EXHIBIT 10.31
UNLIMITED GUARANTY
THIS UNLIMITED GUARANTY ("Guaranty") is made as of the 20th day of January,
1997 by Guarantor (as hereinafter defined) for the benefit of Bank (as
hereinafter defined).
1. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Guaranty, the following terms shall
have the meanings indicated below:
(a) The term "BANK" shall mean BANK ONE, TEXAS, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION;
whose address for notice purposes is the following:
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ Attn: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇.
(b) The term "BORROWER" (whether one or more) shall mean the
following:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Environmental Services, Inc.
(c) The term "GUARANTEED INDEBTEDNESS" shall mean (a) that certain
Letter Loan Agreement dated June 2, 1995 between Borrower and Bank (the
"LETTER LOAN AGREEMENT") including, without limitation, all amounts owing
pursuant to that certain $4,000,000.00 Revolving Line of Credit Promissory
Note dated June 2, 1995 and that certain $2,500,000.00 Advancing Line of
Credit Promissory Note also dated June 2, 1995, both of which notes have a
maturity date of June 2, 1997 (collectively, the "NOTES"), (b) that certain
Master Lease Agreement dated February 9, 1996 between Banc One Leasing
Corporation, as lessor ("ORIGINAL LESSOR"), and Borrower, as lessee,
pursuant to which equipment was to be leased from time to time by the
attachment thereto of one or more lease schedules (such lease agreement,
together with all lease schedules attached thereto herein called the
"MASTER LEASE AGREEMENT"), including specifically that certain lease
schedule no. 1000049223 between Borrower and the Original Lessor, pursuant
to which certain motor vehicles and equipment having a total cost of
$699,860.35 were leased, on a financing lease basis, by the Original Lessor
to Borrower, such lease term expiring on February 15, 2001 ("LEASE SCHEDULE
NO. 49223") and that certain lease schedule no. 1000049649 between Borrower
and the Original Lessor pursuant to which certain equipment having a total
cost of $1,800,515.65 was leased, on a financing lease basis, by the
Original Lessor to Borrower, such lease term expiring on March 15, 2003
("LEASE SCHEDULE NO. 49649"); Lease Schedule No. 49223 having been assigned
by the Original Lessor to Banc One Texas Leasing Corporation pursuant to an
Assignment and ▇▇▇▇ of Sale dated February 15, 1995 and Lease Schedule No.
49649 having been assigned by the Original Lessor to Banc One Texas Leasing
Corporation pursuant to an Assignment and ▇▇▇▇ of Sale dated March 15,
1996; Lease Schedule No. 49223 and Lease Schedule No. 49649 having been
further assigned by Banc One Texas Leasing Corporation to Bank
pursuant to an Assignment and ▇▇▇▇ of Sale dated January 10, 1997, (c) all
other indebtedness, obligations and liabilities of Borrower to Bank of any
kind or character, now existing or hereafter arising, whether direct,
indirect, related, unrelated, fixed, contingent, liquidated, unliquidated,
joint, several or joint and several, and regardless of whether such
indebtedness, obligations and liabilities may, prior to their acquisitions
by Bank, be or have been payable to or in favor of a third party and
subsequently acquired by Bank (it being contemplated that Bank may make
such acquisitions from third parties), including without limitation all
indebtedness, obligations and liabilities of Borrower to Bank now existing
or hereafter arising by note, draft, acceptance, guaranty, endorsement,
letter of credit, assignment, purchase, overdraft, discount, indemnity
agreement or otherwise, (d) all accrued but unpaid interest on any of the
indebtedness described in (a), (b) and (c) above, (e) all obligations of
Borrower to Bank under any documents evidencing, securing, governing and/or
pertaining to all or any part of the indebtedness described in (a), (b),
(c) and (d) above (collectively, the "LOAN DOCUMENTS"), (f) all costs and
expenses incurred by Bank in connection with the collection and
administration of all or any part of the indebtedness and obligations
described in (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) above or the protection or
preservation of, or realization upon, the collateral securing all or any
part of such indebtedness and obligations, including without limitation all
reasonable attorneys' fees, and (g) all renewals, extensions, modifications
and rearrangements of the indebtedness and obligations described in (a),
(b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) above.
(d) The term "GUARANTOR" shall mean Hydrocarbon Technologies, Inc., a
Texas corporation, whose address for notice purposes is the following:
▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
2. OBLIGATIONS. As an inducement to Bank to extend or continue to
extend credit and other financial accommodations to Borrower, Guarantor, for
value received, does hereby unconditionally and absolutely guarantee the prompt
and full payment and performance of the Guaranteed Indebtedness when due or
declared to be due and at all times thereafter.
3. CHARACTER OF OBLIGATIONS. This is an absolute, continuing and
unconditional guaranty of payment and not of collection and if at any time or
from time to time there is no outstanding Guaranteed Indebtedness, the
obligations of Guarantor with respect to any and all Guaranteed Indebtedness
incurred thereafter shall not be affected. All Guaranteed Indebtedness
heretofore, concurrently herewith or hereafter made by Bank to Borrower shall be
conclusively presumed to have been made or acquired in acceptance hereof.
Guarantor shall be liable, jointly and severally, with Borrower and any other
guarantor of all or any part of the Guaranteed Indebtedness.
4. RIGHT OF REVOCATION. Guarantor understands and agrees that
Guarantor may revoke its future obligations under this Guaranty at any time by
giving Bank written notice that Guarantor will not be liable hereunder for any
indebtedness or obligations of Borrower incurred on or after the effective date
of such revocation. Such revocation shall be deemed to be effective on the day
following the day Bank receives such notice delivered
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either by: (a) personal delivery to the address and designated department of
Bank identified in subparagraph l(a) above, or (b) United States mail,
registered or certified, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to
Bank at the address shown in subparagraph l(a) above. Notwithstanding such
revocation, Guarantor shall remain liable on its obligations hereunder until
payment in full to Bank of (x) all of the Guaranteed Indebtedness that is
outstanding on the effective date of such revocation, and any renewals and
extensions thereof, and (y) all loans, advances and other extensions of credit
made to or for the account of Borrower on or after the effective date of such
revocation pursuant to the obligation of Bank under a commitment or agreement
made to or with Borrower prior to the effective date of such revocation. The
terms and conditions of this Guaranty, including without limitation the consents
and waivers set forth in paragraph 7 hereof, shall remain in effect with respect
to the Guaranteed Indebtedness described in the preceding sentence in the same
manner as if such revocation had not been made by Guarantor.
5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. Guarantor hereby represents and
warrants the following to Bank:
(a) This Guaranty may reasonably be expected to benefit, directly or
indirectly, Guarantor, and (i) if Guarantor is a corporation, the Board of
Directors of Guarantor has determined that this Guaranty may reasonably be
expected to benefit, directly or indirectly, Guarantor, or (ii) if
Guarantor is a partnership, the requisite number of its partners have
determined that this Guaranty may reasonably be expected to benefit,
directly or indirectly, Guarantor; and
(b) Guarantor is familiar with, and has independently reviewed the
books and records regarding, the financial condition of Borrower and is
familiar with the value of any and all collateral intended to be security
for the payment of all or any part of the Guaranteed Indebtedness;
provided, however, Guarantor is not relying on such financial condition or
collateral as an inducement to enter into this Guaranty; and
(c) Guarantor has adequate means to obtain from Borrower on a
continuing basis information concerning the financial condition of Borrower
and Guarantor is not relying on Bank to provide such information to
Guarantor either now or in the future; and
(d) Guarantor has the power and authority to execute, deliver and
perform this Guaranty and any other agreements executed by Guarantor
contemporaneously herewith, and the execution, delivery and performance of
this Guaranty and any other agreements executed by Guarantor
contemporaneously herewith do not and will not violate (i) any agreement or
instrument to which Guarantor is a party, (ii) any law, rule, regulation or
order of any governmental authority to which Guarantor is subject, or (iii)
its articles or certificate of incorporation or bylaws, if Guarantor is a
corporation, or its partnership agreement, if Guarantor is a partnership;
and
(e) Neither Bank nor any other party has made any representation,
warranty or statement to Guarantor in order to induce Guarantor to execute
this Guaranty; and
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(f) The financial statements and other financial information
regarding Guarantor heretofore and hereafter delivered to Bank are and
shall be true and correct in all material respects and fairly present the
financial position of Guarantor as of the dates thereof, and no material
adverse change has occurred in the financial condition of Guarantor
reflected in the financial statements and other financial information
regarding Guarantor heretofore delivered to Bank since the date of the last
statement thereof; and
(g) As of the date hereof, and after giving effect to this Guaranty
and the obligations evidenced hereby, (i) Guarantor is and will be solvent,
(ii) the fair saleable value of Guarantor's assets exceeds and will
continue to exceed its liabilities (both fixed and contingent), (iii)
Guarantor is and will continue to be able to pay its debts as they mature,
and (iv) if Guarantor is not an individual, Guarantor has and will continue
to have sufficient capital to carry on its business and all businesses in
which it is about to engage.
6. COVENANTS. Guarantor hereby covenants and agrees with Bank as
follows:
(a) Guarantor shall not, so long as its obligations under this
Guaranty continue, transfer or pledge any material portion of its assets
for less than full and adequate consideration; and
(b) Guarantor shall promptly furnish to Bank at any time and from
time to time such financial statements and other financial information of
Guarantor as the Bank may require, in form and substance satisfactory to
Bank; and
(c) Guarantor shall comply with all terms and provisions of the Loan
Documents that apply to Guarantor; and
(d) Guarantor shall promptly inform Bank of (i) any litigation or
governmental investigation against Guarantor or affecting any security for
all or any part of the Guaranteed Indebtedness or this Guaranty which, if
determined adversely, might have a material adverse effect upon the
financial condition of Guarantor or upon such security or might cause a
default under any of the Loan Documents, (ii) any claim or controversy
which might become the subject of such litigation or governmental
investigation, and (iii) any material adverse change in the financial
condition of Guarantor.
7. CONSENT AND WAIVER.
(a) Guarantor waives (i) promptness, diligence and notice of
acceptance of this Guaranty and notice of the incurring of any obligation,
indebtedness or liability to which this Guaranty applies or may apply and
waives presentment for payment, notice of nonpayment, protest, demand,
notice of protest, notice of intent to accelerate, notice of acceleration,
notice of dishonor, diligence in enforcement and indulgences of every kind,
and (ii) the taking of any other action by Bank, including without
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limitation, giving any notice of default or any other notice to, or making
any demand on, Borrower, any other guarantor of all or any part of the
Guaranteed Indebtedness or any other party.
(b) Guarantor waives any rights Guarantor has under, or any
requirements imposed by, Chapter 34 of the Texas Business and Commerce
Code, as in effect on the date of this Guaranty or as it may be amended
from time to time.
(c) Bank may at any time, without the consent of or notice to
Guarantor, without incurring responsibility to Guarantor and without
impairing, releasing, reducing or affecting the obligations of Guarantor
hereunder: (i) change the manner, place or terms of payment of all or any
part of the Guaranteed Indebtedness, or renew, extend, modify, rearrange or
alter all or any part of the Guaranteed Indebtedness; (ii) change the
interest rate accruing on any of the Guaranteed Indebtedness (including,
without limitation, any periodic change in such interest rate that occurs
because such Guaranteed Indebtedness accrues interest at a variable rate
which may fluctuate from time to-time); (iii) sell, exchange, release,
surrender, subordinate, realize upon or otherwise deal with in any manner
and in any order any collateral for all or any part of the Guaranteed
Indebtedness or this Guaranty or set off against all or any part of the
Guaranteed Indebtedness; (iv) neglect, delay, omit, fail or refuse to take
or prosecute any action for the collection of all or any part of the
Guaranteed Indebtedness or this Guaranty or to take or prosecute any action
in connection with any of the Loan Documents; (v) exercise or refrain from
exercising any rights against Borrower or others, or otherwise act or
refrain from acting; (vi) settle or compromise all or any part of the
Guaranteed Indebtedness and subordinate the payment of all or any part of
the Guaranteed Indebtedness to the payment of any obligations, indebtedness
or liabilities which may be due or become due to Bank or others; (vii)
apply any deposit balance, fund, payment, collections through process of
law or otherwise or other collateral of Borrower to the satisfaction and
liquidation of the indebtedness or obligations of Borrower to Bank, if any,
not guaranteed under this Guaranty pursuant to paragraph 4 or 11 herein;
and (viii) apply any sums paid to Bank by Guarantor, Borrower or others to
the Guaranteed Indebtedness in such order and manner as Bank, in its sole
discretion, may determine.
(d) Should Bank seek to enforce the obligations of Guarantor
hereunder by action in any court or otherwise, Guarantor waives any
requirement, substantive or procedural, that (i) Bank first enforce any
rights or remedies against Borrower or any other person or entity liable to
Bank for all or any part of the Guaranteed Indebtedness, including without
limitation that a judgment first be rendered against Borrower or any other
person or entity, or that Borrower or any other person or entity should be
joined in such cause, or (ii) Bank shall first enforce rights against any
collateral which shall ever have been given to secure all or any part of
the Guaranteed Indebtedness or this Guaranty. Such waiver shall be without
prejudice to Bank's right, at its option, to proceed against Borrower or
any other person or entity, whether by separate action or by joinder.
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(e) In addition to any other waivers, agreements and covenants of
Guarantor set forth herein, Guarantor hereby further waives and releases
all claims, causes of action, defenses and offsets for any act or omission
of Bank, its directors, officers, employees, representatives or agents in
connection with Bank's administration of the Guaranteed Indebtedness,
except for Bank's willful misconduct and gross negligence.
8. OBLIGATIONS NOT IMPAIRED.
(a) Guarantor agrees that its obligations hereunder shall not be
released, diminished, impaired, reduced or affected by the occurrence of
any one or more of the following events: (i) the death, disability or lack
of corporate power of Borrower, Guarantor (except as provided in paragraph
11 herein) or any other guarantor of all or any part of the Guaranteed
Indebtedness, (ii) any receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy or other
proceedings affecting Borrower, Guarantor or any other guarantor of all or
any part of the Guaranteed Indebtedness, or any of their respective
property; (iii) the partial or total release or discharge of Borrower or
any other guarantor of all or any part of the Guaranteed Indebtedness, or
any other person or entity from the performance of any obligation contained
in any instrument or agreement evidencing, governing or securing all or any
part of the Guaranteed Indebtedness, whether occurring by reason of law or
otherwise; (iv) the taking or accepting of any collateral for all or any
part of the Guaranteed Indebtedness or this Guaranty; (v) the taking or
accepting of any other guaranty for all or any part of the Guaranteed
Indebtedness; (vi) any failure by Bank to acquire, perfect or continue any
lien or security interest on collateral securing all or any part of the
Guaranteed Indebtedness or this Guaranty; (vii) the impairment of any
collateral securing all or any part of the Guaranteed Indebtedness or this
Guaranty; (viii) any failure by Bank to sell any collateral securing all or
any part of the Guaranteed Indebtedness or this Guaranty in a commercially
reasonable manner or as otherwise required by law; (ix) any invalidity or
unenforceability of or defect or deficiency in any of the Loan Documents;
or (x) any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a defense
available to, or discharge of, Borrower or any other guarantor of all or
any part of the Guaranteed Indebtedness.
(b) This Guaranty shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as
the case may be, if at any time any payment of all or any part of the
Guaranteed Indebtedness is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by Bank
upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of Borrower, Guarantor,
any other guarantor of all or any part of the Guaranteed Indebtedness, or
otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made.
(c) In the event Borrower is a corporation, joint stock association
or partnership, or is hereafter incorporated, none of the following shall
affect Guarantor's liability hereunder: (i) the unenforceability of all or
any part of the Guaranteed Indebtedness against Borrower by reason of the
fact that the Guaranteed Indebtedness exceeds the amount permitted by law;
(ii) the act of creating all or any part of the Guaranteed Indebtedness is
ultra ▇▇▇▇▇; or (iii) the officers or partners creating all or any part of
the Guaranteed Indebtedness acted in excess of their authority. Guarantor
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hereby acknowledges that withdrawal from, or termination of, any ownership
interest in Borrower now or hereafter owned or held by Guarantor shall not
alter, affect or in any way limit the obligations of Guarantor hereunder.
9. ACTIONS AGAINST GUARANTOR. In the event of a default in the payment or
performance of all or any part of the Guaranteed Indebtedness when such
Guaranteed Indebtedness becomes due, whether by its terms, by acceleration or
otherwise, Guarantor shall, without notice or demand, promptly pay the amount
due thereon to Bank, in lawful money of the United States, at Bank's address set
forth in subparagraph l(a) above. One or more successive or concurrent actions
may be brought against Guarantor, either in the same action in which Borrower is
sued or in separate actions, as often as Bank deems advisable. The exercise by
Bank of any right or remedy under this Guaranty or under any other agreement or
instrument, at law, in equity or otherwise, shall not preclude concurrent or
subsequent exercise of any other right or remedy. The books and records of Bank
shall be admissible in evidence in any action or proceeding involving this
Guaranty and shall be prima facie evidence of the payments made on, and the
outstanding balance of, the Guaranteed Indebtedness.
10. PAYMENT BY GUARANTOR. Whenever Guarantor pays any sum which is or may
become due under this Guaranty, written notice must be delivered to Bank
contemporaneously with such payment. Such notice shall be effective for purposes
of this paragraph when contemporaneously with such payment Bank receives such
notice either by: (a) personal delivery to the address and designated department
of Bank identified in subparagraph l(a) above, or (b) United States mail,
certified or registered, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to
Bank at the address shown in subparagraph l(a) above. In the absence of such
notice to Bank by Guarantor in compliance with the provisions hereof, any sum
received by Bank on account of the Guaranteed Indebtedness shall be conclusively
deemed paid by Borrower.
11. DEATH OF GUARANTOR. In the event of the death of Guarantor, any duly
authorized representative of the estate of Guarantor may revoke Guarantor's
future obligations under this Guaranty by giving Bank written notice of
Guarantor's death and that the estate of Guarantor shall not be liable hereunder
for any indebtedness or obligations of Borrower incurred on or after the
effective date of such revocation. Such revocation shall be deemed to be
effective on the day following the day Bank receives such notice delivered
either by: (a) personal delivery to the address and designated department of
Bank identified in subparagraph l(a) above, or (b) United States mail,
registered or certified, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to
Bank at the address shown in subparagraph la) above. Notwithstanding such
revocation, the obligations of the deceased Guarantor shall continue as an
obligation against his estate as to (x) all of the Guaranteed Indebtedness that
is outstanding on the effective date of such revocation, and any renewals or
extensions thereof, and (y) all loans, advances and other extensions of credit
made to or for the account of Borrower on or after the effective date of such
revocation pursuant to an obligation of Bank under a commitment or agreement
made to or with Borrower prior to the effective date of such revocation. The
terms and conditions of this Guaranty, including without limitation the consents
and waivers set forth in paragraph 7 hereof, shall remain in effect with respect
to the Guaranteed
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Indebtedness described in the preceding sentence in the same manner as if such
revocation had not been made.
12. NOTICE OF SALE. In the event that Guarantor is entitled to receive any
notice under the Uniform Commercial Code, as it exists in the state governing
any such notice, of the sale or other disposition of any collateral securing all
or any part of the Guaranteed Indebtedness or this Guaranty, reasonable notice
shall be deemed given when such notice is deposited in the United States mail,
postage prepaid, at the address for Guarantor set forth in subparagraph l(d)
above, five (5) days prior to the date any public sale, or after which any
private sale, of any such collateral is to be held; Provided, however, that
notice given in any other reasonable manner or at any other reasonable time
shall be sufficient.
13. WAIVER BY BANK. No delay on the part of Bank in exercising any right
hereunder or failure to exercise the same shall operate as a waiver of such
right. In no event shall any waiver of the provisions of this Guaranty be
effective unless the same be in writing and signed by an officer of Bank, and
then only in the specific instance and for the purpose given.
14. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Guaranty is for the benefit of Bank, its
successors and assigns. This Guaranty is binding upon Guarantor and Guarantor's
heirs, executors, administrators, personal representatives and successors,
including without limitation any person or entity obligated by operation of law
upon the reorganization, merger, consolidation or other change in the
organizational structure of Guarantor.
15. COSTS AND EXPENSES. Guarantor shall pay on demand by Bank all costs and
expenses, including without limitation, all reasonable attorneys' fees incurred
by Bank in connection with the preparation, administration, enforcement and/or
collection of this Guaranty. This covenant shall survive the payment of the
Guaranteed Indebtedness.
16. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Guaranty is held by a court of
competent jurisdiction to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable under present or
future laws, such provision shall be fully severable, shall not impair or
invalidate the remainder of this Guaranty and the effect thereof shall be
confined to the provision held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable.
17. NO OBLIGATION. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as an obligation
on the part of Bank to extend or continue to extend credit to Borrower.
18. AMENDMENT. No modification or amendment of any provision of this
Guaranty, nor consent to any departure by Guarantor therefrom, shall be
effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by an officer of Bank,
and then shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose
for which given.
19. CUMULATIVE RIGHTS. All rights and remedies of Bank hereunder are
cumulative of each other and of every other right or remedy which Bank may
otherwise have at law or in equity or under any instrument or agreement, and the
exercise of one or more of such rights or remedies shall not prejudice or impair
the concurrent or subsequent exercise of any other rights or remedies.
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20. GOVERNING LAW. THIS GUARANTY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS AND APPLICABLE FEDERAL LAWS.
21. VENUE. This Guaranty has been entered into in the county in Texas where
Bank's address for notice purposes is located, and it shall be performable for
all purposes in such county. Courts within the State of Texas shall have
jurisdiction over any and all disputes arising under or pertaining to this
Guaranty and venue for any such disputes shall be in the county or judicial
district where the Bank's address for notice purposes is located.
22. COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE USURY LAWS. Notwithstanding any other provision
of this Guaranty or of any instrument or agreement evidencing, governing or
securing all or any part of the Guaranteed Indebtedness, Guarantor and Bank by
its acceptance hereof agree that Guarantor shall never be required or obligated
to pay interest in excess of the maximum nonusurious interest rate as may be
authorized by applicable law for the written contracts which constitute the
Guaranteed Indebtedness. It is the intention of Guarantor and Bank to conform
strictly to the applicable laws which limit interest rates, and any of the
aforesaid contracts for interest, if and to the extent payable by Guarantor,
shall be held to be subject to reduction to the maximum nonusurious interest
rate allowed under said law.
23. DESCRIPTIVE HEADINGS. The headings in this Guaranty are for convenience
only and shall not define or limit the provisions hereof.
24. GENDER. Within this Guaranty, words of any gender shall be held and
construed to include the other gender.
25. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Guaranty contains the entire agreement between
Guarantor and Bank regarding the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior
written and oral agreements and understandings, if any, regarding same;
provided, however, this Guaranty is in addition to and does not replace, cancel,
modify or affect any other guaranty of Guarantor now or hereafter held by Bank
that relates to Borrower or any other person or entity.
EXECUTED as of the date first above written.
GUARANTOR:
HYDROCARBON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By: /s/ W. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Name: W. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Title: Vice President
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