FINANCING AGREEMENT
THE CIT GROUP/BUSINESS CREDIT, INC.
(AS AGENT)
THE LENDERS THAT ARE A PARTY HERETO
(AS LENDERS)
AND
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ CORPORATION AND SWEET FACTORY, INC.
(AS BORROWERS)
DATED: JUNE 28, 2001
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
SECTION 1. Definitions 1
SECTION 2. Conditions Precedent 16
SECTION 3. Revolving Loans 20
SECTION 4. Additional Provisions Relating to LIBOR Loans; Increased Capital; Taxes 24
SECTION 5. Letters of Credit 28
SECTION 6. Collateral 30
SECTION 7. Representations, Warranties and Covenants 32
SECTION 8. Interest, Fees and Expenses 45
SECTION 9. Powers 47
SECTION 10. Events of Default and Remedies 48
SECTION 11. Termination 51
SECTION 12. Miscellaneous 51
SECTION 13. Agreements Regarding the Lenders 53
SECTION 14. Agency 56
EXHIBIT A - Form of Assignment and Transfer Agreement
EXHIBIT B - Form of Blocked Account Agreement
SCHEDULES
Schedule 1.1(a) - Permitted Encumbrances
Schedule 1.1(b) - Permitted Indebtedness
Schedule 1.1(c) - Description of Real Estate
Schedule 1.1(d) - Scheduled Account Debtors
Schedule 1.1(e) - SAR Agreements
Schedule 7.1 - Collateral Information
Schedule 7.3(A) - 60 Day Real Estate
Schedule 7.3(B) - 90 Day Real Estate
Schedule 7.3(C) - 120 Day Real Estate
Schedule 7.5 - Insurance Policies
Schedule 7.10(f) - Guaranties
Schedule 7.10(i) - Investments
Schedule 7.14 - Intercompany Transactions
Schedule 7.18(A) - Depository Accounts
Schedule 7.18(B) - Lockboxes
Schedule 7.18(C) - Collection Accounts
Schedule 7.18(D) - Other Bank Accounts
This
FINANCING AGREEMENT (this "
FINANCING AGREEMENT") is entered into as
of June 28, 2001, by and among SWEET FACTORY, INC., a Delaware corporation, with
a principal place of business at ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ("SWEET FACTORY"), ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ CORPORATION, an
Illinois corporation,
with a principal place of address at ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ 60607("▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇" and, together with Sweet Factory, collectively, the
"COMPANIES" and, individually, each a "COMPANY"), each of the entities listed on
the signature pages hereto as a Lender and any other entity becoming a Lender
hereunder pursuant to Section 13.9 of this
Financing Agreement (collectively,
the "LENDERS" and, individually, "LENDER"), and THE CIT GROUP/BUSINESS CREDIT,
INC., a New York corporation, with an office located at ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, as agent for the Lenders (the "AGENT").
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS
1.1 For purposes of this
Financing Agreement, the following terms shall
be defined in the following manner:
ACCOUNTS shall mean any and all of each Credit Party's now existing and
future: (a) accounts (as defined in the UCC), and any and all other receivables
(whether or not specifically listed on schedules furnished to Agent), including,
without limitation, all accounts created by, or arising from, such Credit
Party's sales, leases, rentals of goods or renditions of services to its
customers, including but not limited to, those accounts arising under a trade
name or style of such Credit Party's, or through such Credit Party's divisions;
(b) instruments, documents, chattel paper, including electronic chattel paper
(all as defined in the UCC), related to any of the foregoing; (c) unpaid
seller's or lessor's rights (including rescission, replevin, reclamation,
repossession and stoppage in transit) relating to the foregoing; (d) reserves
and credit balances related to the foregoing; (e) guarantees, supporting
obligations, payment intangibles and letter of credit rights (all as defined in
the UCC), related to any of the foregoing; (f) general intangibles to the extent
related to any and all of the foregoing (including all rights to payment,
including those arising in connection with bank and non-bank credit cards), and
including books and records and any electronic media and software to the extent
relating thereto; (g) notes, deposits or property of account debtors to the
extent securing the obligations of any such account debtors, related to any of
the foregoing; and (h) all proceeds of any and all of the foregoing of whatever
kind.
ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT FEE shall mean an amount equal to Fifty
Thousand Dollars ($50,000) per annum, payable to Agent exclusively in accordance
with Section 8.8 of this
Financing Agreement, to cover the costs of Agent
(excluding Out-of-Pocket Expenses) in connection with the routine
administration, record keeping, analysis and evaluation of the Collateral.
AGENT'S BANK ACCOUNT shall have the meaning provided for in Section 3.4
of this
Financing Agreement.
ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSFER AGREEMENT shall mean the Assignment and Transfer
Agreement in the form of EXHIBIT A attached hereto.
AVAILABILITY shall mean the amount by which (a) the Revolving Line of
Credit, exceeds (b) the sum of (i) the amount of all Revolving Loans then
outstanding, PLUS (ii) the undrawn face amount of all Letters of Credit
outstanding for the benefit of any Company, PLUS (iii) the amount of the
Availability Reserve.
AVAILABILITY RESERVE shall mean an amount equal to the sum of: (a) the
Senior Note Debt Reserve; PLUS (b) other than with respect to retail store
locations of the Credit Parties (i) two (2) months base rental payments for any
of the leased premises or other Collateral locations of any of the Companies or
Canadian Subsidiary for which the Companies or Canadian Subsidiary, as the case
may be, have not delivered to the Agent a landlord's waiver in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, and (ii) two (2) months
estimated payments (plus any other fees or charges owing by any such Company or
Canadian Subsidiary) to any applicable warehousemen or third party processor (as
determined by the Agent in its reasonable business judgement), provided that any
of the foregoing amounts shall be adjusted from time to time hereafter upon (x)
delivery to the Agent of any such acceptable waiver, (y) the opening or closing
of a Collateral location and/or (z) any change in the amount of rental, storage
or processor payments or similar charges; PLUS (c) any reserve which the Agent
may establish from time to time pursuant to the terms of this
Financing
Agreement, including without limitation, reserves for outstanding Letters of
Credit; PLUS (d) such other reserves as the Agent deems necessary in its
reasonable judgment as a result of (i) negative forecasts and/or trends in the
business, prospects, profits, operations or financial condition of any of the
Companies or Canadian Subsidiary, or (ii) other issues, circumstances or facts
that could otherwise negatively impact the Companies or Canadian Subsidiary or
their respective business, prospects, profits, operations, financial condition
or assets; PLUS, (e) the General Environmental Reserve (if any).
BORROWING BASE shall mean the sum of (a) eighty-five percent (85%) of the
outstanding Eligible Accounts Receivable as set forth in the most recent report
of the Companies under Section 7.8(d), PLUS (b) the lesser of (i) sixty percent
(60%) of the aggregate value of the Eligible Special Inventory, valued at the
lower of cost or market on a first in, first out basis, as set forth in the most
recent report of the Companies under Section 7.8(d), and (ii) Eighteen Million
Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($18,500,000), PLUS (c) the Real Estate Sublimit.
BUSINESS DAY shall mean any day on which the Agent and ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ &
Co. are open for business.
CANADIAN COLLECTION ACCOUNT shall mean the Collection Account located at
the Bank of Nova Scotia on the Closing Date.
CANADIAN SUBSIDIARY shall mean ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ (Canada) Corporation, a
corporation incorporated under the federal laws of Canada, together with its
successors and assigns.
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES shall mean, for any period, the aggregate
expenditures during such period on account of property, plant, equipment or
similar fixed assets that, in conformity with GAAP, are required to be reflected
on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
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CAPITAL LEASE shall mean any lease of property (whether real, personal or
mixed) which, in conformity with GAAP, is accounted for as a capital lease or a
Capital Expenditure on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
CASH EQUIVALENTS means (a) marketable direct obligations issued or
unconditionally guaranteed by the United States government and backed by the
full faith and credit of the United States government; (b) domestic and
Eurodollar certificates of deposit and time deposits, bankers' acceptances and
floating rate certificates of deposit issued by any commercial bank organized
under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of
Columbia, any foreign bank, or its branches or agencies (fully protected against
currency fluctuations for any such deposits with a term of more than thirty (30)
days); (c) shares of money market, mutual or similar funds having assets in
excess of $100,000,000 and the investments of which are limited to investment
grade securities (i.e., securities rated at least Baa by ▇▇▇▇▇'▇ Investors
Services, Inc. or at least BBB by Standard and Poor's Corporation) and (d)
commercial paper of United States and foreign banks and bank holding companies
and their subsidiaries and United States and foreign finance, commercial
industrial or utility companies which, at the time of acquisition, are rated A-2
(or better) by Standard and Poor's Corporation or P-2 (or better) by ▇▇▇▇▇'▇
Investors Services, Inc.; PROVIDED that the maturities of such Cash Equivalents
shall not exceed 365 days from the date of acquisition thereof.
CASUALTY PROCEEDS shall have the meaning given to such term in Section
7.5(c) of this
Financing Agreement.
CHANGE IN CONTROL shall mean, except as permitted pursuant to Section
7.10(e) hereof, any transaction or event as a result of which (i) Parent ceases
to own one hundred percent (100%) of the issued and outstanding capital stock of
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, (ii) ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ceases, either directly or indirectly, to own one
hundred percent (100%) of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Sweet
Factory or any Subsidiary Guarantor, other than permitted under Section
7.10(e)(i), (iii) The Jordan Company, LLC, a New York limited liability company,
and its affiliates and TCW Capital and its affiliates cease to own, in the
aggregate, at least 25% of the issued and outstanding common stock of Parent or
cease to have the power to elect at least a majority of the board of directors
of Parent, (iv) the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the
meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, a "CONTROLLING PERSON") of beneficial ownership (within the meaning
of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended), of more than the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting
securities entitled to elect directors having a majority of the voting power of
the Board of Directors of the Parent, (v) during any period of up to 24
consecutive months, commencing before or after the Closing Date, individuals who
at the beginning of such 24-month period were directors of Parent shall cease
for any reason (other than due to death, disability or previously established
mandatory retirement) to constitute a majority of the board of directors of the
Parent, (vi) the president of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ on the Closing Date shall cease to serve
in such capacity and a replacement officer reasonably satisfactory to the Agent
is not appointed within 90 days of thereof or (vii) a "Change of Control" (as
defined in the Indenture) occurs.
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CHASE BANK RATE shall mean the rate of interest per annum announced by ▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. from time to time as its "prime rate" in effect at its
principal office in New York City. (The prime rate is not intended to be the
lowest rate of interest charged by ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Chase & Co. to its borrowers.)
CHASE BANK RATE LOANS shall mean any loans made pursuant to this
Financing Agreement that bear interest based on the Chase Bank Rate.
CLOSING DATE shall mean the date on which this Financing Agreement is
executed and delivered by the Companies and the Agent.
COLLATERAL shall mean all of the Companies' present and future Accounts,
Inventory, and Real Estate, and the Proceeds of any of the foregoing.
COLLECTION ACCOUNTS shall mean those depository accounts maintained by
the Credit Parties for the collection of proceeds from the Depository Accounts
or for the collection of cash proceeds of Collateral (through the operation of a
lockbox or otherwise).
CONSOLIDATED shall mean the resultant consolidation of the financial
statements of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET shall mean a Consolidated balance sheet for
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and its Subsidiaries, eliminating all inter-company transactions and
prepared in accordance with GAAP.
CONSOLIDATED DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION CHARGES shall mean, for any
period, the aggregate of all depreciation and amortization charges for fixed
assets, leasehold improvements and general intangibles (specifically including
goodwill) of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ for such period, as determined on a Consolidated basis
and in accordance with GAAP.
CONSOLIDATED EBITDA shall mean, for any period, on a Consolidated basis
and in accordance with GAAP, Consolidated Net Earnings for such period plus the
aggregate amounts deducted in determining such Consolidated Net Earnings in
respect of (a) accrued income taxes, (b) Consolidated Interest Expense, and (c)
Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Charges.
CONSOLIDATED INTEREST EXPENSE shall mean, for any period, the interest
expense of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ for such period, as determined on a Consolidated basis and
in accordance with GAAP, which includes a monthly accrual for interest under the
Indenture.
CONSOLIDATED NET CASH FLOW shall mean, for any period, on a Consolidated
basis and in accordance with GAAP, (a) Consolidated EBITDA, MINUS (b)(i) accrued
and paid Consolidated Interest Expense, (ii) Capital Expenditures, (iii) cash
expenditures for taxes, (iv) scheduled principal payments on Indebtedness (other
than payments on Revolving Loans), and (v) cash expenditures relating to the
payment by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ of any dividend permitted hereunder.
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CONSOLIDATED NET EARNINGS shall mean the net earnings (losses) of
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, after taxes and after extraordinary items (but without giving effect
to any gain or loss resulting from the re-appraisal or write-up of any asset or
the sale of any asset other than inventory), as determined on a Consolidated
basis and in accordance with GAAP.
CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET shall mean a Consolidated Balance Sheet plus
individual balance sheets for each Subsidiary of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and each of their
respective Subsidiaries, showing all eliminations of inter-company transactions
and prepared in accordance with GAAP.
CREDIT CARD AGREEMENT shall mean any credit card processor agreement or
irrevocable assignment executed and delivered by a Credit Party and a credit
card processor and the Agent in connection with this Financing Agreement, as the
same may from time to time be amended, restated or otherwise modified.
CREDIT PARTIES shall mean each Company, Canadian Subsidiary, Parent and
all Subsidiaries of each Company, Canadian Subsidiary and Parent.
DEFAULT shall mean any event which, with lapse of time or notice or lapse
of time and notice, will constitute an Event of Default if it continues uncured.
DEFAULT RATE OF INTEREST shall mean a rate of interest equal to two
percent (2%) greater than the interest rate accruing on the Obligations pursuant
to Section 8.1 and 8.2 hereof, which the Agent and the Lenders shall be entitled
to charge the Companies in the manner set forth in Section 8.3 of this Financing
Agreement.
DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS shall mean Accounts that, (a) during the period from
October 1 through April 30 of the following year, remain unpaid for more than
(i)one hundred twenty (120) days after the invoice date or (ii) sixty (60) days
after the due date thereof (whichever is the earliest to occur) and, (b) during
any other period, remain unpaid for more than ninety (90) days after the invoice
date.
DEPOSITORY ACCOUNTS shall mean those depository accounts maintained by
the Credit Parties for the collection of cash proceeds of Collateral.
DOCUMENTATION FEE shall mean, subsequent to the Closing Date, the Agent's
standard fees (and standard fees of the Agent's in-house counsel) relating to
any and all modifications, waivers, releases, amendments or additional
collateral with respect to this Financing Agreement, the Collateral and/or the
Obligations.
EARLY TERMINATION DATE shall mean any date prior to the second
anniversary of the Closing Date.
EARLY TERMINATION FEE shall mean an amount equal to (a) the maximum
amount of the Revolving Line of Credit (calculated for the month in which Early
Termination occurs) TIMES (b) one percent (1%).
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ELIGIBLE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE shall mean the gross amount of Trade
Accounts Receivable of each Company and Canadian Subsidiary that are subject to
a valid, exclusive and first priority (subject to Permitted Encumbrances) and
fully perfected security interest in favor of the Agent, for the benefit of the
Lenders, which conform to the warranties contained herein and which, at all
times, continue to be acceptable to the Agent in the exercise of its reasonable
judgment, LESS, without duplication, the sum of:
(a) any returns, discounts, claims, credits and allowances of any nature
(whether issued, owing, granted, claimed or outstanding), PLUS ----
(b) reserves for Trade Accounts Receivable that arise from, or are
subject to or include: (i) sales to the United States of America, any
state or other governmental entity or to any agency, department or
division thereof, except for any such sales as to which the Company has
complied to the Agent's satisfaction with the Assignment of Claims Act of
1940 or any other applicable statute, rules or regulation; (ii) foreign
sales, other than sales (x) which otherwise comply with all of the other
criteria for eligibility hereunder and are secured by letters of credit
(in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent) issued or confirmed by,
and payable at, banks acceptable to the Agent having a place of business
in the United States of America, or (y) to customers residing in Canada;
(iii) Delinquent Accounts; (iv) contra accounts; (v) sales to any
Subsidiary (direct or indirect) of a Credit Party, or to any entity
otherwise affiliated with a Credit Party or with any shareholder, parent
or Subsidiary (direct or indirect) of a Credit Party in any way; (vi)
▇▇▇▇ and hold (deferred shipment) or consignment sales; (vii) sales to
any customer which is either (w) insolvent, (x) the debtor in any
bankruptcy, insolvency, arrangement, reorganization, receivership or
similar proceedings under any federal or state law, (y) financially
unacceptable to the Agent or has a credit rating unacceptable to the
Agent; (viii) all sales to any customer if fifty percent (50%) or more of
the aggregate dollar amount of all outstanding invoices to such customer
are Delinquent Accounts; (ix) sales to any customer and/or its affiliates
to the extent such sales exceed thirty percent (30%) or more of all
Eligible Accounts Receivable, other than such customers listed on
SCHEDULE 1.1(d) attached hereto (which schedule may be replaced from time
to time by the Agent in its reasonable discretion upon notice to the
Companies or by the Companies upon the prior written consent of the Agent
and requiring no other action or amendment hereunder); (x) pre-billed
receivables and receivables arising from progress ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇; and (xi)
sales not payable in United States or Canadian currency; PLUS
(c) reserves equal to an amount representing, historically, returns,
discounts, claims, credits, allowances and applicable terms; PLUS
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(d) reserves established for any other reasons deemed necessary by the
Agent in its reasonable business judgment, including, without limitation,
reasons that are customary either in the commercial finance industry or
in the lending practices of the Agent.
ELIGIBLE INVENTORY shall mean the gross amount of Inventory of each
Company and Canadian Subsidiary that is subject to a valid, exclusive and first
priority (subject to Permitted Encumbrances) and fully perfected security
interest in favor of the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, and which
conforms to the warranties contained herein and which, at all times continues to
be acceptable to the Agent in its reasonable business judgment, LESS, without
duplication, (a) work-in-process, (b) supplies (other than raw materials and
supplies that form part of finished goods), (c) Inventory not present in the
United States of America or Canada, (d) Inventory returned or rejected by the
customers of such Company or Canadian Subsidiary (other than goods that are
undamaged and resalable in the normal course of business) and goods to be
returned to the suppliers of such Company or Canadian Subsidiary, (e) Inventory
in transit to third parties (other than such Company's agents or warehouses),
and (f) the amount of any reserve against Inventory established by the Agent in
its reasonable discretion, including without limitation reserves for special
order goods, discontinued, slow-moving and obsolete Inventory, market value
declines, ▇▇▇▇ and hold (deferred shipment), consignment sales, shrinkage and
any applicable customs, freight, duties and Taxes.
ELIGIBLE SPECIAL INVENTORY shall mean Eligible Inventory that is raw
material or finished goods inventory.
ERISA shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act or 1974, as
amended from time to time and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder
from time to time.
EUROCURRENCY RESERVE REQUIREMENTS shall mean for any day, as applied to a
LIBOR Loan, the aggregate (without duplication) of the maximum aggregate reserve
requirement (expressed as a decimal fraction) in effect with respect to the
Agent or any Lender on such day (including, without limitation, basic,
supplemental, marginal and emergency reserves under Regulation D or any other
applicable regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
or other governmental authority having jurisdiction with respect thereto, as now
and from time to time in effect, dealing with reserve requirements prescribed
for Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as "EUROCURRENCY LIABILITIES" in
Regulation D of such Board) maintained by the Agent or any Lender (such reserve
to be adjusted to the nearest one-sixteenth of one percent (1/16 of 1%) or, if
there is not a nearest one-sixteenth of one percent (1/16 of 1%), to the next
higher one sixteenth of one percent (1/16 of 1%).
EVENT(S) OF DEFAULT shall have the meaning given to such term in Section
10.1 of this Financing Agreement.
GAAP shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United
States of America as in effect from time to time and for the period as to which
such accounting principles are to apply, PROVIDED that in the event a Credit
Party modifies in any material respect its accounting principles
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and procedures from those in effect on the Closing Date, such Credit Party shall
provide such statements of reconciliation as shall be in form and substance
reasonably acceptable to the Agent.
GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL RESERVE shall mean (i) from the Closing Date until
seven Business Days after the Agent receives the last Environmental Report
required pursuant to Section 7.3(c) hereof, an amount equal to Five Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($500,000), as such amount may from time to time be decreased
or increased, but in no event to an amount greater than Five Hundred Thousand
Dollars ($500,000), pursuant to the terms of this Financing Agreement and (ii)
on the seventh Business Day after the Agent receives the last Environmental
Report required pursuant to Section 7.3(c) hereof and thereafter, an amount
equal to zero.
GUARANTY shall mean each Guaranty of Payment, dated as of the Closing
Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, executed and delivered to
the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, by a Guarantor, and any other
Guaranty that shall be executed and delivered to the Agent, for the benefit of
the Lenders, in connection with this Financing Agreement subsequent to the
Closing Date, as the same may from time to time be amended, restated or
otherwise modified.
GUARANTOR shall mean Parent and each Subsidiary Guarantor, which are each
executing a Guaranty in connection with this Financing Agreement, and any other
Guarantor that shall execute and deliver a Guaranty to the Agent, for the
benefit of the Lenders.
INDEBTEDNESS shall mean, for any Credit Party (excluding in all cases
trade payables payable in the ordinary course of business by such Credit Party),
without duplication, (a) all obligations to repay borrowed money, direct or
indirect, incurred, assumed, or guaranteed, (b) all obligations for the deferred
purchase price of capital assets, (c) all obligations under conditional sales or
other title retention agreements, (d) all obligations (contingent or otherwise)
under any letter of credit, banker's acceptance, currency swap agreement,
interest rate swap, cap, collar or floor agreement or other interest rate
management device, (e) all synthetic leases, (f) all lease obligations that have
been or should be capitalized on the books of such Credit Party in accordance
with GAAP, (g) all obligations of such Credit Party with respect to asset
securitization financing programs to the extent that there is recourse against
such Credit Party or such Credit Party is liable (contingent or otherwise) under
any such program, (h) all obligations to advance funds to, or to purchase
assets, property or services from, any other Person in order to maintain the
financial condition of such Person, and (i) any other transaction (including
forward sale or purchase agreements) having the commercial effect of a borrowing
of money entered into by such Credit Party to finance its operations or capital
requirements.
INDENTURE shall mean the Indenture, dated as of July 2, 1997, between
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and the Trustee, as amended or supplemented prior to the Closing Date
and as further amended, restated, supplemented or refinanced in accordance with
the terms hereof.
INTEREST ADJUSTMENT DATE shall mean the last day of each Interest Period.
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INTEREST PERIOD shall mean: (a) with respect to an initial request by the
Companies for a LIBOR Loan or the conversion of a Chase Bank Rate Loan to a
LIBOR Loan, at the option of the Companies a one-month, two-month or three-month
period commencing on the borrowing or conversion date with respect to such LIBOR
Loan and ending one, two or three months thereafter, as applicable; and (b) with
respect to any continuation of a LIBOR Loan, at the option of the Companies a
one-month, two-month or three-month period commencing on the last day of the
immediately preceding Interest Period applicable to such LIBOR Loan and ending
one, two or three months thereafter, as applicable; PROVIDED that the foregoing
provisions relating to Interest Periods are subject to the following terms:
(i) if any Interest Period would otherwise end on a day which is not a
Working Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next
succeeding Working Day, unless the result of such extension would extend
such payment into another calendar month, in which event such Interest
Period shall end on the immediately preceding Working Day;
(ii) any Interest Period that begins on the last Working Day of a
calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically
corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest
Period) shall end on the last Working Day of a calendar month; and
(iii) for purposes of determining the availability of Interest Periods,
such Interest Periods shall be deemed available if (x) ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ &
Co. quotes an applicable rate or the Agent determines LIBOR, as provided
in the definition of LIBOR, (y) the LIBOR determined by ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Chase &
Co. or the Agent adequately and fairly reflects the cost of maintaining
or funding its loans bearing interest at LIBOR for such Interest Period,
and (z) such Interest Period ends on or before the last day of the then
current term of this Financing Agreement. If a requested Interest Period
shall be unavailable in accordance with the foregoing provisions, the
Companies shall choose an Interest Period that complies with the
foregoing provisions or the Companies shall pay interest on the
Obligations subject to such request at the applicable per annum rate
based upon the Chase Bank Rate.
INVENTORY shall mean all present and hereafter acquired (a) inventory (as
defined in the UCC) and all additions, substitutions and replacements thereof,
wherever located, (b) general intangibles to the extent relating to any and all
of the foregoing, including books and records and any electronic media and
software to the extent relating thereto and (d) all Proceeds of any and all of
the foregoing of whatever sort.
ISSUING BANK shall mean any bank issuing a Letter of Credit for any of
the Companies.
LETTERS OF CREDIT shall mean all letters of credit issued for or on
behalf of any of the Companies with the assistance of the Lenders (acting
through the Agent) by the Issuing Bank.
LETTER OF CREDIT GUARANTY shall mean the guaranty delivered by the Agent,
on behalf of the Lenders, to the Issuing Bank of the reimbursement obligation of
the Companies under such Issuing Bank's reimbursement agreement, application for
Letter of Credit or other like document.
9
LETTER OF CREDIT GUARANTY FEE shall mean the fee that the Agent, for the
benefit of the Lenders, may charge the Companies under Section 8.4 of this
Financing Agreement for issuing a Letter of Credit Guaranty or otherwise
assisting the Companies in obtaining Letters of Credit.
LETTER OF CREDIT SUB-LINE shall mean the commitment of the Lenders to
assist the Companies in obtaining Letters of Credit up to an aggregate face
amount equal to One Million Dollars ($1,000,000).
LIBOR shall mean, for any Interest Period, a rate of interest equal to
the quotient obtained by dividing: (a) (i) LIBOR for such Interest Period as
quoted to the Agent by ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. (or any successor thereof) or its
primary banking subsidiary two (2) Business Days prior to the first day of such
Interest Period, or (ii) in the event that a rate quote pursuant to subpart (i)
hereof is unavailable, the rate of interest determined by the Agent at which
deposits in U.S. Dollars are offered for such Interest Period as provided by Dow
▇▇▇▇▇ Markets Service, Bloomberg's or Reuters (or any other similar company or
service that provides rate quotations comparable to those currently provided by
such companies) as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) two (2) Business Days prior to
the first day of such Interest Period (PROVIDED that if two or more offered
rates are provided for such Interest Period, the arithmetic mean of all such
rates, as determined by the Agent, will be the rate elected); BY (b) a number
equal to 1.00 minus the Eurocurrency Reserve Requirements, if any, in effect on
the day which is two (2) Business Days prior to the beginning of such Interest
Period.
LIBOR LENDING OFFICE shall mean, (a) with respect to the Agent, the
office of ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & Co., or any successor thereof, maintained at ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, and, (b) with respect to each other Lender, the
office set forth for such Lender, if any, in the Assignment and Transfer
Agreement for such Lender.
LIBOR LOAN shall mean any loans made pursuant to this Financing Agreement
that bear interest based upon LIBOR.
LIBOR TRIGGER DATE shall mean the date when (a) the Companies have
delivered to the Agent the financial statements described in Section 7.8(e)
hereof for their fiscal year ended August 31, 2001, and the Agent is reasonably
satisfied with the financial performance of the Credit Parties for such fiscal
year and (b) (i) the Consolidated EBITDA of the Companies for the period
commencing September 1, 2001 and ending December 31, 2001 is greater than or
equal to the consolidated EBITDA of the Companies for such period as projected
by the Companies and provided to the Agent prior to the Closing Date or (ii) the
Consolidated EBITDA of the Companies for any fiscal quarter thereafter
(commencing with the fiscal quarter ending in February 2002), is greater than or
equal to the consolidated EBITDA of the Companies for such period as projected
by the Companies and provided to the Agent prior to the Closing Date or, in the
case of any fiscal quarter for which the Companies have not provided the Agent
with projections prior to the Closing Date, as projected by the Companies in the
projections delivered under Section 7.8(g).
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LINE OF CREDIT FEE shall mean, for any month, the product obtained by
multiplying (a) (i) the Revolving Line of Credit determined as of the close of
business on the first day of such month, MINUS (ii) the average daily principal
balance of Revolving Loans and the average daily face amount of Letters of
Credit outstanding during such month, TIMES (b) three-eighths of one percent
(0.375%) per annum for the number of days in said month.
LOAN DOCUMENTS shall mean this Financing Agreement, each Guaranty, each
of the Security Documents, each blocked account agreement, each Credit Card
Agreement, all documentation relating to each Letter of Credit, the other
closing documents executed by the Companies and any other ancillary loan and
security agreements executed by the Companies from time to time in connection
with this Financing Agreement, as any of the foregoing may from time to time be
amended, restated or otherwise modified or replaced.
MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT shall mean a material adverse effect on either
(a) the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, performance,
properties or prospects of the Credit Parties and their respective Subsidiaries
taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Credit Parties to perform their
respective obligations under this Financing Agreement or any other Loan
Document, or to enforce its rights against account debtors of any of the
Companies, (c) the value of the Collateral taken as a whole or (d) the ability
of Agent or the Lenders to enforce the Obligations or its rights and remedies
under this Financing Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents.
MATERIAL INDEBTEDNESS AGREEMENT shall mean the Indenture and any other
debt instrument, lease (capital, operating or otherwise), guaranty, contract,
commitment, agreement or other arrangement evidencing any Indebtedness of any
Company in excess of the aggregate amount of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000)..
MORTGAGES shall mean all mortgages and deeds of trust, dated as of the
Closing Date, executed and delivered by a Credit Party in favor of the Agent,
for the benefit of the Lenders, covering the Real Estate, or any other mortgage
or deed of trust executed and delivered to Agent, for the benefit of the
Lenders, by a Person in connection with this Financing Agreement, as any of the
foregoing may from time to time be amended, restated or otherwise modified.
NOTES shall mean each of the Notes, as defined in the Indenture, issued
pursuant to the Indenture.
OBLIGATIONS shall mean: (a) all loans and advances made by the Agent and
the Lenders to the Companies or to others for the account of the Companies
(including, without limitation, all Revolving Loans and all payments made by the
Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, with respect to Letters of Credit) in
connection with this Financing Agreement; and (b) any and all other
indebtedness, obligations and liabilities which may be owed by the Companies to
the Agent or any Lender and arising out of, or incurred in connection with, this
Financing Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents (including all
Out-of-Pocket Expenses), whether (i) now in existence or incurred by the
Companies from time to time hereafter, (ii) secured by pledge, lien upon or
security interest in any of the assets or property of each of the Companies or
the assets or property of any
11
other person, firm, entity or corporation, (iii) such indebtedness is absolute
or contingent, joint or several, matured or unmatured, direct or indirect, or
(iv) any Company is liable to the Agent or any Lender for such indebtedness as
principal, surety, endorser, guarantor or otherwise.
OPERATING LEASES shall mean all leases of property (whether real,
personal or mixed) other than Capital Leases.
OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES shall mean all of present and future reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses of Agent and the Lenders incurred in connection with this
Financing Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including, without limitation,
(a) the cost of lien searches (including tax lien and judgment lien searches),
pending litigation searches and similar items, (b) fees and taxes imposed in
connection with the filing of any financing statements or other personal
property security documents; (c) all costs and expenses incurred by the Agent in
opening and maintaining the Deposit Accounts and any related lockboxes,
depositing checks, and receiving and transferring funds (including charges
imposed on the Agent or any Lender for "insufficient funds" and the return of
deposited checks); (d) any amounts paid by, incurred by or charged to the Agent
or any Lender by an Issuing Bank under any Letter of Credit or the reimbursement
agreement relating thereto, application for Letter of Credit or other like
document which pertains either directly or indirectly to Letters of Credit, and
the Agent's standard fees relating to the Letters of Credit and any drafts
thereunder; (e) title insurance premiums, real estate survey costs, note taxes,
intangible taxes and mortgage or recording taxes and fees; (f) all travel, meal
and lodging expenses of personnel of the Agent incurred in connection with the
examination, inspection, verification and valuation of the books and records of
the Companies and the Collateral; (g) all expenses, costs and fees incurred by
the Agent and the Lenders in connection with any action taken under Section 10.3
hereof; and (h) without duplication, all costs and expenses incurred by the
Agent and the Lenders in connection with the collection, liquidation,
enforcement, protection and defense of the Obligations, the Collateral and the
rights of the Agent and the Lenders under this Financing Agreement, and all
disbursements and fees of outside counsel to the Agent, including but not
limited to such fees and disbursements incurred as a result of a workout,
restructuring, reorganization, liquidation, insolvency proceeding and in any
appeals arising therefrom whether incurred before, during or after the
termination of this Financing Agreement or the commencement of any case with
respect to the Company or any Guarantor under the United States Bankruptcy Code
or any similar statute.
OVERADVANCES shall mean the amount by which (a) the principal amount of
all outstanding Revolving Loans and the undrawn face amount of all outstanding
Letters of Credit exceed (b) the Borrowing Base less any Availability Reserve
then in effect, to the extent permitted to be made by the Agent pursuant to
Section 14.10 hereof or as otherwise approved by the Lenders.
PARENT shall mean ▇▇▇▇▇▇ May Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation,
together with its successors and assigns
PERMITTED ENCUMBRANCES shall mean: (a) the liens existing on the date
hereof set forth on SCHEDULE 1.1(a) attached hereto; (b) Purchase Money Liens;
(c) liens of landlords and liens of carriers, warehousemen, processors, bailees,
mechanics, materialmen and other like liens imposed by
12
law, created in the ordinary course of business and for amounts not yet due (or
which are being contested in good faith, by appropriate proceedings or other
appropriate actions which are sufficient to prevent imminent foreclosure of such
liens, and with respect to which adequate reserves or other appropriate
provisions are being maintained by the Companies in accordance with GAAP); (d)
pledges or deposits made (and the liens thereon) in the ordinary course of
business of the Companies (including, without limitation, security deposits for
leases, indemnity bonds, surety bonds and performance, release and appeal bonds)
in connection with workers' compensation, unemployment insurance, old age
pensions and other types of social security benefits or to secure the
performance of tenders, bids, fee and expense arrangements, contracts (other
than for the repayment or guarantee of borrowed money or purchase money
obligations), statutory obligations and other similar obligations arising as a
result of progress payments under government contracts; (e) municipal and zoning
restrictions and ordinances, easements (including, without limitation,
reciprocal easement agreements and utility agreements), encroachments, minor
defects or irregularities in title, rights of way, licenses, covenants,
variation and other restrictions, charges or encumbrances (whether or not
recorded) affecting the Real Estate, if applicable, and which in the aggregate
(i) do not materially interfere with the occupation, use or enjoyment by the
Companies of the respective business or property so encumbered and (ii) in the
reasonable business judgment of the Agent do not materially and adversely affect
the value of such Real Estate; (f) liens granted to the Agent, for the benefit
of the Lenders, by the Credit Parties; (g) liens of judgment creditors provided
such liens do not exceed $500,000 in the aggregate at any time (other than liens
bonded or insured to the reasonable satisfaction of the Agent); (h) liens for
Taxes not yet due and payable (or which are being contested in good faith, by
appropriate proceedings or other appropriate actions which are sufficient to
prevent imminent foreclosure of such liens, and with respect to which adequate
reserves or other appropriate provisions are being maintained by the Companies
in accordance with GAAP), but only if such liens (i) are not (other than with
respect to Real Estate) senior to the liens granted by the Credit Parties to the
Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, or (ii) do not secure taxes owed to the
United States of America or any department thereof, or to any State authority if
applicable State law provides for the priority of tax liens in a manner similar
to the laws of the United States of America, as further set forth in Section 7.6
hereof; (i) liens granted by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ or its Subsidiaries in connection with
the Indenture; (j) Permitted Liens, as defined in the respective Mortgages; (k)
leases or subleases granted to others not interfering in any material respect
with the business of any Credit Party; (l) customary rights of set-off,
revocation, refund or chargeback under deposit agreements or under the uniform
commercial code of banks or other financial institutions where Companies or any
of their Subsidiaries maintain deposits in the ordinary course of business; (m)
liens arising with respect to equipment of a Company or any of their respective
Subsidiaries in connection with Operating Leases relating to such equipment; (n)
liens arising by operation of law on insurance policies and proceeds thereof to
secure premiums thereunder; and (o) liens for taxes not yet due or that are
being actively contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which
adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP.
PERMITTED INDEBTEDNESS shall mean: (a) current Indebtedness maturing in
less than one year and incurred in the ordinary course of business for raw
materials, supplies, equipment, services, Taxes or labor; (b) Indebtedness
secured by Purchase Money Liens; (c) Indebtedness arising under the Letters of
Credit and this Financing Agreement; (d) deferred Taxes and other expenses
incurred
13
in the ordinary course of business; (e) the Indebtedness of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ under the
Notes in an original principal amount not to exceed One Hundred Seventy Million
Dollars ($170,000,000); (f) other Indebtedness existing on the date of execution
of this Financing Agreement and listed on SCHEDULE 1.1(a) attached hereto; (g)
loans and advances permitted pursuant to Section 7.10(i); and (h) unsecured
Indebtedness of the Credit Parties in an aggregate amount, together with the
guaranties permitted under Section 7.10(f)(ix), not to exceed Five Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($500,000) at any time.
PERSON shall mean any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, joint
venture, unincorporated organization, corporation, limited liability company,
institution, trust, estate, government or other agency or political subdivision
thereof or any other entity.
PLEDGE AGREEMENT shall mean a Pledge Agreement, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, executed and delivered to Agent, for the
benefit of the Lenders, by a Company or a Guarantor, as appropriate, as the same
may from time to time be amended, restated or otherwise modified.
PREFERRED STOCK shall mean (i) Parent's Senior Preferred Stock, (ii)
Parent's Junior Class A PIK Preferred Stock and (iii) Parent's Junior Class B
PIK Preferred Stock.
PROCEEDS shall mean (a) any proceeds, as defined in the UCC, and (b)
whatever is received upon the sale, exchange, collection, or other disposition
of Collateral or proceeds, whether cash or non-cash. Cash proceeds includes,
without limitation, moneys, checks, and deposit accounts. Proceeds includes,
without limitation, any Account arising when the right to payment is earned
under a contract right, any insurance payable by reason of loss or damage to the
Collateral. Except as expressly authorized in this Agreement, the Agent's right
to Proceeds specifically set forth herein or indicated in any financing
statement shall never constitute an express or implied authorization on the part
of the Agent or the Lenders to a sale, exchange, collection, or other
disposition by the Companies of any or all of the Collateral.
PURCHASE MONEY LIENS shall mean liens on any item of equipment acquired
by any of the Credit Parties after the date of this Financing Agreement,
PROVIDED that (a) each such lien shall attach only to the equipment acquired and
(b) the Indebtedness incurred by any of the Companies in connection with such
acquisitions shall not in the aggregate exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars
($500,000) in any fiscal year of the Companies.
REAL ESTATE shall mean the real property owned by a Credit Party and
described by address on SCHEDULE 1.1(c) attached hereto, and any other real
property (whether owned or leased) subject to a Mortgage in connection with this
Financing Agreement.
REAL ESTATE SUBLIMIT shall mean an amount equal to (i) from the Closing
Date until December 31, 2001, $6,500,000 and (ii) on December 31, 2001, and
thereafter, $5,000,000; provided that on the last day of each calendar month
(commencing January 31, 2001), the Real Estate Sublimit will decrease by
$188,000 from the amount previously in effect.
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REQUIRED INSURANCE shall have the meaning provided for in Section 7.5(c)
of this Financing Agreement.
REQUIRED LENDERS shall mean (a) at all times while there are two (2) or
fewer Lenders hereunder, all of the Lenders, and (b) at all times while there
are three (3) or more Lenders hereunder, those Lenders holding more than fifty
percent (50%) of the sum of (i) the total commitments under the Revolving Line
of Credit (or fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding principal balance of all
loans and Letters of Credit, in the event that the commitments of the Lenders
hereunder have terminated).
REVOLVING LINE OF CREDIT shall mean the commitments of the Lenders to
make Revolving Loans pursuant to Section 3 of this Financing Agreement and
assist the Companies in opening Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 5 of this
Financing, in an aggregate amount equal to the lesser of (a) Thirty Million
Dollars ($30,000,000) or (b) the Borrowing Base.
REVOLVING LOAN ACCOUNT shall have the meaning provided for in Section 3.6
of this Financing Agreement.
REVOLVING LOANS shall mean the loans and advances made from time to time
to or for the account of the Companies by the Agent on behalf of the Lenders
pursuant to Section 3 of this Financing Agreement.
SAR AGREEMENTS means (a) the Stock Appreciation Rights Agreements listed
in SCHEDULE 1.1(e) hereto, as heretofore amended, and as further amended,
restated, supplemented, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time in
accordance with this Financing Agreement, and (b) any other stock appreciation
rights agreements entered into by Parent in substantially the form of those
agreements listed on SCHEDULE 1.1(e) hereto, but only to the extent that such
agreements do not provide stock appreciation rights, when aggregated with the
stock appreciation rights granted under all then-existing SAR Agreements, in
excess of 52.75 shares representing approximately 4.9% of Parent's common stock
on a fully diluted basis.
SECURITY AGREEMENT shall mean each Security Agreement, dated as of the
Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Agent and the
Required Lenders, executed and delivered by a Guarantor, for the benefit of the
Lenders, or any other Security Agreement executed and delivered to the Agent in
connection with this Financing Agreement, as any of the foregoing may from time
to time be amended, restated or otherwise modified.
SECURITY DOCUMENTS shall mean each Security Agreement, each Mortgage,
each Pledge Agreement, each UCC financing statement (or Canadian PPSA filing)
executed in connection therewith or securing any interest created in any of the
foregoing documents, and any other documents relating to any of the foregoing,
as any of the foregoing may from time to time be amended, restated or otherwise
modified or replaced.
15
SENIOR NOTE DEBT RESERVE shall mean, commencing on January 31 of each
year (commencing January 31, 2002), an amount equal to $1,450,000, which amount
will (i) increase by $1,450,000 on the last day of each calendar month
thereafter until (and including) June 30 of such year and (ii) decrease by the
amount of the interest payment actually made with respect to the Notes on July 1
of such year.
SETTLEMENT DATE shall mean Friday of each week (or if any Friday is not a
Business Day, the immediately preceding Business Day), provided that, after the
occurrence of an Event of Default or during a continuing decline or sudden
increase in the principal amount of Revolving Loans, the Agent, in its
discretion, may require that the Settlement Date occur more frequently (even
daily) so long as any Settlement Date chosen by the Agent is a Business Day.
STOCK OPTION PLAN shall mean a stock bonus or option plan or plans
providing shares or options to purchase shares of capital stock of Parent not
exceeding, in the aggregate, approximately 3.0% of the common stock of Parent.
SUBSIDIARY of a Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries shall mean (a) a
corporation more than fifty percent (50%) of the Voting Power of which is owned,
directly or indirectly, by a Credit Party or by one or more other subsidiaries
of such Credit Party or by such Credit Party and one or more subsidiaries of
such Credit Party, (b) a partnership or limited liability company of which a
Credit Party, one or more other subsidiaries of such Credit Party or such Credit
Party and one or more subsidiaries of such Credit Party, directly or indirectly,
is a general partner or managing member, as the case may be, or otherwise has
the power to direct the policies, management and affairs thereof, or (c) any
other Person (other than a corporation) in which a Credit Party, one or more
other subsidiaries of such Credit Party or such Credit Party and one or more
subsidiaries of such Credit Party, directly or indirectly, has at least a
majority interest in the Voting Power or the power to direct the policies,
management and affairs thereof.
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR shall mean each Subsidiary that shall have executed
and delivered to the Agent a Guaranty and Security Agreement in connection with
this Financing Agreement.
TAX SHARING AGREEMENT shall mean the Tax Sharing and Management
Consulting Agreement dated as of July 2, 1997, between Parent and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, as
amended prior to the Closing Date and as further amended, restated or otherwise
modified from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof.
TAXES shall mean all federal, state, municipal and other governmental
taxes, levies, charges, claims and assessments which are or may be owed by any
Credit Party with respect to its business, operations, Collateral or otherwise.
TERMINATION DATE shall mean the date occurring three (3) years from the
Closing Date and the same date in every year thereafter.
16
TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY shall have the meaning provided for in Section
2.1(e) of this Financing Agreement.
TRADE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE shall mean that portion of the Accounts that
arise from the sale of Inventory or the rendition of services in the ordinary
course of business.
TRUSTEE shall mean The Bank of New York, as trustee for each Holder (as
defined in the Indenture) under the Indenture, together with its successors and
assigns.
UCC shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as the same may be amended and
in effect from time to time in the state of
Illinois.
VOTING POWER shall mean, with respect to any Person, the exclusive
ability to control, through the ownership of shares of capital stock,
partnership interests, membership interests or otherwise, the election of
members of the board of directors or other similar governing body of such
Person, and the holding of a designated percentage of Voting Power of a Person
means the ownership of shares of capital stock, partnership interests,
membership interests or other interests of such Person sufficient to control
exclusively the election of that percentage of the members of the board of
directors or similar governing body of such Person.
WORKING DAY shall mean any Business Day on which dealings in foreign
currencies and exchanges between banks may be transacted.
1.2 The foregoing definitions shall be applicable to the singular and
plurals of the foregoing defined terms. Any accounting term not specifically
defined in this Section 1 shall have the meaning ascribed thereto by GAAP.
Unless otherwise defined in this Section 1, terms that are defined in the UCC,
as in effect from time to time, are used herein as so defined.
SECTION 2. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
2.1 The obligation of the Lenders to make the initial loans hereunder is
subject to the satisfaction, immediately prior to or concurrently with the
making of such loans, of the following conditions precedent:
(a) LIEN SEARCHES - The Agent shall have received tax, judgment and UCC
searches satisfactory to the Agent for all locations presently occupied or used
by any of the Companies.
(b) CASUALTY INSURANCE - The Companies shall have delivered to the Agent
evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Agent that casualty insurance policies
listing the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, as loss payee or mortgagee
with respect to the Collateral, as the case may be, are in full force and
effect, all as set forth in Section 7.5 of this Financing Agreement.
17
(c) MORTGAGES - Each Company, as applicable, shall have executed and
delivered to the Agent (or to an agent of the Agent or an agent of the Title
Insurance Company) each Mortgage to which it is a party.
(d) UCC FILINGS - All UCC financing statements and similar documents
required to be filed in order to create in favor of the Agent, for the benefit
of the Lenders, a first priority and exclusive (subject to Permitted
Encumbrances) perfected security interest in the Collateral (to the extent that
such a security interest may be perfected by a filing under the UCC or
applicable law), shall have been properly filed in each office in each
jurisdiction required. The Agent shall have received (i) acknowledgement copies
of all such filings (or, in lieu thereof, the Agent shall have received other
evidence satisfactory to the Agent that all such filings have been made), and
(ii) evidence that all necessary filing fees, taxes and other expenses related
to such filings have been paid in full.
(e) TITLE INSURANCE POLICIES - The Agent shall have received, in respect
of each Mortgage, a mortgagee's marked-up unconditional commitment for title
insurance from a title insurance company reasonably satisfactory to the Agent
(the "TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY"). Each such commitment shall obligate the Title
Insurance Company to issue to the Agent a title insurance policy (i) in an
amount not less than the appraised value of the Real Estate covered thereby or
such other amount as agreed to by the Agent and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇; (ii) that insures
that the mortgage or deed of trust insured thereby creates a valid first
priority lien on the property covered by such mortgage or deed of trust, free
and clear of all defects and encumbrances except for Permitted Encumbrances and
a so called "survey exception", which survey exception shall be removed from all
such title insurance policies within ten (10) days after the Companies shall
have delivered the surveys required in Section 7.3(d) hereof; (iii) that names
the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, as the insured thereunder; and (iv)
that contains such endorsements and effective coverage as the Agent may
reasonably request, including without limitation a revolving line of credit
endorsement. The Agent also shall have received evidence that all premiums in
respect of the policies to be issued have or will be paid on the Closing Date
and that all charges for mortgage taxes and recording fees, if any, shall have
been paid.
(f) GUARANTIES AND SECURITY AGREEMENTS - Each Guarantor shall have
executed and delivered to the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, its
Guaranty and Security Agreement, which Guaranties and Security Agreements shall
be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and the Lenders.
(g) OPINIONS - Subject to the filing, priority and remedies provisions of
the UCC, the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, insolvency statutes or other
like laws, the equity powers of a court of law and such other matters as may be
agreed upon with the Agent, counsel for the Companies and the Guarantor shall
have delivered to the Agent opinions reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.
(h) PLEDGE AGREEMENT - Parent shall have executed and delivered to the
Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a Pledge Agreement, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and the Lenders, together with the stock
certificates pledged thereunder and any accompanying stock transfer powers.
18
(i) ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS - Each Company shall have executed and delivered
to the Agent all loan documents necessary to consummate the lending arrangement
contemplated among the Companies, the Agent and the Lenders.
(j) RESOLUTIONS - The Agent shall have received a copy of the resolutions
of the Board of Directors of each Company and Guarantor authorizing the
execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to be executed by such
Company or Guarantor, as the case may be, certified by the Secretary or
Assistant Secretary of such Company or Guarantor, as the case may be, as of the
date hereof, together with a certificate of such Secretary or Assistant
Secretary as to the incumbency and signature of the officer(s) executing the
Loan Documents on behalf of such Company or Guarantor, as the case may be.
(k) ORGANIZATIONAL DOCUMENTS AND GOOD STANDING CERTIFICATES - The Agent
shall have received a copy of the Articles of Incorporation of each Company and
Guarantor, certified by the applicable authority in the State of incorporation
of such Company or Guarantor, as the case may be, and copies of the by-laws (as
amended through the date hereof) of such Company and Guarantor, certified by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary thereof. The Companies shall have delivered
to the Agent a good standing certificate for each Company and each Guarantor,
issued on or about the Closing Date by the Secretary of State in the state(s)
where such Company or such Guarantor is incorporated or formed or qualified as a
foreign entity.
(l) OFFICER'S CERTIFICATE - The Agent shall have received an executed
Officer's Certificate for the Companies, reasonably satisfactory in form and
substance to Agent certifying that (i) the representations and warranties
contained herein are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the
date hereof, (ii) the Companies are in compliance with all of the terms and
provisions set forth herein and (iii) no Default or Event of Default has
occurred.
(m) DISBURSEMENT AUTHORIZATION - ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall have delivered to the
Agent all information necessary for the Agent to issue wire transfer
instructions on behalf of the Companies for the initial and subsequent loans
and/or advances to be made under this Financing Agreement, including
disbursement authorizations in form acceptable to the Agent.
(n) EXAMINATION & VERIFICATION; AVAILABILITY - The Agent shall have
completed to the satisfaction of the Agent an examination and verification of
the Accounts, Inventory and the books and records of the Companies, including,
without limitation, a balance sheet, income statement and Availability
projections for the Companies for not less than twelve (12) months following the
Closing Date. Such examination shall indicate that, after giving effect to all
loans, advances and extensions of credit to be made at closing, the Companies
shall have opening Availability of Ten Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars
($10,500,000) in the aggregate provided that all debts, obligations and payables
of the Companies are current as of the Closing Date in accordance with the usual
business practices of the Companies.
19
(o) COLLECTION ACCOUNTS; PAYMENT DIRECTION; CREDIT CARD AGREEMENTS - The
cash management system of the Credit Parties shall be satisfactory to the Agent.
The Credit Parties shall have delivered to the Agent a blocked account agreement
substantially in the form of EXHIBIT B or, with respect to the Canadian
Collection Account, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, duly
executed by the appropriate Credit Parties, for each financial institution at
which a Collection Account is maintained on the Closing Date. The Credit Parties
shall have delivered to the Agent a fully executed original copy of a Credit
Card Agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, with each of
its respective credit card processors.
(p) EXISTING REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT - (i) The existing Amended and
Restated Credit Agreement, among ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, the financial institutions listed
therein as "LENDERS" and Bank One, N.A., as agent for such Lenders, dated as of
July 2, 1997, as amended, shall be terminated, (ii) all loans and obligations of
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ in connection therewith (other than as set forth on SCHEDULE 1.1(b)
hereto with respect to a certain letter of credit thereunder) shall be paid or
satisfied in full utilizing the proceeds of the initial Revolving Loans to be
made under this Financing Agreement and (iii) all liens upon or security
interest granted by any of the Credit Parties in connection therewith shall be
terminated and/or released upon such payment.
(q) INDENTURE - The Companies shall have delivered to Agent a copy of the
Indenture certified by any officer of the Companies as being true correct and
complete as of the Closing Date.
(r) COLLATERAL AUDIT - The Companies shall have delivered to Agent a
collateral audit performed by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ that is acceptable to Agent in its
sole discretion.
(s) FEES - The Companies shall have paid all fees described in Section
8.6 and 8.7 hereof.
(t) PREFERRED STOCK - The terms of the Preferred Stock shall be
reasonably satisfactory to the Agent with respect to the rights, powers and
preferences associated with the Preferred Stock and the Preferred Stock shall be
have been amended to, among other things (i) reschedule the mandatory redemption
of the Senior Preferred Stock over a period of five years, under terms
reasonably acceptable to the Agent and (ii) defer the mandatory redemption of
the other Preferred Stock until at least January 15, 2006, in each case in a
manner reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.
(u) SAR AGREEMENTS AND TAX SHARING AGREEMENT - The Companies shall have
delivered to the Agent a copy of (a) an SAR Agreement, which contains terms that
are substantially similar to all existing SAR Agreements, and (b) the Tax
Sharing Agreement, which shall be certified by an officer of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ as being
true, correct and complete as of the Closing Date.
(v) POST CLOSING LETTER - The Companies shall have executed and delivered
to the Agent a letter that covers such items or other matters in connection with
this Financing Agreement as the Agent deems appropriate in its sole discretion,
which letter shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.
20
2.2 The obligation of the Agent and the Lenders to make any loan to the
Companies or to assist the Companies in the issuance of any Letter of Credit
after the Closing Date is subject to the satisfaction, immediately prior to or
concurrently with the making of such loan or providing such assistance, of the
following conditions precedent:
(a) No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and remain
outstanding;
(b) All representations and warranties made by the Companies in this
Financing Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects; and
(c) Unless the Agent (as permitted herein) or the Lenders agree in
writing to make an Overadvance to the Companies, after giving effect to such
loan or assistance, the aggregate amount of the Obligations and the undrawn face
amount of all Letters of Credit outstanding hereunder will not exceed the
Revolving Line of Credit.
All of the representations and warranties made by the Companies in this
Financing Agreement shall be deemed to be remade by the Companies each time that
any of the Companies requests a Revolving Loan or a Letter of Credit hereunder
as of such date (or, if such representation is made as of a specific date, then
as of such date), and each such request shall also constitute, unless otherwise
disclosed in writing to CIT, a representation and warranty by the Companies
that, after giving effect to the requested advance, no Default or Event of
Default has occurred or will occur, and (with respect to a Revolving Loan) that
such requested Revolving Loan is within the Revolving Line of Credit and
Availability of the Company.
SECTION 3. REVOLVING LOANS
3.1 The Agent and the Lenders severally (and not jointly) agree, subject
to the terms and conditions of this Financing Agreement to make Revolving Loans
to the Companies up to the Revolving Line of Credit (but subject to the right of
Agent and the Lenders to make or permit Overadvances in accordance with the
terms and provisions hereof). In no event shall any Company be entitled to
request a Revolving Loan if the amount of such Revolving Loan would exceed the
Availability on the date of such request. The Companies shall be entitled
hereunder to borrow, repay and re-borrow Revolving Loans.
3.2 Any request for a Revolving Loan must be received by an officer of
the Agent no later than 1:00 p.m., Chicago time, (a) on the Business Day on
which such Revolving Loan is required, if the request is for a Chase Bank Rate
Loan, or (b) three (3) Business Days prior to the Business Day on which such
Revolving Loan is required, if the request is for a LIBOR Loan. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ is
authorized to make a request for a Revolving Loan on behalf of Sweet Factory and
the Agent and the Lenders may rely on the authorization set forth herein in
making Revolving Loans to the Companies. Should the Agent or the Lenders (in
accordance with the terms and provisions hereof) honor requests for
Overadvances, any such Overadvances shall be made in the sole discretion of the
Agent or the Lenders and subject to any additional terms that the Agent or the
Lenders deem necessary.
21
3.3 In furtherance of the continuing assignment and security interest in
each Company's Accounts and Inventory, the Companies will provide to the Agent
all of the schedules, reports and other information described in Sections 7.8(a)
and 7.8(b) of this Financing Agreement. Failure to provide the Agent with any of
the foregoing shall in no way affect, diminish, modify or otherwise limit the
security interests granted to the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders. Each
Company hereby authorizes the Agent to regard such Company's printed name or
rubber stamp signature on assignment schedules or invoices as the equivalent of
a manual signature by one of such Company's authorized officers or agents.
3.4 Each Company hereby represents and warrants to the Agent and the
Lenders that: (a) each Trade Account Receivable of such Company is based on an
actual and bona fide sale and delivery of goods or rendition of services to
customers, made by such Company in the ordinary course of its business; (b) the
Inventory of such Company being sold and the Trade Accounts Receivable created
thereby are the exclusive property of such Company and are not subject to any
lien, consignment arrangement, encumbrance, security interest or financing
statement whatsoever, other than the Permitted Encumbrances; (c) the invoices
evidencing such Trade Accounts Receivable are in the name of such Company; and
(d) the customers of such Company have accepted the goods or services, owe and
are obligated to pay the full amounts stated in the invoices according to their
terms, without dispute, offset, defense, counterclaim or contra, except for
disputes and other matters arising in the ordinary course of business of which
such Company has advised the Agent pursuant to Section 7.8(c) hereof. Each
Company also acknowledges and confirms to the Agent that any and all Taxes or
fees relating to its business, its sales, the Accounts or Inventory relating
thereto, are such Company's sole responsibility and that same will be paid by
such Company when due, subject to Section 7.6 of this Financing Agreement, and
that none of said Taxes or fees represent a lien on or claim against the
Accounts other than Permitted Encumbrances. Each Company covenants that such
Company will not acquire any Inventory on a consignment basis, nor co-mingle its
Inventory with any goods of its customers or any other person (whether pursuant
to any ▇▇▇▇ and hold sale or otherwise), unless such Company has advised the
Agent of such arrangement in writing. Each Company agrees to maintain such books
and records regarding its Accounts and Inventory as the Agent may reasonably
require and agrees that the books and records of such Company will reflect the
interest of the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, in such Accounts and
Inventory.
3.5 Each Credit Party may and shall enforce, collect and receive all
Accounts and other Proceeds from sales of such Credit Party's Inventory at the
expense of such Credit Party. The Credit Parties shall have established
lockboxes and corresponding Collection Accounts for the collection of the
Accounts of the Credit Parties and the deposit of the Proceeds of the
Collateral. Each Credit Party shall direct its account debtors to send payments
on all of its Accounts directly to the lockbox permitted hereunder for such
Credit Party, and all invoices for sales of inventory shall contain the address
of the lockbox as the address for remittance of payment. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, should a Credit Party ever receive any checks, cash, notes or other
instruments or property with respect to sales of its Inventory, such Proceeds
shall be held by such Credit Party in trust for the Agent, for the benefit of
the Lenders, and deposited directly into a Depository Account on the Business
Day received. The Credit Parties will cause all funds in the Depository Accounts
to be transferred into a Collection Account on a daily basis. Funds remaining on
deposit in the Collection
22
Accounts (other than the Canadian Collection Account) at the end of each
Business Day shall be wire transferred to the Agent's bank account at ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Chase & Co. in New York City or its primary banking subsidiary (the "AGENT'S
BANK ACCOUNT") for application against the Obligations owed by the Companies to
the Agent and the Lenders in accordance with the terms hereof. Each Credit Party
agrees to take all actions reasonably required by the Agent or any financial
institution at which a Depository Account or Collection Account is maintained in
order to effectuate the transfer of funds contemplated above. Funds remaining in
the Canadian Collection Account will (i) be used to fund disbursements from the
Canadian Collection Account made in the ordinary course of business in
accordance with past practices, and (ii) be wire transferred to the Agent's Bank
Account from time to time in accordance with past practices. All amounts
received from the Collection Accounts and any other Proceeds of the Collateral
deposited into the Agent's Bank Account will, for purposes of calculating
Availability, be credited to the Revolving Loan Account on the date on which the
Agent is notified of the receipt of "collected funds" in the Agent's Bank
Account. No checks, drafts or other instrument received by the Agent shall
constitute final payment to the Agent unless and until such instruments have
actually been collected.
3.6 Each Company agrees to issue credit memoranda promptly (with
duplicates to be promptly forwarded to the Agent if an Event of Default has
occurred and remains outstanding) upon accepting returns or granting allowances.
3.7 The Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, shall maintain a separate
account on its books in the name of the Companies (the "REVOLVING LOAN
ACCOUNT")in which the Companies will be charged with all loans and advances made
by the Agent and the Lenders to the Companies or for the account of the
Companies , and with any other Obligations, including any and all Out-of-Pocket
Expenses. The Revolving Loan Account will be credited with all amounts received
by the Agent from the Collection Accounts or from others for the account of the
Companies, including, as set forth above, all amounts received by the Agent in
payment of Accounts, and such amounts will be applied to payment of the
Obligations as set forth herein. In no event shall prior recourse to any
Accounts or other security granted to or by the Companies be a prerequisite to
the right of the Agent or any Lender to demand payment of any of the
Obligations. In addition, the Companies agree that neither the Agent nor any
Lender shall have any obligation whatsoever to perform in any respect any of the
contracts or obligations relating to the Accounts.
3.8 After the end of each month, the Agent shall promptly send the
Companies a statement showing the accounting for the charges, loans, advances
and other transactions occurring among the Agent, the Lenders and the Companies
during that month. The monthly statements shall be deemed correct and binding
(absent manifest error) upon the Companies and the Lenders and shall constitute
an account stated between the Companies and each Lender unless the Agent
receives a written statement of the exceptions from the Companies or any Lender
within sixty (60) days of the date of such monthly statement.
3.9 If at any time (a) the sum of all outstanding Revolving Loans and the
undrawn face amount of all issued and outstanding Letters of Credit exceed the
Revolving Line of Credit, or (b) Availability of the Companies is less than
zero, the amount of such excess (in the case of clause (a))
23
or the amount of the Obligations required to be repaid to make Availability
greater than zero (in the case of clause (b)), shall be immediately due and
payable to the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders. In the case of any such
mandatory payment of LIBOR Loans, such payment shall be subject to the fees set
forth in Section 3.8 hereof.
3.10 The Companies shall have the right at any time or from time to time
to prepay, on a pro rata basis for all of the Lenders, all or any part of the
principal amount of the Revolving Loans then outstanding, as designated by the
Companies, plus interest accrued on the amount so prepaid to the date of such
prepayment. The Companies shall give the Agent notice of prepayment of any Chase
Bank Rate Loan by not later than 11:00 A.M. (Chicago,
Illinois time) on the
Working Day such prepayment is to be made and written notice of the prepayment
of any LIBOR Loan not later than 1:00 P.M. (Chicago,
Illinois time) three (3)
Working Days before the Working Day on which such prepayment is to be made.
Prepayments of Chase Bank Rate Loans shall be without any premium or penalty.
During the period commencing on December 31 of each year and ending on the date
that ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ makes the scheduled interest payment on the Notes due on January
1 of the following year, the Companies shall repay the Revolving Loans in full
such that there are no Revolving Loans outstanding during such period.
In any case of prepayment of a LIBOR Loan, the Companies agree that if
the reinvestment rate, as quoted by the money desk of the LIBOR Lending Office
("REINVESTMENT RATE"), shall be lower than the LIBOR applicable to the LIBOR
Loan that is intended to be prepaid (hereinafter, "LAST LIBOR"), then the
Companies shall, upon written notice by the Agent, promptly pay to the Agent,
for the benefit of the Lenders, in immediately available funds, a prepayment fee
equal to the product of (a) a rate (the "PREPAYMENT RATE") that shall be equal
to the difference between the Last LIBOR and the Reinvestment Rate, times (b)
the principal amount of the LIBOR Loan that is to be prepaid, times (c) (i) the
number of days remaining in the Interest Period of the LIBOR Loan that is to be
prepaid divided by (ii) three hundred sixty (360). In addition, the Companies
shall promptly pay directly to the Agent, for the account of the Lenders, the
amount of any additional reasonable costs or expenses (including, without
limitation, cost of telex, wires, or cables) incurred by the Agent or the
Lenders or the LIBOR Lending Office in connection with the prepayment, upon the
Companies' receipt of a written statement from the Agent. Each prepayment of a
LIBOR Loan shall be in the aggregate principal sum of not less than Five Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($500,000), except in the case of a mandatory prepayment
pursuant to Section 3.7 hereof.
3.11 Each request by any of the Companies for the making, conversion or
continuation of any Revolving Loan shall be deemed to be a joint and several
request by all Companies. Each Company hereby authorizes any other Company to
request a Revolving Loan or Letter of Credit hereunder and agrees that is
receiving or will receive a direct pecuniary benefit therefor. Each Company
acknowledges and agrees that the Lenders are entering into this Financing
Agreement at the request of each Company and with the understanding that each
Borrower is and shall remain fully liable, jointly and severally, for the
payment in full of the Obligations.
3.12. Anything in this Financing Agreement or any other Loan Document to
the contrary notwithstanding, in no event shall the maximum liability of Sweet
Factory exceed the maximum
24
amount that (after giving effect to the incurring of the obligations hereunder
and to any rights to contribution of Sweet Factory from other affiliates of
Sweet Factory) would not render the rights to payment of the Agent and the
Lenders hereunder void, voidable or avoidable under any applicable fraudulent
transfer law.
SECTION 4. ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO LIBOR LOANS; INCREASED CAPITAL;
TAXES
4.1 If, at any time, any law, treaty or regulation (including, without
limitation, Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System) or the interpretation thereof by any governmental authority charged with
the administration thereof or any central bank or other fiscal, monetary or
other authority shall impose (whether or not having the force of law), modify or
deem applicable any reserve or special deposit requirement (other than reserves
included in the reserve percentage, the effect of which is reflected in the
interest rate(s) of the LIBOR Loan(s) in question) against assets held by, or
deposits in or for the amount of any LIBOR Loan by, any Lender, and the result
of the foregoing is to increase the cost (whether by incurring a cost or adding
to a cost) to such Lender of making or maintaining hereunder such LIBOR Loan or
to reduce the amount of principal or interest received by such Lender with
respect to such LIBOR Loan, then, upon demand by such Lender, the Companies
shall pay to such Lender from time to time on Interest Adjustment Dates with
respect to such LIBOR Loan, as additional consideration hereunder, additional
amounts sufficient to fully compensate and indemnify such Lender for such
increased cost or reduced amount, assuming (which assumption such Lender need
not corroborate) such additional cost or reduced amount was allocable to such
LIBOR Loan. A certificate as to the increased cost or reduced amount as a result
of any event mentioned in this Section 4.1, setting forth the calculations
therefor in reasonable detail, shall be promptly submitted by such Lender to the
Companies and shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding
as to the amount thereof, provided that in no event shall the Companies be
responsible for any such amounts relating to more than one hundred eighty (180)
days prior to the demand therefor, provided further that, if the events giving
rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 180-day
period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive
effect thereof.. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, after
any such demand for compensation by any Lender, the Companies, upon at least
three (3) Working Days' prior written notice to such Lender through the Agent,
may prepay any affected LIBOR Loan in full or convert such LIBOR Loan to a Chase
Bank Rate Loan regardless of the Interest Period thereof. Any such prepayment or
conversion shall be subject to the prepayment fees set forth in Section 3.8
hereof. Each Lender shall notify the Companies as promptly as practicable (with
a copy thereof delivered to the Agent) of the existence of any event that will
likely require the payment by the Companies of any such additional amount under
this Section.
4.2 In the event that by reason of any law, regulation or requirement
imposed or in the interpretation thereof by an official authority, or the
imposition of any requirement of any central bank whether or not having the
force of law, any Lender shall, with respect to this Financing Agreement or any
transaction under this Financing Agreement, be subjected to any tax, levy,
impost, charge, fee, duty, deduction or withholding of any kind whatsoever
(other than any tax, levy, impost, charge, fee, duty, deduction or withholding
which is not a Non-Excluded Tax, as defined in Section 4.8 hereof) and if any
such measures or any other similar measure shall result in an increase in the
25
cost to such Lender of making or maintaining any LIBOR Loan or in a reduction in
the amount of principal, interest or commitment fee receivable by such Lender in
respect thereof, then such Lender shall promptly notify the Companies in writing
stating the reasons therefor. The Companies shall thereafter pay to such Lender,
upon demand from time to time on Interest Adjustment Dates with respect to such
LIBOR Loan, as additional consideration hereunder, such additional amounts as
shall fully compensate such Lender for such increased cost or reduced amount. A
certificate as to any such increased cost or reduced amount, setting forth the
calculations therefor in reasonable detail, shall be submitted by such Lender to
the Companies and shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive and
binding as to the amount thereof.
If any Lender receives such additional consideration from the Companies
pursuant to this Section 4.2, such Bank shall use reasonable efforts to obtain
the benefits of any refund, deduction or credit for any taxes or other amounts
on account of which such additional consideration has been paid and shall
reimburse the Companies to the extent, but only to the extent, that the such
Lender shall receive a refund of such taxes or other amounts together with any
interest thereon or an effective net reduction in taxes or other governmental
charges (including any taxes imposed on or measured by the total net income of
such Lender) of the United States or any state or subdivision thereof by virtue
of any such deduction or credit, after first giving effect to all other
deductions and credits otherwise available to such Lender. If, at the time any
audit of such Lender's income tax return is completed, such Lender determines,
based on such audit, that it was not entitled to the full amount of any refund
reimbursed to Borrower as aforesaid or that its net income taxes are not reduced
by a credit or deduction for the full amount of taxes reimbursed to the
Companies as aforesaid, the Companies, upon demand of such Lender, shall
promptly pay to such Lender the amount so refunded to which such Lender was not
so entitled, or the amount by which the net income taxes of such Lender were not
so reduced, as the case may be.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Financing Agreement, after
any such demand for compensation by any Lender, the Companies, upon at least
three (3) Working Days' prior written notice to such Lender through the Agent,
may prepay any affected LIBOR Loan in full or convert such LIBOR Loan to a Chase
Bank Rate Loan regardless of the Interest Period of any thereof. Any such
prepayment or conversion shall be subject to the prepayment fees set forth in
Section 3.8 hereof.
4.3 In respect of any LIBOR Loan, in the event that the Agent or the
LIBOR Lending Office shall have determined that dollar deposits of the relevant
amount for the relevant Interest Period for such LIBOR Loan are not available to
any Lender in the applicable eurodollar market or that, by reason of
circumstances affecting such market, adequate and reasonable means do not exist
for ascertaining the LIBOR applicable to such Interest Period, as the case may
be, the Agent shall promptly give notice of such determination to the Companies
and (a) any notice of a new LIBOR Loan (or conversion of an existing Revolving
Loan to a LIBOR Loan) previously given by the Companies and not yet borrowed (or
converted, as the case may be) shall be deemed a notice to make a Chase Bank
Rate Loan, and (b) the Companies shall be obligated (without breakage costs)
either to prepay, or to convert to a Chase Bank Rate Loan, any outstanding LIBOR
Loan on the last day of the then current Interest Period with respect thereto.
26
4.4 Without prejudice to any other provisions of this Section 4, the
Companies hereby agree, jointly and severally, to indemnify each Lender against
any loss or expense that such Lender may sustain or incur as a consequence of
any default by the Companies in payment when due of any amount hereunder in
respect of any LIBOR Loan, including, but not limited to, any loss of profit,
premium or penalty incurred by such Lender in respect of funds borrowed by it
for the purpose of making or maintaining such LIBOR Loan, as determined by such
Lender in the exercise of its sole but reasonable discretion. A certificate as
to any such loss or expense shall be promptly submitted by such Lender to the
Companies showing the calculation thereof in reasonable detail and shall, in the
absence of manifest error, be conclusive and binding as to the amount thereof.
4.5 If, at any time, any new law, treaty or regulation, or any change in
any existing law, treaty or regulation, or any interpretation thereof by any
governmental or other regulatory authority charged with the administration
thereof, shall make it unlawful for any Lender to fund any LIBOR Loan that it is
committed to make hereunder with moneys obtained in the eurodollar market, the
commitment of such Lender to fund such LIBOR Loan shall, upon the happening of
such event forthwith be suspended for the duration of such illegality, and such
Lender shall by written notice to the Companies and the Agent declare that its
commitment with respect to such LIBOR Loan has been so suspended and, if and
when such illegality ceases to exist, such suspension shall cease and such
Lender shall similarly notify the Companies and the Agent. If any such change
shall make it unlawful for any Lender to continue in effect the funding in the
applicable eurodollar market of any LIBOR Loan previously made by it hereunder,
such Lender shall, upon the happening of such event, notify the Companies, the
Agent and the other Lenders thereof in writing, stating the reasons therefor,
and the Companies shall, on the earlier of (a) the last day of the then current
Interest Period or (b) if required by such law, regulation or interpretation, on
such date as shall be specified in such notice, either convert such LIBOR Loan
to a Chase Bank Rate Loan or prepay such LIBOR Loan to the Lenders in full (in
each case, without breakage costs). Any such prepayment or conversion shall be
subject to the prepayment fees described in Section 3.10 hereof.
4.6 Each Lender may, but shall not be required to, make LIBOR Loans
hereunder with funds obtained outside the United States.
4.7 If any Lender shall have determined, after the Closing Date, that the
adoption of any applicable law, rule, regulation or guideline regarding capital
adequacy, or any change therein, or any change in the interpretation or
administration thereof by any governmental authority, central bank or comparable
agency charged with the interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance
by any Lender (or its lending office) with any request or directive regarding
capital adequacy (whether or not having the force of law) of any such authority,
central bank or comparable agency, has or would have the effect of reducing the
rate of return on such Lender's capital (or the capital of its holding company)
as a consequence of its obligations hereunder to a level below that which such
Lender (or its holding company) could have achieved but for such adoption,
change or compliance (taking into consideration such Lender's policies or the
policies of its holding company with respect to capital adequacy) by an amount
deemed by such Lender to be material, then from time to time, within fifteen
(15) days after demand by such Lender (with a copy to the Agent), the Companies
shall pay to
27
such Lender such additional amount or amounts as shall compensate such Lender
(or its holding company) for such reduction. Each Lender shall designate a
different lending office if such designation will avoid the need for, or reduce
the amount of, such compensation and will not, in the judgment of such Lender,
be otherwise disadvantageous to such Lender. A certificate of any Lender
claiming compensation under this Section and setting forth the additional amount
or amounts to be paid to it hereunder in reasonable detail shall be conclusive
in the absence of manifest error. In determining such amount, such Lender may
use any reasonable averaging and attribution methods. Failure on the part of any
Lender to demand compensation for any reduction in return on capital with
respect to any period within one hundred eighty (180) days of such demand shall
not constitute a waiver of such Lender's rights to demand compensation for any
reduction in return on capital in such period or in any other period. The
protection of this Section shall be available to each Lender regardless of any
possible contention of the invalidity or inapplicability of the law, regulation
or other condition that shall have been imposed.
4.8 All payments by the Companies of principal of, and interest on, the
Obligations and all other amounts payable under this Financing Agreement will be
made free and clear of and without deduction for any present or future income,
excise, stamp or franchise taxes and other taxes, fees, duties, withholdings or
other charges of any nature whatsoever imposed by any taxing authority, but
excluding taxes imposed on or measured by any net or gross income or receipts of
the Agent or any of the Lenders and any franchise, doing business or similar
taxes imposed on the Agent or any of the Lenders by the United States or by a
taxing authority under the laws of which the Agent or a Lender is organized or
in which the Agent or a Lender has its principal office or lending office, and
any taxes imposed by reason of the Agent or any of the Lenders not being a U.S.
person as defined in Internal Revenue Code ss. 7701(a)(30) (such non-excluded
items being called "NON-EXCLUDED TAXES"). In the event that any withholding or
deduction from any payment to be made by the Companies under this Financing
Agreement is required in respect of any Non-Excluded Taxes under applicable law,
rule or regulation, then the Companies will:
(a) pay directly to the relevant authority the full amount required to be
so withheld or deducted;
(b) promptly forward to the Agent an official receipt or other
documentation satisfactory to the Agent evidencing such payment to such
authority; and
(c) pay to the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, any additional
amount necessary to ensure that the net amount actually received by the Lenders
will equal the full amount the Lenders would have received had not such
withholding or deduction been required.
Moreover, if any Non-Excluded Taxes are directly asserted against the Agent or
any of the Lenders with respect to any payment received by the Agent or any of
the Lenders under this Financing Agreement, the Agent or any of the Lenders may
pay such Non-Excluded Taxes and the Companies will promptly pay any additional
amount (including any penalties, interest or expenses) necessary in order that
the net amount received by the Lenders after the payment of such Non-Excluded
Taxes (including any Non-Excluded Taxes on such additional amount) equals that
amount the Lenders
28
would have received had such Non-Excluded Taxes not been asserted. If the
Companies fail to pay any Non-Excluded Taxes (other than any such taxes which
(i) are being contested by the Companies in good faith and by appropriate
proceedings and (ii) if not paid, will not result in the imposition of any
penalty on the Agent or any of the Lenders) when due to the appropriate taxing
authority or fails to remit to Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, the
required receipts or other required documentary evidence, the Companies will
compensate the Agent and the Lenders for and hold the Agent and the Lenders
harmless against, any incremental Non-Excluded Taxes, interest or penalties that
may become payable as a result of such failure. Notwithstanding anything in the
this Financing Agreement to the contrary, no assignee of a Lender shall be
entitled to receive a greater payment for Taxes than such Lender would have been
entitled to receive with respect to the rights assigned hereunder, unless such
assignment shall have been made at a time when the circumstances (including a
change in law) giving rise to such greater payment did not exist or had not yet
occurred.
SECTION 5. LETTERS OF CREDIT
In order to assist the Companies in establishing or opening Letters of
Credit with an Issuing Bank, the Companies have requested that the Agent, on
behalf of the Lenders, join in the applications for such Letters of Credit,
and/or guarantee payment or performance of such Letters of Credit and any drafts
or acceptances thereunder through the issuance of a Letter of Credit Guaranty,
thereby lending the credit of the Lenders to the Companies, and the Agent and
the Lenders have agreed to do so. These arrangements shall be handled by the
Agent subject to the terms and conditions set forth below.
5.1 Within the Revolving Line of Credit and subject to Availability, the
Lenders (acting through the Agent) shall assist the Companies in obtaining
Letters of Credit in an aggregate face amount outstanding at any time not to
exceed the Letter of Credit Sub-Line. The Lenders' assistance for amounts in
excess of the limitation set forth herein shall at all times and in all respects
be in the Agent's sole discretion. It is understood that the terms, conditions
and purpose of each Letter of Credit (and any modifications thereof) shall be
subject to the prior approval of the Agent in the exercise of its reasonable
discretion. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, upon the occurrence
of a Default or an Event of Default, the assistance of the Agent and the Lenders
in connection with any Letter of Credit Guaranty shall be in the Agent's sole
discretion until such Default or Event of Default is waived. The undrawn face
amount of any Letter of Credit shall be reserved dollar-for-dollar from
Availability as an Availability Reserve.
5.2 The Agent shall have the right, without notice to the Companies, to
charge the Revolving Loan Account with the amount of any and all indebtedness,
liability or obligation of any kind incurred by the Agent under any Letter of
Credit Guaranty at the earlier of (a) payment by the Agent, on behalf of the
Lenders, under such Letter of Credit Guaranty, (b) the occurrence of an Event of
Default or (c) the termination of the Revolving Line of Credit or this Financing
Agreement. Any amount charged to the Revolving Loan Account shall be deemed a
Chase Bank Loan hereunder and shall incur interest at the rate provided in
Section 8.1 (or Section 8.3, if applicable) of this Financing Agreement.
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5.3 The Companies unconditionally agree to, jointly and severally,
indemnify the Agent and the Lenders against, and hold the Agent and the Lenders
harmless from, any and all loss, claim or liability incurred by the Agent or the
Lenders arising from any transactions or occurrences relating to Letters of
Credit established or opened for the account of any of the Companies, the
collateral relating thereto and any drafts or acceptances thereunder, and all
Obligations thereunder, including any such loss or claim due to any action taken
by an Issuing Bank, other than for any such loss, claim or liability arising out
of the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct by the Agent with
respect to a Letter of Credit Guaranty. This indemnity shall survive the
termination of this Financing Agreement and the repayment of the Obligations.
Each Company further agrees to hold the Agent and the Lenders harmless from any
errors or omission, negligence or misconduct by an Issuing Bank. Each Company
agrees that any charges incurred by the Agent for such Company's account by an
Issuing Bank shall be conclusive and binding upon such Company.
5.4 Neither the Agent nor any Lender shall be responsible for: (a) the
existence, character, quality, quantity, condition, packing, value or delivery
of the goods purporting to be represented by any documents; (b) any difference
or variation in the character, quality, quantity, condition, packing, value or
delivery of the goods from that expressed in the documents; (c) the validity,
sufficiency or genuineness of any documents or of any endorsements thereon, even
if such documents should in fact prove to be in any or all respects invalid,
insufficient, fraudulent or forged; (d) the time, place, manner or order in
which shipment is made; (e) partial or incomplete shipment, or failure or
omission to ship any or all of the goods referred to in the Letters of Credit or
documents; (f) any deviation from instructions; (g) delay, default, or fraud by
the shipper and/or anyone else in connection with the Collateral or the shipping
thereof; or (h) any breach of contract between the shipper or vendors and any of
the Companies. Furthermore, without being limited by the foregoing, neither the
Agent nor any Lender shall be responsible for any act or omission with respect
to or in connection with any Collateral.
5.5 Each Company agrees that any action taken by the Agent or any Lender,
if taken in good faith, or any action taken by an Issuing Bank of whatever
nature, under or in connection with the Letters of Credit, the guarantees, the
drafts or acceptances, or the Collateral, shall be binding on the Companies and
shall not put the Agent or any Lender in any resulting liability to any of the
Companies. In furtherance thereof but subject to Section 5.6 below, the Agent
shall have the full right and authority to: (a) clear and resolve any questions
of non-compliance of documents; (b) give any instructions as to acceptance or
rejection of any documents or goods; (c) execute any and all steamship or
airways guaranties (and applications therefor), indemnities or delivery orders;
(d) grant any extensions of the maturity of, time of payment for, or time of
presentation of, any drafts, acceptances, or documents; and (e) agree to any
amendments, renewals, extensions, modifications, changes or cancellations of any
of the terms or conditions of any of the applications, Letters of Credit, drafts
or acceptances; all in the sole name of the Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, and
an Issuing Bank shall be entitled to comply with and honor any and all such
documents or instruments executed by or received solely from the Agent, all
without any notice to or any consent from the Companies.
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5.6 Without the Agent's express written consent, each Company agrees: (a)
not to (i) execute any and all applications for steamship or airway guaranties,
indemnities or delivery orders, (ii) grant any extensions of the maturity of,
time of payment for, or time of presentation of, any drafts, acceptances or
documents, or (iii) agree to any amendments, renewals, extensions,
modifications, changes or cancellations of any of the terms or conditions of any
of the applications, Letters of Credit, drafts or acceptances; and (b) after the
occurrence of an Event of Default which is not waived, not to (i) clear and
resolve any questions of non-compliance of documents or (ii) give any
instructions as to acceptances or rejection of any documents or goods.
5.7 Each Company agrees that any necessary import, export or other
licenses or certificates for the import or handling of the Collateral will be
promptly procured, that all foreign and domestic governmental laws and
regulations in regard to the shipment and importation of the Collateral or the
financing thereof will be promptly and fully complied with in all material
respects, and that any certificates in that regard that the Agent may at any
time request in writing will be promptly furnished. The Companies assume all
risk, liability and responsibility for, and agree to pay and discharge, all
present and future local, state, federal or foreign taxes, duties, or levies
pertaining to the importation and delivery of the Collateral. Any embargo,
restriction, laws, customs or regulations of any country, state, city, or other
political subdivision, where the Collateral is or may be located, or wherein
payments are to be made, or wherein drafts may be drawn, negotiated, accepted,
or paid, shall be solely the risk, liability and responsibility of the
Companies.
5.8 Upon any payments made to an Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit
Guaranty, the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, shall acquire by
subrogation, any rights, remedies, duties or obligations granted or undertaken
by any Company to an Issuing Bank in any application for Letters of Credit, any
standing agreement relating to Letters of Credit or otherwise, all of which
shall be deemed to have been granted to the Agent and apply in all respects to
the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, and shall be in addition to any
rights, remedies, duties or obligations contained herein.
SECTION 6. COLLATERAL
6.1 As security for the prompt payment in full of all Obligations, each
Company hereby pledges and grants to the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders,
a continuing general lien upon, and security interest in, all of such Company's
present and hereafter acquired Collateral.
6.2 The security interests granted hereunder shall extend and attach to:
(a) All Collateral which is presently in existence and which is owned by
any Company or in which such Company has any interest, whether held by such
Company or by others for such Company's account; and
(b) All Inventory of each Company and any portion thereof which may be
returned, rejected, reclaimed or repossessed by either the Agent or such Company
from such Company's customers.
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6.3 Each Company agrees to safeguard, protect and hold all Inventory for
the account of the Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, and make no disposition
thereof except for shipments and sales of Inventory to customers of such Company
in the ordinary course of such Company's business, on commercially reasonable
terms consistent with such Company's past practices, PROVIDED that all proceeds
of all sales (including cash, accounts receivable, checks, notes, instruments
for the payment of money and similar proceeds) are forthwith transferred,
endorsed, and turned over and delivered to the Agent by deposit in a Depository
Account or a Collection Account. The Agent shall have the right to withdraw this
permission at any time upon the Agent's prior written notice thereof after the
occurrence of an Event of Default and acceleration of the Obligations under
Section 10.2 hereof, and until such time as such Event of Default is waived, no
further disposition shall be made of the Inventory by such Company. Consignment
sales or sales of Inventory of a Company in which a lien upon, or security
interest in, such Inventory is retained by such Company shall be made by such
Company only with the approval of the Agent, and the Proceeds of such sales or
sales of such Inventory for cash shall be held by such Company in trust for the
Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, as the Lenders' exclusive property, and shall
be delivered immediately by such Company to the Agent in the identical form
received by such Company by deposit to a Depository Account or a Collection
Account. Upon the sale, exchange, or other disposition of Inventory, as herein
provided, the security interest in the Inventory provided for herein shall,
without break in continuity and without further formality or act, continue in,
and attach to, all Proceeds, including any instruments for the payment of money,
accounts receivable, contract rights, documents of title, shipping documents,
chattel paper and all other cash and non-cash proceeds of such sale, exchange or
disposition.
6.4 The rights and security interests granted hereunder to the Agent, for
the benefit of the Lenders, shall continue in full force and effect,
notwithstanding the termination of this Financing Agreement or the fact that
either or both of the Revolving Loan Accounts may from time to time be
temporarily in a credit position, until the final payment in full to the Agent
and the Lenders of all Obligations and the termination of this Financing
Agreement.
6.5 To the extent that the Obligations are now or hereafter secured by
any assets or property other than the Collateral or by the guarantee,
endorsement, assets or property of any other person, the Agent and the Lenders
shall have the right in its sole discretion to determine which rights, security,
liens, security interests or remedies the Agent and the Lenders shall at any
time pursue, foreclose upon, relinquish, subordinate, modify or take any other
action with respect to, without in any way modifying or affecting any of them,
or any of rights of Agent or the Lenders hereunder.
6.6 Any reserves or balances to the credit of the Companies and any other
property or assets of any of the Companies in the possession of the Agent may be
held by the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, as security for any
Obligations and applied in whole or partial satisfaction of such Obligations
when due, subject to the terms of this Financing Agreement. The liens and
security interests granted herein and any other lien or security interest which
the Agent may have in any other assets of the Companies shall secure payment and
performance of all now existing and future Obligations. The Agent may in its
discretion charge any or all of the Obligations to the Revolving Loan Account
when due.
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6.7 This Financing Agreement and the obligation of the Companies to
perform all of its covenants and obligations hereunder are further secured by
the Mortgages.
6.8 Each Company agrees to maintain its rights in, and the value of, all
General Intangibles necessary for each of the Companies to operate its business,
and shall make when due all payments required with respect to any licensed
rights.
6.9 Upon the request of the Agent, the Companies shall promptly take such
action and promptly make, execute, and deliver all such additional and further
items, deeds, assurances and instruments as the Agent may require, including,
without limitation, financing statements, so as to completely vest in and ensure
to the Agent and the Lenders their respective rights hereunder and in or to the
Collateral.
6.10 Solely for the purpose of enabling the Agent to exercise its rights
and remedies under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with respect to
the Collateral at such time as the Lender is lawfully entitled to exercise such
rights and remedies, each Credit Party grants to the Agent an irrevocable,
nonexclusive license (exercisable without payment of royalty or other
compensation to the Borrowers) to use, assign, license or sublicense any of such
Credit Party's general intangibles (including, without limitation, such Credit
Party's trademarks, service marks, trade names and trade dress or licenses with
respect thereto), now owned or hereafter acquired by the Credit Parties, and
wherever the same may be located, including in such license access to all media
in which any of the licensed items may be recorded or stored and to all computer
programs used for the compilation or printout of such licensed items.
SECTION 7. REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS
7.1 Each Company hereby warrants and represents and/or covenants that:
(a) as of the date hereof, the fair value of each Credit Party's assets exceeds
the book value of such Credit Party's liabilities; (b) as of the date hereof,
each Credit Party is generally able to pay its debts as they become due and
payable; (c) as of the date hereof, each Credit Party does not have unreasonably
small capital to carry on its business as currently conducted absent
extraordinary and unforeseen circumstances; (d) all financial statements of any
Credit Party heretofore furnished to the Agent present fairly, in all material
respects, the financial condition of such Credit Party as of the date of such
financial statements; (e) each Credit Party is a corporation, duly organized and
validly existing under the laws of the State of its incorporation, and is
qualified to do business in each State where the failure to so qualify would
have a Material Adverse Effect; (f) as of the Closing Date hereof, SCHEDULE 7.1
hereto correctly and completely sets forth the chief executive office of each of
the Credit Parties, all of the Collateral locations and all trade names used by
the Credit Parties; (g) the execution and delivery of this Financing Agreement
by each Company and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, do
not violate any term, provision or covenant contained in the organizational
documents of any Credit Party (such as the articles of incorporation, by-laws or
operating agreement) or any term, provision, covenant or representation
contained in any loan agreement, lease, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust,
note, security agreement or pledge agreement to which a Credit Party is a
signatory or by which such Credit Party or any of such Credit Party's assets are
bound; (h) except for the
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Permitted Encumbrances, the security interests granted to the Agent, for the
benefit of the Lenders, herein constitute and shall at all times constitute
first priority and exclusive liens on the Collateral; (i) except for the
Permitted Encumbrances, the Credit Parties are or will be at the time additional
Collateral is acquired by any of the Credit Parties, the absolute owner of the
Collateral with full right to pledge, sell, transfer and create a security
interest therein, free and clear of any and all claims or liens in favor of
others; (j) each Credit Party will at its expense forever warrant and, at the
Agent's request, defend the Collateral from any and all claims and demands of
any other person other than the Permitted Encumbrances; (k) no Credit Party will
grant, create or permit to exist, any lien upon or security interest in the
Collateral, or any Proceeds thereof, in favor of any other person other than the
holders of the Permitted Encumbrances; and (l) such Credit Party possesses all
real and personal property and rights necessary to conduct its business as
presently conducted.
7.2 Each Credit Party shall maintain books and records pertaining to the
Collateral in such detail, form and scope as the Agent shall reasonably require.
Each Credit Party shall permit the Agent and/or its designated agents,
accompanied by a single representative or agent of any Lender (at such Lender's
expense), to enter upon such Credit Party's premises upon reasonable prior
notice at any time during normal business hours, and from time to time (but
unless an Event of Default shall have occurred, no more frequently than four (4)
times per fiscal year), in order to (a) examine and inspect the books and
records of such Credit Party, and make copies thereof and make extracts
therefrom, and (b) verify, inspect, appraise and perform physical counts and
other valuations of the Collateral and any and all records pertaining thereto.
7.3 (a) From time to time upon the request of the Agent, but not more
than once in any six-month period prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default
(and as often as reasonably requested if an Event of Default has occurred and
remains outstanding), each Company agrees to provide to the Agent, at its sole
cost and expense, an appraisal of such Company's Inventory in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Agent from Hilco or such other appraiser
reasonably acceptable to the Agent.
(b) As soon as possible but in any event no later than ninety (90) days
after the Closing Date, the Companies will have provided to the Agent (at the
Companies' expense) a summary real estate appraisal with respect to the Real
Estate from an appraiser satisfactory to the Agent.
(c) As soon as possible but in any event no later (unless the Agent, in
its reasonable discretion upon consultation with the Environmental Consultants
referred to below, agrees in writing to extend the time periods set forth herein
with respect to any of the Real Estate) than, (i) sixty (60) days after the
Closing Date with respect to the Real Estate listed on SCHEDULE 7.3(A) hereto,
(ii) ninety (90) days after the Closing Date with respect to the Real Estate
listed on SCHEDULE 7.3(B) hereto and (iii) one hundred twenty (120) days after
the Closing Date with respect to the Real Estate listed on SCHEDULE 7.3(C)
hereto, the Companies will have provided to the Agent (at the Companies'
expense) environmental reports, in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to
the Agent upon consultation with the Environmental Consultants referred to
below, (each an "ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT"), performed by an environmental
consulting firm or firms acceptable to the Agent in its sole discretion (each an
"ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT") with respect to such Real Estate, that determine,
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among other things, whether such Real Estate contains an underground storage
tank ("UST") and whether any other environmental problem exists for which
remediation is reasonably recommended by such Environmental Consultant.
(d) As soon as possible but in any event no later than sixty (60) days
after the Closing Date, the Agent and the Title Insurance Company shall have
received maps or plats of a perimeter or boundary of the site for all of the
Real Estate dated a date reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and the Title
Insurance Company (but in no event later than sixty (60) days after the Closing
Date) prepared by an independent professional licensed land surveyor reasonably
satisfactory to the Agent and the Title Insurance Company, which maps or plats
and the surveys on which they are based shall be made in accordance with the
Minimum Standard Detail Requirements for Land Title Surveys jointly established
and adopted by the American Land Title Association and the American Congress on
Surveying and Mapping ("SURVEYS"). Further, each Survey shall be certified to
the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, and the Title Insurance Company, and
contain a legend reciting as to whether or not the site is located in a flood
zone.
(e) If any of the Environmental Reports shall recommend remediation or
the removal of an identified UST with respect to any of the Real Estate (each a
"TAINTED PROPERTY") and the Companies choose not to remediate the environmental
problem or remove such identified UST, then an amount equal to sixty percent
(60%) of the fair market value of such Tainted Property (as determined by the
most recent appraisal of such Tainted Property) shall be excluded from the Real
Estate Sublimit. If any of the Environmental Reports shall recommend remediation
or the removal of an identified UST with respect to any of the Real Estate and
the Companies choose to remediate the environmental problem or remove the
identified UST (such choice to be made by the Companies in a writing delivered
to the Agent within seven Business Days after the receipt of the applicable
Environmental Report), then (A) the Agent shall establish a reserve against
Availability (a "REMEDIATION RESERVE") for the lesser of sixty percent (60%) of
the fair market value of such Tainted Property (as determined by the most recent
appraisal of such Tainted Property) or all estimated costs and expenses related
to such remediation or removal efforts, (B) such Remediation Reserve shall
remain in effect until such time as the Companies provides evidence in form and
detail reasonably satisfactory to the Agent that such remediation or removal has
been completed to the reasonable satisfaction of the Agent and (C) the General
Environmental Reserve in effect at such time, if any, will be reduced on a
dollar-for-dollar basis in the amount of such Remediation Reserve; PROVIDED that
upon the release of such Remediation Reserve (or any part thereof) by the Agent,
the General Environmental Reserve will increase at the option of the Agent, on a
dollar-for-dollar basis in the amount of such release up to the maximum amount
permitted for the General Environmental Reserve at such time (as set forth in
the definition thereof). Unless the Companies provide the Agent with written
notice of their intent to remediate the environmental problem or remove the
identified UST described above within seven Business Days after the receipt of
the applicable Environmental Report, the Companies will be deemed to have chosen
not to remediate the environmental problem or remove the identified UST.
(f) If any of the Surveys of the Real Estate shall reflect an encumbrance
that is not permitted hereunder, the Agent shall establish a reserve against
Availability (a "SURVEY RESERVE") in
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a reasonable amount considering the scope and nature of the encumbrance, and any
such Survey Reserve shall remain in effect until such time as the Companies
provide to the Agent evidence in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the
Agent that such encumbrance has been removed from the Real Estate.
7.4 Each Credit Party shall comply with the requirements of all state and
federal laws in order to grant to the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders,
valid and perfected first priority security interests in the Collateral, subject
only to the Permitted Encumbrances. Each Company hereby authorizes the Agent to
file any financing statements covering the Collateral whether or not such
Company's signature appears thereon. Each Company agrees to do whatever the
Agent reasonably may request from time to time, by way of (a) filing notices of
liens, financing statements, amendments, renewals and continuations thereof, (b)
cooperating with the Agent's designated agents and employees, (c) keeping
Collateral records, (d) transferring Proceeds of Collateral to the Agent's
possession in accordance with the terms hereof and (e) performing such further
acts as the Agent reasonably may require in order to effect the purposes of this
Financing Agreement.
7.5 (a) Each Credit Party shall maintain insurance on its Real Estate and
Inventory under such policies of insurance, with such insurance companies, in
such reasonable amounts and covering such insurable risks as are at all times
reasonably satisfactory to the Agent (the "REQUIRED INSURANCE"). SCHEDULE 7.5
hereto sets forth, as of the Closing Date, all insurance policies, including the
Required Insurance, carried by the Credit Parties and indicates in detail, with
respect to each such insurance policy, the amount and type of coverage and the
name of the insurance provider thereof (collectively, the "INSURANCE POLICIES")
(it being agreed that the amounts, coverage and provider of such Insurance
Policies are acceptable to the Agent based upon the business and properties of
the Companies as of the Closing Date). All Insurance Policies to the extent
covering the Real Estate and Inventory are, subject to the rights of any holders
of Permitted Encumbrances holding claims senior to the Agent, to be made payable
to the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, in case of loss, under a standard
non-contributory "mortgagee", "lender" or "secured party" clause and are to
contain such other provisions as the Agent may reasonably require to fully
protect the interests of Agent and the Lenders in the Real Estate and Inventory
and to any payments to be made under such policies. All original policies or
true copies thereof are to be delivered to the Agent within thirty (30) days
after the Closing Date, premium prepaid, with the loss payable endorsement in
favor of Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, and shall provide for not less
than thirty (30) days prior written notice to the Agent of the exercise of any
right of cancellation. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default which is not
waived, the Agent shall, subject to the rights of any holders of Permitted
Encumbrances holding claims senior to the Agent, have the sole right, in the
name of the Agent or any of the Credit Parties, as applicable, to file claims
under any insurance policies to the extent relating to the Collateral, to
receive, receipt and give acquittance for any payments that may be payable
thereunder to the extent relating to the Collateral, and to execute any and all
endorsements, receipts, releases, assignments, reassignments or other documents
that may be necessary to effect the collection, compromise or settlement of any
claims under any such insurance policies to the extent relating to the
Collateral.
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(b) Unless the Companies provide the Agent with evidence of the Required
Insurance in the manner set forth in Section 7.5(a) above, the Agent may
purchase insurance at the expense of the Companies to protect the interests of
the Agent and the Lenders in the Collateral. The insurance purchased by the
Agent may, but need not, protect the interests of the Companies in the
Collateral, and therefore such insurance may not pay any claim which any of the
Companies make or any claim which is made against any of the Companies in
connection with the Collateral. Each Company may later request that the Agent
cancel any insurance purchased by the Agent, but only after providing the Agent
with satisfactory evidence that such Company has the Required Insurance. If the
Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, purchases insurance covering all or any portion
of the Collateral, the Companies shall be responsible for the costs of such
insurance, including interest (at the applicable rate set forth hereunder) and
other charges accruing on the purchase price therefor, until the effective date
of the cancellation or the expiration of the insurance, and the Agent may charge
all of such costs, interest and other charges to either Revolving Loan Account.
The costs of the premiums of any insurance purchased by the Agent may exceed the
costs of insurance which the Companies may be able to purchase on its own. In
the event that the Agent purchases insurance, the Agent will notify the
Companies in writing of such purchase within thirty (30) days after the date of
such purchase. If, within thirty (30) days of the date of such notice, the
Companies provide the Agent with proof that the Companies had the Required
Insurance as of the date on which the Agent purchased insurance AND the
Companies have continued at all times thereafter to have the Required Insurance,
then the Agent agrees to cancel the insurance purchased by the Agent and credit
the Revolving Loan Account by the amount of all costs, interest and other
charges associated with such insurance previously charged to such Revolving Loan
Account.
(c) (i) In the event of any loss or damage by condemnation, fire or other
casualty, insurance proceeds relating to Inventory shall reduce the then
outstanding aggregate principal balance of all Revolving Loans;
(ii) In the event any part of the Real Estate is condemned or damaged by
fire or other casualty and the insurance or condemnation proceeds for such
condemnation, damage or other casualty (the "CASUALTY PROCEEDS") is less than or
equal to One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), the Agent shall promptly apply
such Casualty Proceeds to reduce the Revolving Loan.
(iii) So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and remain
outstanding and the Casualty Proceeds are in excess of One Hundred Thousand
Dollars ($100,000), the Companies may elect (by delivering written notice to the
Agent) to replace, repair or restore such Real Estate to substantially the
equivalent condition prior to such condemnation, fire or other casualty as set
forth herein. If the Companies do not, or cannot, elect to use the Casualty
Proceeds as set forth above, (A) the Real Estate Sublimit shall be reduced by an
amount equal to the sixty percent (60%) of the fair market value of such Real
Estate, as set forth in the most recent appraisal with respect to such Real
Estate, and (B), the Agent may, subject to the rights of any holders of
Permitted Encumbrances holding claims senior to the Agent, apply the Casualty
Proceeds to the payment of the Obligations in such manner and in such order as
the Agent reasonably may elect.
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(iv) If the Companies elect to use the Casualty Proceeds for the repair,
replacement or restoration of any Real Estate, (x) proceeds of insurance on Real
Estate will be applied to the reduction of the Revolving Loans and (y) the Agent
may set up a reserve against Availability for an amount equal to the total
amount set forth in the budget described below. The reserve will be reduced
dollar-for-dollar upon receipt of non-cancelable executed purchase orders,
delivery receipts or contracts for the replacement, repair or restoration of the
Real Estate and disbursements in connection therewith. Prior to the commencement
of any restoration, repair or replacement of Real Estate, the Company shall
provide the Agent with a restoration plan and an estimated budget prepared by an
independent third party experienced in construction costing. If there are
insufficient Casualty Proceeds to cover the cost of restoration as so
determined, the Companies shall be responsible for the amount of any such
deficiency, and shall fund such deficiency prior before the reserve will be
reduced. Completion of restoration shall be evidenced by a final, unqualified
certification of the design architect employed, if any; an unconditional
certificate of occupancy, if applicable; such other certification as may be
required by law; or if none of the above is applicable, a written good faith
determination of completion by the Companies. Upon completion, any remaining
reserve as established hereunder will be automatically released.
(v) The Companies agree to pay any reasonable costs, fees or expenses
which the Agent may reasonably incur in connection herewith.
7.6 Each Credit Party shall pay, when due, all Taxes lawfully levied or
assessed upon such Credit Party or the Collateral, including, without
limitation, all sales taxes collected by such Credit Party on behalf of such
Credit Party's customers in connection with sales of Inventory. If any Taxes
remain unpaid after such date and the lien, if any, securing such Taxes is not a
Permitted Encumbrance, then the Agent may, at its election and without curing
any Event of Default which may arise as a result thereof, (a) establish an
Availability Reserve in the amount of such Taxes or (b) pay such taxes on behalf
of such Credit Party, and the amount paid by the Agent shall become an
Obligation which is due and payable on demand by the Agent.
7.7 (a) Each Credit Party shall comply with all acts, rules, regulations
and orders of any legislative, administrative or judicial body or official, if
the failure to so comply would have a Material Adverse Effect, provided that
such Credit Party may contest any acts, rules, regulations, orders and
directions of such bodies or officials in any reasonable manner which will not,
in the Agent's reasonable opinion, materially and adversely effect the rights or
priorities of the Agent and the Lenders in the Collateral.
(b) Without limiting the generality of subsection(a) above, each Credit
Party shall comply with all environmental statutes, acts, rules, regulations or
orders, as presently existing or as adopted or amended in the future, applicable
to the ownership and/or use of its real property and operation of its business,
if the failure to so comply would have a Material Adverse Effect. The Companies
hereby, jointly and severally, indemnify the Agent and the Lenders, and agree to
defend and hold the Agent and the Lenders harmless, from and against any and all
loss, damage, claim, liability, injury or expense which the Agent or the Lenders
may sustain or incur in connection with any claim or expense asserted against
the Agent or the Lenders as a result of any environmental pollution,
38
hazardous material or environmental clean-up of any Credit Party's owned or
leased real property, or any claim or expense which results from such Credit
Party's operations (including, but not limited to, such Credit Party's off-site
disposal practices). This indemnification shall survive the termination of this
Financing Agreement and the repayment of the Obligations. No Credit Party shall
be deemed to have breached any provision of this Section 7.7 if (i) the failure
to comply with the requirements of this Section 7.7 resulted from good faith
error or innocent omission and (ii) the Credit Parties promptly commence and
diligently pursue a cure of such breach.
(c) Each Company represents and warrants to the Agent and the Lenders
that (i) none of the operations of any Credit Party are the subject of any
federal, state or local investigation to determine whether any remedial action
is needed to address the presence or disposal of any environmental pollution,
hazardous material or environmental clean-up of the Real Estate or any of such
Credit Party's leased real property, (ii) except as disclosed in the Transaction
Screen Process Environment Site Assessments delivered to the Agent prior to the
Closing Date in connection with this Financing Agreement, no Credit Party has
any known contingent liability with respect to any release of any environmental
pollution or hazardous material, (iii) except as disclosed in the Transaction
Screen Process Environment Site Assessments delivered to the Agent prior to the
Closing Date in connection with this Financing Agreement, each Credit Party
presently is in compliance with all environmental statutes, acts, rules,
regulations or orders applicable to such Credit Party's owned or leased real
property or the operation of such Credit Party's business, except where the
failure to be in such compliance would not have a Material Adverse Effect, (iv)
Transaction Screen Process Environment Site Assessments, no enforcement
proceeding, complaint, summons, citation, notice, order, claim, litigation,
investigation, letter or other communication from a federal, state or local
authority has been filed against or delivered to any Credit Party, regarding or
involving any release of any environmental pollution or hazardous material on
any real property now or previously owned or leased by such Credit Party, and
(v) to such Credit Party's knowledge, each Credit Party has obtained and
maintains all permits, approvals, authorizations and licenses, if any, required
by applicable environmental statutes, acts, rules, regulations and orders,
except where the failure to have such permits, approvals, authorizations or
licenses would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
7.8 Until termination of this Financing Agreement and payment and
satisfaction of all Obligations due hereunder, the Companies agree that, unless
the Agent and the Required Lenders shall have otherwise consented in writing,
the Companies will furnish:
(a) to the Agent, upon the creation of Accounts and the purchase or
acquisition of Inventory, solely for the Agent's convenience in maintaining
records of Collateral, such confirmatory schedules of Accounts and Inventory (in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent) as the Agent reasonably
may request, including, without limitation, weekly schedules of Accounts and
monthly schedules of Inventory, all in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Agent, and such other appropriate reports designating,
identifying and describing the Accounts and Inventory as the Agent reasonably
may request, PROVIDED that the Agent may, from time to time upon reasonable
notice, request schedules of Inventory more frequently;
39
(b) to the Agent, upon the Agent's request, copies of agreements with, or
purchase orders from, the customers of any of the Credit Parties (other than
Parent), and copies of invoices to customers, proof of shipment or delivery,
access to its computers, electronic media and software programs associated
therewith (including any electronic records, contracts and signatures) and such
other documentation and information relating to said Accounts and other
Collateral, all as the Agent reasonably may request;
(c) (i) in the collateral schedules provided to the Agent pursuant to
Sections 7.8(a) above, a disclosure of (x) all matters adversely affecting the
value, enforceability or collectibility of the Accounts of any of the Companies,
(y) all material customer disputes, offsets, defenses, counterclaims, returns,
rejections and all reclaimed or repossessed merchandise or goods, (z) all
matters adversely effecting the value of the Inventory in any material respect,
all in such detail and format as the Agent reasonably may require, and (ii) as
to any such matters with respect to the Accounts and/or the Inventory that may
have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company shall promptly notify the Agent;
(d) to the Agent, in such detail as the Agent shall reasonably require,
(i) at least once each week (but more frequently upon the Agent's reasonable
request), a borrowing base certificate in form and substance satisfactory to the
Agent, certified by the president, treasurer or chief financial officer of
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (or any other authorized officer satisfactory to the Agent), (ii) on
or before the fifteenth (15th) day of each month, an aged trial balance of all
Accounts existing as of the last day of the preceding month certified by the
president, treasurer or the chief financial officer of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (or any other
authorized officer satisfactory to the Agent), and (iii) on or before the
thirtieth (30th) day of each month, a summary of Inventory as of the last day of
the preceding month, certified by the president, treasurer or the chief
financial officer of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (or any other authorized officer satisfactory to
the Agent);
(e) to the Agent and the Lenders, within ninety (90) days after the end
of each fiscal year of the Companies, a Consolidated Balance Sheet and a
Consolidating Balance Sheet as at the close of such year, and statements of
profit and loss and cash flow of the Companies for such year, audited by
independent public accountants selected by the Companies and reasonably
satisfactory to the Agent, together with the unqualified opinion of the
accountants preparing such financial statements;
(f) to the Agent and the Lenders, (i) within thirty (30) days after the
end of each month (other than such months in which a fiscal quarter or the
fiscal year of the Companies ends), (ii) within forty-five (45) days after the
end of each month in which a fiscal quarter of the Companies ends or (iii)
within ninety (90) days after the end of the month in which the fiscal year of
the Companies ends, a Consolidated Balance Sheet and a Consolidating Balance
Sheet as at the end of such month, and statements of profit and loss and cash
flow of the Companies for such month, together with a comparison to the same
month of the prior fiscal year of the Companies, and for the period commencing
on the first day of the current fiscal year through the end of such month,
together with a comparison to the same year-to-date period for the previous year
of the Companies, certified by the president, treasurer or chief financial
officer of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (or any other authorized officer satisfactory to the
Agent);
40
(g) to the Agent and the Lenders prior to the beginning of each fiscal
year of the Companies, monthly projections of the Consolidated Balance Sheet,
Consolidating Balance Sheet, and the consolidated and consolidating statements
of profits and loss and cash flow of the Companies, as well as projected
Availability for the Companies for such fiscal year;
(h) to the Agent, prior written notice of any change in the location of
any Collateral and any material change in type, quantity, quality or mix of the
Inventory;
(i) from time to time, such further information regarding the business
affairs and financial condition of the Credit Parties as the Agent and the
Lenders reasonably may request; and
(j) to the Agent, as soon as practicable, and in any event within five
(5) Business Days after any Credit Party learns of the following, give written
notice to the Agent of (i) any material proceeding (including, without
limitation, litigation, investigations, arbitration or governmental proceedings)
being instituted or threatened to be instituted by or against a Credit Party in
any federal, state, local or foreign court or before any commission or other
regulatory body (federal, state, local or foreign), (ii) notice that a Credit
Party's operations are not in compliance with any material requirements of
applicable law (with respect to each of CLAUSES (I) and (II) above, except for
those proceedings, non-compliance and actions which do not have a reasonable
likelihood of having a material adverse effect on either (a) the business,
condition (financial or otherwise), operations, performance, properties or
prospects of such Credit Party or (b) the ability of such Credit Parties to
perform its obligations under this Financing Agreement or any other Loan
Document) and (iii) any other event which could reasonably have a material
adverse effect on either (a) the business, condition (financial or otherwise),
operations, performance, properties or prospects of such Credit Party or (b) the
ability of such Credit Parties to perform its obligations under this Financing
Agreement or any other Loan Document.
Each financial statement which the Companies are required to submit
pursuant to Sections 7.8(e) and 7.8(f) hereof must be accompanied by an
officer's certificate, signed by the president, treasurer or chief financial
officer of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (or any other authorized officer satisfactory to the
Agent), as appropriate, pursuant to which such officer must certify that: (i)
the financial statement(s) fairly and accurately present in all material
respects the financial condition of the Companies at the end of the particular
accounting period, as well as the operating results of the Companies during such
accounting period, subject to year-end audit adjustments and in the case of
monthly financial statements, the absence of footnotes; (ii) during the
particular accounting period (x) there has occurred no Default or Event of
Default under this Financing Agreement, or, if any such officer has knowledge
that any such Default or Event of Default has occurred during such period, the
existence of and a detailed description of same shall be set forth in such
officer's certificate, and (y) the Companies have not received any notice of
cancellation with respect to its property insurance policies; and (iii) the
exhibits attached to such financial statement(s) constitute detailed
calculations showing compliance with all financial covenants contained in this
Financing Agreement.
41
The failure of the Companies to promptly deliver to the Agent any
schedule, report, statement or other information set forth in this Section 7.8
shall not affect, diminish, modify or otherwise limit the security interest of
Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, in the Collateral.
7.9 Until termination of this Financing Agreement and payment and
satisfaction of all Obligations due hereunder, each Company agrees that, without
the prior written consent of the Agent, except as otherwise herein provided, no
Credit Party will, or will permit any Subsidiary, to make any payment or other
distribution, whether in cash, property, securities or a combination thereof, to
the holders of the Notes under the Indenture other than scheduled payments of
interest and the principal payments due under the Notes on the date of the
stated maturity of such Notes, which interest and principal payments shall be
made in accordance with the Notes and the Indenture.
7.10 Until termination of this Financing Agreement and payment and
satisfaction of all Obligations due hereunder, each Company agrees that, without
the prior written consent of the Agent, except as otherwise herein provided, no
Credit Party will, or will permit any Subsidiary, to:
(a) Mortgage, assign, pledge, transfer or otherwise permit any lien,
charge, security interest, encumbrance (whether as a result of a purchase money
or title retention transaction, or other security interest, or otherwise) to
exist on any of its assets or goods, whether real, personal or mixed, whether
now owned or hereafter acquired, except for the Permitted Encumbrances;
(b) Incur or create any Indebtedness other than the Permitted
Indebtedness;
(c) Borrow any money on the security of the Collateral from sources other
than the Agent and the Lenders;
(d) Sell, lease, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of (i) any
Collateral, except as otherwise specifically permitted by this Financing
Agreement, or (ii) either all or any substantial part of its assets, if any,
which do not constitute Collateral; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (i) the Companies
and their Subsidiaries may sell, lease, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of
any equipment which is obsolete, worn-out or otherwise no longer used or useful
in conduct of such Person's business and (ii) any Subsidiary of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ may
transfer all of its property to a Company;
(e) (i) Merge or consolidate with any other entity, PROVIDED, that any
Subsidiary (other than ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇) may be dissolved, liquidated, merged or
consolidated with an into a Company, (ii) change its corporate name or principal
place of business without at least thirty (30) days prior written notice to the
Agent, (iii) change the form of its organization from for-profit corporation or
organization or (iv) enter into or engage in any operation or activity
materially different from that presently being conducted by the Credit Parties;
(f) Assume, guarantee, endorse, or otherwise become liable upon the
obligations of any person, firm, entity or corporation, except (i) by the
endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection or similar
transactions in the ordinary course of business (ii) guarantees by the Credit
Parties of the Obligations, (iii) guaranties by the Subsidiaries of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ of
all the
42
obligations under the Indenture and Notes, (v) guarantees and other obligations
existing on the date hereof and listed on SCHEDULE 7.10(f), (vi) guarantees by
any Company or any Subsidiary of any Company of capitalized lease obligations or
purchase money indebtedness of any Company or any Subsidiary of any Company,
provided that such obligations or indebtedness is otherwise permitted pursuant
to the terms of this Financing Agreement, (vii) performance, surety, bid, appeal
or similar bonds arising in the ordinary course of business (provided that the
aggregate amount of such obligations do not exceed $1,000,000 in the aggregate),
(viii) guarantees of any lease or other contractual obligation of a Company not
constituting indebtedness for borrowed money entered into by another Company in
the ordinary course of business, provided that such lease or other obligation is
otherwise permitted pursuant to the terms of this Financing Agreement and (ix)
unsecured guarantees that, combined with Indebtedness permitted pursuant to
subpart (h) of the definition of Permitted Indebtedness, do not exceed Five
Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) in the aggregate.
(g) Declare or pay, directly or indirectly, any dividends or make any
other distribution or payment, whether in cash, property, securities or a
combination thereof, with respect to (whether by reduction of capital or
otherwise) any shares of capital stock (or any options, warrants, rights or
other equity securities or agreements relating to any capital stock), or set
apart any sum for the aforesaid purposes, other than as follows:
(i) a Subsidiary Guarantor may pay dividends to another Subsidiary
Guarantor or a Company;
(ii) a Company may pay dividends and make distributions to another
Company or to a Subsidiary Guarantor;
(iii) ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ may pay dividends and distributions to Parent to fund
Parent's payment of tax obligations under the Tax Sharing
Agreement when due so long as (a) the funds so provided are
legally available for such purpose and (b) such dividend does not
exceed the amount of the tax liability of the Companies and the
Subsidiary Guarantors if they were not consolidated with Parent;
(iv) ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ may pay dividends and distributions to Parent to fund
scheduled redemption payments with respect to the Preferred Stock
when due so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing;
(v) ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ may pay other dividends and distributions to Parent to
fund scheduled payments of management fees under the Tax Sharing
Agreement, so long as (a) such dividends do not exceed Five
Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) in the aggregate in any twelve
month period and (b) no Default or Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing; and
(vi) ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ may pay dividends and distributions to Parent to allow
Parent (A) to make payments required under the SAR Agreements and
the Stock Option Plan provided that the aggregate amount of such
dividends and/or distributions for such payments
43
do not exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) in any
fiscal year of the Companies, (B) to pay director's fees and
expenses and other administrative obligations provided that the
aggregate amount of such dividends and/or distributions for such
payments do not exceed One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars
($150,000) in any fiscal year of the Companies, provided no Event
of Default shall have occurred and is continuing, (C) to pay
officer and director indemnity obligations, provided no Event of
Default shall have occurred and is continuing, and (D) to pay
compensation and/or consulting fees to Parent's Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer in an aggregate amount not to exceed $52,000 in
any fiscal year of the Companies, provided no Event of Default
shall have occurred and is continuing.
(h) (i) Create any new Subsidiary, or (ii) acquire all or substantially
all of the assets of, or any capital stock or any equity interests in, any
Person.
(i) Make any advance or loan to, or any investment in, any Person, other
than a Company or Canadian Subsidiary, PROVIDED that any working capital
advances or loans to Canadian Subsidiary shall not exceed Five Million Dollars
($5,000,000) in the aggregate outstanding at any time and other than (i)
investments in Cash Equivalents, (ii) investments existing on the date hereof
and described on SCHEDULE 7.10(i) hereto, (iii) investments received in
connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of suppliers and customers and
in settlement of delinquent obligations of, and other disputes with, customers
and suppliers, (iv) advances made to employees, officers and directors for
travel and other expenses arising in the ordinary course of business, (v) loans
to employees not exceeding One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) in the
aggregate outstanding for all Persons at any one time, (vi) the existing
intercompany loan from ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ to Canadian Subsidiary for the purchase of
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇.
7.11 Without the prior written consent of the Agent and the Required
Lenders, no Credit Party will: (a) enter into any Operating Lease (other than
with respect to real property leases) if after giving effect thereto the
aggregate obligations with respect to all such Operating Leases for all of the
Credit Parties during any fiscal year would exceed $1,000,000; (b) enter into
any new Operating Lease with respect to real estate after the Closing Date if
after giving effect thereto, the aggregate obligations with respect to such
Operating Leases would exceed (i) $1,000,000 at the end of the fiscal year
ending in August, 2002, (ii) $2,000,000 at the end of the fiscal year ending in
August, 2003, (iii) $3,000,000 at the end of the fiscal year ending in August,
2004 and increasing as of the end of each fiscal year of the Companies
thereafter by an amount equal to $1,000,000 for such fiscal year; or (c)
contract for, purchase, make expenditures for, lease pursuant to a Capital Lease
or otherwise incur obligations with respect to Capital Expenditures (whether
subject to a security interest or otherwise) during any fiscal year in the
aggregate amount in excess of:
(i) $6,000,000 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2001;
(ii) $6,500,000 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2002;
(iii) $7,500,000 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2003; and
(iv) $8,000,000 for the fiscal year ending August 31, 2004 and for each
fiscal year thereafter.
44
7.12 (a) The Companies shall not suffer or permit Consolidated Net Cash
Flow, calculated for each of the periods set forth below, to be less than:
(i) $(17,000,000) as of the end of the Companies' fiscal year ending in
August 2001 for the immediately preceding twelve-month period ending on such
date;
(ii) ($4,500,000) as of the end of the Companies' fiscal quarter ending
in November 2001 for the immediately preceding three-month period ending on such
date;
(iii) $16,000,000 as of December 31, 2001, for the period commencing on
the first day of the Companies' fiscal year commencing in August 2001 and ending
on such date;
(iv) $12,300,000 as of the end of the Companies' fiscal quarter ending in
February 2002 for the immediately preceding six-month period ending on such
date;
(v) $10,000,000 as of the end of the Companies' fiscal quarter ending in
May 2002 for the immediately preceding nine-month period ending on such date;
and
(vi) $1,000,000 as of the end of the Companies' fiscal quarter ending in
August 2002, and increasing as of the end of each fiscal quarter of the
Companies thereafter by an amount equal to $350,000 for each such fiscal
quarter, in each case for the immediately preceding twelve-month period ending
on such date.
(b) The Companies shall not permit the aggregate amount of cash
expenditures made after the Closing Date in connection with the attempted
closings of up to 83 Sweet Factory stores (which stores have been identified to
the Agent prior to the Closing Date) to exceed $1,750,000.
7.13 The Companies agree to advise the Agent in writing of (a) all
expenditures (actual or anticipated) in excess of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars
($500,000) for (i) environmental clean-up, (ii) environmental compliance or
(iii) environmental testing and the impact of said expenses on the affected
working capital of any of the Credit Parties, and (b) any notices, together with
copies of any such notices if so requested by the Agent, that any of the Credit
Parties receive from any local, state or federal authority advising any of the
Credit Parties of, (i) with respect to any of the Real Estate, any environmental
liability (real or potential), and, (ii) with respect to any other real property
owned or leased by a Credit Party, such environmental liability (real or
potential) in excess of Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000), in each case
arising from the operations of any of the Credit Parties, or the premises, waste
disposal practices or waste disposal sites used by any of the Credit Parties.
7.14 Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 7.14 hereto, without the prior
written consent of the Agent and the Required Lenders, no Credit Party shall
enter into any transaction (other than any transaction between or among
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and any of its Subsidiaries), including, without limitation, any
purchase, sale, lease, loan or exchange of property, with any person or entity
affiliated with any of the Credit Parties or affiliated with any shareholder,
parent or Subsidiary (direct or indirect) of any of the Credit Parties, unless
such transaction otherwise complies with the provisions of this Financing
Agreement and is on terms no less favorable to such Credit Party than the terms
upon which such transaction would have been made had such transaction been made
with a non-affiliate Person.
45
7.15 The Obligations shall, and the Companies shall take all necessary
action to ensure that the Obligations shall, at all times rank PARI PASSU with
all Indebtedness under the Indenture.
7.16 Borrower shall not suffer or permit, without the prior written
consent of the Agent, (a) the Tax Sharing Agreement to be amended, supplemented
or modified in any respect that would be adverse to the Agent or any of the
Lenders or would increase the obligations of any Credit Party thereunder, or (b)
the Indenture or any Note to be amended, supplemented or modified in any respect
or refinanced, in whole or in part.
7.17 At any time upon the acquisition of real property acquired by a
Credit Party after the Closing Date, such Credit Party will (to the extent not
in violation of the Indenture) (a) provide the Agent, for the benefit of the
Lenders, with a first priority Lien (subject to Permitted Encumbrances) on such
real property by executing and delivering a Mortgage with respect to such real
property in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and (b) if reasonably
requested by the Agent given the nature of and past use of such property,
deliver to the Agent a so called "Phase I" environmental report (and Phase II,
if recommended or required by the applicable Phase I) with respect to such real
property.
7.18 As of the Closing Date, each Depository Account is listed on
SCHEDULE 7.18(A), each lockbox is listed on SCHEDULE 7.18(B) and each Collection
Account is listed on SCHEDULE 7.18(C), which schedules shall list for each
account the account number, the financial institution and the address of such
financial institution. Other than the Depository Accounts, the Collection
Accounts and as listed on SCHEDULE 7.18(D), no Credit Party maintains a bank
account or deposits funds with any other financial institution other than the
Agent or a Lender. The Credit Parties have given instructions to each financial
institution where a Depository Account is maintained to transfer all funds
therein to a Collection Account on a daily basis.
The Credit Parties shall maintain their cash management system as such
system exists on the Closing Date or as such system may be modified by the terms
of this Agreement. No Credit Party will withdraw funds from a Depository Account
or instruct the financial institution where a Depository Account is maintained
to transfer funds in such account anywhere other than a Collection Account on a
daily basis. No Credit Party will open a Depository Account without notifying
the financial institution where such Depository Account will be maintained of
this Financing Agreement and instructing such financial institution to transfer
all funds therein to a Collection Account on a daily basis. No Credit Party will
open a lockbox other than in connection with a Collection Account. The Credit
Parties shall promptly, and in any event not later than three days after the
opening of any such new account or lockbox, notify the Agent in writing of the
creation of any new account or lockbox. The Credit Parties shall promptly, and
in any event not later than three days after the opening of any new Collection
Account, notify the Agent in writing of the creation of such new account and
shall at the time of such notice execute and deliver to the Agent a depository
account notice and blocked account agreement, in each case as described in
Section 2.1(o) hereof.
The Credit Parties will take all such actions as the Agent deems
necessary or advisable to send all cash, all proceeds from the sale of
Inventory, all proceeds from the collection of Accounts,
46
and all other remittances and other proceeds of Collateral to the Agent's Bank
Accounts in accordance with Section 3.5. From and after the Closing Date, the
Credit Parties will take such actions as the Agent deems necessary or advisable
to grant to the Agent control over the Depositary Accounts, the Collection
Accounts and the funds therein.
7.19 There are (a) no lawsuits, actions, investigations, or other
proceedings pending or threatened against any Credit Party, or in respect of
which any Credit Party may have any liability, in any court or before any
governmental authority, arbitration board, or other tribunal, (b) no orders,
writs, injunctions, judgments, or decrees of any court or government agency or
instrumentality to which any Credit Party is a party or by which the property or
assets of any Credit Party are bound, and (c) no grievances, disputes, or
controversies outstanding with any union or other organization of the employees
of any Credit Party, or threats of work stoppage, strike, or pending demands for
collective bargaining, which, as to subsections (a) through (c) above, could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 8. INTEREST, FEES AND EXPENSES
8.1 Prior to the LIBOR Trigger Date, interest on the outstanding
principal balance of the Revolving Loans shall be payable monthly on the last
day of each month and shall accrue at a rate per annum equal the Chase Bank Rate
plus 1.00% on the average net principal balance of the Revolving Loans at the
close of each day during such month, as reflected by the Revolving Loan Account.
On and after the LIBOR Trigger Date, (i) interest on the outstanding principal
balance of the Revolving Loans that are Chase Bank Rate Loans shall be payable
monthly on the last day of each month and shall accrue at a rate per annum equal
the Chase Bank Rate plus 1.00% on the average net principal balance of the
Revolving Loans at the close of each day during such month, as reflected by the
Revolving Loan Account and (ii) interest on the outstanding principal balance of
the Revolving Loans that are LIBOR Loans shall be payable monthly on the last
day of each month and shall accrue at a rate per annum equal to the applicable
LIBOR plus 2.50% on the principal balance of each LIBOR Loan outstanding during
such month, in each case as reflected by the Revolving Loan Account. All
interest rates shall be calculated based on a 360-day year for actual days
elapsed. If payment under this Financing Agreement becomes due and payable on a
day that is not a Business Day, the due date of such payment is extended to the
next succeeding Business Day and interest is payable on such payment during such
extension at the rate specified in this Financing Agreement.
8.2 Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, all Obligations shall, at
the Agent's election at any time thereafter, bear interest at the Default Rate
of Interest until such Event of Default is waived.
8.3 (a) In consideration of the issuance of any Letter of Credit Guaranty
by the Agent or other assistance of the Agent in obtaining Letters of Credit
pursuant to Section 5 hereof, the Companies shall pay to the Agent, for the
benefit of the Lenders, a Letter of Credit Guaranty Fee equal to two percent
(2.00%) per annum on the undrawn face amount of each Letter of Credit. For each
documentary Letter of Credit, the entire Letter of Credit Guaranty Fee shall be
payable in
47
advance, and for each standby Letter of Credit, the Letter of Credit Guaranty
fee shall be payable monthly on the first day of each month.
(b) Any and all charges, fees, commissions, costs and expenses charged to
the Agent for the account of the Companies by an Issuing Bank in connection
with, or arising out of, Letters of Credit or out of transactions relating
thereto will be charged to the Revolving Loan Account in full when charged to,
or paid by the Agent, or as may be due upon any termination of this Financing
Agreement hereof.
8.4 The Companies shall reimburse or pay the Agent and the Lenders on
demand for all Out-of-Pocket Expenses and all Documentation Fees.
8.5 On the last day of each month, commencing on July 31, 2001, the
Companies shall pay to the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, the Line of
Credit Fee.
8.6 To induce the Agent and the Lenders to enter into this Financing
Agreement and to extend to the Companies the Revolving Line of Credit, the
Company shall pay to the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a loan facility
fee in the amount of Three Hundred Seventy-Five Thousand Dollars ($375,000) (the
"LOAN FACILITY FEE"), which shall be fully earned upon execution of this
Financing Agreement by the Agent and the Company. Fifty percent (50%) of such
Loan Facility Fee will be payable on the Closing Date with the remainder payable
on December 30, 2001.
8.7 On the Closing Date and on each Anniversary of the Closing Date
thereafter prior to termination of this Financing Agreement, the Company shall
pay to the Agent, for its own account, the Administrative Management Fee, which
shall be fully earned when paid.
8.8 The Company hereby authorizes the Agent to charge the Revolving Loan
Account with the amount of all payments due by the Companies hereunder as such
payments become due. Any amount charged to a Revolving Loan Account shall be
detailed in the Agent's monthly account report to the Companies and be deemed a
Chase Bank Loan hereunder and shall bear interest at the rate provided in
Section 8.1 (or Section 8.3, if applicable) of this Financing Agreement. The
Companies confirm that any charges which the Agent may make to a Revolving Loan
Account as provided herein will be made as an accommodation to the Companies and
solely at the Agent's discretion.
8.9 (a) The Companies may elect to (i) use LIBOR as to any Revolving
Loans, (ii) convert any Chase Bank Rate Loan to a new LIBOR Loan or (iii)
continue any existing LIBOR Loan as a new LIBOR Loan on the last day of the
Interest Period with respect to such existing LIBOR Loan, so long as (x) there
exists no Default or Event of Default on the date on which such new LIBOR Loan
is requested and on the first day of the Interest Period for such new LIBOR
Loan, (y) the Companies request the new LIBOR Loan no later than three (3)
Business Days preceding the first day of the Interest Period for such new LIBOR
Loan (or three (3) Business Days prior to the expiration of any Interest Period,
in the case of a continuation of an existing LIBOR Loan) and (z) the requested
Interest Period for such LIBOR Loan is available in accordance with the
provisions hereof. Any
48
LIBOR election must be for at least One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) and if
greater, in integral multiples of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000). There
shall be no more than six (6) LIBOR Loans outstanding at one time. Elections for
LIBOR Loans shall be irrevocable once made. Absent a timely election by the
Companies to use LIBOR for any loan, such loan shall be made to the Companies as
a Chase Bank Loan (and any existing LIBOR Loan automatically shall become a
Chase Bank Loan at the end of the Interest Period with respect thereto).
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Financing Agreement to
the contrary, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and remains
outstanding, the Agent agrees to apply all Proceeds of Collateral, including the
Accounts and all other amounts received by the Agent from or on behalf of the
Credit Parties initially to Chase Bank Rate Loans and then to LIBOR Loans,
PROVIDED that, (i) so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, the Agent will not apply Proceeds of Collateral, including the
Accounts and all other amounts received by the Agent from or on behalf of the
Credit Parties, to LIBOR Loans other than at the end of the Interest Period for
such LIBOR Loans (unless such LIBOR Loan is continued pursuant to the terms of
the Financing Agreement) and such Proceeds, including the Accounts and all other
amounts received by the Agent from or on behalf of the Credit Parties, will be
made available to the Companies so long as no other Obligations are due and
payable and (ii) in the event the aggregate outstanding principal amount of
LIBOR Loans exceeds Availability or any other applicable limit set forth herein,
the Agent may apply all Proceeds of Collateral received by the Agent to the
payment of the Obligations in such manner and in such order as the Agent may
elect in its reasonable business judgment. In the event that any Proceeds of
Collateral are applied to loans that are LIBOR Loans, such application shall be
treated as a prepayment of such loans and the Lenders shall be entitled to
indemnification hereunder. This indemnification shall survive the termination of
this Financing Agreement and the repayment of the Obligations.
SECTION 9. POWERS
9.1 The Companies hereby constitute the Agent, on behalf of the Lenders,
or any person or agent which the Agent may designate, as its attorney-in-fact,
at the cost and expense of the Companies, to exercise all of the following
powers, which being coupled with an interest, shall be irrevocable until all of
the Obligations have been paid in full:
(a) To receive, take, endorse, sign, assign and deliver, all in the name
of the Agent or the Company, any and all checks, notes, drafts, and other
documents or instruments relating to the Collateral;
(b) To receive, open and dispose of all mail addressed to any of the
Companies and to notify postal authorities to change the address for delivery
thereof to such address as the Agent may designate;
(c) To request from customers indebted on Accounts at any time, in the
name of the Agent or any of the Companies or that of the Agent's designee,
information concerning the amounts owing on the Accounts;
49
(d) To transmit to customers indebted on Accounts of a Company notice of
the interest of the Agent and the Lenders therein and to notify customers
indebted on such Accounts to make payment directly to the Agent, on behalf of
the Lenders, for the account of such Company; and
(e) To take or bring, in the name of the Agent, the Lenders and/or any
Company, all steps, actions, suits or proceedings deemed by the Agent necessary
or desirable to enforce or effect collection of the Accounts.
9.2 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Financing Agreement to
the contrary, the powers set forth in Sections 9.1(b) and (e) may only be
exercised after the occurrence of an Event of Default and until such time as
such Event of Default is waived.
SECTION 10. EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
10.1 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Financing Agreement to
the contrary, the Required Lenders (acting through the Agent) may terminate this
Financing Agreement immediately upon the occurrence of any of the following
events (herein "EVENTS OF DEFAULT"):
(a) cessation of the business of any Company or Subsidiary or Parent of a
Company;
(b) the failure of any Company or Subsidiary or Parent to generally meet
its debts as those debts mature;
(c) (i) the commencement by any Company or any Subsidiary of a Company or
Parent of any bankruptcy, insolvency, arrangement, reorganization, receivership
or similar proceedings under any federal or state law; (ii) the commencement
against any Company or any Subsidiary of a Company or Parent of any bankruptcy,
insolvency, arrangement, reorganization, receivership or similar proceeding
under any federal or state law by creditors of such Company, but only if such
proceeding is not contested by such Company or Subsidiary or Parent within ten
(10) days and not dismissed and vacated within thirty (30) days of commencement,
or any of the actions or relief sought in any such proceeding shall occur or be
authorized by such Company or Subsidiary or Parent, as the case may be;
(d) breach by any Company of any warranty, representation or covenant
contained herein (other than those referred to in Section 10.1(e) below),
provided that such breach of any of the warranties, representations or covenants
referred in this Section 10.1(d) shall not be deemed to be an Event of Default
unless and until such breach shall remain unremedied to the satisfaction of the
Agent and the Required Lenders for a period of fifteen (15) days from the date
of such breach;
(e) breach by any Company of any warranty or representation or covenant
contained in Sections 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, and 3.6 Section 4, Sections 6.3, 6.4 and
6.9 and Sections 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, 7.7 through 7.13, inclusive,
7.14, 7.15, 7.17 and 7.18 of this Financing Agreement;
50
(f) failure of any Company to pay (i) the principal of any Revolving Loan
when due and payable, (ii) the interest on any Revolving Loan or any fee or
other Obligations hereunder when due and payable or within three (3) Business
Days thereof, provided that nothing contained herein shall prohibit the Agent
from charging such amounts to the Revolving Loan Account on the due date
thereof;
(g) any Company shall (i) engage in any "prohibited transaction" as
defined in ERISA, (ii) incur any "accumulated funding deficiency" as defined in
ERISA, (iii) incur any Reportable Event as defined in ERISA, (iv) terminate any
Plan, as defined in ERISA or (v) engage in any proceeding in which the Pension
Benefit Guaranty Corporation shall seek appointment, or is appointed, as trustee
or administrator of any Plan, as defined in ERISA; and with respect to this
Section 10.1(g) such event or condition (x) remains uncured for a period of
thirty (30) days from date of occurrence and (y) could, in the reasonable
opinion of the Agent, subject such Company to any tax, penalty or other
liability having a Material Adverse Effect;
(h) an event of default or a breach or failure to comply with the
provisions of any of the other Loan Documents or the Indenture (after giving
effect to any applicable grace or cure period) shall occur under any of the
other Loan Documents or the Indenture;
(i) the occurrence of any default or event of default (after giving
effect to any applicable grace or cure period) under any Material Indebtedness
Agreement;
(j) a Change in Control shall have occurred;
(k) any Guarantor shall terminate its Guaranty or deny that it has any
liability thereunder, or any Guaranty shall be declared null and void and of no
further force and effect;
(l) any condition or event that Agent or the Required Lenders determine
could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or;
(m) the Companies do not have Availability of at least Fifteen Million
Dollars ($15,000,000) on January 1 of each year.
10.2 Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default or an
Event of Default, at the option of the Agent and the Required Lenders, all
loans, advances and extensions of credit provided for in Sections 3 and 5 of
this Financing Agreement thereafter shall be made in the sole discretion of the
Agent and the Lenders, and the obligation of the Agent and the Lenders to make
Revolving Loans and assist the Companies in opening Letters of Credit shall
cease unless such Default or Event of Default is waived. In addition, upon the
occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Agent may, at
its option, and the Agent shall, upon the request of the Required Lenders: (a)
declare all Obligations immediately due and payable; (b) charge the Companies
the Default Rate of Interest on all then outstanding or thereafter incurred
Obligations in lieu of the interest provided for in Sections 8.1 and 8.2 of this
Financing Agreement; and (c) immediately terminate this Financing Agreement upon
written notice to the Companies, provided
51
that this Financing Agreement automatically shall terminate and all Obligations
shall become due and payable immediately without any declaration, notice or
demand by CIT, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default listed in Section
10.1(c). The exercise of any option is not exclusive of any other option which
may be exercised at any time by the Agent and the Lenders.
10.3 Immediately after the occurrence and during the continuance of an
Event of Default, the Agent may, at its option, and the Agent shall, upon the
request of the Required Lenders, to the extent permitted by applicable law: (a)
remove from any premises where same may be located any and all books and
records, computers, electronic media and software programs relating to any
Collateral (including electronic records, contracts and signatures pertaining
thereto), documents, instruments and files, and any receptacles or cabinets
containing same, relating to the Accounts, or the Agent may use, at the expense
of the Companies, such personnel, supplies or space of any of the Companies at
the places of business of the Companies or otherwise, as may be necessary to
properly administer and control the Accounts or the handling of collections and
realizations thereon; (b) bring suit, in the name of any Company or the Agent,
on behalf of the Lenders, and generally shall have all other rights respecting
said Accounts, including, without limitation, the right to (i) accelerate or
extend the time of payment, (ii) settle, compromise, release in whole or in part
any amounts owing on any Accounts and (iii) issue credits in the name of such
Company or the Agent, on behalf of the Lenders; (c) sell, assign and deliver the
Collateral and any returned, reclaimed or repossessed merchandise, with or
without advertisement, at public or private sale, for cash, on credit or
otherwise, at the Agent's sole option and discretion, and the Agent may bid or
become a purchaser at any such sale, free from any right of redemption, which
right is hereby expressly waived by the Companies; (d) foreclose its security
interests in the Collateral by any available judicial procedure, or take
possession of any or all of the Inventory without judicial process, and to enter
any premises where any Inventory may be located for the purpose of taking
possession of or removing the same, (e) exercise any other rights and remedies
provided in law, in equity, by contract or otherwise, and (f) without notice or
advertisement, to sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of all or any part of the
Collateral whether in its then condition or after further preparation or
processing, in the name of any Company or the Agent, on behalf of the Lenders,
or in the name of such other party as the Agent may designate, either at public
or private sale or at any broker's board, in lots or in bulk, for cash or for
credit, with or without warranties or representations, and upon such other terms
and conditions as the Agent in its sole discretion may deem advisable, and the
Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, shall have the right to purchase at any such
sale. If any Inventory shall require rebuilding, repairing, maintenance or
preparation, the Agent shall have the right, at its option, to do such of the
aforesaid as is necessary, for the purpose of putting the Inventory in such
saleable form as the Agent shall deem appropriate. Each Company agrees, at the
request of the Agent, to assemble its Inventory and to make it available to the
Agent at premises of such Company or elsewhere and to make available to the
Agent the premises and facilities of such Company for the purpose of the Agent's
taking possession of, removing or putting such Inventory in saleable form.
However, if notice of intended disposition of any Collateral is required by law,
it is agreed that ten (10) days notice shall constitute reasonable notification
and full compliance with the law. The net cash proceeds resulting from the
Agent's exercise of any of the foregoing rights, (after deducting all charges,
costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees) shall be applied by
the Agent to the payment of the Obligations, whether due or to become due, in
such order as the Agent and the Lenders may elect, and the Companies shall
52
remain liable to the Agent and the Lenders for any deficiencies, and the Agent,
on behalf of the Lenders, in turn agrees to remit to the Companies or their
respective successors or assigns, any surplus resulting therefrom. The
enumeration of the foregoing rights is not intended to be exhaustive and the
exercise of any right shall not preclude the exercise of any other rights, all
of which shall be cumulative. The Mortgages and other documents relating to the
Real Estate shall govern the rights and remedies of the Agent and the Lenders
with respect thereto.
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SECTION 11. TERMINATION
11.1 Except as otherwise provided herein, the Companies and the Required
Lenders (acting through the Agent) may terminate this Financing Agreement and
the Revolving Line of Credit only as of the initial or any subsequent
Termination Date and then only by giving the other party at least ninety (90)
days prior written notice of termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (a) the
Required Lenders (acting through the Agent) may terminate the Financing
Agreement immediately upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, provided that
in the case of an Event of Default listed in Section 10.1(c) hereof, the Agent
and the Lenders may regard the Financing Agreement as terminated and notice to
that effect is not required, and (b) the Companies may terminate this Financing
Agreement and the Revolving Line of Credit prior to any applicable Termination
Date upon five (5) Business Days' prior written notice to the Agent, PROVIDED
that the Companies pay to the Agent immediately on demand, the Early Termination
Fee if such termination occurs on an Early Termination Date for any reason other
than the Agent's refusal to consent to the refinancing of the Notes under the
Indenture. This Financing Agreement, unless terminated as herein provided, shall
automatically continue from Termination Date to Termination Date. All
Obligations shall become due and payable as of any termination hereunder or
under Section 10 hereof and, pending a final accounting, the Agent may withhold
any balances in any Revolving Loan Account (unless supplied with an indemnity
satisfactory to the Agent) to cover all of the Obligations, whether absolute or
contingent. All of the rights of the Agent and the Lenders, liens and security
interests shall continue after any termination until all Obligations (other than
Obligations that expressly survive the termination of this Financing Agreement)
have been paid and satisfied in full. Upon payment in full of all Obligations
and termination of this Financing Agreement, the Agent and each Lender agrees to
promptly release all liens and security interests granted to secure the
Obligations, and to execute and deliver all lien releases and other instruments
reasonably requested by the Companies to evidence such termination and lien
release, all at the Companies' expense.
SECTION 12. MISCELLANEOUS
12.1 The Companies hereby waive, to the extent permitted under applicable
law, diligence, demand, presentment, protest and any notices thereof as well as
notices of nonpayment and acceleration. No waiver of any Event of Default by the
Lenders shall be effective unless such waiver is in writing and signed by an
officer of each of the Required Lenders. No delay or failure of the Agent or the
Lenders to exercise any right or remedy hereunder, whether before or after the
happening of any Event of Default, shall impair any such right or remedy, or
shall operate as a waiver of such right or remedy, or as a waiver of such Event
of Default. A waiver on any one occasion shall not be construed as a bar to or
waiver of any right or remedy on any future occasion. No single or partial
exercise by the Agent or the Lenders of any right or remedy precludes any other
or further exercise thereof, or precludes any other right or remedy.
12.2 This Financing Agreement and the Loan Documents: (a) constitute the
entire agreement among the Companies, the Agent and the Lenders; (b) supersede
any prior agreements; (c) subject to Section 14.10 hereof, may be amended only
by a writing signed by the Companies and the Required
54
Lenders; and (d) shall bind and benefit the Companies, the Agent, the Lenders
and their respective successors and assigns.
12.3 In no event shall the Companies, upon demand by the Agent for
payment of any indebtedness relating hereto, by acceleration of the maturity
thereof, or otherwise, be obligated to pay interest and fees in excess of the
amount permitted by law. Regardless of any provision herein or in any agreement
made in connection herewith, the Agent and the Lenders shall never be entitled
to receive, charge or apply, as interest on any indebtedness relating hereto,
any amount in excess of the maximum amount of interest permissible under
applicable law. If the Agent or any Lender ever receives, collects or applies
any such excess, it shall be deemed a partial repayment of principal and treated
as such; and if principal is paid in full, any remaining excess shall be
refunded to the Companies. This Section 12.3 shall control every other provision
hereof and of any other Loan Document.
12.4 If any provision hereof or of any other Loan Document is held to be
illegal or unenforceable, such provision shall be fully severable, and the
remaining provisions of the applicable agreement shall remain in full force and
effect and shall not be affected by such provision's severance. Furthermore, in
lieu of any such provision, there shall be added automatically as a part of the
applicable agreement a legal and enforceable provision as similar in terms to
the severed provision as may be possible.
12.5 THE COMPANIES THE AGENT AND THE LENDERS EACH HEREBY WAIVE ANY RIGHT
TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF THE LOAN DOCUMENTS
OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREUNDER. THE COMPANIES HEREBY IRREVOCABLY
WAIVE PERSONAL SERVICE OF PROCESS AND CONSENT TO SERVICE OF PROCESS BY CERTIFIED
OR REGISTERED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED. IN NO EVENT WILL THE AGENT OR THE
LENDERS BE LIABLE FOR LOST PROFITS OR OTHER SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES.
12.6 Except as otherwise herein provided, any notice or other
communication required hereunder shall be in writing, and shall be deemed to
have been validly served, given or delivered when received by the recipient if
hand delivered, sent by commercial overnight courier or sent by facsimile, or
three (3) Business Days after deposit in the United States mail, with proper
first class postage prepaid and addressed to the party to be notified as
follows:
(a) if to the Agent, at:
The CIT Group/Business Credit, Inc.
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: Regional Manager
Telecopier No.:(▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
55
(b) if to the Companies at:
c/o ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ Company
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: ▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Telecopier No.:(▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
(c) if to any Lender, at its address set forth below its signature on the
signature pages of this Financing Agreement or its address specified in the
Assignment and Transfer Agreement executed by such Lender; or
(d) to such other address as any party may designate for itself by like
notice.
12.7 THE VALIDITY, INTERPRETATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF THIS FINANCING
AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
ILLINOIS WITHOUT REGARD
TO PRINCIPALS OF CONFLICT OF LAWS.
12.8 Each Company, the Agent and the Lenders hereby (a) irrevocably
submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any
Illinois state or federal court
sitting in Chicago,
Illinois, over any action or proceeding arising out of or
relating to this Financing Agreement or any Loan Document, and (b) irrevocably
agree that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding may be heard and
determined in such
Illinois state or federal court. Each Company, on behalf of
itself and its respective subsidiaries, the Agent and the Lenders hereby
irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection it may
now or hereafter have to the laying of venue in any action or proceeding in any
such court as well as any right it may now or hereafter have to remove such
action or proceeding, once commenced, to another court on the grounds of forum
non conveniens or otherwise. Each Company, the Agent and the Lenders agree that
a final, nonappealable judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be
conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or
in any other manner provided by law.
SECTION 13. AGREEMENTS REGARDING THE LENDERS
13.1 (a) The Agent, on behalf of the Lenders, shall disburse all loans
and advances to the Companies and shall handle all collections of Collateral and
repayment of all Obligations. It is understood that for purposes of advances to
the Companies and for purposes of this Section 13, the Agent will be using the
funds of the Agent.
(b) Unless the Agent shall have been notified in writing by any Lender
prior to any advance to the Companies that such Lender will not make the amount
which would constitute its pro rata share of the borrowing on such date
available to the Agent, the Agent may assume that such Lender shall make such
amount available to the Agent on a Settlement Date, and in reliance upon such
assumption, the Agent may make available to the Companies a corresponding
amount. A certificate
56
of the Agent submitted to any Lender with respect to any amount owing under this
subsection shall be conclusive, absent manifest error. If such Lender's pro rata
share of such borrowing is not in fact made available to the Agent by such
Lender on the Settlement Date, the Agent shall be entitled to recover such
amount with interest thereon at the rate per annum applicable to Chase Bank
Loans hereunder, on demand, from the Companies, without prejudice to any rights
which the Agent may have against such Lender hereunder. Nothing contained in
this subsection shall relieve any Lender which has failed to make available its
pro rata share of any borrowing hereunder from its obligation to do so in
accordance with the terms hereof. In addition, nothing contained herein shall be
deemed to obligate the Agent to make available to the Companies the full amount
of a requested advance when the Agent has any notice (written or otherwise) that
any of the Lenders will not advance its pro rata share thereof.
13.2 On each Settlement Date, the Agent and the Lenders shall each remit
to the other, in immediately available funds, all amounts necessary so as to
ensure that, as of the Settlement Date, the Lenders shall advanced their
respective pro rata shares of all outstanding Obligations.
13.3 The Agent shall forward to each Lender, at the end of each month, a
copy of the account statement rendered by the Agent to the Companies.
13.4 After the Agent's receipt of any interest and fees earned under this
Financing Agreement, the Agent promptly will remit to the Lenders (a) their pro
rata share of all fees to which the Lenders are entitled hereunder and (b)
interest computed at the rate and as provided for in Section 8 of this Financing
Agreement on all outstanding amounts advanced by the Lenders on each Settlement
Date, prior to adjustment, that are subsequent to the last remittance by the
Agent to the Lenders of the Companies' interest.
13.5 (a) The Lenders may, with the prior written consent of the Agent,
which consent will not unreasonably be withheld or delayed, sell to one or more
commercial banks, commercial finance lenders or other financial institutions,
participations in the loans and extensions of credit made and to be made to the
Companies hereunder. Such participant shall have no rights as a Lender
hereunder, and notwithstanding the sale of any participation by a Lender, such
Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the
performance of its obligations hereunder, and the Companies, the Agent and the
Lenders may continue to deal solely with such Lender with respect to all matters
relating to this Financing Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
In addition, all amounts payable under this Financing Agreement to any Lender
which sells a participation in accordance with this paragraph shall continue to
be paid directly to such Lender and shall be determined as if such Lender had
not sold any such participation.
(b) The Lenders may also, with the prior written consent of the Agent,
which consent will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, assign to one or
more commercial banks, commercial finance lenders or other financial
institutions, all or a portion of their rights and obligations under this
Financing Agreement (including, without limitation, its obligations under the
Line of Credit and its rights and obligations with respect to Letters of
Credit). Any such assignment shall (i) apply to the same pro rata share of such
Lender's commitments and interests in the Revolving Loans, Term
57
Loans and Letters of Credit and (ii) if such assignment is a partial assignment,
be in a minimum principal amount of $5,000,000 and in integral multiples of
$1,000,000 in excess thereof. Upon execution of an Assignment and Transfer
Agreement, (i) the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the
extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned to it pursuant
to such assignment, have the rights and obligations of the assigning Lender as
the case may be hereunder and (ii) the assigning Lender shall, to the extent
that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned by such Lender pursuant
to such assignment, relinquish such Lender's rights and be released from its
obligations under this Financing Agreement. If necessary, the Companies agree to
execute any documents reasonably required to effectuate and acknowledge the
assignments.
(c) Subject to the provisions of Section 13.9, the Companies authorize
each Lender to disclose to any participant or purchasing lender any and all
financial information in such Lender's possession concerning the Companies and
their respective affiliates which has been delivered to such Lender by or on
behalf of the Companies pursuant to this Financing Agreement or which has been
delivered to such Lender by or on behalf of the Companies in connection with
such Lender's credit evaluation of the Companies and their respective affiliates
prior to entering into this Financing Agreement.
13.6 Each Company hereby agrees that each Lender is solely responsible
for funding its pro rata share of the Line of Credit and that neither the Agent
nor any Lender shall be responsible for, nor assume any obligations for the
failure of any Lender to make available, its pro rata share of the Line of
Credit. Further, should any Lender refuse to make available its pro rata share
of the Line of Credit, then any other Lender may, but without obligation to do
so, increase, unilaterally, its pro rata share of the Line of Credit, in which
event the Companies shall be obligated to that other Lender.
13.7 In the event that the Agent, the Lenders or any one of them is sued
or threatened with suit by any of the Companies, or by any receiver, trustee,
creditor or any committee of creditors on account of any preference, voidable
transfer or lender liability issue, alleged to have occurred or been received as
a result of, or during the transactions contemplated under this Financing
Agreement, then in such event any money paid in satisfaction or compromise of
such suit, action, claim or demand and any expenses, costs and attorneys' fees
paid or incurred in connection therewith, whether by the Agent, the Lenders or
any one of them, shall be shared proportionately by the Lenders. In addition,
any costs, expenses, fees or disbursements incurred by outside agencies or
attorneys retained by the Agent to effect collection or enforcement of any
rights in the Collateral, including enforcing, preserving or maintaining rights
under this Financing Agreement shall be shared pro rata among the Lenders to the
extent not reimbursed by the Companies or from the Proceeds of Collateral. The
provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to any suits, actions, proceedings
or claims that (a) predate the date of this Financing Agreement or (b) are based
on transactions, actions or omissions that predate the date of this Financing
Agreement.
13.8 Each Company authorizes each Lender, and each Lender shall have the
right, without notice, after the acceleration of the Obligations, to set-off and
apply against any and all property held by, or in the possession of such Lender,
any of the Obligations owed to such Lender.
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13.9 For the purposes of this Section 13.9, "CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION"
means all financial projections and all other information delivered to the Agent
or any Lender by or on behalf of the Companies or any Guarantor in connection
with the transactions contemplated by or otherwise pursuant to this Financing
Agreement that is proprietary in nature, provided that such term does not
include information that (a) was publicly known or otherwise known to the Agent
or the Lenders prior to the time of such disclosure, (b) subsequently becomes
publicly known through no act or omission by the Agent or the Lenders, or any
person acting on their behalf, by a Person not known by the Agent or such Lender
to be in breach of a confidentiality obligation with the Companies, (c)
otherwise becomes known to the Agent or the Lenders other than through
disclosure by Parent, any Company or any Guarantor or (d) constitutes financial
statements delivered under Section 7.8 that are otherwise publicly available.
The Agent and the Lenders will maintain the confidentiality of such Confidential
Information in accordance with commercially reasonable procedures adopted by the
Agent and the Lenders in good faith to protect confidential information of third
parties delivered to them, provided that the Agent and the Lenders may deliver
or disclose Confidential Information to (i) their respective directors,
officers, employees, agents, attorneys and affiliates (to the extent such
disclosure reasonably relates to the administration of the Line of Credit), (ii)
their respective financial advisors and other professional advisors who agree to
hold confidential the Confidential Information substantially in accordance with
the terms of this Section 13.9, (iii) any other Lender, (iv) any bank or other
commercial lender to which the Agent or a Lender sells or offers to sell a
portion of their rights and obligations under this Financing Agreement or any
participation therein (if such person has agreed in writing prior to its receipt
of such Confidential Information to be bound by the provisions of this Section
13.9), or (v) any other person (including bank auditors and other regulatory
officials) to which such delivery or disclosure may be necessary or appropriate
(A) to comply with compliance with any applicable law, rule, regulation or
order, (B) in response to any subpoena or other legal process, (C) in connection
with any litigation to which the Agent or a Lender is a party or (D) if an Event
of Default has occurred and is continuing, to the extent the Agent may
reasonably determine such delivery and disclosure to be necessary or appropriate
in the enforcement or for the protection of the rights and remedies under this
Financing Agreement. Each Lender becoming a Lender subsequent to the initial
execution and delivery of this Financing Agreement, by its execution and
delivery of an Assignment and Transfer Agreement, will be deemed to have agreed
to be bound by, and to be entitled to the benefits of, this Section 13.9.
SECTION 14. AGENCY
14.1 Each Lender hereby irrevocably designates and appoints The CIT
Group/Business Credit, Inc. to act as the Agent for the Lenders under this
Financing Agreement and any ancillary loan documents, and irrevocably authorizes
The CIT Group/Business Credit, Inc., as Agent for such Lender, to take such
action on its behalf under the provisions of this Financing Agreement and all
ancillary documents, and to exercise such powers and perform such duties as are
expressly delegated to the Agent by the terms of this Financing Agreement and
all ancillary documents, together with such other powers as are reasonably
incidental thereto. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary elsewhere in
this Financing Agreement, the Agent shall not have any duties or
responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein, or any fiduciary
relationship with any Lender and no implied covenants, functions,
responsibilities, duties, obligations or liabilities shall be read into this
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Financing Agreement and the ancillary documents or otherwise exist against the
Agent.
14.2 The Agent may execute any of its duties under this Financing
Agreement and all ancillary documents by or through agents or attorneys-in-fact
and shall be entitled to the advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining
to such duties.
14.3 Neither the Agent nor any of its officers, directors, employees,
agents, or attorneys-in-fact shall be (a) liable to any Lender for any action
lawfully taken or omitted to be taken by the Agent or such person under or in
connection with the Financing Agreement and all ancillary documents (except for
its or such person's own gross negligence or willful misconduct), or (b)
responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders for (i) any recitals,
statements, representations or warranties made by any Company or any officer
thereof contained in this Financing Agreement or in any ancillary document or in
any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for
in, or received by the Agent under or in connection with, this Financing
Agreement, (ii) the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability
or sufficiency of this Financing Agreement or any other Loan Document or (iii)
any failure of any Company to perform its obligations hereunder or under any
other Loan Document. The Agent shall not be under any obligation to any Lender
to ascertain or to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the
agreements contained in, or conditions of, this Financing Agreement or any
ancillary document, or to inspect the properties, books or records of the
Companies.
14.4 The Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in
relying, upon any note, writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate,
affidavit, letter, cablegram, telegram, telecopy, telex or teletype message,
statement, order or other document or conversation believed by the Agent to be
genuine and correct and to have been signed, sent or made by the proper person
or persons and upon advice and statements of legal counsel (including, without
limitation, counsel to the Companies), independent accountants and other experts
selected by the Agent. The Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing
to take any action under this Financing Agreement and all ancillary documents
unless the Agent (a) shall first receive such advice or concurrence of the
Lenders or the Required Lenders, as the case may be, as the Agent deems
appropriate, or (b) shall first be indemnified to its satisfaction by the
Lenders against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by the
Agent by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. The Agent shall
in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under
this Financing Agreement and all ancillary documents in accordance with a
request of all Lenders or the Required Lenders, as the case may be, and such
request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall be binding
upon all the Lenders.
14.5 The Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the
occurrence of any Default or Event of Default hereunder unless the Agent has
received notice from a Lender or any Company describing such Default or Event of
Default. In the event that the Agent receives such a notice, the Agent shall
promptly give notice thereof to the Lenders. The Agent shall take such action
with respect to such Default or Event of Default as shall be reasonably directed
by the Lenders or Required Lenders, as the case may be; provided that unless and
until the Agent shall have received such direction, the Agent may (but shall not
be obligated to) in the interim take such action, or
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refrain from taking such action, with respect to such Default or Event of
Default as the Agent shall deem advisable and in the best interests of the
Lenders.
14.6 Each Lender expressly acknowledges that neither the Agent nor any of
its officers, directors, employees, agents or attorneys-in-fact has made any
representations or warranties to such Lender, and agrees that no act by the
Agent hereinafter taken, including any review of the affairs of the Companies,
shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by the Agent to any
Lender. Each Lender represents to the Agent that such Lender has, independently
and without reliance upon the Agent or any other Lender and based on such
documents and information as such Lender has deemed appropriate, made its own
appraisal of and investigation into the business, operations, property,
financial and other condition and creditworthiness of the Companies and made its
own decision to enter into this Financing Agreement. Each Lender also represents
to the Agent that such Lender will, independently and without reliance upon the
Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as such
Lender shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit
analysis, appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under the
Financing Agreement and to make such investigation as such Lender deems
necessary to inform itself as to the business, operations, property, financial
and other condition or creditworthiness of the Companies. The Agent, however,
agrees to provide the Lenders with copies of all financial statements,
projections and business plans which come into the possession of the Agent.
14.7 The Lenders agree to indemnify the Agent (to the extent not
reimbursed by the Companies and without limiting the obligation of the Companies
to do so), from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses,
damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements
of any kind whatsoever which may at any time be imposed on, incurred by or
asserted against the Agent in any way relating to or arising out of (a) this
Financing Agreement or any ancillary document, or any documents contemplated by
or referred to herein, (b) the transactions contemplated hereby or (c) any
action taken or omitted by the Agent under or in connection with any of the
foregoing; provided that no Lender shall be liable for the payment of any
portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions,
judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting solely from the
Agent's gross negligence or willful misconduct. The agreements of the Lenders
set forth in this paragraph shall survive the termination of this Financing
Agreement and the repayment of the Obligations.
14.8 The Agent may make loans to, and generally engage in any kind of
business with the Companies as though the Agent were not the Agent hereunder.
With respect to loans made or renewed by the Agent, or loan obligations
hereunder as Lender, the Agent shall have the same rights and powers, duties and
liabilities under this Financing Agreement as any Lender and may exercise the
same as though it was not the Agent, and the terms "LENDER" and "LENDERS" shall
include the Agent in its individual capacities.
14.9 The Agent may resign as the Agent upon 30 days' notice to the
Lenders and the Companies and such resignation shall be effective upon the
appointment of a successor Agent. If the Agent shall resign as Agent, then the
Companies and the Lenders promptly shall appoint a successor to the Agent,
whereupon such successor shall succeed to the rights, powers and duties of the
Agent,
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and the term "AGENT" shall mean such successor effective upon its appointment.
Upon such appointment, the former Agent's rights, powers and duties as Agent
shall be terminated, without any other or further act or deed on the part of
such former Agent or any of the parties to this Financing Agreement. After any
Agent's resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Section 14 shall inure to
its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while acting as
the Agent.
14.10 Notwithstanding anything contained in this Financing Agreement to
the contrary, the Agent will not, without the prior written consent of all
Lenders: (a) amend the Financing Agreement to (i) increase the Line of Credit,
(ii) reduce the interest rates, (iii) reduce or waive (x) any fees in which the
Lenders share hereunder or (y) the repayment of any Obligations due the Lenders,
(iv) extend the maturity of the Obligations or (v) alter or amend x) this
Section 14.10 or y) the definitions of "AVAILABILITY", "BORROWING BASE", or
"REQUIRED LENDERS"; (b) release Collateral having a book value of more than One
Million Dollars ($1,000,000) in any fiscal year of the Companies; or (c)
intentionally make any Revolving Loan or assist in opening any Letter of Credit
hereunder, if after giving effect thereto the aggregate amount of Revolving
Loans and the face amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit made or issued
hereunder would exceed one hundred and ten percent (110%) of the Borrowing Base.
In all other respects the Agent is authorized to take or to refrain from taking
any action which the Agent, in its reasonable discretion, deems to be advisable
and in the best interest of the Lenders (including, without limitation, the
making of an Overadvance or the termination of the Financing Agreement upon the
occurrence of an Event of Default), unless this Financing Agreement specifically
requires the Companies or the Agent to obtain the consent of, or act at the
direction of, the Required Lenders.
14.11 In the event any Lender's consent is required pursuant to the
provisions of this Financing Agreement and such Lender does not respond to any
request by the Agent for such consent within 10 days after such request is made
to such Lender, such failure to respond shall be deemed a consent. In addition,
in the event that any Lender declines to give its consent to any request for
consent to a course of action requiring the consent of all Lenders, the Lenders
hereby mutually agree that the Agent and/or any other Lender (including a new
Lender) shall have the right (but not the obligation) to purchase such Lender's
pro rata share of the Obligations for the full amount thereof as of the date of
such purchase.
14.12 Each Lender agrees that notwithstanding the provisions of Section
11 of this Financing Agreement, such Lender, acting alone, may terminate this
Financing Agreement and the Line of Credit only as of the initial or any
subsequent Anniversary Date, and then only by giving the Agent one hundred
twenty (120) days prior written notice thereof. Within 30 days after receipt of
such termination notice, the Agent shall, at its option, either (a) give notice
of termination to the Companies hereunder or (b) purchase the Lender's pro rata
share of the Obligations hereunder for the full amount thereof as of the date of
such purchase.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Financing
Agreement to be executed, accepted and delivered at Chicago,
Illinois, by their
proper and duly authorized officers as of the date set forth above.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ CORPORATION
By: /s/ ▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
-----------------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: President and Chief Operating Officer
SWEET FACTORY, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
-----------------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: President and Chief Operating Officer
THE CIT GROUP/BUSINESS CREDIT,
INC., as Agent and as a Lender
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
------------------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Vice President