) owns Property whose present fair salable value (as defined below) is greater than the probable total liabilities (including contingent, subordinated, unmatured and unliquidated liabilities) of such Person as they become absolute and matured; (c) is able to pay all of its debts as they mature; (d) has capital that is not unreasonably small for its business and is sufficient to carry on its business and transactions and all business and transactions in which it is about to engage; (e) is not “insolvent” within the meaning of Section 101(32) of the Bankruptcy Code; and (f) has not incurred (by way of assumption or otherwise) any obligations or liabilities (contingent or otherwise) under any Loan Documents, or made any conveyance in connection therewith, with actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud either present or future creditors of such Person or any of its Affiliates.  “Fair salable value” means the amount that could be obtained for assets within a reasonable time, either through collection or through sale under ordinary selling conditions by a capable and diligent seller to an interested buyer who is willing (but under no compulsion) to purchase.

 

  

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Subordinated Debt:  Debt incurred by a Borrower that is expressly subordinate and junior in right of payment to Full Payment of all Obligations, and is on terms (including maturity, interest, fees, repayment, covenants and subordination) satisfactory to Agent.

 

Subsidiary:  any entity at least 50% of whose voting securities or Equity Interests is owned by a Borrower or any combination of Borrowers (including indirect ownership by a Borrower through other entities in which the Borrower directly or indirectly owns at least 50% of the voting securities or Equity Interests).

 

Swingline Loan:  any Borrowing of Base Rate Revolver Loans funded with Agent’s funds, until such Borrowing is settled among Lenders pursuant to Section 4.1.3.

 

Taxes:  all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings, assessments, fees or other charges imposed by any Governmental Authority, including any interest, additions to tax or penalties applicable thereto.

 

Trademark Security Agreement:  each trademark security agreement pursuant to which an Obligor grants to Agent, for the benefit of Secured Parties, a Lien on such Obligor’s interests in trademarks, as security for the Obligations.

 

Transferee:  any actual or potential Eligible Assignee, Participant or other Person acquiring an interest in any Obligations.

 

Trigger Period:  the period (a) commencing on the day that an Event of Default occurs, or Availability is less than $12,500,000 at any time; and (b) continuing until, during the preceding 60 consecutive days, no Event of Default has existed and Availability has been greater than $12,500,000 at all times; provided, however, that Trigger Periods shall not terminate more than twice within any Fiscal Year.

 

Type:  the character of a Loan (Base Rate Loan or LIBOR Loan).

 

UCC:  the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of Illinois or, when the laws of any other jurisdiction govern the perfection or enforcement of any Lien, the Uniform Commercial Code of such jurisdiction.

 

Unfunded Pension Liability:  the excess of a Pension Plan’s benefit liabilities under Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA, over the current value of that Pension Plan’s assets, determined in accordance with the assumptions used for funding the Pension Plan pursuant to Section 412 of the Code for the applicable plan year.

 

  

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Unused Line Fee Applicable Margin:  the margin set forth below, as determined quarterly based on the average daily balance (said average daily balance hereinafter “Average Utilization”) of Revolver Loans and the stated amount of outstanding Letters of Credit during said Fiscal Quarter:

 

	

Level

	 	

Average Utilization

	 	

Unused Line Fee

Applicable Margin

	 
	 I	 	
> 50% of Revolver Commitments

	 	 	0.25	%
	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	
II

	 	
< 50% of Revolver Commitments

	 	 	0.30	%

Until January 1, 2012, margins shall be determined as if Level I were applicable.  Thereafter, the margins shall be subject to increase or decrease upon the first day of each Fiscal Quarter based on Average Utilization for the immediately preceding Fiscal Quarter.

Upstream Payment:  a Distribution by a Subsidiary of a Borrower to such Borrower.

 

Value:  (a) for Inventory, its value determined on the basis of the lower of cost or market, calculated on a first-in, first out basis, and excluding any portion of cost attributable to intercompany profit among Borrowers and their Affiliates; and (b) for an Account, its face amount, net of any returns, rebates, discounts (calculated on the shortest terms), credits, allowances or Taxes (including sales, excise or other taxes) that have been or could be claimed by the Account Debtor or any other Person.

 

1.2           Accounting Terms.  Under the Loan Documents (except as otherwise specified herein), all accounting terms shall be interpreted, all accounting determinations shall be made, and all financial statements shall be prepared, in accordance with GAAP applied on a basis consistent with the most recent audited financial statements of Borrowers delivered to Agent before the Closing Date and using the same inventory valuation method as used in such financial statements, except for any change required or permitted by GAAP if Borrowers’ certified public accountants concur in such change, the change is disclosed to Agent, and Section 10.3 is amended in a manner satisfactory to Required Lenders to take into account the effects of the change.

 

1.3           Uniform Commercial Code.  As used herein, the following terms are defined in accordance with the UCC in effect in the State of Illinois from time to time:  “Chattel Paper,” “Commercial Tort Claim,” “Deposit Account,” “Document,” “Equipment,” “General Intangibles,” “Goods,” “Instrument,” “Investment Property,” “Letter-of-Credit Right” and “Supporting Obligation.”

 

  

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1.4           Certain Matters of Construction.  The terms “herein,” “hereof,” “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section, paragraph or subdivision.  Any pronoun used shall be deemed to cover all genders.  In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, “from” means “from and including,” and “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding.”  The terms “including” and “include” shall mean “including, without limitation” and, for purposes of each Loan Document, the parties agree that the rule of ejusdem generis shall not be applicable to limit any provision.  Section titles appear as a matter of convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation of any Loan Document.  All references to (a) laws or statutes include all related rules, regulations, interpretations, amendments and successor provisions; (b) any document, instrument or agreement include any amendments, waivers and other modifications, extensions or renewals (to the extent permitted by the Loan Documents); (c) any section mean, unless the context otherwise requires, a section of this Agreement; (d) any exhibits or schedules mean, unless the context otherwise requires, exhibits and schedules attached hereto, which are hereby incorporated by reference; (e) any Person include successors and assigns; (f) time of day mean time of day at Agent’s notice address under Section 14.3.1; and (g) discretion of Agent, Issuing Bank or any Lender mean the sole and absolute discretion of such Person exercised in good faith.  All calculations of Value, fundings of Loans, issuances of Letters of Credit and payments of Obligations shall be in Dollars and, unless the context otherwise requires, all determinations (including calculations of Borrowing Base and financial covenants) made from time to time under the Loan Documents shall be made in light of the circumstances existing at such time.  Borrowing Base calculations shall be consistent with historical methods of valuation and calculation, and otherwise satisfactory to Agent (and not necessarily calculated in accordance with GAAP).  Borrowers shall have the burden of establishing any alleged negligence, misconduct or lack of good faith by Agent, Issuing Bank or any Lender under any Loan Documents.  No provision of any Loan Documents shall be construed against any party by reason of such party having, or being deemed to have, drafted the provision.  Whenever the phrase “to the best of Borrowers’ knowledge” or words of similar import are used in any Loan Documents, it means actual knowledge of a Senior Officer, or knowledge that a Senior Officer would have obtained if he or she had engaged in good faith and diligent performance of his or her duties, including reasonably specific inquiries of employees or agents and a good faith attempt to ascertain the matter to which such phrase relates.

 

SECTION 2.  CREDIT FACILITIES

 

2.1         Revolver Commitment.

 

2.1.1                Revolver Loans.  Each Lender agrees, severally on a Pro Rata basis up to its Revolver Commitment, on the terms set forth herein, to make Revolver Loans to Borrowers from time to time through the Commitment Termination Date.  The Revolver Loans may be repaid and reborrowed as provided herein.  In no event shall Lenders have any obligation to honor a request for a Revolver Loan if the unpaid balance of Revolver Loans outstanding at such time (including the requested Loan) would exceed the Borrowing Base.

 

2.1.2                Revolver Notes.  The Revolver Loans made by each Lender and interest accruing thereon shall be evidenced by the records of Agent and such Lender.  At the request of any Lender, Borrowers shall deliver a Revolver Note to such Lender.

  

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2.1.3                Use of Proceeds.  The proceeds of Revolver Loans shall be used by Borrowers solely (a) to pay fees and transaction expenses associated with the closing of this credit facility; (b) to pay Obligations in accordance with this Agreement; (c) for working capital and other lawful corporate purposes of Borrowers; and (d) for Permitted Acquisitions.

 

2.1.4                Overadvances.  If the aggregate Revolver Loans exceed the Borrowing Base (“Overadvance”) at any time, the excess amount shall be payable by Borrowers on demand by Agent, but all such Revolver Loans shall nevertheless constitute Obligations secured by the Collateral and entitled to all benefits of the Loan Documents.  Unless its authority has been revoked in writing by Required Lenders, Agent may require Lenders to honor requests for Overadvance Loans and to forbear from requiring Borrowers to cure an Overadvance, (a) when no Event of Default (other than an Event of Default caused by such Overadvance) is known to Agent, as long as (i) the Overadvance does not continue for more than 30 consecutive days (and no Overadvance may exist for at least five consecutive days thereafter before further Overadvance Loans are required), and (ii) the Overadvance is not known by Agent to exceed 10% of the Borrowing Base; and (b) regardless of whether an Event of Default exists, if Agent discovers an Overadvance not previously known by it to exist, as long as from the date of such discovery the Overadvance (i) is not increased by more than $1,000,000, and (ii) does not continue for more than 30 consecutive days.  In no event shall Overadvance Loans be required that would cause the outstanding Revolver Loans and LC Obligations to exceed the aggregate Revolver Commitments.  Any funding of an Overadvance Loan or sufferance of an Overadvance shall not constitute a waiver by Agent or Lenders of any Event of Default that may be caused thereby.  In no event shall any Borrower or other Obligor be deemed a beneficiary of this Section nor authorized to enforce any of its terms.

 

2.1.5                Protective Advances.  Agent shall be authorized, in its discretion, at any time that any conditions in Section 6 are not satisfied, and without regard to the aggregate Commitments, to make Base Rate Revolver Loans (“Protective Advances”) (a) up to an amount which when aggregated with existing Overadvances shall not exceed 10% of the Borrowing Base, if Agent deems such Loans necessary or desirable to preserve or protect Collateral, or to enhance the collectibility or repayment of Obligations; or (b) to pay any other amounts chargeable to Obligors under any Loan Documents, including costs, fees and expenses.  Each Lender shall participate in each Protective Advance on a Pro Rata basis.  Required Lenders may at any time revoke Agent’s authority to make further Protective Advances by written notice to Agent.  Absent such revocation, Agent’s determination that funding of a Protective Advance is appropriate shall be conclusive.

  

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2.1.6                Voluntary Reduction or Termination of Revolver Commitments.

 

(a)           The Revolver Commitments shall terminate on the Revolver Termination Date, unless sooner terminated in accordance with this Agreement.  Upon at least 90 days prior written notice to Agent at any time after the first Loan Year, Borrowers may, at their option, terminate the Revolver Commitments and this credit facility.  Any notice of termination given by Borrowers shall be irrevocable.  On the termination date, Borrowers shall make Full Payment of all Obligations.

 

(b)           Borrowers may permanently reduce the Revolver Commitments, on a Pro Rata basis for each Lender, upon at least 90 days prior written notice to Agent, which notice shall specify the amount of the reduction and shall be irrevocable once given.  Each reduction shall be in a minimum amount of $10,000,000, or an increment of $5,000,000 in excess thereof.

 

2.2         Reserved.

 

2.3         Letter of Credit Facility.

 

2.3.1                Issuance of Letters of Credit.  Issuing Bank agrees to issue Letters of Credit from time to time until 30 days prior to the Revolver Termination Date (or until the Commitment Termination Date, if earlier), on the terms set forth herein, including the following:

 

(a)           Each Borrower acknowledges that Issuing Bank’s willingness to issue any Letter of Credit is conditioned upon Issuing Bank’s receipt of a LC Application with respect to the requested Letter of Credit, as well as such other instruments and agreements as Issuing Bank may customarily require for issuance of a letter of credit of similar type and amount.  Issuing Bank shall have no obligation to issue any Letter of Credit unless (i) Issuing Bank receives a LC Request and LC Application at least three Business Days prior to the requested date of issuance; (ii) each LC Condition is satisfied; and (iii) if a Defaulting Lender exists, such Defaulting Lender or Borrowers have entered into arrangements satisfactory to Agent and Issuing Bank to eliminate any funding risk associated with the Defaulting Lender.  If Issuing Bank receives written notice from a Lender at least five Business Days before issuance of a Letter of Credit that any LC Condition has not been satisfied, Issuing Bank shall have no obligation to issue the requested Letter of Credit (or any other) until such notice is withdrawn in writing by that Lender or until Required Lenders have waived such condition in accordance with this Agreement.  Prior to receipt of any such notice, Issuing Bank shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any failure of LC Conditions.

  

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(b)           Letters of Credit may be requested by a Borrower only (i) to support obligations of such Borrower incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business; or (ii) for other purposes as Agent and Lenders may approve in its reasonable discretion from time to time in writing.  The renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit shall be treated as the issuance of a new Letter of Credit, except that delivery of a new LC Application shall be required at the discretion of Issuing Bank.

 

(c)           Borrowers assume all risks of the acts, omissions or misuses of any Letter of Credit by the beneficiary.  In connection with issuance of any Letter of Credit, none of Agent, Issuing Bank or any Lender shall be responsible for the existence, character, quality, quantity, condition, packing, value or delivery of any goods purported to be represented by any Documents; any differences or variation in the character, quality, quantity, condition, packing, value or delivery of any goods from that expressed in any Documents; the form, validity, sufficiency, accuracy, genuineness or legal effect of any Documents or of any endorsements thereon; the time, place, manner or order in which shipment of goods is made; partial or incomplete shipment of, or failure to ship, any goods referred to in a Letter of Credit or Documents; any deviation from instructions, delay, default or fraud by any shipper or other Person in connection with any goods, shipment or delivery; any breach of contract between a shipper or vendor and a Borrower; errors, omissions, interruptions or delays in transmission or delivery of any messages, by mail, cable, telegraph, telex, telecopy, e-mail, telephone or otherwise; errors in interpretation of technical terms; the misapplication by a beneficiary of any Letter of Credit or the proceeds thereof; or any consequences arising from causes beyond the control of Issuing Bank, Agent or any Lender, including any act or omission of a Governmental Authority.  The rights and remedies of Issuing Bank under the Loan Documents shall be cumulative.  Issuing Bank shall be fully subrogated to the rights and remedies of each beneficiary whose claims against Borrowers are discharged with proceeds of any Letter of Credit.

 

(d)           In connection with its administration of and enforcement of rights or remedies under any Letters of Credit or LC Documents, Issuing Bank shall be entitled to act, and shall be fully protected in acting, upon any certification, documentation or communication in whatever form believed by Issuing Bank, in good faith, to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by a proper Person.  Issuing Bank may consult with and employ legal counsel, accountants and other experts to advise it concerning its obligations, rights and remedies, and shall be entitled to act upon, and shall be fully protected in any action taken in good faith reliance upon, any advice given by such experts.  Issuing Bank may employ agents and attorneys-in-fact in connection with any matter relating to Letters of Credit or LC Documents, and shall not be liable for the negligence or misconduct of agents and attorneys-in-fact selected with reasonable care.

  

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2.3.2                Reimbursement; Participations.

 

(a)           If Issuing Bank honors any request for payment under a Letter of Credit, Borrowers shall pay to Issuing Bank, on the same day (“Reimbursement Date”), the amount paid by Issuing Bank under such Letter of Credit, together with interest at the interest rate for Base Rate Revolver Loans from the Reimbursement Date until payment by Borrowers.  The obligation of Borrowers to reimburse Issuing Bank for any payment made under a Letter of Credit shall be absolute, unconditional, irrevocable, and joint and several, and shall be paid without regard to any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or the existence of any claim, setoff, defense or other right that Borrowers may have at any time against the beneficiary.  Whether or not Borrower Agent submits a Notice of Borrowing, Borrowers shall be deemed to have requested a Borrowing of Base Rate Revolver Loans in an amount necessary to pay all amounts due Issuing Bank on any Reimbursement Date and each Lender agrees to fund its Pro Rata share of such Borrowing whether or not the Commitments have terminated, an Overadvance exists or is created thereby, or the conditions in Section 6 are satisfied.

 

(b)           Upon issuance of a Letter of Credit, each Lender shall be deemed to have irrevocably and unconditionally purchased from Issuing Bank, without recourse or warranty, an undivided Pro Rata interest and participation in all LC Obligations relating to the Letter of Credit.  If Issuing Bank makes any payment under a Letter of Credit and Borrowers do not reimburse such payment on the Reimbursement Date, Agent shall promptly notify Lenders and each Lender shall promptly (within one Business Day) and unconditionally pay to Agent, for the benefit of Issuing Bank, the Lender’s Pro Rata share of such payment.  Upon request by a Lender, Issuing Bank shall furnish copies of any Letters of Credit and LC Documents in its possession at such time.

 

(c)           The obligation of each Lender to make payments to Agent for the account of Issuing Bank in connection with Issuing Bank’s payment under a Letter of Credit shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, not subject to any counterclaim, setoff, qualification or exception whatsoever, and shall be made in accordance with this Agreement under all circumstances, irrespective of any lack of validity or unenforceability of any Loan Documents; any draft, certificate or other document presented under a Letter of Credit having been determined to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; or the existence of any setoff or defense that any Obligor may have with respect to any Obligations.  Issuing Bank does not assume any responsibility for any failure or delay in performance or any breach by any Borrower or other Person of any obligations under any LC Documents.  Issuing Bank does not make to Lenders any express or implied warranty, representation or guaranty with respect to the Collateral, LC Documents or any Obligor.  Issuing Bank shall not be responsible to any Lender for any recitals, statements, information, representations or warranties contained in, or for the execution, validity, genuineness, effectiveness or enforceability of any LC Documents; the validity, genuineness, enforceability, collectibility, value or sufficiency of any Collateral or the perfection of any Lien therein; or the assets, liabilities, financial condition, results of operations, business, creditworthiness or legal status of any Obligor.

  

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(d)           No Issuing Bank Indemnitee shall be liable to any Lender or other Person for any action taken or omitted to be taken in connection with any LC Documents except as a result of its actual gross negligence or willful misconduct.  Issuing Bank shall not have any liability to any Lender if Issuing Bank refrains from any action under any Letter of Credit or LC Documents until it receives written instructions from Required Lenders.

 

2.3.3                Cash Collateral.  If any LC Obligations, whether or not then due or payable, shall for any reason be outstanding at any time (a) that an Event of Default exists, (b) that Availability is less than zero, (c) after the Commitment Termination Date, or (d) within 20 Business Days prior to the Revolver Termination Date, then Borrowers shall, at Issuing Bank’s or Agent’s request, Cash Collateralize the stated amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit and pay to Issuing Bank the amount of all other LC Obligations.  Borrowers shall, on demand by Issuing Bank or Agent from time to time, Cash Collateralize the LC Obligations of any Defaulting Lender.  If Borrowers fail to provide Cash Collateral as required herein, Lenders may (and shall upon direction of Agent) advance, as Revolver Loans, the amount of the Cash Collateral required (whether or not the Commitments have terminated, an Overadvance exists or the conditions in Section 6 are satisfied).

 

SECTION 3.  INTEREST, FEES AND CHARGES

 

3.1         Interest.

 

3.1.1                Rates and Payment of Interest.

 

(a)           The Obligations shall bear interest (i) if a Base Rate Loan, at the Base Rate in effect from time to time, plus the Applicable Margin; (ii) if a LIBOR Loan, at LIBOR for the applicable Interest Period, plus the Applicable Margin; and (iii) if any other Obligation (including, to the extent permitted by law, interest not paid when due), at the Base Rate in effect from time to time, plus the Applicable Margin for Base Rate Revolver Loans.  Interest shall accrue from the date the Loan is advanced or the Obligation is incurred or payable, until paid by Borrowers.  If a Loan is repaid on the same day made, one day’s interest shall accrue.

  

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(b)           During an Insolvency Proceeding with respect to any Borrower, or during any other Event of Default if Agent or Required Lenders in their discretion so elect, Obligations shall bear interest at the Default Rate (whether before or after any judgment).  Each Borrower acknowledges that the cost and expense to Agent and Lenders due to an Event of Default are difficult to ascertain and that the Default Rate is a fair and reasonable estimate to compensate Agent and Lenders for this.

 

(c)           Interest accrued on the Loans shall be due and payable in arrears, (i) on the first day of each month; (ii) on any date of prepayment, with respect to the principal amount of Loans being prepaid; and (iii) on the Commitment Termination Date.  Interest accrued on any other Obligations shall be due and payable as provided in the Loan Documents and, if no payment date is specified, shall be due and payable on demand.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, interest accrued at the Default Rate shall be due and payable on demand.

 

3.1.2                Application of LIBOR to Outstanding Loans.

 

(a)           Borrowers may on any Business Day, subject to delivery of a Notice of Conversion/Continuation, elect to convert any portion of the Base Rate Loans to, or to continue any LIBOR Loan at the end of its Interest Period as, a LIBOR Loan.  During any Default or Event of Default, Agent may (and shall at the direction of Required Lenders) declare that no Loan may be made, converted or continued as a LIBOR Loan.

 

(b)           Whenever Borrowers desire to convert or continue Loans as LIBOR Loans, Borrower Agent shall give Agent a Notice of Conversion/Continuation, no later than 11:00 a.m. at least three Business Days before the requested conversion or continuation date.  Promptly after receiving any such notice, Agent shall notify each Lender thereof.  Each Notice of Conversion/Continuation shall be irrevocable, and shall specify the amount of Loans to be converted or continued, the conversion or continuation date (which shall be a Business Day), and the duration of the Interest Period (which shall be deemed to be 30 days if not specified).  If, upon the expiration of any Interest Period in respect of any LIBOR Loans, Borrowers shall have failed to deliver a Notice of Conversion/Continuation, they shall be deemed to have elected to convert such Loans into Base Rate Loans.

  

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3.1.3                Interest Periods.  In connection with the making, conversion or continuation of any LIBOR Loans, Borrowers shall select an interest period (“Interest Period”) to apply, which interest period shall be one, 30, 60, 90 or 180 days; provided, however, that:

 

(a)           the Interest Period shall commence on the date the Loan is made or continued as, or converted into, a LIBOR Loan, and shall expire on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at its end;

 

(b)           if any Interest Period commences on a day for which there is no corresponding day in the calendar month at its end or if such corresponding day falls after the last Business Day of such month, then the Interest Period shall expire on the last Business Day of such month; and if any Interest Period would expire on a day that is not a Business Day, the period shall expire on the next Business Day; and

 

(c)           no Interest Period shall extend beyond the Revolver Termination Date.

 

3.1.4                Interest Rate Not Ascertainable.  If Agent shall determine that on any date for determining LIBOR, due to any circumstance affecting the London interbank market, adequate and fair means do not exist for ascertaining such rate on the basis provided herein, then Agent shall immediately notify Borrowers of such determination.  Until Agent notifies Borrowers that such circumstance no longer exists, the obligation of Lenders to make LIBOR Loans shall be suspended, and no further Loans may be converted into or continued as LIBOR Loans.

 

3.2         Fees.

 

3.2.1                Unused Line Fee.  Borrowers shall pay to Agent, for the Pro Rata benefit of Lenders, a fee equal to the Unused Line Fee Applicable Margin per annum times the amount by which the Revolver Commitments exceed the average daily balance of Revolver Loans and stated amount of Letters of Credit during any month.  Such fee shall be payable in arrears, on the first day of each month and on the Commitment Termination Date.

 

3.2.2                LC Facility Fees.  Borrowers shall pay (a) to Agent, for the Pro Rata benefit of Lenders, a fee equal to the Applicable Margin in effect for LIBOR Revolver Loans times the average daily stated amount of Letters of Credit, which fee shall be payable monthly in arrears, on the first day of each month; (b) to Agent, for its own account, a fronting fee equal to 0.25% per annum on the stated amount of each outstanding Letter of Credit, which fee shall be payable monthly in arrears, on the first day of each month; and (c) to Issuing Bank, for its own account, all customary charges associated with the issuance, amending, negotiating, payment, processing, transfer and administration of Letters of Credit, which charges shall be paid as and when incurred.  During an Event of Default, the fee payable under clause (a) shall be increased by 2% per annum.

  

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3.2.3                Agent Fees.  In consideration of Agent’s syndication of the Commitments and service as Agent hereunder, Borrowers shall pay to Agent, for its own account, the fees described in the Fee Letter.

 

3.3         Computation of Interest, Fees, Yield Protection.  All interest, as well as fees and other charges calculated on a per annum basis, shall be computed for the actual days elapsed, based on a year of 360 days.  Each determination by Agent of any interest, fees or interest rate hereunder shall be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.  All fees shall be fully earned when due and shall not be subject to rebate, refund or proration.  All fees payable under Section 3.2 are compensation for services and are not, and shall not be deemed to be, interest or any other charge for the use, forbearance or detention of money.  A certificate as to amounts payable by Borrowers under Section 3.4, 3.6, 3.7, 3.9 or 5.9, submitted to Borrower Agent by Agent or the affected Lender, as applicable, shall be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error, and Borrowers shall pay such amounts to the appropriate party within 10 days following receipt of the certificate.

 

3.4         Reimbursement Obligations. Borrowers shall reimburse Agent for all Extraordinary Expenses.  Borrowers shall also reimburse Agent for all reasonable legal, accounting, appraisal, consulting, and other fees, costs and expenses incurred by it in connection with (a) negotiation and preparation of any Loan Documents, including any amendment or other modification thereof; (b) administration of and actions relating to any Collateral, Loan Documents and transactions contemplated thereby, including any actions taken to perfect or maintain priority of Agent’s Liens on any Collateral, to maintain any insurance required hereunder or to verify Collateral; and (c) subject to the limits of Section 10.1.1(b), each inspection, audit or appraisal with respect to any Obligor or Collateral, whether prepared by Agent’s personnel or a third party.  If, for any reason (including inaccurate reporting on financial statements or a Compliance Certificate), it is determined that a higher Applicable Margin should have applied to a period than was actually applied, then the proper margin shall be applied retroactively and Borrowers shall immediately pay to Agent, for the Pro Rata benefit of Lenders, an amount equal to the difference between the amount of interest and fees that would have accrued using the proper margin and the amount actually paid.  All amounts payable by Borrowers under this Section shall be due on demand.

 

3.5         Illegality.  If any Lender determines that any Applicable Law has made it unlawful, or that any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make, maintain or fund LIBOR Loans, or to determine or charge interest rates based upon LIBOR, or any Governmental Authority has imposed material restrictions on the authority of such Lender to purchase or sell, or to take deposits of, Dollars in the London interbank market, then, on notice thereof by such Lender to Agent, any obligation of such Lender to make or continue LIBOR Loans or to convert Base Rate Loans to LIBOR Loans shall be suspended until such Lender notifies Agent that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist.  Upon delivery of such notice, Borrowers shall prepay or, if applicable, convert all LIBOR Loans of such Lender to Base Rate Loans, either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such LIBOR Loans to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such LIBOR Loans.  Upon any such prepayment or conversion, Borrowers shall also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

  

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3.6         Inability to Determine Rates.  If Required Lenders notify Agent for any reason in connection with a request for a Borrowing of, or conversion to or continuation of, a LIBOR Loan that (a) Dollar deposits are not being offered to banks in the London interbank Eurodollar market for the applicable amount and Interest Period of such Loan, (b) adequate and reasonable means do not exist for determining LIBOR for the requested Interest Period, or (c) LIBOR for the requested Interest Period does not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of funding such Loan, then Agent will promptly so notify Borrower Agent and each Lender.  Thereafter, the obligation of Lenders to make or maintain LIBOR Loans shall be suspended until Agent (upon instruction by Required Lenders) revokes such notice.  Upon receipt of such notice, Borrower Agent may revoke any pending request for a Borrowing of, conversion to or continuation of a LIBOR Loan or, failing that, will be deemed to have submitted a request for a Base Rate Loan.

 

3.7         Increased Costs; Capital Adequacy.

 

3.7.1                Change in Law.  If any Change in Law shall:

 

(a)           impose modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, any Lender (except any reserve requirement reflected in LIBOR);

 

(b)           subject any Lender to any Tax with respect to any Loan, Loan Document, Letter of Credit, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such Lender in respect thereof (except for Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes covered by Section 5.9 and the imposition of, or any change in the rate of, any Excluded Tax payable by such Lender); or

 

(c)           impose on any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting any Loan, Loan Document or Letter of Credit;

 

and the result thereof shall be to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining any LIBOR Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan), or to increase the cost to such Lender or Issuing Bank of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit (or of maintaining its obligation to participate in or to issue any Letter of Credit), or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or Issuing Bank hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of such Lender or Issuing Bank, Borrowers will pay to such Lender or Issuing Bank, as applicable, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or Issuing Bank, as applicable, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

  

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3.7.2                Capital Adequacy.  If any Lender determines that any Change in Law affecting such Lender or its holding company regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or such holding company’s capital as a consequence of this Agreement, Commitments, Loans or Letters of Credit to a level below that which such Lender or such holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s and such holding company’s policies with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time Borrowers will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate it or its holding company for any such reduction suffered.

 

3.7.3                Compensation.  Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of its right to demand such compensation, but Borrowers shall not be required to compensate a Lender for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine months prior to the date that a Lender notifies Borrowers Agent of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the nine-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

 

3.8         Mitigation.  If Agent or a Lender gives a notice under Section 3.5 or requests compensation under Section 3.7, or if Borrowers are required to pay additional amounts under Section 5.9, then Agent or such Lender shall use reasonable efforts to designate a different lending office or to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or Affiliates, if, in the judgment of Agent or such Lender, such designation or assignment (a) would eliminate the need for such notice or reduce amounts payable or to be withheld in the future, as applicable; and (b) would not subject Agent or such Lender to any unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to it.  Borrowers shall pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by Agent or such Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

3.9         Funding Losses.  If for any reason (other than default by a Lender) (a) any Borrowing of, or conversion to or continuation of, a LIBOR Loan does not occur on the date specified therefor in a Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation (whether or not withdrawn), (b) any repayment or conversion of a LIBOR Loan occurs on a day other than the end of its Interest Period, or (c) Borrowers fail to repay a LIBOR Loan when required hereunder, then Borrowers shall pay to Agent its customary administrative charge and to each Lender all losses and expenses that it sustains as a consequence thereof, including loss of anticipated profits and any loss or expense arising from liquidation or redeployment of funds or from fees payable to terminate deposits of matching funds.  Lenders shall not be required to purchase Dollar deposits in the London interbank market or any other offshore Dollar market to fund any LIBOR Loan, but the provisions hereof shall be deemed to apply as if each Lender had purchased such deposits to fund its LIBOR Loans.

  

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3.10        Maximum Interest.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any Loan Document, the interest paid or agreed to be paid under the Loan Documents shall not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest permitted by Applicable Law (“maximum rate”).  If Agent or any Lender shall receive interest in an amount that exceeds the maximum rate, the excess interest shall be applied to the principal of the Obligations or, if it exceeds such unpaid principal, refunded to Borrowers.  In determining whether the interest contracted for, charged or received by Agent or a Lender exceeds the maximum rate, such Person may, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, (a) characterize any payment that is not principal as an expense, fee or premium rather than interest; (b) exclude voluntary prepayments and the effects thereof; and (c) amortize, prorate, allocate and spread in equal or unequal parts the total amount of interest throughout the contemplated term of the Obligations hereunder.

 

SECTION 4.  LOAN ADMINISTRATION

 

4.1         Manner of Borrowing and Funding Revolver Loans.

 

4.1.1                Notice of Borrowing.

 

(a)           Whenever Borrowers desire funding of a Borrowing of Revolver Loans, Borrower Agent shall give Agent a Notice of Borrowing.  Such notice must be received by Agent no later than 11:00 a.m. (i) on the Business Day of the requested funding date, in the case of Base Rate Loans, and (ii) at least three Business Days prior to the requested funding date, in the case of LIBOR Loans.  Notices received after 11:00 a.m. shall be deemed received on the next Business Day.  Each Notice of Borrowing shall be irrevocable and shall specify (A) the amount of the Borrowing, (B) the requested funding date (which must be a Business Day), (C) whether the Borrowing is to be made as Base Rate Loans or LIBOR Loans, and (D) in the case of LIBOR Loans, the duration of the applicable Interest Period (which shall be deemed to be 30 days if not specified).

 

(b)           Unless payment is otherwise timely made by Borrowers, the becoming due of any Obligations (whether principal, interest, fees or other charges, including Extraordinary Expenses, LC Obligations, Cash Collateral and Bank Product Debt) shall be deemed to be a request for Base Rate Revolver Loans on the due date, in the amount of such Obligations.  The proceeds of such Revolver Loans shall be disbursed as direct payment of the relevant Obligation.  In addition, Agent may, at its option, charge such Obligations against any operating, investment or other account of a Borrower maintained with Agent or any of its Affiliates.

  

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(c)           If Borrowers establish a controlled disbursement account with Agent or any Affiliate of Agent, then the presentation for payment of any check or other item of payment drawn on such account at a time when there are insufficient funds to cover it shall be deemed to be a request for Base Rate Revolver Loans on the date of such presentation, in the amount of the check and items presented for payment.  The proceeds of such Revolver Loans may be disbursed directly to the controlled disbursement account or other appropriate account.

 

4.1.2                Fundings by Lenders.  Each Lender shall timely honor its Revolver Commitment by funding its Pro Rata share of each Borrowing of Revolver Loans that is properly requested hereunder.  Except for Borrowings to be made as Swingline Loans, Agent shall endeavor to notify Lenders of each Notice of Borrowing (or deemed request for a Borrowing) by 12:00 noon on the proposed funding date for Base Rate Loans or by 3:00 p.m. at least two Business Days before any proposed funding of LIBOR Loans.  Each Lender shall fund to Agent such Lender’s Pro Rata share of the Borrowing to the account specified by Agent in immediately available funds not later than 2:00 p.m. on the requested funding date, unless Agent’s notice is received after the times provided above, in which event Lender shall fund its Pro Rata share by 11:00 a.m. on the next Business Day.  Subject to its receipt of such amounts from Lenders, Agent shall disburse the proceeds of the Revolver Loans as directed by Borrower Agent.  Unless Agent shall have received (in sufficient time to act) written notice from a Lender that it does not intend to fund its Pro Rata share of a Borrowing, Agent may assume that such Lender has deposited or promptly will deposit its share with Agent, and Agent may disburse a corresponding amount to Borrowers.  If a Lender’s share of any Borrowing or of any settlement pursuant to Section 4.1.3(b) is not received by Agent, then Borrowers agree to repay to Agent on demand the amount of such share, together with interest thereon from the date disbursed until repaid, at the rate applicable to such Borrowing.

 

4.1.3                Swingline Loans; Settlement.

 

(a)           Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, advance Swingline Loans to Borrowers, up to an aggregate outstanding amount of $10,000,000, unless the funding is specifically required to be made by all Lenders hereunder.  Each Swingline Loan shall constitute a Revolver Loan for all purposes, except that payments thereon shall be made to Agent for its own account.  The obligation of Borrowers to repay Swingline Loans shall be evidenced by the records of Agent and need not be evidenced by any promissory note.

  

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(b)           To facilitate administration of the Revolver Loans, Lenders and Agent agree (which agreement is solely among them, and not for the benefit of or enforceable by any Borrower) that settlement among them with respect to Swingline Loans and other Revolver Loans may take place on a date determined from time to time by Agent, which shall occur at least once each week.  On each settlement date, settlement shall be made with each Lender in accordance with the Settlement Report delivered by Agent to Lenders.  Between settlement dates, Agent may in its discretion apply payments on Revolver Loans to Swingline Loans, regardless of any designation by Borrower or any provision herein to the contrary.  Each Lender’s obligation to make settlements with Agent is absolute and unconditional, without offset, counterclaim or other defense, and whether or not the Commitments have terminated, an Overadvance exists or the conditions in Section 6 are satisfied.  If, due to an Insolvency Proceeding with respect to a Borrower or otherwise, any Swingline Loan may not be settled among Lenders hereunder, then each Lender shall be deemed to have purchased from Agent a Pro Rata participation in each unpaid Swingline Loan and shall transfer the amount of such participation to Agent, in immediately available funds, within one Business Day after Agent’s request therefor.

 

4.1.4                Notices.  Each Borrower authorizes Agent and Lenders to extend, convert or continue Loans, effect selections of interest rates, and transfer funds to or on behalf of Borrowers based on telephonic or e-mailed instructions.  Borrowers shall confirm each such request by prompt delivery to Agent of a Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion/Continuation, if applicable, but if it differs in any material respect from the action taken by Agent or Lenders, the records of Agent and Lenders shall govern.  Neither Agent nor any Lender shall have any liability for any loss suffered by a Borrower as a result of Agent or any Lender acting upon its understanding of telephonic or e-mailed instructions from a person believed in good faith by Agent or any Lender to be a person authorized to give such instructions on a Borrower’s behalf.

 

4.2         Defaulting Lender.  Agent may (but shall not be required to), in its discretion, retain payments or other funds received by Agent that are to be provided to a Defaulting Lender hereunder, and may apply such funds to such Lender’s defaulted obligations or readvance the funds to Borrowers in accordance with this Agreement.  The failure of any Lender to fund a Loan, to make any payment in respect of LC Obligations or to otherwise perform its obligations hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligations, and no Lender shall be responsible for default by another Lender.  Lenders and Agent agree (which agreement is solely among them, and not for the benefit of or enforceable by any Borrower) that, solely for purposes of determining a Defaulting Lender’s right (a) to vote on matters relating to the Loan Documents and (b) to share in payments, fees and Collateral proceeds thereunder, a Defaulting Lender shall not be deemed to be a “Lender” until all its defaulted obligations have been cured.

 

4.3         Number and Amount of LIBOR Loans; Determination of Rate.  Each Borrowing of LIBOR Loans when made shall be in a minimum amount of $1,000,000 plus any increment of $100,000 in excess thereof.  No more than five (5) Borrowings of LIBOR Loans may be outstanding at any time and all LIBOR Loans having the same length and beginning date of their Interest Periods shall be aggregated together and considered one Borrowing for this purpose.  Upon determining LIBOR for any Interest Period requested by Borrowers, Agent shall promptly notify Borrowers thereof by telephone or electronically and, if requested by Borrowers, shall confirm any telephonic notice in writing.

  

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4.4         Borrower Agent.  Each Borrower hereby designates HWC Wire & Cable Company (“Borrower Agent”) as its representative and agent for all purposes under the Loan Documents, including requests for Loans and Letters of Credit, designation of interest rates, delivery or receipt of communications, preparation and delivery of Borrowing Base and financial reports, receipt and payment of Obligations, requests for waivers, amendments or other accommodations, actions under the Loan Documents (including in respect of compliance with covenants), and all other dealings with Agent, Issuing Bank or any Lender.  Borrower Agent hereby accepts such appointment.  Agent and Lenders shall be entitled to rely upon, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, any notice or communication (including any notice of borrowing) delivered by Borrower Agent on behalf of any Borrower.  Agent and Lenders may give any notice or communication with a Borrower hereunder to Borrower Agent on behalf of such Borrower.  Each of Agent, Issuing Bank and Lenders shall have the right, in its discretion, to deal exclusively with Borrower Agent for any or all purposes under the Loan Documents.  Each Borrower agrees that any notice, election, communication, representation, agreement or undertaking made on its behalf by Borrower Agent shall be binding upon and enforceable against it.

 

4.5         One Obligation.  The Loans, LC Obligations and other Obligations shall constitute one general obligation of Borrowers and (unless otherwise expressly provided in any Loan Document) shall be secured by Agent’s Lien upon all Collateral; provided, however, that Agent and each Lender shall be deemed to be a creditor of, and the holder of a separate claim against, each Borrower to the extent of any Obligations jointly or severally owed by such Borrower.

 

4.6         Effect of Termination.  On the effective date of any termination of the Commitments, all Obligations shall be immediately due and payable, and any Lender may terminate its and its Affiliates’ Bank Products (including, only with the consent of Agent, any Cash Management Services).  All undertakings of Borrowers contained in the Loan Documents shall survive any termination, and Agent shall retain its Liens in the Collateral and all of its rights and remedies under the Loan Documents until Full Payment of the Obligations.  Notwithstanding Full Payment of the Obligations, Agent shall not be required to terminate its Liens in any Collateral unless, with respect to any damages Agent may incur as a result of the dishonor or return of Payment Items applied to Obligations, Agent receives (a) a written agreement, executed by Borrowers and any Person whose advances are used in whole or in part to satisfy the Obligations, indemnifying Agent and Lenders from any such damages; or (b) such Cash Collateral as Agent, in its discretion, deems necessary to protect against any such damages.  The provisions of Sections 2.3, 3.4, 3.7, 3.9, 5.5, 5.9, 12, 14.2 and this Section, and the obligation of each Obligor and Lender with respect to each indemnity given by it in any Loan Document, shall survive Full Payment of the Obligations and any release relating to this credit facility.

  

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SECTION 5.  PAYMENTS

 

5.1         General Payment Provisions.  All payments of Obligations shall be made in Dollars, without offset, counterclaim or defense of any kind, free of (and without deduction for) any Taxes, and in immediately available funds, not later than 12:00 noon on the due date.  Any payment after such time shall be deemed made on the next Business Day.  Any payment of a LIBOR Loan prior to the end of its Interest Period shall be accompanied by all amounts due under Section 3.9.  Any prepayment of Loans shall be applied first to Base Rate Loans and then to LIBOR Loans.

 

5.2         Repayment of Revolver Loans.  Revolver Loans shall be due and payable in full on the Revolver Termination Date, unless payment is sooner required hereunder.  Revolver Loans may be prepaid from time to time, without penalty or premium.  If any Asset Disposition includes the disposition of Accounts or Inventory, then Net Proceeds equal to the greater of (a) the net book value of such Accounts and Inventory, or (b) the reduction in the Borrowing Base upon giving effect to such disposition, shall be applied to the Revolver Loans.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if an Overadvance exists, Borrowers shall, on the sooner of Agent’s demand or the first Business Day after any Borrower has knowledge thereof, repay the outstanding Revolver Loans in an amount sufficient to reduce the principal balance of Revolver Loans to the Borrowing Base.

 

5.3         Other Mandatory Prepayments.

 

5.3.1                Proceeds of Sale, Loss, Destruction or Condemnation of Collateral.  Except as provided below or in Section 8.4.2 hereof, if any Borrower sells any of the Collateral (other than Inventory if a Trigger Period does not exist), or if any of the Collateral is lost or destroyed or taken by condemnation, Borrowers shall pay to Agent for the ratable benefit of Lenders, unless otherwise agreed by Required Lenders, as and when received by Borrowers and as a mandatory prepayment of the Loans, as herein provided, a sum equal to the net cash proceeds (including insurance payments) received by Borrowers from such sale, loss, destruction or condemnation.  The applicable prepayment shall be applied to reduce the outstanding principal balance of the Revolver Loans.

 

5.3.2                Other Mandatory Prepayments.

 

(a)           If during a Trigger Period any Borrower receives any proceeds from any tax refunds, indemnity payments or pension reversions, Borrowers shall pay to Agent for the ratable benefit of Lenders, as and when received by Borrowers and as a mandatory prepayment of the Loans, a sum equal to the proceeds of such tax refund, indemnity payment or pension reversion so received by such Borrower.

 

(b)           During a Trigger Period Borrower shall make a mandatory prepayment of the Loans in the amount of the net proceeds received by Borrower from any offering or sale of its debt or equity Securities.

  

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(c)           Any applicable prepayment made pursuant to Section 5.3.2(a) or (b) above shall be applied to reduce the outstanding principal balance of the Revolver Loans.

 

5.4         Payment of Other Obligations.  Obligations other than Loans, including LC Obligations and Extraordinary Expenses, shall be paid by Borrowers as provided in the Loan Documents or, if no payment date is specified, on demand.

 

5.5         Marshaling; Payments Set Aside.  None of Agent or Lenders shall be under any obligation to marshal any assets in favor of any Obligor or against any Obligations.  If any payment by or on behalf of Borrowers is made to Agent, Issuing Bank or any Lender, or Agent, Issuing Bank or any Lender exercises a right of setoff, and such payment or the proceeds of such setoff or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by Agent, Issuing Bank or such Lender in its discretion) to be repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other Person, then to the extent of such recovery, the Obligation originally intended to be satisfied, and all Liens, rights and remedies relating thereto, shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such setoff had not occurred.

 

5.6         Post-Default Allocation of Payments.

 

5.6.1                Allocation.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, during an Event of Default, monies to be applied to the Obligations, whether arising from payments by Obligors, realization on Collateral, setoff or otherwise, shall be allocated as follows:

 

(a)           first, to all costs and expenses, including Extraordinary Expenses, owing to Agent;

 

(b)           second, to all amounts owing to Agent on Swingline Loans;

 

(c)           third, to all amounts owing to Issuing Bank on LC Obligations;

 

(d)           fourth, to all Obligations constituting fees (excluding amounts relating to Bank Products);

 

(e)           fifth, to all Obligations constituting interest (excluding amounts relating to Bank Products);

 

(f)           sixth, to provide Cash Collateral for outstanding Letters of Credit;

 

(g)           seventh, to all other Obligations, other than Bank Product Debt; and

 

(h)           last, to Bank Product Debt.

  

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Amounts shall be applied to each category of Obligations set forth above until Full Payment thereof and then to the next category.  If amounts are insufficient to satisfy a category, they shall be applied on a pro rata basis among the Obligations in the category.  Amounts distributed with respect to any Bank Product Debt shall be the lesser of the applicable Bank Product Amount last reported to Agent or the actual Bank Product Debt as calculated by the methodology reported to Agent for determining the amount due.  Agent shall have no obligation to calculate the amount to be distributed with respect to any Bank Product Debt, but may rely upon written notice of the amount (setting forth a reasonably detailed calculation) from the Secured Party.  In the absence of such notice, Agent may assume the amount to be distributed is the Bank Product Amount last reported to it.  The allocations set forth in this Section are solely to determine the rights and priorities of Agent and Lenders as among themselves, and may be changed by agreement among them without the consent of any Obligor.  This Section is not for the benefit of or enforceable by any Borrower.

 

5.6.2                Erroneous Application.  Agent shall not be liable for any application of amounts made by it in good faith and, if any such application is subsequently determined to have been made in error, the sole recourse of any Lender or other Person to which such amount should have been made shall be to recover the amount from the Person that actually received it (and, if such amount was received by any Lender, such Lender hereby agrees to return it).

 

5.7         Application of Payments.  The ledger balance in the main Dominion Account as of the end of a Business Day shall be applied to the Obligations at the beginning of the next Business Day, during any Trigger Period.  If, as a result of such application, a credit balance exists, the balance shall not accrue interest in favor of Borrowers and shall be made available to Borrowers as long as no Default or Event of Default exists.  Each Borrower irrevocably waives the right to direct the application of any payments or Collateral proceeds, and agrees that Agent shall have the continuing, exclusive right to apply and reapply same against the Obligations, in such manner as set forth in Section 5.6.1 (if an Event of Default shall exist), notwithstanding any entry by Agent in its records.

 

5.8         Loan Account; Account Stated.

 

5.8.1                Loan Account.  Agent shall maintain in accordance with its usual and customary practices an account or accounts (“Loan Account”) evidencing the Debt of Borrowers resulting from each Loan or issuance of a Letter of Credit from time to time.  Any failure of Agent to record anything in the Loan Account, or any error in doing so, shall not limit or otherwise affect the obligation of Borrowers to pay any amount owing hereunder.  Agent may maintain a single Loan Account in the name of Borrower Agent, and each Borrower confirms that such arrangement shall have no effect on the joint and several character of its liability for the Obligations.

  

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5.8.2                Entries Binding.  Entries made in the Loan Account shall constitute presumptive evidence of the information contained therein.  If any information contained in the Loan Account is provided to or inspected by any Person, then such information shall be conclusive and binding on such Person for all purposes absent manifest error, except to the extent such Person notifies Agent in writing within 30 days after receipt or inspection that specific information is subject to dispute.

 

5.9         Taxes.

 

5.9.1                Payments Free of Taxes.  All payments by Obligors of Obligations shall be free and clear of and without reduction for any Taxes.  If Applicable Law requires any Obligor, Agent or any Lender to withhold or deduct any Tax (including backup withholding or withholding Tax), Agent or the applicable Lender shall pay the amount withheld or deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority.  If the withholding or deduction is made on account of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes, the sum payable by Borrowers shall be increased so that Agent or such Lender receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received if no such withholding or deduction (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) had been made.  Without limiting the foregoing, Borrowers shall timely pay all Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authorities.

 

5.9.2                Payment.  Borrowers shall indemnify, hold harmless and reimburse (within 10 days after demand therefor) Agent and each Lender for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including those attributable to amounts payable under this Section) withheld or deducted by any Obligor, Agent or any Lender, or paid by Agent or any Lender, with respect to any Obligations, Letters of Credit or Loan Documents, whether or not such Taxes were properly asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority, and including all penalties, interest and reasonable expenses relating thereto.  A certificate as to the amount of any such payment or liability delivered to Borrowers by Agent or the applicable Lender shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.  As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by Borrowers, Borrowers shall deliver to Agent a receipt from the Governmental Authority or other evidence of payment satisfactory to Agent.

 

5.10        Foreign Lenders.

 

5.10.1                Exemption.  Any Foreign Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding tax under the law of the jurisdiction in which an Obligor is resident for tax purposes, or any treaty to which such jurisdiction is a party, with respect to payments under any Loan Document shall deliver to Agent and Borrower Agent, at the time or times prescribed by Applicable Law or reasonably requested by Agent or Borrower Agent, such properly completed and executed documentation prescribed by Applicable Law as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding.  In addition, any Lender, if requested by Agent or Borrower Agent, shall deliver such other documentation prescribed by Applicable Law or reasonably requested by Agent or Borrower Agent as will enable Agent and Borrower Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements.

  

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5.10.2                Documentation.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if a Borrower is resident for tax purposes in the United States, a Foreign Lender shall deliver to Agent and Borrower Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender hereunder (and from time to time thereafter upon the request of Agent or Borrower Agent, but only if such Foreign Lender is legally entitled to do so), (a) duly completed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN claiming eligibility for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party; (b) duly completed copies of IRS Form W-8ECI; (c) in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 881(c) of the Code, (i) a certificate to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not (A) a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (B) a “10 percent shareholder” of any Obligor within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, or (C) a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code, and (ii) duly completed copies of IRS Form W-8BEN; or (d) any other form prescribed by Applicable Law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in United States federal withholding tax, duly completed together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by Applicable Law to permit Borrowers to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.

 

5.11        Nature and Extent of Each Borrower’s Liability.

 

5.11.1                Joint and Several Liability.  Each Borrower agrees that it is jointly and severally liable for, and absolutely and unconditionally guarantees to Agent and Lenders the prompt payment and performance of, all Obligations and all agreements under the Loan Documents.  Each Borrower agrees that its guaranty obligations hereunder constitute a continuing guaranty of payment and not of collection, that such obligations shall not be discharged until Full Payment of the Obligations, and that such obligations are absolute and unconditional, irrespective of (a) the genuineness, validity, regularity, enforceability, subordination or any future modification of, or change in, any Obligations or Loan Document, or any other document, instrument or agreement to which any Obligor is or may become a party or be bound; (b) the absence of any action to enforce this Agreement (including this Section) or any other Loan Document, or any waiver, consent or indulgence of any kind by Agent or any Lender with respect thereto; (c) the existence, value or condition of, or failure to perfect a Lien or to preserve rights against, any security or guaranty for the Obligations or any action, or the absence of any action, by Agent or any Lender in respect thereof (including the release of any security or guaranty); (d) the insolvency of any Obligor; (e) any election by Agent or any Lender in an Insolvency Proceeding for the application of Section 1111(b)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code; (f) any borrowing or grant of a Lien by any other Borrower, as debtor-in-possession under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise; (g) the disallowance of any claims of Agent or any Lender against any Obligor for the repayment of any Obligations under Section 502 of the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise; or (h) any other action or circumstances that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or guarantor, except Full Payment of all Obligations.

  

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5.11.2                Waivers.

 

(a)           Each Borrower expressly waives all rights that it may have now or in the future under any statute, at common law, in equity or otherwise, to compel Agent or Lenders to marshal assets or to proceed against any Obligor, other Person or security for the payment or performance of any Obligations before, or as a condition to, proceeding against such Borrower.  Each Borrower waives all defenses available to a surety, guarantor or accommodation co-obligor other than Full Payment of all Obligations.  It is agreed among each Borrower, Agent and Lenders that the provisions of this Section 5.11 are of the essence of the transaction contemplated by the Loan Documents and that, but for such provisions, Agent and Lenders would decline to make Loans and issue Letters of Credit.  Each Borrower acknowledges that its guaranty pursuant to this Section is necessary to the conduct and promotion of its business, and can be expected to benefit such business.

 

(b)           Agent and Lenders may, in their discretion, pursue such rights and remedies as they deem appropriate, including realization upon Collateral by judicial foreclosure or non judicial sale or enforcement, without affecting any rights and remedies under this Section 5.11.  If, in taking any action in connection with the exercise of any rights or remedies, Agent or any Lender shall forfeit any other rights or remedies, including the right to enter a deficiency judgment against any Borrower or other Person, whether because of any Applicable Laws pertaining to “election of remedies” or otherwise, each Borrower consents to such action and waives any claim based upon it, even if the action may result in loss of any rights of subrogation that any Borrower might otherwise have had.  Any election of remedies that results in denial or impairment of the right of Agent or any Lender to seek a deficiency judgment against any Borrower shall not impair any other Borrower’s obligation to pay the full amount of the Obligations.  Each Borrower waives all rights and defenses arising out of an election of remedies, such as nonjudicial foreclosure with respect to any security for the Obligations, even though that election of remedies destroys such Borrower’s rights of subrogation against any other Person.  Agent may bid all or a portion of the Obligations at any foreclosure or trustee’s sale or at any private sale, and the amount of such bid need not be paid by Agent but shall be credited against the Obligations.  The amount of the successful bid at any such sale, whether Agent or any other Person is the successful bidder, shall be conclusively deemed to be the fair market value of the Collateral, and the difference between such bid amount and the remaining balance of the Obligations shall be conclusively deemed to be the amount of the Obligations guaranteed under this Section 5.11, notwithstanding that any present or future law or court decision may have the effect of reducing the amount of any deficiency claim to which Agent or any Lender might otherwise be entitled but for such bidding at any such sale.

  

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5.11.3                Extent of Liability; Contribution.

 

(a)           Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, each Borrower’s liability under this Section 5.11 shall be limited to the greater of (i) all amounts for which such Borrower is primarily liable, as described below, and (ii) such Borrower’s Allocable Amount.

 

(b)           If any Borrower makes a payment under this Section 5.11 of any Obligations (other than amounts for which such Borrower is primarily liable) (a “Guarantor Payment”) that, taking into account all other Guarantor Payments previously or concurrently made by any other Borrower, exceeds the amount that such Borrower would otherwise have paid if each Borrower had paid the aggregate Obligations satisfied by such Guarantor Payments in the same proportion that such Borrower’s Allocable Amount bore to the total Allocable Amounts of all Borrowers, then such Borrower shall be entitled to receive contribution and indemnification payments from, and to be reimbursed by, each other Borrower for the amount of such excess, pro rata based upon their respective Allocable Amounts in effect immediately prior to such Guarantor Payment.  The “Allocable Amount” for any Borrower shall be the maximum amount that could then be recovered from such Borrower under this Section 5.11 without rendering such payment voidable under Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code or under any applicable state fraudulent transfer or conveyance act, or similar statute or common law.

 

(c)           Nothing contained in this Section 5.11 shall limit the liability of any Borrower to pay Loans made directly or indirectly to that Borrower (including Loans advanced to any other Borrower and then re-loaned or otherwise transferred to, or for the benefit of, such Borrower), LC Obligations relating to Letters of Credit issued to support such Borrower’s business, and all accrued interest, fees, expenses and other related Obligations with respect thereto, for which such Borrower shall be primarily liable for all purposes hereunder.  Agent and Lenders shall have the right, at any time in their discretion, to condition Loans and Letters of Credit upon a separate calculation of borrowing availability for each Borrower and to restrict the disbursement and use of such Loans and Letters of Credit to such Borrower.

  

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5.11.4                Joint Enterprise.  Each Borrower has requested that Agent and Lenders make this credit facility available to Borrowers on a combined basis, in order to finance Borrowers’ business most efficiently and economically.  Borrowers’ business is a mutual and collective enterprise, and Borrowers believe that consolidation of their credit facility will enhance the borrowing power of each Borrower and ease the administration of their relationship with Lenders, all to the mutual advantage of Borrowers.  Borrowers acknowledge and agree that Agent’s and Lenders’ willingness to extend credit to Borrowers and to administer the Collateral on a combined basis, as set forth herein, is done solely as an accommodation to Borrowers and at Borrowers’ request.

 

5.11.5                Subordination.  Each Borrower hereby subordinates any claims, including any rights at law or in equity to payment, subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution, indemnification or set off, that it may have at any time against any other Obligor, howsoever arising, to the Full Payment of all Obligations.

 

SECTION 6.  CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, and without affecting in any manner the rights of Agent or Lenders under the other sections of this Agreement, neither any Lender nor Agent shall be required to make the Loans contemplated to be made under this Agreement unless and until each of the following conditions has been and continues to be satisfied (the date on which conditions have been and continue to be so satisfied, the “Closing Date”):

 

6.1         Documentation.  Agent shall have received, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent and its counsel, a duly executed copy of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, together with such additional documents, instruments and certificates as Agent and its counsel shall reasonably require in connection therewith, including all documents, instruments, agreements and schedules listed in the Schedule of Documents attached hereto and incorporated herein as Schedule 6.1, all in form and substance satisfactory to Agent and its counsel.

 

6.2         No Default.  No Default or Event of Default shall exist.

 

6.3         Conditions Precedent to All Credit Extensions.  Agent, Issuing Bank and Lenders shall not be required to fund any Loans, arrange for issuance of any Letters of Credit or grant any other accommodation to or for the benefit of Borrowers, unless the following conditions are satisfied:

 

(a)           No Default or Event of Default shall exist at the time of, or result from, such funding, issuance or grant;

 

(b)           The representations and warranties of each Obligor in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct on the date of, and upon giving effect to, such funding, issuance or grant (except for representations and warranties that expressly relate to an earlier date);

  

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(c)           All conditions precedent in any other Loan Document shall be satisfied;

 

(d)           No event shall have occurred or circumstance exist that has or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(e)           With respect to issuance of a Letter of Credit, the LC Conditions shall be satisfied.

 

Each request (or deemed request) by Borrowers for funding of a Loan, issuance of a Letter of Credit or grant of an accommodation shall constitute a representation by Borrowers that the foregoing conditions are satisfied on the date of such request and on the date of such funding, issuance or grant.  As an additional condition to any funding, issuance or grant, Agent shall have received such other information, documents, instruments and agreements as it deems appropriate in connection therewith.

 

SECTION 7.  COLLATERAL

 

7.1         Grant of Security Interest.  To secure the prompt payment and performance of all Obligations, each Borrower hereby grants to Agent, for the benefit of Secured Parties, a continuing security interest in and Lien upon all Property of such Borrower, including all of the following Property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and wherever located:

 

(a)           all Accounts;

 

(b)           all Chattel Paper, including electronic chattel paper;

 

(c)           all Commercial Tort Claims, including those shown on Schedule 9.1.16;

 

(d)           all Deposit Accounts;

 

(e)           all Documents;

 

(f)           all General Intangibles, including Intellectual Property;

 

(g)           all Goods, including Inventory, Equipment and fixtures;

 

(h)           all Instruments;

 

(i)           all Investment Property;

 

(j)           all Letter-of-Credit Rights;

 

(k)           all Supporting Obligations;

  

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(l)           all monies, whether or not in the possession or under the control of Agent, a Lender, or a bailee or Affiliate of Agent or a Lender, including any Cash Collateral;

 

(m)           all accessions to, substitutions for, and all replacements, products, and cash and non-cash proceeds of the foregoing, including proceeds of and unearned premiums with respect to insurance policies, and claims against any Person for loss, damage or destruction of any Collateral; and

 

(n)           all books and records (including customer lists, files, correspondence, tapes, computer programs, print-outs and computer records) pertaining to the foregoing.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, Collateral shall not include:  (1) any licenses or permits, the encumbrance of which would violate any law, statute or regulation; or (2) any material contract rights (including, without limitation, any contracts or leases), the encumbrance of which would violate the terms of the agreements establishing such rights; provided that Borrowers shall use reasonable good faith efforts to obtain any necessary consent to enable any such contract right to be included within the Collateral.

 

7.2         Lien on Deposit Accounts; Cash Collateral.

 

7.2.1                Deposit Accounts.  To further secure the prompt payment and performance of all Obligations, each Borrower hereby grants to Agent, for the benefit of Secured Parties, a continuing security interest in and Lien upon all amounts credited to any Deposit Account of such Borrower, including any sums in any blocked or lockbox accounts or in any accounts into which such sums are swept.  Each Borrower hereby authorizes and directs each bank or other depository to deliver to Agent, upon request, all balances in any Deposit Account maintained by such Borrower, without inquiry into the authority or right of Agent to make such request.  Agent agrees that it will not issue any such request unless (x) with respect to the Dominion Account, a Trigger Period exists or (y) with respect to any other Deposit Account, an Event of Default exists.

 

7.2.2                Cash Collateral.  Any Cash Collateral may be invested, at Agent’s discretion, in Cash Equivalents, but Agent shall have no duty to do so, regardless of any agreement or course of dealing with any Borrower, and shall have no responsibility for any investment or loss.  Each Borrower hereby grants to Agent, for the benefit of Secured Parties, a security interest in all Cash Collateral held from time to time and all proceeds thereof, as security for the Obligations, whether such Cash Collateral is held in a Cash Collateral Account or elsewhere.  Agent may apply Cash Collateral to the payment of any Obligations, in such order as Agent may elect, as they become due and payable.  Each Cash Collateral Account and all Cash Collateral shall be under the sole dominion and control of Agent.  No Borrower or other Person claiming through or on behalf of any Borrower shall have any right to any Cash Collateral, until Full Payment of all Obligations or until the events requiring the delivery of such Cash Collateral pursuant to Section 2.3.3(a) or (b) have been cured or waived.

  

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7.3         Other Collateral.

 

7.3.1                Commercial Tort Claims.  Borrowers shall promptly notify Agent in writing if any Borrower has a Commercial Tort Claim (other than, as long as no Default or Event of Default exists, a Commercial Tort Claim for less than $1,000,000), shall promptly amend Schedule 9.1.16 to include such claim, and shall take such actions as Agent deems appropriate to subject such claim to a duly perfected, first priority Lien upon such claim in favor of Agent.

 

7.3.2                Certain After-Acquired Collateral.  Borrowers shall promptly notify Agent in writing if, after the Closing Date, any Borrower obtains any interest in any Collateral consisting of Deposit Accounts, Chattel Paper, Documents, Instruments, Intellectual Property, Investment Property or Letter-of-Credit Rights and, upon Agent’s request, shall promptly take such actions as Agent deems appropriate to effect Agent’s duly perfected, first priority Lien upon such Collateral, including obtaining any appropriate possession, control agreement or Lien Waiver.  If any Collateral is in the possession of a third party, at Agent’s request, Borrowers shall obtain an acknowledgment that such third party holds the Collateral for the benefit of Agent.

 

7.4         No Assumption of Liability.  The Lien on Collateral granted hereunder is given as security only and shall not subject Agent or any Lender to, or in any way modify, any obligation or liability of Borrowers relating to any Collateral.

 

7.5         Further Assurances.  Promptly upon request, Borrowers shall deliver such instruments, assignments, title certificates, or other documents or agreements, and shall take such actions, as Agent deems appropriate under Applicable Law to evidence or perfect its Lien on any Collateral, or otherwise to give effect to the intent of this Agreement.  Each Borrower authorizes Agent to file any financing statement that indicates the Collateral as “all assets” or “all personal property” of such Borrower, or words to similar effect, and ratifies any action taken by Agent before the Closing Date to effect or perfect its Lien on any Collateral.

 

7.6         Foreign Subsidiary Stock.  Notwithstanding Section 7.1, the Collateral shall include only 65% of the voting stock of any Foreign Subsidiary.

 

  

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SECTION 8.  COLLATERAL ADMINISTRATION

 

8.1         Borrowing Base Certificates.  By the 25th day of each month, Borrowers shall deliver to Agent (and Agent shall promptly deliver same to Lenders) a Borrowing Base Certificate prepared as of the close of business of the previous month, and at such other times as Agent may request.  All calculations of Availability in any Borrowing Base Certificate shall originally be made by Borrowers and certified by a Senior Officer, provided that Agent may from time to time review and adjust any such calculation (a) to reflect its reasonable estimate of declines in value of any Collateral, due to collections received in the Dominion Account or otherwise; (b) to adjust advance rates to reflect changes in dilution, quality, mix and other factors affecting Collateral; and (c) to the extent the calculation is not made in accordance with this Agreement or does not accurately reflect the Availability Reserve.  On or before the 25th day of each calendar month from and after the date hereof, Borrowers shall deliver to Agent, in the form reasonably acceptable to Agent, (i) reconciliations of Borrowers’ Accounts as shown on the month-end Borrowing Base Certificate for the immediately preceding Fiscal Month to Borrowers’ accounts receivable agings, to Borrowers’ general ledger and to Borrowers’ most recent financial statements and (ii) reconciliations of Borrowers’ Inventory as shown on Borrowers’ perpetual inventory, to Borrowers’ general ledger and to Borrowers’ financial statements, all with supporting materials as Agent shall reasonably request.  If Borrower Agent deems advisable, Borrowers shall execute and deliver to Agent Borrowing Base Certificates more frequently than monthly.  In the event that Borrower Agent furnishes Borrowing Base Certificates more frequently than monthly, Agent and Lenders acknowledge that Inventory and Eligible Inventory amounts shall only be updated monthly.

 

8.2         Administration of Accounts.

 

8.2.1                Records and Schedules of Accounts.  Each Borrower shall keep accurate and complete records of its Accounts, including all payments and collections thereon, and shall submit to Agent sales, collection, reconciliation and other reports in form satisfactory to Agent, on such periodic basis as Agent may request.  Each Borrower shall also provide to Agent, on or before the 25th day of each month, a detailed aged trial balance of all Accounts as of the end of the preceding month, specifying each Account’s Account Debtor name and address, amount, invoice date and due date, showing any discount, allowance, credit, authorized return or dispute, and including (if requested) such proof of delivery, copies of invoices and invoice registers, copies of related documents, repayment histories, status reports and other information as Agent may reasonably request.  If Accounts in an aggregate face amount of $500,000 or more cease to be Eligible Accounts, Borrowers shall notify Agent of such occurrence promptly (and in any event within one Business Day) after any Borrower has knowledge thereof.

 

8.2.2                Taxes.  If an Account of any Borrower includes a charge for any Taxes, Agent is authorized, in its discretion, to pay the amount thereof to the proper taxing authority for the account of such Borrower and to charge Borrowers therefor; provided, however, that neither Agent nor Lenders shall be liable for any Taxes that may be due from Borrowers or with respect to any Collateral.

 

8.2.3                Account Verification.  Whether or not a Default or Event of Default exists, Agent shall have the right at any time, in the name of Agent, any designee of Agent or any Borrower, to verify the validity, amount or any other matter relating to any Accounts of Borrowers by mail, telephone or otherwise.  Borrowers shall cooperate fully with Agent in an effort to facilitate and promptly conclude any such verification process.

  

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8.2.4                Maintenance of Dominion Account.  Borrowers shall maintain Dominion Accounts pursuant to lockbox or other arrangements reasonably acceptable to Agent.  Borrowers shall obtain an agreement (in form and substance satisfactory to Agent) from each lockbox servicer and Dominion Account bank, establishing Agent’s control over and Lien in the lockbox or Dominion Account, which may be exercised by Agent during any Trigger Period, requiring immediate deposit of all remittances received in the lockbox to a Dominion Account, and waiving offset rights of such servicer or bank, except for customary administrative charges.  If a Dominion Account is not maintained with Agent, Agent may, during any Trigger Period, require immediate transfer of all funds in such account to a Dominion Account maintained with Agent.  Agent assumes no responsibility to Borrowers for any lockbox arrangement or Dominion Account, including any claim of accord and satisfaction or release with respect to any Payment Items accepted by any bank.

 

8.2.5                Proceeds of Collateral.  Borrowers shall request in writing and otherwise take all necessary steps to ensure that all payments on Accounts or otherwise relating to Collateral are made directly to a Dominion Account (or a lockbox relating to a Dominion Account).  If any Borrower or Subsidiary receives cash or Payment Items with respect to any Collateral, it shall hold same in trust for Agent and promptly (not later than the next Business Day) deposit same into a Dominion Account.

 

8.3         Administration of Inventory.

 

8.3.1                Records and Reports of Inventory.  Each Borrower shall keep accurate and complete records of its Inventory, including costs and daily withdrawals and additions, and shall submit to Agent inventory and reconciliation reports in form satisfactory to Agent, on such periodic basis as Agent may request.  Each Borrower shall conduct a physical inventory at least once per calendar year (and on a more frequent basis if requested by Agent when an Event of Default exists) and periodic cycle counts consistent with historical practices, and shall provide to Agent, upon request by Agent, a report based on each such inventory and count promptly upon completion thereof, together with such supporting information as Agent may request.  Agent may participate in and observe each physical count.

 

8.3.2                Returns of Inventory.  No Borrower shall return any Inventory to a supplier, vendor or other Person, whether for cash, credit or otherwise, unless (a) such return is in the Ordinary Course of Business; (b) no Default, Event of Default or Overadvance exists or would result therefrom; (c) Agent is promptly notified if the aggregate Value of all Inventory returned in any month exceeds $500,000; and (d) any payment received by a Borrower for a return is promptly remitted to Agent for application to the Obligations.

  

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8.3.3                Acquisition, Sale and Maintenance.  Each Borrower shall take all steps to assure that all Inventory is produced in accordance with Applicable Law, including the FLSA.  No Borrower shall sell any Inventory on consignment or approval or any other basis under which the customer may return or require a Borrower to repurchase such Inventory.  Borrowers shall use, store and maintain all Inventory with reasonable care and caution, in accordance with applicable standards of any insurance and in conformity with all Applicable Law, and shall make current rent payments (within applicable grace periods provided for in leases) at all locations where any Collateral is located.

 

8.4         Administration of Equipment.

 

8.4.1                Records and Schedules of Equipment.  Each Borrower shall keep accurate and complete records of its Equipment, including kind, quality, quantity, cost, acquisitions and dispositions thereof, and shall submit to Agent, on such periodic basis as Agent may request, a current schedule thereof, in form satisfactory to Agent.  Promptly upon request, Borrowers shall deliver to Agent evidence of their ownership or interests in any Equipment.

 

8.4.2                Dispositions of Equipment.  No Borrower shall sell, lease or otherwise dispose of any Equipment, without the prior written consent of Agent, other than (a) a Permitted Asset Disposition; and (b) replacement of Equipment that is worn, damaged or obsolete with Equipment of like function and value, if the replacement Equipment is acquired substantially contemporaneously with such disposition and is free of Liens.

 

8.4.3                Condition of Equipment.  The Equipment is in good operating condition and repair, and all necessary replacements and repairs have been made so that the value and operating efficiency of the Equipment is preserved at all times, reasonable wear and tear excepted.  Each Borrower shall ensure that the Equipment is mechanically and structurally sound, and capable of performing the functions for which it was designed, in accordance with manufacturer specifications.  No Borrower shall permit any Equipment to become affixed to real Property unless any landlord or mortgagee delivers a Lien Waiver.

 

8.5         Administration of Deposit Accounts.  Schedule 8.5 sets forth all Deposit Accounts maintained by Borrowers, including all Dominion Accounts.  Each Borrower shall take all actions necessary to establish Agent’s control of each such Deposit Account (other than an account exclusively used for payroll, payroll taxes or employee benefits, or an account containing not more than $10,000 at any time).  Each Borrower shall be the sole account holder of each Deposit Account and shall not allow any other Person (other than Agent) to have control over a Deposit Account or any Property deposited therein.  Each Borrower shall promptly notify Agent of any opening or closing of a Deposit Account and, with the consent of Agent, will amend Schedule 8.5 to reflect same.

 

  

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8.6         General Provisions.

 

8.6.1                Location of Collateral.  All tangible items of Collateral, other than Inventory in transit, shall at all times be kept by Borrowers at the business locations set forth in Schedule 8.6.1, except that Borrowers may (a) make sales or other dispositions of Collateral in accordance with Section 10.2.6; and (b) move Collateral to another location in the United States, upon 30 Business Days prior written notice to Agent.

 

8.6.2                Insurance of Collateral; Condemnation Proceeds.

 

(a)           Each Borrower shall maintain insurance with respect to the Collateral, covering casualty, hazard, public liability, theft, malicious mischief, flood and other risks, in amounts, with endorsements and with insurers (with a Best Rating of at least A+, unless otherwise approved by Agent) reasonably satisfactory to Agent.  All proceeds under each policy shall be payable to Agent.  From time to time upon request, Borrowers shall deliver to Agent the originals or certified copies of its insurance policies and updated flood plain searches.  Unless Agent shall agree otherwise, each policy shall include satisfactory endorsements (i) showing Agent as loss payee; (ii) requiring 30 days prior written notice to Agent in the event of cancellation of the policy for any reason whatsoever; and (iii) specifying that the interest of Agent shall not be impaired or invalidated by any act or neglect of any Borrower or the owner of the Property, nor by the occupation of the premises for purposes more hazardous than are permitted by the policy.  If any Borrower fails to provide and pay for any insurance, Agent may, at its option, but shall not be required to, procure the insurance and charge Borrowers therefor.  Each Borrower agrees to deliver to Agent, promptly as rendered, copies of all reports made to insurance companies.  While no Event of Default exists, Borrowers may settle, adjust or compromise any insurance claim, as long as the proceeds are delivered to Agent.  If an Event of Default exists, only Agent shall be authorized to settle, adjust and compromise such claims.

 

(b)           Any proceeds of insurance (other than proceeds from workers’ compensation or D&O insurance) and any awards arising from condemnation of any Collateral shall be paid to Agent.  Any such proceeds or awards shall be applied to payment of the Revolver Loans, and then to any other Obligations outstanding.

 

8.6.3                Protection of Collateral.  All expenses of protecting, storing, warehousing, insuring, handling, maintaining and shipping any Collateral, all Taxes payable with respect to any Collateral (including any sale thereof), and all other payments required to be made by Agent to any Person to realize upon any Collateral, shall be borne and paid by Borrowers.  Agent shall not be liable or responsible in any way for the safekeeping of any Collateral, for any loss or damage thereto (except for reasonable care in its custody while Collateral is in Agent’s actual possession), for any diminution in the value thereof, or for any act or default of any warehouseman, carrier, forwarding agency or other Person whatsoever, but the same shall be at Borrowers’ sole risk.

 

  

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8.6.4       Defense of Title to Collateral.  Each Borrower shall at all times defend its title to Collateral and Agent’s Liens therein against all Persons, claims and demands whatsoever, except Permitted Liens.

 

8.7           Power of Attorney.  Each Borrower hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints Agent (and all Persons designated by Agent) as such Borrower’s true and lawful attorney (and agent-in-fact) for the purposes provided in this Section.  Agent, or Agent’s designee, may, without notice and in either its or a Borrower’s name, but at the cost and expense of Borrowers:

 

(a)      Endorse a Borrower’s name on any Payment Item or other proceeds of Collateral (including proceeds of insurance) that come into Agent’s possession or control; and

 

(b)      During an Event of Default, (i) notify any Account Debtors of the assignment of their Accounts, demand and enforce payment of Accounts, by legal proceedings or otherwise, and generally exercise any rights and remedies with respect to Accounts; (ii) settle, adjust, modify, compromise, discharge or release any Accounts or other Collateral, or any legal proceedings brought to collect Accounts or Collateral; (iii) sell or assign any Accounts and other Collateral upon such terms, for such amounts and at such times as Agent deems advisable; (iv) collect, liquidate and receive balances in Deposit Accounts or investment accounts, and take control, in any manner, of any proceeds of Collateral; (v) prepare, file and sign a Borrower’s name to a proof of claim or other document in a bankruptcy of an Account Debtor, or to any notice, assignment or satisfaction of Lien or similar document; (vi) receive, open and dispose of mail addressed to a Borrower, and notify postal authorities to deliver any such mail to an address designated by Agent; (vii) endorse any Chattel Paper, Document, Instrument, bill of lading, or other document or agreement relating to any Accounts, Inventory or other Collateral; (viii) use a Borrower’s stationery and sign its name to verifications of Accounts and notices to Account Debtors; (ix) use the information recorded on or contained in any data processing, electronic or information systems relating to Collateral; (x) make and adjust claims under insurance policies; (xi) take any action as may be necessary or appropriate to obtain payment under any letter of credit, banker’s acceptance or other instrument for which a Borrower is a beneficiary; and (xii) take all other actions as Agent deems appropriate to fulfill any Borrower’s obligations under the Loan Documents.

 

SECTION 9.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

9.1           General Representations and Warranties.  To induce Agent and Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to make available the Commitments, Loans and Letters of Credit, each Borrower represents and warrants that:

 

  

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9.1.1       Organization and Qualification.  Each Borrower and Subsidiary is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization.  Each Borrower and Subsidiary is duly qualified, authorized to do business and in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction where failure to be so qualified could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

9.1.2       Power and Authority.  Each Obligor is duly authorized to execute, deliver and perform its Loan Documents.  The execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents have been duly authorized by all necessary action, and do not (a) require any consent or approval of any holders of Equity Interests of any Obligor, other than those already obtained; (b) contravene the Organic Documents of any Obligor; (c) violate or cause a default under any Applicable Law or Material Contract; or (d) result in or require the imposition of any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) on any Property of any Obligor.

 

9.1.3       Enforceability.  Each Loan Document is a legal, valid and binding obligation of each Obligor party thereto, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally.

 

9.1.4       Capital Structure.  Schedule 9.1.4 shows, for each Borrower and Subsidiary, its name, its jurisdiction of organization, its authorized and issued Equity Interests, the holders of its Equity Interests, and all agreements binding on such holders with respect to their Equity Interests.  Except as disclosed in Schedule 9.1.4 in the five years preceding the Closing Date, neither Borrowers nor any Subsidiaries have acquired any substantial assets from any other person nor been the surviving entity in a merger or combination.  Each Borrower has good title to its Equity Interests in its Subsidiaries, subject only to Agent’s Lien, and all such Equity Interests are duly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.  There are no outstanding purchase options, warrants, subscription rights, agreements to issue or sell, convertible interests, phantom rights or powers of attorney relating to any Equity Interests of any Borrower or Subsidiary.

 

9.1.5       Title to Properties; Priority of Liens.  Each Borrower and Subsidiary has good and marketable title to (or valid leasehold interests in) all of its Real Estate, and good title to all of its personal Property, including all Property reflected in any financial statements delivered to Agent or Lenders, in each case free of Liens except Permitted Liens.  Each Borrower and Subsidiary has paid and discharged all lawful claims that, if unpaid, could become a Lien on its Properties, other than Permitted Liens.  All Liens of Agent in the Collateral are duly perfected, first priority Liens, subject only to Permitted Liens that are expressly allowed to have priority over Agent’s Liens.

 

  

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9.1.6       Accounts.  Agent may rely, in determining which Accounts are Eligible Accounts, on all statements and representations made by Borrowers with respect thereto.  Borrowers warrant, with respect to each Account at the time it is shown as an Eligible Account in a Borrowing Base Certificate, that:

 

(a)      it is genuine and in all respects what it purports to be, and is not evidenced by a judgment;

 

(b)      it arises out of a completed, bona fide sale and delivery of goods or rendition of services in the Ordinary Course of Business, and substantially in accordance with any purchase order, contract or other document relating thereto;

 

(c)      it is for a sum certain, maturing as stated in the invoice covering such sale or rendition of services, a copy of which has been furnished or is available to Agent on request;

 

(d)      it is not subject to any offset, Lien (other than Agent’s Lien), deduction, defense, dispute, counterclaim or other adverse condition except as arising in the Ordinary Course of Business and disclosed to Agent; and it is absolutely owing by the Account Debtor, without contingency in any respect;

 

(e)      no purchase order, agreement, document or Applicable Law restricts assignment of the Account to Agent (regardless of whether, under the UCC, the restriction is ineffective), and the applicable Borrower is the sole payee or remittance party shown on the invoice;

 

(f)       no extension, compromise, settlement, modification, credit, deduction or return has been authorized with respect to the Account, except discounts or allowances granted in the Ordinary Course of Business for prompt payment that are reflected on the face of the invoice related thereto and in the reports submitted to Agent hereunder; and

 

(g)      to the best of Borrowers’ knowledge, (i) there are no facts or circumstances that are reasonably likely to impair the enforceability or collectibility of such Account; (ii) the Account Debtor had the capacity to contract when the Account arose, continues to meet the applicable Borrower’s customary credit standards, is Solvent, is not contemplating or subject to an Insolvency Proceeding, and has not failed, or suspended or ceased doing business; and (iii) there are no proceedings or actions threatened or pending against any Account Debtor that could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Account Debtor’s financial condition.

 

  

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9.1.7       Financial Statements.  The consolidated and consolidating balance sheets, and related statements of income, cash flow and shareholder’s equity, of Guarantor and such other Persons described therein that have been and are hereafter delivered to Agent and Lenders, are prepared in accordance with GAAP, and fairly present the financial positions and results of operations of Borrowers and Subsidiaries at the dates and for the periods indicated.  All projections delivered from time to time to Agent and Lenders have been prepared in good faith, based on reasonable assumptions in light of the circumstances at such time.  Since December 31, 2010, there has been no change in the condition, financial or otherwise, of Guarantor, any Borrower or Subsidiary that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  No financial statement delivered to Agent or Lenders at any time contains any untrue statement of a material fact, nor fails to disclose any material fact necessary to make such statement not materially misleading.  Each Borrower and Subsidiary is Solvent.

 

9.1.8       Surety Obligations.  Neither any Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is obligated as surety or indemnitor under any surety or similar bond or other contract issued or entered into any agreement to assure payment, performance or completion of performance of any undertaking or obligation of any Person, except as provided in Schedule 9.1.8 or with respect to performance bonds given in the ordinary course of business so long as the amount of Indebtedness (contingent or otherwise) (a) with respect to any such bonds does not at any time exceed $15,000,000 with respect to any one bond or related series of bonds or (b) the greater of (x) $25,000,000 and (y) an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of Borrowers’ net sales for the most recently ended four fiscal quarters, in the aggregate.

 

9.1.9       Taxes.  Each Borrower and Subsidiary has filed all federal, state and local tax returns and other reports that it is required by law to file, and has paid, or made provision for the payment of, all Taxes upon it, its income and its Properties that are due and payable, except to the extent being Properly Contested.  The provision for Taxes on the books of each Borrower and Subsidiary is adequate for all years not closed by applicable statutes, and for its current Fiscal Year.

 

9.1.10     Brokers.  There are no brokerage commissions, finder’s fees or investment banking fees payable in connection with any transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents.

 

9.1.11     Intellectual Property.  Each Borrower and Subsidiary owns or has the lawful right to use all Intellectual Property necessary for the conduct of its business, without conflict with any rights of others.  There is no pending or, to any Borrower’s knowledge, threatened Intellectual Property Claim with respect to any Borrower, any Subsidiary or any of their Property (including any Intellectual Property).  Except as disclosed on Schedule 9.1.11, no Borrower or Subsidiary pays or owes any Royalty or other compensation to any Person with respect to any Intellectual Property.  All Intellectual Property owned, used or licensed by, or otherwise subject to any interests of, any Borrower or Subsidiary is shown on Schedule 9.1.11.

 

  

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9.1.12     Governmental Approvals.  Each Borrower and Subsidiary has, is in compliance with, and is in good standing with respect to, all Governmental Approvals necessary to conduct its business and to own, lease and operate its Properties.  All necessary import, export or other licenses, permits or certificates for the import or handling of any goods or other Collateral have been procured and are in effect, and Borrowers and Subsidiaries have complied with all foreign and domestic laws with respect to the shipment and importation of any goods or Collateral, except where noncompliance could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

9.1.13     Compliance with Laws.  Each Borrower and Subsidiary has duly complied, and its Properties and business operations are in compliance, in all material respects with all Applicable Law, except where noncompliance could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  There have been no citations, notices or orders of material noncompliance issued to any Borrower or Subsidiary under any Applicable Law.  To Borrowers’ knowledge, no Inventory has been produced in violation of the FLSA.

 

9.1.14     Compliance with Environmental Laws.  Except as disclosed on Schedule 9.1.14, no Borrower’s or Subsidiary’s past or present operations, Real Estate or other Properties are subject to any federal, state or local investigation to determine whether any remedial action is needed to address any environmental pollution, hazardous material or environmental clean-up.  No Borrower or Subsidiary has received any Environmental Notice.  No Borrower or Subsidiary has any contingent liability with respect to any Environmental Release, environmental pollution or hazardous material on any Real Estate now or previously owned, leased or operated by it.

 

9.1.15     Burdensome Contracts.  No Borrower or Subsidiary is a party or subject to any contract, agreement or charter restriction that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  No Borrower or Subsidiary is party or subject to any Restrictive Agreement, except as shown on Schedule 9.1.15.  No such Restrictive Agreement prohibits the execution, delivery or performance of any Loan Documents by an Obligor.

 

9.1.16     Litigation.  Except as shown on Schedule 9.1.16, there are no proceedings or investigations pending or, to any Borrower’s knowledge, threatened against any Borrower or Subsidiary, or any of their businesses, operations, Properties, prospects or conditions, that (a) relate to any Loan Documents or transactions contemplated thereby; or (b) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect if determined adversely to any Borrower or Subsidiary.  Except as shown on such Schedule, no Obligor has a Commercial Tort Claim (other than, as long as no Default or Event of Default exists, a Commercial Tort Claim for less than $1,000,000).  No Borrower or Subsidiary is in default with respect to any order, injunction or judgment of any Governmental Authority.

 

  

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9.1.17     No Defaults.  No event or circumstance has occurred or exists that constitutes a Default or Event of Default.  No Borrower or Subsidiary is in default, and no event or circumstance has occurred or exists that with the passage of time or giving of notice would constitute a default, under any Material Contract or in the payment of any Borrowed Money.  There is no basis upon which any party (other than a Borrower or Subsidiary) could terminate a Material Contract prior to its scheduled termination date.

 

9.1.18     ERISA.  Except as disclosed on Schedule 9.1.18:

 

(a)      Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code, and other federal and state laws.  Each Plan that is intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS or an application for such a letter is currently being processed by the IRS with respect thereto and, to the knowledge of Borrowers, nothing has occurred which would prevent, or cause the loss of, such qualification.  Each Obligor and ERISA Affiliate has made all required contributions to each Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code, and no application for a funding waiver or an extension of any amortization period pursuant to Section 412 of the Code has been made with respect to any Plan.

 

(b)      There are no pending or, to the knowledge of Borrowers, threatened claims, actions or lawsuits, or action by any Governmental Authority, with respect to any Plan that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  There has been no prohibited transaction or violation of the fiduciary responsibility rules with respect to any Plan that has resulted in or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c)      (i) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (ii) no Pension Plan has any Unfunded Pension Liability; (iii) no Obligor or ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan (other than premiums due and not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA); (iv) no Obligor or ERISA Affiliate has incurred, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability (and no event has occurred which, with the giving of notice under Section 4219 of ERISA, would result in such liability) under Section 4201 or 4243 of ERISA with respect to a Multiemployer Plan; and (v) no Obligor or ERISA Affiliate has engaged in a transaction that could be subject to Section 4069 or 4212(c) of ERISA.

 

  

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(d)      With respect to any Foreign Plan, (i) all employer and employee contributions required by law or by the terms of the Foreign Plan have been made, or, if applicable, accrued, in accordance with normal accounting practices; (ii) the fair market value of the assets of each funded Foreign Plan, the liability of each insurer for any Foreign Plan funded through insurance, or the book reserve established for any Foreign Plan, together with any accrued contributions, is sufficient to procure or provide for the accrued benefit obligations with respect to all current and former participants in such Foreign Plan according to the actuarial assumptions and valuations most recently used to account for such obligations in accordance with applicable generally accepted accounting principles; and (iii) it has been registered as required and has been maintained in good standing with applicable regulatory authorities.

 

9.1.19     Trade Relations.  There exists no actual or threatened termination, limitation or modification of any business relationship between any Borrower or Subsidiary and any customer or supplier, or any group of customers or suppliers, who individually or in the aggregate are material to the business of such Borrower or Subsidiary.  There exists no condition or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to impair the ability of any Borrower or Subsidiary to conduct its business at any time hereafter in substantially the same manner as conducted on the Closing Date.

 

9.1.20     Labor Relations.  Except as described on Schedule 9.1.20, no Borrower or any Subsidiary is party to or bound by any collective bargaining agreement, management agreement or consulting agreement.  There are no material grievances, disputes or controversies with any union or other organization of any Borrower’s or Subsidiary’s employees, or, to any Borrower’s knowledge, any asserted or threatened strikes, work stoppages or demands for collective bargaining.

 

9.1.21     Payable Practices.  No Borrower or Subsidiary has made any material change in its historical accounts payable practices from those in effect on the Closing Date.

 

9.1.22     Not a Regulated Entity.  No Obligor is (a) an “investment company” or a “person directly or indirectly controlled by or acting on behalf of an investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940; or (b) subject to regulation under the Federal Power Act, the Interstate Commerce Act, any public utilities code or any other Applicable Law regarding its authority to incur Debt.

 

9.1.23     Margin Stock.  No Borrower or Subsidiary is engaged, principally or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock.  No Loan proceeds or Letters of Credit will be used by Borrowers to purchase or carry, or to reduce or refinance any Debt incurred to purchase or carry, any Margin Stock or for any related purpose governed by Regulations T, U or X of the Board of Governors.

 

9.2           Complete Disclosure.  No Loan Document contains any untrue statement of a material fact, nor fails to disclose any material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein not materially misleading.  There is no fact or circumstance that any Obligor has failed to disclose to Agent in writing that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  

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SECTION 10.  COVENANTS AND CONTINUING AGREEMENTS

 

10.1        Affirmative Covenants.  As long as any Commitments or Obligations are outstanding, each Borrower shall, and shall cause each Subsidiary to:

 

10.1.1     Inspections; Appraisals.

 

(a)      Permit Agent from time to time, subject (except when a Default or Event of Default exists) to reasonable notice and normal business hours, to visit and inspect the Properties of any Borrower or Subsidiary, inspect, audit and make extracts from any Borrower’s or Subsidiary’s books and records, and discuss with its officers, employees, agents, advisors and independent accountants such Borrower’s or Subsidiary’s business, financial condition, assets, prospects and results of operations.  Lenders may participate in any such visit or inspection, at their own expense.  Neither Agent nor any Lender shall have any duty to any Borrower to make any inspection, nor to share any results of any inspection, appraisal or report with any Borrower.  Borrowers acknowledge that all inspections, appraisals and reports are prepared by Agent and Lenders for their purposes, and Borrowers shall not be entitled to rely upon them.  So long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, Agent and Lenders agree to give Borrower Agent reasonable notice of any such visit or inspection.

 

(b)      Reimburse Agent for all charges, costs and expenses of Agent in connection with (i) examinations of any Obligor’s books and records or any other financial or Collateral matters as Agent deems appropriate; and (ii) appraisals of Inventory.  Without limiting the foregoing, Borrowers specifically agree to pay Agent’s then standard charges for each day that an employee of Agent or its Affiliates is engaged in any examination activities, and shall pay the standard charges of Agent’s internal appraisal group.  This Section shall not be construed to limit Agent’s right to conduct examinations or to obtain appraisals at any time in its discretion, nor to use third parties for such purposes.

 

10.1.2     Financial and Other Information.  Keep adequate records and books of account with respect to its business activities, in which proper entries are made in accordance with GAAP reflecting all financial transactions; and furnish to Agent and Lenders:

  

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(a)      as soon as available, and in any event within 90 days after the close of each Fiscal Year, balance sheets as of the end of such Fiscal Year and the related statements of income, cash flow and shareholders’ equity for such Fiscal Year, on consolidated and consolidating (if requested by Agent) basis for Guarantor, Borrowers and Subsidiaries, which consolidated statements shall be audited and certified (without qualification) by a firm of independent certified public accountants of recognized standing selected by Guarantor and acceptable to Agent, and shall set forth in comparative form corresponding figures for the preceding Fiscal Year and other information acceptable to Agent;

 

(b)      as soon as available, and in any event within 30 days after the end of each month, unaudited balance sheets as of the end of such month and the related statements of income and cash flow for such month and for the portion of the Fiscal Year then elapsed, on consolidated and consolidating bases for Guarantor, Borrowers and Subsidiaries, setting forth in comparative form corresponding figures for the preceding Fiscal Year and certified by the chief financial officer of Borrower Agent as prepared in accordance with GAAP and fairly presenting the financial position and results of operations for such month and period, subject to normal year end adjustments and the absence of footnotes;

 

(c)      concurrently with delivery of financial statements under clauses (a) and (b) above, or more frequently if requested by Agent while a Default or Event of Default exists, a Compliance Certificate executed by the chief financial officer of Borrower Agent;

 

(d)      reserved;

 

(e)      not later than the first day of each Fiscal Year, projections of Borrowers’ consolidated balance sheets, results of operations, cash flow and Availability for the next Fiscal Year, month by month and for the next two Fiscal Years, quarter by quarter;

 

(f)       promptly after the sending or filing thereof, copies of any proxy statements, financial statements or reports that any Borrower has made generally available to its shareholders; copies of any regular, periodic and special reports or registration statements or prospectuses that any Borrower files with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other Governmental Authority, or any securities exchange; and copies of any press releases or other statements made available by a Borrower to the public concerning material changes to or developments in the business of such Borrower;

 

(g)      promptly after the sending or filing thereof, copies of any annual report to be filed in connection with each Plan or Foreign Plan; and

 

(h)      such other reports and information (financial or otherwise) as Agent may request from time to time in connection with any Collateral or any Guarantor’s, Borrower’s, Subsidiary’s or other Obligor’s financial condition or business.

 

  

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10.1.3     Notices.  Notify Agent and Lenders in writing, promptly after a Borrower’s obtaining knowledge thereof, of any of the following that affects an Obligor:  (a) the threat or commencement of any proceeding or investigation, whether or not covered by insurance, if an adverse determination could have a Material Adverse Effect; (b) any pending or threatened labor dispute, strike or walkout, or the expiration of any material labor contract; (c) any default under or termination of a Material Contract; (d) the existence of any Default or Event of Default; (e) any judgment in an amount exceeding $1,000,000; (f) the assertion of any Intellectual Property Claim, if an adverse resolution could have a Material Adverse Effect; (g) any violation or asserted violation of any Applicable Law (including ERISA, OSHA, FLSA, or any Environmental Laws), if an adverse resolution could have a Material Adverse Effect; (h) any Environmental Release by an Obligor or on any Property owned, leased or occupied by an Obligor; or receipt of any Environmental Notice; (i) the occurrence of any ERISA Event; (j) the discharge of or any withdrawal or resignation by Borrowers’ independent accountants; or (k) any opening of a new office or place of business, at least 30 days prior to such opening.

 

10.1.4     Landlord and Storage Agreements.  Upon request, provide Agent with copies of all existing agreements, and promptly after execution thereof provide Agent with copies of all future agreements, between an Obligor and any landlord, warehouseman, processor, shipper, bailee or other Person that owns any premises at which any Collateral may be kept or that otherwise may possess or handle any Collateral.

 

10.1.5     Compliance with Laws.  Comply with all Applicable Laws, including ERISA, Environmental Laws, FLSA, OSHA, Anti-Terrorism Laws, and laws regarding collection and payment of Taxes, and maintain all Governmental Approvals necessary to the ownership of its Properties or conduct of its business, unless failure to comply (other than failure to comply with Anti-Terrorism Laws) or maintain could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if any material Environmental Release occurs at or on any Properties of any Borrower or Subsidiary, it shall act promptly and diligently to investigate and report to Agent and all appropriate Governmental Authorities the extent of, and to make appropriate remedial action to eliminate, such Environmental Release, whether or not directed to do so by any Governmental Authority.

 

10.1.6     Taxes.  Pay and discharge all material Taxes prior to the date on which they become delinquent or penalties attach, unless such Taxes are being Properly Contested.

 

10.1.7     Insurance.  In addition to the insurance required hereunder with respect to Collateral, maintain insurance with insurers (with a Best Rating of at least A+, unless otherwise approved by Agent) satisfactory to Agent, (a) with respect to the Properties and business of Borrowers and Subsidiaries of such type (including product liability, workers’ compensation, larceny, embezzlement, or other criminal misappropriation insurance), in such amounts, and with such coverages and deductibles as are customary for companies similarly situated; and (b) business interruption insurance in an amount not less than $20,000,000, with deductibles and subject to an Insurance Assignment satisfactory to Agent.

 

  

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10.1.8     Licenses.  Keep each License affecting any Collateral (including the manufacture, distribution or disposition of Inventory) or any other material Property of Borrowers and Subsidiaries in full force and effect unless the failure to maintain such License could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; promptly notify Agent of any proposed material modification to any such License, or entry into any new License, in each case at least 30 days prior to its effective date; pay all Royalties when due; and notify Agent of any default or breach asserted by any Person to have occurred under any License.

 

10.1.9     Future Subsidiaries.  Promptly notify Agent upon any Person becoming a Subsidiary and, if such Person is not a Foreign Subsidiary, cause it to guaranty the Obligations in a manner satisfactory to Agent, and to execute and deliver such documents, instruments and agreements and to take such other actions as Agent shall require to evidence and perfect a Lien in favor of Agent (for the benefit of Secured Parties) on all assets of such Person, including delivery of such legal opinions, in form and substance satisfactory to Agent, as it shall deem appropriate.

 

10.2        Negative Covenants.  As long as any Commitments or Obligations are outstanding, each Borrower shall not, and shall cause each Subsidiary not to:

 

10.2.1     Permitted Debt.  Create, incur, guarantee or suffer to exist any Debt, except:

 

(a)      the Obligations;

 

(b)      Debt of any Borrower to a Borrower;

 

(c)      Permitted Purchase Money Debt;

 

(d)      Bank Product Debt;

 

(e)      Debt that is in existence when a Person becomes a Subsidiary or that is secured by an asset when such asset is acquired by a Borrower or Subsidiary, as long as such Debt was not incurred in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary or such acquisition, and does not exceed $1,000,000 in the aggregate at any time;

 

(f)       Permitted Contingent Obligations;

 

(g)      Refinancing Debt as long as each Refinancing Condition is satisfied;

 

  

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(h)      Debt incurred to finance the purchase or development of Real Estate and improvements thereon for use by Borrowers in the Ordinary Course of Business so long as the aggregate principal amount of such Debt does not at any time exceed $10,000,000; and

 

(i)       Debt that is not included in any of the preceding clauses of this Section, is not secured by a Lien and does not exceed $1,000,000 in the aggregate at any time.

 

10.2.2     Permitted Liens.  Create or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its Property, except the following (collectively, “Permitted Liens”):

 

(a)      Liens in favor of Agent;

 

(b)      Purchase Money Liens securing Permitted Purchase Money Debt;

 

(c)      Liens for Taxes not yet due or being Properly Contested;

 

(d)      statutory Liens (other than Liens for Taxes or imposed under ERISA) arising in the Ordinary Course of Business, but only if (i) payment of the obligations secured thereby is not yet due or is being Properly Contested, and (ii) such Liens do not materially impair the value or use of the Property or materially impair operation of the business of any Borrower or Subsidiary;

 

(e)      Liens incurred or deposits made in the Ordinary Course of Business to secure the performance of tenders, bids, leases, contracts (except those relating to Borrowed Money), statutory obligations and other similar obligations, or arising as a result of progress payments under government contracts, as long as such Liens are at all times junior to Agent’s Liens;

 

(f)       Liens arising in the Ordinary Course of Business that are subject to Lien Waivers;

 

(g)      Liens arising by virtue of a judgment or judicial order against any Borrower or Subsidiary, or any Property of a Borrower or Subsidiary, as long as such Liens are (i) in existence for less than 20 consecutive days or being Properly Contested, and (ii) at all times junior to Agent’s Liens;

 

(h)      easements, rights-of-way, restrictions, covenants or other agreements of record, and other similar charges or encumbrances on Real Estate, that do not secure any monetary obligation and do not interfere with the Ordinary Course of Business;

 

  

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(i)       normal and customary rights of setoff upon deposits in favor of depository institutions, and Liens of a collecting bank on Payment Items in the course of collection;

 

(j)       existing Liens shown on Schedule 10.2.2;

 

(k)      Liens securing Debt permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 10.1.1(e) or arising under Permitted Contingent Obligations of the type described in clause (a), (d) and (f) of the definition of such term;

 

(l)       Liens on Real Estate securing Debt permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 10.1.1(h);

 

(m)     Liens (subordinated to the Liens of Agent) in favor of another Borrower; and

 

(n)      Such other Liens as Required Lenders may hereafter approve in writing.

 

10.2.3     Reserved.

 

10.2.4     Distributions; Upstream Payments.  Create or suffer to exist any encumbrance or restriction on the ability of a Subsidiary to make any Upstream Payment, except for restrictions under the Loan Documents, under Applicable Law or in effect on the Closing Date as shown on Schedule 9.1.15, or declare or make any Distributions except:

 

(a)      Upstream Payments;

 

(b)      a Borrower may pay dividends to Guarantor in an amount sufficient to maintain the corporate existence of Guarantor, to pay income taxes and to pay the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of Guarantor and audit fees and expenses, not to exceed $500,000 per annum in the aggregate;

 

(c)      a Borrower may pay dividends to Guarantor for further distribution to its stockholders in an amount not to exceed the lesser of (x) income taxes on phantom income incurred on the issuance of payment-in-kind notes with respect to the Guarantor Subordinated Debt or (y) $500,000 per year;

 

(d)      a Borrower may pay dividends to Guarantor of up to $500,000 in each Fiscal year to repurchase the capital stock of employees who die or terminate their employment with any Borrower; and

 

  

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(e)      Borrower Agent may make Distributions to Guarantor to permit Guarantor to pay dividends on Guarantor’s common stock or make repurchases of Guarantor’s common stock so long as after giving effect to any such Distribution, (i) no Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing, (ii) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the most recently ended twelve month period for which financial statements are available, computed on a pro forma basis treating any such Distribution as a Fixed Charge made within such period, equals or exceeds 1.10 to 1, and (iii) Availability was or will not be less than $15,000,000 at any time within the 90 days immediately prior to the date of such Distribution or after giving effect to such Distribution and any pending Distribution for declared but unpaid dividends or common stock repurchases.

 

10.2.5     Restricted Investments.  Make any Restricted Investment.

 

10.2.6     Disposition of Assets.  Make any Asset Disposition, except a Permitted Asset Disposition, a disposition of Equipment under Section 8.4.2, or a transfer of Property by a Subsidiary or Obligor to a Borrower.

 

10.2.7     Loans.  Make any loans or other advances of money to any Person, except (a) advances to an officer or employee for salary, travel expenses, commissions and similar items in the Ordinary Course of Business; (b) prepaid expenses and extensions of trade credit made in the Ordinary Course of Business; (c) deposits with financial institutions permitted hereunder; and (d) as long as no Default or Event of Default exists, intercompany loans by a Borrower to another Borrower.

 

10.2.8     Reserved.

 

10.2.9     Fundamental Changes.  Merge, combine or consolidate with any Person, or liquidate, wind up its affairs or dissolve itself, in each case whether in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, except for mergers or consolidations of a wholly-owned Subsidiary with another wholly-owned Subsidiary or into a Borrower; change its name or conduct business under any fictitious name; change its tax, charter or other organizational identification number; or change its form or state of organization.

 

10.2.10   Subsidiaries.  Form or acquire any Subsidiary after the Closing Date, except in accordance with Sections 10.1.9 and 10.2.5; or permit any existing Subsidiary to issue any additional Equity Interests except director’s qualifying shares and Equity Interests issued to existing security holders on a pro rata basis.

 

10.2.11   Organic Documents.  Amend, modify or otherwise change any of its Organic Documents as in effect on the Closing Date, in any manner that could reasonably be expected to adversely affect Agent, any Lender or Issuing Bank in any material respect.

 

10.2.12   Tax Consolidation.  File or consent to the filing of any consolidated income tax return with any Person other than Guarantor, Borrowers and Subsidiaries.

 

  

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10.2.13   Accounting Changes.  Make any material change in accounting treatment or reporting practices, except as required by GAAP and in accordance with Section 1.2; or change its Fiscal Year.

 

10.2.14   Restrictive Agreements.  Become a party to any Restrictive Agreement, except a Restrictive Agreement (a) in effect on the Closing Date; (b) relating to secured Debt permitted hereunder, as long as the restrictions apply only to collateral for such Debt; or (c) constituting customary restrictions on assignment in leases and other contracts.

 

10.2.15   Hedging Agreements.  Enter into any Hedging Agreement, except to hedge risks arising in the Ordinary Course of Business and not for speculative purposes.

 

10.2.16   Conduct of Business.  Engage in any business, other than its business as conducted on the Closing Date and any activities incidental thereto.

 

10.2.17   Affiliate Transactions.  Enter into or be party to any transaction with an Affiliate, except (a) transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents; (b) payment of reasonable compensation to officers and employees for services actually rendered, and loans and advances permitted by Section 10.2.7; (c) payment of customary directors’ fees and indemnities; (d) transactions solely among Borrowers; (e) transactions with Affiliates that were consummated prior to the Closing Date, as shown on Schedule 10.2.17; and (f) transactions with Affiliates in the Ordinary Course of Business, upon fair and reasonable terms fully disclosed to Agent and no less favorable than would be obtained in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with a non-Affiliate.

 

10.2.18  Plans.  Become party to any Multiemployer Plan or Foreign Plan, other than any in existence on the Closing Date.

 

10.3        Financial Covenants.  As long as any Commitments or Obligations are outstanding, Borrowers shall:

 

10.3.1     Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.  If a Trigger Period exists, maintain a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of at least 1.10 to 1.0 for the most recently ended period of four Fiscal Quarters for which financial statements have been issued.

 

SECTION 11.  EVENTS OF DEFAULT; REMEDIES ON DEFAULT

 

11.1        Events of Default.  Each of the following shall be an “Event of Default” hereunder, if the same shall occur for any reason whatsoever, whether voluntary or involuntary, by operation of law or otherwise:

 

  

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(a)      A Borrower fails to pay any Obligations when due (whether at stated maturity, on demand, upon acceleration or otherwise and such failure shall continue for five (5) days (ten (10) days with respect to Obligations other than interest, principal and fees) after the applicable due date.  Borrowers acknowledge that, to the extent of Availability, such interest, principal, fees and/or other Obligations shall be paid by advances of Revolver Loans pursuant to Section 2.1);

 

(b)      Any representation, warranty or other written statement of an Obligor made in connection with any Loan Documents or transactions contemplated thereby is incorrect or misleading in any material respect when given;

 

(c)      A Borrower breaches or fails to perform any covenant contained in Section 7.2 (Lien on Deposit Accounts; Cash Collateral), 7.3 (Other Collateral), 7.5 (Further Assurances), 8.1 (Collateral Administration), 8.2.4 (Maintenance of Dominion Account), 8.2.5 (Proceeds of Collateral), 8.6.2 (Insurance of Collateral; Condemnation Proceeds), 10.1.1 (Inspections; Appraisals), 10.1.2 (Financial and Other Information), 10.2 (Negative Covenants) or 10.3 (Financial Covenants);

 

(d)      An Obligor breaches or fails to perform any other covenant contained in any Loan Documents, and such breach or failure is not cured within 15 days after a Senior Officer of such Obligor has knowledge thereof or receives notice thereof from Agent, whichever is sooner; provided, however, that such notice and opportunity to cure shall not apply if the breach or failure to perform is not capable of being cured within such period or is a willful breach by an Obligor;

 

(e)      A Guarantor repudiates, revokes or attempts to revoke its Guaranty; an Obligor denies or contests the validity or enforceability of any Loan Documents or Obligations, or the perfection or priority of any Lien granted to Agent; or any Loan Document ceases to be in full force or effect for any reason (other than a waiver or release by Agent and Lenders);

 

(f)       Any breach or default of an Obligor occurs under any document, instrument or agreement to which it is a party or by which it or any of its Properties is bound, relating to any Debt (other than the Obligations) in excess of $1,000,000, if the maturity of or any payment with respect to such Debt is accelerated or demanded due to such breach;

 

(g)      Any money judgments, writ of attachment or similar processes are issued or rendered against any Borrower or any Subsidiary of any Borrower or any of their respective Property in an amount of $1,000,000 or more for any single judgment, attachment or process or $2,000,000 or more for all such judgments, attachments or processes in the aggregate, in each case in excess of any applicable insurance with respect to which the insurer has admitted liability and which judgment, attachment or process is not stayed, released or discharged within 30 days.  Any non-money judgment (or any non-monetary portion of a judgment) shall be issued or rendered against any Borrower and such judgment is reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and such judgment is not stayed, released or discharged within 30 days.

 

  

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(h)      A loss, theft, damage or destruction occurs with respect to any Collateral if the amount not covered by insurance exceeds $1,000,000;

 

(i)       An Obligor is enjoined, restrained or in any way prevented by any Governmental Authority from conducting any material part of its business; an Obligor suffers the loss, revocation or termination of any material license, permit, lease or agreement necessary to its business; there is a cessation of any material part of an Obligor’s business for a material period of time; any material Collateral or Property of an Obligor is taken or impaired through condemnation; an Obligor agrees to or commences any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of its affairs; or any Obligor is not Solvent;

 

(j)       An Insolvency Proceeding is commenced by an Obligor; an Obligor makes an offer of settlement, extension or composition to its unsecured creditors generally; a trustee is appointed to take possession of any substantial Property of or to operate any of the business of an Obligor; or an Insolvency Proceeding is commenced against an Obligor and the Obligor consents to institution of the proceeding, the petition commencing the proceeding is not timely contested by the Obligor, the petition is not dismissed within 60 days after filing, or an order for relief is entered in the proceeding;

 

(k)      Any Obligor or any of its Senior Officers is criminally indicted or convicted for (i) a felony committed in the conduct of the Obligor’s business, or (ii) violating any state or federal law (including the Controlled Substances Act, Money Laundering Control Act of 1986 and Illegal Exportation of War Materials Act) that could lead to forfeiture of any material Property or any Collateral; or

 

(l)       Guarantor shall cease to own and control, directly or indirectly, beneficially and of record, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Borrower Agent and each other Borrower.  A Change of Control shall occur with respect to Guarantor.

 

11.2        Remedies upon Default.  If an Event of Default described in Section 11.1(j) occurs with respect to any Borrower, then to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, all Obligations shall become automatically due and payable and all Commitments shall terminate, without any action by Agent or notice of any kind.  In addition, or if any other Event of Default exists, Agent may in its discretion (and shall upon written direction of Required Lenders) do any one or more of the following from time to time:

 

  

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(a)      declare any Obligations immediately due and payable, whereupon they shall be due and payable without diligence, presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by Borrowers to the fullest extent permitted by law;

 

(b)      terminate, reduce or condition any Commitment, or make any adjustment to the Borrowing Base;

 

(c)      require Obligors to Cash Collateralize LC Obligations, Bank Product Debt and other Obligations that are contingent or not yet due and payable, and, if Obligors fail promptly to deposit such Cash Collateral, Agent may (and shall upon the direction of Required Lenders) advance the required Cash Collateral as Revolver Loans (whether or not an Overadvance exists or is created thereby, or the conditions in Section 6 are satisfied); and

 

(d)      exercise any other rights or remedies afforded under any agreement, by law, at equity or otherwise, including the rights and remedies of a secured party under the UCC.  Such rights and remedies include the rights to (i) take possession of any Collateral; (ii) require Borrowers to assemble Collateral, at Borrowers’ expense, and make it available to Agent at a place designated by Agent; (iii) enter any premises where Collateral is located and store Collateral on such premises until sold (and if the premises are owned or leased by a Borrower, Borrowers agree not to charge for such storage); and (iv) sell or otherwise dispose of any Collateral in its then condition, or after any further manufacturing or processing thereof, at public or private sale, with such notice as may be required by Applicable Law, in lots or in bulk, at such locations, all as Agent, in its discretion, deems advisable.  Each Borrower agrees that 10 days notice of any proposed sale or other disposition of Collateral by Agent shall be reasonable.  Agent shall have the right to conduct such sales on any Obligor’s premises, without charge, and such sales may be adjourned from time to time in accordance with Applicable Law.  Agent shall have the right to sell, lease or otherwise dispose of any Collateral for cash, credit or any combination thereof, and Agent may purchase any Collateral at public or, if permitted by law, private sale and, in lieu of actual payment of the purchase price, may set off the amount of such price against the Obligations.

 

11.3        License.  Agent is hereby granted an irrevocable, non-exclusive license or other right to use, license or sub-license (without payment of royalty or other compensation to any Person) any or all Intellectual Property of Borrowers, computer hardware and software, trade secrets, brochures, customer lists, promotional and advertising materials, labels, packaging materials and other Property, in advertising for sale, marketing, selling, collecting, completing manufacture of, or otherwise exercising any rights or remedies with respect to, any Collateral.  Each Borrower’s rights and interests under Intellectual Property shall inure to Agent’s benefit.

 

  

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11.4        Setoff.  At any time during an Event of Default, Agent, Issuing Bank, Lenders, and any of their Affiliates are authorized, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by Agent, Issuing Bank, such Lender or such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of an Obligor against any Obligations, irrespective of whether or not Agent, Issuing Bank, such Lender or such Affiliate shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such Obligations may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of Agent, Issuing Bank, such Lender or such Affiliate different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness.  The rights of Agent, Issuing Bank, each Lender and each such Affiliate under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) that such Person may have.

 

11.5        Remedies Cumulative; No Waiver.

 

11.5.1     Cumulative Rights.  All agreements, warranties, guaranties, indemnities and other undertakings of Borrowers under the Loan Documents are cumulative and not in derogation of each other.  The rights and remedies of Agent and Lenders are cumulative, may be exercised at any time and from time to time, concurrently or in any order, and are not exclusive of any other rights or remedies available by agreement, by law, at equity or otherwise.  All such rights and remedies shall continue in full force and effect until Full Payment of all Obligations.

 

11.5.2     Waivers.  No waiver or course of dealing shall be established by (a) the failure or delay of Agent or any Lender to require strict performance by Borrowers with any terms of the Loan Documents, or to exercise any rights or remedies with respect to Collateral or otherwise, (b) the making of any Loan or issuance of any Letter of Credit during a Default, Event of Default or other failure to satisfy any conditions precedent; or (c) acceptance by Agent or any Lender of any payment or performance of an Obligor under any Loan Documents in a manner other than that specified therein.  It is expressly acknowledged by Borrowers that any failure to satisfy a financial covenant on a measurement date shall not be cured or remedied by satisfaction of such covenant on a subsequent date.

 

  

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SECTION 12.  AGENT

 

12.1        Appointment, Authority and Duties of Agent.

 

12.1.1     Appointment and Authority.  Each Lender appoints and designates Bank of America as Agent hereunder.  Agent may, and each Lender authorizes Agent to, enter into all Loan Documents to which Agent is intended to be a party and accept all Security Documents, for Agent’s benefit and the Pro Rata benefit of Lenders.  Each Lender agrees that any action taken by Agent or Required Lenders in accordance with the provisions of the Loan Documents, and the exercise by Agent or Required Lenders of any rights or remedies set forth therein, together with all other powers reasonably incidental thereto, shall be authorized by and binding upon all Lenders.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Agent shall have the sole and exclusive authority to (a) act as the disbursing and collecting agent for Lenders with respect to all payments and collections arising in connection with the Loan Documents; (b) execute and deliver as Agent each Loan Document, including any intercreditor or subordination agreement, and accept delivery of each Loan Document from any Obligor or other Person; (c) act as collateral agent for Secured Parties for purposes of perfecting and administering Liens under the Loan Documents, and for all other purposes stated therein; (d) manage, supervise or otherwise deal with Collateral; and (e) take any Enforcement Action or otherwise exercise any rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral under the Loan Documents, Applicable Law or otherwise.  The duties of Agent shall be ministerial and administrative in nature, and Agent shall not have a fiduciary relationship with any Lender, Secured Party, Participant or other Person, by reason of any Loan Document or any transaction relating thereto.  Agent alone shall be authorized to determine whether any Accounts or Inventory constitute Eligible Accounts or Eligible Inventory, or whether to impose or release any reserve, and to exercise its reasonable credit judgment in connection therewith, which determinations and judgments, if exercised in good faith, shall exonerate Agent from liability to any Lender or other Person for any error in judgment.

 

12.1.2     Duties.  Agent shall not have any duties except those expressly set forth in the Loan Documents.  The conferral upon Agent of any right shall not imply a duty on Agent’s part to exercise such right, unless instructed to do so by Required Lenders in accordance with this Agreement.

 

12.1.3     Agent Professionals.  Agent may perform its duties through agents and employees.  Agent may consult with and employ Agent Professionals, and shall be entitled to act upon, and shall be fully protected in any action taken in good faith reliance upon, any advice given by an Agent Professional.  Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agents, employees or Agent Professionals selected by it with reasonable care.

 

12.1.4     Instructions of Required Lenders.  The rights and remedies conferred upon Agent under the Loan Documents may be exercised without the necessity of joinder of any other party, unless required by Applicable Law.  Agent may request instructions from Required Lenders with respect to any act (including the failure to act) in connection with any Loan Documents, and may seek assurances to its satisfaction from Lenders of their indemnification obligations under Section 12.6 against all Claims that could be incurred by Agent in connection with any act.  Agent shall be entitled to refrain from any act until it has received such instructions or assurances, and Agent shall not incur liability to any Person by reason of so refraining.  Instructions of Required Lenders shall be binding upon all Lenders, and no Lender shall have any right of action whatsoever against Agent as a result of Agent acting or refraining from acting in accordance with the instructions of Required Lenders.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, instructions by and consent of all Lenders shall be required in the circumstances described in Section 14.1.1, and in no event shall Required Lenders, without the prior written consent of each Lender, direct Agent to accelerate and demand payment of Loans held by one Lender without accelerating and demanding payment of all other Loans, nor to terminate the Commitments of one Lender without terminating the Commitments of all Lenders.  In no event shall Agent be required to take any action that, in its opinion, is contrary to Applicable Law or any Loan Documents or could subject any Agent Indemnitee to personal liability.

 

  

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12.2        Agreements Regarding Collateral and Field Examination Reports.

 

12.2.1     Lien Releases; Care of Collateral.  Lenders authorize Agent to release any Lien with respect to any Collateral (a) upon Full Payment of the Obligations; (b) that is the subject of an Asset Disposition which Borrowers certify in writing to Agent is a Permitted Asset Disposition or a Lien which Borrowers certify is a Permitted Lien entitled to priority over Agent’s Liens (and Agent may rely conclusively on any such certificate without further inquiry); (c) that does not constitute a material part of the Collateral; or (d) with the written consent of all Lenders.  Agent shall have no obligation whatsoever to any Lenders to assure that any Collateral exists or is owned by a Borrower, or is cared for, protected, insured or encumbered, nor to assure that Agent’s Liens have been properly created, perfected or enforced, or are entitled to any particular priority, nor to exercise any duty of care with respect to any Collateral.

 

12.2.2     Possession of Collateral.  Agent and Lenders appoint each other Lender as agent (for the benefit of Secured Parties) for the purpose of perfecting Liens in any Collateral held by such Lender, to the extent such Liens are perfected by possession.  If any Lender obtains possession of any Collateral, it shall notify Agent thereof and, promptly upon Agent’s request, deliver such Collateral to Agent or otherwise deal with it in accordance with Agent’s instructions.

 

12.2.3     Reports.  Agent shall promptly, upon receipt thereof, forward to each Lender copies of the results of any field audit, examination or appraisal prepared by or on behalf of Agent with respect to any Obligor or Collateral (“Report”).  Each Lender agrees (a) that neither Bank of America nor Agent makes any representation or warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any Report, and shall not be liable for any information contained in or omitted from any Report; (b) that the Reports are not intended to be comprehensive audits or examinations, and that Agent or any other Person performing any audit or examination will inspect only specific information regarding Obligations or the Collateral and will rely significantly upon Borrowers’ books and records as well as upon representations of Borrowers’ officers and employees; and (c) to keep all Reports confidential and strictly for such Lender’s internal use, and not to distribute any Report (or the contents thereof) to any Person (except to such Lender’s Participants, attorneys and accountants) or use any Report in any manner other than administration of the Loans and other Obligations.  Each Lender agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Agent and any other Person preparing a Report from any action such Lender may take as a result of or any conclusion it may draw from any Report, as well as any Claims arising in connection with any third parties that obtain any part or contents of a Report through such Lender.

 

  

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12.3        Reliance By Agent.  Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any certification, notice or other communication (including those by telephone, telex, telegram, telecopy or e-mail) believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper Person, and upon the advice and statements of Agent Professionals.

 

12.4        Action Upon Default.  Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default unless it has received written notice from a Lender or Borrower specifying the occurrence and nature thereof.  If any Lender acquires knowledge of a Default or Event of Default, it shall promptly notify Agent and the other Lenders thereof in writing.  Each Lender agrees that, except as otherwise provided in any Loan Documents or with the written consent of Agent and Required Lenders, it will not take any Enforcement Action, accelerate Obligations under any Loan Documents, or exercise any right that it might otherwise have under Applicable Law to credit bid at foreclosure sales, UCC sales or other similar dispositions of Collateral.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, a Lender may take action to preserve or enforce its rights against an Obligor where a deadline or limitation period is applicable that would, absent such action, bar enforcement of Obligations held by such Lender, including the filing of proofs of claim in an Insolvency Proceeding.

 

12.5        Ratable Sharing.  If any Lender shall obtain any payment or reduction of any Obligation, whether through set-off or otherwise, in excess of its share of such Obligation, determined on a Pro Rata basis or in accordance with Section 5.6.1, as applicable, such Lender shall forthwith purchase from Agent, Issuing Bank and the other Lenders such participations in the affected Obligation as are necessary to cause the purchasing Lender to share the excess payment or reduction on a Pro Rata basis or in accordance with Section 5.6.1, as applicable.  If any of such payment or reduction is thereafter recovered from the purchasing Lender, the purchase shall be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, but without interest.  No Lender shall set off against any Dominion Account without the prior consent of Agent.

 

12.6        Indemnification of Agent Indemnitees.  EACH LENDER SHALL INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS AGENT INDEMNITEES, TO THE EXTENT NOT REIMBURSED BY OBLIGORS (BUT WITHOUT LIMITING THE INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS OF OBLIGORS UNDER ANY LOAN DOCUMENTS), ON A PRO RATA BASIS, AGAINST ALL CLAIMS THAT MAY BE INCURRED BY OR ASSERTED AGAINST ANY AGENT INDEMNITEE, PROVIDED THE CLAIM RELATES TO OR ARISES FROM AN AGENT INDEMNITEE ACTING AS OR FOR AGENT (IN ITS CAPACITY AS AGENT).  In Agent’s discretion, it may reserve for any such Claims made against an Agent Indemnitee, and may satisfy any judgment, order or settlement relating thereto, from proceeds of Collateral prior to making any distribution of Collateral proceeds to Lenders.  If Agent is sued by any receiver, bankruptcy trustee, debtor-in-possession or other Person for any alleged preference or fraudulent transfer, then any monies paid by Agent in settlement or satisfaction of such proceeding, together with all interest, costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in the defense of same, shall be promptly reimbursed to Agent by each Lender to the extent of its Pro Rata share.

 

  

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12.7        Limitation on Responsibilities of Agent.  Agent shall not be liable to Lenders for any action taken or omitted to be taken under the Loan Documents, except for losses directly and solely caused by Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.  Agent does not assume any responsibility for any failure or delay in performance or any breach by any Obligor or Lender of any obligations under the Loan Documents.  Agent does not make to Lenders any express or implied warranty, representation or guarantee with respect to any Obligations, Collateral, Loan Documents or Obligor.  No Agent Indemnitee shall be responsible to Lenders for any recitals, statements, information, representations or warranties contained in any Loan Documents; the execution, validity, genuineness, effectiveness or enforceability of any Loan Documents; the genuineness, enforceability, collectibility, value, sufficiency, location or existence of any Collateral, or the validity, extent, perfection or priority of any Lien therein; the validity, enforceability or collectibility of any Obligations; or the assets, liabilities, financial condition, results of operations, business, creditworthiness or legal status of any Obligor or Account Debtor.  No Agent Indemnitee shall have any obligation to any Lender to ascertain or inquire into the existence of any Default or Event of Default, the observance or performance by any Obligor of any terms of the Loan Documents, or the satisfaction of any conditions precedent contained in any Loan Documents.

 

12.8        Successor Agent and Co-Agents.

 

12.8.1     Resignation; Successor Agent.  Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Agent as provided below, Agent may resign at any time by giving at least 30 days written notice thereof to Lenders and Borrowers.  Upon receipt of such notice, Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Agent which shall be (a) a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender; or (b) a commercial bank that is organized under the laws of the United States or any state or district thereof, has a combined capital surplus of at least $200,000,000 and (provided no Default or Event of Default exists) is reasonably acceptable to Borrowers.  If no successor agent is appointed prior to the effective date of the resignation of Agent, then Agent may appoint a successor agent from among Lenders.  Upon acceptance by a successor Agent of an appointment to serve as Agent hereunder, such successor Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the powers and duties of the retiring Agent without further act, and the retiring Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder but shall continue to have the benefits of the indemnification set forth in Sections 12.6 and 14.2.  Notwithstanding any Agent’s resignation, the provisions of this Section 12 shall continue in effect for its benefit with respect to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while Agent.  Any successor to Bank of America by merger or acquisition of stock or this loan shall continue to be Agent hereunder without further act on the part of the parties hereto, unless such successor resigns as provided above.

 

  

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12.8.2     Separate Collateral Agent.  It is the intent of the parties that there shall be no violation of any Applicable Law denying or restricting the right of financial institutions to transact business in any jurisdiction.  If Agent believes that it may be limited in the exercise of any rights or remedies under the Loan Documents due to any Applicable Law, Agent may appoint an additional Person who is not so limited, as a separate collateral agent or co-collateral agent.  If Agent so appoints a collateral agent or co-collateral agent, each right and remedy intended to be available to Agent under the Loan Documents shall also be vested in such separate agent.  Every covenant and obligation necessary to the exercise thereof by such agent shall run to and be enforceable by it as well as Agent.  Lenders shall execute and deliver such documents as Agent deems appropriate to vest any rights or remedies in such agent.  If any collateral agent or co-collateral agent shall die or dissolve, become incapable of acting, resign or be removed, then all the rights and remedies of such agent, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, shall vest in and be exercised by Agent until appointment of a new agent.

 

12.9        Due Diligence and Non-Reliance.  Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that it has, independently and without reliance upon Agent or any other Lenders, and based upon such documents, information and analyses as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis of each Obligor and its own decision to enter into this Agreement and to fund Loans and participate in LC Obligations hereunder.  Each Lender has made such inquiries concerning the Loan Documents, the Collateral and each Obligor as such Lender feels necessary.  Each Lender further acknowledges and agrees that the other Lenders and Agent have made no representations or warranties concerning any Obligor, any Collateral or the legality, validity, sufficiency or enforceability of any Loan Documents or Obligations.  Each Lender will, independently and without reliance upon the other Lenders or Agent, and based upon such financial statements, documents and information as it deems appropriate at the time, continue to make and rely upon its own credit decisions in making Loans and participating in LC Obligations, and in taking or refraining from any action under any Loan Documents.  Except for notices, reports and other information expressly requested by a Lender, Agent shall have no duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any notices, reports or certificates furnished to Agent by any Obligor or any credit or other information concerning the affairs, financial condition, business or Properties of any Obligor (or any of its Affiliates) which may come into possession of Agent or any of Agent’s Affiliates.

 

12.10     Replacement of Certain Lenders.  If a Lender (a) is a Defaulting Lender, or (b) fails to give its consent to any amendment, waiver or action for which consent of all Lenders was required and Required Lenders consented, then, in addition to any other rights and remedies that any Person may have, Agent may, by notice to such Lender within 120 days after such event, require such Lender to assign all of its rights and obligations under the Loan Documents to Eligible Assignee(s) specified by Agent, pursuant to appropriate Assignment and Acceptance(s) and within 20 days after Agent’s notice.  Agent is irrevocably appointed as attorney-in-fact to execute any such Assignment and Acceptance if the Lender fails to execute same.  Such Lender shall be entitled to receive, in cash, concurrently with such assignment, all amounts owed to it under the Loan Documents, including all principal, interest and fees through the date of assignment (but excluding any prepayment charge).

 

  

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12.11      Remittance of Payments and Collections.

 

12.11.1  Remittances Generally.  All payments by any Lender to Agent shall be made by the time and on the day set forth in this Agreement, in immediately available funds.  If no time for payment is specified or if payment is due on demand by Agent and request for payment is made by Agent by 11:00 a.m. on a Business Day, payment shall be made by Lender not later than 2:00 p.m. on such day, and if request is made after 11:00 a.m., then payment shall be made by 11:00 a.m. on the next Business Day.  Payment by Agent to any Lender shall be made by wire transfer, in the type of funds received by Agent.  Any such payment shall be subject to Agent’s right of offset for any amounts due from such Lender under the Loan Documents.

 

12.11.2  Failure to Pay.  If any Lender fails to pay any amount when due by it to Agent pursuant to the terms hereof, such amount shall bear interest from the due date until paid at the rate determined by Agent as customary in the banking industry for interbank compensation.  In no event shall Borrowers be entitled to receive credit for any interest paid by a Lender to Agent, nor shall any Defaulting Lender be entitled to interest on any amounts held by Agent pursuant to Section 4.2.

 

12.11.3  Recovery of Payments.  If Agent pays any amount to a Lender in the expectation that a related payment will be received by Agent from an Obligor and such related payment is not received, then Agent may recover such amount from each Lender that received it.  If Agent determines at any time that an amount received under any Loan Document must be returned to an Obligor or paid to any other Person pursuant to Applicable Law or otherwise, then, notwithstanding any other term of any Loan Document, Agent shall not be required to distribute such amount to any Lender.  If any amounts received and applied by Agent to any Obligations are later required to be returned by Agent pursuant to Applicable Law, each Lender shall pay to Agent, on demand, such Lender’s Pro Rata share of the amounts required to be returned.

 

12.12      Agent in its Individual Capacity.  As a Lender, Bank of America shall have the same rights and remedies under the other Loan Documents as any other Lender, and the terms “Lenders,” “Required Lenders” or any similar term shall include Bank of America in its capacity as a Lender.  Each of Bank of America and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, maintain deposits or credit balances for, invest in, lend money to, provide Bank Products to, act as trustee under indentures of, serve as financial or other advisor to, and generally engage in any kind of business with, Obligors and their Affiliates, as if Bank of America were any other bank, without any duty to account therefor (including any fees or other consideration received in connection therewith) to the other Lenders.  In their individual capacity, Bank of America and its Affiliates may receive information regarding Obligors, their Affiliates and their Account Debtors (including information subject to confidentiality obligations), and each Lender agrees that Bank of America and its Affiliates shall be under no obligation to provide such information to Lenders, if acquired in such individual capacity and not as Agent hereunder.

 

  

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12.13     Agent Titles.  Each Lender, other than Bank of America, that is designated (on the cover page of this Agreement or otherwise) by Bank of America as an “Agent” or “Arranger” of any type shall not have any right, power, responsibility or duty under any Loan Documents other than those applicable to all Lenders, and shall in no event be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any other Lender.

 

12.14     No Third Party Beneficiaries.  This Section 12 is an agreement solely among Lenders and Agent, and shall survive Full Payment of the Obligations.  This Section 12 does not confer any rights or benefits upon Borrowers or any other Person.  As between Borrowers and Agent, any action that Agent may take under any Loan Documents or with respect to any Obligations shall be conclusively presumed to have been authorized and directed by Lenders.

 

SECTION 13.  BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT; ASSIGNMENTS AND PARTICIPATIONS

 

13.1        Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of Borrowers, Agent, Lenders, and their respective successors and assigns, except that (a) no Borrower shall have the right to assign its rights or delegate its obligations under any Loan Documents; and (b) any assignment by a Lender must be made in compliance with Section 13.3.  Agent may treat the Person which made any Loan as the owner thereof for all purposes until such Person makes an assignment in accordance with Section 13.3.  Any authorization or consent of a Lender shall be conclusive and binding on any subsequent transferee or assignee of such Lender.

 

13.2        Participations.

 

13.2.1     Permitted Participants; Effect.  Any Lender may, in the ordinary course of its business and in accordance with Applicable Law, at any time sell to a financial institution (“Participant”) a participating interest in the rights and obligations of such Lender under any Loan Documents.  Despite any sale by a Lender of participating interests to a Participant, such Lender’s obligations under the Loan Documents shall remain unchanged, such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for performance of such obligations, such Lender shall remain the holder of its Loans and Commitments for all purposes, all amounts payable by Borrowers shall be determined as if such Lender had not sold such participating interests, and Borrowers and Agent shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with the Loan Documents.  Each Lender shall be solely responsible for notifying its Participants of any matters under the Loan Documents, and Agent and the other Lenders shall not have any obligation or liability to any such Participant.  A Participant that would be a Foreign Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Sections 3.5, 3.7 and 5.9 unless Borrowers agree otherwise in writing.

 

  

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13.2.2     Voting Rights.  Each Lender shall retain the sole right to approve, without the consent of any Participant, any amendment, waiver or other modification of any Loan Documents other than that which forgives principal, interest or fees, reduces the stated interest rate or fees payable with respect to any Loan or Commitment in which such Participant has an interest, postpones the Commitment Termination Date or any date fixed for any regularly scheduled payment of principal, interest or fees on such Loan or Commitment, or releases any Borrower, Guarantor or substantial portion of the Collateral.

 

13.2.3     Benefit of Set-Off.  Borrowers agree that each Participant shall have a right of set-off in respect of its participating interest to the same extent as if such interest were owing directly to a Lender, and each Lender shall also retain the right of set-off with respect to any participating interests sold by it.  By exercising any right of set-off, a Participant agrees to share with Lenders all amounts received through its set-off, in accordance with Section 12.5 as if such Participant were a Lender.

 

13.3        Assignments.

 

13.3.1     Permitted Assignments.  A Lender may assign to an Eligible Assignee any of its rights and obligations under the Loan Documents, as long as (a) each assignment is of a constant, and not a varying, percentage of the transferor Lender’s rights and obligations under the Loan Documents and, in the case of a partial assignment, is in a minimum principal amount of $5,000,000 (unless otherwise agreed by Agent in its discretion) and integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess of that amount; (b) except in the case of an assignment in whole of a Lender’s rights and obligations, the aggregate amount of the Commitments retained by the transferor Lender is at least $5,000,000 (unless otherwise agreed by Agent in its discretion); and (c) the parties to each such assignment shall execute and deliver to Agent, for its acceptance and recording, an Assignment and Acceptance.  Nothing herein shall limit the right of a Lender to pledge or assign any rights under the Loan Documents to (i) any Federal Reserve Bank or the United States Treasury as collateral security pursuant to Regulation A of the Board of Governors and any Operating Circular issued by such Federal Reserve Bank, or (ii) counterparties to swap agreements relating to any Loans; provided, however, that any payment by Borrowers to the assigning Lender in respect of any Obligations assigned as described in this sentence shall satisfy Borrowers’ obligations hereunder to the extent of such payment, and no such assignment shall release the assigning Lender from its obligations hereunder.

 

  

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13.3.2     Effect; Effective Date.  Upon delivery to Agent of an assignment notice in the form of Exhibit D and a processing fee of $3,500 (unless otherwise agreed by Agent in its discretion), the assignment shall become effective as specified in the notice, if it complies with this Section 13.3.  From such effective date, the Eligible Assignee shall for all purposes be a Lender under the Loan Documents, and shall have all rights and obligations of a Lender thereunder.  Upon consummation of an assignment, the transferor Lender, Agent and Borrowers shall make appropriate arrangements for issuance of replacement and/or new Notes, as applicable.  The transferee Lender shall comply with Section 5.10 and deliver, upon request, an administrative questionnaire satisfactory to Agent.

 

13.3.3     Pledges.  Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, any Lender may at any time create a security interest in, or pledge, all or any portion of its rights under and interest in this Agreement in favor of any Federal Reserve Bank in accordance with Regulation A of the Board or U.S. Treasury Regulation 31 CFR §203.14, and such Federal Reserve Bank may enforce such pledge or security interest in any manner permitted under applicable law.

 

13.3.4     Additional Costs.  The foregoing notwithstanding, provided that no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, no Lender shall effect any transfer, assignment or participation of its interests hereunder if the effect of any such transfer, assignment or participation is to increase, in any material respect, Borrowers’ costs or obligation hereunder, including, without limitation, under Sections 3.7, 5.9 or 5.10.

 

13.3.5     Required Assignments.  If a Lender (a) is a Defaulting Lender or (b) fails to give its consent to any amendment, waiver or action for which consent of all Lenders was required and Required Lenders consented, then, in addition to any other rights and remedies that any Person may have, Agent may, by notice to such Lender within 120 days after such event, require such Lender to assign all of its rights and obligations under the Loan Documents to a replacement Lender (acceptable to Borrowers) specified by Agent, pursuant to appropriate Assignment and Acceptance(s) and within 20 days after Agent’s notice.  Agent is irrevocably appointed as attorney-in-fact to execute any such Assignment and Acceptance if the Lender fails to execute same.  Such Lender shall be entitled to receive, in cash, concurrently with such assignment, all amounts owed to it under the Loan Documents, including all principal, interest and fees through the date of assignment (but excluding any prepayment charge).

 

SECTION 14.  MISCELLANEOUS

 

14.1        Consents, Amendments and Waivers.

 

14.1.1     Amendment.  No modification of any Loan Document, including any extension or amendment of a Loan Document or any waiver of a Default or Event of Default, shall be effective without the prior written agreement of Agent (with the consent of Required Lenders) and each Obligor party to such Loan Document; provided, however, that

 

  

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(a)      without the prior written consent of Agent, no modification shall be effective with respect to any provision in a Loan Document that relates to any rights, duties or discretion of Agent;

 

(b)      without the prior written consent of Issuing Bank, no modification shall be effective with respect to any LC Obligations or Section 2.3;

 

(c)      without the prior written consent of each affected Lender, no modification shall be effective that would (i) increase the Commitment of such Lender; or (ii) reduce the amount of, or waive or delay payment of, any principal, interest or fees payable to such Lender; and

 

(d)      without the prior written consent of all Lenders (except a Defaulting Lender as provided in Section 4.2), no modification shall be effective that would (i) extend the Revolver Termination Date; (ii) alter Section 5.6, 7.1 (except to add Collateral) or 14.1.1; (iii) amend the definitions of Borrowing Base (and the defined terms used in such definition), Pro Rata or Required Lenders; (iv) increase any advance rate, decrease the Availability Block or increase total Commitments; (vi) release all or substantially all of the Collateral, except as currently contemplated by the Loan Documents; or (vii) release any Obligor from liability for any Obligations, if such Obligor is Solvent at the time of the release.

 

14.1.2     Limitations.  The agreement of Borrowers shall not be necessary to the effectiveness of any modification of a Loan Document that deals solely with the rights and duties of Lenders, Agent and/or Issuing Bank as among themselves.  Only the consent of the parties to the Fee Letter or any agreement relating to a Bank Product shall be required for any modification of such agreement, and no Affiliate of a Lender that is party to a Bank Product agreement shall have any other right to consent to or participate in any manner in modification of any other Loan Document.  The making of any Loans during the existence of a Default or Event of Default shall not be deemed to constitute a waiver of such Default or Event of Default, nor to establish a course of dealing.  Any waiver or consent granted by Lenders hereunder shall be effective only if in writing, and then only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which it is given.

 

14.1.3     Payment for Consents.  No Borrower will, directly or indirectly, pay any remuneration or other thing of value, whether by way of additional interest, fee or otherwise, to any Lender (in its capacity as a Lender hereunder) as consideration for agreement by such Lender with any modification of any Loan Documents, unless such remuneration or value is concurrently paid, on the same terms, on a Pro Rata basis to all Lenders providing their consent.

 

  

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14.2        Indemnity.  EACH BORROWER SHALL INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS THE INDEMNITEES AGAINST ANY CLAIMS THAT MAY BE INCURRED BY OR ASSERTED AGAINST ANY INDEMNITEE, INCLUDING CLAIMS ARISING FROM THE NEGLIGENCE OF AN INDEMNITEE.  In no event shall any party to a Loan Document have any obligation thereunder to indemnify or hold harmless an Indemnitee with respect to a Claim that is determined in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to result from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee.

 

14.3        Notices and Communications.

 

14.3.1     Notice Address.  Subject to Section 4.1.4, all notices and other communications by or to a party hereto shall be in writing and shall be given to any Borrower, at Borrower Agent’s address shown on the signature pages hereof, and to any other Person at its address shown on the signature pages hereof (or, in the case of a Person who becomes a Lender after the Closing Date, at the address shown on its Assignment and Acceptance), or at such other address as a party may hereafter specify by notice in accordance with this Section 14.3.  Each such notice or other communication shall be effective only (a) if given by facsimile transmission, when transmitted to the applicable facsimile number, if confirmation of receipt is received; (b) if given by mail, three Business Days after deposit in the U.S. mail, with first-class postage pre-paid, addressed to the applicable address; or (c) if given by personal delivery, when duly delivered to the notice address with receipt acknowledged.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no notice to Agent pursuant to Section 2.1.6, 2.3, 3.1.2, or 4.1.1 shall be effective until actually received by the individual to whose attention at Agent such notice is required to be sent.  Any written notice or other communication that is not sent in conformity with the foregoing provisions shall nevertheless be effective on the date actually received by the noticed party.  Any notice received by Borrower Agent shall be deemed received by all Borrowers.

 

14.3.2     Electronic Communications; Voice Mail.  Electronic mail and internet websites may be used only for routine communications, such as financial statements, Borrowing Base Certificates and other information required by Section 10.1.2, administrative matters, distribution of Loan Documents for execution, and matters permitted under Section 4.1.4.  Agent and Lenders make no assurances as to the privacy and security of electronic communications.  Electronic and voice mail may not be used as effective notice under the Loan Documents.

 

14.3.3     Non-Conforming Communications.  Agent and Lenders may rely upon any notices purportedly given by or on behalf of any Borrower even if such notices were not made in a manner specified herein, were incomplete or were not confirmed, or if the terms thereof, as understood by the recipient, varied from a later confirmation.  Each Borrower shall indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee from any liabilities, losses, costs and expenses arising from any telephonic communication purportedly given by or on behalf of a Borrower.

 

  

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14.4     Performance of Borrowers’ Obligations.  Agent may, in its discretion at any time and from time to time, at Borrowers’ expense, pay any amount or do any act required of a Borrower under any Loan Documents or otherwise lawfully requested by Agent to (a) enforce any Loan Documents or collect any Obligations; (b) protect, insure, maintain or realize upon any Collateral; or (c) defend or maintain the validity or priority of Agent’s Liens in any Collateral, including any payment of a judgment, insurance premium, warehouse charge, finishing or processing charge, or landlord claim, or any discharge of a Lien.  All payments, costs and expenses (including Extraordinary Expenses) of Agent under this Section shall be reimbursed to Agent by Borrowers, on demand, with interest from the date incurred to the date of payment thereof at the Default Rate applicable to Base Rate Revolver Loans.  Any payment made or action taken by Agent under this Section shall be without prejudice to any right to assert an Event of Default or to exercise any other rights or remedies under the Loan Documents.

 

14.5     Credit Inquiries.  Each Borrower hereby authorizes Agent and Lenders (but they shall have no obligation) to respond to usual and customary credit inquiries from third parties concerning any Borrower or Subsidiary.

 

14.6     Severability.  Wherever possible, each provision of the Loan Documents shall be interpreted in such manner as to be valid under Applicable Law.  If any provision is found to be invalid under Applicable Law, it shall be ineffective only to the extent of such invalidity and the remaining provisions of the Loan Documents shall remain in full force and effect.

 

14.7     Cumulative Effect; Conflict of Terms.  The provisions of the Loan Documents are cumulative.  The parties acknowledge that the Loan Documents may use several limitations, tests or measurements to regulate similar matters, and they agree that these are cumulative and that each must be performed as provided.  Except as otherwise provided in another Loan Document (by specific reference to the applicable provision of this Agreement), if any provision contained herein is in direct conflict with any provision in another Loan Document, the provision herein shall govern and control.

 

14.8     Counterparts; Facsimile Signatures.  Any Loan Document may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.  This Agreement shall become effective when Agent has received counterparts bearing the signatures of all parties hereto.  Delivery of a signature page of any Loan Document by telecopy or other electronic means shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of such agreement.

 

14.9     Entire Agreement.  Time is of the essence of the Loan Documents.  The Loan Documents constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof, and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof.

  

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14.10   No Control; No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.  Nothing in any Loan Document and no action of Agent or any Lender pursuant to any Loan Document shall be deemed to constitute control of any Obligor by Agent or any Lender.  In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated by any Loan Document, Borrowers acknowledge and agree that (a)(i) this credit facility and all related services by Agent, Lenders or their Affiliates are arm’s-length commercial transactions between Borrowers and such Person; (ii) Borrowers have consulted their own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent they have deemed appropriate; and (iii) Borrowers are capable of evaluating and understanding, and do understand and accept, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents; (b) each of Agent, Lenders and their Affiliates are and have been acting solely as a principal in connection with this credit facility, is not the financial advisor, agent or fiduciary for Borrowers, any of their Affiliates or any other Person, and has no obligation with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents except as expressly set forth therein; and (c) Agent, Lenders and their Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of Borrowers and its Affiliates, and have no obligation to disclose any of such interests to Borrowers or its Affiliates.  To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, Borrowers hereby waive and release any claims that they may have against Agent, Lenders and their Affiliates with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated by a Loan Document.

 

14.11   Obligations of Lenders.  The obligations of each Lender hereunder are several, and no Lender shall be responsible for the obligations or Commitments of any other Lender.  Amounts payable hereunder to each Lender shall be a separate and independent debt, and each Lender shall be entitled, to the extent not otherwise restricted hereunder, to protect and enforce its rights arising out of the Loan Documents.  It shall not be necessary for Agent or any other Lender to be joined as an additional party in any proceeding for such purposes.  Nothing in this Agreement and no action of Agent or Lenders pursuant to the Loan Documents shall be deemed to constitute Agent and Lenders to be a partnership, association, joint venture or any other kind of entity, nor to constitute control of any Borrower.

 

14.12   No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.  In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated by any Loan Document, Borrowers acknowledge and agree that (a)(i) this credit facility and any related arranging or other services by Agent, any Lender, any of their Affiliates or any arranger are arm’s-length commercial transactions between Borrowers and such Person; (ii) Borrowers have consulted their own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent they have deemed appropriate; and (iii) Borrowers are capable of evaluating and understanding, and do understand and accept, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents; (b) each of Agent, Lenders, their Affiliates and any arranger is and has been acting solely as a principal in connection with this credit facility, is not the financial advisor, agent or fiduciary for Borrowers, any of their Affiliates or any other Person, and has no obligation with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents except as expressly set forth therein; and (c) Agent, Lenders, their Affiliates and any arranger may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from Borrowers and their Affiliates, and have no obligation to disclose any of such interests to Borrowers or their Affiliates.  To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, each Borrower hereby waives and releases any claims that it may have against Agent, Lenders, their Affiliates and any arranger with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty in connection with any aspect of any transaction contemplated by a Loan Document.

  

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14.13   Confidentiality.  Agent and Lenders agree to maintain the confidentiality of all Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to their Affiliates and their partners, directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors and representatives (provided such Persons are informed of the confidential nature of the Information and instructed to keep it confidential); (b) to the extent requested by any governmental, regulatory or self-regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over it or its Affiliates; (c) to the extent required by Applicable Law or by any subpoena or other legal process; (d) to any other party hereto; (e) in connection with any action or proceeding, or other exercise of rights or remedies, relating to any Loan Documents or Obligations; (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as this Section, to any potential or actual transferee of any interest in a Loan Document or any actual or prospective party (or its advisors) to any Bank Product; (g) with the consent of Borrower Agent; or (h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ii) is available to Agent and Lenders or their Affiliates on a nonconfidential basis from a source other than Borrowers.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Agent and Lenders may publish or disseminate general information describing this credit facility, including the names and addresses of Borrowers and a general description of Borrowers’ businesses, and may use Borrower’s logos, trademarks or product photographs approved by Borrower Agent in advertising materials.  As used herein, “Information” means all information received from an Obligor or Subsidiary relating to it or its business, that is identified as confidential when delivered.  Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information pursuant to this Section shall be deemed to have complied if it exercises the same degree of care that it accords its own confidential information.  Agent and Lenders acknowledge that (i) Information may include material non-public information concerning an Obligor or Subsidiary; (ii) it has developed compliance procedures regarding the use of material non-public information; and (iii) it will handle such material non-public information in accordance with Applicable Law, including federal and state securities laws.

 

14.14   GOVERNING LAW.  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES (BUT GIVING EFFECT TO FEDERAL LAWS RELATING TO NATIONAL BANKS).

  

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14.15   Consent to Forum.

 

14.15.1      Forum.  EACH BORROWER HEREBY CONSENTS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY FEDERAL OR STATE COURT SITTING IN OR WITH JURISDICTION OVER COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS, IN ANY PROCEEDING OR DISPUTE RELATING IN ANY WAY TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENTS, AND AGREES THAT ANY SUCH PROCEEDING SHALL BE BROUGHT BY IT SOLELY IN ANY SUCH COURT.  EACH BORROWER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL CLAIMS, OBJECTIONS AND DEFENSES THAT IT MAY HAVE REGARDING SUCH COURT’S PERSONAL OR SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION, VENUE OR INCONVENIENT FORUM.  EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN THE MANNER PROVIDED FOR NOTICES IN SECTION 14.3.1.  Nothing herein shall limit the right of Agent or any Lender to bring proceedings against any Obligor in any other court, nor limit the right of any party to serve process in any other manner permitted by Applicable Law.  Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to preclude enforcement by Agent of any judgment or order obtained in any forum or jurisdiction.

 

14.16   Waivers by Borrowers.  To the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, each Borrower waives (a) the right to trial by jury (which Agent and each Lender hereby also waives) in any proceeding or dispute of any kind relating in any way to any Loan Documents, Obligations or Collateral; (b) presentment, demand, protest, notice of presentment, default, non-payment, maturity, release, compromise, settlement, extension or renewal of any commercial paper, accounts, documents, instruments, chattel paper and guaranties at any time held by Agent on which a Borrower may in any way be liable, and hereby ratifies anything Agent may do in this regard; (c) notice prior to taking possession or control of any Collateral; (d) any bond or security that might be required by a court prior to allowing Agent to exercise any rights or remedies; (e) the benefit of all valuation, appraisement and exemption laws; (f) any claim against Agent or any Lender, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential, exemplary or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) in any way relating to any Enforcement Action, Obligations, Loan Documents or transactions relating thereto; and (g) notice of acceptance hereof.  Each Borrower acknowledges that the foregoing waivers are a material inducement to Agent and Lenders entering into this Agreement and that Agent and Lenders are relying upon the foregoing in their dealings with Borrowers.  Each Borrower has reviewed the foregoing waivers with its legal counsel and has knowingly and voluntarily waived its jury trial and other rights following consultation with legal counsel.  In the event of litigation, this Agreement may be filed as a written consent to a trial by the court.

  

89

  

14.17   Patriot Act Notice.  Agent and Lenders hereby notify Borrowers that pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act, Agent and Lenders are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Borrower, including its legal name, address, tax ID number and other information that will allow Agent and Lenders to identify it in accordance with the Patriot Act.  Agent and Lenders will also require information regarding each personal guarantor, if any, and may require information regarding Borrowers’ management and owners, such as legal name, address, social security number and date of birth.

 

14.18   No Novation.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, this Agreement is not intended to and does not serve to effect a novation of the Obligations.  Instead, it is the express intention of the parties hereto to reaffirm the indebtedness created under the 2009 Loan Agreement which is evidenced by the notes provided for therein and secured by the Collateral.  Borrowers acknowledge and confirm that the liens and security interests granted pursuant to the Loan Documents secured the indebtedness, liabilities and obligations of Borrowers to Agent and Lenders under the 2009 Loan Agreement and that the term “Obligations” as used in the Loan Documents (or any other terms used therein to describe or refer to the indebtedness, liabilities and obligations of Borrowers to Agent and Lenders) includes, without limitation, the indebtedness, liabilities and obligations of Borrowers under the Notes to be delivered hereunder, and under the 2009 Loan Agreement, as the same may be further amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time.  The Loan Documents and all agreements, instruments and documents executed or delivered in connection with any of the foregoing shall each be deemed to be amended to the extent necessary to give effect to the provisions of this Agreement.  Cross-references in the Loan Documents to particular section numbers in the 2009 Loan Agreement shall be deemed to be cross-references to the corresponding sections, as applicable, to this Agreement.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signatures begin on following page]

  

90

  

 

(Signature Page to Third Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement)

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed and delivered as of the date set forth above.

 

	
BORROWERS:

	
HWC WIRE & CABLE COMPANY

	  	  	  
	  	
By: 

	
/s/ Nicol G. Graham

	  	  	
 Vice President and Chief Financial

	  	  	
 Officer

	  	  	  
	  	
Address:

	  	
10201 N. Loop East

	  	
Houston, Texas 77029

	  	
Attn:  Nicol G. Graham

	  	
Telecopy:  (713) 609-2205

  

 

  

 

(Signature Page to Third Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement)

	
AGENT AND LENDERS:

	
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Agent and 

sole initial Lender

	  	  	  
	  	
By: 

	
/s/ Steven J. Chalmers

	  	  	
Vice President

	  	  	  
	  	
Address:

	  	
c/o Bank of America, N.A., as agent

	  	
135 South LaSalle Street

	  	
Chicago, IL  60603

	  	
Attn:  Mr. Steven J. Chalmers

	  	
Telecopy:  (312) 904-7190

  

 

  

EXHIBIT A

to

Third Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement

 

REVOLVER NOTE

 

	
[Date]

	
$___________________

	
Chicago, Illinois

HWC WIRE & CABLE COMPANY and each other signatory hereto (if any) (“Borrowers”), for value received, hereby unconditionally promise to pay, on a joint and several basis, to the order of ____________________________ (“Lender”), the principal sum of ______________________________ DOLLARS ($___________), or such lesser amount as may be advanced by Lender as Revolver Loans and owing as LC Obligations from time to time under the Loan Agreement described below, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon.  Terms are used herein as defined in the Third Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement dated as of September 30, 2011, among Borrowers, Bank of America, N.A., as Agent, Lender, and certain other financial institutions, as such agreement may be amended, modified, renewed or extended from time to time (“Loan Agreement”).

 

Principal of and interest on this Note from time to time outstanding shall be due and payable as provided in the Loan Agreement.  This Note is issued pursuant to and evidences Revolver Loans and LC Obligations under the Loan Agreement, to which reference is made for a statement of the rights and obligations of Lender and the duties and obligations of Borrowers.  The Loan Agreement contains provisions for acceleration of the maturity of this Note upon the happening of certain stated events, and for the borrowing, prepayment and reborrowing of amounts upon specified terms and conditions.

 

The holder of this Note is hereby authorized by Borrowers to record on a schedule annexed to this Note (or on a supplemental schedule) the amounts owing with respect to Revolver Loans and LC Obligations, and the payment thereof.  Failure to make any notation, however, shall not affect the rights of the holder of this Note or any obligations of Borrowers hereunder or under any other Loan Documents.

 

Time is of the essence of this Note.  Each Borrower and all endorsers, sureties and guarantors of this Note hereby severally waive demand, presentment for payment, protest, notice of protest, notice of intention to accelerate the maturity of this Note, diligence in collecting, the bringing of any suit against any party, and any notice of or defense on account of any extensions, renewals, partial payments, or changes in any manner of or in this Note or in any of its terms, provisions and covenants, or any releases or substitutions of any security, or any delay, indulgence or other act of any trustee or any holder hereof, whether before or after maturity.  Borrowers jointly and severally agree to pay, and to save the holder of this Note harmless against, any liability for the payment of all costs and expenses (including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees) if this Note is collected by or through an attorney-at-law.

  

A-1

  

In no contingency or event whatsoever shall the amount paid or agreed to be paid to the holder of this Note for the use, forbearance or detention of money advanced hereunder exceed the highest lawful rate permitted under Applicable Law.  If any such excess amount is inadvertently paid by Borrowers or inadvertently received by the holder of this Note, such excess shall be returned to Borrowers or credited as a payment of principal, in accordance with the Loan Agreement.  It is the intent hereof that Borrowers not pay or contract to pay, and that holder of this Note not receive or contract to receive, directly or indirectly in any manner whatsoever, interest in excess of that which may be paid by Borrowers under Applicable Law.

 

This Note shall be governed by the laws of the State of Illinois, without giving effect to any conflict of law principles (but giving effect to federal laws relating to national banks).

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Revolver Note is executed as of the date set forth above.

 

	  	HWC WIRE & CABLE COMPANY
	 	 	 	 
	  	
By:

	  
	  	  	
Name: 

	  
	  	
  

	
Title:

	  

  

A-2

  

EXHIBIT B

to

Third Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement

 

[RESERVED]

 

  

B-1

  

EXHIBIT C

to

Third Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement

 

ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE

 

Reference is made to the Third Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement dated as of September 30, 2011, as amended (“Loan Agreement”), among  HWC WIRE & CABLE COMPANY and the domestic Subsidiaries of HWC Wire & Cable Company party thereto as borrowers (collectively, “Borrowers”), BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as agent (“Agent”) for the financial institutions from time to time party to the Loan Agreement (“Lenders”), and such Lenders.  Terms are used herein as defined in the Loan Agreement.

 

________________________________ (“Assignor”) and ______________________ _____________ (“Assignee”) agree as follows:

 

1.           Assignor hereby assigns to Assignee and Assignee hereby purchases and assumes from Assignor (a) a principal amount of $________ of Assignor’s outstanding Revolver Loans and $___________ of Assignor’s participations in LC Obligations and (b) the amount of $__________ of Assignor’s Revolver Commitment (which represents ____% of the total Revolver Commitments) (the foregoing items being, collectively, the “Assigned Interest”), together with an interest in the Loan Documents corresponding to the Assigned Interest.  This Agreement shall be effective as of the date (“Effective Date”) indicated in the corresponding Assignment Notice delivered to Agent, provided such Assignment Notice is executed by Assignor, Assignee, Agent and Borrower Agent, if applicable.  From and after the Effective Date, Assignee hereby expressly assumes, and undertakes to perform, all of Assignor’s obligations in respect of the Assigned Interest, and all principal, interest, fees and other amounts which would otherwise be payable to or for Assignor’s account in respect of the Assigned Interest shall be payable to or for Assignee’s account, to the extent such amounts accrue on or after the Effective Date.

 

2.           Assignor (a) represents that as of the date hereof, prior to giving effect to this assignment, its Revolver Commitment is $__________ and the outstanding balance of its Revolver Loans and participations in LC Obligations is $__________; (b) makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Loan Agreement or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto, other than that Assignor is the legal and beneficial owner of the interest being assigned by it hereunder and that such interest is free and clear of any adverse claim; and (c) makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial condition of Borrowers or the performance by Borrowers of their obligations under the Loan Documents.  [Assignor is attaching the Note[s] held by it and requests that Agent exchange such Note[s] for new Notes payable to Assignee [and Assignor].]

  

C-1

  

3.           Assignee (a) represents and warrants that it is legally authorized to enter into this Assignment and Acceptance; (b) confirms that it has received copies of the Loan Agreement and such other Loan Documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Acceptance; (c) agrees that it shall, independently and without reliance upon Assignor and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents; (d) confirms that it is an Eligible Assignee; (e) appoints and authorizes Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under the Loan Agreement as are delegated to Agent by the terms thereof, together with such powers as are incidental thereto; (f) agrees that it will observe and perform all obligations that are required to be performed by it as a “Lender” under the Loan Documents; and (g) represents and warrants that the assignment evidenced hereby will not result in a non-exempt “prohibited transaction” under Section 406 of ERISA.

 

4.           This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of ______________.  If any provision is found to be invalid under Applicable Law, it shall be ineffective only to the extent of such invalidity and the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

5.           Each notice or other communication hereunder shall be in writing, shall be sent by messenger, by telecopy or facsimile transmission, or by first-class mail, shall be deemed given when sent and shall be sent as follows:

 

(a)           If to Assignee, to the following address (or to such other address as Assignee may designate from time to time):

 

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

 

(b)           If to Assignor, to the following address (or to such other address as Assignor may designate from time to time):

 

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

__________________________

 

Payments hereunder shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available Dollars as follows:

 

If to Assignee, to the following account (or to such other account as Assignee may designate from time to time):

 

______________________________

______________________________

ABA No._______________________

______________________________

Account No.____________________

Reference:   ____________________

  

C-2

  

If to Assignor, to the following account (or to such other account as Assignor may designate from time to time):

 

______________________________

______________________________

ABA No.______________________

______________________________

Account No.____________________

Reference:   ____________________

 

  

C-3

  

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Assignment and Acceptance is executed as of _____________.

 

	  	  	  	 
	  	(“Assignee”)
	 	 	 	 
	  	
By:

	  	 
	  	  	
Name:

	 
	  	  	
Title:

	 
	  	  	  	 
	 	 
	  	(“Assignor”)
	 	 	 	 
	  	
By:

	  	 
	  	  	
Name: 

	 
	  	  	
Title:

	 

  

C-4

  

EXHIBIT D

to

Loan and Security Agreement

 

ASSIGNMENT NOTICE

 

Reference is made to (1) the Loan and Security Agreement dated as of September 30, 2011, as amended (“Loan Agreement”), among HWC WIRE & CABLE COMPANY and the domestic Subsidiaries of HWC Wire & Cable Company party thereto as borrowers (collectively, “Borrowers”), BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as agent (“Agent”) for the financial institutions from time to time party to the Loan Agreement (“Lenders”), and such Lenders; and (2) the Assignment and Acceptance dated as of ____________, 20__ (“Assignment Agreement”), between __________________ (“Assignor”) and ____________________ (“Assignee”).  Terms are used herein as defined in the Loan Agreement.

 

Assignor hereby notifies Borrowers and Agent of Assignor’s intent to assign to Assignee pursuant to the Assignment Agreement (a) a principal amount of $________ of Assignor’s outstanding Revolver Loans and $___________ of Assignor’s participations in LC Obligations and (b) the amount of $__________ of Assignor’s Revolver Commitment (which represents ____% of the total Revolver Commitments (the foregoing items being, collectively, the “Assigned Interest”), together with an interest in the Loan Documents corresponding to the Assigned Interest.  This Agreement shall be effective as of the date (“Effective Date”) indicated below, provided this Assignment Notice is executed by Assignor, Assignee, Agent and Borrower Agent, if applicable.  Pursuant to the Assignment Agreement, Assignee has expressly assumed all of Assignor’s obligations under the Loan Agreement to the extent of the Assigned Interest, as of the Effective Date.

 

For purposes of the Loan Agreement, Agent shall deem Assignor’s Revolver Commitment to be reduced by $_________, and Assignee’s Revolver Commitment to be increased by $_________.

 

The address of Assignee to which notices and information are to be sent under the terms of the Loan Agreement is:

 

________________________

________________________

________________________

________________________

 

The address of Assignee to which payments are to be sent under the terms of the Loan Agreement is shown in the Assignment and Acceptance.

 

This Notice is being delivered to Borrowers and Agent pursuant to Section 13.3 of the Loan Agreement.  Please acknowledge your acceptance of this Notice by executing and returning to Assignee and Assignor a copy of this Notice.

  

D-1

  

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Assignment Notice is executed as of _____________.

 

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	  	 	(“Assignee”)	  
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	  	 	
By:

	  	  
	 	  	 	  	
Name: 

	  
	 	  	 	  	
Title:

	  
	 	  	 	  	  	  
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 	  	 	(“Assignor”)	  
	 	  	 	  	  	  
	 	  	 	
By:

	  	  
	 	  	 	  	
Name:

	  
	 	  	 	  	
Title:

	  
	 	 	 	 	 
	ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED, AS	 	  	  	  
	OF THE DATE SET FORTH ABOVE:	 	  	  	  
	 	  	 	  	  	  
	BORROWER AGENT:*	 	  	  	  
	 	  	 	  	  	  
	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 	 	 
	
By 

	
    

	 	  	  	  
	 	
Title:

	 	  	  	  

* No signature required if Assignee is a Lender, U.S.-based Affiliate of a Lender or Approved Fund, or if an Event of Default exists.

 

	
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., as Agent

	  
	 	 	 
	
By

	  	  
	  	
Title:

	  

  

D-2

  

SCHEDULE 1.1

to

Third Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement

 

COMMITMENTS OF LENDERS

 

	
Lender

	 	
Revolver Commitment

	 	 	
Total Commitments

	 
	  	 	 	 	 	 	 
	
Bank of America, N.A.

	 	$	100,000,000	 	 	$	100,000,000	 

Schedule 1.1

 

  

SCHEDULE 6.1

to

Third Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement

 

SCHEDULE OF DOCUMENTS

 

(A)       A Certificate of the Secretary of each of Borrower and Guarantor, together with true and correct copies of the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of Borrower and Guarantor, and all amendments thereto, true and correct copies of the resolutions of the Board of Directors of Borrower and Guarantor authorizing or ratifying the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Other Agreements executed in connection therewith and the names of the officer or officers of Borrower and Guarantor authorized to sign this Agreement and the Other Agreements executed in connection therewith together with a sample of the true signature of each such officer;

 

(B)       The Second Amended and Restated Guaranty executed by Guarantor in favor of Agent and Lender; and

 

(C)       Such other documents, instrument and agreements as Agent shall reasonably request in connection with the foregoing matters.

Schedule 8.5

 

  

SCHEDULE 8.5

to

Third Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement

 

DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS

 

	
Depository Bank

	  	
Type of Account

	  	
Account Number

	
Bank of America

	  	
Collection

	  	
xxx

	
Bank of America

	  	
Collection

	  	
xxx

	
Bank of America

	  	
Collection

	  	
xxx

Schedule 8.5

 

  

 

SCHEDULE 8.6.1

to

Third Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement

 

BUSINESS LOCATIONS

 

	
  

	
1.

	
Borrowers currently have the following business locations, and no others:

 

Chief Executive Office: 10201 North Loop East, Houston, TX 77029

 

Other Locations:

 

	
14402 Carmenita Road

	 	
2453 Prospect Drive, Suite A

	
Norwalk, CA 90650

	 	
Aurora, IL 60502

	
4925 Sirona Drive, Suite 100

	 	
100 Cheshire Court, Suite 100

	
Charlotte, NC 28273

	 	
Coatesville, PA 19320

	
255 Satellite Blvd. N.E.#150

	 	
2376 Davis Ave

	
Suwanee, GA 30024

	 	
Hayward CA 94545

	
6565 Exchequer Dr. Suite 130

	 	
8765 East Sunridge Hollow Rd.

	
Baton Rouge, LA 70809

	 	
Parker, CO 80134

	
6608 South 211th St. Suite 108

	 	
3401 Cragmont Dr.

	
Kent, WA 98032

	 	
Tampa, FL 33619

	
1355 Sheffield Street

	 	
8045 Metro Road

	
Houston TX 77015

	 	
Olive Branch, MS 38654

	
1210 Lydia

	 	
1902 Federal Dr.

	
Kansas City, MO 64106

	 	
Houston, TX 77015

	
12611 Cain Circle

	 	
8910 Lawndale Ave

	
Houston TX 77015

	 	
Houston, TX 77012

	
1404 HWY 90 West

	 	
575 Dennis Drive

	
New Iberia, LA 70560

	 	
Sulphur, LA 70665

	
  

	
2.

	
Borrowers maintain their books and records relating to Accounts and General Intangibles at: 10201 North Loop East, Houston, TX 77029

 

	
  

	
3.

	
Borrowers have had no office, place of business or agent for process located in any county other than as set forth above, except: N/A

 

	
  

	
4.

	
Each Subsidiary currently has the following business locations, and no others:

 

Chief Executive Office: N/A

 

Other Locations: N/A

 

	
  

	
5.

	
Each Subsidiary maintains its books and records relating to Accounts and General Intangibles at: N/A

 

	
  

	
6.

	
Each Subsidiary has had no office, place of business or agent for process located in any county other than as set forth above, except: N/A

 

Schedule 8.6.1

 

  

	
  

	
7.

	
The following bailees, warehouseman, similar parties and consignees hold inventory of Borrower or one of its Subsidiaries:

 

	
Name and Address of Party

	  	
Nature of 

Relationship

	  	
Amount of Inventory

	  	
Owner of Inventory

	
Holmes Distributors Inc.

	  	
Independent Sales Representative

	  	
xxx 

	  	
Borrower

	
* Mountain States

	  	
3rd Party Logistics 

	  	
xxx 

	  	
Borrower

	
Logistics, LLC

	  	  	  	  	  	  
	
14501 East 35th Place,

	  	  	  	  	  	  
	
Aurora, CO 80011

	  	  	  	  	  	  
	
* Cal Cargo, Inc.

	
  

	
3rd Party Logistics 

	
  

	
xxx 

	
  

	
Borrower

	
2376 Davis Ave

	  	  	  	  	  	  
	
Haywood, CA 94545

	  	  	  	  	  	  

* At August 31, 2011

Schedule 8.6.1

 

  

SCHEDULE 9.1.4

to

Third Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement

 

NAMES AND CAPITAL STRUCTURE

 

	
1.

	
The corporate names, jurisdictions of incorporation, and authorized and issued Equity Interests of each Borrower and Subsidiary are as follows:

 

	
Name

	  	
Jurisdiction

	  	
Number and Class of 

Authorized Shares

	  	
Number and Class 

of Issued Shares

	
HWC Wire & Cable Company

	
  

	
Delaware

	
  

	
Common: 1,000

	
  

	
100

	
2.

	
The record holders of Equity Interests of each Borrower and Subsidiary are as follows:

 

	
Name

	  	
Class of Stock

	  	
Number of Shares

	  	
Record Owner

	
HWC Wire & Cable Company

	  	
Delaware

	  	
100

	  	
Houston Wire & Cable Company

	
3.

	
All agreements binding on holders of Equity Interests of Borrowers and Subsidiaries with respect to such interests are as follows:

None

	
4.

	
In the five years preceding the Closing Date, neither any Borrower nor any Subsidiary has acquired any substantial assets from any other Person nor been the surviving entity in a merger or combination, except:

 

On June 28, 2010, Houston Wire & Cable Company purchased the limited partnership interests in Southwest Wire Rope LP and the membership interests in Southwest Wire Rope GP LLC from Teleflex Incorporated.

Schedule 9.1.4

 

  

SCHEDULE 9.1.11

to

Third Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement

 

PATENTS, TRADEMARKS, COPYRIGHTS AND LICENSES

 

	
1.

	
Borrowers’ and Subsidiaries’ patents:

 

	
Patent

	  	
Owner

	  	
Status in

Patent Office

	  	
Federal

Registration No.

	  	
Registration

    Date    

	
Apparatus & Method for Sealing A Conduit

	  	
Borrower

	  	
Registered

	  	
US6,852922B2

	  	
February 8, 2005

	
2.

	
Borrowers’ and Subsidiaries’ trademarks:

 

	
Trademark

	  	
Assignee

	  	
Status in

Trademark

Office

	  	
Federal

Registration

Number

	  	
Registration

Date

	
HWC Houston Wire & Cable Company and  Design

	  	
Houston Wire & Cable Company

	  	
Registered

	  	
2,924,985

	  	
February 8, 2005

 

	
HWC Houston Wire & Cable Company and Design and Houston Wire & Cable Company

	  	
Houston Wire & Cable Company

	  	
Registered

     “ “

     “ “

     “ “

	  	
2,906,370

2,906,371

2,906,372

2,906,373

	  	
November 30, 2004

November 30, 2004

November 30, 2004

November 30, 2004

	
Houston Wire & Cable Company and HWC Houston Wire & Cable Company and Design

	  	
Houston Wire & Cable Company

	  	
Registered

     “ “

     “ “

	  	
2,904,865

2,904,866

2,904,867

	  	
November 23, 2004

November 23, 2004

November 23, 2004

	
HOUWIRE

	  	
Houston Wire & Cable Company

	  	
Registered

	  	
2,321,131

	  	
February 22, 2000

	
HWC DATACOM

	  	
Houston Wire & Cable Company

	  	
Registered

     “ “

     “ “

	  	
2,965,387

2,805,736

2,809,318

	  	
July 5, 2005

January 13, 2004

January 27, 2004

	
DATAGUARD

	  	
Houston Wire & Cable Company

	  	
Registered

	  	
3,072,172

	  	
March 21, 2006

	
GOLD NOSE

	  	
Southwest Wire Rope, Inc.

	  	
Registered

	  	
2683154

	  	
February 4, 2003

	
SW & (Circle with bars, bands and lines Design)

	  	
Southwest Wire Rope Inc.

	  	
Registered

	  	
2208424

	  	
December 8, 1998

	
(Rope Design)

	  	
Southwest Wire Rope Inc.

	  	
Registered

	  	
2441654

	  	
April 3, 2001

	
DOUBLE GOLD STRAND

	  	
Southwest Wire Rope Inc.

	  	
Registered

	  	
1565257

	  	
November 7,1989

	
GOLD STRAND

	  	
Southwest Wire Rope Inc.

	  	
Registered

	  	
1541208

	  	
May 30, 1989

	
GREEN AND WHITE STRAND

	  	
Southern Wire , LLC

	  	
Registered

	  	
1661429

	  	
October 22, 1991

	
(Rope on a Spool Design)

	  	
Southern Wire , LLC

	  	
Registered

	  	
1647858

	  	
June 18, 1991

	
(Four Circle Design)

	  	
Southern Wire , LLC

	  	
Registered

	  	
1615420

	  	
October 2, 1990

	
GREEN & WHITE

	  	
Southern Wire , LLC

	  	
Registered

	  	
1620799

	  	
November 6, 1998

	
WIRE ROPE AND DESIGN (Canada)

	
  

	
Southwest Wire Rope Inc.

	
  

	
Registered

	
  

	
TMA502793

	
  

	
October 26, 1998

 

Schedule 9.1.11

 

  

	
3.

	
Borrowers’ and Subsidiaries’ copyrights:

 

	
Copyright

	  	
Owner

	  	
Status in

Copyright Office

	  	
Federal

Registration No.

	  	
Registration

Date

	
None

	  	  	  	  	  	  	  	  

 

	
4.

	
Borrowers’ and Subsidiaries’ licenses (other than routine business licenses, authorizing them to transact business in local jurisdictions):

 

	
Licensor

	  	
Description of License

	  	
Term of License

	  	
Royalties Payable

	
None

	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	  	  	  	  	  	  
	  	
  

	  	
  

	  	
  

	  

Schedule 9.1.11

 

  

SCHEDULE 9.1.14

to

Third Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement

 

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

 

As noted in note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Guarantor, Houston Wire & Cable Company for the year ended December 31, 2010, the company assumed the liability for the post-remediation monitoring of the water quality for one of the acquired facilities.

Schedule 9.1.14

  

 

  

SCHEDULE 9.1.15

to

Loan and Security Agreement

 

RESTRICTIVE AGREEMENTS

 

	
Entity

	  	
Agreement

	  	
Restrictive Provisions

	
None

	  	  	  	  

Schedule 9.1.15

  

 

  

SCHEDULE 9.1.16

to

Third Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement

 

LITIGATION

 

	
1.

	
Proceedings and investigations pending against Borrowers or Subsidiaries:

 

	
  

	
As noted in note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Guarantor, Houston Wire & Cable Company for the year ended December 31, 2010, the company has been named in a number of lawsuits involving asbestos.

 

	
2.

	
Threatened proceedings or investigations of which any Borrower or Subsidiary is aware:

 

None

 

	
3.

	
Pending Commercial Tort Claim of any Obligor:

 

	
  

	
None

Schedule 9.1.16

  

 

  

SCHEDULE 9.1.18

to

Third Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement

 

PENSION PLAN DISCLOSURES

 

	
Borrower

	
None

	
[Subsidiaries]

	
None

Schedule 9.1.18

  

 

  

 

SCHEDULE 10.2.2

to

Third Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement

 

EXISTING LIENS

 

The following capital leases have lien holders:

 

	
Lessee

	  	
Lessor

	  	
Term of Lease

	  	
Property Covered

	
Borrower

	  	
Xerox

	  	
60 months (commencing 10/06)

	  	
EPSCNTRLC Docusp X86 Cntrl

	
Borrower

	  	
Xerox

	  	
60 months (commencing 10/06)

	  	
4110EPSC (4110EPS System)

	
Borrower

	  	
Xerox

	  	
60 months (commencing 10/07)

	  	
D242OC (Office D242 'C') Docucolor w/ finisher

	
Borrower

	  	
Xerox

	  	
60 months (commencing 10/07)

	  	
D252EFIO (Ofc 242/252 Bustled)

	
Borrower

	  	
Xerox

	  	
60 months (commencing 10/07)

	  	
W7655P (WC 7655 Copier-Printer) w/ finisher

	
Borrower

	  	
Xerox

	  	
60 months (commencing 10/07)

	  	
WCP238H (WCP238 Ptr/Scn/Hcf) w/ finisher

	
Borrower

	  	
Xerox

	  	
60 months (commencing 10/07)

	  	
WCP255HC (WCP255 Ptr/Scn/Hcf) w/ finisher

	
Borrower

	  	
Xerox

	  	
60 months (commencing 10/09)

	  	
WC7428P (WC7428P Ptr/Scn/Fax) w/ finisher

	
Borrower

	
  

	
Xerox

	
  

	
60 months (commencing 10/09)

	
  

	
3CQ9201 (3 Mtr ColorQube 9201) w/ finisher

Schedule 10.2.2

  

 

  

 

SCHEDULE 10.2.8

to

Third Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement

 

SURETY OBLIGATIONS

 

None

Schedule 10.2.8

  

 

  

SCHEDULE 10.2.17

to

Third Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement

 

EXISTING AFFILIATE TRANSACTIONS

 

None

 

Schedule 10.2.17SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED GUARANTY

 

This SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED GUARANTY (the “Guaranty”), dated as of September 30, 2011, is made by Houston Wire & Cable Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Guarantor”), in favor of Bank of America, N.A., a national banking association, as agent (“Agent”), for the benefit of the Agent and each of the Lenders from time to time parties to the hereinafter defined Loan Agreement (“Lenders”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, Guarantor executed a certain Amended and Restated Guaranty (“2009 Guaranty”) in favor of Agent in connection with a certain Second Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “2009 Loan Agreement”) dated as of September 21, 2009 by and among Agent, the lenders signatory thereto (“Lenders”), Guarantor and HWC Wire & Cable Company, a Delaware corporation (“Borrower Agent”); and

 

WHEREAS, Agent, Lenders, Guarantor and Borrower Agent wish to amend and restate the 2009 Loan Agreement pursuant to that certain Third Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement dated as of the date hereof (the same, as it may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the “Loan Agreement”) by and among Agent, Lenders, Guarantor, Borrower Agent and the other Domestic Subsidiaries of Borrower Agent that become a borrower party thereto (Borrower Agent and each such other Domestic Subsidiary, individually, a “Borrower” and collectively, “Borrowers”); and

 

WHEREAS, the Guarantor continues to own all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Borrower Agent and, as such, will derive direct and indirect economic benefits from the continuing making of the “Loans” (as defined in the Loan Agreement); and

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the making of the Loans under the Loan Agreement and as a condition precedent thereto, Agent and Lenders require that the Guarantor shall have executed and delivered this Second Amended and Restated Guaranty;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and in order to induce Agent and Lenders to make the Loans and to issue the Letters of Credit under the Loan Agreement, the Guarantor hereby agrees with Agent and Lenders, for benefit of Agent and Lenders:

 

1.           Defined Terms

 

Capitalized terms used herein which are not otherwise defined herein are used with the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Loan Agreement.

 

2.           Guaranty of Payment

 

(a)           The Guarantor hereby unconditionally guaranties the full and prompt payment to Agent, for its benefit and for the benefit of Lenders when due, upon demand, at maturity or by reason of acceleration or otherwise and at all times thereafter, of any and all of the Obligations.

 

  

  

  

 

(b)           The Guarantor acknowledges that valuable consideration supports this Guaranty, including, without limitation, the consideration set forth in the recitals above.

 

(c)           The Guarantor agrees that all payments under this Guaranty shall be made in United States currency in the same manner as provided for in the Loan Agreement.

 

3.           Costs and Expenses

 

The Guarantor agrees to pay on demand, if not paid by Borrowers, all reasonable costs and expenses of every kind incurred by Agent or any Lender; (a) in enforcing this Guaranty; (b) in collecting any of the Obligations from Borrowers or the Guarantor; and (c) in realizing upon or protecting any collateral for this Guaranty or for payment of any of the Obligations.  “Costs and expenses” as used in the preceding sentence shall include, without limitation, the actual reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred by Agent or any Lender in retaining counsel for advice, suit, appeal, any insolvency or other proceedings under the Bankruptcy Code or (as defined below) otherwise, or for any purpose specified in the preceding sentence.

 

4.           Nature of Guaranty:  Continuing, Absolute and Unconditional

 

(a)          This Guaranty is and is intended to be a continuing guaranty of payment of the Obligations, independent of and in addition to any other guaranty, indorsement, collateral or other agreement held by Agent or any Lender therefor or with respect thereto, whether or not furnished by the Guarantor.  The obligations of the Guarantor to repay the Obligations hereunder shall be unlimited.  At all times prior to the final payment and performance in full of the Obligations, the Guarantor shall have no right of subrogation with respect to the Obligations or any payments made by the Guarantor hereunder and hereby waives any right to enforce any remedy which Agent or any Lender now have or may hereafter have against Borrowers or any endorser or any other guarantor of all or any part of the Obligations.  The Guarantor hereby waives any benefit of, and any right to participate in, any security or collateral given to Agent or Lenders to secure payment of the Obligations or any part thereof, and the Guarantor agrees that it will not take any action to enforce any obligations of Borrowers to the Guarantor prior to the Obligations being paid in full; provided that, in the event of the bankruptcy or insolvency of any Borrower, Agent, and Lenders shall be entitled notwithstanding the foregoing, to file in the name of the Guarantor or in their own name a claim for any and all indebtedness owing to the Guarantor by Borrowers (exclusive of this Guaranty), to vote such claim and to apply the proceeds of any such claim to the Obligations.

 

(b)          For the further security of Agent, for its benefit and the benefit of Lenders, and without in any way diminishing the liability of the Guarantor, until all of the Obligations have been paid in full, all debts and liabilities, present or future of Borrowers to the Guarantor and, except as otherwise permitted by the Loan Agreement, all monies received from Borrowers or for their account by the Guarantor in respect thereof shall be received in trust for Agent, for its benefit and the benefit of Lenders, and forthwith upon receipt shall be paid over to Agent, for its benefit and the benefit of Lenders, to be credited and applied, whether the Obligations are matured or unmatured, in accordance with the terms of the Loan Agreement.  This assignment and postponement is independent of and severable from this Guaranty and shall remain in full effect whether or not the Guarantor is liable for any amount under this Guaranty.

 

  

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(c)           This Guaranty is absolute and unconditional and shall not be changed or affected by any representation, oral agreement, act or thing whatsoever, except as herein provided.  This Guaranty is intended by the Guarantor to be the final, complete and exclusive expression of the guaranty agreement between the Guarantor, Agent and Lenders.  No modification or amendment of any provision of this Guaranty shall be effective unless in writing and signed by a duly authorized officer of Agent and by the Guarantor.

 

(d)           Until final payment and performance in full of the Obligations, the Guarantor hereby releases Borrowers from all, and agrees not to assert or enforce (whether by or in a legal or equitable proceeding or otherwise) any, “claims” (as defined in Section 101(4) of the United States Bankruptcy Code, as amended (the “Bankruptcy Code”)), whether arising under any law, ordinance, rule, regulation, order, policy or other requirement of any domestic or foreign government, or any instrumentality or agency thereof, having jurisdiction over the conduct of its business or assets or otherwise, to which the Guarantor is or would at any time be entitled by virtue of its obligations hereunder, any payment made pursuant hereto or the exercise by Agent of its rights with respect to the Collateral, including any such claims to which the Guarantor may be entitled as a result of any right of subrogation, exoneration or reimbursement.

 

5.           Certain Rights and Obligations

 

(a)          To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Guarantor authorizes Agent, for its benefit and the benefit of Lenders, without notice, demand or any reservation of rights against the Guarantor and without affecting the Guarantor’s obligations hereunder, from time to time:

 

   (i)             to renew, extend, increase, accelerate or otherwise change the time for payment of, the terms of or the interest on the Obligations or any part thereof or grant other indulgences to Borrowers or others as provided by an amendment(s) to the Loan Agreement executed by Borrowers, Agent and Lenders and/or Required Lenders, the terms of the Loan Agreement with respect to acceleration or in any waiver or consent executed by Agent, Lenders and/or Required Lenders, with respect to any indulgence;

 

    (ii)           to accept from any Person and hold collateral for the payment of the Obligations or any part thereof, and to modify, exchange, enforce or refrain from enforcing, or release, compromise, settle, waive, subordinate or surrender, with or without consideration, such collateral or any part thereof;

 

        (iii)          to accept and hold any indorsement or guaranty of payment of the Obligations or any part thereof, and to discharge, release or substitute any such Obligation of any such indorser or guarantor, or any Person who has given any security interest in any collateral as security for the payment of the Obligations or any part thereof, or any other Person in any way obligated to pay the Obligations or any part thereof, and to enforce or refrain from enforcing, or compromise or modify, the terms of any obligation of any such indorser, guarantor, or Person;

 

  

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(iv)           to dispose of any and all collateral securing the Obligations in any manner as Agent in its sole discretion may deem appropriate, and to direct the order or manner of such disposition and the enforcement of any and all endorsements and guaranties relating to the Obligations or any part thereof as Agent in its sole discretion may determine;

 

(v)           except as otherwise provided in the Loan Agreement, to determine the manner, amount and time of application of payments and credits, if any, to be made on all or any part of any component or components of the Obligations (whether principal, interest, fees, costs, and expenses, or otherwise) including, without limitation, the application of payments received from any source to the payment of indebtedness other than the Obligations even though Agent might lawfully have elected to apply such payments to the Obligations to amounts which are not covered by this Guaranty; and

 

(vi)           to take advantage or refrain from taking advantage of any security or accept or make or refrain from accepting or making any compositions or arrangements when and in such manner as Agent in its sole discretion may deem appropriate;

 

and generally to do or refrain from doing any act or thing which might otherwise, at law or in equity, release the liability of the Guarantor as a guarantor or surety in whole or in part, and in no case shall Agent be responsible or shall the Guarantor be released either in whole or in part for any act or omission in connection with Agent or any Lender having sold any collateral for less than fair value.

 

(b)           If any default shall be made in the payment of any of the Obligations and any grace period has expired with respect thereto as provided in the Loan Agreement, the Guarantor hereby agrees to pay the same in full to the extent hereinafter provided:

 

(i)            without deduction by reason of any setoff, defense (other than payment) or counterclaim of any Borrower;

 

(ii)           without requiring presentment, protest or notice of nonpayment or notice of default to the Guarantor, to Borrowers or to any other Person;

 

(iii)          without demand for payment or proof of such demand or filing of claims with a court in the event of receivership, bankruptcy or reorganization of any Borrower;

 

(iv)          without requiring Agent or any Lender to resort first to any Borrower (this being a guaranty of payment and not of collection) or to any other guaranty or any collateral which Agent or any Lender may hold;

 

(v)           without requiring notice of acceptance hereof or assent hereto by Agent;

 

(vi)          without requiring notice that any of the Obligations have been incurred, extended or continued or of the reliance by Agent or any Lender upon this Guaranty;

 

all of the foregoing which the Guarantor hereby waives.

 

  

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(c)           To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Guarantor’s obligation hereunder shall not be affected by any of the following, all of which the Guarantor hereby waives:

 

(i)            any failure to perfect or continue the perfection of any security interest in or other lien on any collateral securing payment of any of the Obligations or the Guarantor’s obligation hereunder;

 

(ii)           the invalidity, unenforceability, propriety of manner of enforcement of, or loss or change in priority of, any such security interest or other lien or guaranty of the Obligations;

 

(iii)          any failure to protect, preserve or insure any such collateral;

 

(iv)           failure of the Guarantor to receive notice of any intended disposition of such collateral;

 

(v)           any defense arising by reason of the cessation from any cause whatsoever of liability of any Borrower including, without limitation, any failure, negligence or omission by Agent or any Lender in enforcing their claims against any Borrower;

 

(vi)          any release, settlement or compromise of any obligation of any Borrower;

 

(vii)         the invalidity or unenforceability of any of the Obligations;

 

(viii)        any change of ownership of any Borrower or the insolvency, bankruptcy or any other change in the legal status of any Borrower;

 

(ix)           any change in, or the imposition of, any law, decree, regulation or other governmental act which does or might impair, delay or in any way affect the validity, enforceability or the payment when due of the Obligations;

 

(x)            the existence of any claim, setoff or other right which the Guarantor may have at any time against Agent or any Lender or any Borrower in connection herewith or any other transaction, related or unrelated;

 

(xi)           Agent’s or any Lender’s election, in any case instituted under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, of the application of section 1111(b)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code;

 

(xii)          any borrowing, use of cash collateral, or grant of a security interest by Borrower, as debtor in possession, under sections 363 or 364 of the Bankruptcy Code;

 

(xiii)         the disallowance of all or any portion of any of Agent’s or any Lender’s claims for repayment of the Obligations under sections 502 or 506 of the Bankruptcy Code; or

 

  

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(xiv)        any other fact or circumstance which might otherwise constitute grounds at law or equity for the discharge or release of the Guarantor from its obligations hereunder (other than termination of this Guaranty in accordance with Section 8 hereof), all whether or not the Guarantor shall have had notice or knowledge of any act or omission referred to in the foregoing clauses (i) through (xiii) of this subsection 5(c).

 

6.           Representations and Warranties

 

The Guarantor further represents and warrants to Agent and Lenders that:

 

(a)           The Guarantor is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, and has full power, authority and legal right to own its property and assets and to transact the business in which it is engaged.

 

(b)           The Guarantor has full power, authority and legal right to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, this Guaranty and each other Loan Document to which it is a party and to carry out the related transactions to which it is a party, and all necessary corporate action to authorize the guaranty hereunder, such other Loan Documents and such related transactions on the terms and conditions hereof and thereof and to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty, such other Loan Documents and such related transactions has been duly taken.

 

(c)           This Guaranty and the other Loan Documents and any other related transactions documents to which the Guarantor is a party have been duly executed and delivered by the Guarantor and constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Guarantor enforceable against the Guarantor in accordance with their respective terms, except to the extent that such enforceability is subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance and moratorium laws and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, or the availability of equitable remedies, which are subject to the discretion of the court before which an action may be brought.

 

(d)           As of the Closing Date, the authorized capital structure of the Guarantor is as forth in Guarantor’s public filings as required by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, and/or by the Exchange Act.

 

(e)           The Guarantor is duly qualified and in good standing wherever necessary to carry on their present business and operations, except in jurisdictions in which the failure to be qualified and in good standing could not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Guarantor to perform its obligations under any Loan Document to which it is a party or of Agent or any Lender to enforce or collect any of the Obligations.

 

(f)           The execution, delivery and performance by the Guarantor of this Guaranty and each other related transactions document to which the Guarantor is a party, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Guaranty and each of the related transactions documents to which it is a party do not and will not violate, conflict with, result in a breach of, or constitute a default (with due notice of lapse of time or both) under any contract of the Guarantor, except if such violations, conflicts, breaches or defaults have either been waived on or before the Closing Date or could not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Guarantor to perform its obligations under any Loan Document to which it is a party or of Agent or any Lender to enforce or collect any of the Obligations.

 

  

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(g)           Any representations and warranties set forth in the Loan Agreement relating to the Guarantor are and, after giving effect to the related transactions, will be true, correct and complete.

 

7.           Covenants

 

The Guarantor covenants with Agent and Lenders that:

 

(a)           The Guarantor shall not grant any security interest in or permit any lien, claim or encumbrance upon any of its assets in favor of any third party other than liens and security interests in favor of Agent; provided that the Guarantor may grant a mortgage lien on its Real Estate.

 

(b)           The Guarantor will not engage in any type of business activity other than its ownership of the capital stock of Borrower Agent or any other Borrower, the performance of its obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is a party and the ownership of assets and businesses (including, without limitation, the capital stock of Subsidiaries other than a Borrower) that are related to, or extensions of, the business of Borrowers.

 

(c)           The Guarantor shall not, nor shall the Guarantor permit any of its Subsidiaries to, enter into any indenture, agreement, instrument or other arrangement which, (i) directly or indirectly, prohibits or restrains, or has the effect of prohibiting or restraining, or imposes materially adverse conditions upon, the incurrence of the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder, or (ii) contains any provisions which would be violated or breached by the performance by the Guarantor of its obligations hereunder.

 

(d)           The Guarantor hereby assumes and adopts and agrees to perform, comply with and be bound by all of the terms and conditions, including without limitation affirmative and negative covenants, set forth in the Loan Agreement which relate to the Guarantor, with such terms and conditions, including without limitation such affirmative and negative covenants, being incorporated in this Guaranty by reference.

 

  

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8.           Termination

 

This Guaranty shall remain in full force and effect until all of the Obligations shall be finally and irrevocably paid in full (other than continuing indemnity obligations that are not pending or threatened) and the commitments of Agent and Lenders under the Loan Agreement and the Letters of Credit shall have been terminated.  Thereafter, but subject to the following, Agent shall take such action and execute such documents as the Guarantor may request (and at the Guarantor’s cost and expense) in order to evidence the termination of this Guaranty.  Payment of all of the Obligations from time to time shall not operate as a discontinuance of this Guaranty.  The Guarantor further agrees that, to the extent that a Borrower makes a payment or payments to Agent or any Lender on the Obligations, or Agent or any Lender receives any proceeds of collateral securing the Obligations which payment or receipt of proceeds or any part thereof is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside or required to be returned or repaid to such Borrower, its estate, trustee, receiver, debtor in possession or any other Person, including, without limitation, the Guarantor, under any insolvency or bankruptcy law, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause, then to the extent of such payment, return or repayment, the obligation or part thereof which has been paid, reduced or satisfied by such amount shall be reinstated and continued in full force and effect as of the date when such initial payment, reduction or satisfaction occurred, and this Guaranty shall continue in full force notwithstanding any contrary action which may have been taken by Agent or any Lender in reliance upon such payment, and any such contrary action so taken shall be without prejudice to Agent’s or any Lender’s rights under this Guaranty and shall be deemed to have been conditioned upon such payment having become final and irrevocable.

 

9.           Guaranty of Performance

 

The Guarantor also guaranties the full, prompt and unconditional performance of all obligations and agreements of every kind owed or hereafter to be owed by Borrowers to Agent or any Lender under the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which any Borrower is a party.  Every provision for the benefit of Agent and Lenders contained in this Guaranty shall apply to the guaranty of performance given in this Section 9.

 

10.         Assumption of Liens and Obligations

 

To the extent that the Guarantor has received or shall hereafter receive distributions or transfers from any Borrower of property or cash (other than distributions permitted by the Loan Agreement) that are subject, at the time of such distribution or transfer, to liens and security interests in favor of Agent and Lenders in accordance with the Loan Agreement or the other Loan Documents, the Guarantor hereby expressly agrees that:

 

(a)           it shall hold such assets subject to such liens and security interests and subject to the terms of the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents; and

 

(b)           it shall be liable for the payment of the Obligations secured thereby.

 

The Guarantor’s obligations under this Section 10 shall be in addition to its obligations as set forth in other sections of this Guaranty and not in substitution therefor or in lieu thereof.

 

11.         Taxes

 

All payments hereunder shall be made without any counter-claim or set-off, free and clear of, and without reduction by reason of, any taxes, levies, imposts, charges and withholdings, restrictions or conditions of any nature (“Taxes”), which are now or may hereafter be imposed, levied or assessed by any country, political subdivision or taxing authority, all of which will be for the account of and paid by the Guarantor.  If for any reason, any such reduction is made or any Taxes are paid by Agent or any Lender, the Guarantor will pay to Agent or such Lender such additional amounts as may be necessary to ensure that Agent or such Lender receives the same net amount which they would have received had not reduction been made or Taxes paid.

 

  

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12.         Miscellaneous

 

(a)           The terms “Borrower,” “Borrowers” and “Guarantor” as used in this Guaranty shall include:  (i) any successor individual or individuals, association, partnership or corporation to which all or substantially all of the business or assets of any Borrower or the Guarantor, respectively, shall have been transferred; and (ii) any other corporation or other entity into or with which any Borrower or the Guarantor, as appropriate, shall have been merged, consolidated, reorganized or absorbed.

 

(b)           Without limiting any other right of Agent or any Lender, whenever Agent or any Lender has the right to declare any of the Obligations to be immediately due and payable (whether or not it has been so declared), Agent or any Lender at its sole election without notice to the undersigned, may appropriate and set off against the Obligations:

 

(i)            any and all indebtedness or other moneys due or to become due to the Guarantor by Agent or such Lender in any capacity; and

 

(ii)           any credits or other property belonging to the Guarantor (including all account balances, whether provisional or final and whether or not collected or available) at any time held by or coming into the possession of Agent or any Lender, or any affiliate of Agent or any Lender, whether for deposit or otherwise;

 

whether or not the Obligations are, or the obligation to pay such moneys owed by Agent or any Lender is, then due, and Agent or any Lender shall be deemed to have exercised such right of setoff immediately at the time of such election even though any charge therefor is made or entered on Agent’s or such Lender’s records subsequent thereto.  Agent and each Lender agrees to notify the Guarantor in a reasonably practicable time of any such setoff, however, failure to so notify the Guarantor shall not affect the validity of any setoff.

 

(c)           The Guarantor’s obligation hereunder is to pay the Obligations in full when due according to the Loan Agreement to the extent provided herein, and shall not be affected by any stay or extension of time for payment by any Borrower resulting from any proceeding under the Bankruptcy Code or any similar law.

 

(d)           No course of dealing between any Borrower or the Guarantor and Agent or any Lender and no act, delay or omission by Agent in exercising any right or remedy hereunder or with respect to any of the Obligations shall operate as a waiver thereof or of any other right or remedy, and no single or partial exercise thereof shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or remedy.  Agent may remedy any default by Borrowers under any agreement with Borrowers or with respect to any of the Obligations in any reasonable manner without waiving the default remedied and without waiving any other prior or subsequent default by Borrowers.  All rights and remedies of Agent hereunder are cumulative.

 

(e)           This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of Agent and Lenders and their successors and assigns under the Loan Agreement.

 

  

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(f)           Captions of the sections of this Guaranty are solely for the convenience of Agent, Lenders and the Guarantor, and are not an aid in the interpretation of this Guaranty, and do not constitute part of the agreement of the parties set forth herein.

 

(g)           If any provision of this Guaranty is unenforceable in whole or in part for any reason, the remaining provisions shall continue to be effective.

 

(h)           THE GUARANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY UNITED STATES FEDERAL OR ILLINOIS STATE COURT LOCATED WITHIN THE COUNTY OF COOK, STATE OF ILLINOIS IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY AND THE GUARANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN ANY SUCH COURT AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE AS TO THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT OR THAT SUCH COURT IS AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.  NOTHING HEREIN SHALL LIMIT THE RIGHT OF AGENT TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE GUARANTOR IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.  ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING BY THE GUARANTOR AGAINST AGENT OR ANY LENDER OR ANY AFFILIATE THEREOF INVOLVING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH THIS GUARANTY SHALL BE BROUGHT ONLY IN A COURT LOCATED WITHIN THE COUNTY OF COOK, STATE OF ILLINOIS.

 

(i)           THE GUARANTOR AND AGENT HEREBY WAIVE THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS GUARANTY, OR ANY DEALINGS BETWEEN THEM RELATING TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS GUARANTY.  THE SCOPE OF THIS WAIVER IS INTENDED TO BE ALL ENCOMPASSING OF ANY AND ALL DISPUTES THAT MAY BE FILED IN ANY COURT AND THAT RELATE TO THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS GUARANTY, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS, AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW AND STATUTORY CLAIMS.  THE GUARANTOR AND AGENT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS WAIVER IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT TO ENTER INTO A BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP, THAT EACH HAS ALREADY RELIED ON THE WAIVER IN ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THAT EACH WILL CONTINUE TO RELY ON THE WAIVER IN THEIR RELATED FUTURE DEALINGS.  THE GUARANTOR AND AGENT FURTHER WARRANT AND REPRESENT THAT EACH HAS REVIEWED THIS WAIVER WITH ITS LEGAL COUNSEL, AND THAT EACH KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL.  THIS WAIVER IS IRREVOCABLE, MEANING THAT IT MAY NOT BE MODIFIED EITHER ORALLY OR  IN WRITING, AND THE WAIVER SHALL APPLY TO ANY SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS, RENEWALS, SUPPLEMENTS OR MODIFICATIONS TO THIS GUARANTY.  IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED AS A WRITTEN CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE COURT.  THE GUARANTOR AND AGENT ALSO WAIVE ANY BOND OR SURETY OR SECURITY UPON SUCH BOND WHICH MIGHT, BUT FOR THIS WAIVER, BE REQUIRED OF AGENT AND THE GUARANTOR.

 

  

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(j)           THE GUARANTOR WAIVES THE BENEFIT OF ALL VALUATION, APPRAISAL AND EXEMPTION LAWS, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

 

(k)           TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, IF AN EVENT OF DEFAULT SHALL HAVE OCCURRED AND BE CONTINUING UNDER THE LOAN AGREEMENT, THE GUARANTOR HEREBY WAIVES ALL RIGHTS TO NOTICE AND HEARING OF ANY KIND PRIOR TO THE EXERCISE BY AGENT OR ANY LENDER OF ITS RIGHTS TO REPOSSESS THE COLLATERAL WITHOUT JUDICIAL PROCESS OR TO REPLEVY, ATTACH OR LEVY UPON THE COLLATERAL WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE OR HEARING.  THE GUARANTOR ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT HAS BEEN ADVISED BY COUNSEL OF ITS CHOICE WITH RESPECT TO THIS TRANSACTION AND THIS GUARANTY.

 

(l)           THIS GUARANTY AND THE TRANSACTIONS EVIDENCED HEREBY SHALL BE CONSTRUED UNDER THE INTERNAL LAWS (AS OPPOSED TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PROVISION) OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

 

(m)           Any notice or other communication required shall be in writing addressed to the respective party as set forth below and may be personally served, telecopied, sent by overnight courier service or U.S. mail and shall be deemed to have been given:  (a) if delivered in person, when delivered; (b) if delivered by telecopy, on the date of transmission if transmitted on a Business Day and receipt is confirmed by the recipient on such date, or otherwise on the next Business Day; (c) if delivered by overnight courier, two (2) days after delivery to the courier properly addressed; or (d) if delivered by U.S. mail, four (4) Business Days after deposit with postage prepaid and properly addressed.

 

Notices shall be addressed as follows:

 

	
If to Guarantor:

	
Houston Wire & Cable Company

	  	
10201 North Loop East

	  	
Houston, Texas  77029

	  	
Attn:  Nicol G. Graham

	  	
Telecopy No.:  (713) 609-2205

 

	
If to Agent:

	
c/o Bank of America, N.A., as agent

	  	
135 South LaSalle Street

	  	
Chicago, IL  60603

	  	
Attn:  Mr. Steven J. Chalmers

	  	
Telecopy No.:  (312) 904-7190

 

(n)           Each of the agreements, representations and warranties made or incorporated herein shall survive the execution and delivery of this Guaranty, the making of the Loans and the issuance of the Letters of Credit under the Loan Agreement, the execution and delivery of the other Loan Documents and the consummation of all related transactions.

 

  

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(o)           This Guaranty amends and restates the 2009 Guaranty.

 

[signature page follows]

 

  

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(Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Guaranty)

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Second Amended and Restated Guaranty to be duly executed and delivered by its duly authorized officer on the date first above written.

 

	  	
HOUSTON WIRE & CABLE

COMPANY, a Delaware corporation

	 	 
	  	By:	
/s/ Charles A. Sorrentino

	  	Name:	
Charles A. Sorrentino

	  	Title:	
CEO and Director

 

  

  

  

(Signature Page to Second Amended and Restated Guaranty)

 

ACKNOWLEDGED THIS 30th day of September, 2011.

	  	
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., a national

banking association

	 	 
	
 

	By:	
/s/ Steven J. Chalmers

	  	 	
Steven J. Chalmers

	  	 	
Vice President

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00194-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00194-of-00352.parquet"}]]