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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10

 

 

GENERAL FORM FOR REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES

Pursuant to Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

LOGO

Global Power Equipment Group Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   73-1541378

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

6120 S. Yale, Suite 1480

Tulsa, OK 74136

(918) 488-0828

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,

including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class to be so registered

 

Name of each exchange on which each class is to be registered

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share   NASDAQ Global Market

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   x   (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

 

 

 


Table of Contents

Table of Contents

 

Item 1. Business.    3
Item 1A. Risk Factors.    12
Item 2. Financial Information.    21
Item 3. Properties.    32
Item 4. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.    33
Item 5. Directors and Executive Officers.    35
Item 6. Executive Compensation.    39
Item 7. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.    61
Item 8. Legal Proceedings.    62
Item 9. Market Price of and Dividends on the Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters.    63
Item 10. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.    65
Item 11. Description of Registrant’s Securities to be Registered.    65
Item 12. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.    68
Item 13. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.    69
Item 14. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.    69
Item 15. Financial Statements and Exhibits.    70

 

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Statements we make in this registration statement that express a belief, expectation or intention or otherwise are not limited to recounting historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those noted under the headings “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in Items 1 and 1A of this registration statement.

 

Item 1. Business.

Overview

Global Power Equipment Group Inc. is a leading comprehensive provider of power generation equipment and maintenance services for customers in the domestic and international energy, power infrastructure and service industries.

We design, engineer and manufacture a comprehensive range of auxiliary power and heat recovery equipment primarily used to enhance the efficiency and facilitate the operation of gas turbine power plants as well as for other industrial, energy and power-related applications. With a strong competitive position in our product lines, we benefit from a large installed base of equipment in domestic and international markets.

We provide on-site specialty, maintenance and outage management services for commercial nuclear reactors and specialty, maintenance and other industrial services to fossil-fuel and hydroelectric power plants and other industrial operations in the United States. These services include a comprehensive range of industrial maintenance, modification and construction services for power generation, pulp and paper, chemical, refining, manufacturing and other industrial markets. We also combine our services and equipment resources to offer turn-key solutions for aftermarket repair applications for the North American gas turbine power generation, hydrocarbon and cogeneration market segments.

Through predecessor entities, we have over 40 years of experience providing custom engineered products that are critical for the operation of gas turbine power plants and more than 18 years of experience providing complex outage shutdown services to operators of nuclear power plants as well as other industrial maintenance services. Our current corporate structure, in which Global Power Equipment Group Inc. acts through operating subsidiaries, dates to 2001 when we made our initial public offering and listed our stock on the New York Stock Exchange. We acquired our nuclear plant and other industrial services capabilities through a transaction completed in April 2005.

We and all of our U.S. subsidiaries filed voluntary Chapter 11 petitions under the United States Bankruptcy Code on September 28, 2006. We successfully exited Chapter 11 on January 22, 2008 pursuant to an approved Plan of Reorganization. Since our emergence from bankruptcy, our common stock has been quoted on the over-the-counter “Pink Sheets” under the symbol “GLPW.” For detail regarding the events leading to, certain consequences of, and the terms of our emergence from bankruptcy, see the discussion below in Item 1 under the heading “Bankruptcy Reorganization.”

Business Segments

We operate through two business segments which we refer to as our Products Division and our Services Division. For information about our segments see Note 12 to our consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10.

Through our Products Division, we engineer, design and fabricate products worldwide for the gas turbine power generation, energy and process industries. We supply auxiliary power equipment and components under the Braden Manufacturing and Consolidated Fabricators brands and heat recovery boilers under the Deltak brand. A significant portion of our products revenue originates outside of the United States.

Through our Services Division, we provide industrial technical services under the Williams Industrial Services Group brand, focusing on specialty services, outage management and overhaul of power facilities and other heavy industrial plants. All of our services revenue is from operations conducted in the United States.

 

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Revenues by segment for 2009, 2008 and 2007 are as follows (in thousands):

 

     For the Years Ended December 31,
     2009    2008    2007

Products Division

   $ 193,150    36%    $ 311,603    56%    $ 208,085    52%

Services Division

     347,460    64%      245,161    44%      195,333    48%
                             
   $ 540,610       $ 556,764       $ 403,418   
                             

Products Division

We sell our products to the gas turbine power generation, hydrocarbon and cogeneration market segments. Our principal customers are gas turbine original equipment manufacturers and engineering, procurement and construction contractors. We also provide replacement parts, filter elements and aftermarket retrofit equipment to both original equipment manufacturers and end users. Our products are critical to the efficient operation of gas turbine power plants and are custom engineered to meet customer-specific requirements. We manufacture and sell two primary product lines: auxiliary power equipment and heat recovery equipment.

The contracts under which we sell our products are generally fixed-price and may be either “lump sum bid” or “negotiated fixed-price” contracts. Under lump sum bid contracts, we bid against other contractors based on relatively fixed customer specifications. In the case of negotiated fixed-price contracts, we are selected as the contractor before negotiating a price with the customer and often before the full scope and detail of the work to be performed has been determined.

Auxiliary Power Equipment. We provide a comprehensive range of products critical to the operation of gas turbine power plants through our Braden Manufacturing subsidiary, headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Our auxiliary power equipment product offerings, which we market under the Braden and Consolidated Fabricators brand names, include:

 

   

Filterhouses . A filter house cleans debris, dirt and other contaminants from the air that enters the turbine, using either a barrier filter or a pulse filter. Barrier filters use a series of filter elements contained in a large filter house to remove airborne contaminants. Pulse filters are self-cleaning filters that use blasts of air to expel dirt or ice from the filter element. In addition to a barrier or pulse filter, a filter house may include evaporative coolers, chiller coils, fog cooling systems, anti-icing systems and a broad range of other equipment to treat the air that is pulled through the turbine.

 

   

Inlet Systems . Inlet systems are large air intake ducts that connect the filter house to the gas turbine and provide silencing for the noise emanating from the gas turbine through the inlet. The major components of an inlet system are inlet silencers, expansion joints and inlet ductwork.

 

   

Exhaust Systems . Exhaust systems direct the hot exhaust from the turbine to the atmosphere. The main components of an exhaust system are exhaust ductwork, acoustic silencing equipment and the exhaust stack. Exhaust systems are custom engineered and complex due to the severe turbulence and heat exposure that they must endure.

 

   

Diverter Dampers . Diverter dampers divert the hot exhaust from the gas turbine into a heat recovery steam generator when the power plant is operated as a combined cycle facility or into the exhaust stack in the case of a simple cycle operation. We also design and manufacture various other types of dampers.

 

   

Selective Catalytic Emission Reduction Systems . These systems, commonly referred to as SCRs, are used in simple cycle gas turbine facilities and are focused on removing oxides of nitrogen and carbon monoxide.

 

   

Packaged Skids, Precision Parts and Specialty Fabrications . We manufacture these products in our Auburn, Massachusetts plant and sell them under the Consolidated Fabricators brand. Packaged skids in various configurations support the operation of the gas turbine. Precision parts and specialty fabrications are used in both new gas turbine equipment and in aftermarket applications.

Heat Recovery Equipment. We provide heat recovery steam generator boilers and specialty boilers and related products through our Deltak subsidiary, headquartered in Plymouth, Minnesota. We market these products under the Deltak brand name.

 

   

Heat Recovery Steam Generators . A heat recovery steam generator (commonly referred to as a “HRSG”) is a boiler that creates steam in a combined cycle power plant or a cogeneration plant using the hot exhaust emitted by the gas turbine or other heat source. This steam is either used to drive a steam turbine to produce additional electricity in a combined cycle power plant or is used for process purposes in a cogeneration plant. Each HRSG is custom designed and engineered to meet the specifications of the customer, taking into account the type of gas turbine and the environmental locale, among other factors. We design and manufacture HRSGs for applications supporting turbines up to 85 megawatt capacity for both new combined cycle and retrofitted simple cycle power plants. We have an installed base of more than 300 mid-sized HRSGs in over 20 countries.

 

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Specialty Boilers and Related Products . Specialty boilers are a highly customized class of equipment that capture waste heat and convert it into steam. We develop creative engineering solutions to produce specialty boilers used in process heat recovery and incineration systems, small power generation systems and marine cogeneration systems. Our specialty boilers are used in a wide range of markets, including oil and gas, pulp and paper, chemicals, petrochemical, marine and food industries. We have an installed base of more than 1100 specialty boilers in over 30 countries.

Supply Chain Structure. We fabricate our equipment through a combination of in-house manufacturing at our own factories in the United States and Mexico and outsourced manufacturing in other countries around the world. Our network of high-quality international manufacturing partners, located in more than 20 countries, allows us to manufacture equipment for power plant projects and power-related equipment worldwide at competitive prices. Outsourcing a portion of our manufacturing enables us to meet increasing demand without being restricted by internal manufacturing capacity limitations and also reduces our capital expenditure requirements. Our employees work closely with our international manufacturing partners to supervise the manufacture of our products at their facilities. Our use of manufacturing facilities around the world, whether our own or those of our manufacturing partners, allows us to respond to the particular sourcing initiatives of our customers, whether those initiatives call for global sourcing or for localized supply content.

Our technical engineering capabilities allow us to design and manufacture what we believe are among the broadest ranges of gas turbine power plant and other power-related equipment to meet each customer’s specific performance requirements. We provide products for gas turbine power plants to most of the leading power industry original equipment manufacturers and to a number of leading power generating companies and engineering, procurement and construction firms within the United States and abroad.

Gas Turbine Power Generation, Hydrocarbon and Cogeneration Market Overview . All gas turbine power plants combine a gas turbine with a generator to produce electricity. In a simple cycle gas turbine plant, the hot exhaust coming out of the gas turbine is vented to the atmosphere through an exhaust stack. In a combined cycle plant, the hot exhaust coming out of the gas turbine is fed into a heat recovery steam generator; the HRSG captures much of the heat from the gas turbine exhaust to generate steam, which in turn is used to power a steam turbine and generate more electricity before the exhaust is vented into the atmosphere. We manufacture products that are critical components of both simple cycle and combined cycle plants, including filter houses, diverter dampers, inlet and exhaust systems and turbine and generator enclosures. We also manufacture specialized diverter dampers that are used in combined cycle plants between the gas turbines and the HRSG.

We believe manufacturers of equipment and components supporting gas turbine power plants are well positioned to benefit from the need for new or more efficient power generation infrastructure. The advantages of power generation plants utilizing gas turbine technologies versus other technologies include:

 

   

lower construction costs,

 

   

shorter construction periods,

 

   

improved operating efficiency,

 

   

lower emissions of CO 2 ,

 

   

minimal other environmental impact,

 

   

flexibility to expand plant capacity, and

 

   

rapid start-up and shutdown time.

As a leading provider of equipment for simple and combined cycle gas turbine power plants, we should benefit from the growth of gas turbine power plant capacity that we expect to result from the factors listed above.

 

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Services Division

Our Services Division, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is operated under the name Williams Industrial Services Group, LLC (“Williams”). Through Williams, we provide routine and specialty maintenance services to a wide range of utilities and industrial customers, including nuclear, fossil-fuel and hydroelectric power plants and pulp and paper mills. Our service offerings include industrial painting and coating, removal of hazardous materials, industrial insulation, repair and replacement of roofing systems and nuclear, fossil fuel and hydroelectric power plant maintenance. The majority of these services are designed to improve or sustain operating efficiencies and extend the useful lives of process equipment in these facilities. In addition, these services provide our customers with a credible alternative to maintaining in-house maintenance capabilities. We provide maintenance services both on a constant presence basis and as a service provider for discrete projects. By providing high quality industrial services with exemplary safety performance, we have forged long-standing relationships with many leading utilities.

We contract for most of the services we provide on a cost-plus basis under contracts that provide for reimbursement of costs incurred plus an amount of profit in the form of a mark-up. We contract for a smaller portion of the services we provide on a fixed-price basis. In the case of lump sum bid contracts, we bid against other contractors based on customer specifications. Fixed-price contracts present certain inherent risks, including the possibility of ambiguities in the specifications received, problems with new technologies, and economic and other changes that may occur over the contract period. Accordingly, fixed-price agreements are not our preferred form of contract. However, because of efficiencies that may be realized during the contract term, fixed-price contracts may offer greater profit potential than other types of contracts.

Service offerings include the following:

 

   

Nuclear Power Plant Maintenance . We perform a full range of critical services for the nuclear facility market, including routine maintenance and modification work performed during outages, decommissioning services, cooling tower and steam generator replacement support and vessel and heat exchanger replacements. We are one of a limited number of companies qualified to perform comprehensive services in United States nuclear power plants.

 

   

Fossil Fuel and Hydroelectric Power Plant Maintenance . We provide routine maintenance, repair and capital project services primarily in coal-fired, gas-fired and hydroelectric power plants, often managing hundreds of craft employees. Services provided include electrical and mechanical maintenance, outage support, turnarounds, welding, scaffolding, staff augmentation, grounds maintenance and janitorial and custodial services.

 

   

Industrial Painting and Coatings . We perform cleaning, surface preparation, coatings application, quality control and inspection testing, utilizing Williams Insight™, our proprietary analysis system, to help our customers schedule and prioritize major coating projects based on a detailed cost/benefit analysis. Coatings applied in industrial environments are typically designed for specific applications. To satisfy these exacting requirements, many of these coatings involve multiple component mixes, require specialized application equipment and are strictly monitored and tested.

 

   

Insulation . We provide a variety of industrial insulation services, primarily in process-piping installations. These services are commonly packaged with industrial coating projects.

 

   

Roofing Systems . We routinely replace, repair and upgrade industrial facility roofing systems, primarily within the highly corrosive environments of pulp and paper manufacturing facilities. Our proprietary Pro-Tec™ Panel system allows our employees to safely work above operational equipment on roofing projects while completely containing all refuse materials. This allows us to rehabilitate or completely replace the roof of an industrial facility without interrupting production.

 

   

Abatement . We provide two primary abatement services for the removal of hazardous materials: removal of asbestos and removal of heavy metal based coatings such as lead paint. These services involve the demolition of the contaminated area, the collection and containment of hazardous material and arrangements for their disposal or storage. We do not take ownership of hazardous materials and do not assume responsibility for the liability associated with the materials other than for our actions meeting applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

 

   

Valve Services . We provide integrated valve and actuator services to our customer base. These services include inspection, preventative maintenance and repair of various types of valves and actuators. We offer a full spectrum of valve services for diagnostic testing and analysis, project management, training and engineering.

Industrial Services Industry and Market Overview. The U.S. industrial services industry is a multi-billion dollar industry broadly defined as routine maintenance and technical services provided to industrial facilities ranging from manufacturing facilities to power generation plants. The industry is currently experiencing a shift towards outsourcing as plant operators seek to alleviate financial constraints, reduce labor costs, increase labor utilization and productivity and eliminate operational redundancies.

 

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We expect that power industry demand for industrial maintenance services will be driven by the following factors in the future:

 

   

Aging Infrastructure . According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration, more than half of the electrical generating capacity in the United States was placed in service before 1980. Coupled with the limited number of large-scale power generation facilities being constructed, the efforts to maintain older plants of all types and take advantage of newer and more efficient technologies at existing sites have created opportunities for companies providing maintenance and modification services.

 

   

Increasing Demand for Nuclear Plant Maintenance . The United States currently has 104 operating nuclear reactors that generate approximately 20% of annual electric production. These nuclear reactors have been in operation for an average of 30 years and require extensive ongoing engineering and maintenance services to support operations and improve performance. Nuclear power plants in the United States are subject to a rigorous program of Nuclear Regulatory Commission (“NRC”) oversight, inspection, preventive and corrective maintenance, equipment replacement and equipment testing. Nuclear power plants are required by the NRC to go offline to refuel at intervals of no more than 24 months and to perform condition monitoring and preventive maintenance during every refueling outage. NRC regulations also require that nuclear generating facilities be decommissioned, or returned to “greenfield” status, at the end of their operating lives. Initially, commercial nuclear power plants in the United States were licensed to operate for 40 years, reflecting the amortization period generally used by electric utility companies for large capital investments. In 2000, the NRC issued the first license renewal to a nuclear power plant, extending its license for an additional 20 years beyond its original 40-year license. The NRC has since issued 20-year license extensions for numerous reactors and is reviewing license renewal applications for others. We expect the extended operating licenses of nuclear power plants will also increase the maintenance requirements of these facilities.

 

   

New Nuclear Plant Construction . We expect new nuclear plants to be constructed over the next 10 years. In February 2010, the federal government announced loan guarantees for the construction of the first new nuclear unit at Southern Nuclear Operating Company’s Vogtle Nuclear Plant near Waynesboro, Georgia. We believe we are well positioned to participate in new plant construction opportunities, through our Williams services division. These types of services are generally required in the later stages of the construction process and they are frequently subcontracted by new build contractors.

Customers and Marketing

Products . Our Products customers include original equipment manufacturers, engineering procurement and construction firms, utilities and independent operators of power generation facilities and firms engaged across several process related industries. The end users of most of our products are owners and operators of gas turbine power plants and refineries. We market our products globally through a sales network consisting of employees and independent representatives. We have employed sales representatives in China, Egypt, the Netherlands and the United States. Our sales teams travel extensively and work with our local manufacturing partners to assess local market conditions, utilize local contacts and respond quickly to our customers’ needs. We focus our sales and marketing efforts on end users of our products, including the developers and operators of gas turbine power plants, and on gas turbine original equipment manufacturers, which may order our products directly or specify the use of our products.

Services . Our Services customers include major private and government owned utilities throughout the United States as well as leaders in the United States paper and industrial sectors. We market our services using dedicated sales and marketing personnel, operations personnel, and external consultants retained for specific projects. We use specific services sales initiatives to emphasize long-term renewable contracts that are augmented by small to medium sized, fixed-price projects. Our services sales initiatives directly seek to apply operational strengths to specific facilities within the targeted markets, including nuclear power, pulp and paper and other industrial plants located throughout the United States.

 

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Revenues by Customer and Geographic Region . Our top customers vary from year-to-year depending on the relative size and duration of our projects over time. Customers that accounted for more than 10% of our consolidated revenues in 2009, 2008 and 2007 were:

 

       For the Years Ended December 31,  
       2009      2008      2007  

General Electric Company

     13    20    22

Southern Company

     12    10    11

Entergy Services Inc.

     11    —         —     

Tennessee Valley Authority

     11    —         —     

Our revenues from each of the customers listed in the above table are derived from multiple purchase orders or contracts that are entered into, performed, and terminate independently of each other. None of these multiple purchase orders or contracts accounts, individually, for a material part of our revenues.

Our Products revenues by geographic regions for the years 2009, 2008 and 2007 are shown in the following table both on the basis of revenue recognition and on the basis of shipment destination (in thousands):

 

     Years ended December 31,
     2009    2008    2007
     Revenue
Recognized In
   Product
Shipped To
   Revenue
Recognized In
   Product
Shipped To
   Revenue
Recognized In
   Product
Shipped To

U.S. and Canada

   $ 139,138    $ 66,331    $ 212,914    $ 127,351    $ 146,668    $ 103,091

Europe

     38,471      31,345      80,792      20,704      40,355      8,263

Mexico

     10,518      364      16,350      116      19,832      11

Asia

     5,023      26,113      1,547      17,999      1,230      10,970

Middle East

     —        63,681      —        112,374      —        70,387

Other

     —        5,316      —        33,059      —        15,363
                                         

Total

   $ 193,150    $ 193,150    $ 311,603    $ 311,603    $ 208,085    $ 208,085
                                         

Our Services revenues, virtually all of which are derived in the United States, were $347.5 million for 2009, $245.2 million for 2008 and $195.3 million for 2007.

Backlog

Backlog is not a measure defined by generally accepted accounting principles, and our methodology for determining backlog may vary from the methodology used by other companies in determining their backlog amounts. Backlog may not be indicative of future operating results and projects in our backlog may be cancelled, modified or otherwise altered by our customers.

Our backlog consists of firm orders or blanket authorizations from our customers. Backlog may vary significantly reporting period to reporting period due to the timing of customer commitments. The time between receipt of an order and actual completion or delivery of our products varies from a few weeks, in the case of inventoried precision parts, to a year or more, in the case of custom designed filter houses and other major plant components. We add a booking to our backlog for products when we receive an order accompanied by a written commitment from a customer. The maintenance services we provide through Williams are typically carried out under long-term contracts spanning several years. Upon signing a multi-year contract with a customer for services, we add to our backlog only the first twelve months of work that we expect to perform under the contract. Additional work that is not called for under the original contract is added to our backlog when we reach agreement with the customer as to the scope and pricing of that additional work.

 

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The following table shows our backlog amounts, by segment, as of the end of each of the last three years (in thousands):

 

       Backlog as of December 31,
       2009      2008      2007

Products

     $ 120,760      $ 168,904      $ 248,246

Services

       194,162        163,906        128,281
                          

Total

     $ 314,922      $ 332,810      $ 376,527
                          

Approximately 45% of the December 31, 2009 backlog is comprised of orders from the major customers shown in the table included above under “Customers and Marketing.” Based on production and delivery schedules, we anticipate that of our December 31, 2009 backlog, approximately 98% of the Products backlog and 100% of the Services backlog will be recognized as revenues during 2010.

Engineering, Design and Maintenance Capabilities

Products . The design and engineering expertise of our Products Division makes us an industry leader in the field of power generation equipment. We provide original design, retrofit and upgrade engineering and after-sales maintenance and repair of our products. Our products are custom-designed and engineered to meet the specifications of our customers. Our extensive engineering experience and proprietary designs from completed projects enhance our ability to efficiently satisfy our customers’ needs on projects that require significant engineering. As of December 31, 2009, we employed 52 engineers specializing in thermal, structural, electrical/controls, mechanical, acoustical, industrial and chemical engineering and other technical areas. Our engineers and designers use a PC-based network and engineering and drafting programs such as AutoCAD™, ANSYS™, STAAD™, Solidworks™ and several internally developed proprietary programs.

Services . We provide extensive training, certifications, and ongoing safety monitoring to all of our maintenance employees. For over ten years, we have maintained a safety record above the industry average, benefitting both us and our customers. We maintain a broad range of professional certifications relevant to the performance of many of the specialized services we provide. We maintain memberships and selected certifications with organizations such as the National Association of Corrosion Engineers, the Society of Protective Coatings, the American Nuclear Society, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the National Board of Boiler & Pressure Vessel Inspectors, the American National Standard Institutes, the American Society for Nondestructive Testing, the American Welding Society, Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (“INPO”) and other organizations. We are one of a limited number of companies qualified to work anywhere in a United States nuclear facility and have been one of the leading providers of coatings at United States nuclear facilities for more than 35 years.

Manufacturing, Outsourcing and Contract Labor

Products . We fabricate our products using a combination of in-house manufacturing and third-party subcontractors. Most of our subcontracting work is performed outside the United States. Our network of outsourcing relationships provides us the following benefits:

 

   

flexibility to rapidly expand or contract our manufacturing capacity, with minimal impact on our capital expenditure requirements and fixed expenses;

 

   

ability to manufacture in low cost countries, thereby reducing the overall cost of our products; and

 

   

ability to satisfy local content requirements.

Subcontractors account for a significant percentage of our manufacturing costs. We provide on-site technical advisors at our subcontracted facilities to ensure high levels of quality and workmanship. While we generally have proven long-term relationships with our subcontractors, we also routinely search for additional fabricators to enhance our ability to manufacture equipment at the lowest cost while maintaining high-quality standards and on-time delivery.

Services . We provide maintenance services throughout the United States with experienced, temporary craft labor and leased equipment, directed and supervised by an experienced team of project managers across our branch network. Our flexible staffing and equipment model enables us to meet seasonal demand without being restricted by internal capacity limitations, thus minimizing our fixed cost requirements.

 

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Materials and Suppliers

The principal materials for our products are carbon steel plate, stainless steel products and other structural shapes, insulation and finned tubing. We obtain these products from a number of domestic and foreign suppliers. The markets for most of the materials we use are served by a large number of suppliers and we believe that we can obtain each of the materials we require from more than one supplier.

Competition

Products . We compete with a large number of U.S. and international companies along all of our major product lines. We compete based on the price, quality, reliability and reputation of our products and our ability to engineer and design products to meet each customer’s unique specifications. Our competitors, some of which are significantly larger than we are and have significantly greater financial resources than we do, vary with respect to each product category we offer. We believe that no single competitor offers our breadth of products to the gas turbine power generation, hydrocarbon and cogeneration industries.

Services . The barriers to entry in industrial services are both financially and logistically low with the result that the industry is highly fragmented with no single company being dominant. Our competitors vary depending on plant geography and scope of services to be rendered. Several national vendors, which are significantly larger than we are and have significantly greater financial resources than we do, will often compete for larger maintenance and specialty opportunities that become available. Additional smaller vendors that operate on a regional basis will often compete for smaller opportunities associated with open shop labor sources. The key competitive factors in industrial services are reputation, safety record, price, service, quality, breadth of service and the ability to identify and retain qualified personnel. We believe our project management capabilities, service diversity, long-term customer relationships and safety standards differentiate us from our competitors. We also believe that the fact that we maintain a constant presence at many of our customers’ sites is a key competitive advantage because it provides us with an intimate understanding of these facilities and thereby allows us to better identify our customers’ service needs.

Employees

We had 667 permanent employees as of December 31, 2009. Of these, 88 were employed at our facility in Mexico under a collective bargaining agreement. We regularly hire unionized craft labor on a temporary basis in the operation of our Services Division, often deploying hundreds of employees simultaneously at a single site for intensive outage work. We believe that our relationships with our employees, both permanent and temporary, are satisfactory.

Intellectual Property

We use a variety of patents, trademarks and proprietary technologies in the ordinary course of business in both our Products and Services Divisions. We rely upon patents, on nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements with our employees, subcontractors, customers and others, and on various other security measures to protect our proprietary rights. We believe our intellectual property assets are significant as is our ability to continue to develop new design applications to meet the commercial demands of our customers. We do not believe that any single patent or proprietary technology is material to our business and we do not believe our competitive position would be materially affected by competitors also using similar technologies and systems.

Compliance with Government Regulations

We are subject to certain federal, state and local environmental, occupational health and product safety laws applicable in the countries in which we operate. We also purchase materials and equipment from third-parties, and engage subcontractors, who are also subject to these laws and regulations. While we believe that we operate safely and prudently and in compliance with all environmental, occupational health and product safety laws, there can be no assurance that accidents will not occur or that we will not incur substantial liability in connection with the operation of our business. However, we believe that all our operations are in material compliance with those laws and we do not anticipate any material capital expenditures or material adverse effect on earnings or cash flows as a result of complying with those laws.

Available Information

You may obtain copies of our annual reports at our website at www.globalpower.com under the heading “Financials”. The information disclosed on our website is not incorporated by this reference and is not a part of this Form 10. We will make available on our website, free of charge, all of our future periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to these reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file with or furnish the reports to the SEC. You may also read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549, or on the SEC’s Internet website located at www.sec.gov. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

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Bankruptcy Reorganization

We and all of our U.S. subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the U. S. Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware on September 28, 2006. The bankruptcy stemmed principally from losses attributable to our large-scale HRSG product line within our Deltak LLC (“Deltak”) subsidiary and associated financial reporting deficiencies. The New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) suspended trading in our common stock as a result of our bankruptcy filing and our related failure to make required periodic filings with the SEC. Our listing on NYSE and our registration with the SEC were terminated on December 7, 2006.

During the pendency of our bankruptcy case, we discontinued our large-scale HRSG product line, terminating personnel and divesting a foreign subsidiary that had been dedicated to that product line. (We continue to serve the mid-sized HRSG segment with products that complement power generation turbines up to 85 megawatt capacity.)

We successfully emerged from bankruptcy pursuant to an approved Plan of Reorganization on January 22, 2008. That plan provided for payment in full of allowed claims of all creditors other than unsecured creditors of Deltak. Those unsecured creditors are expected to share in recoveries through a $34 million fund established to satisfy allowed unsecured claims against Deltak. Upon our emergence from bankruptcy, our pre-petition equity holders received one share of our new common stock for each share of common stock held before the bankruptcy and a right to purchase additional shares of our new common stock on a pro-rata basis pursuant to a rights offering that commenced on November 6, 2007 and expired on December 13, 2007. Upon emergence from bankruptcy on January 22, 2008, we issued 47,401,961 shares of our new common stock to pre-petition equity holders in exchange for stock held before the bankruptcy. On that same date, pursuant to the rights offering, a related backstop private placement, and our Management Incentive Co-Investment Plan, we issued an additional 85,294,117 shares of our new common stock in exchange for $72.5 million in new capital. The applicable price of our common stock in the rights offering was $0.85 per share. As part of the plan, we also entered into a $150 million exit financing package comprised of a $90 million term loan and a $60 million revolver facility.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This registration statement and its exhibits contain or incorporate by reference various forward-looking statements that express a belief, expectation or intention or are otherwise not statements of historical fact. Forward-looking statements generally use forward-looking words, such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “project,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “continue,” “potential,” “plan,” “forecast” and other words that convey the uncertainty of future events or outcomes. Forward-looking statements include information concerning possible or assumed future results of our operations, including the following:

 

   

business strategies;

 

   

operating and growth initiatives and opportunities;

 

   

competitive position;

 

   

market outlook and trends in our industry;

 

   

expected financial condition;

 

   

future cash flows;

 

   

financing plans;

 

   

expected results of operations;

 

   

future capital and other expenditures;

 

   

availability of raw materials and inventories;

 

   

plans and objectives of management;

 

   

future compliance with orders and agreements with regulatory agencies;

 

   

expected outcomes of legal or regulatory proceedings and their expected effects on our results of operations; and

 

   

any other statements regarding future growth, future cash needs, future operations, business plans and future financial results.

These forward-looking statements represent our intentions, plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, including unpredictable or unanticipated factors that we have not discussed in this registration statement. Many of those factors are outside of our control and could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.

 

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In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the events described in the forward-looking statements might not occur or might occur to a different extent or at a different time than we have described. You should consider the areas of risk and uncertainty described above, as well as those discussed under “Item 1A–Risk Factors” in this registration statement. Except as may be required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise and we caution you not to rely upon them unduly.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors.

Our business, financial condition and results of operations may be impacted by a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the following, any of which could cause actual results to vary materially from historical and current results or anticipated future results.

Risk Factors Related to Our Operations

If the United States were to change its support of nuclear power, it could have a material adverse effect on our operations.

The U.S. government has been supportive of increased investment in nuclear power. However, if the federal government changed its policy or if public acceptance of nuclear technology declines, demand for nuclear power could be negatively affected and potentially increase the regulation of the nuclear power industry. Reduced demand for nuclear power or increased regulation would adversely affect our clients, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our revenues.

If our costs exceed the estimates we use to set the fixed-prices of our contracts, our earnings will be reduced.

Nearly all of our power generation equipment sales contracts are entered into on a fixed-price basis. As a result, our Products Division benefits from cost savings, but has a limited ability to recover any cost overruns. Contract prices are established based in part on our projected costs, which are subject to a number of assumptions. The costs that we incur in connection with each contract can vary, sometimes substantially, from our original projections. Because of the large scale and long duration of our contracts, unanticipated changes may occur, such as customer budget decisions, design changes, delays in receiving permits and cost increases, as well as delays in delivery of our products. We often are contractually subject to liquidated damages for late delivery.

Unanticipated cost increases or delays may occur as a result of several factors, including:

 

   

increases in the cost of materials, labor or freight;

 

   

unanticipated technical problems; and

 

   

suppliers’ or subcontractors’ failure to perform, requiring modified execution plans or re-work.

Cost increases or overruns that we cannot pass on to our customers or our payment of liquidated damages under our contracts will lower our earnings. While we will work with our suppliers and customers to reduce the impact of higher commodity prices on our gross margin, there can be no assurance that our gross margin will not be adversely affected by commodity prices.

If we are unable to control the quality or timely production of products manufactured by our subcontractors, our reputation could be adversely affected and we could lose customers. If we are unable to recover any advance progress payments made to subcontractors, our profitability would be adversely affected.

We rely on subcontractors to manufacture and assemble a substantial portion of our products. Subcontractors account for a significant percentage of our manufacturing costs. Although we have on-site supervision of our subcontractors to review and monitor their quality control systems, the quality and timing of their production is not totally under our control. Our subcontractors may not always meet the level of quality control and the delivery schedules required by our customers. The failure of our subcontractors to produce quality products in a timely manner could adversely affect our reputation and result in the cancellation of orders for our products, significant warranty and repair costs and the loss of customers. Alternatively, we could be required to move subcontract manufacturing to other locations, resulting in increased costs.

In addition, we make advance progress payments to subcontractors in anticipation of their completion of our orders. We may be unable to recover those advances if a subcontractor fails to complete an order, which may adversely affect our profitability.

 

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Competition could result in decreased sales or decreased prices for our products and services.

We face and will continue to face significant competition for the sale of our products and services. Competition could result in a reduction in the demand for, or the prices that we can charge for, our products and services. Our success is dependent in large part on our ability to:

 

   

anticipate or respond quickly to our customers’ needs and enhance and upgrade our existing products and services to meet those needs;

 

   

continue to price our products and services competitively and find low-cost subcontractors that can produce quality products; and

 

   

develop new products and services that are accepted by our customers and differentiated from our competitors’ offerings.

Our competitors may:

 

   

develop more desirable, efficient, environmentally friendly or less expensive products;

 

   

be willing to accept lower prices to protect strategic market positions or increase market share;

 

   

be better able to take advantage of acquisition opportunities; or

 

   

adapt more quickly to changes in customer requirements.

As demand for our products has decreased due to the world-wide economic slow-down, competitors have shown a willingness to accept lower prices to absorb their fixed costs. As a result of our competitors’ business practices, we may need to lower our prices and/or devote significant resources to marketing our products in order to remain competitive. Lower prices and/or higher costs would reduce our revenues and our profitability.

Our future revenues and operating results may vary significantly from reporting period to reporting period.

Our quarterly revenues and earnings have varied in the past and are likely to vary in the future. Our power generation equipment sales contracts stipulate customer-specific delivery terms which, coupled with other factors beyond our control, may result in uneven recognition of revenues and earnings over time. Customer-imposed delays can significantly impact the timing of revenue recognition. Due to our relatively large average contract size, our power generation equipment sales volume during any given period may be concentrated in relatively few orders, intensifying the magnitude of these fluctuations. Furthermore, some of our operating costs are fixed. As a result, we may have limited ability to reduce our operating costs in response to unanticipated decreases in our revenues or the demand for our products in any given reporting period. Therefore, our operating results in any reporting period may not be indicative of our future performance. Because we must make significant estimates related to potential costs when we recognize revenue on a percentage of completion basis, these costs may change significantly from reporting period to reporting period based on new project information. In addition, most of our power generation equipment revenues are based on fixed-price contracts, and the relative profitability can vary significantly between contracts. As a result, our profitability can vary from reporting period to reporting period based on the specific contracts being recognized.

We may not be able to maintain or expand our business outside the United States because of numerous factors outside our control.

Our international operations are subject to a number of risks inherent in doing business outside the United States including:

 

   

labor unrest;

 

   

regional economic uncertainty;

 

   

political instability;

 

   

restrictions on the transfer of funds into or out of a country;

 

   

currency exchange rate fluctuations;

 

   

export duties and quotas;

 

   

expropriations;

 

   

domestic and foreign customs and tariffs;

 

   

current and changing regulatory environments;

 

   

potentially adverse tax consequences;

 

   

availability of financing;

 

   

unfavorable commercial terms and conditions; and

 

   

potential for adverse dispute resolution outcomes.

 

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These factors may result in a decline in revenues or profitability and could adversely affect our ability to maintain or expand our business outside the United States.

A substantial portion of our revenues is from sales of equipment for gas turbine power plants. During periods of declining construction of new gas turbine power plants, the market for our products is significantly diminished.

The demand for our products depends on the continued construction of gas turbine power generation plants. The power generation equipment industry has experienced cyclical periods of slow growth or decline. In periods of decreased demand for new gas turbine power plants, our customers may be more likely to decrease expenditures on the types of products and systems that we supply and, as a result, our future revenues may decrease. These projects typically require funding from a healthy credit market as well. As long as credit markets are tight, funding could be difficult to obtain therefore delaying or even cancelling these types of projects entirely. A rise in the price or a shortage in the supply of natural gas could affect the profitability or operations of gas turbine power plants, which could adversely affect our future revenues. We can provide no assurance that these and other factors will not temper demand for our products.

Environmental laws and regulations have played a part in the increased use of gas turbine technology in various jurisdictions. These laws and regulations may change or other jurisdictions may not adopt similar laws and regulations. Changes in existing laws and regulations could result in a reduction in the building and refurbishment of gas turbine power plants. In addition, stricter environmental regulation could result in our customers seeking new ways of generating electricity that do not require the use of our products. Furthermore, although gas turbine power plants have lower emissions than coal-fired power plants, emissions from gas turbine power plants remain a concern and attempts to reduce or regulate emissions could increase the cost of gas turbine power plants and result in our customers’ switching to alternative sources of power.

Other current power technologies, improvements to these technologies and new alternative power technologies that compete or may compete in the future with gas turbine power plants could affect our sales and profitability. Any change in the power generation industry that results in a decline in the construction of new combined cycle power plants or a decline in the upgrading of existing simple cycle power plants to combined cycle power plants could materially adversely affect our sales.

A small number of major customers account for a significant portion of our revenues, and the loss of any of these customers could negatively impact our business.

We depend on a relatively small number of customers for a significant portion of our revenues. In 2009, two customers accounted for approximately 25% of our consolidated revenues and approximately 23% of our backlog at the end of the year. In 2008, two customers accounted for approximately 30% of our consolidated revenues and approximately 33% of our backlog at the end of the year. Other than their obligations under firm orders placed in our backlog, none of our customers have a long-term contractual obligation to purchase any material amounts of products or services from us. All of our firm orders contain cancellation provisions, which permit us to recover only our costs and a portion of our anticipated profit if a customer cancels its order. If a customer elects to cancel, we would not realize the full amount of future revenues included in our backlog. We expect to continue to depend upon a relatively small number of customers for a significant percentage of our revenues. Because our major customers represent a large part of our business, the loss of any of our major customers could negatively impact our business and results of operations. Several of our customers have the ability to internally source some of the products we manufacture. Any increase in this activity could reduce our sales.

The dollar amount of our backlog, as stated at any time, is not necessarily indicative of our future revenues.

When we receive a firm order for a project from a customer, it is added to our backlog. However, customers may cancel or delay projects for reasons beyond our control and we may be unable to replace any canceled orders with new orders. To the extent projects are delayed, the timing of our revenues could be affected. If a customer cancels an order, we may be reimbursed for the costs we have incurred. Typically, however, we have no contractual right to the full amount of the revenues reflected in our backlog contracts in the event of cancellation. In addition, projects may remain in our backlog for extended periods of time. Revenue recognition occurs over extended periods of time and is subject to unanticipated delays. Fluctuations in our reported backlog levels also result from the fact that we may receive a small number of relatively large orders in any given reporting period that may be included in our backlog. Because of these large orders, our backlog in that reporting period may reach levels that may not be sustained in subsequent reporting periods. Our backlog, therefore, is not necessarily indicative of our future revenues or of long-term industry trends.

 

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The success of our business is partially dependent upon maintaining our safety record.

Our ability to obtain new business and retain our current business, particularly in our Services Division, is partially dependent on our continuing ability to maintain a safety record that exceeds the industry average. If we fail to maintain superior safety procedures, or if serious accidents occur in spite of those safety procedures, our revenues and results of operations, particularly in our Services Division, could be materially and adversely affected.

We have been named as a defendant in asbestos personal injury lawsuits.

We have been named as a defendant in less than ten asbestos personal injury lawsuits. The plaintiffs in these suits allege exposure to asbestos from a variety of sources, and in each case to date, we have been one of multiple named defendants. Neither the Company, nor its predecessors, ever mined, manufactured, produced or distributed asbestos fiber, the material that allegedly caused the injury underlying the lawsuits. To date, we have been successful in having claims against us in these asbestos cases dismissed without liability. However, various factors, including, without limitation, potential insolvencies of insurance companies or other defendants, could cause a different outcome in the future. As such, there can be no assurance that the ultimate resolution of any such future asbestos lawsuits will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

Efforts to increase our size through acquisitions will involve risks and could result in a material adverse effect on our business.

We intend to actively pursue additional acquisition opportunities, some of which may be material to our business and financial performance. Although we have been successful in increasing our size through acquisitions in the past, we may not be able to grow our business in the future through acquisitions for a number of reasons, including:

 

   

acquisition financing not being available on acceptable terms or at all;

 

   

encountering difficulties identifying and executing acquisitions;

 

   

increased competition for targets, which may increase acquisition costs;

 

   

consolidation in our industry reducing the number of acquisition targets; and

 

   

competition laws and regulations preventing us from making certain acquisitions.

In addition, there are potential risks associated with growing our business through acquisitions, including the failure to successfully integrate and realize the expected benefits of an acquisition. For example, with any past or future acquisition, there is the possibility that:

 

   

the business culture of the acquired business may not match well with our culture;

 

   

technological and product synergies, economies of scale and cost reductions may not occur as expected;

 

   

management may be distracted from overseeing existing operations by the need to integrate acquired businesses;

 

   

we may acquire or assume unexpected liabilities;

 

   

unforeseen difficulties may arise in integrating operations and systems;

 

   

we may fail to retain and assimilate employees of the acquired business;

 

   

we may experience problems in retaining customers; and

 

   

problems may arise in entering new markets in which we may have little or no experience.

If not successfully addressed, these risks could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Compliance with environmental laws and regulations is costly, and our ongoing operations may expose us to environmental liabilities.

Our operations are subject to laws and regulations governing the discharge of materials into the environment or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment or human health and safety. We are subject to various U.S. federal statutes and the regulations implementing them, as well as similar laws and regulations at the state and local levels and in other countries in which we operate.

If we fail to comply with environmental laws or regulations, we may be subject to significant liabilities for fines, penalties or damages, or lose or be denied significant operating permits. In addition, some environmental laws impose liability for the costs of investigating and remediating releases of hazardous substances without regard to fault and on a joint and several basis, so that in some circumstances we may be liable for costs attributable to hazardous substances released into the environment by others. Moreover, the environmental laws and regulations to which we are subject are constantly changing, and we cannot predict the effect of these changes on us.

 

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A defect in our products could result in unanticipated warranty costs or product liability not covered by our insurance, which could adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations.

We generally provide warranties for terms of three years or less on our products. These warranties require us to repair or replace faulty products. Warranty claims could result in significant unanticipated costs. The need to repair or replace products with design or manufacturing defects could also temporarily delay the sale of new products and adversely affect our reputation.

In addition, we may be subject to product liability claims involving claims of personal injury or property damage. The sale and servicing of complex, large scale equipment used in a variety of locations and climates, and integrating a variety of manufactured and purchased components entails an inherent risk of disputes and liability relating to the operation and performance of the equipment and the health and safety of the workers who operate and come into contact with the machinery. Because our products are used primarily in power plants, claims could arise in different contexts, including the following:

 

   

fires, explosions and power surges that can result in significant property damage or personal injury; and

 

   

equipment failure that can result in personal injury or damage to other equipment in the power plant.

We maintain insurance to cover claims of this nature. Our policies, however, are subject to deductibles and recovery limitations as well as limitations on contingencies covered, and we may therefore suffer losses from these claims for which no insurance recovery is available.

Expiration of the Price-Anderson Act’s indemnification authority could have adverse consequences on our Services Division.

Our Division segment provides services to the nuclear industry. The Price-Anderson Act promotes the nuclear industry by offering broad indemnification to commercial nuclear power plant operators and Department of Energy (“DOE”) for liabilities arising out of nuclear incidents at power plants licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (“NRC”) and at DOE nuclear facilities. That indemnification protects not only the NRC licensee or DOE prime contractor, but also others like us who may be doing work under contract or subcontract for a licensed power plant or under a DOE prime contract. While the Price-Anderson Act’s indemnification provisions are broad and generally assumed to be comprehensive, there has been no occasion for a determination whether they apply to all nuclear liabilities that might be incurred by a radioactive materials cleanup contractor. The recently enacted Energy Policy Act extended the Price-Anderson Act for an additional 20 years. A problem related to our provision of services at a nuclear facility could lead to a damage claim against us as to which we might not be entitled to indemnification. In addition, any well-publicized problem with those services, whether actual or perceived, could adversely affect our reputation and reduce demand for our services.

Our revenues would be adversely affected if we are unable to protect the proprietary design software programs that we use in our business.

We have developed several proprietary software programs and data to help us design our products. Our ability to protect our proprietary rights to these programs and this data is important to our success. We protect these rights through the use of internal controls, confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements and other legal protections. The legal protections afforded to our proprietary rights and the precautions we have taken may not be adequate to prevent misappropriation of our proprietary rights. We generally enter into non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements with our employees and subcontractors with access to sensitive design software and technology. However, these contractual protections do not prevent independent third-parties from developing functionally equivalent or superior technologies, programs, products or professional services. Third-parties may also infringe upon or misappropriate our proprietary rights and use them to develop competing products. In addition, the laws and enforcement mechanisms of some foreign countries do not protect proprietary rights to the same extent as do United States laws. Our inability to protect our proprietary rights and enforce intellectual property rights through infringement or other enforcement proceedings could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

If we were required to commence legal actions to enforce our intellectual property or proprietary rights or to defend ourselves against claims that we are infringing on the intellectual property or proprietary rights of others, we could incur substantial losses and/or costs and divert management’s attention from operations.

 

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A failure to attract and retain employees who fill key requirements of our business may make it difficult to sustain or expand operations.

We must attract and retain highly qualified, experienced mechanical, design, structural and software engineers, service technicians, marketing and sales personnel and other key personnel to expand our operations. If we are unable to attract and retain necessary personnel, we may not be able to sustain or expand our operations.

Our revenues may fall sharply in times of general economic contraction and will not necessarily rise in tandem with general economic expansion.

Orders for new electrical power generation capacity are placed by our customers with long lead times. Consequently, our bookings and revenues may rise or fall sharply as total industry orders tend to follow pronounced cycles of general expansion and contraction. During a contraction phase, limited investment in new projects, deferrals of planned projects and project cancelations may significantly reduce our potential recognition of revenues and profits. At the end of an expansion phase, the existence of excess capacity will negatively affect power prices which results in a reduction in new orders. In addition to being cyclical in nature, our domestic revenues do not correlate precisely with changes in actual or forecasted new capacity due to timing differences in revenue recognition.

Demand for our products and services is cyclical and vulnerable to economic slowdowns and reductions in private industry and government spending. If adverse economic conditions continue or deteriorate further, then our revenues, profits and our financial condition may be adversely affected.

The industries we serve historically have been, and will likely continue to be, cyclical in nature and vulnerable to general slowdowns in the domestic and international economies. Consequently, our results of operations have fluctuated and may continue to fluctuate depending on the demand for products and services from these industries.

Due to the continued economic slowdown, many of our clients may face budget shortfalls or may delay capital spending that may decrease the overall demand for our products and services. Our clients may find it more difficult to obtain project financing due to limitations on the availability of credit and other uncertainties in the global credit markets. In addition, our clients may demand better pricing terms and their ability to timely pay our invoices may be affected by the continued economic slowdown. If private industry and government spending are reduced, then our revenues, net income and overall financial condition may be adversely affected.

Systems and information technology interruption could adversely impact our ability to operate.

We depend on our information technology systems for many aspects of our business. Our business may be adversely affected if our systems are disrupted or if we are unable to improve, upgrade, integrate or expand our systems to meet our changing needs. Any damage, delay or loss of critical data associated with our systems may delay or prevent certain operations and may materially adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

The supply and cost of materials we use in manufacturing our products fluctuates and could increase our operating costs.

Although we did not experience any difficulty in obtaining an adequate supply of steel in 2009, local shortages sometimes arise and we cannot assure that an adequate supply of steel will continue to be available in all locations on terms acceptable to us. The materials we use in our products are subject to price fluctuations that we cannot control. Changes in the cost of raw materials can have a significant effect on our gross margins. Rapid increases in material prices are difficult to pass through to customers. If we are unable to pass on these higher costs, our results of operations and financial condition could decline.

 

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Risk Factors Related to Our Liquidity and Capital Resources

Volatility and uncertainty of the credit markets may negatively impact us.

We intend to finance our existing operations and initiatives with existing cash and cash equivalents, investments, cash flows from operations and potential borrowings under our Credit Facility. If adverse national and international economic conditions continue or deteriorate further, it is possible that we may not be able to fully draw upon our existing Credit Facility and we may not be able to obtain new financing on favorable terms. In addition, although we believe our current liquidity is adequate for our normal operations and planned capital expenditures in 2010, continued deterioration in the credit markets could adversely affect the ability of many of our customers to pay us on time and the ability of many of our suppliers to meet our needs on a competitive basis. If we cannot access necessary additional funds on acceptable terms, our business and operations may be negatively impacted.

Our inability to obtain adequate surety bonding or letters of credit could reduce our ability to bid on new work, which could have a material adverse effect on our future revenues and business prospects.

In line with industry practice, we are often required to provide performance and surety bonds to clients and may be required to provide letters of credit. These bonds and letters of credit provide credit support for the client if we fail to perform our obligations under the contract. If security is required for a particular project and we are unable to obtain a bond or letter of credit on terms commercially acceptable to us, we may not be able to pursue that project. In addition, bonding may be more difficult to obtain in the future or may only be available at significant additional cost as a result of general conditions that affect the insurance and bonding markets. There can be no assurance that surety bonds or letters of credit will continue to be available to us on commercially reasonable terms.

We are vulnerable to reductions in our liquidity because of the capital-intensive nature of our business.

Our operations could require us to utilize large sums of working capital, sometimes on short notice and sometimes without assurance of recovery of the expenditures. Circumstances or events that could create large cash outflows include, without limitation, a surge in orders for power generation equipment that require working capital for execution, losses resulting from fixed-price contracts, environmental liabilities, litigation risks, unexpected costs or losses resulting from acquisitions, contract initiation or completion delays, client payment problems and product liability claims. If we encounter significant working capital requirements as a result of these or other factors, we cannot provide assurance that we will have sufficient liquidity or the credit capacity to meet all of our cash needs, which could have a material adverse effect on our operations.

 

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The restrictions and covenants contained in our Credit Facility limit our ability to borrow additional money, sell assets and make acquisitions. Compliance with these restrictions and covenants may limit our ability to implement elements of our business strategy.

Our Credit Facility contains a number of significant restrictions and covenants that may pose a constraint to us by limiting our ability and that of our subsidiaries to:

 

   

borrow money or make capital expenditures;

 

   

incur liens;

 

   

pay dividends or make other restricted payments;

 

   

merge or sell assets;

 

   

enter into transactions with affiliates; and

 

   

make acquisitions.

In addition, our Credit Facility contains other restrictive covenants, including covenants that require us to maintain specified financial ratios, including leverage, fixed charges coverage and minimum liquidity. The facility includes mandatory repayment provisions that will require us to repay our indebtedness with proceeds from certain asset sales, certain debt issuances and certain insurance casualty events. The facility further includes an excess cash flow sweep provision that is based on annual operating results and changes in working capital requirements among other sources or uses of cash.

If we are unable to remain in compliance with our financial covenants currently in effect under our Credit Facility or obtain additional amendments or waivers from our lenders, we may be forced to reduce or delay capital expenditures and business acquisitions, sell assets, restructure or refinance our indebtedness, decline certain business opportunities from customers or seek additional capital.

If we were required to write down our goodwill or long-lived assets, our results of operations and stockholders’ equity could be materially adversely affected.

We have approximately $80.4 million of goodwill recorded on our consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2009. Goodwill represents the excess of the aggregate purchase price over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired in a business combination. We are required to review goodwill for impairment at least annually in accordance with the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 350, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other , using a two-step impairment test to identify potential goodwill impairment and measure the amount of a goodwill impairment loss. The first step of the test compares the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step of the goodwill impairment test is performed to measure the amount of the impairment loss, if any. Both steps of goodwill impairment testing involve significant estimates. Long-lived assets, such as property and equipment and intangible assets, are evaluated for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable through the estimated future cash flows from the use of these assets. If we were required to write down our goodwill or long-lived assets, our results of operations and financial position could be materially adversely affected.

We are exposed to market risks from changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates.

We are subject to market risk exposure related to changes in interest rates and from fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. Portions of our operations are located in foreign jurisdictions and a portion of our billings is paid in foreign currencies. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates or weak economic conditions in foreign markets could therefore cause fluctuations in those revenues derived from foreign operations. In addition, sales of products and services are affected by the value of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies. Changes in foreign currency rates can also affect the costs of our products purchased or manufactured outside the United States. Changes in interest rates or foreign currency exchange rates could materially adversely affect our results of operations and financial position.

 

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Risk Factors Related to Our Common Stock and Being a Public Company

Fluctuations in the price of our common stock or lack of an active public trading market could make it difficult for our stockholders to sell their stock at desirable prices.

We intend to apply to list our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market (“NASDAQ”) in connection with the registration of our common stock with the SEC. However, there can be no assurance that such application will be granted. If our common stock fails to qualify for initial or continued listing on NASDAQ, it may be more difficult for our stockholders to find purchasers for their shares of our common stock. There can be no assurance that an active public market for shares of our common stock will develop or be maintained. There can further be no assurance that the market price of our common stock will not fluctuate significantly as a result of quarterly variations in our operating results, changes in the market’s expectations about our operating results and other factors. Fluctuations in the price of our common stock or lack of an active trading market for our common stock could make it more difficult for our stockholders to sell their stock at desirable prices.

Our Proposed Reverse Stock Split Could Have Unintended Adverse Results

At our Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on April 22, 2010, our stockholders approved an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation authorizing our Board of Directors to effect a reverse stock split in a specific ratio to be determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, within the range of 1-for-2 and 1-for-10, inclusive, in order to satisfy the minimum per share price requirement for listing our stock on the NASDAQ Global Market. We intend to effect a reverse stock split within that range by filing an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. Although we believe that the potential advantages of a reverse stock split outweigh any disadvantages that might result, the following are some of the possible disadvantages or risks of a reverse stock split:

 

   

The reduced number of shares of our common stock resulting from a reverse stock split could adversely affect the liquidity of our common stock.

 

   

A reverse stock split may leave many stockholders with one or more “odd lots,” which are stock holdings in amounts of less than 100 shares of our common stock. These odd lots may be more difficult to sell than shares of common stock in even multiples of 100.

 

   

There can be no assurance that the market price per share of our common stock after the reverse stock split will increase in proportion to the reduction in the number of shares of our common stock outstanding before the reverse stock split.

 

   

The total market capitalization of our common stock after the proposed reverse stock split may be lower than the total market capitalization before the proposed reverse stock split.

 

   

The per share price of our common stock after the reverse split might not be high enough to meet the minimum per share price requirement for listing on NASDAQ.

 

   

Although we believe that a higher stock price may help generate investor interest, there can be no assurance that the reverse stock split will result in a per share price that will attract institutional investors or investment funds or that the share price will satisfy the investing guidelines of institutional investors or investment funds. As a result, the trading liquidity of our common stock may not necessarily improve.

Being a public company will increase our administrative costs.

As a result of the registration of our common stock on this Form 10, we will become a public reporting company. In complying with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and other rules implemented by the SEC, we will incur significant legal, accounting and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. For example, we will adopt additional internal controls and disclosure controls and procedures, we may pay higher rates for director and officer liability insurance, and we may incur internal and external costs of preparing and distributing periodic public reports in compliance with our obligations under the securities laws.

Provisions in our certificate of incorporation and by-laws could discourage a change of control that our stockholders may prefer.

We have elected in our certificate of incorporation to be governed by the Delaware merger moratorium statute and our by-laws contain advance notice requirements that our stockholders must meet before submitting proposals or director nominations to be considered at stockholder meetings. These provisions may have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a change in our control. These provisions could also impede a transaction in which our stockholders might receive a premium over the then-current market price of our common stock and our stockholders’ ability to approve transactions that they consider in their best interests.

 

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Item 2. Financial Information.

Selected Financial Data

The following table provides selected consolidated financial data for the last five years. The data for the last four years (2009 through 2006) has been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements. The data for 2005 has been derived from our unaudited consolidated financial statements. All of the data in the table should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” below in this Item 2, and our consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this Form 10.

 

(In thousands, except per share data)

   Years Ended December 31,  
   2009     2008     2007     2006     2005  
               (Debtor-in-Possession)     (unaudited)  

Statement of Operations

        

Total revenues

   $ 540,610      $ 556,764      $ 403,418      $ 357,398      $ 311,446   

Gross profit

     80,425        99,980        72,490        36,946        18,983   

Gross profit percentage

     15     18     18     10     6

Reorganization items, (beginning 2006)

     1,030        23,574        33,102        26,287        —     

Operating income (loss)

     17,782        11,170        (20,969     (56,742     (36,456

Net income (loss)

   $ 27,887      $ 34,838      $ (14,941   $ (56,808   $ (36,329

Earnings (Loss) Per Share:

          

Basic

   $ 0.20      $ 0.27      $ (0.32   $ (1.18   $ (0.76

Fully diluted

   $ 0.20      $ 0.27      $ (0.32   $ (1.18   $ (0.76

Common shares outstanding:

          

Weighted-average shares outstanding - basic

     136,119        129,289   (1)       47,360        47,404        47,458   

Weighted-average shares outstanding - diluted

     140,096        131,334   (1)       47,360        47,404        47,458   

Balance Sheet:

          

Current assets

   $ 215,012      $ 184,800      $ 163,669      $ 138,596      $ 137,371   

Total Assets

     329,220        301,039        275,881        269,374        274,701   

Current liabilities

     148,810        115,132        143,985        98,135        108,932   

Liabilities subject to compromise (beginning 2006)

     541        604        122,435        126,452        —     

Long-term debt (including current portion)

     65,325        85,000        20,000        20,000        88,394   

Stockholders’ equity (deficit)

   $ 136,478      $ 105,273      $ (205 (2)     $ 13,946      $ 64,992   

 

(1)

Pursuant to our Bankruptcy Plan of Reorganization, all outstanding equity interests in the Company were canceled as of January 22, 2008. Each holder of an equity interest as of November 6, 2007 received a non-transferable, non-certificated right to purchase up to its pro rata share of the new common stock in a rights offering that commenced on November 6, 2007 and expired on December 13, 2007. As a result, on January 22, 2008, we issued 132,696,078 shares of new common stock.

(2)

Effective January 1, 2007, the Company adopted ASC 740, Income Taxes , resulting in a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle of $1.3 million.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Statements we make in the following discussion that express a belief, expectation or intention or otherwise are not limited to recounting historical facts are forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our actual results, performance or achievements, could differ materially from those we express in the following discussion due to a variety of factors, including the risks and uncertainties we have noted under the headings “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in Items 1 and 1A of this registration statement.

 

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The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included in this Form 10.

Overview

We have two reportable segments: our Products Division and our Services Division. Over the last three years, during the first of which we were still under bankruptcy protection, we have generated significant cash through the operation of these two divisions. Over those same three years we have experienced significant fluctuations in revenues, gross profits and operating results both on a consolidated basis and, to a greater extent, on a divisional basis. These fluctuations result from a number of factors including general economic conditions, changes in industrial demand for power, changes in the relative share of power production captured by different technologies, and changes in our product mix and our services mix that are dependent on the level and timing of customer awards of new business. In general, the business of our Products Division tends to follow general economic trends to a greater degree than the business of our Services Division which is more stable across business cycles.

Material Industry Trends

Products Division. The worldwide financial crisis starting in late 2008 resulted in reduced funding for gas turbine projects in 2009 with many projects either decreased in scope or delayed. Because our revenue from sales of auxiliary power equipment is highly dependent on the installation of new gas turbines, this had a significant impact on our revenues in 2009 and the impact continues into 2010.

Industrial demand for power in the United States declined in 2008 and 2009, marking the first time in over 50 years that power consumption in the United States decreased for two consecutive years. As power consumption begins to increase, we believe that demand for gas-fired power generation plants will increase due to their relatively quick construction times, low capital costs and low carbon emissions as compared to other forms of fossil-fueled power plants. While renewable energy sources could reduce future gas-fired power additions, we believe gas-fired power generation will continue to be the preferred choice for stand-by capacity to complement intermittent forms of renewable energy. We also believe that renewable energy sources still have a higher cost when compared to traditional forms of power generation. Economic recovery is typically accompanied by a rise in commodity price. In recent months we have seen substantial volatility in the commodity markets, which could have a significant impact on our costs.

Growth in international markets is expected to outpace domestic growth. In regions where natural gas is plentiful, we expect that gas-fired power generation will be the preferred choice for baseload power. In 2007, we experienced an increase in bookings and revenue due to an increase in world-wide demand, notably in the Middle East. However, this activity subsided once the worldwide economic crisis developed in late 2008. Many of those projects were delayed due to lack of project funding. In recent months we have seen an increase in the number of requests for quotes which may be a sign of a stabilizing market.

Our sales of heat recovery equipment are highly dependent on the oil and gas refining industry and mid-sized gas turbine installations for cogeneration and power generation. The worldwide financial crisis has resulted in decreased demand for refined petroleum products which, in turn, has reduced capital expenditures in the industry. Uncertainty surrounding climate change legislation has further delayed many projects.

Services Division. Demand for third party plant maintenance services has been positively impacted by the aging infrastructure of nuclear power generation facilities in the United States and the increasing tendency of plant owners electing to outsource maintenance as a means of reducing fixed costs. Prospects for construction of new nuclear power plants in the United States are gaining momentum for the first time in more than thirty years. However, the maintenance service customer base is currently mature and, to date, the number of nuclear sites has remained unchanged. Consolidation in the industry has also reduced the number of maintenance bid opportunities available to us and our competitors.

The demand for discretionary specialty services has remained relatively flat during 2009 due in part to capital budget constraints resulting from the current economic environment. Much of the customer base in this market operate in sectors that are flat or declining, such as pulp and paper, conventional power or automotive. As a result, the growth opportunities for our specialty services are confined to niche service offerings, typically within our existing customer base. We see alliances with partners possessing design engineering capabilities as presenting opportunities for us in the engineering, procurement and construction market. As more projects enter the construction phase, much of the nuclear management talent will be absorbed and customers will seek to outsource to subcontractors to meet new build project demands. This should provide opportunities for us to capitalize on the depth and established capabilities of our Williams operations.

 

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Recent Developments

Products Division. Demand for our product lines has historically fluctuated with industrial demand for power. We experienced a decline in pricing in 2009 due to the decrease in demand for our products and increased competition. Pricing pressure has impacted both the original equipment manufacturer and retrofit customers of our Products Division. Our use of a network of third party fabricators to manufacture a large percentage of our auxiliary power equipment products allows us to avoid a high fixed cost infrastructure. Nevertheless, we implemented several cost reduction initiatives in 2009 in response to current market conditions:

 

   

Reduction in force. We reduced headcount at our Plymouth, Minnesota; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Auburn, Massachusetts; and Monterrey, Mexico facilities to size the business for lower demand.

 

   

Workweek reduction at manufacturing facilities. We implemented reduced workweeks at two of our three manufacturing facilities to retain core talent while reducing current labor costs.

 

   

Reductions in controllable expenses. We reduced controllable expenses, including travel, freight, sales and marketing.

We believe that more favorable pricing levels will return when the demand for our products normalizes. We have retained the resources necessary to participate and execute in a robust market recovery.

Services Division. Our level of plant maintenance and modification work performed during refueling outages at nuclear power plants has remained stable, with period-to-period fluctuations resulting from the timing of particular outages within our customer base. In addition to our traditional plant maintenance business, during 2009 we aligned with complementary service providers to provide engineering, procurement and construction services for capital projects to a greater extent than in earlier years. We see this as an area of potential future growth that would allow us to reach new customers and markets and would provide cyclical offsets to the timing of refueling outages in our traditional maintenance business. During 2009 we also began offering valve maintenance and repair services and we continued to develop unique coating applications that enhance the value of the coatings and allow customers to obtain a longer coating life.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements and related notes requires us to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. We have based our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ materially from these estimates under different assumptions and conditions.

An accounting policy is considered to be critical if it requires an accounting estimate to be made based on assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain at the time the estimate is made, and if different estimates that reasonably could have been used, or changes in the accounting estimates that are reasonably likely to occur periodically, could materially impact the consolidated financial statements. We believe that the following critical accounting policies reflect the more significant estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. You should read the following descriptions of critical accounting policies, judgments and estimates in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements included under Page F-1 of this registration statement.

Revenue Recognition. We recognize revenues for auxiliary power equipment using the completed-contract method due to the short-term nature of the production period. Generally, these contracts specify separate phases of work that are frequently contracted separately. Under this method, we do not recognize any revenue until a contract phase is substantially complete, the customer takes risk of loss and title, and the installation is operating according to specifications or has been accepted by the customer. Changes in job performance, job conditions, estimated profitability and final contract settlements may result in revisions to job costs and income amounts causing final amounts to differ from those originally estimated.

 

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We recognize revenues and costs of revenues for our heat recovery equipment products and for applicable fixed-price contracts provided through our Services Division on the percentage-of-completion method based on the percentage of actual hours incurred to date in relation to total estimated hours for each contract. We use this method because we believe expended labor hours is the best available measure of progress on these contracts. The percentage-of-completion method is only allowed under certain circumstances in which the revenue process is long-term in nature (often in excess of one year), the products sold are highly customized and a process is in place whereby revenues, costs and margins can be reasonably estimated. Our use of the percentage-of-completion method generally results in the recognition of reasonably consistent profit margins over the life of the contracts on which we use this method because we are able to produce reasonably dependable estimates of contract billings and contract costs. We use the level of profit margin that is most likely to occur on each separate contract. If we cannot precisely determine the most likely profit margin, we use the lowest probable level of profit in the range of reasonable estimates until the results can be estimated more precisely. Our estimate of the total hours to be incurred at any particular time has a significant impact on the revenue we recognize in the relevant period. Changes in job performance, job conditions, estimated profitability and final contract settlements may result in revisions to costs and income. We recognize the effects of any such revisions in the period in which the revisions are determined. We recognize estimated losses on uncompleted contracts in the period in which the losses first become apparent. Under percentage-of-completion accounting, we must make key judgments in areas such as percent complete, estimates of project revenues, costs and margin, estimates of total and remaining project hours and liquidated damages assessments. Any deviations from these estimates could have a significant positive or negative impact on our results of operations.

We recognize revenues for routine services that are not provided pursuant to fixed-price contracts when services are performed and the customer assumes risk of loss, collection of the relevant receivable is probable, persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists and the sales price is fixed or determinable. Specifically, these routine service revenues are recognized as the services are performed based upon an agreed-upon price for the completed service or based upon the cost incurred and agreed upon hourly rates. On cost plus contracts, we recognize revenue as costs are incurred and we include in revenue the applicable mark up earned through the date the services are provided.

In the fourth quarter of 2006, operating with Bankruptcy Court approval, we initiated a wind down of Deltak’s large-scale HRSG product line and caused Deltak to enter into completion agreements with certain HRSG customers to complete executory contracts for delivery of HRSG units. Some of the HRSG contracts under completion agreements were in a positive cash position as of the Chapter 11 filing date because aggregate collections of billings exceeded aggregate project costs incurred. Our recognition of this excess is deferred until the earnings process is considered completed upon satisfaction of performance milestones set forth in the completion agreements. We recognize the excess of collections of billings over aggregate project costs for these contracts as Deltak meets the performance milestones as specified for avoiding the liquidated damage claims.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts. We generally establish an allowance for doubtful accounts when receivables are recorded and maintain the allowance at a level deemed appropriate based on loss experience and other factors affecting collectability.

Goodwill . The Company has made acquisitions in the past that included the recognition of goodwill, which was determined based upon previous accounting principles. Pursuant to ASC 350, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other , beginning January 1, 2009, the Company will record as goodwill the excess of the consideration transferred plus the fair value of any non-controlling interest in the acquiree at the acquisition date over the fair value of any non-controlling interest in the acquiree at the acquisition date over the fair values of the identifiable net assets acquired. We are required to perform periodic testing for impairment using a two-step impairment test to identify potential goodwill impairment and measure the amount of a goodwill impairment loss. The first step of the test compares the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount, including goodwill. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step of the goodwill impairment test is performed to measure the amount of the impairment loss, if any. Both steps of goodwill impairment testing involve significant estimates.

Long-Lived Assets. In accordance with ASC 360-10-05-4, Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, long-lived assets, such as property, plant, and equipment, and purchased intangible assets subject to amortization, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If circumstances require a long-lived asset be tested for possible impairment, we first compare undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by an asset to the carrying value of the asset. If the carrying value of the long-lived asset is not recoverable on an undiscounted cash flow basis, impairment is recognized to the extent that the carrying value exceeds its fair value. Fair value is determined through various valuation techniques including discounted cash flow models, quoted market values and third-party independent appraisals, as considered necessary.

Income Taxes. We account for income taxes using the asset and liability method under which deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. We measure deferred tax assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates expected to be applied to taxable income in the years in which those differences are expected to be recovered or settled. We recognize in income the effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities in the period that includes the enactment date. We establish a valuation allowance when we believe we are more likely not to realize than to realize the benefits of deferred tax assets.

 

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Warranty Costs. We accrue estimated costs related to product warranty as the related revenue is recognized and included in cost of revenues. We estimate warranty costs based on past warranty claims and sales history. Our warranty terms vary by contract but generally extend for no more than three years after delivery or completion of services. We manage our exposure to warranty claims by having our field service and quality assurance personnel regularly monitor projects and maintain ongoing and regular communications with our customers.

Insurance. We are self-insured for a portion of health and workers’ compensation liabilities that we incur in the course of our business. We charged approximately $5.7 million, $5.2 million and $4.7 million to expense in 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively, with respect to workers’ compensation claims incurred and related insurance premiums for excess claim coverage. Our reserves at December 31, 2009 and 2008 consist of estimated amounts unpaid for reported and unreported claims incurred. As of December 31, 2009, we had $5.0 million in letters of credit outstanding as security for possible workers’ compensation claims.

Results of Operations:

 

(In thousands)

         Variance
   Years Ended December 31,     2008 to 2009    2007 to 2008
   2009     2008     2007     $     %    $     %

Product revenues

   $ 193,150      $ 311,603      $ 208,085      $ (118,453   -38.0%    $ 103,518      49.7%

Service revenues

     347,460        245,161        195,333        102,299      41.7%      49,828      25.5%
                                                 

Total revenues

     540,610        556,764        403,418        (16,154   -2.9%      153,346      38.0%

Cost of product revenues

     150,137        239,447        159,796        (89,310   -37.3%      79,651      49.8%

Cost of service revenues

     310,048        217,337        171,132        92,711      42.7%      46,205      27.0%
                                                 

Cost of revenues

     460,185        456,784        330,928        3,401      0.7%      125,856      38.0%
                                                 

Gross profit

     80,425        99,980        72,490        (19,555   -19.6%      27,490      37.9%

Selling and administrative expenses

     46,664        50,418        45,179        (3,754   -7.4%      5,239      11.6%

Interest expense

     9,667        11,667        10,057        (2,000   -17.1%      1,610      16.0%

Reorganization expense

     1,030        23,574        33,102        (22,544   -95.6%      (9,528   -28.8%

Income tax expense

     5,282        3,151        5,121        2,131      67.6%      (1,970   -38.5%

(Income) loss from discontinued operations

     (7,369     (23,668     5,170        16,299      -68.9%      (28,838   -557.8%

(Gain) on disposal of discontinued operations

     (2,736     —          (11,198     (2,736   -100.0%      11,198      -100.0%
                                                 

Net income (loss)

   $ 27,887      $ 34,838      $ (14,941   $ (6,951   -20.0%    $ 49,779      -333.2%
                                                 

Year ended December 31, 2009 compared to year ended December 31, 2008

Revenues

Product Revenues. Total Product revenues declined $118.5 million, or 38.0%, to $193.2 million for 2009 compared to $311.6 million for 2008. The decline resulted largely from reductions in the industrial demand for power and in the availability of project financing, both occurring as a result of the worldwide recession and both contributing to a sharp reduction in shipments of gas-fired turbines by original equipment manufacturers. The decline was also in part due to downward pricing pressure resulting from decreased demand leading to reduced margins on lower volumes during the downward part of the economic cycle. While we benefited from the run-off of our 2008 backlog, primarily related to Middle East projects, 2009 revenues from multi-turbine Middle East projects were $48.7 million below 2008 revenues from that market. Auxiliary power equipment volumes were also down $40.9 million in the U.S. and Canada and $8.7 million in international markets other than the Middle East. These declines were partially offset by increases of $10.6 million in Europe and $8.1 million in Asia. Total Product revenues for 2008 also included $20.2 million of revenue recognized in that year on one large HRSG project.

 

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Service Revenues. Total Service revenues increased $102.3 million, or 41.7%, to $347.5 million for 2009 compared to $245.2 million for 2008. The increase resulted from $71.0 million in capital project services performed for new customers in 2009 and $36.2 million of services due to increased scope of work provided in the course of refueling outages for existing customers. Specialty services for 2009 decreased $4.9 million from 2008 due to lower levels of activity within our customer base as a result of poor economic conditions, increases in the competitive environment resulting from the lower activity levels, and fewer capital projects in the fossil fuel energy sector.

Cost of Revenues

Cost of Product Revenues. The cost of Product revenues declined $89.3 million, or 37.3%, to $150.1 million for 2009 compared to $239.4 million for 2008. The primary components of the decline were a $94.6 million reduction in costs resulting from a decline in revenue, a $3.1 million reduction in warranty costs and a $2.3 million reduction in fabrication and material costs offset by a $10.7 million additional cost recognized related to one contract.

Cost of Service Revenues. The cost of Service revenues increased $92.7 million, or 42.7%, to $310.0 million for 2009 compared to $217.3 million for 2008. The increase is directly attributable to the $102.3 million increase in Service revenues. Our cost of Service revenues are typically proportionate to changes in Service revenues since they are comprised almost entirely of variable labor.

Selling and Administrative Expenses

Selling and administrative expenses declined $3.8 million, or 7.4%, to $46.6 million for 2009 compared to $50.4 million for 2008. The decline resulted from $2.5 million in cost reductions implemented within our Products Division attributable to reductions in force and control of operating expenditures. Additionally, we had a $1.3 million reduction in incentive compensation tied to financial performance. These savings were partially offset by increases in operating expenditures attributable to increased headcount and accounting support in our Services Division required in connection with an expanding volume of business in that division.

Interest Expense

Interest expense declined $2.0 million, or 17.1%, to $9.7 million for 2009 compared to $11.7 million for 2008. The decline was primarily attributable to a decrease in the interest expense for the long-term debt facility due to principal payments that reduced the balance by $19.70 million during 2009. These principal payments included $5.0 million in mandatory quarterly amortization payments and a payment of $14.7 million made in April 2009 in compliance with the annual excess cash flow sweep provision of our Credit Agreement.

Reorganization Expense

Total reorganization expenses declined $22.5 million, or 95.6%, to $1.0 million for 2009 compared to $23.6 million for 2008 due primarily to a $14.3 million increase in the estimate of liabilities subject to compromise during 2008, which did not reoccur in 2009, and an $8.1 million decrease in professional expenses. Reorganization expenses recognized in 2008 included funding of a $34 million reserve with respect to Deltak and significant professional fees incurred in connection with the January 22, 2008 emergence from Chapter 11 protection.

Income Tax Expense

Income tax expense increased by $2.1 million, or 67.6%, to $5.3 million for 2009 compared to $3.2 million for 2008. Our effective tax rate was 15.9% for 2009, compared to 8.4% for 2008. The differences between our effective tax rate and the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35% principally result from the geographical distribution of our taxable income, fluctuations in the valuation allowance we use in connection with deferred tax assets, and permanent differences between the book and tax treatment of certain items. Our foreign earnings are normally taxed at lower rates than our U.S. earnings. We reduce our deferred tax assets in amounts determined by a valuation allowance when we are unable to conclude that we are more likely than not to realize a particular tax asset. Reductions we make in the valuation allowance reduce our effective tax rate. Conversely, if we increase the valuation allowance, the result is to increase our effective tax rate. Reductions we made to the valuation allowance reduced our effective tax rate by approximately 32% in 2009 and 15% in 2008. Permanent differences between book and tax treatment of certain items increased our effective tax rate by approximately 5% for 2009 and 2% for 2008. (In each case, these percentage differences are from the levels computed before taking into account the reductions in valuation allowance or the permanent differences, as the case may be.) At the end of 2009, we had approximately $50.9 million of federal and $44.6 million of state net operating loss carryforwards and $7.5 million of foreign tax credits available for possible use in future years.

 

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Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations

Income from discontinued operations declined $16.3 million, or 68.9%, to $7.4 million for 2009 compared to $23.7 million for 2008. The decline was attributable to a $16.9 million decrease in the amount of deferred revenue recognized on completion agreements from Deltak’s legacy large-scale HRSG contracts, partially offset by $0.6 million for recoveries of bad debts during 2009. As milestones contained within the completion agreements are met, deferred revenues are removed from the balance sheet and recognized as income from discontinued operations; these are non-cash events. At December 31, 2009, only $3.0 million of an original $34.0 million remains as deferred revenue to be recognized on future completions.

Gain on Disposal of Discontinued Operations

Gain on disposal of discontinued operations was $2.7 million for 2009, resulting from a November 2009 release of escrow funds attributable to our October 2007 sale of Global Power Asia, Ltd. No comparable gain was recognized in 2008.

Year ended December 31, 2008 compared to year ended December 31, 2007

Revenues

Product Revenues . Product revenues increased $103.5 million, or 49.7%, to $311.6 million for 2008 compared to $208.1 million for 2007. The increase reflected a more robust overall market for auxiliary power equipment in 2008 as compared to 2007 and included $83.7 million attributable to an increase in multi-turbine power projects and $19.8 million of increased sales of mid-sized HRSG, aftermarket, and oil and gas related projects.

Service Revenues . Service revenues increased $49.8 million, or 25.5%, to $245.2 million for 2008 compared to $195.3 million for 2007. The increase reflected a $35.0 million increase in plant maintenance service revenues, of which $26.0 million was due to a larger number of refueling outages in 2008 than in 2007, and $9.0 million was due to scope expansions in particular refueling outage projects. Another $14.8 million of the increase was due to the addition of one large customer for Williams not related to plant maintenance.

Cost of Revenues

Cost of Product Revenues . Cost of Product revenues increased $79.7 million, or 49.8%, to $239.4 million for 2008 compared to $159.8 million for 2007. The increase was primarily due to an increase in revenue resulting in a $75.1 million increase in cost of revenues with gross margins remaining flat overall for the year and by a $4.6 million accrual for weld repair work on one contract.

Cost of Service Revenues . Cost of Service revenues increased $46.2 million, or 27.0%, to $217.3 million for 2008 compared to $171.1 million for 2007. The increase was directly attributable to an increased number of refueling outage projects and expanded scope on existing projects. Our cost of Service revenues are typically proportionate to changes in Service revenues. Gross margin percentage decreased year over year by one percent due to a slight change in the overall mix of services.

Selling and Administrative Expenses

Selling and administrative expenses increased $5.2 million, or 11.6%, to $50.4 million for 2008 compared to $45.2 million for 2007. The increase included $1.5 million of increased Products Division expenses from the addition of sales and application engineering personnel related to additional project requirements, a $0.5 million increase in Services Division expenses due to the write-off of a bad debt, and a $3.2 million increase in corporate expenses incurred to address regulatory compliance issues not previously addressed during our bankruptcy reorganization.

Interest Expense

Interest expense increased $1.6 million, or 16.0%, to $11.7 million for 2008 compared to $10.1 million for 2007. Interest expense increased by $8.7 million related to the new $90 million term loan pursuant to a new Credit Facility that we secured in connection with our emergence from Chapter 11 protection in January 2008 as well as an increase in interest expense related to bankruptcy of $0.4 million partially offset by $2.3 million decrease in interest resulting from the repayment of the $20 million debtor-in-possession Credit Facility upon our emergence from Chapter 11. In addition, amortization of debt issuance costs, included in interest expense, decreased by $2.3 million, interest resulting from letters of credit decreased by $2.5 million, and $0.4 million of additional interest income.

 

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Reorganization Expense

Reorganization expenses declined $9.5 million, or 28.8%, to $23.6 million for 2008 compared to $33.1 million for 2007. The decline reflects a $21.8 million decrease in professional expenses incurred in connection with our bankruptcy, partially offset by a $12.3 million increase in the estimate of liabilities subject to compromise. A substantial portion of the reorganization expenses incurred in 2008 were incurred in the first quarter of 2008 during which we emerged from Chapter 11 protection. See “Bankruptcy Reorganization” in Item 1 of this Form 10 for further information regarding our bankruptcy proceedings.

Income Tax Expense

Income tax expense declined by $2.0 million, or 38.5%, to $3.2 million for 2008 compared to $5.1 million for 2007. Our effective tax rate was 8.4% for 2008, compared to a negative 32.3% for 2007. The differences between our effective tax rate and the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35% principally result from the geographical distribution of our taxable income, fluctuations in the valuation allowance we use in connection with deferred tax assets, and permanent differences between the book and tax treatment of certain items. Our foreign earnings are normally taxed at lower rates than our U.S. earnings. We reduce our deferred tax assets in amounts determined by a valuation allowance when we are unable to conclude that we are more likely than not to realize a particular tax asset. Reductions we make in the valuation allowance reduce our effective tax rate. Conversely, if we increase the valuation allowance, the result is to increase our effective tax rate. Reductions we made to the valuation allowance reduced our effective tax rate by approximately 15% in 2008 and by approximately 91% in 2007. Permanent differences between book and tax treatment of certain items increased our effective tax rate by approximately 2% for 2008 and reduced our effective tax rate by approximately 14% for 2007. (In each case, these percentage differences are from the levels computed before taking into account the reductions in valuation allowance or the permanent differences, as the case may be.) At the end of 2008, we had approximately $59.3 million of federal and $47.3 million of state net operating loss carryforwards and $4.9 million of foreign tax credits available for possible use in future years.

Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations

Income from discontinued operations increased $28.8 million to $23.7 million for 2008 compared to a net loss of $5.2 million for 2007. The increase included $22.8 million of income on deferred revenues recognized on completion agreements from the wind-down of Deltak’s large-scale HRSG product line and $1.5 million attributable to other income from discontinued operations in Brazil and Italy. This income was partially offset by $0.7 million in expenses related to discontinued operations. None of the net losses experienced in 2007 were repeated in 2008.

Gain on Disposal of Discontinued Operations

No gain (or loss) was recognized on disposal of discontinued operations during 2008. We recognized an $11.2 million gain on the disposal of discontinued operations in 2007 from the sale of Global Power Asia, Ltd. in October 2007.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We believe a strong balance sheet is a necessary pre-requisite for creating sustainable growth in stockholder value. During the strong part of an economic cycle, adequate liquidity can be used to finance organic growth; during the weak part of an economic cycle, adequate liquidity engenders discipline on price terms and risk assumption. Through all phases of recurring economic cycles, adequate liquidity facilitates all material transactions, whether with bankers, insurance providers, vendors or customers. Adequate liquidity also provides a cushion against operational challenges such as uninsured costs or claims or adverse litigation outcomes and opens up a broader scope and larger scale of strategic alternatives, including potential acquisitions. Our liquidity position as of December 31, 2009 was strong; we had $103.2 million of cash on our balance sheet and outstanding borrowings of $65.3 million on our $150 million Credit Facility.

Sources and Uses of Cash. Our primary sources of cash are net cash flow from operations and borrowings under our credit facilities. Our primary uses of cash are principal and interest payments on our indebtedness, capital expenditures, working capital and general corporate purposes.

 

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Cash and Cash Equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents increased $45.6 million, or 79.2%, to $103.2 million at December 31, 2009 from $57.6 million at December 31, 2008, primarily due to cash provided by operations which reflects the benefit of working capital expended in 2008 resulting in a higher volume of cash receipts during 2009. This increase was partially offset by the use of $19.7 million of cash to pay down term debt during 2009.

Credit Facility. We entered into a $150 million Credit Facility on December 20, 2007 to be effective upon our emergence from Chapter 11 protection. The Credit Facility, which remains in effect in amended form, consists of a $90 million term loan facility and a $60 million revolving letter of Credit Facility with a cash advance sub-facility. Upon emergence from Chapter 11 protection on January 22, 2008, we borrowed $90 million under the term loan and issued $30 million of letters of credit under the revolving letter of Credit Facility, with no borrowings under the cash advance sub-facility. We used the $90 million of proceeds from the term loan facility to retire our $20 million debtor-in-possession Credit Facility; pay claims and other obligations in connection with our emergence from bankruptcy as contemplated by our Plan of Reorganization; fund working capital and other corporate needs; and pay fees and expenses associated with the financing of the facilities. The agreement governing the Credit Facility was amended in July 2008 to increase the cash advance sub-facility from its original level of $10 million to its current level of $25 million and to modify the liquidity covenant under the agreement to make it more favorable to us. The agreement was further modified effective December 31, 2009 to modify a fixed charges coverage ratio under the agreement to provide us with greater operational flexibility.

The Credit Facility includes customary affirmative and negative covenants, such as limitations on the creation of new indebtedness and on certain liens, restrictions on certain transactions and payments and requires maintenance of a maximum consolidated leverage ratio, minimum consolidated fixed charge ratio and minimum liquidity. We would be in default under the credit agreement if, among other circumstances, we fail to comply with financial or other covenants under the Credit Facility, we fail to make payments when due under the Credit Facility, or we experience a change of control or become subject to certain insolvency proceedings. If we default under the Credit Facility, the participating banks may restrict our ability to further access the Credit Facility for loans, may require the immediate repayment of any outstanding loans with interest and may require the cash collateralization of outstanding letter of credit obligations. We have given a first priority lien on substantially all of our assets as security for the Credit Facility.

Issuance of Common Stock and Warrants. Upon emergence from bankruptcy on January 22, 2008, we issued 47,401,961 shares of our new common stock to pre-petition equity holders in exchange for stock held before the bankruptcy on a one-for-one basis. On that same date, pursuant to the rights offering, a related private placement, and our Management Incentive Co-Investment Plan, we issued an additional 85,294,117 shares of our new common stock in exchange for $72.5 million in new equity capital. The applicable price of our common stock in the rights offering was $0.85 per share. Also on January 22, 2008 and in connection with the rights offering, we issued warrants to acquire 16,265,005 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $0.8806 per share to the group of then-existing stockholders that backstopped the rights offering. The warrants expire on January 22, 2013. During 2009, warrants were exercised to purchase 591,219 shares of our common stock in cashless transactions. We withheld 377,216 shares of common stock in connection with those exercises and the shares so withheld are now held by us as treasury shares.

Liabilities Subject to Compromise. Liabilities subject to compromise include unsecured and under secured liabilities, including secured liabilities as to which there is uncertainty as to whether the value of the collateral securing the liabilities is less than, equals or exceeds such liabilities, incurred before the petition date. As of December 31, 2009, we had $0.5 million of liabilities subject to compromise, down from $136.8 million of liabilities subject to compromise as of our January 22, 2008 exit from bankruptcy protection. These amounts represent our estimates of known or potential pre-petition date claims that are likely to be resolved in connection with the Chapter 11 filings. These claims remain subject to further adjustments. Adjustments result from negotiations, actions of the Bankruptcy Court, rejection of executory contracts, the determination as to the value of any collateral securing claims, proofs of claim or other events.

 

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Changes in cash and cash equivalents for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 are as follows:

 

(In thousands)

   Years Ended December 31,  
   2009     2008     2007  
               (Debtor-in-
Possession)
 

Operating activities:

      

Statement of cash flow data:

      

Cash flows provided by (used in):

      

Operating activities

   $ 63,388      $ (119,472   $ 1,170   

Investing activities

     999        (3,397     11,707   

Financing activities

     (19,740     130,877        (1,925

Effect of exchange rate changes on

     940        (2,051     413   
                        

Change in cash and cash equivalents

   $ 45,587      $ 5,957      $ 11,365   
                        

Operating Activities

We believe that cash generated from our operations and available to us under our Credit Facility will be adequate to meet our working capital requirements for the foreseeable future.

During 2009, cash provided by our operating activities was $63.4 million. The principal sources of cash from operating activities were net income, depreciation, decreases in costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings and increases in accounts payable, offset by a gain on disposal of discontinued operations, decreases in trade receivables, billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings and deferred revenue.

During 2008, cash used in operating activities was $119.5 million, primarily as a result of decreases in liabilities subject to compromise, deferred revenue and accounts payable as well as an increase in accounts receivables, offset partially by net income, depreciation and decrease in billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings.

During 2007, cash provided by operating activities was $1.2 million, primarily as a result of decreases in accounts receivable, depreciation, inventories and increases in accounts payable, offset partially by net loss, decreases in cost and estimated earnings in excess of billings, other accrued liabilities and deferred revenue.

Investing Activities

Cash provided by investing activities in 2009 was $1.0 million, made up primarily of decreases in restricted cash and proceeds from the sale of discontinued operations offset by purchases of fixed assets.

Cash used in investing activities for 2008 was $3.4 million, made up primarily of purchases of fixed assets.

Cash provided by investing activities for 2007 was $11.7 million, made up primarily of proceeds from the sale of discontinued operations, offset partially by purchases of fixed assets and increases in restricted cash.

Financing Activities

Cash used in financing activities for 2009 was $19.7 million, primarily the result of principal payments made on our Credit Facility.

Cash provided by financing activities for 2008 was $130.9 million, primarily the result of proceeds from the Credit Facility and issuance of common stock, offset partially by principal payments made on the debtor-in-possession Credit Facility and payments of debt issuance costs.

Cash used in financing activities for 2007 was $1.9 million, primarily the result of payments of debt issuance costs.

 

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Contractual Obligations

Contractual obligations at December 31, 2009:

 

       Payments due by period (in thousands)
       Total      Less than
1 year
     1-3
years
     3-5
years
     More than
5 years

Long-Term Debt Obligations (including interest) (1)

     $ 72,542      $ 43,393      $ 19,321      $ 9,828      $ —  

Capital Lease Obligations (2)

       58        34        24        —          —  

Operating Lease Obligations (3)

       3,407        1,365        1,687        355        —  
                                            

Total

     $ 76,007      $ 44,792      $ 21,032      $ 10,183      $ —  
                                            

 

(1)

Refer to Notes 2 and 10 to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 15 “Financial Statements and Exhibits” of this Form 10. Amounts reflect an interest rate of 8% on an outstanding balance of $65.3 million, adjusted for known principal payments, on our Credit Facility due January 2014.

 

(2)

Outstanding capital leases at December 31, 2009 are primarily comprised of copier leases.

 

(3)

Our operating leases are for leases for office and warehouse spaces.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Interest Rate Risk. Our primary market risk exposure is volatility of interest rates, primarily in the United States. We manage interest rates through the use of a combination of fixed and floating rate debt and interest rate swap agreements. We are subject to interest rate changes on our LIBOR-based variable interest $150 million Credit Facility. As of December 31, 2009, we had $65.3 million of outstanding borrowings on the Credit Facility. Per Amendment No. 3 to the Credit Agreement, we made a principal payment in the amount of $20.0 million on January 9, 2010. On March 31, 2010, we made an annual excess cash flow sweep payment that reduced the outstanding principal balance to $24.6 million. To hedge against some of our variable interest rate exposure, on March 31, 2008, we entered into an interest rate swap agreement to convert $60 million of the Credit Facility from a variable rate of interest to a fixed rate of 2.97% per annum. That hedge agreement terminated in March 2010.

Interest rate sensitivity – Based on our level of variable rate debt at December 31, 2009, a 50 basis point fluctuation in short-term interest rates would have an approximate $0.2 million impact on our expected pre-tax income.

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk. We have foreign currency exposures related to buying and selling in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. To manage these risks, we enter into foreign currency forward agreements. At December 31, 2009, our most significant foreign currency exposures involved the Euro and the South Korean Won. Based on currency forward contracts in place at December 31, 2009, a 10% strengthening or weakening in the Euro from year-end exchange rates would decrease or increase our pretax income by approximately $0.5 million and a similar change in the South Korean Won would decrease or increase our pretax income by approximately $0.3 million.

 

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Item 3. Properties.

Our corporate offices are currently located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The lease for this facility expires in October 2010. We have eight other U.S. facilities, as well as facilities in the Netherlands, Mexico and China. The following table sets forth information about our material facilities at December 31, 2009:

 

Location

  

Owned/Leased

(Expiration Date)

  

Principal Uses

Products Division

     

Heat Recovery Equipment

     

Plymouth, Minnesota*

   leased (8/30/10)    Administrative office

Plymouth, Minnesota

   owned    Manufacturing and administrative office

Auxiliary Power Equipment

     

Tulsa, Oklahoma

   leased (8/31/11)    Manufacturing and administrative office

Auburn, Massachusetts

   owned    Manufacturing and administrative office

Heerlen, The Netherlands

   leased (7/31/13)    Administrative office

Monterrey, Mexico

   owned    Manufacturing

Shanghai – Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone, China

   leased (2/28/11)    Warehouse

Shanghai – Xuhui District, China

   leased (11/16/10)    Administrative office

Services Division

     

Tucker, Georgia

   leased (10/31/14)    Administrative office

Stone Mountain, Georgia

   leased (4/30/10)    Warehouse

Lakeland, Florida

   leased (month-to-month)    Administrative office

Roxboro, North Carolina

   leased (month-to-month)    Administrative office

We consider each of our facilities to be in good operating condition and sufficient for its current use. Each of our owned domestic real properties is encumbered by a lien under our Credit Facility.

 

* The lease on this property was early terminated on February 28, 2010.

 

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Item 4. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.

Before we filed this Form 10, holders of more than five percent of our common stock have not been required to file ownership reports with the SEC and only one such holder, Brown Advisory Holdings Incorporated, has filed such a report with the SEC since our emergence from bankruptcy in January 2008. Based on stockholder voting at our April 22, 2010 annual meeting of stockholders, we believe it is likely that other entities hold more than five percent of our common stock. However, we do not know how many shares any of these other entities hold or whether they continue to hold those shares. We have included Brown Advisory Holdings Inc. in the following table and have reflected information set forth in the Schedule 13G that firm filed with the SEC. Except as indicated otherwise, the following table sets forth certain information, as of April 23, 2010, regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock by each of our current directors, each of our executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table, and all of our directors and executive officers as a group.

 

     Common Stock Beneficially Owned  

Name of Beneficial Owner

   Number of
Shares (#)
   Percentage of
Class (%) (1)
 

Greater than Five Percent Holders

     

Brown Advisory Holdings Incorporated (2)

   16,635,026    12.0

Directors:

     

Carl Bartoli (3)

   168,199    ––   

Terence J. Cryan (3)

   168,199    ––   

Eugene I. Davis (3)

   168,199    ––   

Charles Macaluso (3)

   168,199    ––   

Frank E. Williams, Jr. (3)

   236,932    ––   

Executive Officers

     

David L. Keller (4)

   900,000    ––   

John M. Matheson (5)

   818,086    ––   

David L. Willis (6)

   1,438,907    1.0

Dean J. Glover (7)

   1,435,374    1.0

Kenneth W. Robuck (8)

   1,881,336    1.3

Gene F. Schockemoehl (9)

   1,850,126    1.3

Directors and executive officers as a group (11 persons) (10)

   9,233,557    6.4

 

(1) As reported by such persons as of April 23, 2010 (except in the case of Mr. Matheson, where the beneficial ownership is based on information in our records as of the last day of his employment with us) and including, in the case of our executive officers, restricted share units which are treated for purposes of this table on an as-converted basis. Percentages are based on 138,803,159 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding, except as indicated otherwise and except where the person has the right to acquire shares within the next 60 days, which increases the number of shares beneficially owned by such person and the number of shares outstanding for determining that person’s percentage of ownership. We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes to this table, each stockholder named in the table has sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares shown as beneficially owned by that stockholder. We have omitted percentages of less than 1% from the table.

 

(2) The shares listed are reported on Schedule 13G, filed with the SEC on February 17, 2010 with respect to holdings as of December 31, 2009. Brown Advisory Holdings Incorporated (“Brown Advisory”) is the beneficial owner of 16,635,026 shares of our common stock with regard to which it has shared investment power. The shares are owned by clients of NSB Advisors LLC, an investment advisor and a subsidiary of Brown Advisory. The Schedule 13G does not disclose, and we are unable to determine, who has the ultimate voting or investment control over the shares held by Brown Advisory. The mailing address of Brown Advisory is 901 South Bond Street, Suite 400, Baltimore, Maryland 21231.

 

(3) The 168,199 shares listed for each of our non-employee directors (other than Mr. Williams who joined our Board of Directors on October 13, 2009) were received as grants of restricted stock under our 2008 Directors’ Equity Incentive Plan. The 236,932 shares held by Mr. Williams include 31,250 shares received as a grant of restricted stock under our 2008 Directors’ Equity Incentive Plan and 205,682 shares of our common stock that he has personally acquired, 84,263 of which shares are held by Williams Family L.P. with regard to which he has sole voting and shared investment power.

 

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(4) Mr. Keller is our President and Chief Executive Officer. He also serves on our Board of Directors. His beneficial ownership includes 712,500 restricted stock units and 187,500 shares of our common stock received upon the vesting of restricted stock units.

 

(5) Mr. Matheson, our former President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, resigned from all positions with us effective as of September 14, 2009.

 

(6) Mr. Willis’ beneficial ownership includes 1,125,672 restricted stock units and 313,236 shares of our common stock received upon the vesting of restricted stock units.

 

(7) Mr. Glover’s beneficial ownership includes 894,167 restricted stock units, 302,560 shares of our common stock received upon the vesting of restricted stock units, 7,968 registered shares converted as part of our emergence from bankruptcy, and 153,786 purchased shares and 76,893 incentive shares issued under our Management Co-Investment Incentive Plan.

 

(8) Mr. Robuck’s beneficial ownership includes 1,167,148 restricted stock units, 475,541 shares of our common stock received upon the vesting of restricted stock units, 7,968 registered shares converted as part of our emergence from bankruptcy, and 153,786 purchased shares and 76,893 incentive shares issued under our Management Co-Investment Incentive Plan.

 

(9) Mr. Schockemoehl’s beneficial ownership includes 806,382 restricted stock units, 373,882 shares of our common stock received upon the vesting of restricted stock units, 439,183 registered shares converted as part of our emergence from bankruptcy, and 153,786 purchased shares and 76,893 incentive shares issued under our Management Co-Investment Incentive Plan.

 

(10) Represents beneficial ownership of our common stock held by our directors and executive officers as a group as of April 23, 2010. Includes 818,086 shares indicated in our records as being owned, as of the date on which he was last employed by us, by Mr. Matheson, our former President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, who resigned from those positions effective as of September 14, 2009.

 

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Item 5. Directors and Executive Officers.

Directors

The following table sets forth information regarding our current directors:

 

Charles Macaluso    Chairman of the Board
Carl Bartoli    Director
Terence Cryan    Director
Eugene I. Davis    Director
David L. Keller    Director
Frank E. Williams, Jr.    Director

Charles Macaluso , 66, has served as Chairman of our Board of Directors since January 2008. Since 1998, Mr. Macaluso has been a principal of Dorchester Capital, LLC, a management consulting and corporate advisory service firm focusing on operational assessment, strategic planning and workouts.

Mr. Macaluso currently serves as a director of the following companies: Global Crossing Ltd., a public company where he serves on the Audit Committee; Lazy Days RV SuperCenters, Inc., where he serves on the Audit Committee; GEO Specialty Chemicals, Inc., a private company where he serves as Chairman of the Board and a member of the Compensation Committee; Darling International Inc., a public company where he serves as Lead Director; Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, a public company; and Wellman Holdings, Inc., a private company where he serves as Chairman of the Board.

Director Qualifications. Mr. Macaluso is an invaluable member of our Board, having had a career focused on operational assessment, strategic planning, crisis management and turnaround advisory services, most recently with Dorchester Capital LLC. Dorchester Capital also has a significant commitment to representing the interests of investor groups as a member of the boards of directors at a diverse array of companies, and Mr. Macaluso brings with him a strong commitment to stockholders’ interests. He also has extensive executive and financial expertise. In addition, Mr. Macaluso brings significant board expertise, including service as Chairman on a number of public and private company boards and committees.

Carl Bartoli , 71, has served as our Director since January 2008. Mr. Bartoli is retired from Foster Wheeler Corporation where he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Foster Wheeler USA Corporation and Executive Vice President of Foster Wheeler International Corporation for 12 years. As President and Chief Executive Officer of Foster Wheeler USA Corporation, he was also responsible for the Process Plant Division, the Fire Heater Division, Foster Wheeler Constructors Corporation and Foster Wheeler Environmental Corporation. This followed a career in project and construction management at ABB Lummus Global (now CB&I/Lummus) and M.W. Kellogg Company (now KBR, Inc.) covering virtually all facets of the engineering, procurement, and construction of power generation, process, pharmaceutical and infrastructure facilities.

Since his retirement from Foster Wheeler, Mr. Bartoli has established and serves as President of C. Bartoli Consultants, LLC serving the utility and process industry in the development and execution of capital projects. He has also participated in the preparation of strategic plans, organizational restructuring and acquisition due diligence of engineering and construction firms. Mr. Bartoli has been affiliated with the Construction Industry Institute (CII), a research organization serving the engineering and construction industry, as a member of the Board of Advisors and Executive Committee.

Mr. Bartoli holds a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Director Qualifications . Mr. Bartoli is an engineering and construction business executive with over 35 years of domestic and international experience in the process and utility industry. His experience covers all facets of the engineering and construction industry, including project management, project development, senior line management and executive P & L positions. Mr. Bartoli has also served on the boards of directors of a number of Foster Wheeler Corporation affiliated companies. Since his retirement from Foster Wheeler and the establishment of C. Bartoli Consultants, LLC, he has participated in many consulting assignments for the power generation, process and energy industries. He is also a consultant leader with the Gerson Lehrman Group in the energy and industrials sector and is an advisor to Anellotech, Inc., a company developing a cellulosic biomass conversion technology for the production of petrochemicals.

 

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Terence J. Cryan , 47, has served as our Director since January 2008. Mr. Cryan has over 20 years of international business experience as an investment banker based in both the United States and Europe. In 2001, Mr. Cryan co-founded Concert Energy Partners, an investment banking and private equity firm based in New York City, and continues to serve as Managing Director. He has also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Medical Acoustics LLC from April 2007 through April 2010. Prior to 2001, Mr. Cryan was a Senior Managing Director in the Investment Banking Division at Bear Stearns.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Cryan was a Managing Director, Energy & Natural Resources Industry Group Head and member of the Investment Banking Operating Committee at Paine Webber. Mr. Cryan joined Paine Webber following its acquisition of Kidder, Peabody in 1994.

Mr. Cryan is an adjunct professor at the Metropolitan College of New York Graduate School of Business, serves as a director of a number of international companies, including public companies such as Uranium Resources, Inc. (October 2006 to present), The Providence Service Corporation (May 2009 to present), and Gryphon Gold Corporation (August 2009 to present), and is a frequent speaker at finance and energy industry gatherings.

Mr. Cryan holds a Master of Science in Economics from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor of Arts from Tufts University.

Director Qualifications. Mr. Cryan possesses extensive expertise in financings, mergers and acquisitions. He also has a broad energy industry background and executive level experience. Mr. Cryan has over 20 years of experience in international business as an investment banker in the United States and Europe. As a co-founder of Concert Energy Partners and as former Managing Director, Energy & Natural Resources Industry Group Head at Paine Webber, Mr. Cryan has in depth knowledge of the energy industry. In addition, Mr. Cryan brings extensive board level experience, serving on the boards of a number of international companies.

Eugene I. Davis , 55, has served as our Director since January 2008. Mr. Davis is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PIRINATE Consulting Group, LLC, a privately-held consulting firm specializing in turn-around management, merger and acquisition consulting, hostile and friendly takeovers, proxy contests and strategic planning advisory services for domestic and international public and private business entities. Since forming PIRINATE in 1997, Mr. Davis has advised, managed, sold, liquidated and/or acted as a Chief Executive Officer, Chief Restructuring Officer, Director, Committee Chairman and/or Chairman of the Board of a number of businesses, including companies operating in the telecommunications, automotive, manufacturing, high-technology, medical technologies, metals, energy, financial services, consumer products and services, import-export, mining and transportation and logistics sectors.

Prior to forming PIRINATE, Mr. Davis served as President, Vice-Chairman and Director of Emerson Radio Corp., a public company in the consumer electronics business, and Chief Executive Officer and Vice-Chairman of Sport Supply Group, Inc., a marketer, manufacturer and distributor of sporting goods. Mr. Davis began his career as an attorney and international negotiator with Exxon Corp. and Standard Oil Company (Indiana) and as a partner in two Texas-based law firms where he specialized in corporate/securities law, international transactions and restructuring advisory.

Mr. Davis currently serves as a director on the boards of seven public companies. During the past five years, he has served as a director on the boards of the following public companies: American Commercial Lines Inc., Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc., Exide Technologies, iPCS, Inc., Knology, Inc., Oglebay Norton Company, Tipperary Corporation, Viskase Companies, Inc., McLeodUSA Incorporated, Granite Broadcasting Corporation, Footstar, Inc., PRG-Schultz International, Inc., Silicon Graphics, Inc., SeraCare Life Sciences, Inc., Foamex International Inc., Ion Media Networks, Inc., Delta Air Lines, Inc., Atari, Inc., Solutia Inc., Media General, Inc., Rural/Metro Corporation, TerreStar Corporation, Spectrum Brands, Inc., Ambassadors International, Inc. and Dex One Corporation (f/k/a R.H. Donnelley Corporation).

Mr. Davis holds a Bachelor of Arts from Columbia College, a Masters of International Affairs in International Law and Organization from the School of International Affairs of Columbia University and a Juris Doctorate from the Columbia University School of Law.

Director Qualifications. Mr. Davis has substantial public board experience and expertise in the corporate governance arena acquired through his service on a number of public company boards and as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PIRINATE Consulting Group, LLC. Mr. Davis is a well-seasoned businessman and brings to us significant executive experience in a variety of industries, including power and energy, telecommunications, automotive, manufacturing, high-technology, medical technologies, metals, financial services, consumer products and services, import-export, mining and transportation and logistics. In addition, he has significant financial expertise.

 

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David L. Keller , 56, has served as our President, Chief Executive Officer and Director since September 2009.

Mr. Keller served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of The Babcock & Wilcox Company (B&W), a wholly owned subsidiary of McDermott International, Inc., from March 2001 until his retirement in June 2007. B&W, a company with approximately $2 billion in revenues in 2006, supplies fossil-fuel fired boilers, commercial nuclear steam generators, environmental equipment and components, and boiler auxiliary equipment and provides related services, including construction services. Mr. Keller’s prior position was President of Diamond Power International, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of B&W, from March 1998 to February 2001. During his tenure with B&W, Mr. Keller served as a Board Chairman or Director of subsidiaries and joint ventures in the Peoples Republic of China, Denmark, the United Kingdom, Australia and South Africa.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from the University of Akron.

Director Qualifications. Mr. Keller has comprehensive knowledge of the power generation industry. He brings with him a career of experience and understanding in the businesses we engage in. In addition to his breadth of knowledge in the industry, Mr. Keller also has significant executive management experience. Prior to joining us, Mr. Keller served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of The Babcock & Wilcox Company, where he directly oversaw sales, manufacturing, accounting, legal, supply chain and personnel functions and where the revenues reached approximately $2 billion under Mr. Keller’s management in 2006.

Frank E. Williams, Jr ., 75, has served as our Director since October 2009. Since 1969, Mr. Williams has served as Chairman and principal owner of Williams Enterprises of Georgia, Inc., a holding company controlling six subsidiaries active in various facets of the steel industry. Since 1995, he has also served as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and a 50 percent owner of Bosworth Steel Erectors, Inc. of Dallas, Texas, an erector of steel products in the Southwestern United States and as Chairman and a major shareholder of Willfab, Inc., a structural steel fabricator located in Cherokee County, Georgia. Mr. Williams is the Managing Partner and principal owner of Industrial Alloy Fabricators, LLC of Richmond, Virginia, a fabricator of alloy plate products for the pulp and chemical industries, and of Industrial Alloy Erectors, LLC of Richmond, Virginia, an erector of structural steel and steel plate products.

Mr. Williams continues to serve on the Board of Williams Industries, Inc., a public company, which owns five subsidiaries active in the steel industry, including Williams Bridge Company, one of the largest fabricators of steel plate for bridge structures in the Mid-Atlantic region. The company was founded by Mr. Williams, who served as its President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman through 1994. Mr. Williams was appointed in 2005 as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kaiser Group Holdings, Inc., a public company, where he has been on the Board of Directors since 2002. He has served on the Board of Directors of Diamondhead Casino Corporation, a public company, since July 2002. In addition, Mr. Williams served for 23 years (including three years as Chairman) on the Board of Directors of Hemisphere Bank, which was reorganized to become Capital Bank, and currently serves as a Director of Capital Bank, N.A. He also serves on the Boards of Directors of Prudent Capital and Verdant Power, Inc., both private companies.

Mr. Williams has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Gulf States Steel Reorganization Group. He has been appointed by bankruptcy courts as an official representative serving in a pro bono capacity on behalf of investors and debt holders of public companies in bankruptcy and he represented holders of our equity securities during our bankruptcy in 2007 and 2008.

Mr. Williams holds a Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Director Qualifications. Mr. Williams brings us wide-ranging industry knowledge having been involved throughout his career with the types of businesses that we pursue. Mr. Williams has over 40 years of experience in the steel industry. His in-depth experience and knowledge covers all facets of the steel industry, including steel fabrication and erection and fabrication of alloy plate products for the pulp and chemicals industries. Mr. Williams is the principal owner of Williams Enterprises of Georgia, Inc., a holding company controlling six subsidiaries active in various facets of the steel industry. In addition to his extensive knowledge of our industry, Mr. Williams brings significant public company experience.

Messrs. Macaluso, Bartoli, Cryan and Davis were appointed as our directors by the Bankruptcy Court upon our emergence from bankruptcy in January 2008. The Board appointed Mr. Keller as a director in September 2009 simultaneously with his employment as our President and Chief Executive Officer and appointed Mr. Williams as a director in October 2009. All of our directors were reelected for new one year terms at our annual meeting of stockholders held on April 22, 2010. Except for our bankruptcy, from which we emerged in January 2008, none of our directors has been involved in any legal proceeding enumerated in the SEC’s Regulation S-K, Item 401, within the time periods described in that regulation.

 

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Executive Officers

The following table sets forth information regarding our current executive officers:

 

David L. Keller    President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
David L. Willis    Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Dean J. Glover    Senior Vice President, President of Products Division
Kenneth W. Robuck    Senior Vice President, President of Services Division
Gene F. Schockemoehl    Senior Vice President and President of Braden Manufacturing, LLC
Tracy D. Pagliara    General Counsel, Secretary, and Vice President of Business Development
John J. Long    President of Williams Plant Services, LLC
Jeff J. Davis    President of Deltak Specialty Boiler Systems

David L. Keller , 56, has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer and as a Director since September 2009. His biographical information is provided under the caption “Directors” above.

David L. Willis , 38, has been our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since January 2008. Mr. Willis has a broad range of leadership experience across a range of industries: restructuring advisory services, telecommunications, energy companies and public accounting. From October 2001 to January 2008, he was with the restructuring practice of Alvarez & Marsal LLC, a global professional services firm, where he served clients in advisory and interim management capacities, most recently as Senior Director, overseeing the development and implementation of initiatives to improve operational and financial performance.

Prior to Alvarez & Marsal, Mr. Willis held positions with The Williams Communications Group and Ernst & Young. Mr. Willis received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the Price College of Business at the University of Oklahoma and holds an M.B.A. from the University of Tulsa. He is a Certified Public Accountant and has a Certified Insolvency and Restructuring Advisor certification (inactive).

Dean J. Glover , 44, is Senior Vice President and President of the Products Division of Global Power Equipment Group Inc. Mr. Glover joined Braden Manufacturing in December 2005 as Chief Operating Officer and was promoted to his positions at Global Power and Deltak in September 2008. Mr. Glover has extensive international experience having lived in various international locations for most of his career. Mr. Glover has over 15 years of commercial and technical experience in the power industry. Prior to joining Global Power, Mr. Glover led the global supply chain, including manufacturing for Diebold Inc. Prior to this, Mr. Glover spent 13 years with General Electric in various managerial and technical roles and is a certified Six Sigma Master Blackbelt. Mr. Glover holds a Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nebraska and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University.

Kenneth W. Robuck , 50, is Senior Vice President and President of the Services Division of Global Power Equipment Group Inc. Mr. Robuck originally joined the Williams Group in 1995; he left the company for a brief period and returned in 2005 to run Williams Plant Services, LLC, the largest of the Williams’ subsidiaries, which is responsible for all major maintenance and construction services work. In early 2006, Mr. Robuck assumed the additional responsibility of Chief Operating Officer and was appointed President of the Williams Group in October 2007. Mr. Robuck has over 27 years experience in the nuclear power, fossil-fuel power, petrochemical and related industrial industries. Mr. Robuck is a graduate of Auburn University with a B.S. in Civil Engineering.

Gene F. Schockemoehl , 60, is Senior Vice President of Global Power Equipment Group Inc., and President of our subsidiary Braden Manufacturing, LLC. Mr. Schockemoehl has served as President of Braden since January 1994 and as Vice President of Global Power since June 1998. He was named President of Consolidated Fabricators Inc. in October 2003.

Mr. Schockemoehl began his employment at Braden in September 1968, progressing through the plant production area into management positions, and became Vice President of Operations in 1990. He served as Vice President of Sales from 1991 until his appointment as President in January 1994. Mr. Schockemoehl has a manufacturing and general business education background, having attended both Tulsa Community College and Rogers State College.

Tracy D. Pagliara, 47, has served as our General Counsel, Secretary, and Vice President of Business Development since April 2010. Prior to joining our company, Mr. Pagliara served as the Chief Legal Officer of Gardner Denver, Inc., a leading global manufacturer of highly engineered compressors, blowers, pumps and other fluid transfer equipment, from August 2000 through August 2008. He also had responsibility for other roles during his tenure with Gardner Denver, including Vice President of Administration, Chief Compliance Officer, and Corporate Secretary.

 

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Prior to joining Gardner Denver, Mr. Pagliara held positions of increasing responsibility in the legal departments of Verizon Communications/GTE Corporation from August 1996 to August 2000 and Kellwood Company from May 1993 to August 1996, ultimately serving in the role of Assistant General Counsel for each company. Mr. Pagliara has a B.S. in Accounting and a J.D. from the University of Illinois. He is a member of the Missouri and Illinois State Bars and a Certified Public Accountant.

John J. Long , 58, has been President of Williams Plant Services, LLC, our subsidiary since March 2010. Prior to joining Williams, Mr. Long was involved through the construction phases of several nuclear power plants from 1974 through 1985 with Fluor / Daniel before becoming a regional director with responsibility for overseeing maintenance and modification through 1999. From 2000 through 2009, Mr. Long served in the role of Vice President and Senior Vice President for Atlantic Union Resources, Inc., a provider of maintenance services to the power industry, and Day & Zimmermann NPS, where he was responsible for maintenance and modification support in the Midwest and West regions.

Mr. Long has over 30 years experience in the nuclear and fossil-fuel power industry. He has a B.S. from Troy University and an M.B.A. from William Woods University.

Jeff J. Davis , 52, has served as President of Specialty Boiler Systems of Deltak, our subsidiary, since January 2007. Mr. Davis joined Deltak in 1985. Prior to his promotion as President in October 2006, Mr. Davis held positions as application engineer, Sales Manager, and Vice President of Specialty Boiler Systems. Before joining Deltak, Mr. Davis worked at Econontherm Energy Systems as a project manager and applications engineer. Mr. Davis is a graduate of the University of Colorado with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering.

Except for our bankruptcy, from which we emerged in January 2008, none of our executive officers has been involved in any legal proceeding enumerated in the SEC’s Regulation S-K, Item 401, within the time periods described in that regulation.

 

Item 6. Executive Compensation.

The Compensation Discussion and Analysis below contains a description and analysis of the compensation arrangements and decisions we made for 2009 for our executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table that immediately follows this section. Throughout this Form 10, we sometimes refer to the persons included in that Summary Compensation Table as our “named executive officers”.

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Introduction

The Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors establishes and implements our compensation policies and programs for named executive officers. Our current named executive officers and their primary executive positions are David L. Keller – Chief Executive Officer, David L. Willis – Chief Financial Officer, Dean J. Glover – President of our Products Division, Kenneth W. Robuck – President of our Services Division, and Gene F. Schockemoehl – President of Braden Manufacturing.

From January 22, 2008, when we successfully emerged from bankruptcy, through October 13, 2009, when Frank E. Williams, Jr. joined our Board as a fifth non-executive director, our Compensation Committee was comprised of all four of the non-executive directors who became directors on January 22, 2008: Charles Macaluso, Carl Bartoli, Terence J. Cryan, and Eugene I. Davis. When Mr. Williams joined our Board on October 13, 2009, the Compensation Committee was reconstituted to its current three-member composition and is now comprised of Messrs. Bartoli, Cryan, and Williams. Mr. Bartoli has served continuously as Chairman of our Compensation Committee since January 22, 2008. Each of our non-executive directors, and therefore, each of the members of the Compensation Committee as it has been constituted since January 22, 2008, qualifies as independent in accordance with the listing standards of NASDAQ. Mr. Bartoli was asked to chair the Compensation Committee based upon his experience in compensation matters gained while serving as President and Chief Executive Officer of Foster Wheeler USA Corporation and in the course of his consulting career. Mr. Cryan and Mr. Williams each have extensive experience in dealing with compensation matters on the boards of other corporations.

The Committee’s functions include reviewing and making recommendations to our Board with respect to executive compensation policies and programs. The Committee has the exclusive authority to establish and adjust the base salaries of, approve cash bonuses for, and grant equity awards to, our named executive officers. Before making compensation decisions with respect to our named executive officers, the Committee takes into account the recommendations of our Chief Executive Officer (for named executive officers other than himself).

 

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Our Compensation Philosophy

Our compensation and benefits programs recognize the importance of our named executive officers to our overall success. The objectives of our compensation program are to:

 

   

attract and retain talented individuals;

 

   

motivate our executive team to achieve our goals and objectives; and

 

   

align the interests of our executives with those of our stockholders.

We believe each named executive officer’s compensation should be correlated with the performance of the named executive officer and our performance. The primary financial measure of performance we use for purposes of our compensation plans and programs is EBITDA, which we define as our earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted for reorganization expense and calculated based on the results of our two operating divisions without any charge for overhead or corporate allocations. When we refer to “EBITDA” in this Item 6, we are referring to EBITDA calculated in this manner. The annual bonuses we provide to our named executive officers are tied in part to achievement of EBITDA targets that are set annually by the Committee and in part to achievement of individual goals and objectives. The long-term incentive compensation we provide to our named executive officers vests over time based in part on achievement of those annual EBITDA targets and in part on continuing employment of the named executive officer by us over time. In making compensation decisions regarding each of our named executive officers, we also take into account the named executive officer’s compensation history and his past and expected individual contributions to our goals.

Our compensation program for our named executive officers has four principal components:

 

   

annual base salary;

 

   

short-term incentive awards (annual cash bonuses);

 

   

long-term incentive awards (equity-based awards); and

 

   

benefits.

Each named executive officer receives a base salary and is eligible to receive an annual cash bonus. Each named executive officer is also eligible to receive an annual grant of restricted stock units. We granted restricted stock units to executives in 2008 and 2009 under our 2008 Management Incentive Plan, which was put in place in connection with our emergence from bankruptcy proceedings and originally became effective on January 22, 2008.

The Committee determines base salaries primarily based on an analysis of relevant market data, by reference to the Committee members’ knowledge of the market, and the recommendations of our Chief Executive Officer (other than for himself). We view these base salaries as recognizing an individual executive’s regular commitment to his job and we take into consideration the executive’s knowledge, skills, and experience. We have employment agreements with each of our named executive officers that provide for a minimum level of annual base salary (effective as of the date on which the particular employment agreement became effective) and generally contemplate annual reviews that may, but need not, result in increases in the annual base salary payable to the named executive officer.

The Committee uses annual cash bonuses as a short-term incentive to motivate our named executive officers to increase the value of our company. Since 2008, we have provided short term bonuses pursuant to an annually adopted Incentive Compensation Plan that specifies threshold, target, and maximum performance hurdles for EBITDA of our designated business units and individual goals for each of our named executive officers. We have employment agreements with each of our named executive officers that specify their respective annual target and maximum bonus potential in terms of percentages of the executive’s annual base salary. Target bonuses as a percentage of base salary are set in these employment agreements at 55% for our Chief Financial Officer and the President of Braden Manufacturing, at 65% for the Presidents of each of our Products Division and our Services Division, and at 80% for our Chief Executive Officer. Maximum bonus percentages for each of our named executive officers are exactly twice these respective target bonus percentages. The effect of these increasing bonus percentages is to tie more of the compensation we pay to more senior executive officers to annual achievement of our business goals and the executive officer’s personal performance.

We make equity awards to our named executive officers each year to motivate them to increase the value of our company over time and as a means of encouraging our named executive officers to remain in the Company’s employ. In 2009 we made equity awards under the 2008 Management Incentive Plan in the form of restricted stock units. These restricted stock units generally vest over a four year period. Vesting as to one half of the units granted is contingent on achievement by the Company of annual EBITDA targets established by the Committee and the continuing employment of the named executive officer. Vesting as to the other half of the units granted is contingent only upon the continuing employment of the named executive officer.

 

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Those three of our named executive officers who were with us when we emerged from bankruptcy (Messrs. Glover, Robuck and Schockemoehl) participated in our Management Incentive Co-Investment Plan by purchasing, as of January 22, 2008, a certain number of shares of our common stock at a purchase price of $0.85 per share. In connection with those purchases, we granted to each of these named executive officers, at no cost to the named executive officer, an additional number of shares equal to one half of the number of shares purchased. In general, the granted shares will vest on January 22, 2011, provided the named executive officer remains in the employ of the Company through that date. We provided the one time opportunity to participate in our Management Incentive Co-Investment Plan to our named executive officers and other members of management in 2008 as a means to provide additional compensation and an incentive to stock ownership as we emerged from bankruptcy.

We make available to each of our named executive officers certain benefits that are generally available to all salaried employees including medical, dental, vision, life, accidental death and dismemberment, travel accident and short and long-term disability insurance. We make these benefits available so that we can provide a competitive compensation package to our salaried employees and our named executive officers. We require each of our named executive officers to undergo a physical examination once every year or two years (depending upon the executive’s age), the cost of which is borne by the Company. We also reimburse our named executive officers for documented business expenses and (except in the case of Mr. Keller) for expenses incurred in the preparation of annual tax returns. We cover club dues for those of our named executive officers who were with us when or shortly after we emerged from bankruptcy (all of our named executive officers other than Mr. Keller). The Committee determined not to provide club dues to Mr. Keller when he joined the Company on September 14, 2009 and has determined that it will not provide club dues to any other new hire. All of our named executive officers are entitled to participate in the Company’s 401(k) plan and its flexible spending benefit plan and to four weeks of paid vacation each year.

How We Make Compensation Decisions

The general structure of the Company’s compensation practices for our named executive officers since January 22, 2008 has been in large part determined by the Plan of Reorganization pursuant to which we successfully emerged from bankruptcy protection on that date. The Plan of Reorganization affirmed previously existing employment agreements of the Company’s executive officers, including those three of our current named executive officers who were with us during the bankruptcy (Messrs. Glover, Robuck, and Schockemoehl). These employment agreements effectively established the rates of annual base salary and the percentage annual bonus potential of the Company’s executive officers upon its emergence from bankruptcy. They also specified the benefits to be provided by the Company to those executive officers. The Plan of Reorganization also reserved up to 10% of the shares of our common stock at the time we emerged from bankruptcy for distribution to members of management under what became the 2008 Management Incentive Plan. All of our grants of restricted stock units to named executive officers since we emerged from bankruptcy have been made pursuant to that plan.

At least once each year the Compensation Committee reviews annual base salaries and makes any adjustments it deems appropriate, sets EBITDA targets, target payout amounts, personal goals, and the extent to which each named executive officer’s bonus for the year under our annual Incentive Compensation Plan will be dependent upon those various elements, and determines the amount of equity to be granted to named executive officers as long-term incentive compensation. The Committee makes its decisions on each of these matters based on review of information from a variety of sources, including the experience of the members of the Committee, publicly available statistical studies of compensation both in companies that are similar in size to the Company and companies in a broader range of sizes, and reports and recommendations from the Company’s management. After the completion of each year, the Committee meets to review audited financial information to determine the extent to which the Company’s financial performance has fallen short of, met, or exceeded the EBITDA target for the year and to review the extent to which individual named executive officers have achieved their individual goals under our Incentive Compensation Plan. Decisions by the Committee are generally made in Committee meetings that are attended by all of the members of the Committee following substantial consideration of all available information, including review of such reports by management or by various members of the Committee as may be relevant to the particular determination being made.

The Compensation Committee directs Company management to propose each year the EBITDA target and the target aggregate amount of annual bonuses to be paid for the year pursuant to our annual Incentive Compensation Plan. The Compensation Committee takes these recommendations into account but makes its own determinations as to the appropriate level for the EBITDA target and as to the target aggregate amount of annual bonuses to be paid out under the plan.

 

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The Compensation Committee also directs Company management to propose each year the aggregate number of restricted stock units to be distributed to employees as long term incentive compensation under the Company’s 2008 Management Incentive Plan and the manner in which those restricted stock units should be apportioned between members of the Company’s officers and senior management group, on the one hand, and other key employees of the Company, on the other hand. The Compensation Committee takes these recommendations into account but makes its own determinations as to the number of restricted stock units to be distributed and the apportionment of those restricted stock units among the Company’s employees.

In its annual review of the Company’s financial performance and the performance of individual named executive officers as relevant to the payment of annual bonuses to named executive officers and other management employees, the Committee discusses with members of management the extent to which financial performance during the year falls short of, meets, or exceeds the EBITDA targets that were set by the Committee for the year and receives a report and recommendations from the Company’s Chief Executive Officer with respect to the accomplishments during the year of each named executive officer (other than the Chief Executive Officer) and the extent to which each named executive officer (other than the Chief Executive Officer) has met individual goals relevant to the determination of payment of annual bonuses. As to the extent to which the Chief Executive Officer has met the individual goals and objectives set for him by the Committee, the Committee discusses the matter initially with the Chief Executive Officer and then in executive session without the Chief Executive Officer being present.

Tax, Accounting, and Other Considerations

The Committee considers the potential tax implications to the Company and to the recipient when making decisions regarding compensation. Cash compensation, such as base salary and cash bonuses, is taxable as ordinary income to our named executive officers upon receipt. Shares received when vesting restrictions on restricted stock unit awards lapse are taxable to our named executive officers as ordinary income upon receipt.

When reviewing preliminary recommendations, and in connection with approving the terms of equity awards under the 2008 Management Incentive Plan, the Committee considers the accounting implications of the awards, including the estimated expense, and carefully considers the dilution that will occur to our stockholders. The Committee recognizes that our equity-based awards are dilutive to our existing stockholders, but believes that these awards are necessary to attract and retain the talent that we need to drive positive performance for the Company.

Specific Compensation Elements

Annual Base Salaries. In establishing and adjusting base salaries for our named executive officers, the Committee takes into account the individual named executive officer’s base salary history and considers market forces and other general factors believed to be relevant, including the executive’s experience and breadth of responsibilities and the Company’s need for the named executive officer’s specific skills and talents. Additionally, the Committee takes into account the relative salaries of our named executive officers and determines what it believes are appropriate compensation level distinctions between and among our named executive officers.

Effective January 1, 2009, the Committee increased the annual base salary of Mr. Willis by $33,000 (15%) to $253,000, based largely on a determination that he was undercompensated in the context of the named executive officer group as a whole and in the market generally. The Committee also increased the annual base salaries payable: to Mr. Matheson, our former Chief Executive Officer, by $21,250 (5%) to $446,250; to Mr. Glover by $6,000 (2%) to $306,000; and to Mr. Robuck by $14,650 (5%) to $307,650. The Committee did not increase Mr. Schockemoehl’s base salary but left it at $275,000 per year. Each of the increases was made in view of the Committee’s understanding of market rates and conditions.

The Committee set the base salary for Mr. Keller at $435,000 per year upon his coming to work for the Company as our new Chief Executive Officer effective September 14, 2009. The Committee chose this level of base salary for Mr. Keller based upon the Committee’s understanding of market rates and in view of the rates at which the Company pays base salary to our other named executive officers.

Short-Term Incentive Compensation . The purpose of our annual Incentive Compensation Plan is to motivate employees to increase the value of the Company. For 2009, the Committee established threshold, target, and maximum EBITDA levels for each of our Products and Services Divisions and corresponding bonus payout levels for each participant in the Incentive Compensation Plan. The Committee set a combined target EBITDA level of $42,506,000, which is the sum of the target EBITDA of $27,661,000 for our Products Division plus the target EBITDA of $14,845,000 for our Services Division (in each case calculated without any charge for overhead or corporate allocations). The Committee set threshold EBITDA at 90% of the corresponding target EBITDA. No bonuses would have been payable under the plan for 2009 if combined EBITDA for the Company was less than the 90% threshold for combined EBITDA of $38,255,000. The Committee set the maximum EBITDA levels for our Products and Services Divisions, respectively, at 125% and 120% of target EBITDA levels. The Committee determined that bonuses equal to 8.5% of aggregate EBITDA would be available for payment if target EBITDA was achieved. At the 90% threshold level EBITDA, bonuses equal to 90% of target bonuses would be available for payment. At maximum levels of EBITDA, bonuses equal to two times target bonuses would be available for payment.

 

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The threshold, target and maximum bonus levels for each of our named executive officers, expressed as a percentage of base salary, are set forth in the following table:

 

     Threshold    Target    Maximum

David L. Keller

   72%    80%    160%

David L. Willis

   49.5%    55%    110%

Dean J. Glover

   58.5%    65%    130%

Kenneth W. Robuck

   58.5%    65%    130%

Gene F. Schockemoehl

   49.5%    55%    110%

For each of our named executive officers the Committee determined the extent to which the amount available for payment as an annual bonus for 2009 would be tied to EBITDA of our Products Division and to EBITDA of our Services Division. During 2009, our Products Division EBITDA was $28,706,000, or 103.8% of target, and our Services Division EBITDA was $26,462,000, or 178.3% of target.

Named Executive Officers . For each of our named executive officers who were with us at the beginning of 2009 (Mr. Willis, our Chief Financial Officer, and Mr. Matheson, our former Chief Executive Officer), 60% of the amount available for payment was based on achievement of EBITDA; 30% was based in equal proportions on the achievement of three standard financial ratios compared to budget; and 10% was based on the Committee’s evaluation of the named executive officer’s performance on two specified personal goals. For Mr. Keller, who joined us as Chief Executive Officer on September 14, 2009, 60% of the amount available for payment was based on achievement of EBITDA and 40% was based upon the Committee’s subjective evaluation of Mr. Keller’s performance during 2009.

Mr. Keller . For the period from September 14, 2009 when he joined us through December 31, 2009, the Committee determined that the amount available for payment as an annual bonus to Mr. Keller would be based 65% on EBITDA of our Products Division and 35% on EBITDA of our Services Division. The Committee further determined that of this available amount, 60% would be based only upon the relevant EBITDA figures and 40% would be based upon the Committee’s subjective evaluation of Mr. Keller’s performance during 2009. Based on the respective EBITDA of our Products Division and of our Services Division, prorated from his hire date to the end of the year and on the Committee’s evaluation of Mr. Keller’s performance, we paid him an aggregate annual bonus for services during 2009 of $146,537. This amount equals 112.5% of the base salary earned by him during 2009.

Mr. Matheson . At the beginning of 2009, the Committee determined that the parameters for payment of an annual bonus to Mr. Matheson would be the same as those for Mr. Willis that are set out immediately below this paragraph (except that a greater percentage of base salary was available to Mr. Matheson as a threshold, target, and maximum bonus and that one of Mr. Matheson’s personal goals related to compliance rather than reporting). In connection with his resignation on September 14, 2009 and the Separation Agreement we entered into with him, we paid Mr. Matheson the amount of $500,000 as a bonus for that part of 2009 ending on this termination date. We paid this amount to Mr. Matheson as a bonus to facilitate the execution of the Separation Agreement and the transition of the Chief Executive Officer’s duties and responsibilities to Mr. Keller.

 

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Mr. Willis . For 2009, the Committee determined that the amount available for payment as an annual bonus to Mr. Willis would be based 65% on EBITDA of our Products Division and 35% on EBITDA of our Services Division.

 

   

Of the available amount:

 

   

60% was payable based only upon the relevant EBITDA figures;

 

   

10% was payable based upon the Committee’s evaluation of Mr. Willis’s performance during 2009 on each of two personal goals related to improvements in ongoing operations and reporting; and

 

   

The remaining 30% was payable based on the Company’s performance on three standard financial ratios compared to budget.

Based on the respective EBITDA of our Products Division and of our Services Division and the Committee’s evaluation of Mr. Willis’s performance and the Company’s performance compared to budget against the relevant financial ratios, we paid him an aggregate annual bonus for services during 2009 of $203,870. This amount equals 80.6% of Mr. Willis’s annual base salary.

Division Presidents . For each of Mr. Glover, President of our Products Division, Mr. Robuck, President of our Services Division, and Mr. Schockemoehl, President of Braden Manufacturing, 50% of the amount available for payment as an annual bonus was based on achievement of EBITDA. As to the other 50% available for payment, 10% was payable at the discretion of the Committee based upon its subjective evaluation of the named executive officer’s performance during 2009 and the remaining 40% was payable based on the extent the Committee determined that the named executive officer achieved specified tactical goals and on the performance of the relevant operating unit on standard financial metrics.

Mr. Glover . For 2009, the Committee determined that the amount available for payment as an annual bonus to Mr. Glover would be based 80% on EBITDA of our Products Division and 20% on EBITDA of our Services Division.

 

   

Of the available amount:

 

   

50% was payable based only upon the relevant EBITDA figures;

 

   

Another 10% was payable at the discretion of the Committee based upon its subjective evaluation of Mr. Glover’s performance during 2009; and

 

   

The remaining 40% was payable based on the extent the Committee determined that Mr. Glover achieved tactical goals relating to improvements in ongoing operations, quality control, reporting processes, and compliance and the performance of the Products Division on EBITDA margin and sales per employee as compared to budget.

Based on the respective EBITDA of our Products Division and of our Services Division, the Committee’s evaluation of Mr. Glover’s performance and the performance of the Products Division on EBITDA margin and sales per employee as compared to budget, we paid him an aggregate annual bonus for services during 2009 of $244,174. This amount equals 79.8% of Mr. Glover’s annual base salary.

Mr. Robuck. For 2009, the Committee determined that the amount available for payment as an annual bonus to Mr. Robuck would be based 80% on EBITDA of our Services Division and 20% on EBITDA of our Products Division.

 

   

Of the available amount:

 

   

50% was payable based only upon the relevant EBITDA figures;

 

   

Another 10% was payable at the discretion of the Committee based upon its subjective evaluation of Mr. Robuck’s performance during 2009; and

 

   

The remaining 40% was payable based on the extent the Committee determined that Mr. Robuck achieved tactical goals relating to improvements in ongoing operations, quality control, compliance, safety, personnel development, and reporting and the performance of units reporting to Mr. Robuck on EBITDA margin as compared to budget.

 

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Based on the respective EBITDA of our Products Division and of our Services Division, the Committee’s evaluation of Mr. Robuck’s performance and the performance of units reporting to Mr. Robuck on EBITDA margin as compared to budget, we paid him an aggregate annual bonus for services during 2009 of $346,846. This amount equals 112.7% of Mr. Robuck’s annual base salary.

Mr. Schockemoehl . For 2009, the Committee determined that the amount available for payment as an annual bonus to Mr. Schockemoehl would be based 80% on EBITDA of Braden Manufacturing and 20% on EBITDA of our Services Division.

 

   

Of the available amount:

 

   

50% was payable based only upon the relevant EBITDA figures;

 

   

Another 10% was payable at the discretion of the Committee based upon its subjective evaluation of Mr. Schockemoehl’s performance during 2009; and

 

   

The remaining 40% was payable based on the extent the Committee determined that Mr. Schockemoehl achieved specified tactical goals relating to improvements in ongoing operations, compliance, and efficiency and the performance of Braden Manufacturing on EBITDA margin and sales per employee as compared to budget.

Based on the respective EBITDA of our Products Division and of our Services Division, the Committee’s evaluation of Mr. Schockemoehl’s performance and the performance of Braden Manufacturing on EBITDA margin and sales per employee as compared to budget, we paid him an aggregate annual bonus for services during 2009 of $276,788. This amount equals 100.7% of Mr. Schockemoehl’s annual base salary.

Long-Term Incentive Compensation. We view grants of equity to our named executive officers as a means of motivating them to increase the value of the Company over time and as a means of encouraging them to remain in the Company’s employ. In 2009, all of our equity awards to named executive officers were made under the 2008 Management Incentive Plan in the form of restricted stock units. These restricted stock units generally vest over a four year period with vesting dates of March 31 of each of 2010 through 2013. One half of the restricted stock units that may vest on any March 31 will vest only if the named executive officer remains in the employ of the Company through that date and the Company achieved the annual EBITDA target for the immediately preceding year. The other half of the restricted stock units that may vest on any March 31 will vest based solely on the continued employment of the named executive officer by the Company through that date. If we achieve the annual EBITDA targets established by the Committee for each of the years 2009 through 2012 and a particular named executive officer remains in our employ at least through March 31, 2013, the restricted stock units granted to the named executive officer in 2009 would vest in four equal installments, one each on March 31 of 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013.

On February 9, 2009, we granted restricted stock units to each of our named executive officers who were employed by us on that date in the following respective amounts:

 

Executive Officer

   Number of Restricted
Stock Units  Granted

John Matheson

   749,847

David L. Willis

   624,872

Dean J. Glover

   583,214

Kenneth W. Robuck

   583,214

Gene F. Schockemoehl

   365,000

We granted these restricted stock units to the named executive officer under our 2008 Management Incentive Plan that was put in place in connection with our emergence from bankruptcy proceedings and originally became effective on January 22, 2008. The Committee determined the number of restricted stock units to be granted to each named executive officer after receiving the recommendation of Mr. Matheson, who was then our Chief Executive Officer (as to grants to named executive officers other than himself).

 

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On September 14, 2009, in connection with his employment by the Company, the Company granted 750,000 restricted stock units to Mr. Keller. The Committee determined the size of this grant by reference to the size of grants made to our other named executive officers and based upon their judgment as to the number of restricted stock units appropriate to provide to Mr. Keller to induce him to accept the offer of employment as our Chief Executive Officer and to align his interests with those of our stockholders.

The Company achieved its EBITDA target for 2009 of $42,506,000, as set by the Committee for purposes of our annual Incentive Compensation Plan. Accordingly, all of the restricted stock units that might have vested in 2009 for each of our named executive officers vested fully on March 31, 2010. This included both the one half of those units as to which vesting was contingent only on continued employment and the one half of those units as to which vesting was contingent on a combination of continued employment and the achievement of target EBITDA.

Severance Payments. In order to provide protection to our named executive officers, we have included severance provisions in their employment agreements that provide continuing payments and benefits, generally for one year after the termination of employment, if their employment with the Company is terminated by us without cause or by the named executive officer for good reason. In addition, the restricted stock unit agreements that we have entered into with our named executive officers provide for accelerated partial or full vesting if the named executive officer’s employment is terminated without cause or by the named executive officer for good reason. These restricted stock unit agreements also provide for full accelerated vesting of all restricted stock units (including both restricted stock units that otherwise would have vested based in part on achievement of target EBITDA and restricted stock units that otherwise would have vested based entirely on continued employment) if we undergo a change of control. Generally, a change of control will be deemed to have occurred if someone acquires 50% or more of our voting stock, someone acquires control of our board, or we effect a merger, dissolution, or sale of all or substantially all of our assets.

The Committee believes that the immediate vesting upon a change of control in our restricted stock unit agreements is appropriate on the basis that our named executive officers should receive the full benefit of restricted share units if the Company is sold or comes under the control of an outside party. The Committee believes that the promises to pay severance compensation made in the employment agreements and the severance and change of control provisions of the restricted stock unit agreements are an appropriate part of overall compensation payable to our named executive officers for their continuing services to the Company.

Separation Agreement. On September 11, 2009, we entered into a separation agreement with Mr. Matheson, our former Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to which he resigned from all positions with us effective as of September 14, 2009. Under the separation agreement, we paid to Mr. Matheson a separation payment consisting of $446,250, representing one year’s base salary, $14,514, representing our estimate of one year’s cost of his benefits, $2,195, representing three months of club dues (in each case as required by the terms of Mr. Matheson’s employment agreement), and $500,000, representing an agreed upon amount of bonus for the part of 2009 ending on October 14, 2009, the date on which Mr. Matheson ceased to provide transitional services to us. We further agreed to pay all accrued, but unpaid, base salary and vacation time and reasonable legal costs incurred in connection with the negotiation of the separation agreement. On October 14, 2009, 370,191 restricted stock units held by Mr. Matheson vested with 270,191 restricted stock units vesting on that date by reason of Mr. Matheson’s service through that date and an additional 100,000 restricted stock units vesting by reason of us waiving any contrary provisions in the restricted stock unit agreements with Mr. Matheson. We paid the $500,000 agreed amount to Mr. Matheson as a bonus for 2009 and waived vesting requirements under restricted stock unit agreements to facilitate the execution of the Separation Agreement and the transition of the Chief Executive Officer’s duties and responsibilities to Mr. Keller.

 

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2009 Summary Compensation Table

The following table presents information regarding the compensation for 2009 for our current and former Chief Executive Officers, our Chief Financial Officer and the next three highest paid executive officers employed by us at the end of 2009. We sometimes refer to these individuals collectively in this Form 10 as our “named executive officers”.

 

Name and Principal Position

     Salary
($)
     Stock
Awards
($) (1)
     Cash  Incentive
Compensation
($) (2)
     All Other
Compensation
($) (3)
     Total
($)

David L. Keller (4)
Chief Executive Officer

     $ 130,229      $ 562,500      $ 146,537      $ 11,700      $ 850,966

John M. Matheson (5)
Former Chief Executive Officer

       409,029        311,735        —          1,399,616        2,120,380

David L. Willis
Chief Financial Officer

       253,000        242,769        203,870        14,726        714,365

Dean J. Glover
President of Products Division

       306,000        228,402        244,174        12,772        791,348

Kenneth W. Robuck
President of Services Division

       307,650        259,214        346,846        25,656        939,366

Gene F. Schockemoehl
President of Braden Manufacturing, LLC

       275,000        175,813        276,788        12,534        740,135

 

(1) The dollar amounts shown for Stock Awards reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of restricted stock unit awards computed in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 718. Restricted stock units we grant generally vest over four years. One half of the units vest in four equal installments on March 31 of each of the first four years after the grant date if the grantee remains in our employ through that March 31. The other half of the units are also scheduled to vest in four equal installments on those same March 31 dates, but each of those installments will vest only if the grantee remains in our employ and our performance for the immediately preceding year meets the EBITDA target established by the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors for that year. If our performance for any year falls short of that EBITDA target, the performance based installment that would otherwise vest for that year is forfeited. For purposes of the ASC Topic 718 calculation, we assume, as of the date of grant, that the grantee will remain in our employ through the end of the four year vesting period and we have therefore included in this column for 2009, as to the restricted stock units that vest solely on continued employment, their entire grant date value, determined as of the date of grant. As to any performance based installment, we do not assume that the installment will vest until the EBITDA target for each year is set. Once the EBITDA target for a year is set, we assume that all performance based installments of restricted stock units that may vest in that year will in fact vest, using as the grant date the date on which the EBITDA target is set. Accordingly, for 2009, we included in this column one performance based installment of the restricted stock units granted to Mr. Keller in 2009 (93,750 restricted stock units with a value of $112,500). Similarly, for each other named executive officer, we included in this column one performance based installment of restricted stock units granted in 2009 and another installment of restricted stock units granted in 2008, in each case using as a grant date the date on which the EBITDA target for 2009 was set. Details regarding 2009 stock awards can be found in the table “2009 Grants of Plan-Based Awards”. Details regarding the 2009 stock awards that are still outstanding can be found in the table “Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2009”. We did not grant any options during 2009. For a discussion of the assumptions we made in valuing the stock awards, see Note 9 – Stockholders’ Equity in the notes to our consolidated financial statements contained in this Form 10.

 

(2) This column reflects amounts earned by our named executive officers under our annual Incentive Compensation Plan. The terms of the plan are described more fully in the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” section of this Form 10.

 

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(3) The amounts in the All Other Compensation column are valued on the basis of the aggregate incremental cost to us and consist of the following compensation items: For Mr. Keller, relocation expenses of $5,832 and housing reimbursement of $5,868; for Mr. Matheson, 401(k) match of $10,227, tax preparation expenses of $475, club dues of $7,639, and severance of $1,381,275; for Mr. Willis, 401(k) match of $8,223, tax preparation expenses of $485, club dues of $5,393 and family travel of $625; for Mr. Glover, 401(k) match of $10,322 and club dues of $2,450; for Mr. Robuck, 401(k) match of $12,306, tax preparation expenses of $801, car allowance of $12,350, and family travel of $199; for Mr. Schockemoehl, 401(k) match of $8,779, tax preparation expenses of $1,085 and club dues of $2,670. The family travel amount represent the aggregates incremental cost, if any, of commercial travel and/or meals and entertainment for spouses to attend company-related events. The $1,381,275 severance for Mr. Matheson includes $418,316, which is the value on his termination date of 370,191 shares of our common stock he received on the vesting of restricted stock units on that date, as well as other elements that are detailed in the “John Matheson’s Settlement Agreement” section of this Form 10.

 

(4) Mr. Keller was appointed as our President and Chief Executive Officer effective September 14, 2009.

 

(5) Mr. Matheson, our former President and Chief Executive Officer, resigned from all positions with us effective September 14, 2009 and his employment with us was terminated following a 30-day transition period on October 14, 2009. One consequence of that termination was the forfeiture of Mr. Matheson’s rights as to an aggregate of 968,472 restricted stock units with a fair value as of the termination date of $1,094,373.

 

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2009 Grants of Plan-Based Awards

The following table presents information relating to stock awards granted to our named executive officers in 2009 under our 2008 Management Incentive Plan and the payout of cash awards granted under our annual Incentive Compensation Plan.

 

     Grant Date    Estimated Future Payouts Under
Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards (1)
   Estimated
Future
Payouts
Under
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards
   All Other
Stock
Awards:
Number of
Common
Shares
   Grant Date
Fair Value
of Stock
Awards (2)

Name

      Threshold
($)
   Target
($)
   Maximum
($)
   Target
(#)
   (#)    ($)

David L. Keller

                    

Incentive Compensation Plan

   N/A    $ 93,765    $ 104,183    $ 208,366            N/A

2008 Management Incentive Plan

   9/14/2009             93,750       $ 112,500
   9/14/2009                375,000      450,000

John M. Matheson

                    

Incentive Compensation Plan

   N/A      321,300      357,000      714,000         

2008 Management Incentive Plan

   2/9/2009             98,136         164,868
   2/9/2009             93,731         157,468
   2/9/2009                374,924      319,208

David L. Willis

                    

Incentive Compensation Plan

   N/A      125,235      139,150      278,300            N/A

2008 Management Incentive Plan

   2/9/2009             39,254         27,969
   2/9/2009             78,109         42,960
   2/9/2009                312,436      171,840

Dean J. Glover

                    

Incentive Compensation Plan

   N/A      179,010      198,900      397,800            N/A

2008 Management Incentive Plan

   2/9/2009             39,189         27,922
   2/9/2009             72,902         40,096
   2/9/2009                291,607      160,384

Kenneth W. Robuck

                    

Incentive Compensation Plan

   N/A      179,975      199,973      399,945            N/A

2008 Management Incentive Plan

   2/9/2009             82,434         58,734
   2/9/2009             72,902         40,096
   2/9/2009                291,607      160,384

Gene F. Schockemoehl

                    

Incentive Compensation Plan

   N/A    $ 136,125    $ 151,250    $ 302,500            N/A

2008 Management Incentive Plan

   2/9/2009             70,658         50,344
   2/9/2009             45,625         25,094
   2/9/2009                182,500    $ 100,375

 

(1) These columns show the dollar value of the potential payout to each named executive officer for 2009 under our annual Incentive Compensation Plan at threshold, target and maximum levels. Amounts we actually paid during 2010 for 2009 under the Incentive Compensation Plan are included in the “Cash Incentive Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table (except in the case of Mr. Matheson whose bonus amount for 2009 is included in his severance payment and reflected in the “All Other Compensation” column of the Summary Compensation Table).

 

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(2) These amounts reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of restricted stock unit awards computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. The awards of performance-based restricted stock units (reflected in the column captioned “Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards – Target”) provide only for a single estimated payout. If the target level of performance is not achieved, there is no payout. If the target level of performance is achieved, the estimated issuance is equal to the Grant Date Fair Value of Stock Awards shown in this column, and only that amount, even if performance is far better than target. Therefore, the values of the performance-based restricted stock units included in this column represent the grant date fair value at both “target” and “maximum”. (In the case of Mr. Matheson, the amounts shown include the fair value of all stock awards included in the table as of the date granted plus the fair value of some of those stock awards as of the date of his termination of employment, on which date the awards were accelerated.) For a discussion of the assumptions we made in valuing the stock awards, see Note 9 – Stockholders’ Equity in the notes to our consolidated financial statements contained in this Form 10.

Stock Awards

We grant restricted stock units to our named executive officers pursuant to our 2008 Management Incentive Plan. One half of the restricted stock units granted to each named executive officer vests in equal installments over four years based on continued employment through each vesting date. The other half of the restricted stock units granted to each named executive officer vests in four equal installments over four years, with the vesting of each installment subject to both continued employment and satisfaction of the EBITDA performance condition for the relevant year. For this second half of the restricted stock units, we establish performance targets on an annual basis and, therefore, for purposes of reporting the value of grants made to our named executive officers in accordance with applicable SEC rules, we consider each installment of these performance-based restricted stock units to be the subject of a separate annual grant.

Cash Incentive Awards

We provide an annual cash incentive opportunity to our named executive officers under our annual Incentive Compensation Plan. The purpose of our Incentive Compensation Plan is to motivate employees to increase the value of the Company. Cash incentive awards under the plan for each year are calculated based on our designated business units’ actual financial performance, per our audited internal financial statements, as compared to threshold, target and maximum performance hurdle levels for EBITDA, as determined for that year by our Compensation Committee. The total amount available for payout as a bonus to any named executive officer is purely a function of performance of the designated business units against EBITDA targets. A portion of this total amount available is paid to the named executive officer based on the level of EBITDA achieved, without reference to individual performance. A further portion of the total amount available is paid to the named executive officer based upon the extent to which the Compensation Committee determines the executive’s personal goals and/or financial measures relevant to the executive have been achieved. In general, a named executive officer is required to be employed on the payout date (typically in March of the following year), to receive payment of a bonus under the Incentive Compensation Plan. For detail on the cash incentive opportunities available to each of our named executive officers during 2009, see the table set forth under the caption “Short-Term Incentive Compensation” in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section of this Form 10.

Employment Agreements

The key terms of our employment agreements with each of our named executive officers are set forth below.

David L. Keller’s Employment Agreement. Effective as of September 14, 2009, we entered into a three-year employment agreement with Mr. Keller, our President and Chief Executive Officer. We also agreed to use our best efforts to cause him to be elected to our Board of Directors at each stockholder meeting at which the directors are elected. By June 13, 2012, we will discuss with Mr. Keller whether we wish to mutually agree to extend his agreement for an additional year through September 13, 2013.

Pursuant to his employment agreement, Mr. Keller receives a salary of $435,000 per year and is entitled to an annual bonus opportunity under our annual Incentive Compensation Plan, with a target bonus equal to 80 percent, and a maximum bonus equal to 160 percent, of his base salary. Mr. Keller is entitled to participate in our 401(k) and flexible benefit plans and to four weeks of paid vacation per year. We also provide to Mr. Keller life, accidental death and dismemberment, short and long-term disability, travel accident insurance (but not medical or dental insurance), cover the costs of an apartment for his personal use, and reimburse his documented business expenses.

 

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On September 14, 2009, we granted 750,000 restricted stock units to Mr. Keller under our 2008 Management Incentive Plan. Subject to the plan’s acceleration provisions: one half of these restricted stock units will vest in four equal installments, one each on March 31 of each year starting with 2010 through 2013, if Mr. Keller remains employed by us through each particular March 31; and the other half of these restricted stock units will also vest in four equal installments on the same March 31 dates but only if Mr. Keller remains employed by us through each particular March 31 date and, as to any particular March 31 date, we achieve our EBITDA target for the immediately preceding calendar year. If Mr. Keller remains employed by us through September 13, 2012 but his employment agreement is not extended to September 13, 2013, the restricted stock units scheduled to vest on March 31, 2013 will vest on that date to the same extent as if Mr. Keller had remained employed by us through that date.

John M. Matheson’s Employment Agreement. During 2009, we had an employment agreement with Mr. Matheson, our former President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, that had been most recently amended and restated as of November 21, 2006. (Mr. Matheson resigned from all positions with us effective as of September 14, 2009 and his employment with us terminated on October 14, 2009. The separation agreement we entered into with him is summarized in the “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” section of this Form 10.) Pursuant to his employment agreement, Mr. Matheson was entitled to receive a base salary of $446,250 per year and an annual bonus opportunity under our annual Incentive Compensation Plan, with a target bonus equal to 80 percent of his base salary. Mr. Matheson was also entitled to participate in our 401(k), profit sharing and flexible benefit plans and to four weeks of paid vacation per year. We also provided to Mr. Matheson medical, dental, life, accidental death and dismemberment, travel accident and short and long-term disability insurance, covered his club dues and expenses for preparation of annual taxes, and reimbursed his documented business expenses.

Employment Agreements with Our Other Named Executive Officers. We have two-year employment agreements with all of our other named executive officers. At the end of the initial or additional employment term, each agreement automatically renews for a one-year term unless we have provided the officer with at least 60-days advance written notice of termination. Pursuant to the employment agreements, we pay each named executive officer base salary and provide them an annual cash bonus opportunity. In addition, each named executive officer is entitled to participate in our 401(k), profit sharing and flexible benefit plans and to four weeks of paid vacation per year. We also provide each named executive officers with medical, dental, life, accidental death and dismemberment, travel accident and short and long-term disability insurance, cover the executive’s club dues and expenses for preparation of annual taxes, and reimburse the executive’s documented business expenses.

 

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Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2009

The following table shows outstanding equity awards for each of our named executive officers who were employed by us at December 31, 2009. Mr. Matheson’s employment with us terminated on October 14, 2009 and, accordingly, there were no outstanding equity awards for him at December 31, 2009.

 

         Stock Awards

Name

         Number of
Shares or Units
That Have Not
Vested (#)
   Market Value of
Shares or Units
That Have Not
Vested($) (1)
   Equity Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares or Units
That Have Not
Vested(#) (2)
   Equity Incentive
Plan Awards:
Market or
Payout Value of
Unearned
Shares or Units
That Have Not
Vested ($) (1)(2)

David L. Keller

             
 

2008 Management Incentive Plan (3)

   375,000    558,750    375,000    558,750
  Total    375,000    558,750    375,000    558,750

David L. Willis

             
 

2008 Management Incentive Plan (3)

   430,199    640,997    430,199    640,997
  Total    430,199    640,997    430,199    640,997

Dean J. Glover

             
 

Management Incentive Co-Investment Plan (3)

   76,893    114,571    —      —  
 

2008 Management Incentive Plan (3)

   409,174    609,669    409,174    609,669
  Total    486,067    724,240    409,174    609,669

Kenneth W. Robuck

             
 

Management Incentive Co-Investment Plan (3)

   76,893    114,571    —      —  
 

2008 Management Incentive Plan (3)

   538,910    802,976    538,910    802,976
  Total    615,803    917,546    538,910    802,976

Gene F. Schockemoehl

             
 

Management Incentive Co-Investment Plan (3)

   76,893    114,571    —      —  
 

2008 Management Incentive Plan (3)

   394,474    587,766    394,474    587,766
  Total    471,367    702,337    394,474    587,766

 

(1) The market value of the time-vesting shares and restricted stock units reported in this column is computed by multiplying the closing market price of our common stock on the last trading day of 2009 by the number of shares and units held by each named executive officer.

 

(2) Our awards of performance-based restricted stock units provide only for a single issuance, which is reported in this column.

 

(3) Incentive shares were granted under our Management Incentive Co-Investment Plan on January 22, 2008 and will cliff vest on the third anniversary of the grant date if the holder of those shares remains in our employ through that third anniversary. Restricted stock units were granted under our 2008 Management Incentive Plan in 2008 and in 2009. One half of the restricted stock units granted to each named executive officer vests in equal installments over four years based on continued employment through successive March 31 vesting dates, the first of which is March 31 of the year immediately following the year in which the grant was made. The other half of the restricted stock units granted to each named executive officer vests in four equal installments over four years on the same vesting dates, with the vesting of each installment subject to both continued employment and satisfaction of the EBITDA performance condition for the relevant year. The following table shows the vesting schedules for the unvested incentive shares and restricted stock units outstanding as of December 31, 2009.

 

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Vesting Schedule for Unvested Incentive Shares and Restricted Stock Units

 

          Vesting Schedule (#)

Name

  

Type of Award

   March 31,
2010
     January 22,
2011
     March 31,
2011
     March 31,
2012
     March 31,
2013

David L. Keller

   RSUs    187,500      —        187,500      187,500      187,500

David L. Willis

   RSUs    234,727      —        234,727      234,727      156,218

Dean J. Glover

   Incentive Shares    —        76,893      —        —        —  
  

RSUs

   224,182      —        224,182      224,182      145,804

Kenneth W. Robuck

   Incentive Shares    —        76,893      —        —        —  
  

RSUs

   310,672      —        310,672      310,672      145,804

Gene F. Schockemoehl

   Incentive Shares    —        76,893      —        —        —  
  

RSUs

   232,566      —        232,566      232,566      91,250

2009 Stock Awards Vested

The following table shows information regarding aggregate stock awards vested during 2009 and the aggregate value realized on that vesting for each of our named executive officers.

 

     Stock Awards

Name

   Number of
Shares Acquired
on Vesting

(#)
   Value Realized
on Vesting

($) (1)

David L. Keller

   —      $ —  

John M. Matheson

   643,356      613,155

David L. Willis

   78,509      43,180

Dean J. Glover

   78,378      43,108

Kenneth W. Robuck

   164,869      90,678

Gene F. Schockemoehl

   141,316      77,724

 

(1) The value realized on the vesting of our restricted stock units is determined by multiplying the number of shares received upon that vesting by the market price of our common stock on the date of vesting.

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

The employment of any of our named executive officers may be terminated under several possible scenarios. In certain of these scenarios, our plans, agreements, arrangements or typical practices would provide severance benefits in varying amounts to the executive. We have employment agreements with each of our named executive officers. In addition, our plans may provide for specified benefits upon a change in control or for an acceleration of benefits. Our various agreements and plans that could provide severance and other benefits to our named executive officers upon a termination of employment or change in control are filed as exhibits to this Form 10. Although we have summarized the key provisions of these agreements and plans in the following discussion, stockholders are encouraged to read the entire documents for additional detail.

 

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David L. Keller’s Employment Agreement. We have an employment agreement with Mr. Keller. Upon the termination of Mr. Keller’s employment by us for cause, by him without good reason or upon expiration of the term, Mr. Keller would only receive his unpaid base salary through the termination date. Upon the termination of Mr. Keller’s employment by us without cause or by Mr. Keller for good reason, Mr. Keller would be entitled to severance payments, including his base salary and continuing insurance coverage through the termination date, any unpaid annual bonus with respect to the immediately preceding calendar year, a pro rata annual bonus (if his employment is terminated not earlier than three months after the beginning of the bonus plan year) based on our actual financial results for the entire bonus year and Mr. Keller’s individual performance during the part of the bonus year ending on the termination date, and, subject to execution or waiver of a release, a continuation of his base salary through the earlier of the end of the then-current term or the first anniversary of the termination date.

The terms “cause” and “good reason” are each defined in the agreement. “Cause” means (1) consistent failure to perform the executive’s duties and responsibilities, (2) a material breach of confidentiality or noncompetition covenants, (3) a material breach of any other provision of the employment agreement, which breach is not cured within 30 days of notice, (4) commission of a felony or any crime involving theft, dishonesty or moral turpitude, (5) commission of one or more acts or omissions that are willful and deliberate and taken or omitted with intent to injure our business, operations, financial condition or reputation, (6) disregard of directives of our Board of Directors, (7) drunkenness or use of drugs that interferes with the performance of duties under the employment agreement, or (8) any action to secure any personal profit in connection with our business without first obtaining the unanimous consent of our Board of Directors other than the executive. “Good reason” means (1) a material diminution of duties and responsibilities or (2) a material breach of our obligations under the employment agreement, in each case subject to notice requirements and cure provisions.

Upon the termination of Mr. Keller’s employment by death or disability, he would receive his base salary through the termination date, any unpaid annual bonus with respect to the immediately preceding calendar year, and a pro rata amount of his annual bonus (if the termination date is at least three months after the beginning of the bonus plan year). In the case of termination for disability, Mr. Keller would also receive the difference between his base salary and monthly benefits under our company-sponsored short-term disability insurance for a period of up to six months.

John M. Matheson’s Separation Agreement. On September 11, 2009, we entered into a separation agreement with Mr. Matheson, our former President, Chief Executive Officer and Director, pursuant to which Mr. Matheson resigned from all positions with us effective as of September 14, 2009 and agreed to provide transitional services through October 14, 2009. Under the separation agreement, we paid to Mr. Matheson a separation payment consisting of $446,250, representing one year’s base salary, $14,514, representing our estimate of one year’s cost of his benefits, $2,195, representing three months of club dues, in each case as required by the terms of Mr. Matheson’s employment agreement, and $500,000, representing an agreed upon amount of bonus for the part of 2009 ending on October 14, 2009, the date on which Mr. Matheson ceased to provide transitional services to us. We further agreed to pay all accrued, but unpaid, base salary and vacation time and reasonable legal costs incurred in connection with the negotiation of the separation agreement. A total of 370,191 restricted stock units held by Mr. Matheson vested on October 14, 2009, with 270,191 restricted stock units vesting on that date by reason of Mr. Matheson’s service through that date and an additional 100,000 restricted stock units vesting on that date by reason of us waiving any contrary provisions in the restricted stock unit agreements with Mr. Matheson. Mr. Matheson forfeited all of his other restricted stock units (968,472 restricted stock units). All 76,893 incentive shares issued to Mr. Matheson under our Management Incentive Co-Investment Plan were fully vested on October 14, 2009, without further action by either party. We paid the $500,000 agreed amount to Mr. Matheson as a bonus for 2009 and waived vesting requirements under restricted stock unit agreements to facilitate the execution of the Separation Agreement and the transition of the Chief Executive Officer’s duties and responsibilities to Mr. Keller. If we ask Mr. Matheson to provide any services to us after October 14, 2009, we will pay him for those services at the rate of $1,500 per full working day and we will reimburse him for reasonable travel or related costs and expenses incurred.

Employment Agreements with Our Other Named Executive Officers. We have employment agreements with each of our other named executive officers. Upon the termination of an officer’s employment by us with cause or by the officer without good reason, the officer would be entitled to receive all previously earned and accrued but unpaid base salary and vacation time up to the termination date, but not any accrued but unpaid bonus as of the termination date. Upon the termination of employment by us without cause or by an officer for good reason, the officer would receive all previously earned and accrued but unpaid base salary and vacation time up to the termination date. If the officer executed a general release, he would also be entitled to severance payments, payable within 60 days of the termination date, equal to the sum of any unpaid bonus earned during any bonus year that ended before the termination date, a pro rata target bonus for the year in which the termination occurs (based on the number of days in the year before the termination date and, in Mr. Schockemoehl’s case, only if the termination date is at least three months after the beginning of the year), one year’s base salary, the cost of medical, dental, life and travel accident insurance for twelve months, and the cost of club dues for three months.

 

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The terms “cause” and “good reason” are each defined in each employment agreement. “Cause” means (1) a material breach of confidentiality, noncompetition or nonsolicitation covenants, (2) commission of a felony or any crime involving theft, dishonesty or moral turpitude, (3) commission of one or more acts or omissions that are willful and deliberate acts intended to harm or injure our business, operations, financial condition or reputation, (4) disregard of the directives of our Board of Directors, (5) drunkenness or use of drugs that interferes with the performance of duties under the employment agreement, or (6) any attempt to secure any personal profit in connection with our business without prior written approval by unanimous consent of our Board of Directors. “Good reason” means (1) a material reduction in the annual base salary, employee benefits or percentage participation in our annual Incentive Compensation Plan, (2) subject to limited exceptions, a material modification to our annual Incentive Compensation Plan that materially and adversely affects the determination of the officer’s bonus, (3) a requirement to be based at any office or location more than 50 miles from Tulsa, Oklahoma (Tucker, Georgia, in the case of Mr. Robuck), or (4) a removal of the officer from the position specified in his employment agreement by action of the Board of Directors without cause and without the officer’s consent.

Upon the termination of employment due to death or disability, a named executive officer would receive all previously earned and accrued but unpaid base salary and vacation time up to the termination date or date of death, a pro rata bonus earned by the officer during the year in which the termination occurs (based on the number of days in the year before the termination date and, in Mr. Schockemoehl’s case, only if the termination date is at least three months after the beginning of the year) and any unpaid bonus earned by the officer during any year that ended before the termination date or date. In the case of termination for disability, the officer would also receive the difference between the officer’s base salary and monthly benefits under our company-sponsored short-term disability insurance for a period of up to six months.

The employment agreements with our named executive officers, including Mr. Keller, also contain customary confidentiality, nonsolicitation and noncompetition covenants. The nonsolicitation and noncompetition obligations continue for twelve months after termination. The confidentiality obligations continue indefinitely.

Restricted Stock Unit Agreements. The restricted stock unit award agreements that we have entered into with our named executive officers pursuant to our 2008 Management Incentive Plan provide that if we terminate an officer’s employment for cause, any restricted stock units that have not vested before the termination will terminate upon the termination. The definition of “cause” is the same as described above in the summary of Employment Agreements With Our Other Named Executive Officers. Upon a voluntary termination by a named executive officer that occurs before the officer has completed two years of service from the service start date specified in the restricted stock unit agreement, all unvested restricted stock units would terminate. Upon a voluntary termination after an officer has completed two years of service from that service start date, a portion of unvested restricted stock units would vest. The earliest service start date in any outstanding restricted stock unit agreements is January 22, 2008, the date on which we emerged from bankruptcy protection.

If we terminated a named executive officer’s employment without cause before the officer had completed three years of service from the service start date specified in the Restricted Stock Unit Agreement, a pro rata portion of the restricted stock units that would otherwise have vested on the following March 31 will vest (based on the number of days in the year before the termination date). If we terminated a named executive officer’s employment without cause after the officer had completed three years of service from that service start date, all of the officer’s unvested restricted stock units would immediately vest. If a named executive officer other than Mr. Keller terminated his employment for good reason, all of the officer’s unvested restricted stock units would immediately vest. In Mr. Keller’s case, a termination by him for good reason would have the same effect on vesting of his restricted stock units as a termination of his employment by us without cause. The definition of “good reason” is the same as in the applicable employment agreement.

Upon the consummation of a change of control of our company, all unvested restricted stock units held by any named executive officer would immediately vest. Upon a named executive officer’s death or disability, unvested restricted stock units held by the officer would partially vest.

 

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2008 Management Incentive Plan. Under our 2008 Management Incentive Plan, we may grant awards of restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock options and other equity interests in our company to our employees and officers and to the employees and officers of our subsidiaries as well as to any other person who is determined by our Board of Directors to have made (or is expected to make) contributions to us. Unless otherwise expressly provided in an award agreement, in connection with the occurrence of a change of control, our Board of Directors may accelerate the date of exercise or vesting of an award. In addition, if the surviving or acquiring entity refuses to assume or substitute for an award, a named executive officer would become fully vested in that award. A “change of control” under our 2008 Management Incentive Plan means (1) with limited exceptions, the acquisition by any individual, entity or group of beneficial ownership of 50 percent or more of the then outstanding shares of our voting stock, (2) our incumbent directors (determined as of the effective date of the plan) ceasing to constitute a majority of our Board of Directors (except that any director, whose election or nomination for election is approved by a majority of our Board of Directors and whose initial assumption of office is not in connection with an actual or threatened election contest, tender offer or a proposed merger, reorganization or consolidation is deemed to be an incumbent director), (3) consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation with respect to which beneficial owners of our voting stock immediately before the transaction do not continue, immediately after the transaction, to own beneficially more than 50 percent of the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from the transaction, (4) a complete liquidation or dissolution of our company, or (5) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets.

If we terminate the employment of a named executive officer for “cause,” our Board of Directors may terminate the executive’s awards on the date of the termination and we would have the right to repurchase any shares of our common stock subject to the executive’s restricted stock awards whether or not those shares have vested. The definition of “cause” under our 2008 Management Incentive Plan is the same as described above in the Summary of Employment Agreements with our other named executive officers.

Management Incentive Co-Investment Plan. Our Board of Directors approved our Management Incentive Co-Investment Plan on December 4, 2007 to reward certain senior managers of ours and our subsidiaries for their commitment and maximum efforts to us during our reorganization pursuant to Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code and to incentivize their efforts to grow the value of our company upon our exit from bankruptcy. Participation in the plan was subject to our successful emergence from bankruptcy. The plan was not intended to be a capital-raising device, and all securities issued pursuant to the plan were intended to be exempt from registration under Rule 701 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as compensatory securities issued under a “bona fide” incentive compensation plan.

Twenty nine senior managers, including all of our named executive officers who were with us when we emerged from bankruptcy, participated in the plan by purchasing a total of 1,764,678 shares of our common stock (these purchased shares, the “MIP Shares”) at a purchase price of $0.85 per share. Pursuant to the plan, we granted an additional 882,339 shares (these additional shares, the “Incentive Shares”) to the participants at no cost, at the rate of one Incentive Share for every two MIP Shares purchased by the participant. The MIP Shares were fully vested upon issuance to a participant on January 22, 2008, the date we emerged from bankruptcy protection. Incentive Shares generally will vest on the third anniversary of that date, January 22, 2011, provided the participant remains in our employ through that date. Incentive Shares will vest immediately upon a participant’s death, disability or retirement before January 22, 2011. If we terminate a participant for cause or if a participant voluntarily terminates employment with us, in either case before January 22, 2011, all of the participant’s Incentive Shares will be automatically forfeited. If we terminate a participant without cause or if a change of control occurs, in either case before January 22, 2011, all Incentive Shares will vest immediately. For purposes of our Management Incentive Co-Investment Plan, “change of control” means any transaction that would constitute an ownership change of our company, as that term is defined in Section 382(g) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or a sale by us of substantially all of our assets.

Incentive Compensation Plan. Pursuant to our annual Incentive Compensation Plan, we grant cash awards to our named executive officers in order to motivate them to increase the value of our company. Except in cases of death or disability, participants are generally required to be employed on the payout date (typically in March of the year following the year with respect to which an award bonus is earned) to receive their awards under the plan. If a participant’s employment is terminated due to death or disability during a plan year, the participant will receive a pro rata award based upon the base salary earned by the participant before the termination.

 

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The following table summarizes the amounts that would have been payable under the agreements and plans described above to each of our named executive officers upon termination under specified circumstances or upon a change of control, assuming the termination or change in control occurred on December 31, 2009. (Mr. Matheson is not included in the table because his employment was terminated before December 31, 2009 and the amounts paid to him upon that termination are set forth above under the caption “John M. Matheson’s Separation Agreement.”)

 

Event(1)(2)

   David L.
Keller
   David L.
Willis
   Dean J.
Glover
   Kenneth W.
Robuck
   Gene F.
Schockemoehl

Disability(3)

              

Annual Bonus

   $ 146,537    $ 203,870    $ 244,174    $ 346,846    $ 276,788

Disability Benefit

     219,584      127,000      154,268      154,235      139,920

Accelerated Vesting of Restricted Stock Units

     279,375      349,743      334,030      462,901      346,523

Accelerated Vesting of Incentive Shares

     —        —        114,571      114,571      114,571

Total:

     645,496      680,613      847,043      1,078,553      877,802

Death(4)

              

Annual Bonus

     146,537      203,870      244,174      346,846      276,788

Accelerated Vesting of Restricted Stock Units

     279,375      349,743      334,030      462,901      346,523

Accelerated Vesting of Incentive Shares

     —        —        114,571      114,571      114,571

Total:

     425,912      553,613      692,775      924,318      737,882

Termination Without Cause(5)

              

Salary

     435,000      253,000      306,000      307,650      275,000

Annual Bonus

     146,537      139,150      198,900      199,973      151,250

Cost of Benefits

     —        14,527      14,527      14,527      14,527

Club Dues

     —        1,992      1,937      —        667

Accelerated Vesting of Restricted Stock Units

     279,375      349,743      334,030      462,901      346,523

Accelerated Vesting of Incentive Shares

     —        —        114,571      114,571      114,571

Total:

     860,912      758,412      969,965      1,099,622      902,538

Termination for Good Reason(6)

              

Salary

     435,000      253,000      306,000      307,650      275,000

Annual Bonus

     146,537      139,150      198,900      199,973      151,250

Cost of Benefits

     —        14,527      14,527      14,527      14,527

Club Dues

     —        1,992      1,937      —        667

Accelerated Vesting of Restricted Stock Units

     279,375      1,281,995      1,219,342      1,605,952      1,175,533

Accelerated Vesting of Incentive Shares

     —        —        114,571      114,571      114,571

Total:

     860,912      1,690,664      1,855,277      2,242,673      1,731,548

Retirement(7)

              

Accelerated Vesting of Incentive Shares

     —        —        114,571      114,571      114,571

Total:

     —        —        114,571      114,571      114,571

Change in Control(8)

              

Accelerated Vesting of Restricted Stock Units

     1,117,500      1,281,995      1,219,342      1,605,952      1,175,533

Accelerated Vesting of Incentive Shares

     —        —        114,571      114,571      114,571

Total:

   $ 1,117,500    $ 1,281,995    $ 1,333,913    $ 1,720,523    $ 1,290,104

 

(1) No named executive officer would be entitled to any severance payments if we terminated him for cause or he terminated his employment with us without good reason.

 

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(2) Amounts shown for the accelerated vesting of restricted stock units and Incentive Shares are based on the December 31, 2009 per share closing price of our common stock.

 

(3) If terminated due to disability, each named executive officer is entitled, pursuant to his employment agreement, to receive, by March 15 of the year following termination, a pro rata portion of the full-year bonus that would have been earned by him had he remained in our employ through the regular time for payment of that full-year bonus. The amount shown in the table for each named executive officer assumes a December 31, 2009 termination and therefore is equal to 100 percent of the full-year bonus earned for 2009. Upon termination due to disability, each named executive officer would also be entitled to receive, pursuant to his employment agreement, monthly payments equal to the difference between his base salary and the monthly benefit payable to him under company-sponsored short-term disability insurance for six months following termination. In Mr. Keller’s case, assuming a termination on December 31, 2009, the last four of these six payments (all of which would otherwise be made after March 15, 2010) would be paid in a single lump sum by not later than March 15, 2010. If terminated due to disability, each named executive officer is also entitled to pro rata vesting with respect to those restricted stock units that would otherwise vest on the following March 31 if the executive remained in our employ through that date (taking into account, as to one half of those restricted stock units, whether or not we achieved the EBITDA target for the year in which the termination occurred). The amount shown in the table for each named executive officer assumes a December 31, 2009 termination and therefore is equal to 100 percent of the value of the full-year’s restricted stock units that would otherwise have vested if the executive had remained in our employ through March 31, 2010 (which takes into account, as to one half of those restricted stock units, that we did achieve the EBITDA target for 2009). Upon any termination for disability, all Incentive Shares held by a named executive officer vest in full (these Incentive Shares would otherwise vest in full on January 22, 2011 if the executive remained in our employ through that date).

 

(4) Upon termination of employment by reason of death, a named executive officer’s personal representative is entitled to the same pro rata bonus, pro rata vesting of restricted stock units, and full vesting of incentive shares that the named executive officer would be entitled to upon termination by reason of disability. Accordingly, the values shown for bonus, restricted stock units, and Incentive Shares upon termination for death are identical to those shown for those items upon termination for disability.

 

(5) Upon termination by us without cause, Mr. Keller would be entitled to any earned but unpaid bonus from a prior year, a pro rata bonus for the year of termination (but only if the termination occurs at least three full months after the beginning of the bonus year) to be based on our company and his personal performance and to be paid at the same time as the full-year bonus would have been paid if Mr. Keller had continued in our employ through March 15 of the following year (but not later than that March 15), and continuation of base salary through the earlier of the then-current term or the first anniversary of the termination date. We would be relieved of our obligation to make salary continuation payments to Mr. Keller if he failed to execute a general release of all claims in our favor. Upon termination by us without cause, each named executive officer other than Mr. Keller would be entitled to be paid, within 60 days of the termination date, an amount equal to the sum of any earned but unpaid bonus from a prior year, a pro rata bonus for the year of termination determined at target bonus levels, a full year’s base salary, an amount equal to the cost we would incur if we continued to provide medical, dental, life, and travel accident insurance to the executive for one year after the termination date, and an amount equal to the cost of three months of club dues. We would be relieved of our obligation to pay this aggregated amount to an executive officer who was terminated by us without cause if the officer failed to execute a general release of all claims in our favor. If terminated by us without cause, each named executive officer (including Mr. Keller) would also be entitled to pro rata vesting with respect to those restricted stock units that would otherwise vest on the following March 31 if the executive remained in our employ through that date (taking into account, as to one half of those restricted stock units, whether or not we achieved the EBITDA target for the year in which the termination occurred). The amount shown in the table for each named executive officer assumes a December 31, 2009 termination and therefore is equal to 100 percent of the value of the full-year’s restricted stock units that would otherwise have vested if the executive had remained in our employ through March 31, 2010 (which takes into account, as to one half of those restricted stock units, that we did achieve the EBITDA target for 2009). Upon any termination of a named executive officer by us without cause, all Incentive Shares held by the officer vest in full (these incentive shares would otherwise vest in full on January 22, 2011 if the executive remained in our employ through that date).

 

(6) If any of our named executive officers terminated his employment with us for good reason, he would be entitled to the same severance benefits as upon his termination by us without cause, except that the officer’s (other than Mr. Keller’s) restricted stock units would vest in full. If Mr. Keller terminated his employment with us for good reason, his restricted stock units would vest in the same proportion as upon his termination by us without cause.

 

(7) Our Management Incentive Co-Investment Plan provides for immediate vesting of all Incentive Shares held by our named executive officers upon their retirement.

 

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(8) Upon a change in control, all restricted stock units and Incentive Shares held by a named executive officer that had not previously vested would fully vest.

Compensation Risk Monitoring

Our Board is aware that compensation programs, if not carefully structured, can incentivize company employees to take imprudent business risks. Our Board, and in particular our Compensation Committee, consider such risks when developing and implementing our compensation programs. The Board believes that our compensation programs contain features that both focus our employees on achieving our performance goals and control against incentives to engage in imprudent risk-taking. The Board has concluded that our compensation programs and practices are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on our Company. Base salary constitutes a substantial portion of the compensation opportunity, so our employees are not dependent on achieving high incentive compensation to meet their basic financial needs. Incentive opportunities include both short-term cash bonuses and longer-term awards of restricted stock units, limiting motivation to inappropriately manage for short-term goals at the expense of long-term performance. Our Compensation Committee believes that our financial incentives are based on performance targets that are attainable without the need to take inappropriate risks or make material changes to our business or strategy. Equity awards include both service-based awards as well as performance and service-based awards that vest over a four-year period, promoting achievement of long-term stockholder value and further mitigating against taking short-term risks. In addition, we grant restricted stock units rather than stock options, lessening any incentive to manage for short-term price gains at the expense of long-term value.

Director Compensation

We provide our non-employee directors with a compensation program designed to attract and retain highly qualified directors, to compensate them fairly for the substantial time commitment they are required to make in fulfilling their duties, and to align our directors’ interests with the interests of our stockholders. Mr. Keller, our President and Chief Executive Officer, does not receive additional remuneration for his services as a director. The compensation we provided to our non-employee directors for their services during 2009 are described below.

Cash Compensation. We paid each non-employee director an annual cash retainer of $35,000. We paid additional cash retainers of $20,000 to our Chairman of the Board, $15,000 to the Chair of the Audit Committee, and $12,500 each to the Chairs of the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. We also paid an additional retainer of $10,000 to each member of a listed Board committee (other than the Chair of that committee). Non-employee Directors were also paid the following per diem fees: an “in-person” Board meeting attendance fee of $1,500, a telephonic Board meeting fee of $1,000, and a committee meeting attendance fee of $1,000. In addition, if any of our non-employee directors were requested to attend any meetings outside of normal Board and committee meetings, we compensated them for such “in person” general meeting attendance at a rate of $1,500 per day.

Restricted Stock. As part of our ongoing compensation to directors, each director is entitled to receive an equity award valued at $50,000 each year. We made two separate grants of restricted stock during 2009 to each of our non-employee directors (other than Mr. Williams who joined our Board on October 13, 2009). The first of these two grants was for 58,824 shares of our common stock and was made on January 22, 2009 (the first anniversary of our emergence from bankruptcy protection), to compensate our directors for their service during 2008. This first grant was priced (for purposes of determining the number of restricted shares to be granted) at our January 22, 2008 per share value of $0.85. The second of these two grants was for 78,125 shares of our common stock and was made on February 9, 2009, to compensate our directors for their service during 2009. This second grant was priced (for purposes of determining the number of restricted shares to be granted) at our January 22, 2009 per share value of $0.64 (January 22, 2009 being the first anniversary of our emergence from bankruptcy). Restricted shares granted under these awards generally vest in four equal annual increments on January 22 of each of the four years immediately following the year in which the restricted shares were granted (except that one fourth of the restricted shares granted on January 22, 2009 vested immediately on that date in light of the fact that those restricted shares were intended to compensate the directors for services during 2008). As of December 31, 2009, there were 952,204 shares of our common stock available for future grants under our 2008 Director’s Equity Incentive Plan.

Other. We do not pay any other compensation to our non-employee directors, but reimburse all of our directors for the reasonable expenses incurred by them in connection with carrying out their duties as directors.

Review of Director Compensation. Our Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee periodically reviews our director compensation program to ensure that it both fairly compensates our directors for the responsibilities and time commitment that they undertake in connection with service on our Board and enables us to continue to attract and retain highly qualified directors.

 

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2009 Director Compensation Table

The following table sets forth information regarding the compensation of our non-employee directors for 2009. Information about the compensation of Messrs. Keller and Matheson for their services during 2009 is reflected in the 2009 Summary Compensation Table.

 

Name

   Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash

($)
     Stock  Awards
($) (1)(2)
     Total
($)

Carl Bartoli

   $ 98,203      $ 80,616      $ 178,819

Terence J. Cryan

     82,540        80,616        163,156

Eugene I. Davis

     61,500        80,616        142,116

Charles Macaluso

     103,209        80,616        183,825

Frank E. Williams, Jr.

     21,375        —          21,375

 

(1) The $80,616 dollar amount shown for each non-employee director (other than Mr. Williams) in this column reflects the aggregate grant date fair value of the two grants of restricted stock awards we made to each of those directors in 2009, computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. As noted above under the caption “Restricted Stock”, the number of shares of restricted stock we granted to those directors with respect to services during 2008 was determined using the per share price of our stock on January 22, 2008 and the number of shares of restricted stock we granted to those directors with respect to services during 2009 was determined using the per share price of our stock on January 22, 2009. Variations between the per share price of our common stock on January 22, 2008 and January 22, 2009 (the latter being the date on which the grant with respect to services rendered in 2008 was made) and between the per share price of our common stock on January 22, 2009 and February 9, 2009 (the later being the date on which the grant with respect to services rendered in 2009 was made) account for the difference between the $100,000 nominal aggregate value of stock to be provided to each director for his services during 2008 and 2009 and the $80,616 amount shown in the table. The $80,616 amount is the sum of the $37,647 grant date fair value of 58,824 restricted shares granted on January 22, 2008 and the $42,969 grant date fair value of 78,125 restricted shares granted on February 9, 2009.
(2) The aggregate number of all unvested stock awards outstanding as of December 31, 2009, for each non-employee director is as follows:

 

Director

  Stock Awards Outstanding(#)

Carl Bartoli

  122,243

Terence J. Cryan

  122,243

Eugene I. Davis

  122,243

Charles Macaluso

  122,243

Frank E. Williams, Jr.

 

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

No member of our Compensation Committee is or has been an officer or employee of ours or of any of our subsidiaries. In addition, no member of our Compensation Committee has or has had any relationships with us or any other entity that is required to be disclosed in this Form 10 pursuant to the SEC’s rules. During 2009, none of our executive officers served on the Compensation Committee (or equivalent) or Board of another entity whose executive officers served on our Compensation Committee or Board of Directors.

 

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Item 7. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.

Director Independence

After considering all relevant facts and circumstances, including each director’s commercial, industrial, banking, consulting, legal, accounting, charitable and familial relationships, our Board of Directors has affirmatively determined that Messrs. Bartoli, Cryan, Davis, Macaluso and Williams each qualifies as independent in accordance with the listing standards of NASDAQ. In addition, each member of our Audit, Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees is independent in accordance with the listing standards of NASDAQ.

Related Party Transactions

Except as specified below, since January 1, 2007, there has not been, and there is not currently proposed, any transaction or series of similar transactions, to which we were or will be a party in which the amount involved exceeded or will exceed $120,000 and in which any director, executive officer, a holder of more than five percent of our common stock, or any member of the immediate family of any of the foregoing persons, had or will have a direct or indirect material interest.

Before he joined us in January 2008, David L. Willis, our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, was Senior Director within the restructuring practice of Alvarez & Marsal LLC (“A&M”). A&M served as a financial advisor to us during our bankruptcy but Mr. Willis was not part of the engagement team at any time. During 2008 and 2007, we paid $8.0 million and $5.0 million, respectively, to A&M for its services rendered to us.

Candice Cheeseman, our former Vice President of Administration, General Counsel and Secretary, resigned on February 19, 2010. Ms. Cheeseman’s husband is a partner at Conner & Winters, LLP. During 2009, 2008 and 2007, we paid $0.1 million, $0.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively, to Conner & Winters, LLP for legal services rendered to us.

Policies and Procedures for Review, Approval or Ratification of Related Person Transactions

Pursuant to policies and procedures adopted by our Board of Directors, our Audit Committee reviews all relationships and transactions in which we and our directors or executive officers, or their immediate family members, are participants in advance for review and approval. All existing related party transactions are reviewed at least annually by our Audit Committee. Any director or officer with an interest in a related party transaction is expected to recuse himself or herself from any consideration of the matter.

During its review of such relationships and transactions, our Audit Committee or our full Board of Directors considers the following: (1) the nature of the related person’s interest in the transaction; (2) the material terms of the transaction, including the amount and type of transaction; (3) the importance of the transaction to the related person and to us; (4) whether the transaction would impair the judgment of a director or executive officer to act in our best interest; and (5) any other matters the Committee deems appropriate.

In addition, to the extent that the transaction involves an independent director, consideration is also given, as applicable, to the listing standards of NASDAQ and other relevant rules related to independence.

 

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Item 8. Legal Proceedings.

We are involved from time to time in legal actions that arise in the ordinary course of our business. Although the outcomes of any such legal actions cannot be predicted, we do not believe that the resolution of any currently pending actions, either individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.

Deltak Fund for Unsecured Claims in Bankruptcy. On September 28, 2006, we and all of our U.S. subsidiaries, including Deltak, filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. Pursuant to an approved Plan of Reorganization, an administrator was appointed to administer a fund of approximately $34 million in cash that was intended to be distributed to the holders of allowed unsecured claims against Deltak. Under the Plan of Reorganization, the administrator has the right and duty to administer the fund and to “make, file and settle or otherwise resolve objections” to unsecured claims against Deltak.

Since January 22, 2008, the Administrator has adjudicated and/or settled various unsecured claims and engaged in efforts to resolve the remaining disputed claims. As of April 23, 2010, approximately $18 million of cash remains in the fund subject to the control of the administrator.

Several disputed unsecured claims remain unresolved including proofs of claims filed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. and Mitsubishi Power Systems Americas, Inc. which have collectively asserted claims of approximately $2.7 million and a proof of claim filed by SNC-Lavalin Power Ontario, Inc. (“SNC”), which has asserted claims of approximately $55 million as further described below). The administrator continues to contest and otherwise seek to resolve these and all other remaining disputed claims.

SNC-Lavalin Power Ontario, Inc. v. Global Power Equipment Group Inc., et al. On March 26, 2007, SNC filed a proof of claim with the Bankruptcy Court against Deltak pursuant to a purchase order, dated January 26, 2006, whereby Deltak agreed to sell heat recovery steam generators, accessories and other equipment to SNC and to provide related services. Simultaneously, SNC filed an identical proof of claim against us alleging that (1) Deltak undertook to provide SNC with a guaranty by us in connection with the SNC-Deltak purchase order, and (2) we had a duty to disclose to SNC Deltak’s financial condition and failed to do so. On August 29, 2007, we and Deltak filed an objection to both of these claims. As to the claim against Deltak, Deltak objected on the grounds that the claim was without merit and precluded by the express terms of a HRSG Completion Agreement that was previously approved by the Bankruptcy Court. As to the claim against us, we denied that we had issued a guaranty and we also denied that we owed any duty to SNC. SNC disputed the objections to the claims and asserted willful misconduct and/or intentional fraud on the part of us and Deltak. We and Deltak denied these allegations.

On December 17, 2007, the Bankruptcy Court issued a ruling that (1) sustained our objections and those of Deltak to SNC’s claims, and (2) disallowed and expunged SNC’s claims against us. SNC appealed the Bankruptcy Court’s ruling to the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. On December 21, 2008, the District Court entered a Memorandum Opinion and Order affirming the ruling of the Bankruptcy Court. On January 12, 2009, SNC appealed the Memorandum Opinion and Order of the District Court to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. SNC has filed an opening brief and we and Deltak have filed an answering brief. We and Deltak intend to vigorously defend this action.

Asbestos Cases. We are currently named as a defendant in three asbestos personal injury lawsuits. We intend to vigorously defend these actions, and do not anticipate that any of them will have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

 

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Item 9. Market Price of and Dividends on the Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters.

Market Price of Our Common Stock

We emerged from bankruptcy in January 2008, and no established market exists for our common stock. Our common stock issued upon our emergence from bankruptcy is presently quoted on the over-the-counter “Pink Sheets” under the symbol “GLPW”. We intend to apply to list our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market but our application will be subject to review and approval by NASDAQ. We can provide no assurance that our application will be approved or that an active public market will develop for our common stock. We can further provide no assurance as to the degree of price volatility in any market for our common stock that may develop.

The following table sets forth the high and low sales prices per share of our common stock, as traded on the over-the-counter “Pink Sheets”, during each calendar quarter during 2008 and 2009 and the first quarter of 2010. The closing price per share of our common stock reported on the “Pink Sheets” on April 26, 2010 was $1.74.

 

2008 Quarter Ended

  High      Low

March 31, 2008

  $ 1.45      $ 0.95

June 30, 2008

  $ 1.40      $ 1.00

September 30, 2008

  $ 1.35      $ 0.15

December 31, 2008

  $ 1.17      $ 0.10

2009 Quarter Ended

  High      Low

March 31, 2009

  $ 0.80      $ 0.25

June 30, 2009

  $ 1.45      $ 0.40

September 30, 2009

  $ 1.31      $ 0.90

December 31, 2009

  $ 1.50      $ 1.02

2010 Quarter Ended

  High      Low

March 31, 2010

  $ 1.90      $ 1.44

Period from April 1, 2010 through April 26, 2010

  $ 1.90      $ 1.50

As of April 23, 2010, we had 138,803,159 shares of our common stock outstanding, which were held by approximately 130 stockholders of record. In addition to our outstanding shares of common stock, as of April 23, 2010, we have reserved 15,673,788 shares of our common stock for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding warrants, and 1,339,523 shares of our common stock for issuance upon the conversion of outstanding restricted stock units. The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A. The transfer agent’s address is 350 Indiana Street, Suite 750, Golden, CO 80401, and the transfer agent’s telephone number is (303) 262-0678.

We believe that after the effectiveness of our registration under this Form 10, shares of our common stock will be freely transferable, except for shares held by persons who may be deemed to be our “affiliates” under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and except for shares issued to directors, officers and employees under our compensatory plans. Persons who may be deemed to be our affiliates generally include individuals or entities that control, are controlled by, or are under common control with us, and may include some or all of our directors and executive officers. Our affiliates will be permitted to sell their shares of our common stock only pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, such as the exemption afforded by Rule 144. We may file a registration statement on Form S-8 to cover the issuance of shares of our common stock under our employee benefit plans. In addition, pursuant to a registration rights agreement, dated as of January 22, 2008, we have agreed to provide piggyback registration rights with respect to approximately 35,156,000 shares of our common stock to investors in connection with a private placement. We are not offering any securities for sale to the public in connection with the filing of this Form 10.

Dividend Policy

We have not paid any cash dividends to date and currently have no intention of paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. The declaration and payment of dividends is subject to the discretion of our Board of Directors. In addition, our Credit Facility currently prohibits us from paying cash dividends to our stockholders. The timing, amount and form of dividends, if any, will depend on our results of operations, financial condition and such other requirements as deemed relevant by our Board of Directors. You should not purchase our common stock with the expectation of receiving cash dividends.

 

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Securities Authorized for Issuance under Equity Compensation Plans

The following table provides information, as of December 31, 2009, relating to our equity compensation plans pursuant to which grants of options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and other rights to acquire our common stock may be granted from time to time.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

Plan category

   Number of
common shares
to be issued upon
conversion of
restricted stock
units (a)
    Weighted-
average exercise
price of
outstanding
restricted stock
units ($)
    Number of
common shares
remaining
available for
future issuance
under equity
compensation
plans (excluding
securities
reflected in
column (a))
 

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

   —        —        —     

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

   9,484,537 (1)     N/A (2)     6,421,727 (3)  

Total

   9,484,537      N/A      6,421,727   

 

(1) This column represents the number of shares of our common stock that may be issued in connection with the conversion of restricted stock units granted under our 2008 Management Incentive Plan. The shares subject to outstanding awards under that plan can be forfeited and therefore can again become available for issuance under the plan.

 

(2) The weighted-average exercise price is not applicable because restricted stock units have no exercise price.

 

(3) This column includes 5,469,523 shares of our common stock that are available for future awards under our 2008 Management Incentive Plan and 952,204 shares of our common stock that are available for future awards under our 2008 Director’s Equity Incentive Plan. A summary of the material terms of these plans follows below.

2008 Management Incentive Plan

Pursuant to our 2008 Management Incentive Plan, we may grant awards of restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock options and other equity interests in our company to the employees or officers of ours and our subsidiaries or any other person who is determined by our Board of Directors to have made (or is expected to make) contributions to us. No participant may be granted awards during any one year to purchase more than 4,000,000 shares of our common stock, as shall be adjusted for the contemplated reverse stock split. Subject to adjustment for the contemplated reverse stock split, 14,954,060 shares of common stock were initially available for grant under the plan, with 5,469,523 shares remaining available for grant as of December 31, 2009. If any award expires, is canceled, forfeited, settled in cash or by delivery of fewer shares than the number of shares underlying the award, or is otherwise terminated without delivery of the shares underlying the award, the underlying shares will again become available under the plan for subsequent awards. Shares of our common stock withheld or otherwise surrendered for payment of an exercise price or taxes relating to the award will also again become available under the plan. Our Board of Directors may at any time accelerate any of the awards.

2008 Director’s Equity Incentive Plan

Pursuant to our 2008 Director’s Equity Incentive Plan, we may grant awards of restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock options and other equity interests in our company to our directors. Subject to adjustment for the contemplated reverse stock split, 1,500,000 shares of our common stock were initially available for grant under the plan, with 952,204 shares remaining available for grant as of December 31, 2009. If any award expires, is canceled, forfeited, settled in cash, or otherwise terminated without delivery of the shares underlying such award to the holder of such award, the underlying shares will again become available under the plan for subsequent awards. If any award is settled by delivery of fewer shares of our common stock than the number of shares underlying such award, shares that were withheld from the award in payment of an exercise price or taxes related to the award will also again become available under the plan. Our Board of Directors may at any time accelerate any of the awards.

 

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Item 10. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities.

Since our emergence from bankruptcy on January 22, 2008, we issued the following unregistered securities. We did not use a principal underwriter for any of the issuances.

Rights Offering

After our creditors voted in favor of our Plan of Reorganization, the Bankruptcy Court on December 20, 2007 issued an order confirming the Plan of Reorganization, and on January 22, 2008 we successfully emerged from bankruptcy protection. The Plan of Reorganization included a rights offering that was made available to our then-existing stockholders. Upon emergence from bankruptcy, we issued 47,401,961 shares of our new common stock to pre-petition equity holders in exchange for stock held before the bankruptcy. On that same date, pursuant to the rights offering, a related private placement, and our Management Incentive Co-Investment Plan, we issued an additional 85,294,117 shares of our new common stock in exchange for $72.5 million in new capital. We also issued warrants to acquire an additional 16,265,005 shares, at an exercise price of $0.8806 per share, to the group of then-existing stockholders that back stopped the rights offering. The warrants expire on January 22, 2013. The rights offering was exempt from registration pursuant to Section 1145 of the Bankruptcy Code. With respect to the private placement, we relied on Section 4(2) of the Securities Act and regulations promulgated thereunder on the basis that the issuances were sales principally to accredited investors not involving a public offering. All purchasers of securities represented to us that they were accredited investors and were acquiring our securities for investment purposes and not for resale.

Under the Plan of Reorganization, part of the funds from the rights offering were used to pay in full all allowed creditor claims of our company and our Braden and Williams subsidiaries, and a cash reserve of $34 million was established for the payment of allowed unsecured claims against our Deltak subsidiary.

Warrant Exercises

During 2009, warrants were exercised to purchase 591,219 shares of our common stock in cashless transactions. We withheld 377,216 shares of common stock in connection with those exercises and those withheld shares are now held by us as treasury shares. As of December 31, 2009, 15,673,788 warrants remained outstanding.

Compensation Plans

During 2008, 2009 and the first four months of our 2010, we granted an aggregate of 14,827,441 restricted stock units to our employees pursuant to our 2008 Management Incentive Plan and an aggregate of 704,046 restricted shares of our common stock to our non-employee directors pursuant to our 2008 Director’s Equity Incentive Plan. In addition, we issued 1,764,678 shares of our common stock, at a purchase price of $0.85 per share, and an additional 882,339 Incentive Shares, to 29 senior managers pursuant to our Management Incentive Co-Investment Plan. The terms of these plans are described under Items 6 and 9 above. All shares issued pursuant to these plans were intended to be exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 701 of the Securities Act as compensatory shares issued under compensatory benefit plans.

 

Item 11. Description of Registrant’s Securities to be Registered.

General

We are authorized to issue 170,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share. As of April 23, 2010, we have 138,803,159 shares of our common stock outstanding. In addition, there are (1) warrants outstanding for the purchase of 15,673,788 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $0.8806 per share (these warrants were issued upon our emergence from bankruptcy on January 22, 2008, expire on January 22, 2013 and contain provisions to adjust the exercise price in certain circumstances, including upon any issuance by us of common stock or other equity that would be dilutive absent an adjustment in the exercise price); and (2) restricted stock units outstanding to our employees that may entitle them, in the aggregate, to receive 13,229,175 shares of our common stock.

No established market exists for our common stock. Our common stock is presently quoted on the over-the-counter “Pink Sheets” under the symbol “GLPW”. We have applied to list our common stock on NASDAQ, but our application is subject to review and approval by NASDAQ. We can provide no assurance that our application will be approved or that an active public market will develop for our common stock. We can further provide no assurance as to the degree of price volatility in any market for our common stock that may develop.

 

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The following is a summary of the terms of our common stock. The rights of the holders of our common stock are defined by our Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (our “Certificate of Incorporation”), our Second Amended and Restated By-Laws (our “By-Laws”) and the Delaware General Corporation Law. You should refer to those documents for more complete information regarding our common stock.

Reverse Stock Split

At our Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on April 22, 2010, the stockholders approved an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation authorizing our Board of Directors to affect a reverse stock split in a specific ratio to be determined by the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, within the range of 1-for-2 and 1-for-10, inclusive. As a result, our Board of Directors has the authority, but not the obligation, in its sole discretion, and without any further action on the part of our stockholders, to select a reverse stock split ratio within this range and to effect the reverse stock split, by no later than April 22, 2011, by filing an amendment to our Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. We expect to affect a reverse stock split within this range in connection with our application to list our shares on NASDAQ.

If we effect the reverse stock split as contemplated, all outstanding shares of our common stock will be converted, automatically and without action by any holder of those shares, into a smaller number of new shares of our common stock. The number of current shares before the reverse stock split that will equal one new share after the reverse stock split will not be lower than two or higher than ten. The exact number, within this range, will be determined by our Board of Directors shortly before the reverse stock split is effected. We are effecting the reverse stock split to enable us to list the shares of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market. We cannot list on NASDAQ unless the per share price of our common stock before the listing is at least $4.00. Effecting the reverse stock split will combine the currently issued and outstanding shares of our common stock into a smaller number of new shares with the result that the new shares will trade at a higher price per share than pre-reverse stock split prices. The reverse stock split will reduce the number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under our equity compensation plans and under outstanding warrants. It will not, however, change the number of shares of common stock that is authorized under our Certificate of Incorporation. Nor will it change the per share par value of our shares or the proportionate equity interests of our stockholders or the proportionate potential equity interests of holders of restricted stock units.

Common Stock

Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters upon which our stockholders are entitled to vote, including the election of directors. We are not authorized to issue any nonvoting common stock. In the election of directors, holders of our common stock do not have cumulative voting rights. The holders of our common stock have no preemptive right to purchase any of our securities or any securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for any of our securities. Our common stock is not subject to any provisions relating to redemption. Our common stock is not by its terms subject to any restrictions on alienation. Our common stock has no conversion rights and is not subject to further calls or assessments by us. All outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and nonassessable.

Holders of our common stock have equal rights to receive dividends as and when they may be declared by our Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends. We have not paid any cash dividends to date and currently have no intention of paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. For more information, see “Dividend Policy” under Item 9 of this Form 10. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or other voluntary or involuntary winding up, holders of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets of the company remaining after payment of liabilities. We currently have no class of preferred stock authorized or outstanding. To increase the authorized number of shares of our common stock outstanding or create a class of preferred stock, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of our common stock outstanding would be required.

Amendment of Our Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws

Under the Delaware General Corporation Law, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of our common stock outstanding would be required to amend our Certificate of Incorporation. With limited exceptions, our By-Laws may be amended by our Board of Directors by a majority vote of the directors then in office. Our stockholders may also amend the By-Laws by the vote of the holders of at least a majority of our common stock outstanding.

Voting at Stockholder Meetings

Our By-Laws provide that elections of nominees to our Board of Directors will be determined by a plurality of the votes cast at the meeting at which a quorum is present and, except as otherwise provided by law, our Certificate of Incorporation or our By-Laws, all other actions will be determined by the holders of a majority of the votes cast at the meeting.

Anti-Takeover Effects of Delaware Law and Provisions of Our Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws

Delaware law, our Certificate of Incorporation and our By-Laws contain provisions that might have an anti-takeover effect. These provisions, which are summarized below, may have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a change in our control. They could also impede a transaction in which our stockholders might receive a premium over the then-current market price of our common stock and our stockholders’ ability to approve transactions that they consider to be in their best interests.

Business Combinations

We have elected in our Certificate of Incorporation to be governed by the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, also known as the Delaware Merger Moratorium Statute. In general, Section 203, subject to specific exceptions, prohibits a publicly-held Delaware corporation from engaging in any “business combination” with any “interested stockholder” for a period of three years following the date that the stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:

 

   

prior to that date, the Board of Directors approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;

 

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upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85 percent of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the number of shares outstanding those shares owned by directors, officers and specific employee stock plans; or

 

   

on or after that date, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3 percent of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.

Section 203 defines “business combination” to include:

 

   

any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder;

 

   

any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, transfer, pledge or other disposition of 10 percent or more of the assets of the corporation involving the interested stockholder;

 

   

subject to limited exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder;

 

   

any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the corporation’s stock of any class or series beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; and

 

   

the receipt by the “interested stockholder” of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation.

In general, an “interested stockholder” is an entity or individual who, together with affiliates and associates, owns, or within three years prior to the determination of the “interested stockholder” status owned, 15 percent or more of a corporation’s outstanding voting stock.

The provisions of Section 203 may encourage companies interested in acquiring us to negotiate in advance with our Board of Directors since the stockholder approval requirement would be avoided if our Board of Directors approves either the business combination or the transaction that results in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder. These provisions also may have the effect of preventing changes in our management or may make it more difficult to accomplish transactions that stockholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interests. We believe that the benefits of increased protection of our ability to negotiate with an unsolicited acquirer outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging such proposals because, among other reasons, the negotiation of such proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.

Authorized but Unissued Shares

The authorized but unissued shares of our common stock are available for future issuance without stockholder approval. These additional shares may be used for a variety of corporate purposes, including public offerings to raise additional capital, corporate acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued and unreserved common stock could also render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.

Stockholder Meetings

Our By-Laws provide that our stockholders may call a special meeting of stockholders only upon the request of at least 25 percent of the holders of our issued and outstanding common stock entitled to vote. This provision could delay a stockholder vote on certain matters, such as a business combination or removal of directors, and could have the effect of deterring a change in our control. Our stockholders may, however, take action by written consent without a stockholder meeting.

Requirements for Advance Notice of Stockholder Proposals and Nominations at Meetings

Our By-Laws contain advance notice requirements that our stockholders must meet before submitting proposals or director nominations to be considered at stockholder meetings. As more fully described in our By-Laws, only such business may be conducted at a stockholder meeting as has been brought before the meeting by, or at the direction of, our Board of Directors or by a stockholder who has given our Corporate Secretary timely written notice, in proper form, of the stockholder’s intention to bring that business before the meeting. In addition, only persons who are nominated by, or at the direction of, our Board of Directors or who are nominated by a stockholder who has given timely written notice, in proper form, to our Corporate Secretary prior to a meeting at which directors are to be elected will be eligible for election to our Board of Directors. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice regarding a proposal or director nomination to be brought before an annual meeting must generally be delivered to our Corporate Secretary not later than the close of business on the 90th day and not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting. If we call a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of director elections, a stockholder’s notice of director nominations will be considered timely if the stockholder delivers the notice to our Corporate Secretary not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to the special meeting and the tenth day following the day on which the notice is first given to the stockholder of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by our Board of Directors, and not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the meeting. Our By-Laws also specify requirements as to the content of a stockholder’s notice. In some instances, these provisions may preclude our stockholders from bringing proposals or making nominations for directors at our stockholder meetings.

 

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Item 12. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Limitation of Liability

As permitted by Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), Article Eight of our Certificate of Incorporation provides that our directors will not be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. Under the DGCL, directors will not be personally liable for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duties as directors, except for liability:

 

   

for any breach of the duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders;

 

   

for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

   

under Section 174 of the DGCL (providing for director liability for unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions); or

 

   

for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

This limitation of liability does not apply to non-monetary remedies that may be available, such as injunctive relief or rescission, nor does it relieve our directors from complying with federal or state securities laws.

Indemnification

Section 145 of the DGCL grants each Delaware corporation the power to indemnify its directors and officers against liability for certain of their acts. Article Eight of our Certificate of Incorporation provides, to the fullest extent permitted by law, for mandatory indemnification of our directors and officers and advancement of expenses incurred by such directors and officers in relation to any action, suit or proceeding, except as may otherwise be provided in our by-laws.

Article IV of our Second Amended and Restated By-Laws provides that we will, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify each person who is or was our director or officer and may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify each person who is or was serving at our request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (except that in derivative actions, such indemnification is mandatory). An officer or director will not be entitled to indemnification if:

 

   

The officer or director did not act in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed by him or her to be in, or not opposed, to our best interests; or

 

   

The officer or director is subject to criminal action or proceedings and had reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

In addition, in derivative actions, no indemnification will be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which the officer or director has been adjudged to be liable to us unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought determines upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all circumstances of the case, such officer or director is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court deems appropriate.

Our employment agreements with our named executive officers generally provide for indemnification of the executive officer in accordance with our By-Laws. We also carry directors’ and officers’ liability insurance to insure our directors and officers against liability for certain errors and omissions and to defray costs of a suit or proceeding against an officer or director.

 

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Item 13. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

The financial statement information required by this Item 13 is set forth at the end of this Form 10 beginning on page F-1 and is hereby incorporated into this Item 13 by reference.

 

Item 14. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.

None

 

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Item 15. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Financial Statements : Please see the following financial statements set forth below beginning on page F-1

 

Page

  

Description

F-1    Consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007.

Exhibits : The following exhibits are furnished as exhibits to this Form 10:

Number

  

Description

  3.1    Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Global Power Equipment Group Inc.
  3.2    Second Amended and Restated By-Laws of Global Power Equipment Group Inc.
10.1    Credit Agreement, dated as of January 22, 2008 (the “Credit Agreement”), by and among Global Power Equipment Group Inc., certain of its subsidiaries, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, The CIT Group/Business Credit Inc., General Electric Capital Corporation, and the other lenders from time to time party thereto.
10.2    Amendment No. 1 to the Credit Agreement, effective as of April 24, 2008.
10.3    Amendment No. 2 to the Credit Agreement, effective as of July 30, 2008.
10.4    Amendment No. 3 to the Credit Agreement, effective as of December 31, 2009.
10.5    Backstop Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 23, 2007, by and among Global Power Equipment Group Inc. and the purchasers party thereto.
10.6    Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of January 22, 2008, by and among Global Power Equipment Group Inc. and the investors party thereto.
10.7    Form of Warrant, dated January 22, 2008.
10.8    Management Incentive Co-Investment Plan of Global Power Equipment Group Inc., dated as of December 4, 2007. *
10.9    Global Power Equipment Group Inc. 2008 Management Incentive Plan. *
10.10    Global Power Equipment Group Inc. Incentive Compensation Plan. *
10.11    Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement. *
10.12    Form of 2008 Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement. *
10.13    Form of 2009 Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement. *
10.14    Global Power Equipment Group Inc. 2008 Director’s Equity Incentive Plan. *
10.15    Employment Agreement, dated as of September 11, 2009, by and between Global Power Equipment Group Inc. and David L. Keller. *
10.16    Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of November 21, 2006, by and between Global Power Equipment Group Inc. and John M. Matheson. *

 

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Description

10.17    Separation Agreement, dated as of September 11, 2009, by and between Global Power Equipment Group Inc. and John M. Matheson. *
10.18    Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of January 28, 2008, by and between Global Power Equipment Group Inc. and David L. Willis. *
10.19    Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of September 1, 2008, by and between Global Power Equipment Group Inc. and Dean J. Glover. *
10.20    Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of October 1, 2007, by and among Global Power Equipment Group Inc., Williams Industrial Services Group, L.L.C. and Kenneth W. Robuck. *
10.21    Employment Agreement, dated as of November 21, 2006, by and among Global Power Equipment Group Inc., Braden Manufacturing, L.L.C. and Gene F. Schockemoehl. *
21.1    Subsidiaries of Global Power Equipment Group Inc.

 

* Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Dated: April 30, 2010

 

GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC.
By:   / S /    D AVID L. K ELLER        
  David L. Keller, President
  and Chief Executive Officer

 

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Table of Contents

Global Power Equipment Group Inc.

and Subsidiaries

Contents

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

   F - 2

Consolidated Financial Statements

  

Balance Sheets

   F - 3

Statements of Operations

   F - 4

Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

   F - 5

Statements of Cash Flows

   F - 6

Notes to Financial Statements

   F - 7

Schedule II

   F-27

 

F - 1


Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Board of Directors and Stockholders

Global Power Equipment Group Inc.

Tulsa, Oklahoma

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Global Power Equipment Group Inc. as of December 31, 2009 and 2008 and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2009. In connection with our audits of the financial statements, we have also audited the financial statement schedule listed in the accompanying index. These financial statements and schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedule based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements and schedule. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Global Power Equipment Group Inc. at December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2009, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Also, in our opinion, the financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

As described in Note 5, the Company adopted ASC 740, Income Taxes, as it relates to uncertain tax positions, as if it were a public enterprise on January 1, 2007.

 

/s/ BDO Seidman, LLP
Dallas, Texas
March 23, 2010

 

F - 2


Table of Contents

GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share amounts)

 

     December 31,
     2009     2008

ASSETS

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 103,220      $ 57,633

Restricted cash

     2,018        3,013

Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $1,588 and $3,122

     62,267        55,953

Inventories

     4,659        4,963

Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings

     31,518        55,922

Other current assets

     11,330        7,316
              

Total current assets

     215,012        184,800

Property, plant and equipment, net

     12,945        12,610

Goodwill

     80,400        80,400

Intangible assets, net

     14,749        16,509

Other assets

     6,114        6,720
              

Total assets

   $ 329,220      $ 301,039
              

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

Current liabilities:

    

Current maturities of long-term debt

   $ 40,692      $ 19,675

Accounts payable

     28,913        12,337

Accrued liabilities

     19,498        18,303

Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings

     34,357        36,728

Accrued warranties

     10,981        11,948

Deferred revenue

     3,006        8,695

Other current liabilities

     11,363        7,446
              

Total current liabilities

     148,810        115,132

Deferred tax liability

     14,768        11,100

Other long-term liabilities

     3,990        3,605

Long-term debt, net of current maturities

     24,633        65,325

Liabilities subject to compromise

     541        604
              

Total liabilities

     192,742        195,766

Commitments and contingencies (Note 10)

    

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Common stock, $0.01 par value, 170,000,000 shares authorized and 137,367,594 and 134,586,541 shares issued, respectively and 136,986,534 and 134,586,541 shares outstanding, respectively

     1,374        1,346

Paid-in capital

     61,459        59,692

Accumulated comprehensive income

     2,655        1,128

Retained earnings

     70,994        43,107

Treasury stock, at cost (381,060 and 0 common shares, respectively)

     (4     —  
              

Total stockholders’ equity

     136,478        105,273
              

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 329,220      $ 301,039
              

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F - 3


Table of Contents

GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

     For the Years Ended December 31,  
     2009    2008    2007  
               (Debtor-in-
Possession)
 

Product revenues

   $ 193,150    $ 311,603    $ 208,085   

Service revenues

     347,460      245,161      195,333   
                      

Total revenues

     540,610      556,764      403,418   

Cost of product revenues

     150,137      239,447      159,796   

Cost of service revenues

     310,048      217,337      171,132   
                      

Cost of revenues

     460,185      456,784      330,928   
                      

Gross profit

     80,425      99,980      72,490   

Selling and administrative expenses

     46,664      50,418      45,179   
                      

Operating income

     33,761      49,562      27,311   

Interest expense

     9,667      11,667      10,057   
                      

Income from continuing operations before reorganization items and income taxes

     24,094      37,895      17,254   

Reorganization items

     1,030      23,574      33,102   
                      

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes

     23,064      14,321      (15,848

Income tax expense

     5,282      3,151      5,121   
                      

Income (loss) from continuing operations

     17,782      11,170      (20,969

Discontinued operations:

        

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax

     7,369      23,668      (5,170

Gain on disposal, net of tax

     2,736      —        11,198   
                      

Income from discontinued operations

     10,105      23,668      6,028   
                      

Net income (loss)

   $ 27,887    $ 34,838    $ (14,941
                      

Basic earnings per weighted average common share:

        

Income (loss) from continuing operations

   $ 0.13    $ 0.09    $ (0.45

Income from discontinued operations

     0.07      0.18      0.13   
                      

Income (loss) per common share - basic

   $ 0.20    $ 0.27    $ (0.32
                      

Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding - basic

     136,118,599      129,288,721      47,360,098   
                      

Diluted earnings per weighted average common share:

        

Income (loss) from continuing operations

   $ 0.13    $ 0.09    $ (0.45

Income from discontinued operations

     0.07      0.18      0.13   
                      

Income (loss) per common share - diluted

   $ 0.20    $ 0.27    $ (0.32
                      

Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding - diluted

     140,096,176      131,333,735      47,360,098   
                      

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

(in thousands, except share amounts)

 

     Common Shares
$0.01 Per Share
    Paid-in
Capital

(Deficit)
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive

Income
    Retained
Earnings
    Treasury Shares     Total  
     Shares     Amount           Shares     Amount    

Balance, January 1, 2007 (Debtor-in-Possession)

   47,404,197      $ 474      $ (15,052   $ 3,978      $ 24,546      —        $ —        $ 13,946   

Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle

   —          —          —          —          (1,336   —          —          (1,336

Stock-based compensation

   —          —          843        —          —        —          —          843   

Forfeiture of restricted stock awards

   (50,224     —          —          —          —        —          —          —     

Other comprehensive loss

                

Net loss

   —          —          —          —          (14,941         (14,941

Foreign currency translation

   —          —          —          1,283        —        —          —          1,283   
                      

Comprehensive loss:

                   (13,658
                                                            

Balance, December 31, 2007 (Debtor-in-Possession)

   47,353,973        474        (14,209     5,261        8,269      —          —          (205

Cancellation of common stock

   (47,353,973     (474     —          —          —        —          —          (474

Issuance of common stock (exchange shares and rights offering)

   133,704,202        1,338        67,854        —          —        —          —          69,192   

Issuance of warrants

   —          —          4,639        —          —        —          —          4,639   

Stock-based compensation

   882,339        8        1,408        —          —        —          —          1,416   

Other comprehensive income

                

Net income

   —          —          —          —          34,838      —          —          34,838   

Fair value of interest rate swap

   —          —          —          (810     —        —          —          (810

Foreign currency translation

   —          —          —          (3,323     —        —          —          (3,323
                      

Comprehensive income:

                   30,705   
                                                            

Balance, December 31, 2008

   134,586,541        1,346        59,692        1,128        43,107      —          —          105,273   

Restricted stock awards

   547,796        5        107        —          —        —          —          112   

Stock-based compensation

   1,642,038        17        1,662        —          —        —          —          1,679   

Warrants exercised

   591,219        6        515        —          —        —          —          521   

Warrants withheld

   —          —          (517     —          —        (377,216     (4     (521

Forfeiture of restricted shares

   —          —          —          —          —        (3,844     —          —     

Other comprehensive income

                

Net income

   —          —          —          —          27,887      —          —          27,887   

Fair value of interest rate swap

   —          —          —          625        —        —          —          625   

Foreign currency translation

   —          —          —          902        —        —          —          902   
                      

Comprehensive income:

                   29,414   
                                                            

Balance, December 31, 2009

   137,367,594      $ 1,374      $ 61,459      $ 2,655      $ 70,994      (381,060   $ (4   $ 136,478   
                                                            

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F - 5


Table of Contents

GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands)

 

     For the Years Ended December 31,  
     2009     2008     2007  
                 (Debtor-in-
Possession)
 

Operating activities:

      

Net income (loss)

   $ 27,887      $ 34,838      $ (14,941

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

      

Deferred income tax provision

     3,803        1,054        3,727   

Depreciation and amortization

     5,396        5,323        7,173   

Gain on disposal of equipment

     (26     —          (315

Gain on disposal of discontinued operations

     (2,736     —          (11,198

Stock-based compensation

     1,791        1,416        843   

Write off of debt financing costs

     —          —          1,897   

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

      

Receivables

     (6,314     (17,437     11,445   

Inventories

     304        800        5,003   

Cost and estimated earnings in excess of billings

     24,404        876        (27,685

Other current assets

     (4,149     1,083        533   

Other assets

     (569     (72     33   

Accounts payable

     16,576        (9,461     24,882   

Accrued and other liabilities

     5,144        (3,699     (3,518

Billings in excess of cost and estimated earnings

     (2,371     8,864        9,876   

Deferred revenue

     (5,689     (21,226     (5,179

Liabilities subject to compromise

     (63     (121,831     (1,406
                        

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

     63,388        (119,472     1,170   

Investing activities:

      

Net transfers of restricted cash

     995        (9     (3,004

Proceeds from sale of equipment

     50        9        984   

Purchase of property, plant, and equipment

     (2,793     (3,599     (1,566

Proceeds from sale of business, net of cash sold

     2,747        —          15,495   

Other investing activities

     —          202        (202
                        

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

     999        (3,397     11,707   

Financing activities:

      

Payments of long-term debt

     (44,675     (25,000     —     

Proceeds from issuance of debt

     25,000        90,000        —     

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

     —          72,500        —     

Payments of debt financing costs

     (65     (6,623     (1,925
                        

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

     (19,740     130,877        (1,925

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     940        (2,051     413   
                        

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

     45,587        5,957        11,365   

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year

     57,633        51,676        40,311   
                        

Cash and cash equivalents, end of year

   $ 103,220      $ 57,633      $ 51,676   
                        

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F - 6


Table of Contents

GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1 – BUSINESS AND ORGANIZATION

Global Power Equipment Group Inc. and Subsidiaries (the “Company”) designs, engineers and manufactures heat recovery and auxiliary power equipment and provides routine and specialty maintenance services to customers in the utility and industrial sectors. The Company’s corporate headquarters are located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with facilities in Plymouth, Minnesota; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Auburn, Massachusetts; Atlanta, Georgia; Monterrey, Mexico; Shanghai, China; and Heerlen, The Netherlands.

On September 28, 2006, Global Power Equipment Group Inc. and all of its U.S. subsidiaries filed voluntary Chapter 11 petitions under the Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (“Bankruptcy Court”). The Company successfully exited Chapter 11 on January 22, 2008 pursuant to an approved Plan of Reorganization (“Plan of Reorganization” or “Plan”).

NOTE 2 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Principles of Consolidation: The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Global Power Equipment Group Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Revenue Recognition: The Company is organized in two major segments: the Products Division and the Services Division. Within these segments, the Company has three primary revenue streams, Heat Recovery Equipment (comprised of the Specialty Boiler and Heat Recovery Steam Generator (“HRSG”) product lines), Auxiliary Power Equipment and Industrial Services.

Revenues and cost of revenues for the Heat Recovery Equipment product line, and fixed price contracts in the Industrial Services business, are recognized on the percentage-of-completion method based on the percentage of actual hours incurred to date in relation to total estimated hours for each contract. This method is used because management considers expended labor hours to be the best available measure of progress on these contracts. The percentage-of-completion method generally results in the recognition of reasonably consistent profit margins over the life of a contract since management has the ability to produce reasonably dependable estimates of contract billings and contract costs. The Company uses the level of profit margin that is most likely to occur on a contract. If the most likely profit margin cannot be precisely determined, the lowest probable level of profit in the range of estimates is used until the results can be estimated more precisely. The Company’s estimate of the total hours to be incurred at any particular time has a significant impact on the revenue recognized for the respective period. The percentage-of-completion method is only allowed under certain circumstances in which the revenue process is long-term in nature (often in excess of one year), the products sold are highly customized and a process is in place whereby revenues, costs and margins can be reasonably estimated. Changes in job performance, job conditions, estimated profitability and final contract settlements may result in revisions to costs and income, and the effects of such revisions are recognized in the period that the revisions are determined. Estimated losses on uncompleted contracts are recognized in the period in which they first become apparent. Under percentage-of-completion accounting, management must also make key judgments in areas such as percent complete, estimates of project revenues, costs and margin, estimates of total and remaining project hours and liquidated damages assessments. Any deviations from estimates could have a significant positive or negative impact on the Company’s results of operations.

Revenues for the Auxiliary Power Equipment product line are recognized under the completed-contract method due to the short-term nature of the production period. Generally, these contracts specify separate phases of work which are frequently contracted separately. Under this method, no revenue can be recognized until the contract phase is substantially complete, the customer takes risk of loss and title, and the installation is operating according to specifications or has been accepted by the customer. As with the Heat Recovery Equipment product line, changes in job performance, job conditions, estimated profitability and final contract settlements may result in revisions to job costs and income amounts that are different than amounts originally estimated.

Revenues for the Industrial Services business that are not recognized on the percentage-of-completion method are primarily for routine service contracts. Under these arrangements, the Company recognizes revenue when services are performed and the customer assumes risk of loss, collection of the relevant receivable is probable, persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists and the sales price is fixed or determinable. Specifically, the revenues under these contracts are recognized as the services are performed based upon an agreed-upon price for the completed service or based upon the hours incurred and agreed upon hourly rates. On cost reimbursable contracts, revenue is recognized as costs are incurred and includes applicable fees earned through the date services are provided.

 

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Table of Contents

GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued

 

In the fourth quarter of 2006, upon approval by the Bankruptcy Court, the Company initiated a wind down of Deltak’s (a subsidiary of the Company, based in Plymouth, Minnesota) large-scale HRSG product line and Deltak entered into completion agreements with certain HRSG customers to complete executory contracts for delivery of HRSG units. Certain of the HRSG contracts under completion agreements were in a positive cash position as of the Chapter 11 filing date since aggregate collections of billings exceeded aggregate project costs. The recognition of this excess is deferred until such time as the earnings process is considered completed through satisfaction of the performance milestones under the completion agreements. This amount is included in income from discontinued operations in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations, net of estimates of liquidated damage claims accrued for these contracts. Deferred amounts are reported in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as deferred revenue. The excess of collections of billings over aggregate project costs for these contracts will be recognized as Deltak meets the performance milestones as specified for avoiding the liquidated damage claims. During the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, the Company recognized such excess as follows (in thousands):

 

    For the years ended December 31,
    2009      2008      2007

Deferred revenue recognized

  $ 5,920      $ 22,842      $ —  

Use of Estimates: The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying footnotes. Actual results could vary materially from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents: Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and on deposit with initial maturities of three months or less. The Company maintains cash in depository accounts at various FDIC insured banks and financial institutions. Although the Company maintains cash balances in excess of the FDIC insured limits, management believes this risk is mitigated by using financial institutions that are rated investment grade according to credit rating agencies.

Accounts Receivable: Accounts receivable are reported net of allowance for doubtful accounts and discounts. The allowance is based on current market conditions, review of specific customer economics and other estimates based on the judgment of management. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote. The Company does not generally charge interest on outstanding amounts.

The Company has certain customers that represent more than 10 percent of consolidated accounts receivable. The balance for these customers as a percentage of the consolidated accounts receivable is as follows:

 

    December 31,

Customer

  2009      2008

Entergy Services Inc.

  35%      —  

Southern Company

  12%      —  

General Electric Company

  —        21%

Florida Power and Light

  —        10%

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

  —        10%

Inventories: Inventories consist primarily of raw materials and are stated at the lower of first-in, first-out cost or market, net of applicable reserves.

 

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GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued

 

Property, Plant and Equipment: Property, plant and equipment are stated at historical cost, less accumulated depreciation. For financial reporting purposes, depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives.

The Company’s property, plant and equipment balances, by significant asset category, are as follows (in thousands):

 

     Estimated
Useful  Lives
   December 31,  
        2009     2008  

Land

      $ 2,129      $ 2,133   

Buildings and improvements

   5-39 years      11,566        10,916   

Machinery and equipment

   5-12 years      13,467        11,873   

Furniture and fixtures

   2-10 years      8,959        9,393   
                   
        36,121        34,315   

Less accumulated depreciation

        (23,176     (21,705
                   

Property, plant and equipment, net

      $ 12,945      $ 12,610   
                   

Depreciation and amortization expense was approximately $2.4 million, $2.0 million and $2.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Costs of significant additions, renewals and betterments are capitalized. When an asset is sold or otherwise disposed of, the related cost and accumulated depreciation are removed from the respective accounts and the gain or loss on disposition is reflected in the consolidated statements of operations. Maintenance and repairs are charged to operations when incurred.

Goodwill: The Company has made acquisitions in the past that included the recognition of goodwill, which was determined based upon previous accounting principles. Pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 350, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other , beginning January 1, 2009, the Company will record as goodwill the excess of the consideration transferred plus the fair value of any non-controlling interest in the acquiree at the acquisition date over the fair value of any non-controlling interest in the acquiree at the acquisition date over the fair values of the identifiable net assets acquired. We evaluate goodwill for impairment at least annually, or more frequently if triggering events occur or other impairment indicators arise which might impair recoverability. The goodwill impairment test is a two-step test. Under the first step, the fair value of the reporting unit is compared with its carrying value (including goodwill). If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value, an indication of goodwill impairment exists for the reporting unit and the enterprise must perform step two of the impairment test (measurement). Under step two, an impairment loss is recognized for any excess of the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill over the implied fair value of that goodwill. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined by allocating the fair value of the reporting unit in a manner similar to a purchase price allocation, in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations . The residual fair value after this allocation is the implied fair value of the reporting unit goodwill. Fair value of the reporting unit is determined using a discounted cash flow analysis. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, step two does not need to be performed.

During 2009, 2008 and 2007, the Company performed its annual impairment review of goodwill and concluded that there was no impairment.

Deferred Financing Costs: Deferred financing costs are amortized over the terms of the related debt facilities using the effective yield method. Total interest expense associated with the amortization of these costs was approximately $1.2 million in 2009, $1.7 million in 2008 and $3.3 million in 2007.

Long-Lived Assets: In accordance with ASC 360-10-05-4, Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, long-lived assets, such as property, plant, and equipment, and purchased intangible assets subject to amortization, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If circumstances require a long-lived asset be tested for possible impairment, the Company first compares undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by an asset to the carrying value of the asset. If the carrying value of the long-lived asset is not recoverable on an undiscounted cash flow basis, impairment is recognized to the extent that the carrying value exceeds its fair value. Fair value is determined through various valuation techniques including discounted cash flow models, quoted market values and third-party independent appraisals, as considered necessary. No impairments were identified in 2009, 2008 and 2007.

 

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GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued

 

Major Customers: The Company has certain customers that represent more than 10 percent of consolidated revenues. The revenue for these customers as a percentage of the consolidated revenues is as follows:

 

    For the Years Ended December 31,
    2009      2008      2007

General Electric Company

  13%      20%      22%

Southern Company

  12%      10%      11%

Entergy Services Inc.

  11%      —        —  

Tennessee Valley Authority

  11%      —        —  

Customers for the Products Division include OEMs, engineering and construction firms, operators of power generation facilities and firms engaged across several process related industries. Customers for the Services Division are varied, but do include some major utility companies within the United States. The Company’s major customers vary over time due to the relative size and duration of the Company’s projects.

Warranty Costs: Estimated costs related to product warranty are accrued as the related revenue is recognized and included in cost of revenues. Estimated costs are based upon past warranty claims and sales history. Warranty terms vary by contract but generally provide for a term of three years or less. The Company manages its exposure to warranty claims by having its field service and quality assurance personnel regularly monitor projects and maintain ongoing and regular communications with the customers.

Insurance: Certain subsidiaries of the Company are self-insured for health and workers’ compensation up to certain policy limits. Amounts charged to expense amounted to approximately $5.7 million, $5.2 million and $4.7 million in 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively, and include insurance premiums related to the excess claim coverage and claims incurred. The reserves at December 31, 2009 and 2008 consist of estimated amounts unpaid for reported and unreported claims incurred. The Company has provided $5.0 million in letters of credit at December 31, 2009, as security for possible workers’ compensation claims.

Reorganization Items: The Company successfully exited Chapter 11 on January 22, 2008. The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been presented in conformity with the provisions of ASC 852, Reorganizations . Accordingly, all pre-petition liabilities of the debtor that are subject to compromise are segregated in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as liabilities subject to compromise. These liabilities are recorded at amounts or claims allowed by the Bankruptcy Court. ASC 852 also requires that reorganization items (direct and incremental costs, such as professional fees incurred in Chapter 11 cases) be segregated as a separate line item in the consolidated statements of operations.

As part of the Plan of Reorganization, holders of allowed unsecured claims against Deltak are entitled to receive a pro rata share of $34.0 million in cash and various other recoveries defined in the Plan. Pursuant to the Plan, the Company transferred $34.0 million in cash to settle the Deltak liabilities. This payment exceeded the recorded amount of these claims resulting in a $14.1 million charge to operations in 2008. This amount has been included in the reorganization items as a change in estimate of liabilities subject to compromise for the year ended December 31, 2008. The Company’s reorganization items are as follows (in thousands):

 

     For the Years Ended December 31,
     2009     2008    2007

Professional fees

   $ 1,267      $ 9,448    $ 31,366

Change in estimate of liabilities subject to compromise

     (237     14,126      1,736
                     

Total

   $ 1,030      $ 23,574    $ 33,102
                     

 

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GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued

 

Income from Discontinued Operations : The Company experienced earned income in 2009 and 2008 and experienced a loss in 2007 from discontinued operations due to the winding down of the large scale HRSG operations (see Note 2 – revenue recognition) and operations in Italy and Brazil. The following table summarizes the income and loss from discontinued operations (in thousands):

 

     For the Years Ended December 31,  
     2009    2008     2007  

Income (loss) from discontinued operations

   $ 7,369    $ 23,701      $ (5,170

Related tax expense

     —        (33     —     
                       

Income (loss) from discontinued operations

   $ 7,369    $ 23,668      $ (5,170
                       

On October 17, 2007, the Company sold its shares of Global Power Asia, Ltd. (“GPA”) for $20 million. After all applicable transaction costs were paid, the Company recognized a gain of approximately $11.2 million on the sale. At the closing of the transaction, $5.5 million of the proceeds were placed into escrow. To the extent that the Company recovers amounts from escrow, additional gain on the sale will be recognized. On September 30, 2009, a settlement agreement was executed outlining the release of the remaining escrow funds, an amount of $2.7 million. The Company received such funds on November 10, 2009. As a result, the Company recognized an additional gain on the sale of discontinued operations during the year ended December 31, 2009:

 

     For the Years Ended December 31,
     2009     2008    2007

Gain on disposal of discontinued operations

   $ 2,747      $ —      $ 11,198

Related tax expense

     (11     —        —  
                     

Gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net of tax

   $ 2,736      $ —      $ 11,198
                     

Income Taxes: The current provision for income taxes is based on current federal and state statutory rates which are adjusted based on changes in tax laws and significant fluctuations in taxable income.

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Under such method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Additionally, deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to be applied to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance must be established when management believes the realization of the benefits of deferred tax assets is not deemed to be more likely than not.

In accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes , the Company recognizes the effect of income tax position only if the positions are more likely than not of being sustained. Recognized income tax positions are measured at the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely of being realized. Changes in recognition or measurement are reflected in the period in which those change in judgment occurs. The Company recognizes both interest and penalties related to uncertain tax position as part of the income tax provision.

Derivative Financial Instruments: ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging , requires companies to recognize all derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities at fair value in the statement of financial position. For derivatives designated as hedges, changes in the fair value are either offset against the change in fair value, for the risk being hedged, of the assets and liabilities through earnings, or recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings.

 

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GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued

 

The Company uses financial instruments in the management of its foreign currency exchange exposures. These financial instruments are considered derivatives under ASC 815, but do not meet hedge accounting requirements. Therefore, the Company recognizes changes in fair values of the forward agreements through cost of revenues. The following table summarizes the forward contracts at December 31, 2009 which mature during 2010; there were no forward contracts at December 31, 2008 (in thousands):

 

Functional Currency

  

Currency Hedged

(bought or sold

forward)

   Hedged Foreign
Currency Exposure
(In equivalent U.S.
Dollars)
   Notional Amount of
Forward Buy
Contracts (in
equivalent U.S.
Dollars)
   Notional Amount of
Forward Sell
Contracts (in
equivalent U.S.
Dollars)

Euro

   U. S. Dollars    $ 3,258    $ 3,258    $ —  

U.S. Dollars

   Mexican Pesos      1,542      1,542      —  

U.S. Dollars

   Euro      8,175      —        8,175

U.S. Dollars

   South Korean Won      3,188      —        3,188
                       
   Total    $ 16,163    $ 4,800    $ 11,363
                       

The following table summarizes the forward contracts at December 31, 2007:

 

Functional Currency

  

Currency Hedged

(bought or sold

forward)

   Hedged Foreign
Currency Exposure
(In equivalent U.S.
Dollars)
   Notional Amount of
Forward Buy
Contracts (in
equivalent U.S.
Dollars)
   Notional Amount of
Forward Sell
Contracts (in
equivalent U.S.
Dollars)

Euro

   U. S. Dollars    $ 4,471    $ 4,471    $ —  
                       
  

Total

   $ 4,471    $ 4,471    $ —  
                       

The notional amount provides one measure of the transaction volume outstanding as of the balance sheet date. Amounts ultimately realized upon final settlement of these financial instruments, along with the gains and losses on the underlying exposures within our forward contracts, will depend on actual market exchange rates during the remaining life of the instruments.

In March 2008, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement to convert $60 million of the Credit Facility variable interest payments to a fixed rate of 2.97% which terminated in March 2010. The interest rate swap agreement constitutes a cash flow hedge and satisfies the criteria for hedge accounting prescribed by ASC 815. The Company determined that the effectiveness of the hedge would be assessed periodically by comparing the terms of the swap and the loan to assure they continue to coincide and to evaluate the counterparty’s ability to honor its obligations under the swap agreements. On October 1, 2009, the Company exercised its option to change the basis for the variable interest rate used on the Credit Facility on $21.3 million to the prime rate plus a margin. The remaining $45.3 million remains based upon LIBOR plus a margin. This caused a portion of the swap to become ineffective.

The following tables show the impact of derivatives on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets (in thousands):

 

As of   

December 31, 2009

  

December 31, 2008

    

Balance Sheet
Location

   Fair Value   

Balance Sheet
Location

   Fair Value

Foreign exchange contracts

  

Other current liabilities

   $ 570       $ —  

Interest rate contracts

  

Other current liabilities

     408    Other current liabilities      1,349

Loss on interest rate contract derivative (effective portion), net of tax

   Other comprehensive income      185    Other comprehensive income      810

 

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GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued

 

The following tables show the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations (in thousands):

 

Derivatives Not

Designated as

Hedging Instruments

under ASC 815-10

  

Location of Gain

(Loss) Recognized

on Derivatives

   Amount of Loss Recognized on Derivatives for the
Years Ended December 31,
      2009     2008    2007

Foreign exchange contracts

  

Selling and administrative expenses

   $ (570   $ —      $ 182
                        

Total

      $ (570   $ —      $ 182
                        

The following tables show the impact of derivatives designated as hedging instruments on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations (in thousands):

 

Derivatives

Designated as

Hedging Instruments

under ASC 815-10

  

Location of Gain

(Loss) Recognized

on Derivatives

   Amount of Loss Recognized on Derivatives for the
Years Ended December 31,
      2009     2008    2007

Interest rate contracts

  

Selling and administrative expenses

   $ (99   $ —      $ —  
                        

Total

      $ (99   $ —      $ —  
                        

Fair Value of Financial Instruments: In September 2006, the FASB issued ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures . ASC 820-10 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The Company adopted certain of the provisions of ASC 820 on January 1, 2008. Although the adoption of ASC 820 did not materially impact its financial condition, results of operations, or cash flow, the Company is now required to provide additional disclosures as part of its financial statements. ASC 820 establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which categorizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in the active markets for identical assets and liabilities and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs.

The following table shows assets and liabilities measured at fair value as of December 31, 2009 on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet, and the input categories associated with those assets and liabilities (in thousands):

 

     Total Fair Value
Assets (Liabilities)
at 12/31/09
    Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using

Description

     Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets

(Level 1)
   Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
    Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

(Level 3)

Foreign exchange contracts

   $ (570   $ —      $ (570   $ —  

Interest rate contracts

     (408     —        (408     —  
                             

Total

   $ (978   $ —      $ (978   $ —  
                             

 

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GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued

 

The following table shows assets and liabilities measured at fair value as of December 31, 2008 on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet, and the input categories associated with those assets and liabilities (in thousands):

 

     Total Fair Value
Assets (Liabilities)
at 12/31/08
    Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using

Description

     Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)
   Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
    Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

(Level 3)

Interest rate contracts

   $ (1,349   $ —      $ (1,349   $ —  
                             

Total

   $ (1,349   $ —      $ (1,349   $ —  
                             

The fair value of the foreign exchange contracts is calculated using the foreign exchange rate at the end of the period and the notional amounts as determined in the forward contract. The Company uses the calculated fair values to adjust the asset or liability as appropriate.

The fair value of interest rate swaps is calculated using proprietary models utilizing observable inputs as well as future assumptions related to interest rates and other applicable variables. These calculations are performed by the financial institutions which are counterparties to the applicable swap agreements and reported to the Company on a monthly basis. The Company uses these reported fair values to adjust the asset or liability as appropriate.

The Company’s financial instruments consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, payables, and debt instruments. The carrying values of these financial instruments approximate their respective fair values as they are either short-term in nature or carry interest rates which are periodically adjusted to market rates.

ASC 820 requires that companies provide a reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances for Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value. Since the Company has no Level 3 assets or liabilities, no reconciliation is necessary.

Foreign Currency: Assets and liabilities of the Company’s foreign operations are translated at year-end exchange rates, and revenues and expenses are translated at average exchange rates prevailing during the period. Translation adjustments are recorded as a separate component of stockholders’ equity and other comprehensive income on the accompanying consolidated financial statements. Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions are included in operations.

Adoption of New Accounting Standards:

In September 2006, the FASB issued ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, which is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company adopted the provisions as required on January 1, 2008, except for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities that are subject to delayed adoption until fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008. The Company adopted the remaining provisions as required on January 1, 2009. The adoption of these provisions did not have a material effect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company and these provisions will be applied prospectively for the fair value measurement of non-financial assets.

In December 2007, the FASB issued new requirements for accounting for business combinations and noncontrolling interests. The requirements are in included in ASC 805, Business Combinations and ASC 810, Consolidation which are both effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. ASC 805 requires the acquirer to recognize assets and liabilities and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree at the acquisition date at fair value and requires the acquirer in a step-acquisition to recognize the identifiable assets and liabilities at the full amounts of their fair value. ASC 810 establishes accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and the deconsolidation of a subsidiary and changes the layout of the consolidated income statement and classifies noncontrolling interests as equity in the consolidated balance sheet. The Company adopted the provisions of ASC 805 and 810 as required on January 1, 2009. The adoption of these provisions did not have a material effect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.

In December 2007, the FASB issued guidance now codified as ASC 805, Business Combinations . ASC 805 replaces prior guidance on business combinations and establishes principles and requirements for how the acquirer: (i) recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree; (ii) recognizes and measures the goodwill acquired in the business combination or a gain from a bargain purchase; and (iii) determines what information to disclose to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. Under prior guidance, changes in valuation allowances, as a result of income from acquisitions, for certain deferred tax assets would serve to reduce goodwill, whereas under ASC 805, any changes in the valuation allowance related to income from acquisitions currently or in prior periods will serve to reduce income taxes in the period in which the allowance is reversed. Under ASC 805 transaction related expenses, which were previously capitalized as direct costs of the acquisition, will be expensed as incurred. The Company will apply the provisions of ASC 805 prospectively to business combinations consummated after January 1, 2009. The impact that ASC 805 may have on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows will depend upon the nature, terms and size of the acquisition and changes to the valuation allowances.

 

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GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued

 

In March 2008, the FASB issued ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging, which is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. ASC 815 requires expanded disclosures related to an entity’s derivative instruments and hedging activities. ASC 815 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008. Since ASC 815 requires only additional disclosures concerning derivatives and hedging activities (see Note 2 for disclosures and related adoption of ASC 815), the adoption effective January 1, 2009 did not affect the consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.

In April 2008, the FASB issued ASC 350-30, General Intangibles Other than Goodwill which provides guidance on assigning useful lives to intangible assets and requires expanded disclosures related to an entity’s intangible assets. The Company adopted the provisions of ASC 350-30 effective January 1, 2009. The adoption of these provisions did not have a material effect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.

Effective January 1, 2009, the Company adopted the provisions FASB ASC 815-40, Derivatives and Hedging - Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity . The adoption of this provision did not have a material effect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.

In April 2009, the FASB issued ASC 825-10-65, Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments , which requires disclosures about fair value of financial instruments whenever summarized financial information for interim reporting periods is presented. Entities shall disclose the methods and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value of financial instruments and shall describe changes in methods and significant assumptions, if any, during the period. The Company adopted the provisions of ASC 825-10-65 effective April 1, 2009. The adoption of these provisions did not have a material effect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.

In July 2009, the FASB issued ASC 105, The FASB Accounting Standards Codification TM , as the single source of authoritative nongovernmental U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The Codification is effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. All existing accounting standards are superseded as described in ASC 105. All other accounting literature not included in the Codification is nonauthoritative. The Company adopted the provisions of ASC 105 effective July 1, 2009. The adoption of this provision did not have a material effect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.

In May 2009, the FASB issued ASC 855, Subsequent Events which establishes general standards of accounting for and disclosures of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued or are available to be issued. It requires the disclosure of the date through which an entity has evaluated subsequent events and the basis for that date. ASC 855 is effective for interim and annual reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009, and shall be applied prospectively. The Company adopted the provisions of ASC 855 effective April 1, 2009. The adoption of this provision did not have a material effect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company. The Company has evaluated events and transactions occurring subsequent to the balance sheet date of December 31, 2009, for items that should potentially be recognized in these consolidated financial statements. The evaluation was conducted through March 23, 2010, the date our consolidated financial statements were first available to be issued and again on April 30, 2010 with the issuance of our Form 10.

 

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GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued

 

NOTE 3 – EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic and diluted earnings per common share are calculated as follows (in thousands, except for share and per share data):

 

     For the Years Ended December 31,  
     2009    2008    2007  

Basic Earnings (loss) Per Common Share:

        

Income (loss) from continuing operations

   $ 17,782    $ 11,170    $ (20,969

Income from discontinued operations

     10,105      23,668      6,028   
                      

Net income (loss) available to common shareholders

   $ 27,887    $ 34,838    $ (14,941
                      

Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding

     136,118,599      129,288,721      47,360,098   
                      

Income (loss) from continuing operations

   $ 0.13    $ 0.09    $ (0.45

Income from discontinued operations

     0.07      0.18      0.13   
                      

Basic earnings (loss) per common share

   $ 0.20    $ 0.27    $ (0.32
                      

Diluted Earnings (loss) Per Common Share:

        

Income (loss) from continuing operations

   $ 17,782    $ 11,170    $ (20,969

Income from discontinued operations

     10,105      23,668      6,028   
                      

Net income (loss) available to common shareholders

   $ 27,887    $ 34,838    $ (14,941
                      

Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding

     136,118,599      129,288,721      47,360,098   

Dilutive effect of unvested RSUs to purchase common stock

     2,554,941      1,833      —     

Dilutive effect of warrants

     1,422,636      2,043,181      —     
                      

Weighted Average Shares Outstanding Assuming Dilution

     140,096,176      131,333,735      47,360,098   
                      

Income (loss) from continuing operations

   $ 0.13    $ 0.09    $ (0.45

Income from discontinued operations

     0.07      0.18      0.13   
                      

Diluted earnings (loss) per common share

   $ 0.20    $ 0.27    $ (0.32
                      

Diluted earnings per share include the potentially dilutive effect of outstanding warrants and restricted stock units which are convertible to common stock. For the year ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, no outstanding stock equivalents were anti-dilutive and excluded from the computations of diluted earnings per share. There were 2,129,146 shares of anti-dilutive stock options excluded from this calculation for the year ended December 31, 2007.

For the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company must also include the impact of the conversion of the convertible notes (issued in November 2004) in its earnings per share calculation, unless the effect would be anti-dilutive. As of December 31, 2007, the $69.0 million of convertible notes were convertible into 6,503,299 common shares. The Company did not present the dilutive effect of the convertible shares for the year ended December 31, 2007 as the effect would have been anti-dilutive. The convertible notes were paid in full upon emergence from bankruptcy in January 2008.

 

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GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued

 

NOTE 4 – GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

There were no changes in the carrying amount of goodwill during 2009 or 2008. The balances for other intangible assets as of December 31, 2009 are as follows (in thousands):

 

     As of December 31, 2009
     Weighted Average
Amortization Years
   Gross Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization
   Net Asset

Intangible Assets

           

Backlog

   1    $ 2,100    $ 2,100    $ —  

Customer Relations

   6      8,800      6,551      2,249

Trade Name

   Infinite      12,500      —        12,500
                       

Total Intangible Assets

      $ 23,400    $ 8,651    $ 14,749
                       

The balances for other intangible assets as of December 31, 2008 are as follows (in thousands):

 

     As of December 31, 2008
     Weighted Average
Amortization Years
   Gross Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization
   Net Asset

Intangible Assets

           

Backlog

   1    $ 2,100    $ 2,100    $ —  

Customer Relations

   6      8,800      4,791      4,009

Trade Name

   Infinite      12,500      —        12,500
                       

Total Intangible Assets

      $ 23,400    $ 6,891    $ 16,509
                       

Amortization expense for 2009, 2008 and 2007 was approximately $1.8 million, $1.8 million and $1.8 million, respectively. Estimated amortization expense for the next two years is $1.8 million in 2010 and $0.5 million in 2011.

NOTE 5 – INCOME TAXES

The following summarizes the income tax expense (in thousands):

 

    For the Years Ended December 31,  
    2009     2008     2007  

Current:

     

Federal

  $ 39      $ (5,096   $ (81

State

    —          (582     57   

Foreign

    1,452        2,577        1,420   
                       

Total current

    1,491        (3,101     1,396   
                       

Deferred:

     

Federal

    3,527        6,217        3,343   

State

    403        710        382   

Foreign

    (128     (642     —     
                       

Total deferred

    3,802        6,285        3,725   
                       

Income tax expense

  $ 5,293      $ 3,184      $ 5,121   
                       

 

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GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued

 

Income tax expense is allocated between continuing operations and discontinued operations as follows (in thousands):

 

     For the Years Ended December 31,
     2009    2008    2007

Continuing operations

   $ 5,282    $ 3,151    $ 5,121

Discontinued operations

     11      33      —  
                    

Income tax expense

   $ 5,293    $ 3,184    $ 5,121
                    

Income (loss) before income taxes was as follows (in thousands):

 

     For the Years Ended December 31,  
     2009    2008    2007  

Domestic

   $ 14,483    $ 7,057    $ (19,371

Foreign

     8,581      7,264      3,523   
                      

Income (loss) from continuing operations

     23,064      14,321      (15,848

Income from discontinued operations

     10,116      23,701      6,028   
                      

Net income (loss)

   $ 33,180    $ 38,022    $ (9,820
                      

The components of deferred income taxes consist of the following (in thousands):

 

     December 31,
2009
    December 31,
2008
 

Assets:

    

Cost in excess of identifiable net assets of business acquired

   $ 32,917      $ 36,585   

Reserves and other accruals

     7,143        9,688   

Restructuring charges

     19,041        18,454   

Deferred revenue

     818        3,122   

Tax credit carryforwards

     7,971        4,902   

Accrued compensation and benefits

     6,987        7,629   

State net operating loss carryforwards

     2,745        3,431   

Federal net operating loss carryforwards

     15,566        20,706   

Foreign net operating loss carryforwards

     —          160   

Other

     1,064        354   
                
     94,252        105,031   

Liabilities

    

Indefinite life intangibles

     (15,354     (10,808

Property and equipment

     (1,281     (2,301
                

Net deferred tax assets

     77,617        91,922   

Valuation allowance for net deferred tax assets

     (92,033     (102,535
                

Net deferred tax liability after valuation allowance

   $ (14,416   $ (10,613
                

At December 31, 2009 and 2008, the Company has recorded a valuation allowance against deferred income tax assets of approximately $92.0 million and $102.5 million, respectively, representing the amount of its deferred income tax assets in excess of the Company’s deferred income tax liabilities arising from balances other than indefinite life intangibles. The net change in valuation allowance for the year ended December 31, 2009 was a decrease in the amount of approximately $10.5 million, and the net change in valuation allowance for the year ended December 31, 2008 was a decrease in the amount of approximately $5.7 million. The valuation allowance was recorded because management was unable to conclude, in light of the cumulative tax loss realized by the Company for the three year period ended before December 31, 2009, that realization of the net deferred tax asset was more likely than not.

 

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GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued

 

Net deferred tax assets are allocated between current and long-term as follows (in thousands):

 

     As of December 31,  
     2009     2008  

Current deferred tax asset (included in Other current assets)

   $ 352      $ 487   

Non-current deferred tax liability

     (14,768     (11,100
                

Net deferred tax assets after valuation allowance

   $ (14,416   $ (10,613
                

The amount of the income tax provision for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 differs from the statutory federal income tax rate of 35% as follows:

 

     For the Years Ended December 31,  
     2009     2008     2007  
     Amount     Percent     Amount     Percent     Amount     Percent  

Tax expense (benefit) computed at the maximum U.S. statutory rate

   $ 11,613      35.0   $ 13,308      35.0   $ (5,546   35.0

Difference resulting from

            

State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefits

     403      1.2     1,521      4.0     (634   4.0

Foreign tax rate differences

     (435   -1.3     (1,408   -3.7     (639   4.0

Non-deductible expenses

     1,644      5.0     594      1.6     2,232      -14.1

Multi-year true-ups

     1,093      3.3     (6,146   -16.2     (4,793   30.2

Effective rate differences

     1,132      3.4     —        —          —        —     

Incremental state taxes based on capital

     —        —          —        —          220      -1.4

Change in valuation allowance

     (10,502   -31.7     (5,721   -15.0     14,449      -91.2

Other, net

     345      1.0     1,036      2.7     (168   1.2
                                          

Total

   $ 5,293      15.9   $ 3,184      8.4   $ 5,121      -32.3
                                          

The Company has approximately $50.9 million of federal net operating loss carryforwards expiring in 2025 through 2027. The Company has state income tax loss carryforwards of approximately $44.6 million expiring in 2009 through 2029. The Company has approximately $7.5 million in foreign tax credit carryforwards expiring in 2015 through 2019.

The Company provides income taxes on the undistributed earnings of its foreign subsidiaries except to the extent that such earnings are indefinitely reinvested outside the United States. As of December 31, 2009, all of the undistributed earnings of the foreign subsidiaries were considered to be reinvested indefinitely. Consequently, the Company has not provided for the federal and foreign withholding taxes on the foreign subsidiaries’ undistributed earnings.

Effective January 1, 2007, the Company adopted ASC 740, Income Taxes, as it relates to uncertain tax positions , resulting in a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle of $1.3 million. Currently, the Company is not under examination for income tax purposes by any taxing jurisdiction. A presentation of open tax years by jurisdiction is as follows:

 

Tax Jurisdiction

 

Examination in Progress

 

Open Tax Years for Examination

United States   None   2005 to Present
Mexico   None   2004 to Present
China   None   2004 to Present
The Netherlands   None   2007 to Present

The Company has elected to classify interest and penalties related to uncertain income tax positions in income tax expense. At December 31, 2009 and 2008, the Company has accrued approximately $1.7 million and $1.2 million, respectively, for potential payment of interest and penalties.

 

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GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued

 

Following is a reconciliation of the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits for the year ended December 31, 2009 (in thousands):

 

Unrecognized
Tax Benefits at
January 1, 2009

   Change in
Unrecognized
Tax Benefits
Taken During a
Prior Period
   Change in
Unrecognized
Tax Benefits
During the
Current Period
   Decreases in
Unrecognized
Tax Benefits
From
Settlements
With Taxing
Authorities
    Reductions to
Unrecognized
Tax Benefits
From Lapse of
Statues of
Limitations
   Unrecognized
Tax Benefits at
December 31,
2009
$ 5,225    $ —      $ 1,077    $ (456   $ —      $ 5,846

Unrecognized Tax Benefits disclosed at January 1, 2009 differs from Unrecognized Tax Benefits at December 31, 2008 by an increase of $1.7 million. This increase results from the Company’s decision to also disclose the $1.7 million in unrecognized tax benefits related to timing differences, which have no current income tax or effective tax rate impact. This is being done to better comport with how the disclosure of unrecognized tax benefits has evolved since the passage of ASC 740. This change in disclosure has no impact on the amounts recognized in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. As of December 31, 2009 and 2008, the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate are approximately $1.9 million and $1.7 million, respectively.

Following is a reconciliation of the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits for the year ended December 31, 2008 (in thousands):

 

Unrecognized
Tax Benefits
at January 1,
2008

   Change in
Unrecognized
Tax Benefits
Taken During a
Prior Period
   Change in
Unrecognized
Tax Benefits
During the
Current Period
   Decreases in
Unrecognized
Tax Benefits
From
Settlements
With Taxing
Authorities
   Reductions to
Unrecognized
Tax Benefits
From Lapse of
Statues of
Limitations
   Unrecognized
Tax Benefits at
December 31,
2008
$ 2,776    $ —      $ 714    $ —      $ —      $ 3,490

At December 31, 2008 and 2007, the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate are approximately $1.7 million and $1.5 million, respectively.

NOTE 6 – UNCOMPLETED CONTRACTS

Both the Products and Services Divisions enter into contracts that allow for periodic billings over the contract term. At any point in time, each project under construction could have either costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings or billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings. Within the Products Division, the Auxiliary Power Equipment business typically bills customers only at the completion of each phase of a contract and no earnings are recognized until each phase is complete.

Costs, earnings and billings related to uncompleted contracts consist of the following (in thousands):

 

    As of December 31,  
    2009        2008  

Costs incurred on uncompleted contracts

  $ 435,172         $ 477,311   

Earnings recognized on uncompleted contracts

    (128,822        90,703   
                  

Total

    306,350           568,014   

Less - billings to date

    (309,189        (548,820
                  

Net

  $ (2,839      $ 19,194   
                  

 

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GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued

 

The net amounts are included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets under the following headings (in thousands):

 

     December 31,
2009
    December 31,
2008
 

Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings

   $ 31,518      $ 55,922   

Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings

     (34,357     (36,728
                

Net

   $ (2,839   $ 19,194   
                

NOTE 7 – DEBT

Credit Facility : The Company has a $150 million Credit Facility (“Credit Facility”) consisting of a $60 million revolving letter of credit facility, including a $25 million cash advance sub-facility, and a $90 million term loan facility. The Credit Facility is due and payable on January 22, 2014 and has mandatory amortization payments on the term loan facility of approximately $1.3 million per quarter and a sweep of 25 – 75% of excess cash flow, as defined in the Credit Facility. Future principle payments on the Credit Facility are expected to be $40.7 million in 2010, $5 million in 2011 through 2013 and $9.6 million in 2014.

On July 14, 2009, the Company drew down the full amount of the $25 million on the cash advance sub-facility of the Credit Facility in order to secure access to the available funds. On September 30, 2009, The CIT Group / Business Credit, Inc. fully sold and assigned their interest in and all rights and obligations under the Credit Agreement to another party. This affects the Company in that all Letters of Credit will henceforth be issued through the new lender as well as any future revolver draw downs will be the proportionate obligation of the new lender. The amount of the cash advance sub-facility, and related interest, was paid in full on September 30, 2009.

At December 31, 2009 and 2008, the Credit Facility consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

     As of December 31,
     2009    2008

Term loan

   $ 65,325    $ 85,000

Less:

     

Current maturities of long-term debt

     

Quarterly installments

     5,000      5,000

Excess cash flow sweep

     35,692      14,675
             

Long-term debt, net of current maturities

   $ 24,633    $ 65,325
             

The variable interest rate on the Credit Facility was 7.75% as of December 31, 2009. The interest rate on letters of credit issued under the revolving letter of credit was 3.07% at December 31, 2009. The Company also pays an unused line fee of 0.50%. At December 31, 2009, the excess cash flow payment for 2010 is expected to be $35.7 million and is included in current maturities of long-term debt on the consolidated balance sheets.

The Credit Facility includes customary affirmative and negative covenants, such as limitations on the creation of new indebtedness and on certain liens, restrictions on certain transactions and payments and requires maintenance of a maximum consolidated leverage ratio, minimum consolidated fixed charge ratio and minimum liquidity. A default under the Credit Facility may be triggered by events such as a failure to comply with financial covenants or other covenants under the Credit Facility, a failure to make payments when due under the Credit Facility, a change of control of the Company or certain insolvency proceedings. A default under the Credit Facility would permit the participating banks to restrict the Company’s ability to further access the Credit Facility for loans, require the immediate repayment of any outstanding loans with interest and require the cash collateralization of outstanding letter of credit obligations. The Credit Facility is secured by a first priority lien on substantially all assets of the Company.

On December 31, 2009, the Company amended the Credit Facility (Amendment No. 3) to accommodate operational and administrative enhancements including:

 

   

Allow for commercial joint venture and LLC agreements under certain conditions.

 

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GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued

 

   

Ability to issue up to $5 million of letters of credit in support of purchase orders placed on foreign subsidiaries.

 

   

Ability to fund up to $5 million in working capital support of foreign entity operations.

At December 31, 2009, the Company had $25.0 million of unused capacity on the cash advance sub-facility.

NOTE 8 – LIABILITIES SUBJECT TO COMPROMISE

Liabilities subject to compromise include unsecured and under secured liabilities, including secured liabilities as to which there is uncertainty as to whether the value of the collateral securing such liabilities is less than, equals or exceeds such liabilities, incurred prior to the petition date. The amounts of the various categories of liabilities that are subject to compromise are set forth below. These amounts represent the Company’s estimates of known or potential pre-petition date claims that are likely to be resolved in connection with the Chapter 11 filings. Such claims remain subject to further adjustments. Adjustments result from negotiations, actions of the Bankruptcy Court, rejection of executory contracts, the determination as to the value of any collateral securing claims, proofs of claim or other events.

The amounts of liabilities subject to compromise at December 31, 2009 consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

    Products
Division
   Services Division    Corporate    Total

Accounts payable

  $ 92    $ 30    $ —      $ 122

Other accruals

    109      —        310      419
                          

Total

  $ 201    $ 30    $ 310    $ 541
                          

The amounts of liabilities subject to compromise at December 31, 2008 consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

    Products
Division
   Services Division    Corporate    Total

Accounts payable

  $ 335    $ 30    $ —      $ 365

Other accruals

    109      —        130      239
                          

Total

  $ 444    $ 30    $ 130    $ 604
                          

NOTE 9 – STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Restricted Stock Awards: Pursuant to the 2008 Director’s Equity Incentive Plan, the Company is permitted to award restricted stock which are shares of common stock that are issued subject to specified restrictions on transfer, forfeiture and/or such other restrictions on incidents of ownership determined by the Compensation Committee. On January 22, 2009, the Company issued 235,296 shares of restricted stock under the 2008 Director’s Equity Incentive Plan at a grant date fair value of $0.64 per share which approximate the quoted market price of the common stock on that date. Vesting of this restricted stock is based on certain service conditions over a four year period. In connection with the grant, the Company recorded expense of $0.07 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 and will recognize an aggregate of $0.08 million of expense over the next three years.

On February 9, 2009, the Company issued 312,500 shares of restricted stock under the 2008 Director’s Equity Incentive Plan at a grant date fair value of $0.55 per share. Vesting of this restricted stock is based on certain service conditions over a four year period. In connection with the grant, the Company recorded expense of $0.04 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 and will recognize an aggregate of $0.13 million of expense over the next four years.

Stock-based Compensation: On June 23, 2008, the Company granted 5,233,921 Restricted Stock Units (each such unit, a “RSU”) under the 2008 Management Incentive Plan pursuant to RSU Award Agreements executed by each beneficiary of the grant (the “RSU Award Agreement”). On March 31, 2009, the Company issued 1,271,847 shares of Restricted Stock to the recipients of RSU awards according to the vesting requirements of the RSU Award Agreements. Additionally, on October 15, 2009, the Company issued 238,197 shares of Restricted Stock to the recipients of RSU awards according to specific separation agreements. In connection with this grant, the Company recognized $0.9 million in expense for the year ended December 31, 2009 related to these RSUs.

 

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GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued

 

On February 9, 2009, the Company granted 4,860,070 RSUs with a grant date fair value of $0.55 per unit under the 2008 Management Incentive Plan. Grants of RSUs under the 2008 Management Incentive Plan are valued in terms of the fair value of the Company’s common stock at date of grant, however, common stock is not issued at the time of the grant. Vesting of RSUs is based on certain performance and service conditions over a four year period. The Company recognizes compensation cost for awards with performance conditions if and when the Company concludes that it is probable that the performance condition will be achieved, net of an estimate of pre-vesting forfeitures. The Company recognizes compensation cost for awards with service condition throughout the vesting term, net of an estimate of pre-vesting forfeitures. On October 15, 2009, the Company issued 131,994 shares of Restricted Stock to the recipients of RSU awards according to specific separation agreements. Restricted shares are issued to plan participants as vesting requirements are satisfied. In connection with this grant, the Company recognized $0.5 million of expense for the year ended December 31, 2009 related to these RSUs.

On September 14, 2009, the Company granted 750,000 RSUs with a grant date fair value of $1.20 per unit under the 2008 Management Incentive Plan. Grants of RSUs under the 2008 Management Incentive Plan are valued in terms of the fair value of the Company’s common stock at date of grant, however common stock is not issued at the time of the grant. Vesting of RSUs is based on certain performance and service conditions over a four year period. The Company recognizes compensation cost for awards with performance conditions if and when the Company concludes that it is probable that the performance condition will be achieved, net of an estimate of pre-vesting forfeitures. Restricted shares are issued to plan participants as vesting requirements are satisfied. In connection with this grant, the Company recognized $0.1 million of expense for the year ended December 31, 2009 related to these RSUs.

Management Co-Investment Plan: On January 22, 2008, members of management were offered the opportunity to purchase shares of the new common stock (up to an aggregate amount of $1.5 million) at the share price of $0.85 per share. With each purchase of two shares of new common stock, an additional share of restricted stock (each an “Incentive Share”) was issued. The Company recognized $0.2 million in expense related to the Incentive Shares during the year ended December 31, 2009 with the remaining compensation expense of $0.2 million to be recognized over the remaining vesting period. At December 31, 2009, 3,844 shares of common stock issued under the Management Co-Investment Plan were forfeited by members of management who terminated their employment with the Company prior to meeting the vesting requirements. These shares are held as treasury shares.

Warrants: On January 22, 2008, the Company issued warrants to purchase 16,265,005 shares of stock with an exercise price of $0.8806. The warrants vested immediately upon issuance and expire on January 22, 2013. During the year ended December 31, 2009, warrants were exercised to purchase 591,219 shares of common stock. The stock was sold in a cashless transaction whereby the Company withheld 377,216 shares of common stock, treasury shares, as payment for the exercised purchase warrants.

Fair Market Value of Interest Rate Swap: On March 28, 2008, the Company entered into a swap agreement to convert $60 million of the Credit Facility variable interest payments to fixed rates. The amount of accumulated comprehensive income associated with interest rate swaps was loss of $0.2 million at December 31, 2009 and $0.8 million at December 31, 2008. See Note 2 for a discussion of the interest rate swaps.

Foreign Currency Translation: Foreign assets and liabilities are translated using the exchange rate in effect at the balance sheet date, and results of operations are translated using an average rate for the period. Translation adjustments are accumulated and reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income. The amount of accumulated comprehensive income related to foreign currency translation was $2.8 million at December 31, 2009 and $1.9 million at December 31, 2008. See Note 2 for a discussion of the foreign currency translation.

NOTE 10 – COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Employment Agreements: The Company entered into employment agreements with terms of two to three years with certain members of management with automatic one-year renewal periods at expiration dates. The agreements provide for, among other things, compensation, benefits and severance payments.

Litigation: The Company is involved in legal actions which arise in the ordinary course of its business. Although the outcomes of any such legal actions cannot be predicted, in the opinion of management, the resolution of any currently pending actions will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position or results of operations of the Company.

 

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GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued

 

The Company is involved in a dispute with a Deltak customer involving the sale of HRSG units stemming from a purchase order dated in January 2006. In March 2007, the customer filed a proof of claim against the Company asserting claims for costs to complete the project totaling approximately $55 million. In addition, the customer filed an objection to the Company’s Plan. In December 2007, the Bankruptcy Court (i) sustained the Company’s objection with respect to the customer’s claim and disallowed its guaranty claim against Global Power, (ii) entered an order overruling the customer’s objection to the Plan and (iii) estimated its claim for the Plan voting purposes at $7 million. On December 27, 2007, the customer filed a notice of appeal. Subsequently, the customer has dropped its appeal on the overruled objection to the Company’s plan. On December 16, 2008, the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware affirmed the Bankruptcy Court’s order on all issues. On January 12, 2009, the customer filed an appeal of this ruling to the 3 rd Circuit Court of Appeals, and that process is now ongoing. If the Company is successful, the customer’s claim will be treated as a general unsecured claim, which under the terms of the Plan, is entitled only to share in the $34 million fund reserve. See Note 2.

Warranty : Estimated costs related to product warranty are accrued as revenue is recognized and included in cost of revenues. Estimated costs are based upon past warranty claims and sales history. Warranty terms vary by contract but generally provide for a term of three years or less. The Company manages its exposure to warranty claims by having its field service and quality assurance personnel regularly monitor projects and maintain ongoing and regular communications with the customer.

A reconciliation of the changes to the Company’s warranty reserve is as follows (in thousands):

 

     For the Years Ended December 31,  
     2009     2008  

Balance at the beginning of the period

   $ 11,948      $ 5,948   

Adjustments

     (1,393     —     

Provision during the period

     1,912        6,550   

Settlements made (in cash or in kind) during the period

     (1,486     (550
                

Balance at the end of the period

   $ 10,981      $ 11,948   
                

Leases: The Company leases machinery, transportation equipment and office, warehouse and manufacturing facilities, which are noncancellable and expire at various dates. Total rental expense for all operating leases for 2009, 2008 and 2007 was approximately $1.6 million, $1.9 million and $1.9 million, respectively.

Future minimum annual lease payments under these noncancellable operating leases at December 31, 2009 are as follows (in thousands):

 

    December 31,

2010

  $ 1,365

2011

    779

2012

    466

2013

    442

2014

    355

Thereafter

    —  
     

Total

  $ 3,407
     

None of the leases include contingent rental provisions.

Employee Benefit Plans: The Company maintains a 401(k) plan covering substantially all of the Company’s employees in the United States. Expense for the Company 401(k) plan for 2009, 2008 and 2007 was approximately $1.3 million, $1.1 million and $0.9 million, respectively.

Contingencies: At December 31, 2009 and 2008, the Company had a contingent liability for issued and outstanding stand-by letters of credit, generally issued to secure performance on customer contracts. The balance of stand-by letters of credit totaled approximately $22.2 million for the domestic entities and $13.3 million (US dollars) for foreign entities at December 31, 2009 and $19.0 million for the domestic entities and $11.6 million (US dollars) for foreign entities at December 31, 2008. Currently, there are no amounts drawn upon these letters of credit.

 

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GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued

 

In addition, at December 31, 2009 and 2008, the Company had outstanding surety bonds on projects of approximately $8.5 million and $17.8 million, respectively.

In light of the recent credit market crisis, the Company evaluated its banking relationships with regard to cash and available credit. The Company maintains cash in depository accounts at various FDIC insured banks and financial institutions. Although the Company maintains cash balances in excess of the FDIC insured limits, management believes this risk is mitigated by using financial institutions that are rated investment grade according to credit rating agencies. To the extent that the credit crisis affects the counterparties in the Credit Facility, the Company may have difficulty accessing all the available credit under this facility.

NOTE 11 – SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION

Supplemental cash flow disclosures are as follows (in thousands):

 

     For the Years Ended December 31,  
     2009    2008    2007  

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

        

Cash paid during the period for:

        

Interest

   $ 8,848    $ 11,632    $ 5,872   

Income taxes

     976      1,812      (425

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF NONCASH ACTIVITIES:

        

Issuance of Common Shares for advisor success fees pursuant to the Plan of Reorganization

   $ —      $ 856    $ —     

NOTE 12 – SEGMENT INFORMATION

The “Management Approach” called for by ASC 280, Segment Reporting, has been used by Company management to present the segment information which follows. The Company considered the way its management team makes operating decisions and assesses performance and considered which components of its enterprise have discrete financial information available. Management makes decisions using a products and services group focus and its analysis resulted in two operating segments, Products Division and Services Division. The Company evaluates performance based on net income or loss not including certain items as noted below. Intersegment revenues and transactions were not significant. Interest expense is allocated based on the amount of capital employed for each division. Corporate assets consist primarily of cash and deferred tax assets.

The following tables present information about segment income (in thousands):

 

    Products Division
Years Ended December 31,
     Services Division
Years Ended December 31,
 
    2009      2008      2007      2009      2008      2007  

Revenues

  $ 193,150      $ 311,603      $ 208,085      $ 347,460      $ 245,161      $ 195,333   

Interest expense

    4,713        6,744        5,657        4,954        4,923        4,400   

Depreciation and amortization

    1,936        1,711        2,243        2,215        2,081        195   

Income tax provision

    3,560        2,568        2,959        1,722        583        2,162   

Segment income

    9,088        32,976        13,184        9,724        1,768        (1,051

Total Assets

  $ 129,497      $ 165,739      $ 140,700      $ 125,015      $ 94,469      $ 82,494   

 

F - 25


Table of Contents

GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—Continued

 

The following table presents information, which reconciles segment information to consolidated totals (in thousands):

 

     Years ended December 31,  
     2009     2008     2007  

Net income:

      

Total segment income

   $ 18,812      $ 34,744      $ 12,133   

Income from discontinued operations

     10,105        23,668        6,028   

Reorganization expense

     (1,030     (23,574     (33,102
                        

Consolidated net income (loss)

   $ 27,887      $ 34,838      $ (14,941
                        

The following table presents information, which reconciles segment information to consolidated totals (in thousands):

 

    As of December 31,
    2009      2008

Assets:

      

Total segment assets

  $ 254,512      $ 260,208

Non allocated corporate assets

    74,708        40,831
              

Total consolidated assets

  $ 329,220      $ 301,039
              

The following presents revenues by geographical region based on the Company’s operating locations. Products are often shipped to other geographical areas but revenues are listed in the region in which the revenue is recognized (in thousands):

 

    Years ended December 31,
    2009   2008   2007
    Revenue
Recognized In
  Product Shipped
To
  Revenue
Recognized In
  Product Shipped
To
  Revenue
Recognized In
  Product Shipped
To

U.S. and Canada

  $ 486,598   $ 413,791   $ 458,075   $ 372,512   $ 342,001   $ 298,424

Europe

    38,471     31,345     80,792     20,704     40,355     8,263

Mexico

    10,518     364     16,350     116     19,832     11

Asia

    5,023     26,113     1,547     17,999     1,230     10,970

Middle East

    —       63,681     —       112,374     —       70,387

Other

    —       5,316     —       33,059     —       15,363
                                   

Total

  $ 540,610   $ 540,610   $ 556,764   $ 556,764   $ 403,418   $ 403,418
                                   

NOTE 13 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On January 7, 2010, pursuant to Amendment No. 3 of the Credit Facility, the Company prepaid $20 million of the term note balance upon execution of the amendment without a pre-payment penalty charge. The pre-payment was comprised of $5 million payment of the 2010 quarterly amortization payments and $15 million applied against the 2009 excess cash flow payment. The prepaid amount is included under current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet.

On March 24, 2010, the Company issued 31,250 shares of Restricted Stock to each member of the Board of Directors under the 2008 Director’s Equity Incentive Plan.

On March 31, 2010, the Company paid the $20.7 million balance due on the excess cash flow payment calculated as of December 31, 2009 (unaudited).

On April 22, 2010, the Company held its Annual Meeting of Stockholders in New York for the purpose of (a) electing directors and (b) approving a reverse stock split as described in the Company's proxy statement; both measures were approved (unaudited).

 

F - 26


Table of Contents

Schedule II

VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2009, 2008 AND 2007

 

         Additions           
(in thousands)   Balance at
Beginning
of Period
   Charged to
Costs and
Expenses
    Charged to
Other
Accounts
   Deductions     Balance at
End of
Period
2009            

Allowance for doubtful accounts

  $ 3,122    $ 115      $ —      $ (1,649   $ 1,588
                                   

Accrued warranty reserves

  $ 11,948    $ 1,912      $ —      $ (2,879   $ 10,981
                                   

Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets

  $ 102,535    $ (10,502   $ —      $ —        $ 92,033
                                   
2008            

Allowance for doubtful accounts

  $ 8,001    $ 8,283      $ —      $ (13,162   $ 3,122
                                   

Accrued warranty reserves

  $ 5,948    $ 6,550      $ —      $ (550   $ 11,948
                                   

Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets

  $ 108,257    $ (5,722   $ —      $ —        $ 102,535
                                   
2007            

Allowance for doubtful accounts

  $ 3,141    $ 5,024      $ —      $ (164   $ 8,001
                                   

Accrued warranty reserves

  $ 4,974    $ 3,066      $ —      $ (2,092   $ 5,948
                                   

Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets

  $ 93,807    $ 14,450      $ —      $ —        $ 108,257
                                   

The “deductions” column of allowance for doubtful accounts represents write-offs of fully reserved accounts receivable net of recoveries.

The “deductions” column for accrued warranties represents settlements made during the period.

 

F - 27

Exhibit 3.1

 

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

FOR

GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC

Global Power Equipment Group Inc. (the “Corporation”), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, hereby certifies as follows:

1. The name of the corporation is Global Power Equipment Group Inc. Global Equipment Power Group Inc. was originally incorporated under the name GEEG, Inc. and the original Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 13, 1998.

2 An Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on May 17, 2001

3. Pursuant to Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, this Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been duly adopted in accordance therewith, and restates and integrates and further amends the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation.

4. The text of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation as heretofore amended or supplemented is hereby restated and further amended to read in its entirety as follows:

ARTICLE ONE: The name of the Corporation is

GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC.

ARTICLE TWO: The registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is located at 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle. The name of its registered agent in the State of Delaware at such address is Corporation Service Company

ARTICLE THREE: The purpose of the Corporation is to engage, directly or indirectly, in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as from time to time in effect.

ARTICLE FOUR: The total authorized capital stock of the Corporation shall be 170,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share. The Corporation shall not issue nonvoting Common Stock.

The Common Stock of the Corporation may be issued from time to time in any number of shares, provided that the aggregate number of shares issued and not canceled shall not exceed the total number of shares of Common Stock hereinabove authorized. Subject to the requirements of law, this Certificate of Incorporation, as amended from time to time, the holders of Common Stock shall (i) in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, be entitled to receive all the remaining assets of the Corporation of whatever kind, such assets to be distributed pro rata to the holders of the Common Stock; and (ii) be entitled to receive such dividends as and when the same may be declared from time to time by the Board of Directors of the Corporation out of funds legally available therefor.


Except as otherwise required by law and the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of the Common Stock of the Corporation possess full voting power for the election of directors and for all other purposes, and each holder thereof shall be entitled to one vote for each share held by such holder.

ARTICLE FIVE: The business of the Corporation shall be conducted by the officers of the Corporation under the supervision of the Board of Directors except as otherwise provided by law. Except as otherwise provided by law, the number of directors which shall constitute the Board of Directors shall be as set forth in the Corporation’s By-Laws, and in any event shall not be less than two (2).

Each director shall serve until his successor is duly elected and qualified or until his death, resignation or removal. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

The Board of Directors or any individual director may be removed from office at any time with cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the then outstanding stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at an election of directors.

ARTICLE SIX: The Board of Directors may make, alter or repeal the By-Laws of the Corporation except as otherwise provided in the By-Laws adopted by the Corporation’s stockholders

ARTICLE SEVEN: The Corporation expressly elects to be governed by Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as from time to time in effect.

ARTICLE EIGHT: The directors of the Corporation shall be protected from personal liability, through indemnification or otherwise, to the fullest extent permitted under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as from time to time in effect.

1. A director of the Corporation shall under no circumstances have any personal liability to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty by such director except for liability (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as the same exists or hereafter may be amended, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit If the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware hereafter is amended to authorize the further elimination or limitation of the liability of directors shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the amended General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. Neither the modification or repeal of this paragraph 1 of Article EIGHT nor any amendment to said General Corporation Law of Delaware that does not have retroactive application shall limit the right of directors of the Corporation to exculpation from personal liability for any act or omission occurring prior to such amendment, modification or repeal.

 


2. The Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law (i) indemnity each director, officer, employee and agent of the Corporation, except as may be otherwise provided in the By-Laws of the Corporation, and in furtherance hereof the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to amend the By-Laws of the Corporation from time to time to give full effect hereto, notwithstanding possible self interest of the directors in the action being taken and (ii) advance expenses incurred by such officers, directors, employees or agents in relation to any action, suit or proceeding. Neither the modification nor the repeal of this paragraph 2 of Article EIGHT nor any amendment to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware that does not have retroactive application shall limit the right of directors, officers of the Corporation, employees and agents to indemnification hereunder with respect to any act or omission occurring prior to such modification, amendment or repeal.

ARTICLE NINE: The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by law, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been signed by the undersigned, its authorized officer this 17 day of January, 2008.

 

GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC.
By:  

LOGO

  Name:   John M. Matheson
  Title:   President

 

2

Exhibit 3.2

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS OF

GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC.

PREAMBLE

These Second Amended and Restated By-Laws are subject to, and governed by, the General Corporate Law of the State of Delaware (“DGCL”) and the Certificate of Incorporation of Global Power Equipment Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”). In the event of a direct conflict between the provisions of these By-Laws and the mandatory provisions of the DGCL or the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, such provisions of the DGCL or the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as the case may be, will be controlling.

ARTICLE I

STOCKHOLDERS

Section 1. Annual Meeting .

(a) An annual meeting of the stockholders shall be held each year for the purpose of electing directors and conducting such other business as may lawfully come before the meeting. The date, time and place (within or outside Delaware) of the annual meeting shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that the annual meeting of stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as authorized by the DGCL. If the day fixed for the annual meeting shall fall on a legal holiday, the meeting shall be held on the next succeeding day not a legal holiday. If the annual meeting is omitted on the day herein provided, a special meeting may be held in place thereof, and any business transacted at such special meeting in lieu of annual meeting shall have the same effect as if transacted or held at the annual meeting.

(b) At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting, business must be: (A) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (B) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (C) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder. For business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, (i) the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation, and (ii) such business must be a proper matter for stockholder action under the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”). To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day and not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced more than thirty (30) days prior to or delayed by more than thirty (30) days after the anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, notice by the stockholder, to be timely, must be so delivered not later than the later of the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting and the tenth (10th) day following the day on which notice of the date of such meeting is first given to the stockholders, and not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting. Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth: (A) as to each person whom the stockholder proposed to nominate for election or reelection as a director all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”) and Rule 14a-11 thereunder (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected); (B) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and (C) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner and (ii) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner.


(c) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1 shall be eligible to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at an annual meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made, or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in these By-Laws and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with these By-Laws, to declare that such proposal or nomination shall not be presented for stockholder action at the meeting and shall be disregarded.

Section 2. Special Meetings .

(a) Special meetings of the stockholders may be called by the Board of Directors and shall be called by the President of the Corporation or by the Secretary of the Corporation upon the written request of the holders of record of at least twenty-five per cent (25%) of the shares of stock of the Corporation, issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, at such times and at such place either within or without the State of Delaware as may be stated in the call or in a waiver of notice thereof. The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that a special meeting of stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as authorized by the DGCL.

(b) If a special meeting is properly called by any person or persons other than the Board of Directors, the request shall be in writing, specifying the general nature of the business proposed to be transacted, and shall be delivered personally or sent by registered mail or by telegraphic or other facsimile transmission to the President of the Corporation. No business may be transacted at such special meeting otherwise than specified in such notice. The Board of Directors shall determine the time and place of such special meeting, which shall be held not less than thirty-five (35) days and not more than one hundred twenty (120) days after the date of the receipt of the request. Upon determination of the time and place of the meeting, the officer receiving the request shall cause notice to be given to the stockholders entitled to vote, in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 of these By-Laws. If the notice is not given within one hundred (100) days after the receipt of the request, the person or persons properly requesting the meeting may set the time and place of the meeting and give the notice. Nothing contained in this paragraph (b) shall be construed as limiting, fixing or affecting the time when a meeting of stockholders called by action of the Board of Directors may be held.

 

2


(c) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving notice provided for in these By-Laws who shall be entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2(c). In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be), for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice required by Section 1(b) of these By-Laws shall be delivered to an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting and the tenth (10th) day following the day on which notice is first given to the stockholders of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting, and not earlier than the close of business on the later of the one hundred twentieth (120th) day prior to such meeting.

Section 3. Notice of Meetings . Notice of the time, place and purpose of every meeting of stockholders shall be delivered personally or mailed not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days previous thereto to each stockholder of record entitled to vote, at such stock-holder’s post office address appearing upon the records of the Corporation or at such other address as shall be furnished in writing by him or her to the Corporation for such purpose. Such further notice shall be given as may be required by law or by these By-Laws. Notice of any meeting of stockholders shall not be required to be given to any stockholder who shall attend such meeting in person or by proxy and shall not, at the beginning of such meeting, object to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened, or who shall, either before or after the meeting, submit a signed waiver of notice, in person or by proxy.

Section 4. Quorum . The holders of record of at least a majority of the shares of the stock of the Corporation, issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, present in person or by proxy, shall, except as otherwise provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-Laws, constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders. If there be no such quorum, the holders of a majority of such shares so present or represented may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum shall have been obtained. A quorum, once established, shall not be broken by the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum and the votes present may continue to transact business until adjournment.

 

3


Section 5. Organization of Meetings . Meetings of the stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Corporation or, if the Chairman of the Board is not present by the President of the Corporation, or if the President of the Corporation is not present, by a chairman to be chosen at the meeting. The Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary if one has been elected, of the Corporation shall act as secretary of the meeting.

Section 6. Voting . At the meeting of stockholders, each stockholder having the right to vote may vote in person or may authorize another person or persons to act for him by proxy appointed by an instrument in writing executed by such stockholder and bearing a date not more than one (1) year prior to said meeting, unless said instrument provides for a longer period. All proxies must be filed with the Secretary of the Corporation at the beginning of each meeting in order to be counted in any vote at the meeting. At each meeting of stockholders, except as otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, every holder of record of stock entitled to vote shall be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of such stock standing in his or her name on the records of the Corporation. Elections of directors shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast and, except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these By-Laws, all other action shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast at such meeting. Each proxy to vote shall be in writing and signed by the stockholder or by such stockholder’s duly authorized attorney.

At all elections of directors, the voting shall be by ballot or in such other manner as may be determined by the stockholders present in person or by proxy entitled to vote at such election. With respect to any other matter presented to the stockholders for their consideration at a meeting, any stockholder entitled to vote may, on any question, demand a vote by ballot.

A complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at each such meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, with the address of each, and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder, shall be prepared by the Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary if one has been elected, of the Corporation and shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or, if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. The list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.

Section 7. Inspectors of Election . The Board of Directors in advance of any meeting of stockholders may appoint one or more Inspectors of Election to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof. If Inspectors of Election are not so appointed, the chairman of the meeting may, and on the request of any stockholder entitled to vote shall, appoint one or more Inspectors of Election. Each Inspector of Election, before entering upon the discharge of his duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of Inspector of Election at such meeting with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. If appointed, Inspectors of Election shall take charge of the polls and, when the vote is completed, shall make a certificate of the result of the vote taken and of such other facts as may be required by law.

 

4


Section 8. Action by Consent . Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if, prior to such action, a written consent or consents thereto, setting forth such action, is signed by the holders of record of shares of the stock of the Corporation, issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereon, having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation of these By-laws to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted.

ARTICLE II

DIRECTORS

Section 1. Number, Quorum, Term, Vacancies, Removal . The Board of Directors of the Corporation shall consist of a minimum of two (2) directors. The number of directors shall be fixed or changed by a resolution passed by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors. The directors need not be stockholders.

Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the first paragraph of this Section 1 shall apply only to directors elected by holders of Common Stock together with holders of all other classes of the Corporation’s capital stock voting as a single class therewith on the election of directors. If holders of any class of the Corporation’s capital stock have the right to elect directors voting as a separate class and such right be then in effect, the maximum number of directors of the Corporation shall be increased by the number of directors which such holders may so elect and upon termination of such right the number shall be reduced to the extent it was previously so increased.

A majority of the members of the Board of Directors then holding office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but if at any meeting of the Board of Directors there shall be less than a quorum present, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum shall have been obtained. The vote of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors, except as otherwise specifically provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-Laws.

Each director shall serve until his successor is duly elected and qualified or until his death, resignation or removal. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, any vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, disqualification, removal or other causes and any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors shall, unless the Board of Directors determines by resolution that any such vacancies or newly created directorships shall be filled by stockholders and except as otherwise provided by law, be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even though less than a quorum of the Board of Directors. Any director elected in accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the director for which the vacancy was recreated or occurred and until such director’s successor shall have been elected and qualified.

 

5


Any director may resign at any time by delivering his written resignation to the Secretary of the Corporation, such resignation to specify whether it will be effective at a particular time, upon receipt by the Secretary of the Corporation or at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. If no such specification is made, it shall be deemed effective at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. When one or more directors shall resign from the Board of Directors, effective at a future date, a majority of the directors then in office, including those who have so resigned, shall have power to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote thereon to take effect when such resignation or resignations shall become effective, and each Director so chosen shall hold office for the unexpired portion of the term of the Director whose place shall be vacated and until his successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.

The Board of Directors or any individual director may be removed from office as provided in Section 141(k) of the DGCL.

Section 2. Meetings, Notice . Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such place either within or without the State of Delaware, as may from time to time be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors, or as may be specified in the call or in a waiver of notice thereof. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such times as may from time to time be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors, and special meetings may be held at any time upon the call of two directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, if one be elected, or the President of the Corporation, by oral or written notice, duly served on or sent or mailed to each director not less than two days before such meeting. A meeting of the Board of Directors may be held without notice immediately after the annual meeting of stockholders at the same place at which such meeting was held. Notice need not be given of regular meetings of the Board of Directors. Any meeting may be held without notice, if all directors are present, or if notice is waived in writing, either before or after the meeting, by those not present.

Section 3. Committees . The Board of Directors may, in its discretion, by resolution passed by a majority of the whole Board, designate from among its members one or more committees which shall consist of one or more directors. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any such committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Such committees shall have and may exercise such powers as shall be conferred or authorized by the resolution appointing them; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to amending the Certificate of Incorporation (except that a committee may, to the extent authorized in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of shares of stock adopted by the Board of Directors, fix the designations and any of the preferences or rights of such shares relating to dividends, redemption, dissolution, any distribution of assets of the Corporation or the conversion into, or the exchange of such shares for, shares of any other class or classes or any other series of the same or any other class or classes of stock of the Corporation or fix the number of shares of any series of stock or authorize the increase or decrease of the shares of any series), adopting an agreement of merger or consolidation, recommending to the stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s property and assets, recommending to the stockholders a dissolution of the Corporation or a revocation of a dissolution, or amending these By-laws; and, unless the resolution, these By-laws, or the Certificate of Incorporation expressly so provides, no such committee shall have the power or authority to declare a dividend, to authorize the issuance of stock, or to adopt a Certificate of Ownership and Merger. A majority of any such committee may determine its action and fix the time and place of its meetings, unless the Board of Directors shall otherwise provide. The Board shall have power at any time to change the membership of any such committee, to fill vacancies in it, or to dissolve it.

 

6


Section 4. Action by Consent . Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting, if prior to such action a written consent or consents thereto is signed by all members of the Board, or of such committee as the case may be, and such written consent or consents is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee.

Section 5. Compensation . The Board of Directors may determine, from time to time, the amount of compensation which shall be paid to its members. The Board of Directors shall also have power, in its discretion, to allow a fixed sum and expenses for attendance at each regular or special meeting of the Board, or of any committee of the Board. In addition, the Board of Directors shall also have power, in its discretion, to provide for and pay to directors rendering services to the Corporation not ordinarily rendered by directors, as such, special compensation appropriate to the value of such services, as determined by the Board from time to time.

Section 6. Telephone Meetings . Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws, members of the Board of Directors, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors, or any committee, by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

ARTICLE III

OFFICERS

Section 1. Titles and Election . The officers of the Corporation, who shall be chosen by the Board of Directors at its first meeting after each annual meeting of stockholders, shall be a President and Chief Executive Officer, a Chief Financial Officer and a Secretary. The Board of Directors from time to time may elect a Chairman of the Board, one or more Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries and such other officers and agents as it shall deem necessary, and may define their powers and duties. Any number of offices may be held by the same person.

Section 2. Terms of Office . Officers shall hold office until their successors are chosen and qualified.

Section 3. Removal . Any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, at any time, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors.

Section 4. Resignations . Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board of Directors or to the Secretary of the Corporation. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein, and, unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

 

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Section 5. Vacancies . If the office of any officer or agent becomes vacant by reason of death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or otherwise, the directors may choose a successor, who shall hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.

Section 6. Chairman of the Board . The Chairman of the Board of Directors, if one be elected, shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders, and the Chairman shall have and perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to the Chairman by the Board of Directors.

Section 7. President and Chief Executive Officer . The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation and, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors, and of the stockholders. The President shall exercise the powers and perform the duties usual to the Chief Executive Officer and, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, shall have general management and control of the affairs and business of the Corporation; the President shall appoint and discharge employees and agents of the Corporation (other than officers elected by the Board of Directors) and fix their compensation; and the President shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect. The President shall have the power to execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts, agreements and instruments of the Corporation, and shall do and perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to the President by the Board of Directors.

Section 8. Vice Presidents . If chosen, the Vice Presidents, in the order of their seniority, shall, in the absence or disability of the President, exercise all of the powers and duties of the President. Such Vice Presidents shall have the power to execute bonds, notes, mortgages and other contracts, agreements and instruments of the Corporation, and shall do and perform such other duties incident to the office of Vice President and as the Board of Directors, or the President shall direct.

Section 9. Secretary . The Secretary, or any of the Assistant Secretary if one has been elected, shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the Board of Directors and the stockholders of the Corporation and all other notices required by law or by these By-Laws, and in the case of his or her absence or refusal or neglect so to do, any such notice may be given by any person thereunto directed by the President of the Corporation, any directors of the Corporation or any stockholder of the Corporation upon whose request the meeting is called as provided in these By-Laws. The Secretary, or any Assistant Secretary if one has been elected, shall record all the proceedings of the meetings of the Board of Directors, any committee thereof and the stockholders of the Corporation in a book to be kept for that purpose. The Secretary and each Assistant Secretary shall perform any other duties as may be assigned by these By-Laws, the Board of Directors or the President of the Corporation.

 

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Section 10. Chief Financial Officer . The Chief Financial Officer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation and shall deposit all moneys, and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation, in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors. The Chief Financial Officer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the directors whenever they may require it, an account of all his or her transactions as Chief Financial Officer and of the financial condition of the Corporation.

ARTICLE IV

INDEMNIFICATION

Section 1. Actions by Others. The Corporation (1) shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or an officer of the Corporation and (2) except as otherwise required by Section 3 of this Article, may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was an employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, agent of or participant in another Corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not, in and of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

Section 2. Actions by or in the Right of the Corporation. The Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee, agent of or participant in another Corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his or her duty to the Corporation unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

 

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Section 3. Successful Defense. To the extent that a person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Section 1 or Section 2 of this Article, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection therewith.

Section 4. Specific Authorization. Any indemnification under Section 1 or Section 2 of this Article (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in said Sections 1 and 2. Such determination shall be made (1) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, or (2) if such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (3) by the stockholders.

Section 5. Advance of Expenses. Expenses incurred by any person who may have a right of indemnification under this Article in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding as authorized by the Board of Directors in the specific case upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director, officer, employee or agent to repay such amount unless it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation pursuant to this Article.

Section 6. Right of Indemnity Not Exclusive. The indemnification provided by this Article shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his or her official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

Section 7. Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of or participant in another Corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability under the provisions of this Article, Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or otherwise.

 

10


Section 8. Invalidity of Any Provisions of This Article. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Article shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Article.

ARTICLE V

CAPITAL STOCK

Section 1. Certificates. The interest of each stockholder of the Corporation shall be evidenced by certificates for shares of stock in such form as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe. The certificates of stock shall be signed by the President or a Vice President and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, sealed with the seal of the Corporation or a facsimile thereof, and countersigned and registered in such manner, if any, as the Board of Directors may by resolution prescribe. Where any such certificate is countersigned by a transfer agent other than the Corporation or its employee, or registered by a registrar other than the Corporation or its employee, the signature of any such officer may be a facsimile signature. In case any officer or officers who shall have signed, or whose facsimile signature or signatures shall have been used on, any such certificate or certificates shall cease to be such officer or officers of the Corporation, whether because of death, resignation or otherwise, before such certificate or certificates shall have been delivered by the Corporation, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be adopted by the Corporation and be issued and delivered as though the person or persons who signed such certificate or certificates or whose facsimile signature or signatures shall have been used thereon had not ceased to be such officer or officers of the Corporation.

Section 2. Transfer. The shares of stock of the Corporation shall be transferred only upon the books of the Corporation by the holder thereof in person or by his or her attorney, upon surrender to the Corporation or the stock transfer agent of the Corporation for cancellation of certificates for the same number of shares, with an assignment and power of transfer endorsed thereon or attached thereto, duly executed, with such proof of the authenticity of the signature as the Corporation or the stock transfer agent of the Corporation may reasonably require.

Section 3. Record Dates. The Board of Directors may fix in advance a date, not less than ten nor more than sixty days preceding the date of any meeting of stockholders, or the date for the payment of any dividend, or the date for the distribution or allotment of any rights, or the date when any change, conversion or exchange of capital stock shall go into effect, as a record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, any such meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any such dividend, or to receive any distribution or allotment of such rights, or to exercise the rights in respect of any such change, conversion or exchange of capital stock, and in such case only such stockholders as shall be stockholders of record on the date so fixed shall be entitled to such notice of, and to vote at, such meeting, or to receive payment of such dividend, or to receive such distribution or allotment or rights or to exercise such rights, as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of any stock on the books of the Corporation after any such record date fixed as aforesaid.

 

11


Section 4. Lost Certificates. In the event that any certificate of stock is lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated, the Board of Directors may authorize the issuance of a new certificate of the same tenor and for the same number of shares in lieu thereof. The Board may in its discretion, before the issuance of such new certificate, require the owner of the lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated certificate, or the legal representative of the owner to make an affidavit or affirmation setting forth such facts as to the loss, destruction or mutilation as it deems necessary, and to give the Corporation a bond in such reasonable sum as it directs to indemnify the Corporation.

ARTICLE VI

CHECKS, NOTES, ETC.

Section 1. Checks, Notes, Etc. All checks and drafts on the Corporation’s bank accounts and all bills of exchange and promissory notes, and all acceptances, obligations and other instruments for the payment of money, may be signed by the President, any Vice President or the Chief Financial Officer and may also be signed by such other officer or officers, agent or agents, as shall be thereunto authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VII

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 1. Offices. The registered office of the Corporation shall be located at 1013 Centre Road, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, in the State of Delaware and said Corporation shall be the registered agent of this Corporation in charge thereof. The Corporation may have other offices either within or without the State of Delaware at such places as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors or the business of the Corporation may require.

Section 2. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

Section 3. Corporate Seal. The seal of the Corporation shall be circular in form and contain the name of the Corporation, and the year and state of its incorporation. Such seal may be altered from time to time at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

Section 4. Books. There shall be kept at such office of the Corporation as the Board of Directors shall determine, within or without the State of Delaware, correct books and records of account of all its business and transactions, minutes of the proceedings of its stockholders, Board of Directors and committees, and the stock book, containing the names and addresses of the stockholders, the number of shares held by them, respectively, and the dates when they respectively became the owners of record thereof, and in which the transfer of stock shall be registered, and such other books and records as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

Section 5. Voting of Stock. Unless otherwise specifically authorized by the Board of Directors, all stock owned by the Corporation, other than stock of the Corporation, shall be voted, in person or by proxy, by the President or any Vice President of the Corporation on behalf of the Corporation.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

AMENDMENTS

Section 1. Amendments by Stockholders. Except as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation and these By-Laws, the vote of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of stock of the Corporation, issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, shall be necessary at any meeting of stockholders to amend or repeal these By-Laws or to adopt new by-laws.

Section 2. Amendment by Board of Directors . These by-laws may be amended or altered by the Board of Directors at a meeting duly called for the purpose by majority vote of the directors then in office, except that directors shall not amend the by-laws in a manner which:

(a) changes the stockholder voting requirements for any action;

(b) alters or abolishes any preferential right or right of redemption applicable to a class or series of stock with shares already outstanding;

(c) alters the provisions of Article VIII hereof; or

(d) permits the Board of Directors to take any action which under law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these By-Laws is required to be taken by the stockholders.

Any amendment of these By-Laws by the board of directors may be altered or repealed by the stockholders at any annual or special meeting of stockholders. These By-Laws may also be amended or repealed, or new By-Laws adopted, at any meeting of the Board of Directors by the vote of at least a majority of the members of the Board of Directors; provided that any By-Laws adopted by the Board of Directors may be amended or repealed by the stockholders in the manner set forth above.

Any proposal by the Board of Directors to amend or repeal these By-Laws or to adopt new by-laws shall be stated in the notice of the meeting of the Board of Directors or in the waiver of notice thereof, as the case may be, unless all of the directors are present at such meeting.

 

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Exhibit 10.1

CREDIT AGREEMENT

by and among

GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC.,

as the Borrower

and

the other Credit Parties hereto from time to time,

as Guarantors

and

the LENDERS party hereto from time to time

and

MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.,

as Lead Arranger, Bookrunner and Administrative Agent

and

MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED,

as Collateral Agent

and

THE CIT GROUP/BUSINESS CREDIT INC.,

as Syndication Agent and Revolving Agent

and

GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION,

as Documentation Agent

Dated as of January 22, 2008


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

       Page
ARTICLE I
THE FACILITY

Section 1.01.

   Revolving Loans    2

Section 1.02.

   Term Loans    4

Section 1.03.

   Use of Proceeds    6

Section 1.04.

   Promise to Pay    6

Section 1.05.

   Notes    6

Section 1.06.

   Letters of Credit    7

Section 1.07.

   Intentionally Omitted    11

Section 1.08.

   Intentionally Omitted    11

Section 1.09.

   Allocation of Proceeds of Collateral and Payments    11

Section 1.10.

   Limitations on LIBOR Loans    14
ARTICLE II
PAYMENTS AND OTHER COMPENSATION

Section 2.01.

   Voluntary Prepayments/Reductions of Commitments    14

Section 2.02.

   Mandatory Prepayments    15

Section 2.03.

   Prepayment Fees    16

Section 2.04.

   Payments    17

Section 2.05.

   Taxes    18
ARTICLE III
INTEREST

Section 3.01.

   Interest on the Loans and Other Obligations    20

Section 3.02.

   Conversion or Continuation    21

Section 3.03.

   Break Funding Payments    22

Section 3.04.

   Increased Costs; Illegality    22

Section 3.05.

   Replacement of Lenders    24

Section 3.06.

   Fees    24
ARTICLE IV
CONDITIONS TO LOANS

Section 4.01.

   Conditions Precedent to the Initial Loans    25

Section 4.02.

   Conditions Precedent to Revolving Loans and Issuances, Renewals or Extensions of Letters of Credit    30

Section 4.03.

   Post Closing Ratings Condition    31

 

i


ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

Section 5.01.

   Representations and Warranties    31
ARTICLE VI
REPORTING COVENANTS

Section 6.01.

   Financial Statements    41

Section 6.02.

   Other Financial Information    43

Section 6.03.

   Defaults, Events of Default    44

Section 6.04.

   Lawsuits    44

Section 6.05.

   Insurance    44

Section 6.06.

   Environmental Notices    45

Section 6.07.

   Labor Matters    45

Section 6.08.

   Other Information    45
ARTICLE VII
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

Section 7.01.

   Compliance with Laws    46

Section 7.02.

   Payment of Taxes and Claims    46

Section 7.03.

   Preservation of Corporate Existence    47

Section 7.04.

   Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions    47

Section 7.05.

   Maintenance of Properties    47

Section 7.06.

   Further Assurances    48

Section 7.07.

   Additional Security; Additional Guarantees; Further Assurances    48

Section 7.08.

   Powers; Conduct of Business    50

Section 7.09.

   Use of Proceeds    50

Section 7.10.

   Environmental    50

Section 7.11.

   Fiscal Year    50

Section 7.12.

   Maintenance of Insurance    50

Section 7.13.

   Change in Collateral; Collateral Records    51

Section 7.14.

   Formation of Subsidiaries    51

Section 7.15.

   Cash Management    51
ARTICLE VIII
NEGATIVE COVENANTS

Section 8.01.

   Liens    52

 

ii


Section 8.02.

   Investments    54

Section 8.03.

   Indebtedness    55

Section 8.04.

   Fundamental Changes and Acquisitions    56

Section 8.05.

   Dispositions    57

Section 8.06.

   Restricted Payments    57

Section 8.07.

   Amendment of Governing Documents    57

Section 8.08.

   Change in Nature of Business    58

Section 8.09.

   Transactions with Affiliates    58

Section 8.10.

   Limitations on Restricted Actions    58

Section 8.11.

   Sale-Leasebacks; Off-Balance Sheet Obligation    58

Section 8.12.

   Impairment of Security Interests    58

Section 8.13.

   Ownership of Subsidiaries and Other Restrictions Relating to the Subsidiaries    59

Section 8.14.

   Limitations on Dividends and Distributions and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries    59

Section 8.15.

   Limitation on Issuance of Capital Stock    59

Section 8.16.

   Federal Reserve Regulations    60

Section 8.17.

   Investment Company Act of 1940    60

Section 8.18.

   Change Name    60
ARTICLE IX
FINANCIAL COVENANTS

Section 9.01.

   Total Leverage Ratio    60

Section 9.02.

   Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio    61

Section 9.03.

   Minimum Liquidity    62
ARTICLE X
EVENTS OF DEFAULT, RIGHTS AND REMEDIES

Section 10.01.

   Events of Default    63

Section 10.02.

   Remedies    67

Section 10.03.

   Waivers by the Credit Parties    67
ARTICLE XI
GUARANTY OF OBLIGATIONS OF BORROWER

Section 11.01.

   Guaranty    68

Section 11.02.

   Nature of Liability    68

Section 11.03.

   Independent Obligation    69

Section 11.04.

   Demand by the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Agent or the Secured Parties    69

Section 11.05.

   Enforcement of Guaranty    70

 

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Section 11.06.

   Waiver    70

Section 11.07.

   Benefit of Guaranty    70

Section 11.08.

   Modification of Guaranteed Obligations, Etc.    71

Section 11.09.

   Reinstatement    71

Section 11.10.

   Waiver of Subrogation, Etc.    72

Section 11.11.

   Election of Remedies    73

Section 11.12.

   Limitation on Amount Guaranteed; Contribution by Guarantors    73

Section 11.13.

   Additional Waivers    73
ARTICLE XII
THE AGENTS

Section 12.01.

   Appointment of Agents    74

Section 12.02.

   Agents’ Reliance, Etc.    75

Section 12.03.

   Agents in Individual Capacities    75

Section 12.04.

   Lender Credit Decision    76

Section 12.05.

   Costs and Expenses; Indemnification    76

Section 12.06.

   Successor Agents    77

Section 12.07.

   Collateral Matters    79

Section 12.08.

   Collateral Restrictions on Actions by the Agents and the Participating Lenders; Sharing Payments    80

Section 12.09.

   Several Obligations; No Liability    80
ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS

Section 13.01.

   Notices, Etc.    81

Section 13.02.

   Amendments, Etc.    83

Section 13.03.

   Non-Consenting Lenders; Defaulting Lenders    85

Section 13.04.

   No Waiver; Remedies, Etc.    86

Section 13.05.

   Expenses; Taxes; Attorneys’ Fees    86

Section 13.06.

   Right of Set-Off    87

Section 13.07.

   Severability    87

Section 13.08.

   Complete Agreement; Sale of Interest    87

Section 13.09.

   Binding Effect; Assignment; Register    87

Section 13.10.

   Counterparts    90

Section 13.11.

   GOVERNING LAW    90

Section 13.12.

   CONSENT TO JURISDICTION, SERVICE OF PROCESS AND VENUE    90

Section 13.13.

   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL, ETC.    91

Section 13.14.

   Consent    91

Section 13.15.

   Interpretation    91

Section 13.16.

   Reinstatement; Certain Payments    91

Section 13.17.

   Indemnification    92

 

iv


Section 13.18.

   Interest    93

Section 13.19.

   Records    94

Section 13.20.

   Confidentiality    94

Section 13.21.

   Lender Advertising    95

Section 13.22.

   Common Enterprise    95

Section 13.23.

   USA PATRIOT ACT    95

Section 13.24.

   Survival of Representations, Warranties Covenants and Obligations    95
ARTICLE XIV
DEFINITIONS; CERTAIN TERMS

Section 14.01.

   Definitions    96

Section 14.02.

   Terms Generally    125

Section 14.03.

   Accounting and Other Terms    125

Section 14.04.

   Time References    125

 

v


CREDIT AGREEMENT

This Credit Agreement, dated as of January 22, 2008 (as it may be amended, restated, modified, supplemented or extended from time to time, including all schedules hereto, or otherwise modified, this “ Agreement ”), by and among GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC., a corporation formed under the laws of Delaware (the “ Company ” or the “ Borrower ”), certain Subsidiaries of the Company party hereto from time to time, as Guarantors, the Lenders party hereto from time to time, MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., a corporation formed under the laws of Delaware, as lead arranger and bookrunner (in such capacity, the “ Lead Arranger ”) and as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns, if any, the “ Administrative Agent ”), MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED, a corporation formed under the laws of Delaware, as collateral agent for the Secured Parties (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns, if any, the “ Collateral Agent ”), THE CIT GROUP/BUSINESS CREDIT, INC. a corporation formed under the laws of Delaware, as syndication agent (in such capacity, the “ Syndication Agent ”) and as revolving agent for the Revolving Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns, if any, the “ Revolving Agent ”) and GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, a corporation formed under the laws of Delaware, as documentation agent.

RECITALS

WHEREAS, on September 28, 2006 (the “ Commencement Date ”) the Borrower and certain of its Subsidiaries filed with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (the “ Bankruptcy Court ”), voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, Case No. 06-11045 (BLS) (the “ Chapter 11 Cases ”);

WHEREAS, on December 7, 2006, the Borrower entered into a post-petition loan and security agreement (the “ Post-Petition Loan Agreement ”) with the parties thereto;

WHEREAS, on December 21, 2007, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order (the “ Confirmation Order ”) confirming the First Amended Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization for Global Power Equipment Group Inc. and its Affiliated Debtors (the “ Plan of Reorganization ”);

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Confirmation Order, the Borrower and such Subsidiaries will exit from the Chapter 11 Cases and all claims and liabilities against the Borrower and such Subsidiaries that arose prior to the date of the Confirmation Order will be satisfied, discharged and released in full, except as set forth therein or in the Plan of Reorganization;

WHEREAS, in accordance with the Confirmation Order, the Borrower has requested that the Lenders make available to it the Commitments, on the terms and conditions set forth herein, to, among other things, pay in full all obligations under the Post-Petition Loan Agreement, fund payments required under the Plan of Reorganization and fund working capital requirements and other general corporate purposes of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries;

WHEREAS, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders are willing to make the Loans to the Borrower upon the terms and conditions set forth herein.


NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants and agreements contained herein and other good and valuable consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

THE FACILITY

Section 1.01. Revolving Loans .

(a) Revolving Loan Commitments . Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Revolving Lender hereby severally agrees to make loans (each a “ Revolving Loan ”), to the Borrower from time to time on any Business Day during the Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed at any time such Revolving Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the lesser of (i) ten million Dollars ($10,000,000) or (ii) the Available Commitments; provided that such aggregate principal amount does not result in such Revolving Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Aggregate Revolving Exposure exceeding such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Commitment as of such date or the Aggregate Revolving Exposure of all Revolving Lenders exceeding the Total Revolving Commitment of all Revolving Lenders; provided further that no Revolving Loans shall be made on the Closing Date. Within the foregoing limits, upon the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 4.02 , from time to time prior to the Maturity Date, the Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans.

(b) Notice of Borrowing Revolving Loans . If the Borrower desires to borrow a Revolving Loan under Section 1.01(a) , the Borrower shall deliver to the Revolving Agent a Notice of Borrowing substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A , signed by the Borrower, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, (i) in the case of a request for an Alternate Base Rate Loan, on the Business Day prior to the proposed Funding Date or (ii) in the case of a request for LIBOR Rate Loans, at least three (3) Business Days prior to the proposed Funding Date. Such Notice of Borrowing shall specify (A) the aggregate principal amount of Revolving Loans to be made on the Funding Date; (B) whether such Revolving Loans shall be comprised of LIBOR Rate Loans or Alternate Base Rate Loans; (C) the proposed Funding Date, which must be a Business Day; and (D) if applicable, the LIBOR Period for such Revolving Loans. The Revolving Loans to be made on any Funding Date shall be in a minimum amount of $250,000 and shall be in an integral multiple of $50,000 in excess thereof. In lieu of delivering such a Notice of Borrowing, the Borrower may give the Revolving Agent telephonic notice of any proposed borrowing by the time required under this Section 1.01(b) if the Borrower confirms such notice by delivery of the Notice of Borrowing to the Revolving Agent promptly, but in no event later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on the same day. Each Notice of Borrowing (or telephonic notice in lieu thereof) given pursuant to this Section 1.01(b) shall be irrevocable and binding on the Borrower.

 

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(c) Making the Revolving Loans .

(i) The Revolving Agent shall promptly notify each Revolving Lender of the amount of each borrowing of Revolving Loans. Each Revolving Lender shall deposit into an account specified by the Revolving Agent an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the amount of such borrowing in immediately available funds, not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Funding Date applicable thereto. Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Article IV , the Revolving Agent shall make the proceeds of such amounts received by it available to the Borrower on such Funding Date.

(ii) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 1.01(c)(ii) , all Revolving Loans under this Agreement shall be made by the Revolving Lenders simultaneously and proportionately to their Pro Rata Shares. The failure of any Revolving Lender to deposit the amount described in clause (i) above with the Revolving Agent on the applicable Funding Date shall not relieve any other Revolving Lender of its obligations hereunder to make its Revolving Loan on such Funding Date. No Revolving Lender shall be responsible for any failure by any other Revolving Lender to perform its obligation to make a Revolving Loan hereunder nor shall the Revolving Commitment of any Revolving Lender be increased or decreased as a result of any such failure.

(d) Funding of Revolving Loans . Unless the Revolving Agent shall have received notice from a Revolving Lender, prior to the requested Funding Date for any Revolving Loan, that such Lender will not make available to the Revolving Agent such Revolving Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such Revolving Loan, the Revolving Agent may, but shall not be required to, assume that such Revolving Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with Section 1.01(c) and may in its sole discretion, but shall not be required to, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. If any Revolving Lender either does not make its share of the applicable Revolving Loan available to the Revolving Agent or delays in doing so past 4:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Funding Date (such Lender (until it makes such share available) hereinafter referred to as a “ Revolving Defaulting Lender ”), then the Revolving Agent promptly shall notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower of such default. If the Revolving Agent has, in its sole discretion, made available to the Borrower an amount corresponding to such Revolving Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Revolving Loan, then each of the Revolving Defaulting Lender and the Borrower agrees to pay to the Revolving Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, on each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Revolving Agent, at:

(i) in the case of the Revolving Defaulting Lender, the Federal Funds Rate; or

(ii) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Alternate Base Rate Loans.

If, with respect to the immediately preceding sentence, the Borrower pays such amount (including interest thereon) to the Revolving Agent, then the Revolving Defaulting Lender shall indemnify and hold harmless the Borrower from and against such amount, and if such Revolving Defaulting Lender pays such amount to the Revolving Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Revolving Defaulting Lender’s Revolving Loan.

 

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(e) Repayment of Revolving Loans; Termination of Revolving Commitments . The Borrower shall pay the principal amount of the Revolving Loans in full on the Maturity Date and the Revolving Commitments shall terminate on the Maturity Date.

Section 1.02. Term Loans .

(a) Loan Commitment . Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Term Lender hereby severally agrees to make a term loan (each, a “ Term Loan ”) in the principal amount set forth opposite each such Term Lender’s name on Schedule A hereto to the Borrower on the Closing Date, in accordance with this Section 1.02 . The aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans to be advanced shall not exceed ninety million Dollars ($90,000,000). Amounts repaid or prepaid under this Section 1.02 may not be reborrowed.

(b) Notice of Borrowing . If the Borrower desires to borrow under Section 1.02(a) , the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent a Notice of Borrowing signed by the Borrower in substantially the form attached as Exhibit A (i) not later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, at least three (3) Business Days in advance of the Closing Date, in the case of LIBOR Rate Loans and (ii) not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, at least one (1) Business Day prior to the Closing Date, in the case of Alternate Base Rate Loans. Such Notice of Borrowing shall specify: (A) the amount of the proposed Term Loans; (B) the proposed Closing Date, which must be a Business Day; and (C) in the case of LIBOR Rate Loans, the LIBOR Period applicable to such Term Loan. The Notice of Borrowing given pursuant to this Section 1.02(b) shall be irrevocable and binding on the Borrower.

(c) Making the Term Loans .

(i) The Administrative Agent promptly shall notify each Term Lender of the amount of Term Loans requested by the Borrower. Each Term Lender shall deposit into an account specified by the Administrative Agent an amount equal to its Pro Rata Share of the Term Loan Commitments, in immediately available funds, not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Closing Date. Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent set forth in Article IV , the Administrative Agent shall make the proceeds of the Term Loans received by it available to the Borrower on the Closing Date.

(ii) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 1.02(c) , all Term Loans under this Agreement shall be made by the Term Lenders simultaneously and proportionately to their Pro Rata Shares. The failure of any Term Lender to deposit the amount described in clause (i) above with the Administrative Agent on the Closing Date shall not relieve any other Term Lender of its obligations hereunder to make its Term Loan on the Closing Date. No Term Lender shall be responsible for any failure by any other Term Lender to perform its obligation to make a Term Loan hereunder nor shall the Term Loan Commitment of any Term Lender be increased or decreased as a result of any such failure.

 

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(d) Funding of Term Loans . Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Term Lender, prior to the Closing Date, that such Term Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Term Lender’s Pro Rata Share of such Term Loans, the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be required to, assume that such Term Lender has made such Pro Rata Share available on such date in accordance with Section 1.02(c) and may in its sole discretion, but shall not be required to, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. If any Term Lender either does not make its Pro Rata Share of the Term Loans available to the Administrative Agent or delays in doing so past 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Closing Date (such Term Lender (until it makes such Pro Rata Share available) hereinafter referred to as a “ Term Defaulting Lender ”), then the Administrative Agent shall immediately notify the Borrower of such default. If the Administrative Agent has, in its sole discretion, made available to the Borrower an amount corresponding to such Term Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Term Loans, then each of the Term Defaulting Lender and the Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, on each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at:

(i) in the case of the Term Defaulting Lender, the Federal Funds Rate; or

(ii) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable to Alternate Base Rate Loans.

If, with respect to the immediately preceding sentence, the Borrower pays such amount and interest thereon to the Administrative Agent, then the Term Defaulting Lender shall indemnify and hold harmless the Borrower from and against such amount and interest thereon, and if such Term Defaulting Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Term Defaulting Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the Term Loans.

(e) Repayment of Term Loans . The Borrower shall pay the aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans on the dates and in the amounts set forth below:

 

Date

   Loan
Scheduled  Repayment

March 31, 2008

   $ 1,250,000

June 30, 2008

   $ 1,250,000

September 30, 2008

   $ 1,250,000

December 31, 2008

   $ 1,250,000

March 31, 2009

   $ 1,250,000

June 30, 2009

   $ 1,250,000

September 30, 2009

   $ 1,250,000

December 31, 2009

   $ 1,250,000

March 31, 2010

   $ 1,250,000

June 30, 2010

   $ 1,250,000

September 30, 2010

   $ 1,250,000

December 31, 2010

   $ 1,250,000

March 31, 2011

   $ 1,250,000

June 30, 2011

   $ 1,250,000

September 30, 2011

   $ 1,250,000

December 31, 2011

   $ 1,250,000

March 31, 2012

   $ 1,250,000

June 30, 2012

   $ 1,250,000

September 30, 2012

   $ 1,250,000

December 31, 2012

   $ 1,250,000

March 31, 2013

   $ 1,250,000

June 30, 2013

   $ 1,250,000

September 30, 2013

   $ 1,250,000

December 31, 2013

   $ 1,250,000

Maturity Date

    
 
All amounts outstanding in
respect of the Term Loans.

 

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Section 1.03. Use of Proceeds . Proceeds of the Loans shall be utilized to(a) pay in full all amounts and obligations outstanding under the Post-Petition Loan Agreement, (b) pay or satisfy claims and other obligations in connection with the Borrower’s and certain of its Subsidiaries emergence from bankruptcy as required by the Plan of Reorganization, (c) fund working capital and ongoing corporate needs following the Borrower’s and such Subsidiaries emergence from bankruptcy, and (d) pay fees and expenses associated with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Section 1.04. Promise to Pay . The Borrower agrees to pay (a) the principal amount of the Term Loans on the dates and in the amounts set forth in Section 1.02(e) , (b) all interest, fees and expenses (including without limitation Participating Lender Expenses) payable under this Agreement or otherwise under any other Loan Document on demand in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any applicable Note, (c) cash to secure and collateralize Letters of Credit as and when requested under this Agreement or any underlying documentation with respect to Letters of Credit and (d) the Loans and all other Obligations (other than Hedging Obligations and indemnification obligations and other contingent Obligations under the Loan Documents, in each case, that are not then due pursuant to their terms) on the Maturity Date.

Section 1.05. Notes .

(a) The Borrower’s obligation to pay the principal of, and interest on, the Loans made to the Borrower by each Lender shall be set forth (i) with respect to the Term Loans, on the Term Register maintained by the Administrative Agent and (ii) with respect to Revolving Loans, on the Revolving Register maintained by the Revolving Agent and, subject to the provisions of Section 1.05(b), (c) and (d) , shall be evidenced by, at the request of the Revolving Agent or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, a promissory note substantially in the form of Exhibit B for Revolving Loans (each, a “ Revolving Note ”) and Exhibit C for Term Loans (each, a “ Term Note ”), with blanks appropriately completed in conformity herewith (each Revolving Note or Term Note, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, a “ Note ”).

 

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(b) The Revolving Note issued to each Revolving Lender shall (i) be executed by the Borrower, (ii) be payable to such Revolving Lender or its registered assigns and be dated the Closing Date (or in the case of any Revolving Note issued after the Closing Date, the date of issuance thereof), (iii) be in a stated principal amount equal to the Revolving Commitment of such Revolving Lender on the date of the issuance thereof and be payable in the principal amount of the Revolving Loan evidenced thereby from time to time, (iv) mature on the Maturity Date, (v) bear interest as provided herein and (vi) be entitled to the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

(c) The Term Note issued to each Term Lender shall (i) be executed by the Borrower, (ii) be payable to such Term Lender or its registered assigns and be dated the Closing Date (or, in the case of any Term Note issued after the Closing Date, the date of issuance thereof), (iii) be in a stated principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Term Loan of such Term Lender on the date of the issuance thereof and be payable in the principal amount of the Term Loan evidenced thereby from time to time, (iv) mature on the Maturity Date, (v) bear interest as provided for herein and (vi) be entitled to the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

(d) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained above or elsewhere in this Agreement, Notes shall only be delivered to those Lenders that at any time specifically request the delivery of such Notes. The failure of any Lender to request or obtain a Note evidencing its Loans to the Borrower shall not affect or in any manner impair the obligations of the Borrower to pay the Loans (and all related Obligations) and shall not in any way affect the security or Guarantees provided pursuant to the Loan Documents. At any time if any Lender shall request the delivery of a Note to evidence any of its Loans, the Borrower promptly shall execute and deliver to that Lender the requested Note in the appropriate amount or amounts to evidence such Loans.

Section 1.06. Letters of Credit .

(a) Issuance . (i) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the Revolving Lenders agree to incur, from time to time during the Availability Period, upon the request of the Borrower, and for the Borrower’s account, Letter of Credit Obligations by issuing Letters of Credit through the Revolving Agent or an affiliate, bank or other legally authorized Person selected or approved by the Revolving Agent (each, an “ L/C Issuer ”) for the Borrower’s account; provided that each Revolving Lender shall, subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, purchase (or be deemed to have purchased) risk participations in all such Letters of Credit, as more fully described in paragraph (b)(ii) below. Letters of Credit shall be made such that the aggregate amount of all such Letter of Credit Obligations, plus the aggregate amount of any outstanding Revolving Loans, shall not at any time exceed the Available Commitments. No such Letter of Credit shall have an expiry date that is (A) more than one year following the date of issuance thereof, unless otherwise consented to in writing by the Revolving Agent in its sole discretion (subject to renewal provisions as described in Section 1.06(a)(ii)) , or (B) later than the Maturity Date, unless otherwise consented to in writing by the Required Revolving Lenders (including with respect to customary evergreen provisions).

 

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(ii) If the Borrower so requests in any applicable Letter of Credit Application, the relevant L/C Issuer shall agree to issue a Letter of Credit that has automatic renewal provisions (each, an “ Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit ”); provided that any such Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit must permit the relevant L/C Issuer to prevent any such renewal at least once in each twelve-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof not later than a day in each such twelve-month period to be agreed upon at the time such Letter of Credit is issued. Unless otherwise directed by the relevant L/C Issuer, the Borrower shall not be required to make a specific request to the relevant L/C Issuer for any such renewal. Once an Auto-Renewal Letter of Credit has been issued, the applicable Lenders shall be deemed to have authorized (but may not require) the relevant L/C Issuer to permit the renewal of such Letter of Credit at any time to an expiry date not later than the Maturity Date; provided that the relevant L/C Issuer shall not permit any such renewal if the relevant L/C Issuer has determined that it would have no obligation at such time to issue such Letter of Credit in its renewed form under the terms hereof.

(b) Advances Automatic; Participations . (i) In the event that any Revolving Lender shall make any payment on or pursuant to any Letter of Credit Obligation, such payment shall be deemed automatically to constitute a Revolving Loan to the Borrower (not taking into account the limitation on the maximum amount of cash borrowings set forth in Section 1.01(a) ) under this Agreement regardless of whether a Default or Event of Default has occurred or is continuing and notwithstanding the Borrower’s failure to satisfy the conditions precedent set forth in Article IV . Each Revolving Lender shall be obligated to pay its Pro Rata Share of each Letter of Credit Obligation in accordance with this Agreement. The failure of any Revolving Lender to make available its Pro Rata Share of any such Revolving Loan under or in respect of a Letter of Credit shall not relieve any other Revolving Lender of its obligation hereunder to make available its Pro Rata Share thereof, but no Revolving Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Revolving Lender to make available such other Revolving Lender’s Pro Rata Share of any such payment.

(ii) If it shall be illegal or unlawful for the Borrower to incur a Revolving Loan as contemplated above or if it shall be illegal or unlawful for any Revolving Lender to be deemed to have assumed a ratable share of the reimbursement obligations owed to an L/C Issuer, then (A) immediately and without further action whatsoever, each Revolving Lender shall be deemed to have irrevocably and unconditionally purchased from such L/C Issuer an undivided interest and participation equal to such Revolving Lender’s Pro Rata Share (based on the Revolving Commitments) of the Letter of Credit Obligations in respect of all Letters of Credit then outstanding and (B) thereafter, immediately upon issuance of any Letter of Credit, each Revolving Lender shall be deemed to have irrevocably and unconditionally purchased from such L/C Issuer an undivided interest and participation in such Revolving Lender’s Pro Rata Share (based on the Revolving Commitments) of the Letter of Credit Obligations with respect to such Letter of Credit on the date of such issuance. Each Revolving Lender shall fund its participation in all payments or disbursements made under the Letters of Credit in the same manner as provided in Section 1.01 with respect to Revolving Loans.

 

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(c) Letter of Credit Fees and Expenses . The Borrower agrees to pay to the Revolving Agent for the benefit of the Revolving Lenders, the fees set forth in Section 3.06(c) in connection with Letter of Credit Obligations. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Revolving Agent for the benefit of the L/C Issuer, (i) the fees set forth in Section 3.06(d) in connection with the issuance of Letters of Credit and, (ii) on demand, such reasonable fees (including all per annum fees), charges and expenses of the L/C Issuer customarily charged by the L/C Issuer in respect of the issuance, negotiation, acceptance, amendment, transfer and payment of Letters of Credit or otherwise payable pursuant to the application and related documentation under which any Letter of Credit is issued.

(d) Request for Incurrence of Letter of Credit Obligations . The Borrower shall give the Revolving Agent by 11:00 a.m., New York City time, at least two (2) Business Days’ prior written notice requesting the incurrence of any Letter of Credit Obligation. The notice shall be accompanied by the form of the Letter of Credit (which shall be acceptable to the L/C Issuer) and a completed application in the form set forth in Exhibit D (each a “Letter of Credit Application”). Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, Letter of Credit Applications by the Borrower, and approvals by the Revolving Agent and the L/C Issuer may be made and transmitted pursuant to electronic codes and security measures mutually agreed upon and established by and among the Borrower, the Revolving Agent and the L/C Issuer. In the case of any conflict between any Letter of Credit or application therefor, and this Agreement, this Agreement shall prevail.

(e) Obligation Absolute . The obligation of the Borrower to reimburse the Revolving Lenders and the L/C Issuers for payments made with respect to any Letter of Credit Obligation shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, without necessity of presentment, demand, protest or other formalities. The L/C Issuer shall promptly notify the Borrower of any claims or draws under any Letter of Credit. The Borrower shall reimburse the L/C Issuer for any claims or draws on any Letter of Credit by no later than 3:00 p.m. New York City time on the date such draw is made. The obligations of each Revolving Lender to make payments to the Revolving Agent and the L/C Issuer with respect to Letters of Credit shall be unconditional and irrevocable. All obligations of the Borrower and the Revolving Lenders shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms hereof irrespective of any fact or circumstance whatsoever, including the following:

(i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or any other agreement;

(ii) the existence of any claim, setoff, defense or other right that the Borrower or any of its respective Affiliates or any Lender may at any time have against a beneficiary or any transferee of any Letter of Credit (or any Persons or entities for whom any such transferee may be acting), Revolving Agent, any Lender, any L/C Issuer, or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the Letter of Credit, the transactions contemplated herein or therein or any unrelated transaction (including any underlying transaction between the Borrower or any of its respective Affiliates and the beneficiary for which the Letter of Credit was procured);

(iii) any draft, demand, certificate or any other document presented under any Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect;

 

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(iv) payment by any L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit or guaranty thereof against presentation of a demand, draft or certificate or other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit or such guaranty;

(v) any other circumstance or event whatsoever, that is similar to any of the foregoing; or

(vi) the fact that a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

(f) Indemnification; Nature of Lenders’ Duties . (i) In addition to amounts payable as elsewhere provided in the Agreement, the Borrower hereby agrees to pay and to protect, indemnify, and save harmless the Revolving Agent and each Revolving Lender and L/C Issuer from and against any and all claims, demands, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, charges and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and allocated costs of internal counsel) that the Revolving Agent or any Revolving Lender or any L/C Issuer may incur or be subject to as a consequence, direct or indirect, of (A) the issuance of any Letter of Credit or guaranty thereof, or (B) the failure of the Revolving Agent or any Revolving Lender seeking indemnification or of any L/C Issuer to honor a demand for payment under any Letter of Credit or guaranty thereof as a result of any act or omission, whether rightful or wrongful, of any present or future de jure or de facto government or Governmental Authority, in each case other than to the extent solely as a result of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Revolving Agent or such Revolving Lender (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction).

(ii) As between the Revolving Agent and any Revolving Lender and any L/C Issuer and the Borrower, the Borrower assumes all risks of the acts and omissions of, or misuse of any Letter of Credit by beneficiaries of any Letter of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, to the fullest extent permitted by law, neither the Revolving Agent nor any Revolving Lender nor any L/C Issuer shall be responsible for: (A) the form, validity, sufficiency, accuracy, genuineness or legal effect of any document issued by any party in connection with the application for and issuance of any Letter of Credit, even if it should in fact prove to be in any or all respects invalid, insufficient, inaccurate, fraudulent or forged; (B) the validity or sufficiency of any instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or assign any Letter of Credit or the rights or benefits thereunder or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, that may prove to be invalid or ineffective for any reason; (C) failure of the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit to comply fully with conditions required in order to demand payment under such Letter of Credit; provided that in the case of any payment by a Revolving Lender or L/C Issuer under any Letter of Credit, such Revolving Lender or L/C Issuer shall be liable to the extent such payment was made solely as a result of its gross negligence or willful misconduct (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction) in determining that the demand for payment under such Letter of Credit thereof substantially complies on its face with any applicable requirements for a demand for payment under such Letter of Credit; (D) errors, omissions, interruptions or delays in transmission or delivery of any messages, by mail, cable, telegraph, telex or otherwise, whether or not they may be in cipher; (E) errors in interpretation of technical terms; (F) any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any document required in order to make a payment under any Letter of Credit or of the proceeds thereof; (G) the credit of the proceeds of any drawing under any Letter of Credit; and (H) any consequences arising from causes beyond the control of the Revolving Agent or any Revolving Lender or L/C Issuer. None of the above shall affect, impair, or prevent the vesting of any of the Agents’ or any Lender’s or L/C Issuer’s rights or powers hereunder or under this Agreement.

 

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(g) Cash Collateral . In the event that any Letter of Credit Obligations, whether or not then due or payable, shall for any reason be outstanding on the Maturity Date, the Borrower will either (i) cause the underlying Letter of Credit to be returned and canceled and each corresponding Letter of Credit Obligation to be terminated, or (ii) pay to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, in immediately available funds, an amount equal to 105% of the maximum amount then available to be drawn under all Letters of Credit not so returned and canceled to be held by the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, as cash collateral in an account of the Collateral Agent (the “ Cash Collateral Account ”).

Section 1.07. Intentionally Omitted .

Section 1.08. Intentionally Omitted .

Section 1.09. Allocation of Proceeds of Collateral and Payments .

(a) At any time after an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and after the Commitments have terminated, whether at their stated maturity, by acceleration, automatically or otherwise in accordance with the terms hereof, the proceeds of the Collateral that are received by any Agent shall be paid over or delivered to the Collateral Agent for distribution as follows:

FIRST, on a pro rata basis, to the payment of all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) of the Agents constituting Participating Lender Expenses, and to the payment of any fees then due to any Agent;

SECOND, on a pro rata basis, to the payment of all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) of the Lenders constituting Participating Lender Expenses, and to the payment of any fees then due to any Lender;

THIRD, on a pro rata basis, to the payment of the Borrower’s Obligations to the Revolving Lenders and the L/C Issuer consisting of accrued fees and interest (other than Default Interest) then due with respect to Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit (including interest (other than Default Interest) that, but for the filing of a petition in bankruptcy with respect to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, would have accrued on the Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit (including any refinancing of such Obligations), whether or not a claim is allowed against such Person for such interest in the related bankruptcy proceeding);

FOURTH, on a pro rata basis, to the payment of interest (other than Default Interest) and accrued fees and all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) of each Hedging Agreement Provider then due in connection with obligations of the Credit Parties under Hedging Agreements not to exceed the Hedging Priority Amount;

 

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FIFTH, on a pro rata basis, (i) to the payment of the outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Loans then due to the Revolving Lenders and the principal amount of any unreimbursed drawings under Letters of Credit then due to the Revolving Lenders and (ii) to fund the Cash Collateral Account of all outstanding Letters of Credit then due in an amount equal to 105% of the face amount;

SIXTH, on a pro rata basis, to the payment of the Hedging Obligations up to the Hedging Priority Amount, less amounts paid in the Fourth priority of this Section 1.09(a) ;

SEVENTH, on a pro rata basis, to the payment of all of the Borrower’s Obligations to the Term Lenders with respect to the Term Loans, including the outstanding principal amount, accrued fees and interest (other than Default Interest) then due of the Term Loans;

EIGHTH, on a pro rata basis, to the payment of all of the Borrower’s Obligations to the Lenders consisting of Default Interest then due, first, with respect to the Revolving Loans, second, with respect to the Hedging Agreements (to the extent accrued on the portion of the Hedging Agreements constituting the Hedging Priority Amounts), and third, with respect to the Term Loan;

NINTH, to all other Obligations, if any, which shall have become due and payable under the Loan Documents or otherwise and not otherwise repaid;

TENTH, to the payment of Hedging Obligations, if any, that comprise the Excess Hedging Amount; and

ELEVENTH, to the payment of the surplus, if any, to the Borrower or whomever may be lawfully entitled to receive such surplus.

(b) All payments and proceeds in respect of the Obligations, other than those specified in Section 1.09(a) above, shall be applied, as specified by the Borrower or, at any other time or if not so specified, shall be paid over or delivered to the Administrative Agent for distribution as follows:

FIRST, on a pro rata basis, to the payment of all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) of the Agents constituting Participating Lender Expenses, and to the payment of any fees then due to any Agent;

SECOND, on a pro rata basis, to the payment of all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) of the Lenders constituting Participating Lender Expenses, and to the payment of any fees then due to any Lender;

THIRD, on a pro rata basis, to the payment of all of the Borrower’s Obligations to the Lenders and the L/C Issuer consisting of accrued fees and interest (other than Default Interest) then due with respect to the Loans (including interest (other than Default Interest) that, but for the filing of a petition in bankruptcy with respect to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, would have accrued on the Loans (including any refinancing of such Obligations), whether or not a claim is allowed against such Person for such interest in the related bankruptcy proceeding);

 

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FOURTH, on a pro rata basis, to the payment of interest (other than Default Interest) and accrued fees and all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) of each Hedging Agreement Provider then due in connection with obligations of the Credit Parties under Hedging Agreements not to exceed the Hedging Priority Amount;

FIFTH, on a pro rata basis, (i) to the payment of the outstanding principal amount of the Loans then due to the Lenders and the principal amount of any unreimbursed drawings under Letters of Credit then due to the Revolving Lenders and (ii) to fund the Cash Collateral Account of all outstanding Letters of Credit then due in an amount equal to 105% of the face amount;

SIXTH, on a pro rata basis, to the payment of (i) all of the Borrower’s Obligations to the Lenders consisting of Default Interest then due with respect to the Loans, and (ii) Hedging Obligations up to the Hedging Priority Amount, less amounts paid in the Fourth priority of this Section 1.09(b) ;

SEVENTH, to all other Obligations, if any, which shall have become due and payable under the Loan Documents or otherwise and not otherwise repaid;

EIGHTH, to the payment of Hedging Obligations, if any, that comprise the Excess Hedging Amount; and

NINTH, to the payment of the surplus, if any, to the Borrower or whoever may be lawfully entitled to receive such surplus.

(c) In carrying out the provisions of Sections 1.09(a) and (b) , (i) amounts received shall be applied equally and ratably in the numerical order provided until exhausted prior to the application to the next succeeding category; (ii)   amounts payable to the Lenders shall be applied to each Lender in accordance with its Pro Rata Share; (iii)   amounts payable to each of the Hedging Agreement Providers shall be applied on a pro rata basis; and (iv) to the extent that any amounts pursuant to clause FIFTH of Section 1.09(a) or clause FIFTH of Section 1.09(b) above are attributable to the cash collateralization of issued but undrawn amount of outstanding Letters of Credit, such amounts shall be paid to the Revolving Agent and applied (1) first, to all ongoing fees and expenses of the L/C Issuer and the Revolving Agent in connection with the outstanding Letters of Credit, (2) second, to reimburse the L/C Issuer from time to time for any drawings under such Letters of Credit, and (3) third, following the expiration of all Letters of Credit, to the Collateral Agent for all other obligations of the types described above in the manner provided in this Section 1.09 or otherwise reimbursed to the Borrower.

(d) No Defaulting Lender shall be entitled to any payments under this Section 1.09 during the time that the default of such Defaulting Lender is continuing.

 

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Section 1.10. Limitations on LIBOR Loans . No more than twelve (12) LIBOR Rate Loans may be in effect at any time. For purposes hereof, LIBOR Rate Loans with different LIBOR Periods shall be considered as separate LIBOR Rate Loans, even if they shall begin on the same date or have the same duration, although borrowings, extensions and conversions may, in accordance with the provisions hereof, be combined at the end of existing LIBOR Periods to constitute a new LIBOR Rate Loan with a single LIBOR Period. The Borrower may only exercise the LIBOR option for LIBOR Rate Loans of at least one million Dollars ($1,000,000) and integral multiples of one million Dollars ($1,000,000) in excess thereof.

ARTICLE II

PAYMENTS AND OTHER COMPENSATION

Section 2.01. Voluntary Prepayments/Reductions of Commitments .

(a) Optional Prepayment of Term Loans . Subject to Section 1. 09, the Borrower shall have the right, upon at least three (3) Business Days’ prior written notice by the Borrower to each of the Administrative Agent and the Revolving Agent, to voluntarily prepay all or any portion (in a minimum amount of $5,000,000 or such lesser amount as may then remain outstanding or integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof) of the Term Loans on any Business Day upon payment of the applicable Prepayment Fee pursuant to Section 2.03 . Any voluntary prepayment of any Term Loan shall be accompanied by the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest with respect to the principal being prepaid through the date of prepayment and any applicable Prepayment Fee pursuant to Section 2.03 . Any voluntary partial prepayment of any Term Loans shall be applied to the scheduled repayment of Term Loans in the inverse order of maturity thereof until all Term Loans are repaid in full.

(b) Optional Prepayment of Revolving Loans . As set forth in Section 1.01(a) , at any time after the Closing Date, the Borrower may prepay, and thereafter reborrow, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein (including Section 3.03 ), all or any portion of the Revolving Loans then outstanding.

(c) Optional Reduction of Revolving Commitments . The Borrower shall have the right, upon at least five (5) Business Days’ prior written notice by the Borrower to each of the Administrative Agent and the Revolving Agent to cancel the Total Revolving Commitment in full or to reduce the amount thereof; provided that the amount of the Total Revolving Commitment shall at no time be less than the sum of (i) the outstanding principal amount of all Revolving Loans plus (ii) the Letter of Credit Exposure. Partial reductions of the Total Revolving Commitment shall be in a minimum amount of $5,000,000 or such lesser amount as may then remain outstanding or integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and shall reduce each Revolving Lender’s Revolving Commitment on a pro rata basis based upon such Revolving Lender’s Pro Rata Share. All cancellations or reductions shall be permanent. Any such notice of reduction shall be accompanied by the payment of the Unused Commitment Fee accrued through the date of such cancellation or reduction.

(d) Reduction of Term Loan Commitments . The Term Loan Commitments shall be automatically and permanently reduced to $0 on the Closing Date after giving effect to the incurrence of Term Loans on such date.

 

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Section 2.02. Mandatory Prepayments .

(a) Prepayments from Asset Dispositions . Within five (5) Business Days after the receipt by a Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party of any Net Cash Proceeds from an Asset Sale or Net Casualty/Condemnation Proceeds, the Borrower shall cause 100% of such Net Cash Proceeds or Net Casualty/Condemnation Proceeds to be applied to prepay the Loans; provided however that if the Borrower notifies each of the Administrative Agent and the Revolving Agent in writing within such five (5) Business Day period that the applicable Credit Party or Subsidiary has applied or intends to apply such Net Cash Proceeds to acquire, maintain, develop, construct, improve, upgrade, replace, repair or invest in long term assets used or useful in the business of such Credit Party or such applicable Subsidiary or any other Credit Party, then the applicable Credit Party or Subsidiary, shall, so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, be permitted to use such proceeds as notified to the Administrative Agent and the Revolving Agent within two hundred seventy (270) days of the receipt thereof; provided further , that to the extent such proceeds have not been used or irrevocably committed to be used for such a purpose within two hundred seventy (270) days of the receipt thereof, such Net Cash Proceeds or Net Casualty/Condemnation Proceeds shall be applied to prepay the Loans in accordance with Section 1.09 . All prepayments under this Section 2.02(a) shall be accompanied by all accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans being prepaid and, in the case of any prepayment under this Section 2.02(a) resulting from the receipt of Net Cash Proceeds, the applicable Prepayment Fee (which, subject to Section 1.09 , shall be deducted from such Net Cash Proceeds prior to the application of such Net Cash Proceeds in prepayment of the Loans in accordance with the terms of the preceding sentence).

(b) Prepayments from Incurrence of Indebtedness . Immediately upon the receipt by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party of cash proceeds from the issuance or incurrence of any Indebtedness (other than Permitted Indebtedness), the Borrower shall prepay the Loans in an amount equal to 100% of the proceeds from such issuance or incurrence, net of taxes, underwriting discounts and commissions and other reasonable, out-of-pocket costs and expenses associated therewith. All such prepayments shall be accompanied by all accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans being prepaid and the applicable Prepayment Fee (which, subject to Section 1.09 , shall be deducted from the cash proceeds prior to the application of such cash proceeds in prepayment of the Loans in accordance with the terms of the preceding sentence).

(c) Prepayments from Equity Issuances . Immediately upon the receipt by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party of any Net Cash Proceeds from any Equity Issuance (other than Net Cash Proceeds from any Equity Issuance described in Section 4.01(t) ), the Borrower shall prepay the Loans in an amount equal to 50% of such Net Cash Proceeds. All such prepayments shall be accompanied by all accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans being prepaid and the applicable Prepayment Fee (which, subject to Section 1.09 , shall be deducted from such Net Cash Proceeds prior to the application of such Net Cash Proceeds in prepayment of the Loans in accordance with the terms of the preceding sentence).

 

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(d) Mandatory Repayments from Excess Cash Flow . In addition to any other mandatory repayments pursuant to this Section 2.02 , no later than the Sweep Date for each Fiscal Year, the Borrower shall make an offer to prepay (an “ Offer to Prepay ”) or, if a Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower shall prepay, the Term Loans in an amount equal to the Applicable Cash Flow Percentage of Excess Cash Flow for such Fiscal Year. Each Offer to Prepay shall be in writing and shall be delivered to the Administrative Agent and each of the Term Lenders and shall include or state the following terms of the Offer to Prepay: (A) a reference that the Offer to Prepay is made pursuant to this Section 2.02(d) , (B) a calculation of the Excess Cash Flow for such year and the amount of such offer, and (C) that each Term Lender that desires to accept such offer must notify the Administrative Agent (with a copy to the Borrower) in writing by executing an acceptance set forth in such Offer to Prepay within thirty (30) days of the date of such Offer to Prepay. An Offer to Prepay shall be deemed accepted by each accepting Term Lender unless such Term Lender provides written notice to the Administrative Agent of its rejection of the Offer to Prepay within the time period set forth in clause (C) above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrative Agent may accept Offers to Prepay on behalf of any or all Term Lenders only upon receipt from such Term Lender of its acceptance of such Offer to Prepay. Upon acceptance of an Offer to Prepay by a Term Lender or by the Administrative Agent on behalf of any or all Term Lenders (and in any event within three (3) days thereof) the Borrower shall prepay the Term Loans due to such Term Lender in the amount equal to such Term Lender’s Pro Rata Share of the amount set forth in the first sentence of this Section 2.02(d) .

(e) Application of Mandatory Prepayments . Subject to Section 1.09 , each mandatory prepayment made pursuant to this Agreement shall be applied first, to permanently reduce the Term Loans; second, to the Revolving Loans (other than Revolving Loans incurred pursuant to Section 1.06(b) as a result of payments under Letters of Credit), third to the Revolving Loans incurred pursuant to Section 1.06(b) as a result of payments under Letters of Credit; and fourth, to Letter of Credit Obligations. Any mandatory prepayment applied to Letter of Credit Obligations in respect of outstanding Letters of Credit that have not been drawn upon shall be effected by the reduction of the Available Commitments by the amount prepaid and, to the extent that after giving effect to such reductions, the Aggregate Revolving Exposure would exceed the Available Commitments, 105% of such excess amount shall be funded to the Cash Collateral Account by the Borrower.

Section 2.03. Prepayment Fees .

In connection with (a) any repayments of Term Loans made pursuant to Section 1.09 , (b) any prepayments of Term Loans made pursuant to Section 2.01(a) , 2.02(a) (other than prepayments in respect of Net Casualty/Condemnation Proceeds), 2.02(b) or 2.02(c) , the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent a prepayment fee (the “ Prepayment Fee ”) for the benefit of the Term Lenders in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount to be repaid multiplied by the percentage set forth below:

 

Prepayment Date

   Percentage  

On or prior to January 22, 2009

   3.0

After January 22, 2009 and on or prior to January 22, 2010

   2.0

After January 22, 2010 and on or prior to January 22, 2011

   1.0

After January 22, 2011

   0

 

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Section 2.04. Payments .

(a) General Provisions . All payments to be made by any Credit Party shall be made without set-off, counterclaim or other defense. All payments by any Credit Party on account of Revolving Loans shall be made to the Revolving Agent at the payment office identified by the Revolving Agent. All other payments by any Credit Party shall be made to the Administrative Agent at the payment office identified by the Administrative Agent. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, each payment shall be made in immediately available funds, no later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date specified herein for the payment to be made. The Revolving Agent or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, will promptly distribute to the relevant Participating Lender or Agent its Pro Rata Share or other applicable share as expressly provided herein, of each such payment in like funds as received. Any payment received by the Revolving Agent or the Administrative Agent later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on any Business Day shall be deemed to have been received on the following Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue until such following Business Day.

(b) Sharing of Payments . Except as otherwise provided herein, if any Lender shall obtain any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of set-off, or otherwise) on account of any Obligation in excess of its ratable share of payments on account of similar obligations obtained by all the Lenders, such Lender shall (i) notify the Administrative Agent or the Revolving Agent of such fact and (ii) forthwith purchase from the other Lenders such participations in such similar obligations held by them as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment ratably with each of them; provided , however , that if all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from such purchasing Lender, such purchase from each other Lender shall be rescinded and such other Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the purchase price to the extent of such recovery together with an amount equal to such other Lender’s ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such Lender’s required repayment to (ii) the total amount so recovered from the purchasing Lender of any interest or other amount paid by the purchasing Lender in respect of the total amount so recovered). Each Credit Party jointly and severally agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender pursuant to this Section 2.04(b) may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all of its rights (including the Lender’s right of set-off) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of such Credit Party in the amount of such participation.

 

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(c) Payments on Non-Business Days . Whenever any payment to be made by the Borrower hereunder or under the Notes is stated to be due on a day which is not a Business Day, the payment shall instead be due on the next succeeding Business Day.

Section 2.05. Taxes .

(a) Payment of Taxes . Except as set forth below, any and all payments by a Credit Party hereunder, under the Notes or under any other Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any and all Indemnified Taxes. If a Credit Party shall be required by law to withhold or deduct any Indemnified Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder, under the Notes or under any other Loan Document to any Lender or Agent, (i) such sum payable shall be increased by an additional amount so that after making all such required withholdings or deductions (including such withholdings or deductions applicable to additional amounts payable under this Section 2.05(a)) , such Lender or Agent receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such withholdings or deductions been made, (ii) such Credit Party shall make such withholdings or deductions, and (iii) such Credit Party shall pay the full amount withheld or deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with Applicable Law.

(b) Other Taxes . In addition, the Credit Parties jointly and severally agree to pay any present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or under any other Loan Document or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document (hereinafter referred to as “ Other Taxes ”).

(c) Indemnification . The Credit Parties will indemnify each Participating Lender and each Agent against, and reimburse each, within twenty (20) days of a receipt of written demand therefor, for the full amount of all Indemnified Taxes and Other Taxes (including any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed by any Governmental Authority on amounts payable to such Agent or Lender under this Section 2.05(c) ) incurred or paid by such Participating Lender or such Agent (as the case may be), or any Affiliate of such Participating Lender or Agent on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of the Credit Parties hereunder, and any penalties, interest, and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses paid to third parties arising therefrom or with respect thereto.

(d) Receipts . Within thirty (30) days after a request from the Administrative Agent or the Revolving Agent, each Credit Party will furnish to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt, if available, or other reasonably available documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent evidencing payment of such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes (including in respect of payments of additional amounts) required to be paid by such Credit Party pursuant to this Section 2.05 . The Borrower will furnish to the Administrative Agent and the Revolving Agent upon the Administrative Agent’s or the Revolving Agent’s request, a certificate executed by an Authorized Officer stating that all Indemnified Taxes and Other Taxes have been paid when due.

 

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(e) Nonresident Certifications .

(i) Each Participating Lender that is not a United States Person (as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) (a “ Non-U.S. Lender ”) shall deliver to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the Closing Date, or, in the case of a Non-U.S. Lender that becomes a Participating Lender pursuant to Section 3.05 hereof, on or prior to the date on which such Participating Lender becomes a Participating Lender pursuant to Section 3.05 , a true and accurate IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8IMY (with the necessary attachments), W-8EXP or W-8ECI, as appropriate to the Participating Lender’s circumstances, or any subsequent version thereof or successors thereto and such other documentation prescribed by Applicable Law executed in duplicate by a duly authorized officer of such Participating Lender along with a certificate executed by a duly authorized officer of such Participating Lender to the effect that such Participating Lender is eligible as of such date to receive payments hereunder and under any Notes free and clear or at a reduced rate of United States federal withholding tax.

(ii) Each Non-U.S. Lender further agrees to deliver to the Administrative Agent from time to time a true and accurate certificate executed in duplicate by a duly authorized officer of such Lender before or promptly upon the occurrence of any event requiring a change in the most recent certificate or IRS form previously delivered by it to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Section 2.05(e) (including upon the expiration, obsolescence or invalidity of such certificate or form, upon the designation of a new lending office and at such other times as may be necessary in the determination of the Administrative Agent or a Credit Party (in the reasonable exercise of its discretion)). Each certificate required to be delivered pursuant to this Section 2.05(e)(ii) shall certify as to one of the following:

(A) that such Participating Lender can receive payments hereunder and under any Notes free and clear or at a reduced rate of United States federal withholding tax (in which case the certificate shall be accompanied by two true and accurate originals of IRS Form W-8BEN, W-8IMY (with the necessary attachments), W-8EXP or W-8ECI, as applicable (or any successor form));

(B) that such Participating Lender is no longer capable of receiving payments hereunder or under the Notes free and clear or at a reduced rate of United States federal withholding tax by reason of a Change in Law (including the Code or any applicable tax treaty) after the later of the Closing Date, or in the case of a Participating Lender that becomes a Participating Lender pursuant to Section 3.05 , after the date on which the Participating Lender became a Participating Lender pursuant to Section 3.05 ; or

(C) that such Participating Lender is not capable of receiving payments hereunder free and clear or at a reduced rate of United States federal withholding tax other than by reason of a Change in Law (including the Code or applicable tax treaty) after the later of the Closing Date, or in the case of a Lender that becomes a Participating Lender pursuant to Section 3.05 , after the date on which the Participating Lender became a Participating Lender pursuant to Section 3.05 .

 

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(f) Resident Certifications . Each Participating Lender that is a United States Person (as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) and is not an “exempt recipient” (as such term is defined in Section 1.6049-4(c)(1)(ii) of the United States Treasury Regulations) shall deliver to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the Closing Date, or, in the case of a Participating Lender that becomes a Participating Lender pursuant to Section 3.05 hereof, on or prior to the date on which such Participating Lender becomes a Participating Lender pursuant to Section 3.05 hereof, two original copies of IRS Form W-9 (or any successor forms), properly completed and duly executed by such Lender, and such other documentation reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent.

(g) Refunds . If a Lender or Agent becomes aware that it is entitled to claim a refund from a Governmental Authority in respect of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by a Credit Party or with respect to which a Credit Party has paid additional amounts pursuant to Section 2.05(a) , it shall make reasonable efforts to timely file a claim to such Governmental Authority for such refund at such Credit Party’s expense. If a Lender or Agent actually receives a payment of a refund (including pursuant to a claim for refund made pursuant to the preceding sentence) in respect of any Indemnified Tax or Other Tax as to which it has been indemnified by a Credit Party or with respect to which a Credit Party has paid additional amounts pursuant to Section 2.05(a) , it shall within sixty (60) days from the date of the receipt of such refund pay over the amount of such refund to the Credit Party, net of all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of such Lender or Agent and without interest; provided that the Credit Party, upon the request of such Lender or Agent, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Credit Party (plus penalties, interest or other reasonable charges paid by such Lender or Agent) to such Lender or Agent in the event such Lender or Agent is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority.

(h) If a Credit Party determines that a reasonable basis exists for contesting a Tax, the relevant Participating Lender or Agent shall make reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Credit Party in challenging such Tax at the Credit Party’s expenses and if requested by the Credit Party in writing; provided , however , that no Participating Lender or Agent shall be required to take any action hereunder which, in the reasonable discretion of such Participating Lender or Agent, would cause such Participating Lender or Agent or its applicable lending office to suffer a material economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage.

ARTICLE III

INTEREST

Section 3.01. Interest on the Loans and Other Obligations .

(a) Interest on Loans . The Borrower agrees to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Loan on each Interest Payment Date from the date of such Loan until such Loan is repaid in full at a rate equal to the Interest Rate for such Loan. The Borrower shall pay accrued interest on the Loans in cash on each Interest Payment Date. All computations of interest hereunder shall be made on the actual number of days elapsed over a year of, with respect to LIBOR Rate Loans, 360 days or, with respect to Alternate Base Rate Loans only, 365/366 days.

 

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(b) Default Interest . Upon the occurrence, and during the continuance, of an Event of Default, the Obligations then due and unpaid shall bear interest, payable on demand, at a per annum rate that is two (2) percentage points greater than the rate which would otherwise be applicable to such Obligations (or if no rate is applicable, whether in respect of interest, fees or other amounts, the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin for Term Loans plus two (2) percentage points) (any such interest referred to herein as “ Default Interest ”).

Section 3.02. Conversion or Continuation . Unless a Default or Event of Default is continuing and the Required Lenders have expressly required otherwise, the Borrower shall have the option (i) to convert all or any part of the outstanding LIBOR Rate Loans to Alternate Base Rate Loans, (ii) to convert Alternate Base Rate Loans to LIBOR Rate Loans or (iii) to change or continue the LIBOR Period applicable to all or a portion of the LIBOR Rate Loans; provided , however , that (A) except as provided in Section 3.04 , LIBOR Rate Loans may be converted into Alternate Base Rate Loans only on the last day of the LIBOR Period applicable thereto unless the Borrower agrees to pay all amounts due pursuant to Section 3.03 , (B) Loans extended as, or converted into, LIBOR Rate Loans shall be subject to the terms of the definition of “ LIBOR Period ” and (C) any request for extension or conversion of a LIBOR Rate Loan that shall fail to specify a LIBOR Period shall be deemed to be a request for a LIBOR Period of one month. Each such extension or conversion shall be effected by the Borrower, giving written notice (or telephone notice promptly confirmed in writing) (a “ Notice of Conversion/Continuation ”) to the Revolving Agent prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day prior to the date of the proposed extension or conversion, substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto, specifying (a) the date of the proposed extension or conversion, (b) the Loans to be so extended or converted, (c) the types of Loans into which such Loans are to be converted, and, if appropriate, (d) the applicable LIBOR Periods with respect thereto. In the event the Borrower does not request extension or conversion of any LIBOR Rate Loan in accordance with this Section 3.02 , then such LIBOR Rate Loan shall be continued as a LIBOR Rate Loan (with a LIBOR Period of one month) at the end of each LIBOR Period applicable thereto, until the Borrower selects an alternate LIBOR Period or converts such Loans to Alternate Base Rate Loans. In the event any LIBOR Rate Loans are not permitted to be converted into another LIBOR Rate Loan hereunder, such LIBOR Rate Loans shall automatically be converted to Alternate Base Rate Loans at the end of the applicable LIBOR Period with respect thereto. The Administrative Agent and/or the Revolving Agent shall give each Lender notice as promptly as practicable of any such proposed extension or conversion affecting any Loan. Promptly after receipt of a Notice of Conversion/Continuation under this Section 3.02 , the Administrative Agent and/or the Revolving Agent shall notify each Lender by telecopy, or other similar form of transmission, of the proposed conversion/continuation. Any Notice of Conversion/Continuation for conversion to, or continuation of, a Loan shall be irrevocable, and the Borrower shall be bound to convert or continue in accordance therewith.

 

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Section 3.03. Break Funding Payments . In the event of the payment of any principal of any LIBOR Rate Loan other than on the last day of the LIBOR Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default), or the failure to borrow or prepay any Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto, then, in any such event, the Borrower shall compensate each applicable Lender for the loss, cost and expense (excluding in any event any Applicable Margin or other lost profit) attributable to such event, calculated by such Lender in accordance with its customary procedures. A certificate of any Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 3.03 shall be delivered to the Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate upon receipt thereof.

Section 3.04. Increased Costs; Illegality .

(a) Increased Costs Generally . If any Change in Law shall:

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

(ii) subject any Participating Lender to any tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, any participation in a Letter of Credit or any LIBOR Rate Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of payments to such Participating Lender in respect thereof (except for Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes covered by Section 2.05 and the imposition of, or any change in the rate of, any Excluded Tax payable by such Participating Lender); or

(iii) impose on any Participating Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense affecting this Agreement or LIBOR Rate Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;

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

(b) Capital Requirements . If any Participating Lender determines that any Change in Law affecting such Participating Lender or any lending office of such Participating Lender or such Participating Lender’s holding company, if any, regarding capital requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Participating Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Participating Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Commitments of such Participating Lender or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit held by, such Participating Lender, to a level below that which such Participating Lender or such Participating Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Participating Lender’s policies and the policies of such Participating Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Participating Lender, as the case may be, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Participating Lender or such Participating Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

 

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(c) Certificates for Reimbursement . A certificate of a Participating Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Participating Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in paragraph (a) or  (b)  of this Section 3.04 and delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay such Participating Lender, as the case may be, the amount shown as due on any such certificate upon receipt thereof.

(d) Delay in Requests . Failure or delay on the part of any Participating Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section 3.04 shall not constitute a waiver of such Participating Lender’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Participating Lender pursuant to this Section 3.04 for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than nine (9) months prior to the date that such Participating Lender notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Participating Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the nine-month period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

(e) Illegality . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if any Change in Law shall make it unlawful, or any central bank or other Governmental Authority shall assert that it is unlawful, for any Lender to agree to make or to continue to fund or maintain any LIBOR Rate Loan, then, unless that Lender is able to make or to continue to fund or to maintain such LIBOR Rate Loan at another branch or office of that Lender without, in that Lender’s opinion, adversely affecting it or its LIBOR Rate Loans or the income obtained therefrom, on notice thereof and demand therefor by such Lender to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent or the Revolving Agent, the obligation of such Lender to make, to continue to fund or maintain LIBOR Rate Loans shall terminate and the Borrower shall forthwith prepay in full, without any premium or penalty, all outstanding LIBOR Rate Loans owing by the Borrower to such Lender, together with interest accrued thereon and any amounts due pursuant to Section 3.03 . Each Agent and Participating Lender, with respect to such Agent or Participating Lender, if reasonably requested in writing by the Borrower and at Borrower’s sole expense, agrees to use reasonable efforts (subject to overall policy considerations of such Lender) to designate another lending office for this Agreement, with the object of avoiding the consequence of the event giving rise to the operation of this Section 3.04, provided that, such designation can be and is made on such terms that such Agent or Participating Lender and its lending offices suffer no economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage.

 

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Section 3.05. Replacement of Lenders . If any Participating Lender requests compensation under Section 3.04 , or if the Borrower is required to pay any additional amount to any Participating Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Participating Lender pursuant to Section 2.05 , then the Borrower, within thirty (30) days following such request and at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Participating Lender and the Administrative Agent and Revolving Agent, require such Participating Lender to assign and delegate (in accordance with the procedures of Section 13.09 ), without recourse, all of its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement and the related Loan Documents to an assignee that shall assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Participating Lender, if a Participating Lender accepts such assignment); provided that:

(a) such Participating Lender shall have received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and participations in drawings under any Letter of Credit, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder and under the other Loan Documents (including any amounts payable under any of Sections 2.05 , 3.03 or 3.04 through the effective date of such assignment but not including any Prepayment Fee) from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts);

(b) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 3.04 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.05 , such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter; and

(c) such assignment does not conflict with Applicable Law.

A Participating Lender shall not be required to make any such assignment or delegation if, prior thereto, as a result of a waiver by such Participating Lender or otherwise, the circumstances entitling the Borrower to require such assignment and delegation cease to apply.

Section 3.06. Fees . The Borrower agrees to pay to:

(a) the Administrative Agent such fees as are set forth in the Fee Letter in accordance with the terms thereof;

(b) the Revolving Agent for the account of the Revolving Lenders in accordance with their respective Pro Rata Shares, a fee (the “ Unused Commitment Fee ”) in an amount equal to 0.50% per annum times the average daily Available Commitments for the period for which such fee is payable. The Unused Commitment Fee shall be non-refundable and paid quarterly in arrears and on the date of the termination or expiration of the Revolving Commitments;

(c) the Revolving Agent, for the account of the Revolving Lenders, a Letter of Credit fee in an amount equal to the Applicable Margin for Revolving Loans that are LIBOR Rate Loans times the undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit, payable monthly in arrears and on the date of the termination or expiration of the Revolving Commitments; and

(d) to the Revolving Agent for the benefit of the L/C Issuer, upon the issuance, renewal, extension or continuation of each Letter of Credit by the L/C Issuer, an additional fee (the “ Letter of Credit Issuance Fee ”), plus applicable bank issuance charges, in an amount equal to 0.25% times the face amount of the Letter of Credit issued, renewed, extended or continued.

 

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ARTICLE IV

CONDITIONS TO LOANS

Section 4.01. Conditions Precedent to the Initial Loans . The obligation of each Lender to make the Loans requested, and the Obligation of the L/C Issuer to issue Letters of Credit to be issued by it on the Closing Date shall be subject to the satisfaction, or waiver by each of the Agents, of each of the following conditions precedent:

(a) Authority . Each of the Administrative Agent and the Revolving Agent shall have received certified copies of all resolutions, certificates or other documents evidencing other necessary corporate action and necessary approvals of any Governmental Authority, if any, with respect to the authorization for the execution, delivery and performance of each Loan Document by a Credit Party and for the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby. All certificates shall state that the resolutions or other information referred to in such certificates have not been amended, modified, revoked or rescinded as of the Closing Date.

(b) Loan Documents . Each of the Administrative Agent and the Revolving Agent shall have received, on the Closing Date, counterparts of each of the following documents duly executed and delivered by each party thereto, and in full force and effect and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lenders:

(i) this Agreement;

(ii) the Notes, if any;

(iii) the Security Documents;

(iv) such corporate resolutions, certificates and other documents as the Administrative Agent reasonably requests; and

(v) each other Loan Document to be delivered on the Closing Date, in each case duly executed and delivered by the parties thereto and dated no later than the Closing Date, except for those Loan Documents that are dated prior to the Closing Date and have been delivered prior to the Closing Date to the Agents by the Credit Parties.

(c) Capital Stock; Perfection of Liens . All of the Capital Stock of each of the Credit Party’s Subsidiaries shall be owned by such Credit Party or one or more of such Credit Party’s Subsidiaries as described on Schedule 5.01(f) , in each case free and clear of any Lien (other than Permitted Liens). The Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, shall have a perfected first priority Lien and security interest in the Collateral (other than Permitted Liens); all filings, recordations and searches necessary or desirable in connection with such Liens and security interests shall have been duly made or arranged for; and all filing and recording fees and Taxes shall have been duly paid.

(d) No Material Adverse Effect . There shall not have occurred any event, circumstance, change or condition since December 31, 2006, which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(e) Minimum Consolidated EBITDA . Consolidated EBITDA for the twelve-month period ended November 30, 2007 shall be at least $27,000,000.

(f) Litigation . There shall exist no action, suit, claim, investigation, arbitration, litigation or proceeding or any judgments, decrees, injunctions, rules or orders of any governmental or regulatory agency or authority pending or, to the knowledge of the Credit Parties, threatened against or affecting any Credit Party or its property or assets, except for any of the foregoing that (i) could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (ii) does not purport to adversely affect the legality, validity or enforceability of any Loan Document or the consummation of the Loans evidenced hereby and by the other Loan Documents.

(g) Consents, Etc. Each Credit Party shall have received all material consents and authorizations, if any, required pursuant to any Material Contract with any other Person and shall have obtained all material Permits of, or approvals from, and effected all notices to and filings with, any Governmental Authority as may be necessary to allow such Credit Party lawfully (i) to execute, deliver and perform, in all material respects, its respective obligations under the Loan Documents to which it is, or shall be, a party and each other agreement or instrument to be executed and delivered by it pursuant thereto or in connection therewith, (ii) consummate the transactions contemplated hereunder and under the other Loan Documents and (iii) create and perfect the Liens on the Collateral to the extent, in the manner and for the purpose contemplated by the Loan Documents. Each such consent, authorization, Permit, approval, notice or filing shall be in full force and effect and any condition to the continued effectiveness or validity of any such consent, authorization, Permit, approval, notice or filing shall have been satisfied or shall otherwise be acceptable to the Required Term Lenders. Each Credit Party shall have received all shareholder, Governmental Authority and material third-party consents, licenses and approvals necessary in connection with the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents, and any applicable waiting period shall have expired without any action being taken by any Governmental Authority that could restrain, prevent or impose any material adverse conditions on such Credit Party or such transactions or that could seek to restrain or threaten any of the foregoing, and no law or regulation shall be applicable which in the reasonable judgment of any Agent could have such effect.

(h) Margin Regulations . All Loans to be made by the Lenders to the Borrower shall be in full compliance with the provisions of Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States, as in effect from time to time.

(i) Insurance . Each of the Agents shall be satisfied with the amounts, types and terms and conditions of all insurance maintained by the Borrower. The Collateral Agent shall have received evidence that all insurance policies required to be maintained pursuant to Section 7.12 , including any insurance policies with respect to the properties of each Credit Party forming part of the Collateral, are in full force and effect, including endorsements in form and substance reasonably acceptable to each of the Agents naming the Collateral Agent as an additional insured and loss payee, as applicable.

 

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(j) Opinions of Borrower’s Counsel . The Lenders shall have received (i) the opinion of White & Case LLP, special counsel to the Credit Parties, in substantially the form of Exhibit F-1 and (ii) the opinion of Warren H. Johnson (Georgia), special counsel to certain of the Credit Parties in the form of Exhibit F-2 .

(k) Any fees and expenses required to be paid on or before the Closing Date and invoiced prior to the Closing Date shall have been paid, including those fees and expenses set forth in the Commitment Letter and Fee Letter.

(l) Collateral . (i) The Collateral Agent shall have received a letter duly executed by each Credit Party authorizing the Collateral Agent to file appropriate financing statements in such offices as may be necessary or, in the opinion of the Collateral Agent, desirable to perfect the security interests on the Collateral to be created by the Loan Documents;

(ii) The Collateral Agent shall have received, on or before the Closing Date, (A) all of the certificated Securities then owned by each of the Company and its Subsidiaries that are to be pledged pursuant to the Security Agreement, together with executed and undated transfer powers in the case of such certificated Securities and (B) all other items required to be delivered pursuant to the Security Documents; and

(iii) The Collateral Agent shall have received certified copies of Uniform Commercial Code Requests for Information or Copies (Form UCC-11) or similar search reports certified by a party acceptable to the Collateral Agent, dated a date reasonably near (but prior to) the Closing Date, listing all effective UCC financing statements, tax liens and judgment liens which name any Credit Party as the debtor, and which are filed in the jurisdictions in which the Credit Parties are organized, together with copies of such financing statements, none of which (other than financing statements filed pursuant to the terms hereof in favor of the Administrative Agent, if such Form UCC-11 or search report, as the case may be, is current enough to list such financing statements) shall cover any of the Collateral, other than Liens existing on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 8.01 ;

(iv) The Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, shall be satisfied that, upon the making of Loans hereunder, it shall have a perfected first priority Lien and security interest in the Collateral, subject only to Permitted Liens and there shall be no other Liens on or against the assets or properties of the Credit Parties or their Subsidiaries (other than Permitted Liens); all filings, recordations and searches necessary or desirable in connection with such liens and security interests (including UCC, tax lien and litigation searches) shall have been duly made or arranged for, and the results of which shall have been reasonably satisfactory to the Lenders; and all filing and recording fees and taxes shall have been duly paid.

(m) Good Standing Certificates . Each of the Administrative Agent and the Revolving Agent shall have received, on the Closing Date, governmental certificates, dated the most recent practicable date prior to the Closing Date, showing that each Credit Party is organized and in good standing in the jurisdiction of its organization, and is qualified as a foreign corporation and in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which it is qualified to transact business except where the failure to so qualify could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(n) Organizational Documents . Each of the Administrative Agent and the Revolving Agent shall have received on the Closing Date, a copy of the certificate of incorporation or certificate of formation, as applicable, and all amendments thereto of each Credit Party, certified as of a recent date by the appropriate government official of the jurisdiction of its organization, and copies of each Credit Party’s by-laws or limited liability company agreement, as applicable, certified by the Secretary, Assistant Secretary or managing member, as applicable, of such Credit Party as true and correct as of the Closing Date.

(o) Financial Statements . Each of the Administrative Agent and the Revolving Agent shall have received the 2007 Financial Statements, and all financial statements and projections described in Section 5.01(h) in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Revolving Agent.

(p) Certificates .

(i) Each of the Administrative Agent and the Revolving Agent shall have received, on the Closing Date, certificates of the Secretary, Assistant Secretary or managing member of each Credit Party, dated the Closing Date, as to the incumbency and signatures of its officers executing this Agreement and each other Loan Document to which such Credit Party is a party and any other certificate or other document to be delivered pursuant hereto or thereto, together with evidence of the incumbency of such Secretary, Assistant Secretary or managing member.

(ii) Each of the Administrative Agent and the Revolving Agent shall have received, on the Closing Date, the certificate of a Senior Officer of each Credit Party, dated the Closing Date, stating that all of the representations and warranties of such Credit Party contained herein or in any of the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date as if made on such date (except to the extent such representations and warranties specifically relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such earlier date), that no breach of any covenant contained in Article VII , Article VIII or Article IX has occurred or would result from the execution, delivery of and performance under this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereunder, and that all of the conditions set forth in this Section 4.01 have been satisfied on such date (or shall, to the extent permitted herein, be satisfied substantially simultaneously with the incurrence of Loans on the Closing Date).

(q) Representations and Warranties . Both before and after giving effect to the Loans to be made on the Closing Date, as the case may be, all of the representations and warranties of any Credit Party contained in Article V and in the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (except to the extent such representations and warranties specifically relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such earlier date).

 

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(r) No Defaults . No Event of Default or Default, and no default under any other Loan Document, shall have occurred and be continuing or would result from the execution and delivery of, or the performance under, the Loan Documents, or making the requested Loans or the application of the proceeds therefrom.

(s) Plan of Reorganization . The Plan of Reorganization shall have, or contemporaneous with the Closing Date and the effectiveness of this Agreement and the making of the initial Loans hereunder will, become effective, without waiver or modification of any condition to effectiveness that would individually or in the aggregate be adverse to the interests of the Lenders, except those reasonably consented to in writing by the Administrative Agent. The Confirmation Order shall not have been stayed, reversed, vacated or otherwise modified in any manner that is adverse to the interests of the Lenders.

(t) Closing Date Cash Proceeds . The Company shall have received net cash proceeds of at least $71,000,000 (seventy one million Dollars) from the rights offering, private placement and/or backstop purchase agreement as specified in the Plan of Reorganization and such proceeds shall be available and, together with the proceeds of the Loans and cash on hand, sufficient to effectuate payment of all obligations to be discharged under the Confirmation Order and Plan of Reorganization.

(u) Closing Date . The Closing Date shall occur by not later than January 31, 2008.

(v) Ratings . Initiation of the process of obtaining ratings of the Company and the Loans from Moody’s, it being understood that the issuance of any such rating and the rating itself are not conditions to the Closing Date.

(w) Background Checks . Each Agent shall have concluded background checks and other investigations it customarily employs to ensure compliance with the Patriot Act, Patriot Act-Related Requirements, anti-money laundering laws and other Applicable Laws and regulations with results satisfactory to each Agent.

(x) Cash Availability . On the Closing Date, Liquidity shall be equal to or greater than $27,000,000 (after giving effect to any Loans made and Letters of Credit issued on the Closing Date and to the payment of all amounts required to be paid under the Confirmation Order and Plan of Reorganization).

(y) Mortgaged Properties . The Administrative Agent shall have received:

(i) fully executed and notarized Mortgages, in proper form for recording in each applicable jurisdiction, encumbering each Mortgaged Property;

(ii) an opinion of counsel (which counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Agents) in each state in which a Mortgaged Property is located with respect to the enforceability of the Mortgage to be recorded in such state and such other matters as any Agent may reasonably request, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agents;

 

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(iii) binding and effective ALTA mortgagee title insurance policies or unconditional commitments therefor issued by one or more title companies reasonably satisfactory to the Agents (the “ Title Company ”) with respect to each Mortgaged Property (each, a “ Title Policy ”), with such reinsurance arrangements, if any, as are reasonably acceptable to the Agents, each in an amount equal to 125% of the fair market value of such Mortgaged Property, insuring the Collateral Agent, as agent for the Secured Parties, that the Credit Parties are vested with good and marketable fee simple title to such Mortgaged Property and that the Mortgage insured thereby creates a valid and enforceable first priority Lien on such Mortgaged Property in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties; and

(iv) such other information, documentation, and certifications as may be reasonably required by any Agent as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the conditions set forth in this Section 4.01(y) .

(z) Cash Management .

(i) The Credit Parties shall have established and maintained cash management services of a type and on terms satisfactory to the Collateral Agent at one or more of the banks set forth on Schedule 5.01(t) (each a “ Cash Management Bank ”), and shall have requested in writing and otherwise taken such reasonable steps to ensure that all of their domestic Account Debtors forward payment of the amounts owed by them directly to a Deposit Account subject to a Control Agreement (other than with respect to the Excluded Account) at a Cash Management Bank.

(ii) Each Cash Management Bank shall have established and maintained Control Agreements with the Collateral Agent covering the Deposit Accounts of each Credit Party (other than the Excluded Account) in form and substance reasonably acceptable to each of the Agents. Each such Control Agreement shall have provided, among other things, that (A) the Cash Management Bank will comply with any instructions originated by the Collateral Agent directing the disposition of the funds in such Deposit Account without further consent by any Credit Party, (B) the Cash Management Bank has no rights of setoff or recoupment or any other claim against the applicable Deposit Account, other than for payment of its service fees and other charges directly related to the administration of such Deposit Account and for returned checks or other items of payment, and (C) it will, following notice from the Collateral Agent, forward by daily sweep all amounts in the Deposit Accounts to the Collateral Agent’s account.

Section 4.02. Conditions Precedent to Revolving Loans and Issuances, Renewals or Extensions of Letters of Credit . The obligation of each Revolving Lender to make any Revolving Loan requested to be made by it on any Funding Date on or after the Closing Date and the obligation of the L/C Issuer to issue, renew or extend any Letter of Credit on any Business Day on or after the Closing Date are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of each of the following conditions precedent as of each such date and after giving effect to such transaction:

(a) Representations and Warranties . As of such date, both before and after giving effect to the Loans to be made on such date or the issuance, renewal, extension or continuation of any Letter of Credit on such date, as the case may be, all of the representations and warranties of any Credit Party contained in Article V and in the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (except to the extent such representations and warranties specifically relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such earlier date).

 

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(b) No Events of Default . As of such date, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom.

(c) No Change in Condition . There shall not have occurred any event or condition since December 31, 2006, which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(d) No Legal Impediment . No injunction, writ, restraining order, or other order of any nature (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) restricting or prohibiting, directly or indirectly, the extending or continuing of such credit shall have been issued and remain in force by any Governmental Authority against the Borrower, any Agent or any Participating Lender, and such extension or continuation of credit shall not violate any requirement of Applicable Law; provided , however , that each Agent and Participating Lender, with respect to such Agent or Participating Lender, if reasonably requested in writing by the Borrower and at Borrower’s sole expense, agrees to use reasonable efforts (subject to overall policy considerations of such Lender) to designate another lending office for this Agreement, with the object of avoiding the consequence of the event giving rise to the operation of Section 3.04, provided further that, such designation can be and is made on such terms that such Agent or Participating Lender and its lending offices suffer no economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage.

(e) No Overadvance . After giving effect to any Revolving Loan or the issuance of any Letter of Credit, the Aggregate Revolving Exposure of all Revolving Lenders shall not exceed the Total Revolving Commitments of all Revolving Lenders at such time.

Each request by the Borrower for a Loan, each submission by the Borrower of a Notice of Borrowing or a request for a Letter of Credit, and each acceptance by the Borrower of the proceeds of each Loan made hereunder shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower, as of the Funding Date in respect of such Loan, or as of the date on which any Letter of Credit is issued, renewed, extended or continued, as the case may be, that all conditions set forth in this Section 4.02 have been satisfied.

Section 4.03. Post Closing Conditions . The Credit Parties shall fulfill the obligations set forth on Schedule 4.03.

ARTICLE V

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

Section 5.01. Representations and Warranties . In order to induce the Agents and Participating Lenders to enter into this Agreement and to make the Loans or issue Letters of Credit, as the case may be, each Credit Party hereby represents and warrants as follows:

(a) Organization, Good Standing, Etc. Each Credit Party (i) is a corporation or limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (ii) has all requisite power and authority to conduct its business as now conducted and as presently contemplated, to make the borrowings hereunder (in the case of the Borrower), to execute and deliver each Loan Document to which it is a party, and to consummate the transactions contemplated thereby, and (iii) is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the character of the properties owned or leased by it or in which the transaction of its business makes such qualification necessary for its business as currently conducted save for those jurisdictions where failure to be so qualified does not or could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(b) Authorization, No Conflict, Etc. The execution, delivery and performance by each Credit Party of each Loan Document to which it is or will be a party and the transactions contemplated thereunder, (i) have been or, with respect to such Credit Parties formed or acquired hereafter, will be, duly authorized by all necessary corporate, limited liability company or partnership action, as applicable, (ii) do not and will not contravene its Governing Documents, (iii) do not and will not violate any Requirements of Law or any Material Contract of such Credit Party binding on or otherwise affecting it, any of its Subsidiaries or any of its properties or its Subsidiaries’ properties except where failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (iv) do not and will not result in or require the creation of any Lien (other than Permitted Liens or pursuant to any Loan Document) upon or with respect to any of its properties or its Subsidiaries’ properties.

(c) Governmental Approvals . No authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any Governmental Authority that has not been obtained is required in connection with the due execution, delivery and performance by each Credit Party of each Loan Document to which it is a party.

(d) Enforceability of Loan Documents . Each of the Loan Documents to which a Credit Party is a party has been duly executed and delivered by such Credit Party and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Credit Party, enforceable against such Credit Party in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws, or by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).

(e) Capitalization . On the Closing Date, (i) the authorized Capital Stock of each of the Credit Parties and each of their Subsidiaries, and the issued and outstanding Capital Stock of each of the Credit Parties and each of their Subsidiaries, are as set forth on Schedule 5.01(e) ; (ii) all of the issued and outstanding shares of Capital Stock of the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries have been validly issued and, to the extent applicable, are fully paid and nonassessable, and the holders thereof are not entitled to any preemptive, first refusal or other similar rights; (iii)  Schedule 5.01(e) sets forth each plan pursuant to which shares of the Capital Stock of each of the Credit Parties and each of their Subsidiaries are issuable as of such date, copies of which plans have been delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Revolving Agent under this Agreement, in the form and on the terms in effect on such date, and the number of shares of Capital Stock of the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries and each such subsidiary issuable under each such plan; (iv) except as set forth on Schedule 5.01(e) , there are no other plans or arrangements in existence relating to the issuance of shares of Capital Stock of any Subsidiary of any of the Credit Parties; and (v) except as set forth on Schedule 5.01(e) , there are no outstanding debt or equity securities of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and no outstanding obligations of any of the Credit Parties or any of its Subsidiaries convertible into or exchangeable for, or warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition from any of the Credit Parties or any of their Subsidiaries or other obligations of any of the Credit Parties or any of their Subsidiaries, to issue, directly or indirectly, any shares of Capital Stock of any such Person.

 

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(f) Subsidiaries . Schedule 5.01(f) is a complete and correct description of the name, jurisdiction of organization and ownership of the outstanding Capital Stock of each Subsidiary of the Credit Parties in existence on the Closing Date hereof. All of the issued and outstanding shares or units of Capital Stock of such Subsidiaries have been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and the holders thereof are not entitled to any preemptive, first refusal or other similar rights. Except as indicated on such Schedule 5.01(f) , all such Capital Stock is owned by one of the Credit Parties or one or more of their Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.01(f) , there are no subscriptions, options, warrants, or calls relating to any shares of any Credit Party’s Subsidiaries’ Capital Stock, including any right of conversion or exchange under any outstanding security or other instrument. No Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to repurchase or otherwise acquire or retire any shares of any Credit Party’s Subsidiaries’ Capital Stock or any security convertible into or exchangeable for any such Capital Stock.

(g) Litigation . As of the Closing Date, there is no pending, or to the knowledge of such Credit Party threatened, action, suit or proceeding affecting any Credit Party, its Subsidiaries or any of its respective properties or assets before any court or other Governmental Authority or any arbitrator that, individually or in the aggregate, (i) would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) purports to affect the legality, validity or enforceability of any Loan Document or the consummation of the Loans evidenced hereby and by the other Loan Documents.

(h) Financial Condition; Material Adverse Effect .

(i) The 2007 Financial Statements, copies of which have been delivered to the Administrative Agent and the Revolving Agent, and any financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 6.01 , fairly present, in all material respects, the consolidated financial condition of the Company as at the respective dates thereof and the consolidated results of operations of the Company, the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries for the fiscal periods ended on such respective dates, all in accordance with GAAP.

(ii) The Credit Parties have heretofore furnished to the Administrative Agent and the Revolving Agent projected annual balance sheets, income statements and statements of cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP, for each Fiscal Year from and including the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2007 to and including the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2011. Such projections have been prepared in good faith based upon accounting principles consistent with the historical financial statements of the Company and are based upon stated assumptions that are reasonably believed by the Credit Parties to have been accurate (A) at the time made (B) at each time such projections are made available to any Agent or Lender or any of their Affiliates and (C) as of the Closing Date.

 

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(iii) As of the Closing Date, since December 31, 2006, no event or development has occurred and is continuing that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(i) Compliance with Law, Etc. No Credit Party or any Subsidiary of any Credit Party is in violation of its Governing Documents, any Requirements of Law, any judgment or order of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or any of its property or assets, or any material term of any Material Contract binding on it or any of its properties except for any such violations which, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each Credit Party and each Subsidiary of each Credit Party has policies in place to observe the requirements of the Patriot Act-Related Requirements consistent with U.S. industry practice.

(j) ERISA . None of the Credit Parties nor any ERISA Affiliate has (i) any “accumulated funding deficiency” (within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code and Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived, with respect to any Benefit Plan, (ii) failed to make any contribution or payment to any Benefit Plan which has resulted, or could reasonably be expected to result, in the imposition of a Lien or the posting of a bond or other security under Section 302(f) of ERISA or Section 401(a)(29) of the Code, (iii) incurred, or is reasonably likely to incur, any material liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than a liability to the U.S. Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation for premiums under Section 4007 of ERISA) or (iv) violated any provision of ERISA that individually or in the aggregate can reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the Credit Parties nor any ERISA Affiliate is obligated to contribute to a Multiemployer Plan.

(k) Taxes, Etc. Save in respect of the Fiscal Years of the Borrower ending December 31, 2005, December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2007 all material, Federal, state, foreign, provincial and local Tax returns and other reports (all such returns for all years, whether or not filed, the “ Applicable Tax Returns ”) required by Applicable Law to be filed by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party have been filed, or extensions have been obtained, except to the extent subject to a Permitted Protest, and all Taxes due and payable (the “ Applicable Taxes ”) and all assessments, fees, applicable penalties, if any, and all other governmental charges upon such Credit Party and any Subsidiary of a Credit Party and upon its properties, assets, income, businesses and franchises that are due and payable have been paid, except to the extent subject to a Permitted Protest, and with respect to the Tax Returns in respect of the Fiscal Years of the Borrower ending December 31, 2005, December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2007, not yet filed, the aggregate liability as a result thereof does not exceed $2,000,000. All returns and reports filed are true, correct and complete in all material respects. Except as set forth in Schedule 5.01(k) , no taxing authority has, or has asserted, a right to a Lien on any assets of any Credit Party or Subsidiary of a Credit Party and with respect to each item listed on Schedule 5.01(k) , the Company has fully paid the tax liability associated therewith or will do so on the Closing Date. Each taxing authority with jurisdiction over the Credit Parties and with whom any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party should have and did not file an Applicable Tax Return received due, timely and proper notice of (a) the applicable bar date for filing a proof of claim in the Chapter 11 Cases; (b) notice of the hearing to approve the disclosure statement in the Chapter 11 Cases; and (c) the confirmation of the Plan of Reorganization and, in each case, proof of such service was filed with the Bankruptcy Court. All claims arising out of or related to the Applicable Tax Returns not filed would fall under Section 6.3 of the Plan of Reorganization and except to the extent expressly set forth therein, have been discharged by the Order confirming the Plan of Reorganization. Proper and accurate amounts have been withheld by each Credit Party and each Subsidiary of a Credit Party from its employees for all periods in compliance in all material respects with the federal, state, local, foreign or other tax, social security and unemployment withholding provisions of Applicable Law and such withholdings have been paid to the respective Governmental Authorities, except as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(l) Margin Regulations . No Credit Party is, nor will any Credit Party be engaged, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulations T, U or X), and no proceeds of any Loan will be used to purchase or carry any margin stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock. The Loans, the use of proceeds thereof and the pledge of the Collateral pursuant to the Security Documents do not violate Regulation T, U or X.

(m) Permits, Etc. Each Credit Party and any Subsidiary of a Credit Party has, and is in compliance with, all material permits, licenses, authorizations, approvals, entitlements and accreditations (collectively, the “ Permits ”) required for such Person lawfully to own, lease, manage or operate each business and Property currently owned, leased, managed or operated by such Person, except where the failure to have or to so comply, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No condition exists or event has occurred which, in itself or with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would result in the suspension, revocation, impairment, forfeiture or non-renewal of any Permit, and there is no claim that any portion thereof is not in full force and effect, except for any condition or event which, individually or in the aggregate, does not or could not, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(n) Properties . All Property of each Credit Party and any Subsidiary of a Credit Party material to its business is in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, except to the extent that the failure to be in such condition could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(o) Real Estate . (i) As of the Closing Date, Schedule 5.01(o) contains a true, accurate and complete list of (A) all Real Estate Assets and (B) all existing leases, subleases and any other occupancy agreements to which any Credit Party is a party with respect to any Real Estate Asset, regardless of whether such Credit Party is the landlord or tenant (whether directly or as an assignee or successor in interest) under such lease or other agreement (each such agreement, together with all amendments, modifications, supplements, renewals or extensions of any thereof, a “ Lease ”). Each Credit Party has, and is the sole owner of, good, insurable and marketable fee simple title to all of its owned Real Estate Assets or a good and valid leasehold estate and title in and to its leased Real Estate Assets, and has all necessary right, power and authority to mortgage, encumber, give, grant, bargain, sell, convey, confirm, pledge, assign, and hypothecate all of the Real Estate Assets in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Except as identified on Schedule 5.01(o) , each Lease is in full force and effect and no Credit Party has any knowledge of any default that has occurred and is continuing thereunder, except for defaults as may have occurred as a result of the commencement of the Chapter 11 Cases on the Commencement Date. Each Lease constitutes the legally valid and binding obligation of each applicable Credit Party, enforceable against such Credit Party in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles.

 

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(ii) Condemnation . As of the Closing Date, there are neither any actual, nor, to the knowledge of any Credit Party, any threatened or contemplated condemnation or eminent domain proceedings that affect any Real Estate Asset or any part thereof, and no Credit Party has received any notice, oral or written, of the intention of any Governmental Authority or other Person to take or use all or any part thereof.

(iii) Encroachments . No improvements constituting a part of any Real Estate Asset encroach on any real property not owned or leased by a particular Credit Party.

(iv) Repairs and Alterations . As of the Closing Date, no Credit Party has received any notice from any insurance company which has issued an insurance policy with respect to any Real Estate Asset requesting performance of any structural or other repairs or alterations to such Real Estate Asset.

(v) Access to Public Streets . Except as indicated on a title policy insuring the Mortgage encumbering any particular Real Estate Asset, each parcel (or group of parcels) comprising such particular Real Estate Asset is located on public roads and streets with adequate ingress and egress available between such streets and such Real Estate Asset or otherwise has access to public roads and streets pursuant to access easements benefiting such Real Estate Asset.

(vi) Utilities . All utility systems required in connection with the use, occupancy and operation of each Real Estate Asset are sufficient for their present purposes, are fully operational and in working order, and are benefited by customary utility easements providing for the continued use and maintenance of such systems or, in the case of a leased Real Estate Asset, the Credit Party leasing the same has valid and enforceable rights to the same under the applicable Lease or otherwise.

(vii) Parking . Each Real Estate Asset consists of or otherwise has rights to use sufficient land, parking areas, sidewalks, driveways and other improvements to permit the continued use of such Real Estate Asset in the manner and for the purposes to which it is presently devoted.

 

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(p) Full Disclosure . None of the reports, financial statements, certificates or other written information furnished by or on behalf of a Credit Party to the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Agent or the Collateral Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or delivered hereunder or thereunder (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, taken as a whole, in the light of the circumstances under which it was made, not materially misleading; provided that to the extent any such reports, financial statements, certificates or other written information therein was based upon or constitutes a forecast or projection, the Credit Parties represent only that the Credit Parties acted in good faith and utilized assumptions reasonably believed by them to be accurate (i) at the time made (ii) at each time such projections are made available to any Agent or Lender or any of their Affiliates and (iii) as of the Closing Date. There are no contingent liabilities or obligations that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(q) Environmental Matters . Except as set forth on Schedule 5.01(q) , (i) the operations of each Credit Party and any Subsidiary of a Credit Party are and have been in material compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws, (ii) there has been no Release on, in, at, to, from or under any of the properties currently or formerly owned or operated by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party or a predecessor in interest that could reasonably be expected to result in any material Environmental Liabilities and Costs to any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party, (iii) no Environmental Action has been asserted or threatened in writing against any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party which is unresolved, nor to the knowledge of any Credit Party are there any threatened Environmental Actions against a Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party that in either case could reasonably be expected to result in any material Environmental Liabilities and Costs to any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party, (iv) to the knowledge of the Credit Parties no Environmental Action has been asserted against any facilities that may have received Hazardous Materials generated by a Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party or any predecessor in interest that could reasonably be expected to result in any material Environmental Liabilities and Costs to any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party, (v) none of the Credit Parties or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party is subject to any outstanding order, decree, injunction or other agreement with any Governmental Authority or any indemnity or other agreement (other than routine permits, approvals, credit agreements and lease terms) imposing obligations with any third party relating to any Environmental Law that could reasonably be expected to result in any material Environmental Liabilities and Costs to any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party, (vi) to the knowledge of any Credit Parties there are no other circumstances or existing conditions involving any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party that could reasonably be expected to result in any such Credit Party or Subsidiary of a Credit Party becoming the subject of any Environmental Actions or material Environmental Liabilities and Costs including any material restriction on the ownership, use, or transfer of any property in connection with any Environmental Law, and (vii) the Credit Parties and any Subsidiary of a Credit Party made available to the Administrative Agent and the Revolving Agent copies of all material environmental reports, studies, assessments, sampling data and other material environmental documents in its possession relating to the Credit Parties and any Subsidiary of a Credit Party and their current and former properties and operations.

 

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(r) Insurance . Each Credit Party and each Subsidiary of a Credit Party maintains (either in the name of such Credit Party or in such Subsidiary’s own name) insurance with financially sound and reputable insurance companies or associations (including, without limitation, commercial general liability, property and business interruption insurance) with respect to its Properties (including all Real Estate Assets leased or owned by it) and business, in such amounts and covering such risks as is required by any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction with respect thereto or as is carried generally in accordance with sound business practice by companies of similar size in similar businesses similarly situated. All property policies covering the Collateral name the Collateral Agent as an additional insured or loss payee, in case of loss. Schedule 5.01(r) sets forth a list of all insurance maintained by such Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party on the Closing Date.

(s) Solvency . On the Closing Date, on the date of each borrowing under Section 1.01(b) and on the date of the issuance, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit under Section 1.06(a) , 1.06(b) or 1.06(d) , the Credit Parties, taken as a whole, are Solvent after giving effect to the transactions effected by the Loan Documents.

(t) Location of Bank Accounts . (i)  Schedule 5.01(t)(i) sets forth a complete and accurate list as of the Closing Date of all Deposit Accounts, commodities accounts and Securities Accounts of the Credit Parties and (ii)  Schedule 5.01(t)(ii) sets forth a complete and accurate list as of the Closing Date of all Deposit Accounts, commodities accounts and Securities Accounts of each Foreign Subsidiary, in each case, from which any of the Credit Parties receives cash in the ordinary course of business or on a regular basis (with respect to the Deposit Accounts), together with a description thereof (i.e., the bank or broker-dealer at which such Deposit Account or Securities Account is maintained, and the account number and the purpose thereof).

(u) Intellectual Property . (i) Each Credit Party and each Subsidiary of a Credit Party owns or has a right to use all the Intellectual Property that is used in the conduct of its business as currently conducted (the “ Company Intellectual Property ”). Schedule 5.01(u) to this Agreement is, as of the Closing Date or as of the most recent update thereof, a true, correct, and complete listing of all Registered Intellectual Property, material unregistered Trademarks and material unregistered Software as to which each Credit Party or Subsidiary of a Credit Party is the owner or is an exclusive licensee (collectively, “ Scheduled Intellectual Property Collateral ”).

(ii) Except as set forth in Schedule 5.01(u) :

(A) to the knowledge of each Credit Party and each Subsidiary of any Credit Party, the Company Intellectual Property owned or exclusively licensed by any Credit Party or Subsidiary does not misappropriate, infringe or otherwise violate any rights of any other Person. No Credit Party or Subsidiary of any Credit Party has received any demand, claim, notice, injunction, decree, order, judgment, award or inquiry from any Person in respect of the Company Intellectual Property which challenges, threatens to challenge or inquires as to whether there is any basis to challenge the validity or enforceability of the rights of, or the ownership by, any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of any Credit Party in, or the right of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of any Credit Party to use, any such Company Intellectual Property, and no Credit Party nor any Subsidiary of any Credit Party knows of any basis for any such challenge;

 

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(B) no Credit Party or Subsidiary of any Credit Party has received any notice of any violation or infringement of any proprietary rights of any other Person that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;

(C) to the knowledge of each Credit Party and each Subsidiary of any Credit Party, no other Person is misappropriating, infringing or otherwise violating any rights of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of any Credit Party in the Company Intellectual Property. No Credit Party or Subsidiary of any Credit Party is pursuing any claim or cause of action against any Person for infringement of the Company Intellectual Property owned or exclusively licensed by only Credit Party or Subsidiary of any Credit Party that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(v) Material Contracts . Set forth on Schedule 5.01(v) is a complete and accurate list of all Material Contracts to which any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party is a party, showing the parties and subject matter thereof and amendments and modifications thereto. As of the Closing Date, no Credit Party nor any Subsidiary of any Credit Party is in default under any Material Contract.

(w) Investment Company Act . None of the Credit Parties is, or is controlled by, an “investment company” or an “affiliated person” or “promoter” of, or “principal underwriter” of or for, an “investment company” as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(x) Employee and Labor Matters . As of the Closing Date there is (i) no unfair labor practice complaint pending or, to the best of any Credit Party’s or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party’s knowledge, threatened against any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party before any Governmental Authority and no grievance or arbitration proceeding pending or, to the best of such Credit Party’s or any Subsidiary of such Credit Party’s knowledge, threatened against any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party which arises out of or under any collective bargaining agreement, and (ii) no strike, labor dispute, slowdown, stoppage or similar action or grievance pending or, to the best of such Credit Party’s or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party’s knowledge, threatened against any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party that, in the case of clause (i)  or (ii)  could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(y) Location of Collateral; Chief Place of Business; Chief Executive Office FEIN; Name . The Perfection Certificate sets forth a complete and accurate list as of the Closing Date of (i) each place of business (other than a location that is only a sales office) of each Credit Party, (ii) the chief executive office of each Credit Party, (iii) the exact legal name of each Credit Party, (iv) the jurisdiction of organization of each Credit Party, (v) the organizational identification number of each Credit Party (or indicates that such Credit Party has no organizational identification number) and (vi) the federal employer identification number of such Credit Party.

 

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(z) Collateral; Records; Commercial Tort Claims . Each material item of Collateral of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries is used or held for use in their business and is in good working order, ordinary wear and tear and damage by casualty excepted. Each Credit Party keeps materially correct, complete and accurate books and records. Schedule 5.01(z) sets forth a true and complete list of all material commercial tort claims of each of the Credit Parties.

(aa) Security Interests . Each Security Document creates in favor of the Collateral Agent a legal, valid and enforceable security interest in the Collateral purported to be secured thereby. Upon the filing of the UCC-1 financing statements and the recording of the collateral assignments for security referred to in the Security Agreement in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, such security interests in and Liens on the Collateral granted thereby shall be perfected security interests (to the extent the Collateral is governed by Article 9 of the UCC or constitutes Intellectual Property) and no further recordings or filings are or will be required in connection with the creation, perfection or enforcement of such security interests and Liens, other than (i) the filing of continuation statements or financing change statements in accordance with Applicable Law, (ii) the recording of the collateral assignments for security pursuant to the Security Agreement in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, as applicable, with respect to after-acquired United States patent and trademark applications and registrations and United States copyrights and additional filings and/or other actions as may be required to perfect the Collateral Agent’s Lien in Registered Intellectual Property under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States and (iii) additional filings if a relevant Credit Party changes its name, identity or organizational structure or the jurisdiction in which each relevant Credit Party is organized.

(bb) Foreign Assets Control Regulations, Etc. Neither the execution and delivery of, nor the borrowing under any Loan Document, nor the use of proceeds from any Loan will violate (i) the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, or any of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) or any enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto, (ii) the Patriot Act or (iii) Executive Order No. 13,224, 66 Fed. Reg. 49,079 (2001), issued by the President of the United States (Executive Order Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions with Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit or Support Terrorism). Without limiting the foregoing, none of the Credit Parties is or will become a “blocked person” as described in Section 1 of such Executive Order or engages or will engage in any dealings or transactions with, or is otherwise associated with, any such blocked person.

(cc) Ownership of Collateral . Each Credit Party has good and indefeasible title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, the Collateral, in each case, free and clear of Liens except for Permitted Liens.

(dd) Payments under Plan . No Credit Party and no Subsidiary of any Credit Party has or will make any payments on Indebtedness that arose prior to the commencement of the Chapter 11 Cases except in accordance with the Plan of Reorganization or the Confirmation Order or as otherwise authorized by order of the Bankruptcy Court entered prior to December 21, 2007.

 

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ARTICLE VI

REPORTING COVENANTS

Each Credit Party covenants and agrees jointly and severally that, from and after the date hereof (except as otherwise provided herein, or unless the Required Lenders have given their prior written consent) until all amounts owing hereunder or under any Security Document or in connection herewith or therewith have been paid in full, that:

Section 6.01. Financial Statements . Each Credit Party (i) shall keep, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to keep, proper books of record and account, in which true and correct entries shall be made of all material financial transactions and the assets and business of each Credit Party and each such Subsidiary and (ii) shall maintain a system of accounting established and administered in accordance with sound business practices to permit preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP, and each of the financial statements described below shall be prepared from such system and records. The Borrower shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Agents and the Documentation Agent, in form and detail satisfactory to the Agents:

(a) Monthly Reports . As soon as available, but in any event within thirty five (35) days after the end of each Fiscal Month (including the last month of each Fiscal Year commencing with the Fiscal Month (and the year-to-date) ending December 31, 2007), (i) a consolidated balance sheet for the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such Fiscal Month (and showing the same period from the previous Fiscal Year), (ii) the related consolidated statements of income of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Month (and the year-to-date), (iii) the related consolidated statements of cash flow of the Company and its Subsidiaries for such Fiscal Month and (iv) schedules of revenue backlog, surety obligations and outstanding Letters of Credit, in each case, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the Revolving Agent, and certified by a Senior Officer of the Company as fairly presenting, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the dates indicated and the results of their operations for the Fiscal Months indicated, such consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of income in accordance with GAAP, subject to normal year-end adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

 

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(b) Certificates . (i) Together with each delivery of any financial statement pursuant to subsection (a)  of this Section 6.01 , an Officer’s Certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit G (the “ Monthly Officer’s Certificate ”), executed by a Senior Officer of the Company, stating that, as of such date, such Senior Officer has reviewed the terms of the Loan Documents, and has made, or caused to be made under his or her supervision, a review in reasonable detail of the transactions and consolidated financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the accounting period covered by such financial statements, that such review has not disclosed the existence during or at the end of such accounting period, and that such officer does not have knowledge of the existence as at the date of such Officer’s Certificate, of any condition or event which constitutes an Event of Default or a continuing Default, if any such condition or event existed or exists, specifying the nature and period of existence thereof and what action the Company and its Subsidiaries have taken, are taking and propose to take with respect thereto and (ii) together with the delivery of any financial statements pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 6.01 for the third, sixth, ninth and twelfth Fiscal Months of each Fiscal Year, (A) a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit H (the “ Quarterly Compliance Certificate ”), signed by the Company’s chief financial officer, chief executive officer or controller, setting forth calculations (with such specificity as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request) for the period then ended which demonstrate compliance, when applicable, with the provisions of Section 2.02, ARTICLE VIII and ARTICLE IX during such period, and (B) a certificate executed by the corporate secretary of the Company, stating that, as of such date, all of the representations and warranties of each Credit Party contained in Article V and in the other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects (except to the extent such representations and warranties specifically relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such earlier date) and providing, as an attachment thereto updated Schedules to such representations and warranties to reflect matters or events occurring from the date of the prior certificate delivered pursuant to this Section 6.01(b)(i)(B) to the date of such certificate (or, in the case of the first certificate delivered hereunder, from the Closing Date to the date of such certificate), and (iii) together with each delivery of the annual financial projections pursuant to subsection (c)  of this Section 6.01 , (A) a supplemental update to the Perfection Certificate or a confirmation that the information contained in such Perfection Certificate (as supplemented prior to such date) remains true and complete, and (B) a supplemental update to Schedule 5.01(t)(ii) or a confirmation that the information contained in such schedule (as supplemented prior to such date) remains true and complete, in each case, certified by an Authorized Officer of the Company.

(c) Annual Financial Statements and Projections . As soon as practicable and in any event not later than (i) ninety (90) days following the beginning of each Fiscal Year of the Company (except that the financial statements to be delivered pursuant to this Section 6.01(c)(i) in respect of Fiscal Year 2007 shall be delivered no later than July 31, 2008), the consolidated audited balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at the end of the preceding Fiscal Year, and the respective related consolidated audited statements of income or operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the preceding Fiscal Year, setting forth in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with GAAP, such consolidated balance sheet and statements to be certified by an Authorized Officer of the Company to the best of his or her knowledge, and qualified as set forth in said certification (including that such statements are subject to adjustments required by an independent public accounting firm during the course of its audit for that period), as fairly presenting the financial condition, results of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP and (ii) forty-five (45) days following the beginning of each Fiscal Year of the Company, a financial forecast, prepared in accordance with the Company’s normal accounting procedures applied on a consistent basis, for such Fiscal Year including (A) a forecasted consolidated balance sheet, and the related consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries for and as of the end of such Fiscal Year and (B) the amount of forecasted Capital Expenditures for such Fiscal Year.

 

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(d) Monthly Cash Forecasts and Liquidity Statements . As soon as practicable but in any event not later than (i) twenty-five (25) days following the beginning of each Fiscal Month concluded after the Closing Date, a monthly cash forecast for the next three (3) succeeding Fiscal Months, including the amount of forecasted cash collections and cash disbursements of the Company and its Subsidiaries for each such Fiscal Month, (ii) twenty-five (25) days following the beginning of each Fiscal Month concluded after the Closing Date, a summary of the actual monthly cash performance of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the preceding Fiscal Month, prepared in the same format as the forecasts delivered pursuant to clause (i) of this Section 6.01(d), together with a comparison of such performance to plan and (iii) ten (10) days following the beginning of each Fiscal Month, a statement (including relevant supporting reports) showing Liquidity as of the last day of the preceding Fiscal Month. The reports delivered pursuant to this Section 6.01(d) shall be prepared in accordance with the Company’s normal accounting procedures applied on a consistent basis and acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the Revolving Agent.

The financial statements, forecasts and other reports to be provided pursuant to Sections 6.01(a) , (c)  and (d)  (collectively, the “ Reports ”), shall each be prepared and delivered to the Term Lenders in consolidated and consolidating (by division) format with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries. Each Report shall be prepared and delivered to the Revolving Lenders in consolidated format with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries and in consolidating (by division) format with respect to the Williams Group only in the form previously agreed to between the Borrower and the Revolving Lenders party to this Agreement on the Closing Date (to include revenue, EBITDA and backlog information for the Williams Group); provided that , following the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Reports shall be delivered to the Revolving Lenders in consolidated and consolidating (by division) formats with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries.

Section 6.02. Other Financial Information . (a) Each Credit Party shall deliver to each Agent and to the Documentation Agent any Credit Party’s such other information, with respect to (i) the Collateral, (ii) any Credit Party’s business, financial condition, results of operations, properties, projections, business or business prospects as such Agent may, from time to time, reasonably request, or (iii) Applicable Taxes or the status of filing the Applicable Tax Returns. Each of the Credit Parties hereby authorizes each Agent, the Documentation Agent and their respective representatives to communicate directly with the accountants so long as an Authorized Officer of such Credit Party participates in such communication and authorizes the accountants to disclose to each Agent, the Documentation Agent, each Lender and their respective representatives any and all financial statements and other financial information, including copies of any final management letter, that such accountants may have with respect to the Collateral or such Credit Party’s financial condition, results of operations, properties, projections, business and business prospects. The Agents, the Documentation Agent, the Lenders and their respective representatives shall treat any non-public information so obtained as confidential pursuant to, with respect to the Agents and the Lenders, Section 13.20 of this Agreement and, with respect to the Documentation Agent, such separate confidentiality agreement entered into between the Documentation Agent and the Credit Parties.

 

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(b) Each of the Credit Parties shall deliver to the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Agent and the Documentation Agent copies of all documents and financial statements, reports and notices, if any, sent or made available generally by such Credit Party to the holders of its Securities or to any Governmental Authority, and promptly upon their becoming available, copies of all press releases and other statements made available by any Credit Party to the public concerning material developments in the business of any Credit Party.

(c) The Company shall deliver to the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Agent and the Documentation Agent copies of any final management reports delivered to any of the Credit Parties or their Subsidiaries by the accountants in connection with the preparation of their financial statements.

Section 6.03. Defaults, Events of Default . Promptly upon any Authorized Officer obtaining knowledge of any condition or event which constitutes an Event of Default or Default, each Credit Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Agent and the Documentation Agent an Officer’s Certificate specifying (a) the nature and period of existence of any such claimed Event of Default, Default, condition or event, and (b) what action such Credit Party has taken, is and proposes to take with respect thereto.

Section 6.04. Lawsuits . (a) Promptly upon any Credit Party obtaining knowledge of the institution of, or written threat of, (i) any action, suit, proceeding or arbitration against or affecting such Credit Party or any Subsidiary or asset of such Credit Party which action, suit, proceeding or arbitration (A) claims damages in excess of $5,000,000 (five million Dollars), (B) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (C) purports to affect the legality, validity or enforceability of any Loan Document, the Obligations or the security therefore, (ii) any investigation or proceeding before or by any Governmental Authority, the effect of which could reasonably be expected to materially limit, prohibit or restrict the manner in which such Credit Party currently conducts its business, (iii) any Forfeiture Proceeding which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (iv) any material Condemnation or Condemnation proceeding, such Credit Party shall give written notice thereof to the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Agent and the Documentation Agent and provide such other information reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Agent or the Documentation Agent as may be reasonably available to enable the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Agent or the Documentation Agent to evaluate such matters except, in each case, where the same is fully covered by insurance (other than applicable deductibles), and (b) in addition to the requirements set forth in clause (a) of this Section 6.04 , such Credit Party, upon request of the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Agent or the Documentation Agent, shall promptly give written notice of the status of any action, suit, proceeding, governmental investigation or arbitration covered by a report delivered pursuant to clause (a) above and provide such other information as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Agent or the Documentation Agent and reasonably available to such Credit Party to enable the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Agent or the Documentation Agent to evaluate such matters.

Section 6.05. Insurance . As soon as practicable and in any event within ten (10) Business Days of any cancellation without replacement thereof of any material insurance coverage set forth on the most recent schedule delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(r) , the Company shall deliver to the Administrative Agent, Revolving Agent and Documentation Agent notice of such cancellation.

 

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Section 6.06. Environmental Notices . The Credit Parties shall, and shall cause their Subsidiaries to, notify the Agents and the Documentation Agent, in writing, promptly, and in any event within ten (10) Business Days after such Credit Party’s obtaining knowledge thereof, of any: (a) notice or claim to the effect that such Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries is or may be liable to any Person as a result of the Release of any Hazardous Material; (b) investigation by any Governmental Authority of any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries evaluating whether any Remedial Action is needed to respond to the Release of any Hazardous Material; (c) notice that any Property of such Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries is subject to an Environmental Lien; (d) any material violation of Environmental Laws by such Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries or awareness by such Credit Party of a condition which would reasonably be expected to result in a material violation of any Environmental Law by such Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries; (e) commencement or written threat of any judicial or administrative proceeding alleging a violation of or liability under any Environmental Law involving such Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries; (f) any proposed acquisition of stock, assets, real estate or leasing of property, or any other action by such Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to subject such Credit Party or such Subsidiary to material Environmental Liabilities and Costs; or (g) notice by or to a Governmental Authority concerning any Release of a Hazardous Material in excess of any reportable quantity from or onto property owned or operated by such Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries or any Release or event requiring reporting pursuant to any Environmental Law or any material obligation to take any Remedial Action to abate any Release. For purposes of this Section 6.06 , notice shall include any other written communications given to an agent or employee of any Credit Party with direct or indirect supervisory responsibility with respect to the activity, if any, which is the subject of such notice. Upon the written request of the Administrative Agent, the Credit Parties shall provide the Administrative Agent with copies of any non-privileged documents related to any matter for which notice has been given pursuant to this Section 6.06 .

Section 6.07. Labor Matters . Each Credit Party shall notify the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Agent and the Documentation Agent in writing, promptly, but in any event within ten (10) Business Days after learning thereof, of (a) any material labor dispute to which such Credit Party could reasonably be likely to become a party, any actual or threatened strikes, lockouts or other disputes relating to such Credit Party’s plants and other facilities and (b) any material liability incurred with respect to the closing of any plant or other facility of such Credit Party.

Section 6.08. Other Information . Promptly upon receiving a request therefor from the Administrative Agent, Revolving Agent or the Documentation Agent, each Credit Party shall prepare and deliver to the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Agent and the Documentation Agent (a) such other information with respect to such Credit Party’s business, financial condition, results of operations, properties, projections, business or business prospects, (b) such other information with respect to the Collateral, including, without limitation, schedules identifying and describing the Collateral and any Dispositions thereof or (c) such other information with respect to such Credit Party, as from time to time may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Agent or the Documentation Agent.

 

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Section 6.09. Taxes . The Credit Parties shall, and shall cause their Subsidiaries to, notify the Agents and the Documentation Agent, in writing, promptly, and in any event within five (5) Business Days after receipt thereof, of any: (a) notice or claim to the effect that a Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party is or may be liable to any Governmental Authority for any Applicable Taxes; (b) notice that any Property of a Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party is or may become subject to a Lien in favor of any Governmental Authority for Taxes; or (c) commencement or written threat of any judicial or administrative proceeding involving any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of any Credit Party for any Applicable Taxes. For purposes of this Section 6.09 , notice shall include any other written communications given to an agent or employee of any Credit Party with direct or indirect supervisory responsibility with respect to the activity, if any, which is the subject of such notice. Upon the written request of the Administrative Agent, the Credit Parties shall provide the Administrative Agent with copies of any non-privileged documents related to any matter for which notice has been given pursuant to this Section 6.09 .

ARTICLE VII

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

Each Credit Party covenants and agrees jointly and severally, from and after the date hereof (except as otherwise provided herein, or unless the Required Lenders have given their prior written consent) until all amounts owing hereunder or under any Loan Document or in connection herewith or therewith have been paid in full, that:

Section 7.01. Compliance with Laws . Each Credit Party shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, comply with all Requirements of Law (including with respect to the licenses, approvals, certificates, permits, franchises, notices, registrations and other governmental authorizations necessary to the ownership of its respective properties or to the conduct of its respective business, antitrust laws or Environmental Laws and laws with respect to social security and pension funds obligations) any judgment or order of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or any of its property or assets, and any material term of any Material Contract binding on it or any of its properties, except where the failure to do so, in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Each Credit Party shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, have policies in place to observe the applicable requirements of the Patriot Act-Related Requirements consistent with U.S. industry practice.

Section 7.02. Payment of Taxes and Claims . Each Credit Party shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay (a) all material Taxes, assessments and other governmental charges imposed upon it or on any of its Properties or assets or in respect of any of its franchises, business, income or Property, and (b) all claims (including claims for labor, services, materials and supplies) for sums material in the aggregate to such Credit Party which have become due and payable and which by law have resulted or may result in a Lien upon any of such Credit Party’s Properties or assets, in each case prior to the time when any penalty or fine will be incurred by the Credit Party with respect thereto, except for (i) such Taxes, assessments, other governmental charges and claims that are being contested in a Permitted Protest or (ii) to the extent that the aggregate amount of such Taxes, assessments, charges and claims does not exceed $500,000 (five hundred thousand Dollars) at any one time.

 

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Section 7.03. Preservation of Corporate Existence . Each Credit Party shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to preserve and maintain its corporate existence; provided that this Section 7.03 shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution otherwise permitted by Section 8.04 or any sale, transfer or other Disposition permitted under Section 8.05 .

Section 7.04. Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions . At any reasonable time during normal business hours and from time to time with at least three (3) Business Days’ prior notice, or at any time if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Credit Party shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, permit any authorized representative(s) designated by any Agent to visit and inspect any of its assets, to examine, audit, check and make copies of its financial and accounting records, books, journals, orders, receipts and any correspondence with regulators and other data relating to its respective businesses or the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents (including in connection with environmental compliance, hazard or liability or insurance programs and in connection with the filing of any Tax Returns), and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its officers and independent certified public accountants, all upon reasonable notice and at such reasonable times during normal business hours. The visitations and/or inspections by or on behalf of the Agents shall be at the Borrower’s expense; provided , however , that so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, no more than one (1) visitation or inspection per Credit Party shall be made in any Fiscal Year. Each Credit Party shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, keep and maintain in all material respects proper, complete and accurate books of record and account, in which entries in conformity with GAAP shall be made of all dealings and financial transactions and the assets and business of such Credit Party or Subsidiary in relation to its businesses and activities, including transactions and other dealings with respect to the Collateral. In addition, until all Applicable Tax Returns due have been filed, the Revolving Agent and/or the Administrative Agent may, at the Borrower’s expense, conduct tax Lien searches as to any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party, from time to time and in such Agent’s sole discretion, which is anticipated to be no less frequently than monthly. If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Loans have been accelerated, the Borrower, upon any Agent’s request, shall provide copies of any such records to such Agent or its representatives.

Section 7.05. Maintenance of Properties . Each Credit Party shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain, preserve and protect consistent with past practice all of its tangible Properties which are necessary or useful in the proper conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear and Casualty and Condemnation excepted, except where the failure to do so could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and comply in all material respects with the provisions of all material Leases to which it is a party so as to prevent any material loss or forfeiture thereof or thereunder. With respect to Company Intellectual Property, if consistent with reasonable commercial judgment, each Credit Party shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain all Company Intellectual Property owned by such Credit Party or Subsidiary, including taking all commercially reasonable steps to preserve and protect such Company Intellectual Property, including maintaining the quality of any and all products or services used or provided in connection with any Trademark, substantially consistent with the quality of the products and services as of the date hereof, and ensuring that all licensed users of any such Trademark use such substantially consistent standards of quality. Immediately upon learning of the institution of any Condemnation of any of its owned or leased real property, any Credit Party shall notify each of the Agents of the pendency of such proceeding.

 

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Section 7.06. Further Assurances . Each Credit Party shall take such action and execute, acknowledge and deliver, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to take such action and execute, acknowledge and deliver, at its sole cost and expense, such agreements, instruments, updated or amended schedules (including without limitation Schedule 5.01(u) ) or other documents as the Collateral Agent may reasonably require from time to time in order (a) to carry out more effectively the purposes of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (b) to subject to valid and perfected first priority Liens (except for Permitted Liens) any of the Collateral or any other property of the Credit Parties acquired after the Closing Date and required to be so perfected pursuant to any Loan Document, (c) to establish and maintain the validity and effectiveness of any of the Loan Documents and the validity, perfection and priority of the Liens intended to be created thereby (except for Permitted Liens), and (d) to better assure, convey, grant, assign, transfer and confirm unto the Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties the rights now or hereafter intended to be granted to the Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties under this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

Section 7.07. Additional Security; Additional Guarantees; Further Assurances .

(a) If any Credit Party acquires a fee interest in any Real Estate Asset with a fair market value in excess of five hundred thousand Dollars ($500,000), such Credit Party shall notify the Agents thereof within fifteen (15) days thereafter, and if such interest has not otherwise been made subject to a Lien in favor of Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, under a Mortgage delivered on the date hereof, then within sixty (60) days after acquiring such Real Estate Asset, or such later time as may be reasonably necessary, in the Collateral Agent’s reasonable discretion, the applicable Credit Party shall take all such actions and execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered to the Agents, all such Mortgages, documents, instruments, agreements, opinions and certificates that the Collateral Agent shall reasonably request to create in favor of Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a valid and enforceable perfected first priority (subject to any Permitted Liens) Lien and security interest in such Real Estate Asset. In addition to the foregoing, each Credit Party shall, at the request of the Required Lenders, deliver, from time to time, to the Administrative Agent and the Revolving Agent such appraisals as are required by law or regulation applicable to such Real Estate Asset or to any Secured Party’s interest in such Real Estate Asset hereunder or under any Mortgage thereof.

(b) If any Credit Party acquires or develops any Intellectual Property, such Credit Party shall notify the Agents thereof within fifteen (15) days thereafter, and if such Intellectual Property has not otherwise been made subject to a valid and enforceable perfected first priority (subject to any Permitted Liens) Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, then within fifteen (15) days after acquiring such Intellectual Property, or such later time as may be reasonably necessary, in the Collateral Agent’s reasonable discretion, the Credit Parties shall take all such actions and execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered to the Agents, all such documents, instruments, agreements, opinions and certificates that the Collateral Agent shall reasonably request to create in favor of Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, a valid and enforceable perfected first priority (subject to any Permitted Liens) Lien and security interest in such Intellectual Property.

 

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(c) Each Credit Party shall pledge, or cause to be pledged, to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Collateral Agent and Secured Parties, all of the Capital Stock owned by a Credit Party of each Person that after the date hereof becomes a Domestic Subsidiary of such Credit Party, and 65% of the voting Capital Stock and 100% of the non-voting Capital Stock of each new Foreign Subsidiary of such Credit Party. The documentation for such security and pledge shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent and shall be substantially similar to the Loan Documents executed concurrently herewith with such modifications as are reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent.

(d) Each Credit Party will cause each Subsidiary which, after the Closing Date, is required to become a Guarantor to, at its own expense, execute, acknowledge and deliver, or cause the execution, acknowledgment and delivery of, and thereafter register, file or record in any appropriate governmental office, any document or instrument reasonably deemed by the Collateral Agent to be necessary or desirable for the creation and perfection of the Liens on its assets intended to be created pursuant to the relevant Security Documents. The Credit Parties will take, and cause each Subsidiary described above in Section 7.07(c) to take, all actions reasonably requested by any Agent (including the filing of UCC-1s (or the appropriate equivalent filings under the laws of any relevant foreign jurisdiction), or the furnishing of legal opinions, etc.) in connection with the granting of such Liens.

(e) The Liens required to be granted pursuant to this Section 7.07 shall be granted pursuant to the respective Security Documents executed and delivered by the Credit Parties (or other security documentation substantially similar to such Security Documents or otherwise reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Collateral Agent) for the benefit of the Secured Parties and shall constitute valid and enforceable first priority perfected Liens on all of the Collateral subject thereto, prior to the rights of all third Persons and subject to no other Liens except Permitted Liens, and with such exceptions, conditions and qualifications as shall be permitted by the respective Security Documents. Any Additional Security Documents and other instruments related thereto or related to existing Security Documents shall be duly recorded or filed in such manner and in such places and at such times as are required by law to create, maintain, effect, perfect, preserve, maintain and protect the Liens, in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, required to be granted pursuant to the Loan Documents and all taxes, fees and other charges payable in connection therewith shall be paid in full by the Borrower. At the time of the execution and delivery of any Security Documents or Additional Security Documents, the Credit Parties will, at the request of the Collateral Agent, cause to be delivered to the Collateral Agent such customary opinions of counsel and other related documents as may be reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to assure that this Section 7.07 has been complied with.

 

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(f) Each Credit Party jointly and severally agrees that each action required above by this Section 7.07 shall be completed as promptly as reasonably practicable after such action is requested to be taken by any Agent; provided that any action required above by Section 7.07(c), (d), or (e)  with respect to a newly formed, created or acquired Subsidiary shall be completed as promptly as practicable following the formation, creation or acquisition of such Subsidiary.

Section 7.08. Powers; Conduct of Business . Each Credit Party shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, qualify and remain qualified to do business and in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or the ownership of its properties requires it to be so qualified except for those jurisdictions where failure to so qualify does not have or could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each Credit Party shall obtain, maintain and preserve, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to obtain, maintain and preserve, all permits, licenses, authorizations, approvals, entitlements and accreditations which are necessary or useful in the proper conduct of its business, except where the failure to maintain and preserve such permits, licenses, authorizations, approvals, entitlements and accreditations does not or could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

Section 7.09. Use of Proceeds . Proceeds of the Loans shall be used in accordance with Section 1.03 hereof.

Section 7.10. Environmental . Each Credit Party shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, (a) comply, and cause it Subsidiaries to comply, in all material respects with Environmental Laws and provide to the Collateral Agent documentation of such compliance which Collateral Agent reasonably requests, which documentation shall include a notice by the Company six (6) months after the Closing Date of the steps taken by the Credit Parties or their Subsidiaries to address any outstanding matters described on Schedule 5.01(q) , (b) in the event of any material violation of any Environmental Law promptly commence and diligently pursue appropriate measures to abate such violation, and (c) perform any Remedial Action at property owned or operated by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of any Credit Party (i) that is required of any Credit Party or any such Subsidiary pursuant to any Environmental Law or agreement with any Governmental Authority, or (ii) that was initiated prior to the Closing Date and is identified on Schedule 5.01(q) .

Section 7.11. Fiscal Year . Each Credit Party shall cause its Fiscal Year to end on December 31 of each year unless the Required Lenders consent to a change in such Fiscal Year (and appropriate related changes to this Agreement).

Section 7.12. Maintenance of Insurance . (a) Each Credit Party shall maintain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain (either in the name of such Credit Party or in such Subsidiary’s own name), insurance with financially sound and reputable insurance companies or associations (including, without limitation, commercial general liability, property and business interruption insurance) with respect to its Properties (including all Real Estate Assets leased or owned by it) and business, in such amounts and covering such risks as is required by any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction with respect thereto or as is carried generally in accordance with sound business practice by companies of similar size in similar businesses similarly situated. All property policies covering the Collateral shall name the Collateral Agent as an additional insured or loss payee, in case of loss. All certificates of insurance are to be delivered to the Collateral Agent and the policies shall contain a loss payable and additional insured endorsements in favor of the Collateral Agent (substantially in the form reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent), and shall provide for not less than thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to the Collateral Agent and other named insureds of the exercise of any right of cancellation.

 

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(b) Each Credit Party shall provide, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to provide, the Collateral Agent with copies of all insurance renewal certificates obtained by the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries within three (3) Business Days of the receipt thereof.

(c) Until the indefeasible payment and satisfaction in full in cash of the Obligations, each Credit Party hereby waives, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to waive, all rights of subrogation against any Agent and the Secured Parties.

Section 7.13. Change in Collateral; Collateral Records . Each Credit Party shall advise the Collateral Agent promptly, in sufficient detail, of any change which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect relating to the value of the Collateral or any Lien granted thereon (other than Permitted Liens) and execute and, upon the Collateral Agent’s reasonable request, deliver, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to execute and deliver, to the Collateral Agent from time to time, solely for the Collateral Agent’s convenience in maintaining a record of Collateral, such written statements and schedules, maintained by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of any Credit Party in the ordinary course of business, as the Collateral Agent may reasonably require, designating, identifying or describing the Collateral.

Section 7.14. Formation of Subsidiaries . In addition to Section 7.07 , at the time that any Credit Party forms any Domestic Subsidiary or acquires any Domestic Subsidiary after the Closing Date, such Credit Party shall within twenty (20) days (a) cause such Domestic Subsidiary to execute and deliver to each Agent a Guarantor Joinder Agreement in the form of Exhibit K-2, the Security Agreement, and such security documents all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agents (including being sufficient to grant the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, a first priority Lien (subject to Permitted Liens) in and to the assets of such newly formed or acquired Subsidiary) and (b) provide to the Agents all other documentation (including financing statements), including, at the Collateral Agent’s request, one or more opinions of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Agents, which in the opinion of each of them is appropriate with respect to the execution and delivery of the applicable documentation referred to above (including the grant and perfection of any Lien contemplated thereby). Any document, agreement, or instrument executed or issued pursuant to clause (a) of this Section 7.14 shall be a Loan Document.

Section 7.15. Cash Management .

(a) No Credit Party shall have any Deposit Account (other than the Excluded Account) , commodities account or Securities Account other than accounts subject to Control Agreements and the Credit Parties shall cause the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, to have a valid, perfected, first-priority security interest in such accounts, subject in the case of the Excluded Account only, to the Lien permitted under Section 8.01(m) . The Credit Parties shall not permit the balance in the Excluded Account to exceed $3,000,000 (plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon) at any time.

 

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(b) No Credit Party shall close any Deposit Account, commodities account or Securities Account or any lockbox maintained by it as of the date hereof without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent.

(c) Each Credit Party shall take all reasonable steps necessary from time to time to deposit or cause to be deposited promptly all of its Collections (including those sent in cash or otherwise directly to any Credit Party) into an account subject to a Control Agreement (other than with respect to the Excluded Account) .

(d) The Credit Parties shall notify each Agent in writing no later than ten (10) days prior to the establishment of any Deposit Account, commodities account or Securities Account that would have been required to be listed on Schedule 5.01(t) if such account was established on or prior to the Closing Date.

(e) Each Credit Party shall comply in all material respects with the provisions of each Control Agreement to which it is a party.

ARTICLE VIII

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

Each Credit Party covenants and agrees jointly and severally, from and after the date hereof (except as otherwise provided herein, or unless the Required Lenders have given their prior written consent) until all amounts owing hereunder or under any other Loan Document or in connection herewith or therewith have been paid in full that:

Section 8.01. Liens . It shall not and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, other than the following (such Liens described below being referred to herein as “ Permitted Liens ”):

(a) Liens in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Party pursuant to any Loan Document;

(b) Liens existing on the Closing Date in the amounts and as otherwise listed on Schedule 8.01 and any renewals or extensions thereof in connection with any refinancing or renewal of the obligations secured thereby; provided that (i) such Lien is not extended to cover any additional property, (ii) the amount secured or benefited thereby is not increased from the amount then due on the obligation so refinanced or renewed and (iii) the direct or any contingent obligor with respect thereto is not changed;

(c) Statutory Liens for Taxes, fees, assessments or other governmental charges, not yet due or which are not delinquent or remain payable without penalty, or to the extent subject to a Permitted Protest;

(d) Statutory Liens securing the rights or claims of carriers, warehousemen, mechanics, materialmen, repairmen, landlords or other like Liens in favor of similar Persons arising in the ordinary course of business which are not delinquent or which are the subject of a Permitted Protest;

 

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(e) Liens consisting of pledges or deposits required to be made by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation or public liability laws or similar legislation, other than any Lien imposed by ERISA;

(f) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances affecting real property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount, and which do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the applicable Person;

(g) Liens incurred or deposits made to secure performance of (i) tenders, statutory obligations, bids, trade contracts, leases or other similar obligations (other than for borrowed money) entered into in the ordinary course of business or (ii) obligations under performance or surety bonds provided in the ordinary course of business; provided that any such Liens permitted under this Section 8.01(g) shall attach only to property directly relating to, or that is the subject of, such underlying obligations;

(h) licenses, operating Leases or subleases granted or entered into in the ordinary course of business not interfering in any material respect with the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and not constituting Indebtedness;

(i) Liens in favor of customs or revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods;

(j) Liens upon assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries subject to Capital Lease Obligations or purchase money Indebtedness to the extent such Capital Lease Obligations or purchase money Indebtedness are permitted by Section 8.03(i); provided that (x) such Liens only serve to secure the payment of Indebtedness arising under such Capital Lease Obligations or purchase money Indebtedness and (y) the Lien encumbering the asset or assets giving rise to any Capital Lease Obligations or purchase money Indebtedness does not encumber any other asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(k) Liens arising from precautionary UCC financing statement filings regarding operating leases entered into in the ordinary course of business or from UCC financing statement filings or any other similar notices of Lien under any similar recording or notice statute regarding Liens permitted hereunder;

(l) Liens upon the Property of Foreign Subsidiaries securing Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.03(b); provided that (x) such Liens only serve to secure the payment of Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries and (y) the Lien encumbering such Property does not encumber any other asset of the Company or any of its other Subsidiaries; and

(m) a Lien in favor of Bank of America N.A. upon cash and/or Cash Equivalents in the Excluded Account in an amount not to exceed $3,000,000 (three million Dollars) plus the amount of accrued and unpaid interest thereon;

 

53


(n) statutory banker’s Liens or set-off rights in Deposit Accounts, Securities Accounts or commodities accounts to the extent of monthly and customary fees not yet due for maintenance of any Deposit Account, Securities Account or commodities account and permitted under a Control Agreement governing such Deposit Account, Securities Account or commodities account.

Section 8.02. Investments . It shall not and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly make or hold any Investments in any Person, except:

(a) Investments held in the form of cash or Cash Equivalents;

(b) Investments made prior to the Closing Date set forth in Schedule 8.02 ;

(c) Advances or loans to directors, officers and employees of any Credit Party in the ordinary course of business as presently conducted in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $100,000 in the aggregate at any one time outstanding;

(d) Investments by:

(i) any Credit Party in and to any Foreign Subsidiary in the form of contributions to capital, loans, advances, guarantees or other forms of credit support; provided that (A) the aggregate amount of such Investments does not exceed (i) $250,000 (two hundred and fifty thousand Dollars) outstanding at any time, plus (ii) up to $500,000 outstanding at any time from Braden Manufacturing LLC to Braden Manufacturing S.A. de C.V., and (B) each item of intercompany Indebtedness shall be evidenced by the Global Intercompany Note which shall be pledged as security for the Obligations of the holder thereof under the Loan Documents and delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of the Security Documents;

(ii) any Credit Party in and to any other Credit Party in the form of contributions to capital or loans or advances; provided that (A) any intercompany Indebtedness shall be unsecured, and (B) each item of intercompany Indebtedness held by any Credit Party shall be evidenced by the Global Intercompany Note which shall be pledged as security for the obligations of the holder thereof under the Loan Documents and delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of the Security Documents;

(iii) any Foreign Subsidiary in and to any other Foreign Subsidiary in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,000,000;

(e) Guarantees permitted by Section 8.03(c) ;

(f) Investments received in connection with (x) the bankruptcy or reorganization of, or settlement of delinquent accounts and disputes with, customers and suppliers, in each case in the ordinary course of business, or (y) in satisfaction of judgments or in settlement of litigation, arbitration or other disputes;

 

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(g) Investments made by the Company and its Subsidiaries that constitute (i) accounts receivable arising, (ii) trade debt granted, or (iii) deposits made in connection with the purchase price of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

(h) advances to subcontractors in the ordinary course of business;

(i) Investments by Foreign Subsidiaries not to exceed $500,000 in the aggregate;

(j) Investments consisting of the entry into joint venture agreements for unincorporated joint ventures by any Credit Party for the limited purpose of negotiating, signing and performing construction, engineering, procurement, construction management and similar services provided that the aggregate value of all such Investments does not exceed $500,000 at any one time outstanding and provided further that no Credit Party or any Subsidiary of any Credit Party shall have any liability in excess of the Investment actually paid to such joint venture (as permitted by this Section 8.02(j) ) for any Indebtedness or any other obligation of any such joint venture; and

(k) Investments by a Credit Party in the form of Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement (i) in favor of the customers of Braden Europe to support the obligations of Braden Europe to such customers under Braden Europe Project Contracts in an aggregate amount that, when added together with the Letters of Credit listed on Schedule 8.02 in favor of customers of Braden Europe, does not exceed $5,000,000 (five million dollars); and/or (ii) in favor of the lender or lenders to Braden Shanghai to support, and not to exceed the amount of, Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.03(k) .

Section 8.03. Indebtedness . It shall not and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except for the following (such Indebtedness described below being referred to herein as “ Permitted Indebtedness ”):

(a) Indebtedness under the Loan Documents or any Hedging Agreement;

(b) Indebtedness outstanding prior to the Closing Date in the amount and as otherwise set forth in Schedule 8.03 and, solely with respect to the facility provided by ABN Amro as specified on Schedule 8.03 , any Permitted Indebtedness Refinancing in respect of such facility;

(c) guarantees of any Credit Party in respect of Indebtedness of the Credit Parties otherwise permitted hereunder;

(d) intercompany Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.02(d) ;

(e) (i) Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries in respect of performance, surety or appeal bonds provided in the ordinary course of business or (ii) unsecured Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries in respect of performance or completion guarantees provided in the ordinary course of business, but excluding, in each case, Indebtedness incurred through the borrowing of money or contingent liabilities in respect thereof and provided that the aggregate amount of all Indebtedness under this Section 8.03(e) , when added together with all Indebtedness consisting of performance, surety or appeal bonds and performance guarantees permitted under Section 8.03(b) , does not exceed $60,000,000 outstanding at any time;

 

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(f) Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries in respect of trade payables and accrued expenses arising in the ordinary course of business;

(g) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business, so long as such Indebtedness is extinguished within five (5) Business Days of its incurrence;

(h) Indebtedness which may be deemed to exist in connection with agreements providing for indemnification, purchase price adjustments and similar obligations in connection with the acquisition or disposition of assets in accordance with the requirements of this Agreement;

(i) Indebtedness of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries evidenced by Capitalized Lease Obligations and purchase money Indebtedness, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $2,000,000 at any time outstanding;

(j) Indebtedness of Braden Europe under (i) a revolving credit facility in an amount not to exceed €1,000,000 and (ii) a letter of credit facility in an amount not to exceed €5,000,000;

(k) Indebtedness of Braden Shanghai in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,000,000; and

(l) so long as no Default or Event of Default then exists or would result therefrom, additional Indebtedness not otherwise permitted hereunder in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $1,000,000 at any time outstanding.

Section 8.04. Fundamental Changes and Acquisitions . It shall not and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, (a) merge, dissolve, liquidate, consolidate with or into another Person, (b) in addition to the conditions in Section 8.05 , Dispose of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or substantially all of its assets (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) to or in favor of any Person or (c) acquire all or substantially all of the assets of any Person or any division, brand or business unit thereof; provided that any Credit Party may merge into or consolidate with another Credit Party ( provided that a Borrower is the surviving entity to any such merger or consolidation between a Guarantor and a Borrower), make such Disposal to another Credit Party, or make such acquisition from another Credit Party and further provided that any Immaterial Foreign Subsidiary may voluntarily dissolve or merge into a Credit Party or a Subsidiary of a Credit Party.

 

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Section 8.05. Dispositions . It shall not and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, make any Disposition (other than any Casualty or Condemnation) or enter into any agreement to make any Disposition, except:

(a) Dispositions of obsolete or worn out property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, in the ordinary course of business;

(b) Dispositions of inventory and finished goods (i) in the ordinary course of business or (ii) consisting of the Deltak Customer Equipment Disposition;

(c) Dispositions of equipment or real property in the ordinary course of business in an amount not to exceed $500,000 per annum;

(d) (i) Dispositions of Property of any Credit Party to another Credit Party and (ii) Dispositions by any Credit Party of equipment not used in the business of such Credit Party to a Foreign Subsidiary, provided that with respect to any such Disposition by a Credit Party to a Foreign Subsidiary, such Disposition shall only be permitted to the extent the Deemed Investment Amount (as defined below) is permitted as an Investment under Section 8.02(d)(i) (and “ Deemed Investment Amount ” shall mean the amount by which the fair market value of the relevant Disposition exceeds the consideration received for such Disposition);

(e) Dispositions pursuant to a non-exclusive licensing arrangement entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to any of its Intellectual Property in the ordinary course of its business consistent with past practice; and

(f) Any Disposition not otherwise permitted pursuant to this Section 8.05 provided (i) the Disposition is for not less than the fair market value of the assets subject thereto, (ii) the consideration received by the Company or applicable Subsidiary consists of at least 75% Cash, (iii) the net book value of such assets, together with the net book value of all other assets Disposed of pursuant to this clause (f) , does not exceed $2,500,000 over the term of this Agreement, (iv) immediately prior to and after giving effect to such Disposition no Default shall have occurred and be continuing and (v) the proceeds thereof are applied pursuant to Section 2.02 .

Section 8.06. Restricted Payments . It shall not and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly declare or make any Restricted Payment or incur any obligation contingent or otherwise to do so; provided that (a) any Credit Party may make Restricted Payments to any other Credit Party, (b) any Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party may make Restricted Payments to any Credit Party, (c) any Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party may make Restricted Payments to any wholly owned Subsidiary of any Credit Party and (d) the Company may redeem, repurchase or otherwise acquire for value outstanding Capital Stock of the Company (or options or warrants to purchases the Company’s Capital Stock) following the death, disability or termination of employment of officers, directors or employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries so long as such redemption, repurchase or acquisition would not result in a Default or Event of Default.

Section 8.07. Amendment of Governing Documents . It shall not and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to amend, modify or otherwise change (a) its Governing Documents in any manner materially adverse to the Lenders or (b) its accounting policies or reporting practices.

 

57


Section 8.08. Change in Nature of Business . It shall not and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly engage in any business activity except (a) the business of designing, engineering, fabricating, installing and servicing equipment for the global energy, power infrastructure, process and other industrial operations or (b) providing routine and specialty maintenance and construction services to Persons engaged in the global energy, power infrastructure, process and other industrial operations and to governmental agencies and business activities that are reasonable extensions thereof and activities reasonably incidental thereto.

Section 8.09. Transactions with Affiliates . It shall not and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly engage in any transaction or series of transactions with any Affiliate of any Credit Party other than (i) transactions exclusively between or among the Company and one or more Credit Parties that are Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries and not Foreign Subsidiaries or exclusively between or among such Credit Parties; (ii) transactions in the ordinary course of its business on terms and conditions as favorable to the Company or such Credit Party as would be obtainable by it in a comparable arm’s-length transaction with an independent, unrelated third party and (iii) to the extent permitted by Sections 8.01 , 8.02 , 8.04 , 8.05 or 8.06 .

Section 8.10. Limitations on Restricted Actions . It shall not and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly enter into or create or otherwise cause to exist or become effective any agreement or arrangement other than the Loan Documents that: (a) limits the ability (i) of any Credit Party to make Restricted Payments to any other Credit Party or any Domestic Subsidiary of a Credit Party except as provided in Section 8.14 , (ii) of any Credit Party to act as a guarantor and pledge its assets pursuant to the Loan Documents; or (iii) of any Credit Party to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist Liens in favor of the Secured Parties on property of such Person; provided , however , that this clause (iii) shall not prohibit (A) customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any Lease governing any Leasehold Property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (B) customary provisions restricting assignment of any licensing agreement (in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is the licensee) or other contract entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and (C) any Operating Lease or Capitalized Lease, insofar as the provisions thereof limit grants of a security interest in, or other assignments of, the related Leasehold Property to any other Person; or (b) requires the grant of a Lien to secure an obligation of such Person if a Lien is granted to secure another obligation of such Person.

Section 8.11. Sale-Leasebacks; Off-Balance Sheet Obligation . It shall not and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly enter into any Sale and Leaseback Transaction or Off-Balance Sheet Obligation.

Section 8.12. Impairment of Security Interests . It shall not and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly (a) refuse to take or omit to take any action within ten (10) days following the request by any Agent to take or omit to take such action, which action or omission is, in the reasonable opinion of such Agent, necessary so as not to terminate, impair or limit the security interests in favor of the Secured Parties with respect to the Collateral or (b) grant to any Person (other than the Collateral Agent pursuant to the Security Documents) any interest whatsoever in the Collateral (other than Permitted Liens).

 

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Section 8.13. Ownership of Subsidiaries and Other Restrictions Relating to the Subsidiaries . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, It shall not and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly permit any Person (other than the Company or any Wholly-Owned Subsidiary) to own any Capital Stock of any Subsidiary of the Company except as otherwise permitted pursuant to this Agreement.

Section 8.14. Limitations on Dividends and Distributions and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries . It shall not, and it shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, create or otherwise cause, incur, assume, suffer or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction of any kind on its ability (a) to pay dividends or to make any other distribution on any shares of its Capital Stock, (b) to subordinate or to pay, prepay, redeem or repurchase any Indebtedness owed to any Credit Party or Subsidiary of a Credit Party, (c) to make loans or advances to any Credit Party or Subsidiary of a Credit Party or (d) to transfer any of its property or assets to any Credit Party or Subsidiary of a Credit Party; provided , however , that nothing in clauses (a) through (d)  of this Section 8.14 shall prohibit or restrict: (A) this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; (B) any Applicable Law (including applicable currency control laws and applicable state or provincial corporate statutes restricting the payment of dividends or any other distributions in certain circumstances); (C) any restriction set forth in any document or agreement governing or securing any Permitted Indebtedness under Section 8.03(b) ; (D) in the case of clause (d) any restrictions on the subletting, assignment or transfer of any property or asset included in a Lease, license, sale conveyance or similar agreement with respect to such property or asset; (E) in the case of clause (d) any holder of a Permitted Lien from restricting on customary terms the transfer of any property or assets subject to such Permitted Lien; (F) any agreement or instrument in effect at the time a Person first became a Subsidiary of a Credit Party or the date such agreement or instrument is otherwise assumed by a Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries, so long as such agreement or instrument was not entered into solely in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary of such Credit Party or such assumption; (G) customary provisions restricting assignment of any licensing agreement or other contract entered into by a Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business; (H) restrictions on the transfer of any asset pending the close of the sale of such asset; or (I) customary provisions with respect to the payment of dividends or other distributions by any Subsidiary that is not a Credit Party set forth in the Governing Documents for such Subsidiary so long as such provisions were not entered into in connection with any other agreement or arrangement not otherwise permitted under this Section 8.14 .

Section 8.15. Limitation on Issuance of Capital Stock . It shall not, and it shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, issue or sell or enter into any agreement or arrangement for the issuance and sale of any shares of its Capital Stock, any Securities convertible into or exchangeable for its Capital Stock or any warrants, options or other rights for the purchase or acquisition of any of its Capital Stock, other than (a) in connection with the plans set forth on Schedule 8.15 ; (b) the issuance of Capital Stock of any Subsidiary to any Credit Party (so long as such Capital Stock is pledged and delivered to the Collateral Agent within ten (10) days of the issuance thereof in accordance with the terms of the Security Agreement); (c) the issuance of Capital Stock by any Subsidiary of directors’ qualifying shares; or (d) the issuance of Capital Stock by the Company so long as any such issuance does not constitute a Change of Control.

 

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Section 8.16. Federal Reserve Regulations . It shall not, and it shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, use any Loan or the proceeds of any Loan for any purpose that would cause such Loan to be a margin loan under the provisions of Regulation T, U or X.

Section 8.17. Investment Company Act of 1940 . It shall not, and it shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage in any business, enter into any transaction, use any Securities or take any other action that would cause it or any of its Subsidiaries to become subject to the registration requirements of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, by virtue of being an “investment company” or a company “controlled” by an “investment company” not entitled to an exemption within the meaning of such Act.

Section 8.18. Change Name . It shall not, and it shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries which are Credit Parties to, change any Credit Party’s name, organizational identification number, jurisdiction of organization, or organizational identity; provided , however , that a Credit Party may change its name upon at least ten (10) days’ prior written notice by the Company to the Collateral Agent of such change and so long as, at the time of such written notification, such Credit Party provides any financing statements, fixture filings, mortgages, Control Agreements or other documents necessary to perfect and continue perfected Liens.

ARTICLE IX

FINANCIAL COVENANTS

Each Credit Party covenants and agrees jointly and severally, from and after the date hereof (except as otherwise provided herein, or unless the Required Lenders have given their prior written consent) until all amounts owing hereunder or under any Security Document or in connection herewith or therewith have been paid in full, that:

Section 9.01. Total Leverage Ratio . Total Leverage Ratio, as of each date set forth below, shall not be greater than the ratio set forth opposite such date below:

 

Measurement Period Ending

   Ratio

March 31, 2008

   3.00x

June 30, 2008

   3.00x

September 30, 2008

   3.00x

December 31, 2008

   3.50x

March 31, 2009

   3.75x

June 30, 2009

   4.00x

September 30, 2009

   4.00x

December 31, 2009

   4.50x

March 31, 2010

   4.50x

June 30, 2010

   4.25x

 

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Measurement Period Ending

   Ratio

September 30, 2010

   4.00x

December 31, 2010

   3.75x

March 31, 2011

   3.75x

June 30, 2011

   3.50x

September 30, 2011

   3.25x

December 31, 2011

   3.00x

March 31, 2012

   3.00x

June 30, 2012

   2.75x

September 30, 2012

   2.50x

December 31, 2012

   2.25x

March 31, 2013

   2.25x

June 30, 2013

   2.25x

September 30, 2013

   2.25x

December 31, 2013

   2.25x

Section 9.02. Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio . The Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, as of any date set forth below, shall not be less than the ratio set forth opposite such date below:

 

Measurement Period Ending

   Ratio

June 30, 2008

   1.15x

September 30, 2008

   1.25x

December 31, 2008

   1.40x

March 31, 2009

   1.30x

June 30, 2009

   1.10x

September 30, 2009

   1.10x

December 31, 2009

   1.05x

March 31, 2010

   1.05x

June 30, 2010

   1.10x

September 30, 2010

   1.10x

December 31, 2010

   1.15x

March 31, 2011

   1.20x

June 30, 2011

   1.25x

September 30, 2011

   1.35x

December 31, 2011

   1.45x

March 31, 2012

   1.50x

June 30, 2012

   1.50x

September 30, 2012

   1.50x

December 31, 2012

   1.50x

March 31, 2013

   1.50x

June 30, 2013

   1.50x

September 30, 2013

   1.50x

December 31, 2013

   1.50x

 

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Section 9.03. Minimum Liquidity . The Credit Parties, on a consolidated basis, shall have a level of Liquidity of not less than the amount set forth below on the date set forth opposite such amount.

 

Fiscal Month Ending

   Minimum
Liquidity

January 31, 2008

   $ 15,000,000

February 29, 2008

   $ 15,000,000

March 31, 2008

   $ 15,000,000

April 30, 2008

   $ 15,000,000

May 31, 2008

   $ 15,000,000

June 30, 2008

   $ 15,000,000

July 31, 2008

   $ 20,000,000

August 31, 2008

   $ 20,000,000

September 30, 2008

   $ 20,000,000

October 31, 2008

   $ 20,000,000

November 30, 2008

   $ 20,000,000

December 31, 2008

   $ 20,000,000

January 31, 2009

   $ 20,000,000

February 28, 2009

   $ 20,000,000

March 31, 2009

   $ 20,000,000

April 30, 2009

   $ 15,000,000

May 31, 2009

   $ 15,000,000

June 30, 2009

   $ 15,000,000

July 31, 2009

   $ 20,000,000

August 31, 2009

   $ 20,000,000

September 30, 2009

   $ 20,000,000

October 31, 2009

   $ 20,000,000

November 30, 2009

   $ 20,000,000

December 31, 2009

   $ 20,000,000

January 31, 2010

   $ 20,000,000

February 28, 2010

   $ 20,000,000

March 31, 2010

   $ 20,000,000

April 30, 2010

   $ 15,000,000

May 31, 2010

   $ 15,000,000

June 30, 2010

   $ 15,000,000

July 31, 2010

   $ 20,000,000

August 31, 2010

   $ 20,000,000

September 30, 2010

   $ 20,000,000

October 31, 2010

   $ 20,000,000

November 30, 2010

   $ 20,000,000

December 31, 2010

   $ 20,000,000

January 31, 2011

   $ 20,000,000

February 28, 2011

   $ 20,000,000

March 31, 2011

   $ 20,000,000

 

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Fiscal Month Ending

   Minimum
Liquidity

April 30, 2011

   $ 15,000,000

May 31, 2011

   $ 15,000,000

June 30, 2011

   $ 15,000,000

July 31, 2011

   $ 20,000,000

August 31, 2011

   $ 20,000,000

September 30, 2011

   $ 20,000,000

October 31, 2011

   $ 20,000,000

November 30, 2011

   $ 20,000,000

December 31, 2011

   $ 20,000,000

January 31, 2012

   $ 20,000,000

February 29, 2012

   $ 20,000,000

March 31, 2012

   $ 20,000,000

April 30, 2012

   $ 15,000,000

May 31, 2012

   $ 15,000,000

June 30, 2012

   $ 15,000,000

July 31, 2012

   $ 20,000,000

August 31, 2012

   $ 20,000,000

September 30, 2012

   $ 20,000,000

October 31, 2012

   $ 20,000,000

November 30, 2012

   $ 20,000,000

December 31, 2012

   $ 20,000,000

January 31, 2013

   $ 20,000,000

February 28, 2013

   $ 20,000,000

March 31, 2013

   $ 20,000,000

April 30, 2013

   $ 15,000,000

May 31, 2013

   $ 15,000,000

June 30, 2013

   $ 15,000,000

July 31, 2013

   $ 20,000,000

August 31, 2013

   $ 20,000,000

September 30, 2013

   $ 20,000,000

October 31, 2013

   $ 20,000,000

November 30, 2013

   $ 20,000,000

December 31, 2013

   $ 20,000,000

ARTICLE X

EVENTS OF DEFAULT, RIGHTS AND REMEDIES

Section 10.01. Events of Default . Each of the following occurrences shall constitute an event of default (an “ Event of Default ”).

(a) Failure to Make Payments When Due . Any Credit Party shall fail to pay (i) any principal or reimbursement obligations when due or (ii) any interest, fees, or any other monetary Obligation, and such failure shall continue for a period of three (3) Business Days after such amount was due (in each case, whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise).

 

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(b) Breach of Certain Covenants . Any Credit Party shall fail to perform or comply with any covenant or agreement contained in Section 7.03 , Section 7.04 , Section 7.06 , Section 7.07 , Section 7.08 , Section 7.09 , Section 7.10 , Section 7.11 , Section 7.12 , Section 7.14 , Section 7.15 , Article VIII , or Article IX under this Agreement.

(c) Breach of Representation or Warranty . Any representation, warranty or statement made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Credit Party or by any officer of the foregoing under any Loan Document or in any report, certificate, or other document delivered to any Agent or any Lender under Article VI of this Agreement or otherwise pursuant to any Loan Document prove to be incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made or deemed made.

(d) Other Defaults (Thirty (30) Day Cure) . Any Credit Party shall fail to perform or comply with any other covenant or agreement in any Loan Document and such failure continues for a period of thirty (30) days after learning of such failure or receiving written notice thereof from any Agent.

(e) Default as to Other Indebtedness and Material Contracts . Any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party shall (i) fail to make any payment when due (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise) with respect to any Indebtedness if the aggregate amount of such Indebtedness is in excess of $2,500,000 in the aggregate and such failure shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in the agreement or instrument relating to such Indebtedness; or any other breach, default or event of default shall occur, or any other condition shall exist under any instrument, agreement or indenture pertaining to any such Indebtedness, if the effect thereof (with or without the giving of notice or lapse of time or both) is to permit or require an acceleration, mandatory redemption or other required repurchase of such Indebtedness or, as to such Indebtedness, permit the holder or holders of such Indebtedness to accelerate the maturity of any such Indebtedness or require a redemption or other repurchase of such Indebtedness; or any Indebtedness if the aggregate amount of such Indebtedness is $2,500,000 shall be declared due and payable (by acceleration or otherwise) by a Person (other than a Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party) as a result of a breach, default or event of default by a Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party, or required to be prepaid, redeemed or otherwise repurchased by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party (other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment) prior to the stated maturity thereof; or the holder or holders of any Lien, securing obligations of $2,500,000 or more, shall commence foreclosure of such Lien upon property of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party; or (ii) fail in the performance or observance (beyond the applicable grace period with respect thereto, if any) of one or more Material Contracts representing, in the aggregate, 10% or more of annual revenue or expense of the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis during the trailing 12-month period measured as of the most recently completed Fiscal Quarter (other than those covered in clause (i) hereof) and (A) such failure together with any other such failures, has a Material Adverse Effect, whether as a result of termination or cancellation of any such Material Contract or otherwise, or (B) such failure (1) is not reasonably subject to cure by such Credit Parties and is not reasonably likely to be waived by the other contracting party, (2) would permit the other contracting party to cancel or terminate such Material Contract and (3) such termination or cancellation could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(f) Voluntary Bankruptcy Proceeding . Any Credit Party (i) shall institute any proceeding or voluntary case seeking to adjudicate it as bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking dissolution, liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief or composition of it or its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or relief of debtors, or seeking the entry of an order for relief or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, receiver and manager, interim receiver, sequestration, administrator, monitor, custodian or other similar official for any such Credit Party or any Subsidiaries or for any substantial part of its property, (ii) shall consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary bankruptcy case or to the conversion of an involuntary case to a voluntary case under bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization law, (iii) shall be generally not paying its debts as such debts become due or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally, (iv) shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or (v) shall take any action to authorize or effect any of the actions set forth above in this Section 10.01(f) .

(g) Involuntary Bankruptcy Proceeding .

(i) An involuntary case shall be commenced against any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party and the petition shall not be dismissed, stayed, bonded or discharged within sixty (60) days; or a court having jurisdiction shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of such Credit Party or Subsidiary of a Credit Party in an involuntary case, under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereinafter in effect; or any other similar relief shall be granted under any applicable federal, state, provincial, local or foreign law; or the board of directors of such Credit Party or Subsidiary of a Credit Party (or any committee thereof) adopts any resolution or otherwise authorizes any action to approve any of the foregoing.

(ii) A decree or order of a court having jurisdiction for the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, sequestrator, trustee, receiver and manager, administrator, monitor, custodian or other officer having similar powers over any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party or over all or a substantial part of their respective assets shall be entered; or an interim receiver, trustee or other custodian of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party or of all or a substantial part of their respective assets shall be appointed or a warrant of attachment, execution or similar process against any substantial part of their respective assets shall be issued and any such event shall not be stayed, dismissed, bonded or discharged within sixty (60) days; or the board of directors of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party (or any committee thereof) adopts any resolution or otherwise authorizes any action to approve any of the foregoing.

(h) Invalidity of Documents . A court of competent jurisdiction shall declare that any material provision of any Loan Document shall at any time for any reason (other than pursuant to the express terms thereof) cease to be valid and binding on or enforceable against a Credit Party intended to be a party thereto; or the validity or enforceability thereof shall be contested by any Credit Party that is a party thereto; or a proceeding shall be commenced by a Credit Party or any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over any Credit Party, seeking to establish the invalidity or unenforceability thereof; or a Credit Party shall deny in writing that it has any liability or obligation purported to be created under any Loan Document.

 

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(i) Loan Documents; Impairment . At any time, for any reason, (i) any Loan Document shall for any reason (other than pursuant to the express terms hereof or thereof) fail or cease to create a valid and perfected Lien on any Collateral or the Liens intended to be created or perfected thereby are, or any Credit Party seeks to render such Liens, invalid or unperfected with respect to any Collateral except as otherwise contemplated hereby or thereby, or (ii) Liens with respect to any Collateral in favor of the Collateral Agent contemplated by the Loan Documents shall be invalidated or otherwise cease to be in full force and effect, or such Liens shall be subordinated or shall not have the priority contemplated hereby or by the other Loan Documents (subject to Permitted Liens and to the exceptions set forth in the applicable Security Documents).

(j) Judgments . (i) One or more judgments or judicial or administrative orders for the payment of money exceeding $2,500,000 in the aggregate shall be rendered against any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party and remain unsatisfied, undischarged, unvacated or unbonded and either (A) enforcement proceedings shall have been commenced by any creditor upon any such judgment or judicial or administrative order or (B) there shall be a period of twenty (20) consecutive Business Days after entry thereof during which a stay of enforcement of any such judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect; provided , however , that any such judgment or order shall not give rise to an Event of Default under this Section 10.01(j)(i) if and to the extent that (I) the amount of such judgment or order is covered by a valid and binding policy of insurance between the defendant and the insurer covering full payment thereof and (II) such insurer has been notified, and has not disputed the claim made for payment, of the amount of such judgment or order; or (ii) one or more judgments or judicial or administrative orders are rendered against any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and such judgments or orders are not stayed within 10 days of entry, or (iii) any Credit Party or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of a Credit Party asserts any claim, or commences or threatens to commence any action, litigation, or proceeding, that purports to affect the legality, validity or enforceability of any Loan Document, the Obligations or the security therefor, or any judgment or judicial or administrative order is entered in any action, litigation or proceeding brought by any other Person that purports to affect the legality, validity or enforceability of any Loan Document, the Obligations or the security therefor.

(k) Change of Control . A Change of Control shall have occurred.

(l) ERISA . With respect to any Plan or Benefit Plan, as applicable, (i) a prohibited transaction within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA occurs which could reasonably be expected to result in material liability to any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party, (ii) any accumulated funding deficiency (within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code and Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived, shall exist with respect to any Benefit Plan, or (iii) the occurrence of any ERISA Event; provided , however , that the events listed in clauses (i) through (iii)  shall constitute Events of Default only if the liability or deficiency of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party or ERISA Affiliate, would reasonably be expected to exceed $2,500,000 in the aggregate for all such events.

 

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Section 10.02. Remedies . If any Event of Default specified in Section 10.01 shall have occurred and be continuing, the Administrative Agent upon the written request of Required Lenders, or, with respect to the termination of the Commitments of the Revolving Lenders, at the written request of the Required Revolving Lenders, at any time an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, shall by written notice to the Company, take any or all of the following actions, without prejudice to the rights of any Agent or any Lender to enforce its claims against any Credit Party: (a) terminate or reduce the Commitments, whereupon the Commitments shall immediately be terminated or reduced, (b) declare all or a portion of the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable, whereupon all or such portion of the aggregate principal of such Loans and reimbursement obligations, all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, all fees and all other amounts payable under this Agreement and all other Obligations (other than Hedging Obligations) shall become immediately due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or further notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Credit Parties, (c) require the Borrower to cash collateralize all outstanding Letters of Credit in an amount equal to 105% of the face amount of such Letters of Credit (by transfer of such funds to a Cash Collateral Account) and (d) exercise any and all of its other rights and remedies hereunder, under the other Loan Documents, under Applicable Law and otherwise; provided , however , that upon the occurrence of any Event of Default described in subsection (f) or (g)  of Section 10.01 , the Commitments shall automatically terminate and the Loans and reimbursement obligations then outstanding, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, all fees and all other amounts due under this Agreement shall become immediately due and payable automatically, without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind, all of which are expressly waived by the Borrower, and provided further that the Collateral Agent shall pay and apply the proceeds of any sale or other disposition of the Collateral, or any part thereof, resulting from the exercise of the remedies as provided for in this Section 10.02 in accordance with Section 1.09(a) .

Section 10.03. Waivers by the Credit Parties . Except as otherwise provided for in this Agreement and Applicable Law, the Credit Parties waive (a) presentment, demand, protest, notice of presentment or dishonor, notice of intent to accelerate and notice of acceleration, (b) all rights to notice and a hearing prior to the Lenders’ taking possession or control of, or to the Lenders’ replevin, attachment or levy upon, any Collateral or any bond or Security which might be required by any court prior to allowing such Lenders to exercise any of their remedies, (c) the benefit of all valuation, appraisal and exemption laws and (d) all rights of set-off against any Secured Party as it applies to the payment of the Obligations. The Credit Parties acknowledge that they have been advised by counsel of their choice with respect to this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the transactions evidenced by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

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ARTICLE XI

GUARANTY OF OBLIGATIONS OF BORROWER

Section 11.01. Guaranty . In order to induce the Agents and the Secured Parties to enter into this Agreement and to make available the Loans and Letters of Credit hereunder, and in recognition of the direct benefits to be received by each Guarantor from the proceeds of the Loans and Letters of Credit, each Guarantor hereby jointly and severally agrees with each Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, as follows: each Guarantor hereby jointly, severally, unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees, as Primary Obligor and not merely as surety, the full and prompt payment when due, whether upon maturity, acceleration or otherwise, and the performance, of any and all of the Obligations of all other Credit Parties (such Obligations, collectively, the “ Guaranteed Obligations ”). If any or all of the Obligations becomes due and payable hereunder, each Guarantor jointly, severally, irrevocably and unconditionally promises to pay such Indebtedness to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

Section 11.02. Nature of Liability . The Guarantors jointly and severally agree that this Guaranty is a guaranty of payment and performance and not of collection, and that their obligations under this Guaranty shall be primary, absolute and unconditional, irrespective of, and the liability of each Guarantor shall not be affected by, nor shall this Guaranty be discharged or reduced by reason of:

(a) the genuineness, validity, regularity, enforceability or any future amendment of, or change in, this Guaranty, any other Loan Document or any other agreement, document or instrument to which any Credit Party and/or Guarantors are or may become a party;

(b) the absence of any action to enforce this Guaranty or any other Loan Document or the waiver or consent by the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Agent, the Collateral Agent and/or Secured Parties with respect to any of the provisions thereof;

(c) any other continuing or other guaranty or undertaking of any Guarantor or of any other party as to the Obligations, or any payment on or in reduction of any such other guaranty or undertaking;

(d) the incapacity or any change in the name, style or constitution of any Credit Party or any other person liable;

(e) any dissolution, termination, increase, decrease or change in personnel by the Borrower;

(f) the Collateral Agent granting any time, indulgence or concession to, or compounding with, discharging, releasing or varying the liability of, any Credit Party or any other person liable or renewing, determining, varying or increasing any accommodation, facility or transaction or otherwise dealing with the same in any manner whatsoever or concurring in, accepting or varying any compromise, arrangement or settlement or omitting to claim or enforce payment from any Credit Party or any other person liable;

(g) the existence, value or condition of, or failure to perfect its Lien against, any Collateral for the Guaranteed Obligations or any action, or the absence of any action, by the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Agent or the Collateral Agent in respect thereof (including, without limitation, the release of any such Collateral);

 

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(h) the insolvency of any Credit Party, or any payment made to any Agent or Secured Party on the Obligations which any such Agent or Secured Party repays to any Credit Party pursuant to a court order in any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, moratorium or other debtor relief proceeding, and each Guarantor waives any right to the deferral or modification of its obligations hereunder by reason of any such proceeding;

(i) any act or omission which would not have discharged or affected the liability of any Guarantor had it been a principal debtor instead of a Guarantor or by anything done or omitted which but for this provision might operate to exonerate or discharge any Guarantor; or

(j) any other action or circumstances which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or Guarantor.

Section 11.03. Independent Obligation .

(a) The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder are independent of the obligations of any other Guarantor, any other party or the Borrower, and a separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against each Guarantor whether or not action is brought against any other Guarantor, any other party or the Borrower and whether or not any other Guarantor, any other party or the Borrower be joined in any such action or actions.

(b) Each Guarantor shall be regarded, and shall be in the same position, as principal debtor with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations. Each Guarantor jointly and severally agrees that any notice or directive given at any time to any Agent that is inconsistent with this Section 11.03 shall be null and void and may be ignored by the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Agent, the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties, and, in addition, may not be pleaded or introduced as evidence in any litigation relating to this Guaranty for the reason that such pleading or introduction would be at variance with the written terms of this Guaranty, unless the Agents and the Secured Parties have specifically agreed otherwise in writing. It is agreed by and among the Guarantors, jointly and severally, the Agents and the Secured Parties that the foregoing waivers are of the essence of the transaction contemplated by the Loan Documents and that, but for this Guaranty and such waivers, the Agents and the Secured Parties would decline to enter into this Agreement.

Section 11.04. Demand by the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Agent or the Secured Parties . In addition to the terms of the Guaranty set forth in Section 11.01 , and in no manner imposing any limitation on such terms, it is expressly understood and agreed that, if, at any time, the outstanding principal amount of the Guaranteed Obligations under this Agreement (including all accrued interest thereon) is declared to be immediately due and payable, then the Guarantors shall, without demand, pay to the holders of the Guaranteed Obligations the entire outstanding Guaranteed Obligations due and owing to such holders. Payment by the Guarantors shall be made to the Administrative Agent or the Revolving Agent in immediately available funds to an account designated by the Administrative Agent or the Revolving Agent, as the case may be, or at the address set forth herein for the giving of notice to the Administrative Agent or the Revolving Agent or at any other address that may be specified in writing from time to time by the Administrative Agent or the Revolving Agent, and shall be credited and applied to the Guaranteed Obligations.

 

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Section 11.05. Enforcement of Guaranty . In no event shall the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or the Revolving Agent have any obligation (although it is entitled, at its option) to proceed against the Borrower or any other Credit Party or any Collateral pledged to secure Guaranteed Obligations before seeking satisfaction from any or all of the Guarantors, and the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or the Revolving Agent may proceed, prior or subsequent to, or simultaneously with, the enforcement of the Administrative Agent’s, the Collateral Agent’s or the Revolving Agent’s rights hereunder, to exercise any right or remedy it may have against any Collateral, as a result of any Lien it may have as security for all or any portion of the Guaranteed Obligations.

Section 11.06. Waiver . In addition to the waivers contained in Section 11.02 , the Guarantors waive, and agree jointly and severally that they shall not at any time insist upon, plead or in any manner claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any appraisal, valuation, stay, extension, marshaling of assets or redemption law, or exemption, whether now or at any time hereafter in force, which may delay, prevent or otherwise affect the performance by the Guarantors of their Guaranteed Obligations under, or the enforcement by the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Agent or the Secured Parties of, the Guaranty. The Guarantors hereby waive diligence, presentment and demand (whether for non payment or protest or of acceptance, maturity, extension of time, change in nature or form of the Guaranteed Obligations, acceptance of further Collateral, release of further Collateral, composition or agreement arrived at as to the amount of, or the terms of, the Guaranteed Obligations, notice of adverse change in the Borrower’s financial condition or any other fact which might increase the risk to the Guarantors) with respect to any of the Guaranteed Obligations or all other demands whatsoever and waive the benefit of all provisions of law which are or might be in conflict with the terms of the Guaranty. The Guarantors represent, warrant and jointly and severally agree that, as of the date of this Agreement, their obligations under the Guaranty are not subject to any offsets or defenses against the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Agent, the Collateral Agent or the Secured Parties or any Credit Party of any kind. The Guarantors further jointly and severally agree that their obligations under this Guaranty shall not be subject to any counterclaims, offsets or defenses against the Collateral Agent, the Revolving Agent, the Administrative Agent or any Secured Party or against any Credit Party of any kind which may arise in the future.

Section 11.07. Benefit of Guaranty . The provisions of the Guaranty are for the benefit of the Agents and the Secured Parties and their respective permitted successors, permitted transferees, endorsees and assigns, and nothing herein contained shall impair, as between any Credit Party and the Agents or the Secured Parties, the obligations of any Credit Party under the Loan Documents. In the event all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations are transferred, endorsed or assigned by the Agents or any Secured Party to any Person or Persons in a manner permitted by this Agreement, any reference to “the Agents” or “the Secured Parties” herein shall be deemed to refer equally to such Person or Persons.

 

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Section 11.08. Modification of Guaranteed Obligations, Etc. Each Guarantor hereby acknowledges and agrees jointly and severally that the Agents and the Secured Parties may at any time or from time to time, with or without the consent of, or notice to, the Guarantors (in their capacity as Guarantors):

(a) change or extend the manner, place or terms of payment of, or renew or alter all or any portion of, the Guaranteed Obligations;

(b) take any action under or in respect of the Loan Documents in the exercise of any remedy, power or privilege contained therein or available to it at law, equity or otherwise, or waive or refrain from exercising any such remedies, powers or privileges;

(c) amend or modify, in any manner whatsoever, the Loan Documents;

(d) extend or waive the time for any Credit Party’s performance of, or compliance with, any term, covenant or agreement on its part to be performed or observed under the Loan Documents, or waive such performance or compliance or consent to a failure of, or departure from, such performance or compliance;

(e) take and hold Collateral for the payment of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby or sell, exchange, release, dispose of, or otherwise deal with, any property pledged, mortgaged or conveyed, or in which the Agents or the Secured Parties have been granted a Lien, to secure any Obligations;

(f) release anyone who may be liable in any manner for the payment of any amounts owed by the Guarantors or any Credit Party to the Agents or any Secured Party;

(g) modify or terminate the terms of any intercreditor or subordination agreement pursuant to which claims of other creditors of any Guarantor or any other Credit Party are subordinated to the claims of the Agents and the Secured Parties; and/or

(h) apply any sums by whomever paid or however realized to any amounts owing by any Guarantor or any other Credit Party to any Agent or any Secured Party in such manner as any Agent or any Secured Party shall determine in its discretion.

The Agents and the Secured Parties shall not incur any liability to the Guarantors as a result of any of the foregoing actions, and no such action shall impair or release the Guaranteed Obligations of the Guarantors or any of them under the Guaranty.

Section 11.09. Reinstatement .

(a) The Guaranty shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against any Credit Party or any Guarantor for liquidation or reorganization, should any Credit Party or any Guarantor become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors or should a receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any significant part of any Credit Party’s or any Guarantor’s assets, and shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any part thereof, is, pursuant to Applicable Law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any Agent or any Secured Party, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent conveyance,” or otherwise, all as though such payment or performance had not been made. In the event that any payment, or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Guaranteed Obligations shall be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

 

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(b) If any claim is ever made upon any Agent or Secured Party for repayment or recovery of any amount or amounts received in payment or on account of any of the Obligations and any of the aforesaid payees repays all or part of said amount by reason of (i) any judgment, decree or order of any court or administrative body having jurisdiction over such payee or any of its property or (ii) compliance by the Secured Parties or the Agents with any requirement of a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Secured Parties or the Agents, then and in such event each Guarantor jointly and severally agrees that any such judgment, decree or order shall be binding upon it, notwithstanding any revocation of the Guaranty or other instrument evidencing any liability of the Borrower or any termination of this Agreement, and each Guarantor shall be and remain liable to the aforesaid payees hereunder for the amount so repaid or recovered to the same extent as if such amount had never originally been received by any such payee. In the event that any payment, or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or returned, the Guaranteed Obligations shall be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

Section 11.10. Waiver of Subrogation, Etc. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Guaranty or in any other Loan Document, each Guarantor hereby:

(a) until the indefeasible payment and satisfaction in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations, expressly waives, on behalf of itself and its successors and assigns (including any surety), any and all rights at law or in equity to subrogation, to reimbursement, to exoneration, to contribution, to indemnification, to set off or to any other rights that could accrue to a surety against a principal, to any Guarantor against a principal, to any Guarantor against a maker or obligor, to an accommodation party against the party accommodated, to a holder or transferee against a maker, or to the holder of any claim against any Person, and which any Guarantor may have or hereafter acquire against any other Credit Party in connection with or as a result of any Guarantor’s execution, delivery and/or performance of this Agreement; and

(b) acknowledges and agrees jointly and severally (i) that this waiver is intended to benefit the Agents and the Secured Parties and shall not limit or otherwise effect any Guarantor’s liability hereunder or the enforceability of the Guaranty and (ii) that the Agents, the Secured Parties and their respective successors and assigns are intended third-party beneficiaries of the waivers and agreements set forth in this Section 11.10 and their rights under this Section 11.10 shall survive payment in full of the Guaranteed Obligations.

 

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Section 11.11. Election of Remedies . If any Agent may, under Applicable Law, proceed to realize benefits under any of the Loan Documents giving the Agents and the Secured Parties a Lien upon any Collateral owned by any Credit Party, either by judicial foreclosure or by non judicial sale or enforcement, the Collateral Agent may, at its sole option, determine which of such remedies or rights it may pursue without affecting any of such rights and remedies under this Guaranty. If, in the exercise of any of its rights and remedies, the Collateral Agent shall forfeit any of its rights or remedies, including its right to enter a deficiency judgment against any Credit Party, whether because of any applicable laws pertaining to “election of remedies” or the like, the Guarantors hereby consent to such action by any Agent and waive any claim based upon such action, even if such action by any Agent shall result in a full or partial loss of any rights of subrogation which the Guarantors might otherwise have had but for such action by any Agent. Any election of remedies that results in the denial or impairment of the right of any Agent to seek a deficiency judgment against any Credit Party shall not impair each Guarantor’s obligation to pay the full amount of the Guaranteed Obligations. In the event any Agent shall bid at any foreclosure or trustee’s sale or at any private sale permitted by law or the Loan Documents, such Agent may bid all or less than the amount of the Guaranteed Obligations and the amount of such bid need not be paid by such Agent but shall be credited against the Guaranteed Obligations. The amount of the successful bid at any such sale shall be conclusively deemed to be the fair market value of the Collateral and the difference between such bid amount and the remaining balance of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be conclusively deemed to be the amount of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed under the Guaranty, notwithstanding that any present or future law or court decision or ruling may have the effect of reducing the amount of any deficiency claim to which the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties might otherwise be entitled but for such bidding at any such sale.

Section 11.12. Limitation on Amount Guaranteed; Contribution by Guarantors . Anything contained in this Article XI to the contrary notwithstanding, if any Fraudulent Transfer Law (as defined below) is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be applicable to the obligations of any Guarantor under this Agreement, such obligations of such Guarantor hereunder shall be limited to a maximum aggregate amount equal to the largest amount that would not render its obligations hereunder subject to avoidance as a fraudulent transfer or conveyance under Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code or any applicable provisions of comparable state law (collectively, the “ Fraudulent Transfer Laws ”), in each case after giving effect to all other liabilities of such Guarantor, contingent or otherwise, that are relevant under the Fraudulent Transfer Laws (excluding, however, any liabilities of such Guarantor (a) in respect of intercompany indebtedness to the Borrower or other affiliates of the Borrower to the extent that such indebtedness would be discharged in an amount equal to the amount paid by such Guarantor hereunder and (b) under any guarantee of any subordinated indebtedness which guarantee contains a limitation as to maximum amount similar to that set forth in this Section 11.12 , pursuant to which the liability of such Guarantor hereunder is included in the liabilities taken into account in determining such maximum amount).

Section 11.13. Additional Waivers . Each Guarantor waives all rights and defenses that the Guarantors may have because the Borrower’s Obligations are secured by real property. This means, among other things:

(i) The Secured Parties may collect from the Guarantors without first foreclosing on any real or personal property collateral pledged by the Borrower.

(ii) If the Secured Parties foreclose on any real property collateral pledged by the Borrower, (1) the amount of the Obligations may be reduced only by the price for which that collateral is sold at the foreclosure sale, even if the collateral is worth more than the sale price or (2) the Secured Parties may collect from the Guarantors even if the Secured Parties, by foreclosing on the real property collateral, have destroyed any right the Guarantors may have to collect from the Borrower.

 

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This is an unconditional and irrevocable waiver of any rights and defenses the Guarantors may have because the debtor’s debt is secured by real property. These rights and defenses include, but are not limited to, any rights or defenses based upon Section 580a, 580b, 580d, or 726 of the California Code of Civil Procedure or similar provisions in any other jurisdiction.

ARTICLE XII

THE AGENTS

Section 12.01. Appointment of Agents .

(a) Each Participating Lender hereby irrevocably designates and appoints MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC. as Administrative Agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED, as Collateral Agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and THE CIT GROUP/BUSINESS CREDIT, INC. as Revolving Agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. The provisions of this Article 12 are solely for the benefit of the Agents, the Agent-Related Persons and the Participating Lenders and no Credit Party nor any other Person, other than permitted sub-agents, shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary of any of the provisions hereof. In performing its functions and duties under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, each Agent shall act solely as an agent of Lenders and does not assume and shall not be deemed to have assumed any obligation toward or relationship of agency or trust with or for any Credit Party or any other Person. No Agent shall have duties or responsibilities except for those expressly set forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Unless otherwise provided, each Agent may execute its functions and duties under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents by or through any Agent-Related Person and shall be entitled to the advice of counsel concerning all matters pertaining to such functions and duties. No Agent shall be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any agent or attorney-in-fact that it selects as long as such selection was made without gross negligence or willful misconduct. The duties of each Agent shall be mechanical and administrative in nature and no Agent shall have, or be deemed to have, by reason of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or otherwise, a fiduciary relationship in respect of any Secured Party or any other Person. Except to the extent, if any, expressly set forth otherwise in this Agreement, no Agent shall have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for failure to disclose, any information relating to any Credit Party, any of such Credit Party’s Subsidiaries, any Account Debtor or any other Person that is communicated to or obtained by any Agent-Related Person in any capacity. No Agent-Related Person shall be liable to any Secured Party for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or in connection herewith or therewith, except for damages caused by its own gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

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(b) If any Agent shall request instructions from the Required Lenders, Required Revolving Lenders, Required Term Lenders or all affected Lenders with respect to any act or action (including a failure to act) in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, then such Agent shall be entitled to refrain from taking any action (or to take any action) with respect thereto, unless and until such Agent shall have received instructions from the Required Lenders, Required Revolving Lenders, Required Term Lenders or all affected Lenders, as the case may be, and no Agent shall incur liability to any Person by reason of so refraining from acting (or taking any action). Each Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any action hereunder or under any other Loan Document (a) if such action would, in the opinion of such Agent, be contrary to law or the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (b) if such action would, in the opinion of such Agent, expose such Agent to any claim or liability to any Person (including without limitation Environmental Liabilities and Costs) or (c) if such Agent shall not first be indemnified to its satisfaction against any and all liability and expense which may be incurred by it by reason of taking or continuing to take any such action. Without limiting the foregoing, no Participating Lender shall have any claim or right of action whatsoever against any Agent as a result of such Agent acting or refraining from acting hereunder or under any other Loan Document in accordance with the instructions of Required Lenders, Required Revolving Lenders, Required Term Lenders or all affected Lenders.

Section 12.02. Agents’ Reliance, Etc. No Agent-Related Person shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it under or in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, except to the extent of actual damages, if any, caused by such Agent-Related Person’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Agent: (a) may treat the payee of any Note as the holder thereof until the Administrative Agent or Revolving Agent, as the case may be, receives written notice of the assignment or transfer thereof signed by such payee and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Agent; (b) may consult with legal counsel, independent public accountants and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts; (c) makes no warranty or representation to any Secured Party and shall not be responsible to any Secured Party for any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents; (d) shall not have any duty to ascertain or to inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents on the part of any Credit Party or to inspect the Collateral (including the books and records) of any Credit Party; (e) shall not be responsible to any Secured Party for the due execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto or thereto; and (f) shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents by acting upon any notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing (which may be by telecopy) believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent by the proper party or parties.

Section 12.03. Agents in Individual Capacities . With respect to its Commitments hereunder, each Agent shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not an Agent; and the term “Lender” or “Lenders” shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated, include each of the Agents in its individual capacity. Each Agent and its respective Affiliates may lend money to, invest in, and generally engage in any kind of business with, any Credit Party, any Credit Party’s Affiliate and any Person that may do business with or own securities of any Credit Party or any such Affiliate, all as if such Agent were not an Agent and without any duty to account therefor to Lenders. Each Agent and its respective Affiliates may accept fees and other consideration from any Credit Party for services in connection with this Agreement or otherwise without having to account for the same to Lenders. Each Lender acknowledges the potential conflict of interest between the Agents in their capacity as Lenders holding disproportionate interests in the Loans and Agents in their capacity as Agents and expressly consents to, and waives any claim based in whole or in part upon, such conflict of interest.

 

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Section 12.04. Lender Credit Decision . Each Lender and each other Secured Party acknowledges that none of the Agent-Related Persons has made any representation or warranty to it, and that no act by any Agent-Related Person hereinafter taken, including any review of the affairs or Property of the Credit Parties, shall be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by any Agent-Related Person to any Lender or any other Secured Party. Each Lender and each other Secured Party also acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person, any Lender or any Secured Party and based on such documents and information as such Lender or such other Secured Party has deemed appropriate, made its own credit and financial analysis of the Credit Parties and its own decision to enter into this Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. Each Lender and each other Secured Party also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon any Agent-Related Person or any other Secured Party and based on such documents and information as such Lender or such Secured Party shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement, the other Loan Documents or otherwise. Except for notices, reports and other documents expressly herein required to be furnished to the Lenders by such Agent, if any, no Agent-Related Person shall have any duty or responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other information concerning the business, prospectus, operations, Property, financial and other condition or creditworthiness of the Borrower or any other Person, whether or not party to a Loan Document, that may come into the possession of any of the Agent-Related Persons. Each Lender acknowledges the potential conflict of interest of each other Lender as a result of Lenders holding disproportionate interests in the Loans, and expressly consents to, and waives any claim based upon, such conflict of interest.

Section 12.05. Costs and Expenses; Indemnification . Each Lender hereby agrees that it is and shall be obligated to pay to or reimburse each Agent for the amount of such Lender’s Pro Rata Share of any fees, costs, and expenses incurred by such Agent or permitted sub-agent in the performance of its functions and duties under this Agreement and the Loan Documents to the extent that the Credit Parties have not done so and without limiting their obligation to do so. The Lenders agree to indemnify the Agents and permitted sub-agents (to the extent not reimbursed by Credit Parties and without limiting the obligations of Credit Parties hereunder), ratably according to their respective Pro Rata Shares, from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever that may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against any Agent or permitted sub-agent in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any action taken or omitted to be taken by any Agent or permitted sub-agent in connection therewith; provided that no Lender shall be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting from such Agent’s or permitted sub-agent’s own gross negligence or willful misconduct. Without limiting the foregoing, each Lender agrees to reimburse each Agent or permitted sub-agent promptly upon demand for its ratable share of any out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable counsel fees) incurred by such Agent or permitted sub-agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement and each other Loan Document, to the extent that such Agent or permitted sub-agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by Credit Parties.

 

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Section 12.06. Successor Agents .

(a) The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving not less than thirty (30) days’ prior written notice thereof to the other Agents, the Participating Lenders and the Company. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Administrative Agent with the consent of the Company (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that such consent shall not be required if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. If no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days following the resigning Administrative Agent’s giving notice of resignation, then the resigning Administrative Agent may (after consulting with the Company), on behalf of Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be a Lender, if a Lender is willing to accept such appointment, or otherwise shall be a commercial bank or financial institution or a subsidiary of a commercial bank or financial institution if such commercial bank or financial institution is organized under the laws of the United States of America or of any State thereof and has a combined capital and surplus of at least three hundred million Dollars ($300,000,000). If no successor Administrative Agent has been appointed pursuant to the foregoing, within thirty (30) days following the date such notice of resignation was given by the resigning Administrative Agent, such resignation shall become effective and the Required Lenders shall thereafter perform all the duties of such Administrative Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Administrative Agent as provided above. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative Agent shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the resigning Administrative Agent. Upon the earlier of the acceptance of any appointment as such Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor Administrative Agent or the effective date of the resigning Agent’s resignation, the resigning Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, except that any indemnity rights or other rights in favor of such resigning Administrative Agent shall continue. After any resigning Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Article XII shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was acting as Administrative Agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

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(b) The Collateral Agent may resign at any time by giving not less than thirty (30) days’ prior written notice thereof to the other Agents, the Lenders and the Company. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Collateral Agent with the consent of the Company (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that such consent shall not be required if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. If no successor Collateral Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the resigning Collateral Agent’s giving notice of resignation, then the resigning Collateral Agent may (after consulting with the Company), on behalf of Lenders, appoint a successor Collateral Agent, which shall be a Lender, if a Lender is willing to accept such appointment, or otherwise shall be a commercial bank or financial institution or a subsidiary of a commercial bank or financial institution if such commercial bank or financial institution is organized under the laws of the United States of America or of any State thereof and has a combined capital and surplus of at least three hundred million Dollars ($300,000,000). If no successor Collateral Agent has been appointed pursuant to the foregoing, within thirty (30) days following the date such notice of resignation was given by the resigning Collateral Agent, such resignation shall become effective and the Required Lenders shall thereafter perform all the duties of such Collateral Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Collateral Agent as provided above. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Collateral Agent hereunder by a successor Collateral Agent, such successor Collateral Agent shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the resigning Collateral Agent. Upon the earlier of the acceptance of any appointment as such Collateral Agent hereunder by a successor Collateral Agent or the effective date of the resigning Collateral Agent’s resignation, the resigning Collateral Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, except that any indemnity rights or other rights in favor of such resigning Collateral Agent shall continue. After any resigning Collateral Agent’s resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Article XII shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was acting as Collateral Agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

(c) The Revolving Agent may resign at any time by giving not less than thirty (30) days’ prior written notice thereof to the other Agents, the L/C Issuer, the Lenders and the Company. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Revolving Agent with the consent of the Company (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed); provided that such consent shall not be required if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. If no successor Revolving Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) days after the resigning Revolving Agent’s giving notice of resignation, then the resigning Revolving Agent may (after consulting with the Company), on behalf of Lenders, appoint a successor Revolving Agent, which shall be a Lender, if a Lender is willing to accept such appointment, or otherwise shall be a commercial bank or financial institution or a subsidiary of a commercial bank or financial institution if such commercial bank or financial institution is organized under the laws of the United States of America or of any State thereof and has a combined capital and surplus of at least three hundred million Dollars ($300,000,000). If no successor Revolving Agent has been appointed pursuant to the foregoing, within thirty (30) days after the date such notice of resignation was given by the resigning Revolving Agent, such resignation shall become effective and the Required Revolving Lenders shall thereafter perform all the duties of such Revolving Agent hereunder until such time, if any, as the Required Lenders appoint a successor Revolving Agent as provided above. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Revolving Agent hereunder by a successor Revolving Agent, such successor Revolving Agent shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the resigning Revolving Agent. Upon the earlier of the acceptance of any appointment as such Revolving Agent hereunder by a successor Revolving Agent or the effective date of the resigning Revolving Agent’s resignation, the resigning Revolving Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, except that any indemnity rights or other rights in favor of such resigning Revolving Agent shall continue. After any resigning Revolving Agent’s resignation hereunder, the provisions of this Article XII shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was acting as Revolving Agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

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(d) Collateral Sub-Agents . Each Lender by its execution and delivery of this Agreement (or any joinder hereto or any Assignment and Acceptance hereunder) agrees that, in the event it shall hold any monies or other investments on account of the Credit Parties, such monies or other investments shall be held in the name and under the control of the Administrative Agent, Revolving Agent or such Lender, and the Administrative Agent, Revolving Agent or such Lender shall hold such monies or other investments as a collateral sub-agent for the Collateral Agent under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. The Credit Parties, by their execution and delivery of this Agreement, hereby consent to the foregoing.

Section 12.07. Collateral Matters .

(a) Each Participating Lender hereby irrevocably authorizes the Collateral Agent and any permitted sub-agent, at its option and in its sole discretion, to release any Lien on any or all Collateral (i) upon the termination of the Commitments and the payment and satisfaction in full of all Obligations; (ii) constituting property being sold or disposed of if a release is required or desirable in connection therewith and if the Company certifies in writing to the Collateral Agent that the sale or disposition is permitted under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (and the Collateral Agent may rely conclusively on any such certificate, without further inquiry); (iii) constituting Property in which the Credit Parties owned no interest at the time the security interest was granted or at any time thereafter; (iv) constituting property leased to the Credit Parties under a lease that has expired or is terminated in a transaction permitted under this Agreement; or (v) constituting Equipment which, in the aggregate with all other dispositions of Equipment covered by this clause (v) , has a fair market value or book value, whichever is less, of five million Dollars ($5,000,000) or less over the life of the Loans. Upon request by the Collateral Agent or the Company at any time, the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Agent and the Lenders will confirm in writing the Collateral Agent’s authority to release any such Liens on particular types or items of Collateral pursuant to this Section 12.07 . Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Collateral Agent is not and shall not be required to execute any document necessary to evidence the release of any Lien on terms that, in the Collateral Agent’s opinion, would expose the Collateral Agent to liability, create any obligation, or entail any consequence other than the release of such Lien without recourse, representation, or warranty. No release of any Lien shall in any manner discharge, affect, or impair the Obligations or any other Lien, including, the Collateral Agent’s Lien upon the proceeds of sale of any Collateral that is the subject of any such release.

(b) The Collateral Agent shall have no obligation whatsoever to any Secured Party (i) to assure that the Collateral exists or is owned by the applicable Credit Party or is cared for, protected, or insured or has been encumbered, or (ii) to assure that the Liens of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party have been properly or sufficiently or lawfully created, perfected, protected, or enforced or are entitled to any particular priority, or (iii) to exercise at all or in any particular manner or under any duty of care, disclosure or fidelity, or to continue exercising, any of the rights, authorities and powers granted or available to the Collateral Agent pursuant to any of the Loan Documents. It is understood and agreed that in respect of the Collateral, or any act, omission or event related thereto, subject to the terms and conditions contained herein, the Collateral Agent may act in any manner it may deem appropriate, in its sole discretion given the Collateral Agent’s own interest in the Collateral and in its capacity as one of the Secured Parties and that the Collateral Agent shall have no other duty or liability whatsoever to any Secured Party as to any of the foregoing, except as otherwise provided herein.

 

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Section 12.08. Collateral Restrictions on Actions by the Agents and the Participating Lenders; Sharing Payments . Subject to Section 12.03 , if, at any time or times any Participating Lender shall receive (a) by payment, foreclosure, set-off or otherwise, any proceeds of Collateral for application to any of the Obligations or any other payments with respect to the Obligations arising under, or relating to, this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, except for any such proceeds or payments received by such Participating Lender from the Administrative Agent or the Revolving Agent pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or (b) payments from the Administrative Agent or the Revolving Agent in excess of such Participating Lender’s ratable portion of all such distributions by the Administrative Agent or the Revolving Agent, such Participating Lender promptly shall turn the same over to the Administrative Agent or the Revolving Agent, in kind, and with such endorsements as may be required to negotiate the same to the Administrative Agent or the Revolving Agent, or in same-day funds, as applicable, for the account of the Participating Lenders and for apportionment and application to the Obligations in accordance with this Agreement.

Section 12.09. Several Obligations; No Liability . Notwithstanding that certain of the Loan Documents now or hereafter may have been or will be executed only by or in favor of an Agent in its capacity as such, and not by or in favor of the Participating Lenders, any and all obligations on the part of the Administrative Agent or the Revolving Agent, if any, to make any credit available hereunder shall constitute the several (and not joint) obligations of the respective Participating Lenders on a ratable basis, according to their respective Commitments, to make an amount of such credit not to exceed, in principal amount, at any one time outstanding, the amount of their respective Commitments. Nothing contained herein shall confer upon any Participating Lender any interest in, or subject any Participating Lender to any liability for, or in respect of, the business, assets, profits, losses, or liabilities of any other Participating Lender. Each Participating Lender shall be solely responsible for notifying its Participants of any matters relating to the Loan Documents to the extent any such notice may be required, and no Participating Lender shall have any obligation, duty, or liability to any Participant of any other Participating Lender. Except as provided in Section 12.05 , no Agent-Related Person and no Participating Lender shall have any liability for the acts of any other Agent-Related Person or any other Participating Lender. No Participating Lender shall be responsible to the Credit Parties or any other Person for any failure by any other Participating Lender to fulfill its obligations to make credit available hereunder, nor to advance for it or on its behalf in connection with its Commitment, nor to take any other action on its behalf hereunder or in connection with the financing contemplated herein.

 

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Section 12.10. Several Obligations; No Liability . Notwithstanding that certain of the Loan Documents now or hereafter may have been or will be executed only by or in favor of an Agents in their capacity as such, and not by or in favor of the Lenders, any and all obligations on the part of the Administrative Agent and/or the Revolving Agent, if any, to make any credit available hereunder shall constitute the several (and not joint) obligations of the respective Lenders on a ratable basis, according to their respective Commitments, to make an amount of such credit not to exceed, in principal amount, at any one time outstanding, the amount of their respective Commitments. Nothing contained herein shall confer upon any Lender any interest in, or subject any Lender to any liability for, or in respect of, the business, assets, profits, losses, or liabilities of any other Lenders. Each Lender shall be solely responsible for notifying its Participating Lenders of any matters relating to the Loan Documents to the extent any such notice may be required, and no Lender shall have any obligation, duty, or liability to any Participating Lender of any other Lender. Except as provided expressly herein, no Agent and no Lender shall have any liability for the acts of any other Agent or any other Lender. No Lender shall be responsible to the Borrowers or any other Person for any failure by any other Lender to fulfill its obligations to make credit available hereunder, nor to advance for it or on its behalf in connection with its Commitment, nor to take any other action on its behalf hereunder, under any other Loan Document or in connection with the financing contemplated herein.

ARTICLE XIII

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 13.01. Notices, Etc . All notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed, telecopied, emailed or delivered:

if to any Credit Party, at the following address :

Global Power Equipment Group Inc.

6120 South Yale, Suite 1480

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74136

United States

Attention: Candice Cheeseman, General Counsel

Phone: (918) 274-2554

Fax: (918) 274-2367

Email: ccheeseman@globalpower.com

with a copy to :

White & Case LLP

1155 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10036

Attention: David E. Joyce

Phone: (212) 819-8200

Fax: (212) 354-8113

Email: djoyce@whitecase.com

 

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Conner & Winters, LLP

4000 One Williams Center

Tulsa, OK 74172-1048

Attn: Gary Betow

Tel: (918) 586-5714

Fax: (918) 586-8688

if to the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, at the following address :

Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc.

1585 Broadway, Floor 2

New York, New York 10036

United States

Attention: Jim Farner

Phone: 212-761-1596

Fax: 212-507-2086

Email: jim.farner@morganstanley.com

Or

Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc.

1585 Broadway, Floor 2

New York, New York 10036

United States

Attention: Jim Farner

Phone: 212-761-1596

Fax: 212-507-2086

Email: jim.farner@morganstanley.com

In each case, with a copy to :

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

1888 Century Park East

Los Angeles, California 90067-1725

United States

Attention: Hydee R. Feldstein

Phone: +1-310-712-6690

Fax: +1-310-712-8800

Email: feldsteinh@sullcrom.com

if to the Revolving Agent, at the following address :

The CIT Group/Business Credit, Inc.

11 West 42 nd , 13 th Floor

New York, New York 10036

United States

Attention: Renee Singer

Phone: (212) 461-7751

Fax: (212) 461-7760

Email: renee.singer@cit.com

 

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with a copy to :

The CIT Group/Business Credit, Inc.

11 West 42 nd , 13 th Floor

New York, New York 10036

United States

Attention: Andrew Hausspiegel

Phone: (212) 461-7720

Fax: (212) 461-7760

Email: andrew.hausspiegel@cit.com

And with a copy to :

Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP

600 Peachtree Street, NE, Suite 2400

Atlanta, Georgia 30308

United States

Attention: Chris D. Molen

Phone: (404) 815-2210

Fax: (404) 815-2424

Email: chrismolen@paulhastings.com

or, as to each party, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the other party complying as to delivery with the terms of this Section 13.01 . All such notices and other communications shall be effective, (a) if mailed, when received or five (5) Business Days after deposited in the mails as registered or certified (in each case with return receipt requested) with postage pre-paid and properly addressed, whichever occurs first, (b) if telecopied, when transmitted and confirmation received, (c) if emailed, when transmitted and confirmation acknowledged by recipient or (d) if delivered, upon delivery, except that notices to the Administrative Agent or Revolving Agent pursuant to Article I shall not be effective until received by the Administrative Agent or Revolving Agent.

Section 13.02. Amendments, Etc.

(a) Except as set forth below or as otherwise provided in this Agreement, no amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, any Loan or any other Loan Document, nor consent to any departure by any Credit Party therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Company and the Required Lenders (or the Administrative Agent at the request of the Required Lenders), and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given. Except as set forth below, all such amendments, modifications, terminations or waivers requiring the consent of any Lenders shall require the written consent of Required Lenders.

 

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(b) No amendment, modification, termination or waiver or consent shall, without the consent of the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Agent, the Company and each Lender directly affected thereby, do any of the following:

(i) increase the principal amount of any Lender’s Commitment (which action shall be deemed only to affect those Lenders whose Commitments are increased and may be approved by Required Lenders, including those Lenders whose Commitments are increased);

(ii) reduce the principal of or rate of interest on any Loan owed or any fees payable to such affected Lender;

(iii) postpone or extend any date fixed for any payment of principal or, interest due on, any Loan owed to such affected Lender;

(iv) release all or substantially all of the Collateral or the Guarantors, or subordinate the right of the Collateral Agent and the Lenders with respect to all or substantially all of the Collateral (except as expressly permitted herein or in the other Loan Documents);

(v) amend, modify or waive this Section 13.02 ; or

(vi) amend or waive the priorities established under Section 1.09 , the definitions of the terms “Required Lenders”, “Required Revolving Lenders,” “Required Term Lenders” or “Pro Rata Share”; insofar as such definitions affect the substance of this Section 13.02 .

(c) If at any time (i) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is greater than 1.2 to 1.0 for the last four Fiscal Quarter period most recently ended, and (ii) the Credit Parties, on a consolidated basis, have a Liquidity level of $5,000,000 (five million dollars) in excess of the requirement set forth in Section 9.03 as of the end of the most recently ended Fiscal Month, then any non-compliance under Section 9.01 or Section 9.02 or any Event of Default under Section 10.01 (e)(ii) may be waived and/or the covenant levels may be amended by the Required Term Lenders (or by the Administrative Agent upon the written direction of the Required Term Lenders) without the consent of any of the Revolving Lenders; provided however , that any such waiver or amendment shall not reduce the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio covenant level set forth in Section 9.02 below 1.2 to 1.0 without the consent of the Required Revolving Lenders.

(d) No amendment, modification, termination or waiver affecting the rights or duties of any Agent or any L/C Issuer under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be effective unless in writing and signed by such Agent or the L/C Issuer, as the case may be, in addition to the Lenders required hereinabove to take such action.

 

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Furthermore, no amendment, modification, termination or waiver shall be required for the Collateral Agent to take additional Collateral pursuant to any Loan Document. No notice to or demand on any Credit Party in any case shall entitle such Credit Party or any other Credit Party to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances. Any amendment, modification, termination, waiver or consent effected in accordance with this Section 13.02 shall be binding upon each Lender and each future Lender.

Section 13.03. Non-Consenting Lenders; Defaulting Lenders .

(a) If in connection with any proposed amendment, modification, waiver or termination (a “ Proposed Change ”) requiring the consent of Required Lenders or all affected Lenders, the consent of the Required Term Lenders and the Required Revolving Lenders and the consent of the Administrative Agent has been obtained, but the consent of other Lenders or Agents whose consent is required has not been obtained (any Lender whose consent is obtained as described in this Section 13.03 being referred to as a “ Consenting Lender ,” and any Lender whose consent is not obtained as described in this Section 13.03 being referred to as a “ Non-Consenting Lender ”), then at the Borrower’s request the Administrative Agent (or a Person reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) shall have the right (but shall have no obligation), with the Administrative Agent’s written consent and in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion, to purchase for Cash from any such Non-Consenting Lenders, and all such Non-Consenting Lenders agree that they shall, upon Administrative Agent’s request, sell and assign to Administrative Agent (or to such Person), all right, title and interest of such Non-Consenting Lender under the Loan Documents for an amount equal to the principal balance of all Loans held by such Non-Consenting Lender and all accrued interest and fees (but not including any Prepayment Fee) with respect thereto through the date of sale, such purchase and sale to be consummated pursuant to an executed Assignment and Acceptance.

(b) Defaulting Lenders . The failure of any Defaulting Lender to make any Loan or any payment required to be made by such Lender hereunder shall not relieve any other Lender (each such other Lender, an “ Other Lender ”) of any of its obligations to make any Loan or payment or otherwise, but none of any Other Lender, the Administrative Agent or the Revolving Agent shall be responsible to the Credit Parties or to any other Person for the failure of any Defaulting Lender to meet its obligations hereunder. Notwithstanding anything set forth herein to the contrary, a Defaulting Lender shall not have any voting or consent rights under or with respect to any Loan Document or constitute a “Lender” (or be included in the calculation of “Required Lenders,” “Required Revolving Lenders” or “Required Term Lenders,” as applicable) for any voting or consent rights under or with respect to any Loan Document. At the Borrower’s request with the Administrative Agent’s consent and in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion, the Administrative Agent (or a Person reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent) shall have the right (but shall have no obligation) to purchase from any Defaulting Lender, and each Defaulting Lender agrees that it shall, at Administrative Agent’s request, sell and assign to Administrative Agent (or to such Person), all right, title and interest of such Defaulting Lender under the Loan Documents for an amount equal to the principal balance of all Loans held by such Defaulting Lender and all accrued interest and fees then due and other Obligations owing to such Lender (but not including any Prepayment Fee) with respect thereto through the date of sale, such purchase and sale to be consummated pursuant to an executed Assignment and Acceptance.

 

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Section 13.04. No Waiver; Remedies, Etc. No failure on the part of the Lenders or any Agent to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right under any Loan Document preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right. The rights and remedies of the Lenders and the Agents provided herein and in the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are in addition to, and not exclusive of, any rights or remedies provided by law. The rights of the Lenders and the Agents under any Loan Document against any party thereto are not conditional or contingent on any attempt by the Lenders and the Agents to exercise any of their rights under any other Loan Document against such party or against any other Person.

Section 13.05. Expenses; Taxes; Attorneys’ Fees . The Borrower will pay promptly following demand therefor, all Participating Lender Expenses. Without limitation of the foregoing or any other provision of any Loan Document: (i) the Borrower agrees to pay all stamp, document, transfer, recording or filing taxes or fees and similar impositions now or hereafter reasonably determined by the Lenders to be payable in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and the Borrower agrees to hold the Lenders harmless from and against any and all present or future claims, liabilities or losses with respect to or resulting from any omission to pay or delay in paying any such taxes, fees or impositions, (ii) the Borrower agrees to pay all broker fees with respect to any broker retained by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that may become due in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (iii) during the continuance of a Default or an Event of Default, if a Credit Party (A) fails to make any payments or deposits with respect to any taxes of any kind or nature to the extent that such payments or deposits are due and payable prior to delinquency, (B) fails to make any payments or deposits with respect to any other governmental assessment prior to the time that any Lien may inure against any property of any Credit Party, or (C) fails to make any payments or deposits with respect to any insurance premiums then due and payable or otherwise comply with Section 7.12 , then the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion and without prior notice to the Borrower, may do any or all of the following, without duplication: (1) make payment of the same or any part thereof, (2) in the case of any failure described in clause (iii)(C) above, obtain and maintain insurance policies of the type described in Section 5.01(r) and take the actions with respect to such policies which are authorized pursuant to such policies. Any payment described above in clause (2) shall not constitute an agreement by the Lenders to make similar payments in the future or a waiver by the Lenders of any Event of Default under this Agreement. The Administrative Agent and Revolving Agent need not inquire as to, or contest the validity of, any such obligation. The Administrative Agent and Revolving Agent agree to provide to the Borrower an invoice with respect to each cost or expense incurred in connection with the Loan Documents by any Lender promptly upon the Administrative Agent’s or Revolving Agent’s receipt thereof, and agree, upon the reasonable request of the Borrower, to provide reasonable backup information with respect to such costs or expenses (subject to the right of the Administrative Agent and Revolving Agent to take whatever steps are reasonably necessary to protect any confidential or privileged information which may be contained therein). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Borrower shall be required to reimburse the legal fees and expenses of more than one outside counsel (in addition to up to one local counsel in each applicable local jurisdiction) for each of (i) the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or the Participating Lenders and (ii) the Revolving Agent, in each case under this Section 13.05 unless on advice of outside counsel, representation of more than one such Person would be inappropriate due to the existence of an actual or potential conflict of interest.

 

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Section 13.06. Right of Set-Off . If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each of their respective Affiliates, is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by Applicable Law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final, in whatever currency) at any time held and other obligations (in whatever currency) at any time owing by such Lender or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any other Credit Party against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower or such Credit Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Borrower or such Credit Party may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Lender different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness. The rights of each Lender and their respective Affiliates under this Section 13.06 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of set-off) that such Lender or their respective Affiliates may have. Each Lender agrees to notify the Borrower and the Administrative Agent and Revolving Agent promptly after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application.

Section 13.07. Severability . Any provision of this Agreement, which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining portions hereof or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

Section 13.08. Complete Agreement; Sale of Interest . The Loan Documents constitute the complete agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, supersede any previous agreement or understanding between them relating hereto or thereto and may not be modified, altered or amended except by an agreement in writing signed by the Credit Parties and the Lenders in accordance with Section 13.02 . The Credit Parties may not sell, assign or transfer any of the Loan Documents or any portion thereof, including their rights, title, interests, remedies, powers and duties hereunder or thereunder. The Credit Parties hereby consent to any Lender’s sale of participations, assignment, transfer or other disposition, at any time or times, of any of the Loan Documents or of any portion thereof or interest therein, including such Lender’s rights, title, interests, remedies, powers or duties thereunder, subject, in the case of a participation, assignment, transfer or other disposition, to the provisions of Section 13.09 .

Section 13.09. Binding Effect; Assignment; Register .

(a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that no Credit Party may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by any Credit Party without such consent shall be null and void). Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Affiliates of the Administrative Agent) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

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(b) Any Lender may assign to one or more Eligible Assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Loans at the time owing to it); provided that (i) except in the case of an assignment of the entire remaining outstanding amount of the Loans at the time owing to it (determined as of the date the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) or in the case of an assignment to an entity described in clause (d) of the definition of Eligible Assignee, any such assignment shall not be less than one million Dollars ($1,000,000), unless each of the Administrative Agent and Revolving Agent otherwise consents (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), and (ii) the parties to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Acceptance. Subject to acceptance and recording thereof by the Administrative Agent pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section 13.09 , from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, the Eligible Assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, be released from its obligations under this Agreement, and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.05 , Section 3.03 , Section 3.04 , Section 13.17 , and Section 13.18 to the extent any claim thereunder relates to an event arising out of such Lender’s status or activity as Lender prior to such assignment.

(c) Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 13.09 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (e) of this Section 13.09 .

(d) The Administrative Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at the Administrative Agent’s office a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Term Lenders, and the Term Loan Commitment of, and principal amount of the Term Loan owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “ Term Register ”). The Revolving Agent, acting solely for this purpose as an agent of the Borrower, shall maintain at the Revolving Agent’s office a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Revolving Lenders, and the Revolving Commitment of, and principal amount of the Revolving Loans owing to, each Revolving Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “ Revolving Register ”). The entries in either register shall be conclusive, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement, notwithstanding notice to the contrary. Each register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower and any Lender, at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. The Borrower may request in writing a copy of either register from time to time and the Administrative Agent or the Revolving Agent, as appropriate, will promptly deliver a copy of such register to the Borrower promptly thereafter.

 

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(e) Any Lender may, without the consent of, or notice to, the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a “ Participant ”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and/or obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) the Borrower, the Agents and the Participating Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement. Any agreement or instrument pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, provided that such agreement or instrument may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver described in Section 13.02(b)(ii) or Section 13.02(b)(iii) that affects such Participant. Subject to paragraph (f) of this Section 13.09 the Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.05 , Section 3.03 and Section 3.04 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 13.09 . To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 13.05 as though it were a Lender, provided such Participant agrees to be subject to Section 12.05 as though it were a Lender.

(f) Any Lender selling a participation to a Participant shall, as agent for the Borrower, keep a register, in substantially the same form as such Lender’s respective register, of each such Participant, specifying such Participant’s entitlement to payments of principal and interest with respect to such participation.

(g) A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.05 or Article III than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with the Borrower’s prior written consent. A Participant that would be a Non-U.S. Lender if it were a Lender shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.05 unless the Borrower are notified of the participation sold to such Participant and such Participant agrees, for the benefit of the Borrower, to comply with Section 2.05 as though it were a Lender.

(h) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or the Revolving Agent, at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including without limitation (i) any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank and (ii) in the case of any Lender that is a Fund, any pledge or assignment of all or any portion of such Lender’s rights under this Agreement to any holders of obligations owed, or securities issued, by such Lender as security for such obligations or securities, or to any trustee for, or any other representative of, such holders, and this Section 13.09 shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

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Section 13.10. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents by telecopy shall have the same force and effect as the delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Agreement or any of such other Loan Documents. Any party delivering an executed counterpart of any such agreement by telecopy shall also deliver an original executed counterpart, but the failure to do so shall not affect the validity, enforceability or binding effect of such agreement.

Section 13.11. GOVERNING LAW . THIS AGREEMENT, THE NOTES AND, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT OTHERWISE PROVIDED THEREIN, THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

Section 13.12. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION, SERVICE OF PROCESS AND VENUE . ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT MAY BE BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, COUNTY OF NEW YORK OR OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND, BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT, EACH CREDIT PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY ACCEPTS IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, THE JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS. EACH CREDIT PARTY FURTHER IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS OUT OF ANY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED COURTS AND IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY THE MAILING OF COPIES THEREOF BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, POSTAGE PREPAID, TO SUCH CREDIT PARTY AT THE ADDRESS FOR NOTICES SET FORTH IN SECTION 13.01 , SUCH SERVICE TO BECOME EFFECTIVE FIVE (5) DAYS AFTER SUCH MAILING. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF THE LENDERS OR THE AGENTS TO SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR TO COMMENCE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS OR OTHERWISE PROCEED AGAINST ANY CREDIT PARTY IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. EACH CREDIT PARTY HEREBY EXPRESSLY AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE JURISDICTION OR LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY SUCH LITIGATION BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT REFERRED TO ABOVE AND ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH LITIGATION HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.

 

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Section 13.13. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL, ETC. THE CREDIT PARTIES, THE LENDERS AND THE AGENTS HEREBY WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM CONCERNING ANY RIGHTS UNDER THIS AGREEMENT, THE NOTES OR OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, OR UNDER ANY AMENDMENT, WAIVER, CONSENT, INSTRUMENT, DOCUMENT OR OTHER AGREEMENT DELIVERED OR WHICH IN THE FUTURE MAY BE DELIVERED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, OR ARISING FROM ANY FINANCING RELATIONSHIP EXISTING IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, AND AGREE THAT ANY SUCH ACTION, PROCEEDINGS OR COUNTERCLAIM SHALL BE TRIED BEFORE A COURT AND NOT BEFORE A JURY. EACH CREDIT PARTY CERTIFIES THAT NO OFFICER, REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF THE LENDERS OR THE AGENTS HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT THE LENDERS OR THE AGENTS WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVERS. EACH CREDIT PARTY HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS PROVISION IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR THE LENDERS AND THE AGENTS ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT.

Section 13.14. Consent . Except as otherwise expressly set forth herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary, if the consent, approval, satisfaction, determination, judgment, acceptance or similar action (an “ Action ”) of the Lenders or the Agents shall be permitted or required pursuant to any provision hereof or any provision of any other agreement to which the Borrower or any other Guarantors are parties and to which the Lenders or the Agents are party or have succeeded thereto, such Action shall be required to be in writing and may be withheld or denied by the Lenders or the Agents with or without any reason in their reasonable discretion.

Section 13.15. Interpretation . Neither this Agreement nor any uncertainty or ambiguity herein shall be construed or resolved against the Lenders, the Agents or the Borrower, whether under any rule of construction or otherwise. On the contrary, this Agreement has been reviewed by all parties and shall be construed and interpreted according to the ordinary meaning of the words used so as to accomplish fairly the purposes and intentions of all parties hereto.

Section 13.16. Reinstatement; Certain Payments . If any claim is ever made upon the Secured Parties or the Agents for repayment or recovery of any amount or amounts received by the Secured Parties or the Agents in payment or received on account of any of the Obligations, the Secured Parties or the Agents shall give prompt notice of such claim to the Borrower, and if the Secured Parties or the Agents repay all or part of such amount by reason of (a) any judgment, decree or order of any court of competent jurisdiction or administrative body having jurisdiction over the Secured Parties or the Agents or any of their respective property, or (b) compliance by the Secured Parties or the Agents with any requirement of a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Secured Parties or the Agents, then and in such event the Borrower agrees that (i) any such judgment, decree or order shall be binding upon it notwithstanding the cancellation of any instrument evidencing the Obligations or the other Loan Documents or the termination of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents and (ii) it shall be and remain liable to the Secured Parties or the Agents hereunder for the amount so repaid or recovered to the same extent as if such amount had never originally been received by the Secured Parties or the Agents.

 

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Section 13.17. Indemnification . In addition to the Borrower’s other Obligations under this Agreement, the Borrower agrees to defend, protect, indemnify and hold harmless the Lenders and each of their respective Affiliates and their officers, directors, trustees, employees, agents and advisors, the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Agent-Related Persons and the Lender-Related Persons (collectively called the “ Indemnitees ”) from and against any and all claims, losses, demands, settlements, damages, liabilities, obligations, penalties, fines, fees, reasonable costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses, but excluding income, franchise and similar taxes of an Indemnitee) incurred by such Indemnitees (but not taxes, which shall be governed by Section 2.05 and Section 13.05 ), whether prior to or from and after the Closing Date, as a result of or arising from or relating to or in connection with any of the following: (a) the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Agent, the Collateral Agent or the Lenders furnishing of funds to the Borrower under this Agreement, including, without limitation, the management of any such Loans, (b) any matter relating to the financing transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or by any document executed in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, (c) any claim, litigation, investigation or administrative or judicial proceeding in connection with any transaction contemplated in, or consummated under, the Loan Documents or (d) any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether or not any Indemnitee is a party thereto, including without limitation, claims, litigations, investigations or other proceedings arising out of (i) the presence, disposal, Release of any Hazardous Materials on, in, at, to, from or under any property at any time owned or occupied by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (or any of their respective predecessors in interest or title) or at any facility which received Hazardous Materials generated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective predecessors in interest in connection with the receipt of such Hazardous Materials, (ii) any alleged personal injury (including wrongful death) or property damage (real or personal) arising out of or related to any Hazardous Materials generated by any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) any investigation, lawsuit brought or threatened, settlement reached or government order relating to such Hazardous Materials, (iv) any alleged violation of any Environmental Law by any Credit Party or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective predecessors in interest, and/or (v) any Environmental Action (collectively, the “ Indemnified Matters ”); provided, however, that the Borrower shall not have any obligation to any Indemnitee under this Section 13.17 if such Indemnified Matter results solely from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee, as determined by a final and non-appealable order by a court of competent jurisdiction, or as a result of the presence or release of Hazardous Materials that are first brought on to a property after such property is transferred to any Indemnitee or its successors or assigns by foreclosure, deed-in-lieu of foreclosure or similar transfer; provided , however , that no Credit Party shall be required to reimburse the legal fees and expenses of more than one outside counsel (in addition to up to one local counsel in each applicable local jurisdiction) for all Indemnitees under this Section 13.17 unless on advice of outside counsel, representation of all such Indemnitees would be inappropriate due to the existence of an actual or potential conflict of interest. Such indemnification for all of the foregoing losses, damages, fees, costs and expenses of the Indemnitees shall be due and payable promptly after demand therefor. To the extent that the undertaking to indemnify, pay and hold harmless set forth in this Section 13.17 may be unenforceable because it is violative of any law or public policy, the Borrower shall contribute the maximum portion which it is permitted to pay and satisfy under Applicable Law, to the payment and satisfaction of all Indemnified Matters incurred by the Indemnitees.

 

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Section 13.18. Interest . It is the intention of the parties hereto that each Agent and each Lender shall conform strictly to usury laws applicable to it. Accordingly, if the transactions contemplated hereby or by any other Loan Document would be usurious as to any Agent or any Lender under laws applicable to it (including the laws of the United States of America and the State of New York or any other jurisdiction whose laws may be mandatorily applicable to such Agent or such Lender notwithstanding the other provisions of this Agreement), then, in that event, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any agreement entered into in connection with or as security for the Obligations, it is agreed as follows: (a) the aggregate of all consideration which constitutes interest under law applicable to any Agent or any Lender that is contracted for, taken, reserved, charged or received by such Agent or such Lender under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or agreements or otherwise in connection with the Obligations shall under no circumstances exceed the maximum amount allowed by such Applicable Law, any excess shall be canceled automatically and if theretofore paid shall be credited by such Agent or such Lender on the principal amount of the Obligations (or, to the extent that the principal amount of the Obligations shall have been or would thereby be paid in full, refunded by such Agent or such Lender, as applicable, to the Borrower); and (b) in the event that the maturity of the Obligations is accelerated by reason of any Event of Default under this Agreement or otherwise, or in the event of any required or permitted prepayment, then such consideration that constitutes interest under law applicable to any Agent or any Lender may never include more than the maximum amount allowed by such Applicable Law, and excess interest, if any, provided for in this Agreement or otherwise shall be canceled automatically by such Agent or such Lender, as applicable, as of the date of such acceleration or prepayment and, if theretofore paid, shall be credited by such Agent or such Lender, as applicable, on the principal amount of the Obligations (or, to the extent that the principal amount of the Obligations shall have been or would thereby be paid in full, refunded by such Agent or such Lender to the Borrower). All sums paid or agreed to be paid to any Agent or any Lender for the use, forbearance or detention of sums due hereunder shall, to the extent permitted by law applicable to such Agent or such Lender, be amortized, prorated, allocated and spread throughout the full term of the Loans until payment in full so that the rate or amount of interest on account of any Loans hereunder does not exceed the maximum amount allowed by such Applicable Law. If at any time and from time to time, (i) the amount of interest payable to any Agent or any Lender on any date shall be computed at the Highest Lawful Rate applicable to such Agent or such Lender pursuant to this Section 13.18 and (ii) in respect of any subsequent interest computation period the amount of interest otherwise payable to such Agent or such Lender would be less than the amount of interest payable to such Agent or such Lender computed at the Highest Lawful Rate applicable to such Agent or such Lender, then the amount of interest payable to such Agent or such Lender in respect of such subsequent interest computation period shall continue to be computed at the Highest Lawful Rate applicable to such Agent or such Lender until the total amount of interest payable to such Agent or such Lender shall equal the total amount of interest which would have been payable to such Agent or such Lender if the total amount of interest had been computed without giving effect to this Section 13.18 .

For purposes of this Section 13.18 , the term “Applicable Law” shall mean that law in effect from time to time and applicable to the loan transaction between the Borrower, on the one hand, and the Agents and the Lenders, on the other, that lawfully permits the charging and collection of the highest permissible, lawful non-usurious rate of interest on such loan transaction and this Agreement, including laws of the State of New York and, to the extent controlling, laws of the United States of America.

 

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The right to accelerate the maturity of the Obligations does not include the right to accelerate any interest that has not accrued as of the date of acceleration.

Section 13.19. Records . The unpaid principal of, and interest on, the Obligations, the interest rate or rates applicable to such unpaid principal and interest, the duration of such applicability, the Commitment, and the accrued and unpaid fees payable pursuant to Section 3.06 , including, without limitation, fees set forth in the Fee Letter, shall at all times be ascertained from the records of the Lender and Agents, which shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest or demonstrable error.

Section 13.20. Confidentiality . The Agents and the Participating Lenders each individually (and not jointly or jointly and severally) agree that material, non-public information regarding the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, their operations, assets, and existing and contemplated business plans shall be treated by the Agents and the Participating Lenders in a confidential manner, and shall not be disclosed (i) by any Agent or any Participating Lender to Persons who are not parties to this Agreement, or (ii) in the case of the consolidating reports provided to the Term Lenders only under Section 6.01(d) , by any Agent or any Term Lender to any Person who is not a Term Lender under this Agreement, in each case, for a period of six (6) months following the Maturity Date, and, in each case, except (a) to attorneys for and other advisors, accountants, auditors, employees and consultants to any Participating Lender or any Agent, (b) to Subsidiaries and Affiliates of any Participating Lender or any Agent; provided , however , that any such Subsidiary or Affiliate shall have agreed to receive such information hereunder subject to the terms of this Section 13.20 , (c) as may be required by statute, decision, or judicial or administrative order, rule, or regulation, (d) as may be agreed to in advance in writing by the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or as requested or required by any Governmental Authority pursuant to any subpoena or other legal process, (e) as to any such information that is or becomes generally available to the public (other than as a result of prohibited disclosure by any Agent or any Participating Lender), (f) in connection with any assignment, prospective assignment, sale, prospective sale, participation or prospective participations, or pledge or prospective pledge of any Participating Lender’s interest under this Agreement; provided , however , that any such assignee, prospective assignee, purchaser, prospective purchaser, participant, prospective participant, pledgee, or prospective pledgee shall have agreed in writing to receive such information hereunder subject to the terms of this Section 13.20 , and (g) in connection with any litigation or other adversary proceeding involving parties hereto which such litigation or adversary proceeding involves claims related to the rights or duties of such parties under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents; provided , however , that, unless prohibited by applicable law, statute, regulation, or court order, such Participating Lender or such Agent shall: (x) where legally permissible, notify the Borrower of any request by any court, governmental or administrative agency, or pursuant to any subpoena or other legal process for disclosure of any such non-public material information concurrent with, or, if practicable, prior to the disclosure thereof, and (y) notify all other Persons described in clause (a) above that they are bound by, the provisions of this Section 13.20 ; provided , however , with respect to such material, non-public information identified by the Credit Parties in writing as restricted material (“ Restricted Material ”) that the Credit Parties are required to keep confidential for a longer period of time (such additional period, a “ Restricted Period ”), the Agents and the Participating Lenders agree to treat such Restricted Material confidentially in accordance with this Section 13.20 for such applicable Restricted Period to the extent the Agents and the Participating Lenders receive written notice of such Restricted Period.

 

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Section 13.21. Lender Advertising . The Agents and the Lenders shall be entitled to advertise the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in such trade publications, business journals, newspapers of general circulation and otherwise, as the Agents and the Lenders shall deem appropriate, including, without limitation, the publication of a tombstone announcing the closing of this transaction; provided that the Agents and the Lenders shall obtain written consent of the Borrower prior to disseminating any advertisement described in this Section 13.21 which consent shall not be reasonably withheld.

Section 13.22. Common Enterprise . The successful operation and condition of each of the Credit Parties is dependent on the continued successful performance of the functions of the group of the Credit Parties as a whole and the successful operation of each of the Credit Parties is dependent on the successful performance and operation of each other Credit Party. Each Credit Party expects to derive benefit (and its board of directors or other governing body has determined that it may reasonably be expected to derive benefit), directly and indirectly, from (a) successful operations of each of the other Credit Parties and (b) the credit extended by the Lenders to the Borrower hereunder, both in their separate capacities and as members of the group of companies. Each Credit Party has determined that execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and any other Loan Documents to be executed by such Credit Party is within its purpose, will be of direct and indirect benefit to such Credit Party, and is in its best interest.

Section 13.23. USA PATRIOT ACT . Each Participating Lender that is subject to the requirements of the Patriot Act hereby notifies the Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Credit Party and each Subsidiary of the Credit Parties, which information includes the name and address of each Credit Party and each Subsidiary of the Credit Parties and other information that will allow such Lender to identify the Credit Parties and their Subsidiaries in accordance with the Patriot Act.

Section 13.24. Survival of Representations, Warranties Covenants and Obligations . All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith and all agreements, covenants and obligations set forth in Sections 1.04 , 1.06(f) , 1.08 , 1.09 , 2.05 , 12.05 , 13.05 , 13.16 and 13.17 shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof, notwithstanding any investigation made by any Agent or any Participating Lender or on their behalf and notwithstanding that any Agent or any Lender may have had notice or knowledge of any Default at any time, and such representations, warranties, agreements, covenants and obligations shall continue in full force and effect as long as any Obligation shall remain unpaid or unsatisfied.

 

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ARTICLE XIV

DEFINITIONS; CERTAIN TERMS

Section 14.01. Definitions .

2007 Financial Statements ” means the unaudited consolidated (and consolidating by division) balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP, as of November 30, 2007 and the related consolidated (and consolidating by division) statement of operations, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP, for the 11-month period then ended.

Account ” means an “ account ” as that term is defined in the UCC.

Account Debtor ” means any Person that is obligated on an Account, chattel paper or general intangible.

Action ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 13.14 .

Additional Security Documents ” means any Security Documents entered into pursuant to Section 7.07 .

Administrative Agent ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the introductory paragraph hereto.

Affiliate ” means, with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.

Agent-Related Person ” means each of the Agents, each Affiliate of an Agent, and each officer, director, employee, counsel, consultant, agent, and attorney-in-fact of each Agent and each Affiliate of an Agent.

Agents ” means, collectively, the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Agent and the Collateral Agent.

Aggregate Revolving Exposure ” means the sum of (a) the outstanding Revolving Loans under this Agreement and (b) the Letter of Credit Exposure.

Agreement ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the introductory paragraph hereto.

ALTA ” means American Land Title Association.

Alternate Base Rate ” at any time means the rate of interest per annum equal to the higher of (a) the rate of interest quoted by the Administrative Agent prime or base commercial lending rate and (b) the rate that is 0.50% in excess of the Federal Funds Rate. Any change in the Alternate Base Rate due to a change in rate referred to in clause (a) of this definition or the Federal Funds Rate shall be effective on the opening of business on the date of such change.

 

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Alternate Base Rate Loans ” means Loans that bear interest at an interest rate based on the Alternate Base Rate.

Applicable Cash Flow Percentage ” means, in connection with Offers to Prepay (a) on any Sweep Date occurring prior to Fiscal Year 2011, 75%, (b) on any Sweep Date occurring during or following Fiscal Year 2011, (i) 50%, if the Total Leverage Ratio for the preceding Fiscal Year was at least 3.0:1.0, or (ii) 25%, if the Total Leverage Ratio for the preceding Fiscal Year was less than 3.0:1.0.

Applicable Law ” means, in respect of any Person, all provisions of constitutions, laws, statutes, rules, regulations, treaties, directives, guidelines and orders of Governmental Authorities applicable to such Person, including zoning ordinances, all Environmental Laws, and all orders, decisions, judgments and decrees of all courts and arbitrators in proceedings or actions to which the Person in question is a party or by which it is bound.

Applicable Margin ” means a percentage per annum, as set forth below:

 

     Alternate Base
Rate Loan
    LIBOR Rate Loan  

Revolving Loans

   1.75   2.75

Term Loans

   5.75   6.75

Applicable Tax Returns ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.01(k) .

Applicable Taxes ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.01(k) .

Approved Bank ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the definition of “Cash Equivalents.”

Approved Fund ” means any Fund that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

Asset Sale ” means any sale, lease or other disposition (including any such transaction effected by way of merger or consolidation) by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any asset but excluding Dispositions permitted by Sections 8.05(a), (b), (c), (d)(i) and (e) .

Assignment and Acceptance ” means an Assignment and Acceptance substantially in the form of Exhibit I attached hereto and made a part hereof (with blanks appropriately completed) delivered to the Administrative Agent in connection with an assignment of a Lender’s interest under this Agreement in accordance with Section 13.09 .

Authorized Officer ” means, with respect to any Credit Party, the chief executive officer, chief administrative officer, chief financial officer, vice president of financial compliance and reporting, and treasurer, controller or chief accounting officer or other officer with similar responsibility designated by the Board of Directors or similar governing body of the Credit Party.

 

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Auto Renewal Letter of Credit ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 1.06(a)(ii) .

Availability Period ” means the period from the Closing Date to the Maturity Date.

Available Commitments ” means, as of any date, the Total Revolving Commitment minus the Aggregate Revolving Exposure.

Bankruptcy Code ” means Title 11 of the United States Code (11 U.S.C. §§ 101 et seq .), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

Bankruptcy Court ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Recitals.

Benefit Plan ” means an employee pension benefit plan, excluding any Multiemployer Plan, which is subject to Title IV of ERISA or subject to the minimum funding standards under Section 412 of the Code.

Braden Europe ” means Braden Europe B.V.

Braden Shanghai ” means Braden Power Equipment (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

Board of Directors ” means the board of directors of the Company.

Borrower ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the introductory paragraph hereto.

Business Day ” means any day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banks are required or permitted to be closed in the State of New York; provided that when used in connection with a rate determination, borrowing or payment in respect of a LIBOR Rate Loan, the term “ Business Day ” shall also exclude any day on which banks in London, England are not open for dealings in U.S. Dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

Capital Expenditures ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum of the aggregate of all expenditures by such Person and its Subsidiaries arising during such period that, in accordance with GAAP, are or should be included in the “property, plant and equipment” account on its consolidated balance sheet, including all applicable Capitalized Lease Obligations with respect to “property, plant and equipment”, paid or payable during such period, excluding in each case, (a) any such expenditures made for the repair, replacement or restoration of assets to the extent paid or reimbursed by any insurance policy or condemnation award to the extent such expenditures are permitted under the Loan Documents, (b) any leasehold improvement expenditures to the extent paid or reimbursed by the applicable lessor, sublessor or sublessee and (c) any acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets of, all of the Capital Stock of, or a business line, unit, office or division of any Person.

 

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Capital Stock ” means (a) with respect to any Person that is a corporation, any and all shares, options, warrants, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated and whether or not voting) of or in a Person, including common stock, preferred stock or any other “equity security” and (b) with respect to any Person that is not a corporation, any and all partnership, limited liability company interests or other equity interests of such Person excluding, in the case of clauses (a) and (b) above, any debt security that is exchangeable for or convertible into such capital stock.

Capitalized Lease ” means, with respect to any Person, any lease of real or personal property by such Person as lessee which is required under GAAP to be capitalized on the balance sheet of such Person.

Capitalized Lease Obligations ” means, with respect to any Person, obligations of such Person and its Subsidiaries as lessee under Capitalized Leases as determined in accordance with GAAP.

Cash Collateral Account ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 1.06(g) .

Cash Equivalents ” means:

(a) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States of America or any agency or instrumentality thereof ( provided that the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged in support thereof) having maturities of not more than 364 days from the date of acquisition;

(b) time deposits (including Eurocurrency time deposits), certificates of deposit (including Eurocurrency certificates of deposit) and bankers’ acceptances of (i) any Lender or any Affiliate of any Lender, (ii) any commercial bank of recognized standing either organized under the laws of the United States (or any State or territory thereof) having capital and surplus in excess of $500,000,000 or (iii) any bank whose short-term commercial paper rating (at the time of acquisition of such security) by S&P is at least “A-1” or the equivalent thereof (any such bank, an “ Approved Bank ”), in each case with maturities of not more than 364 days from the date of acquisition;

(c) commercial paper issued by any Lender or Approved Bank or by the parent company of any Lender or Approved Bank and commercial paper issued by, or guaranteed by, any industrial or financial company with a short-term commercial paper rating (at the time of acquisition of such security) of at least “A-1” or the equivalent thereof by S&P of at least “P-1” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s, or guaranteed by any industrial company with a long-term unsecured debt rating (at the time of at least “Aa” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s, and in each case maturing within 364 days after the date of acquisition;

(d) repurchase agreements with any Lender or any Approved Bank maturing within seven (7) days from the date of acquisition that are fully collateralized by investment instruments that would otherwise be Cash Equivalents; and

(e) investments in money market funds with any Approved Bank substantially all of whose assets of which are comprised of securities described in the foregoing clauses (a) through (d).

 

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Cash Management Bank ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.01(z)(i) .

Casualty ” means any casualty, loss, damage, destruction or other similar loss with respect to real or personal property or improvements.

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

Change of Control ” means (a) that any “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act) acquires Control or otherwise becomes beneficial owner (as that term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of 35%, or more, of the Capital Stock of the Company having the right to vote for the election of members of the Board of Directors or (b) a majority of the members of the Board of Directors do not constitute Continuing Directors.

Chapter 11 Cases ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Recitals.

Closing Date ” means the Business Day, on or before January 31, 2008, on which all of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.01 have been satisfied (or waived in accordance with the terms of this Agreement).

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, in each case as in effect from time to time. References to sections of the Code shall be construed also to refer to any successor sections.

Collateral ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Security Agreement.

Collateral Agent ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the introductory paragraph hereto.

Collections ” means all cash, checks, notes, instruments, and other items of payment (including insurance and condemnation proceeds, cash proceeds of sales and other voluntary or involuntary dispositions of property, rental proceeds, and tax refunds).

Commencement Date ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Recitals.

Commercial Code ” means the New York Uniform Commercial Code, as in effect from time to time.

Commitment Letter ” means the Commitment Letter, dated December 20, 2007, between the Company and the Administrative Agent.

Commitments ” means the Revolving Commitments and the Term Loan Commitments.

Company ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the introductory paragraph hereto.

 

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Company Intellectual Property ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.01(v)(i) .

Condemnation ” means any taking by a Governmental Authority of property or assets, or any part thereof or interest therein, for public or quasi-public use under the power of eminent domain, by reason of any public improvement or condemnation or in any other manner.

Confirmation Order ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Recitals.

Consenting Lender ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 13.03(a).

Consolidated Capital Expenditures ” means, for any period, the aggregate of all Capital Expenditures of the Company during such period, except, for purposes of this definition, consolidated solely with respect to the Credit Parties.

Consolidated EBITDA ” means, for any period, for the Credit Parties, determined on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to Consolidated Net Income for such period, plus (a) the following (without duplication) to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income: (i) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period; (ii) the provision for federal, state, local and foreign income taxes for such period; (iii) depreciation and amortization expense; (iv) cash restructuring charges and associated professional fee expenses taken on or after December 1, 2007 and prior to January 31, 2008 in an amount not to exceed $12,000,000 (twelve million Dollars), (v) extraordinary cash expenses associated with tax and audit work incurred on or after December 1, 2007 and prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date in an amount not to exceed $2,000,000 (two million Dollars), (vi) cash expenses resulting from a draw of a Letter of Credit issued for the benefit of Air Liquide and associated with the Air Liquide settlement in an amount not to exceed $5,700,000 (five million seven hundred thousand Dollars) (vii) any non-cash write downs or non-cash write-offs including fixed asset impairments or write-downs, intangible asset impairments, deferred tax asset write-offs and non-cash stock compensation expenses, (viii) all extraordinary, non-recurring, non-cash items decreasing Consolidated Net Income for such period and (ix) cash costs and expenses not to exceed $1,000,000 (one million Dollars), incurred with respect to defending and/or prosecuting the SNC Litigation during the period from the Closing Date to December 31, 2009; and minus (b) the following (without duplication) to the extent included in calculating such Consolidated Net Income: (i) all items constituting interest income, (ii) Federal, state, local and foreign income tax benefits for such period; (iii) write ups, re-evaluations and non-Cash gains resulting from the marking or re-evaluation of any asset and (iv) all extraordinary, non-recurring, non-Cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income for such period; provided that Consolidated EBITDA for each monthly period ending on or prior to November 30, 2007 shall be the amount specified for such period on Schedule C-1 hereto.

Consolidated Fixed Charges ” means, for any period, the sum (without duplication) of the amounts for such period, as determined on a consolidated basis for the Credit Parties, of (a) Consolidated Interest Expense paid or payable in Cash and (b) scheduled principal payments in respect of Consolidated Total Debt.

 

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Consolidated Interest Expense ” means, for any period, total interest expense (including that portion attributable to Capitalized Leases in accordance with GAAP and capitalized interest) of the Credit Parties, as determined on a consolidated basis, with respect to all outstanding Indebtedness of the Credit Parties, including all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit.

Consolidated Net Income ” means, for any period, the net income (loss) of the Credit Parties for such period, determined on a consolidated basis.

Consolidated Total Debt ” means, as of any particular time and after eliminating inter-company items, all Debt for Borrowed Money of the Credit Parties, determined on a consolidated basis.

Continuing Director ” means (a) any member of the Board of Directors who was a director (or comparable manager) of the Company on the Closing Date, and (b) any individual who becomes a member of the Board of Directors after the Closing Date if such individual was appointed or nominated for election to the Board of Directors by a majority of the Continuing Directors, but excluding any such individual originally proposed for election in opposition to the Board of Directors in office at the Closing Date in an actual or threatened election contest relating to the election of the directors (or comparable managers) of the Company and whose initial assumption of office resulted from such contest or the settlement thereof.

Control ” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise. “ Controlling ” and “ Controlled ” have meanings correlative thereto.

Control Agreement ” means, with respect to a Securities Account, a Deposit Account or a commodities account, an agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, which effectively gives control (under the UCC) to the Collateral Agent in such Securities Account and all investment property contained therein, in such Deposit Account and all funds contained therein, or such commodities account and all property contained therein, in each case, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified.

Copyrights ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Security Agreement.

Credit Parties ” means, collectively, the Borrower and the Guarantors.

Debt for Borrowed Money ” of any Person means, at any date of determination, without duplication, the sum of (a) all items that, in accordance with GAAP, would be classified as debt on a consolidated balance sheet of such Person at such date and (b) all obligations of such Person under acceptance, letter of credit or similar facilities at such date; provided that, with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, Debt for Borrowed Money shall exclude, to the extent otherwise included in the items in clause (a) or (b) above, (i) accounts payable and accrued liabilities in the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and (ii) notes, bills and checks presented in the ordinary course of business by such Person to banks for collection or deposit.

 

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Deemed Investment Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.05(d) .

Default ” means an event which, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

Default Interest ” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.01(b) .

Defaulting Lender ” means a Revolving Defaulting Lender or a Term Defaulting Lender.

Deltak Customer Equipment Disposition ” means a disposition of Deltak assets to a customer party to, and as required pursuant to, those certain agreements by and between Deltak and certain of its customers for the completion of heat recovery steam generation units, as authorized by the Bankruptcy Court pursuant to orders entered on October 2, 2006 and October 26, 2006.

Deposit Account ” means a “ deposit account ” as that term is defined in the UCC.

Disposition ” or “ Dispose ” means the sale, transfer, license, lease, Casualty or Condemnation or other disposition (including any Sale and Leaseback Transaction or any sale of any Capital Stock of any Subsidiary) of any Property by any Person, including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes issued by any other Person or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith or any capital stock of, or other Capital Stock of, any other Person; provided that the foregoing shall not be deemed to imply that any such disposition is permitted under this Agreement. The term “Disposition” shall not include any Equity Issuance.

Dollar ”, “ Dollars ” and the symbol “ $ ” each means lawful money of the United States of America.

Domestic Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary organized under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia.

Eligible Assignee ” means (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender, (c) an Approved Fund, and (d) any other Person (other than a natural person) (i) approved by the Administrative Agent and, in the case of a Revolving Loan assignment, the Revolving Agent (each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed), and, (ii) unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, notified in writing to and approved by the Company (each such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed and to be deemed given in all cases unless, within two business days after receipt of any such notification identifying any Person as a potential assignee, the Company shall have delivered a written objection to the Administrative Agent identifying reasonable grounds for such objection).

EMU Legislation ” means the legislative measures of the European Council for the introduction of, changeover to or operation of a single or unified European currency.

 

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Environmental Actions ” means any complaint, summons, citation, notice, directive, order, claim, litigation, investigation, judicial or administrative proceeding, judgment, letter or other communication from any Governmental Authority or other Person alleging a violation of, or liability under, any Environmental Law or Release of Hazardous Materials on, in, at, to, from or under (a) any assets, properties or businesses of the Credit Parties or any of their Subsidiaries or any of their respective predecessors in interest and (b) any facilities which received Hazardous Materials generated by the Credit Parties or any of their Subsidiaries or any of their respective predecessors in interest.

Environmental Laws ” means any federal, state, local or foreign law or regulation relating to the protection of the environment or health and safety as it relates to any Hazardous Material compliance or exposure, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. § 9601, et seq .), the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. § 1801, et seq .), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. § 6901, et seq .), the Federal Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq .), the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. § 7401 et seq .), the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq .) and the Occupational Safety and Health Act (29 U.S.C. § 651 et seq .) as it relates to any Hazardous Material compliance or exposure and any other law, including common law, relating to the environment or health and safety as it relates to any Hazardous Material compliance or exposure (including, without limitation, laws relating to the storage, generation, use, handling, manufacture, processing, labeling, transportation, treatment, reuse, recycling, release and disposal of Hazardous Materials) and any environmental requirement or any health or safety requirement as it relates to any Hazardous Material compliance or exposure of any Governmental Authority, as such laws or requirements may be amended or otherwise modified from time to time, and any other present or future federal, state, provincial, local or foreign statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, order, judgment, decree, permit, license or other binding determination (including the common law) of any Governmental Authority imposing liability or establishing standards of conduct for protection of the environment.

Environmental Liabilities and Costs ” means all liabilities, monetary obligations, Remedial Actions, losses, damages, punitive damages, consequential damages, treble damages, costs and expenses (including all reasonable fees, disbursements and expenses of counsel, experts and consultants and costs of investigations and feasibility studies), fines, penalties, sanctions and interest incurred as a result of any claim or demand by any Governmental Authority or any third party, and which relate to any violation of any Environmental Law, environmental condition or any Release of Hazardous Materials from or onto (a) any property presently or formerly owned by the Credit Parties or any of their Subsidiaries or (b) any facility which received Hazardous Materials or wastes generated by the Credit Parties or any of their Subsidiaries but excluding the routine costs and expenses incurred in the ordinary course of maintaining compliance with Environmental Laws.

Environmental Lien ” means any Lien in favor of any Person or Governmental Authority for Environmental Liabilities and Costs or otherwise relating to any Environmental Law.

Equipment ” means, with respect to any Person, all of such Person’s now owned or hereafter acquired right, title, and interest with respect to equipment (including, without limitation, “equipment” as such term is defined in Article 9 of the UCC), machinery, machine tools, motors, furniture, furnishings, fixtures, vehicles (including motor vehicles), tools, parts, goods (other than consumer goods, farm products, or Inventory), wherever located, including all attachments, accessories, accessions, replacements, substitutions, additions, and improvements to any of the foregoing.

 

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Equity Issuance ” means any issuance by any Credit Party of any Capital Stock to any Person (other than another Credit Party) or receipt by any Credit Party of a capital contribution from any Person (other than another Credit Party), including the issuance of Capital Stock, pursuant to the exercise of options or warrants and the conversion of any Indebtedness to equity; provided that the foregoing shall not be deemed to imply that any such issuance is permitted under this Agreement.

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, in each case as in effect from time to time. References to sections of ERISA shall be construed also to refer to any successor sections.

ERISA Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) which is a member of a group of which such Person is a member and which would be deemed to be a “ controlled group ” within the meaning of Sections 414(b), (c), (m) and (o) of the Code.

ERISA Event ” means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to any Benefit Plan, (b) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate a Benefit Plan in a distress termination (as described in Section 4041(c) of ERISA), (c) the institution by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation of proceedings to terminate a Benefit Plan or Multiemployer Plan, (d) the appointment of a trustee to administer any Benefit Plan under Section 4042 of ERISA, or (e) any event requiring any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of any Credit Party or any ERISA Affiliate of any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of any Credit Party to provide security to a Benefit Plan under Section 401(a)(29) of the Code.

Eurocurrency ” and the symbol “€” each means the lawful currency of the Participating Member States introduced in accordance with EMU Legislation.

Event of Default ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 10.01 .

Excess Cash Flow ” means, for any Fiscal Year, without duplication, (a) Consolidated EBITDA during such Fiscal Year plus (b) Extraordinary Receipts received during such Fiscal Year plus (c) the amount of any increase in Net Working Capital during such Fiscal Year minus (d) Capital Expenditures of the Company paid in Cash during such Fiscal Year to the extent such Capital Expenditures are made in accordance with the Loan Documents minus (e) all regularly scheduled payments and voluntary prepayments of principal of the Term Loans during such Fiscal Year minus (f) the aggregate amount of cash Taxes and net cash interest paid or payable by the Credit Parties on a consolidated basis during such Fiscal Year minus (g) to the extent item (c) of this definition is not relevant for the applicable testing period, the amount of any decrease in Net Working Capital during such Fiscal Year.

Excess Hedging Amount ” means the amount of all Hedging Obligations outstanding in excess of $3,000,000 (three million Dollars).

 

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Excluded Account ” means the deposit account no. 003344879484 of Williams Industrial Services Group, LLC held with Bank of America, N.A.

Excluded Taxes ” means, with respect to the Participating Lenders or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Credit Parties hereunder: (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by its overall net income (however denominated), and franchise Taxes imposed on it (in lieu of net income Taxes), by the jurisdiction (or any political subdivision thereof) under the laws of which such recipient, for tax purposes, is organized or in which its principal office or applicable lending office is located, or in which it or its lending office does business; (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction; and (c) any withholding taxes payable with respect to payments under the Loan Documents under any law (including any law, rule, regulation or treaty or any interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority or any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) by any Governmental Authority) in effect on the Closing Date; (d) any withholding tax that is attributable to such Non-U.S. Lender’s failure to comply with Section 2.05(e) .

Extraordinary Receipts ” means any cash received by the Company and its Subsidiaries not in the ordinary course of business, not consisting of proceeds from the issuance of Capital Stock, debt or Disposition of Collateral and not otherwise included in the calculation of Net Income of the Company, including without limitation, (a) pension plan reversions, (b) judgments, proceeds of settlements or other consideration of any kind in connection with any claim or cause of action, (c) indemnity payments, (d) tax refunds but excluding tax refunds received in connection with or as the result of any settlement, audit, or amendment to any tax return and (e) insurance proceeds other than Net Casualty/Condemnation Proceeds.

Federal Funds Rate ” means, for any period, a fluctuating interest rate equal for each day during such period to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal Funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal Funds brokers, as published for such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, for the next preceding Business Day) by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day which is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for such day on such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal Funds brokers of recognized standing selected by the Administrative Agent in the exercise of its reasonable discretion.

Federal Reserve Board ” means the Board of the Federal Reserve System or any Governmental Authority succeeding to its functions.

Fee Letter ” means the Fee Letter, dated December 20, 2007, between the Company and the Administrative Agent.

Fiscal Month ” means each fiscal month of the Company consisting of a four (4) or five (5) week period.

Fiscal Quarter ” means the fiscal quarter of the Company ending on each March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of any Fiscal Year.

 

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Fiscal Year ” means the fiscal year of the Company ending on the last day of the last Fiscal Month of the Company.

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio ” means, as of any date of determination, from and after December 31, 2008, the ratio of (a) Consolidated EBITDA for the four consecutive Fiscal Quarters most recently ended minus Consolidated Capital Expenditures for such period minus provisions for Federal, state, local and foreign taxes of the Credit Parties for such period to (b) Consolidated Fixed Charges for such period; provided however , that for the period ended June 30, 2008 the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated for the two consecutive Fiscal Quarters (rather than the four) most recently ended, and for the period ended September 30, 2008 the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio shall be calculated for the three consecutive Fiscal Quarters (rather than the four) most recently ended.

Foreign Subsidiary ” means a Subsidiary other than a Domestic Subsidiary.

Forfeiture Proceeding ” means any action, proceeding or investigation affecting any Credit Party before any court, governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, or the receipt of notice by any such party that any of them is a suspect in or a target of any governmental inquiry or investigation, in each case, which may result in an indictment of any of them or the seizure or forfeiture of any of its properties.

Fraudulent Transfer Laws ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 11.12 .

Fund ” means any Person that is (or will be) engaged in making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business.

Funding Date ” means, with respect to any Loan, the date of the funding of a Loan.

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in effect from time to time in the United States, provided that, for the purpose of the financial amounts and the definitions used herein, “GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in effect on the date hereof and consistent with those used in the preparation of the financial statements, and provided further that, if there occurs after the date of this Agreement any change in GAAP that affects in any material respect the calculation of any financial covenant contained in ARTICLE IX , the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Agent and the Borrower shall negotiate in good faith an amendment to such financial covenant and any other provision of this Agreement that relates to the calculation of such financial covenant with the intent of having the respective positions of the Lenders and the Borrower after such change in GAAP conform as nearly as possible to their respective positions as of the date of this Agreement and, after the execution of any such amendment or consent by the Required Lenders in connection with any such change in GAAP, “GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in effect on the effective date of such amendment or consent. Until any such amendments have been agreed upon, the covenants in ARTICLE IX shall be calculated as if no such change in GAAP has occurred.

Global Intercompany Note ” means the promissory note issued as contemplated by the Security Agreement, substantially in the form of Exhibit M to the Security Agreement.

 

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Governing Documents ” means, (a) with respect to any corporation, (i) the articles/certificate of incorporation (or the equivalent organizational documents) of such corporation, (ii) the by-laws (or the equivalent governing documents) of the corporation and (iii) any document setting forth the designation, amount and/or relative rights, limitations and preferences of any class or series of such corporation’s Capital Stock; (b) with respect to any general partnership, (i) the partnership agreement (or the equivalent organizational documents) of such partnership and (ii) any document setting forth the designation, amount and/or relative rights, limitations and preferences of any of the partnership interests; (c) with respect to any limited partnership, (i) the partnership agreement (or the equivalent organizational documents) of such partnership, (ii) a certificate of limited partnership (or the equivalent organizational documents) and (iii) any document setting forth the designation, amount and/or relative rights, limitations and preferences of any of the partnership interests; (d) with respect to any limited liability company, (i) the certificate of limited liability (or equivalent filings) of such limited liability company, (ii) the operating agreement (or the equivalent organizational documents) of such limited liability company, and (iii) any document setting forth the designation, amount and/or relative rights, limitations and preferences of any of such company’s membership interests; and (e) with respect to any unlimited liability company, (i) the certificate of incorporation (or the equivalent organizational documents) of such unlimited liability company, (ii) the memorandum and articles of association (or the equivalent governing documents) of such unlimited liability company and (iii) any document setting forth the designation, amount and/or relative rights, limitations and preferences of any class or series of such unlimited liability company’s Capital Stock.

Governmental Authority ” means the government of the United States of America or any other nation, or of any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

Guaranteed Obligations ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 11.01 .

Guarantors ” means the Domestic Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

Guaranty ” means the guaranty of each of the Guarantors pursuant to ARTICLE XI .

Hazardous Materials ” means (a) any element, compound or chemical that is regulated under any Environmental Law including any substance that is defined, listed or otherwise classified as a contaminant, pollutant, toxic pollutant, toxic or hazardous substance, extremely hazardous substance or chemical, hazardous waste, special waste, or solid waste under Environmental Laws; (b) petroleum and its refined products; (c) polychlorinated biphenyls; (d) any waste exhibiting a hazardous characteristic as defined by applicable Environmental Laws, including, but not limited to, corrosivity, ignitability, toxicity or reactivity as well as any radioactive or explosive materials; and (e) friable asbestos-containing materials.

 

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Hedging Agreement ” means any and all interest rate or short term currency transactions, agreements or documents now existing or hereafter entered into by a Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party with a Hedging Agreement Provider so long as a copy of such transaction agreement or document is delivered to the Administrative Agent within three (3) business days of the date entered into and, in the case of each such transaction, agreement or document, is entered into solely for the purpose of hedging such Credit Party’s or such Subsidiary’s exposure to fluctuations in interest rates or currencies and not for speculative purposes.

Hedging Agreement Provider ” means with respect to a Hedging Agreement, any of (a) the Administrative Agent, (b) a Lender at the time the Hedging Agreement is entered into or (c) an Affiliate of any of the foregoing.

Hedging Agreement Provider Joinder Agreement ” means a joinder agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit K-1 . Each Hedging Agreement Provider may from time to time enter into a Joinder Agreement.

Hedging Obligations ” means obligations and liabilities owed to a any Hedging Agreement Provider, by any Credit Party or any Subsidiary under a Hedging Agreement.

Hedging Priority Amount ” means the amount of all Hedging Obligations outstanding up to an aggregate amount not to exceed $3,000,000 (three million Dollars).

Highest Lawful Rate ” means the highest rate of interest permissible under any law which a court of competent jurisdiction shall deem applicable.

Immaterial Foreign Subsidiary ” means a Foreign Subsidiary that, as of any date of determination, (a) has less than $100,000 in assets, (b) has less than $25,000 of liabilities owed to Persons other than a Credit Party or a Subsidiary of a Credit Party, and (c) has generated less than $100,000 of revenue for the 12 months most recently ended as of such date (or, in the case of a Subsidiary without at least 12 months of prior operating history, is reasonably projected by the Credit Parties to generate less than $100,000 of revenue during its first full year of operation). All Immaterial Foreign Subsidiaries in existence on the Closing Date are identified on Schedule I .

Indebtedness ” means, as to any Person at a particular time, without duplication, all of the following, whether or not included as indebtedness or liabilities in accordance with GAAP:

(a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, loan agreements or other similar instruments;

(b) all direct or contingent obligations of such Person arising under letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances, bank guarantees, surety bonds and similar instruments;

(c) net obligations of such Person under any Swap Contract;

(d) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade accounts payable in the ordinary course of business);

 

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(e) indebtedness (excluding prepaid interest thereon) secured by a Lien on property owned or being purchased by such Person (including indebtedness arising under conditional sales or other title retention agreements), whether or not such indebtedness shall have been assumed by such Person or is limited in recourse;

(f) Capitalized Leases, Off-Balance Sheet Obligations, and Sale and Leaseback Transactions;

(g) all obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise make any payment in respect of any Capital Stock of such Person or any other Person, valued, in the case of a redeemable preferred interest, at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends; and

(h) all Guarantees of such Person in respect of any of the foregoing.

For all purposes hereof, the Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any partnership or joint venture (other than a joint venture that is itself a corporation or limited liability company) in which such Person is a general partner or a joint venturer in an amount proportionate to such Person’s interest therein, unless such Indebtedness is expressly made non-recourse to such Person or except to the extent such Indebtedness is owed by such partnership or joint venture to such Person; provided that the pledge of any Capital Stock of such joint venture shall not constitute recourse to such Person for the purposes of this definition. The amount of any net obligation under any Swap Contract on any date shall be deemed to be the Swap Termination Value thereof as of such date. The amount of any Capitalized Lease or Off-Balance Sheet Obligation as of any date shall be deemed to be the amount of attributable Indebtedness in respect thereof as of such date.

Indemnified Matters ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 13.17 .

Indemnified Taxes ” means all Taxes imposed upon or with respect to payments from the Credit Parties to the Participating Lenders or any recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of the Credit Parties hereunder pursuant to this Agreement, other than Excluded Taxes.

Indemnitees ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 13.17 .

Intellectual Property ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Security Agreement.

Interest Payment Date ” means the last Business Day of each Fiscal Quarter, commencing on the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and the Maturity Date; provided that, with respect to the amount of any Loan prepaid, the Interest Payment Date shall be the date of such prepayment.

Interest Rate ” means (a) with respect to the Term Loans, interest at a rate equal to either, at the Borrower’s option, (i) LIBOR Rate plus the Applicable Margin for Term Loans or (ii) the Alternate Base Rate, plus the Applicable Margin for Term Loans and (b) with respect to the Revolving Loans, interest at a rate equal to, at the Borrower’s option, (i) the Alternate Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin for Revolving Loans or (ii) LIBOR Rate plus the Applicable Margin for Revolving Loans.

 

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Inventory ” means all Credit Parties’ now owned or hereafter acquired right, title, and interest with respect to (a) all “inventory” as defined in Article 9 of the UCC and (b) all goods held for sale or lease or to be furnished under contracts of service or so leased or furnished, all raw materials, work in process, finished goods, and materials used or consumed in the manufacture, packing, shipping, advertising, selling, leasing, furnishing or production of such inventory or otherwise used or consumed in any Credit Party’s business; all goods which are returned to or repossessed by any Credit Party; and all computer programs embedded in any of the foregoing and all accessions thereto and products thereof (in each case, regardless of whether characterized as inventory under the UCC).

Investment ” means, as to any Person, any direct or indirect acquisition or investment by such Person, whether by means of (a) the purchase or other acquisition of capital stock or other securities or other ownership or profits interest of another Person, (b) a loan, advance or capital contribution to, Guarantee or assumption of debt of, or purchase or other acquisition of, any other debt or equity participation or interest in, another Person, including any partnership or joint venture interest in such other Person and any arrangement pursuant to which the investor Guarantees Indebtedness of such other Person, or (c) the purchase or other acquisition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of assets of another Person that constitute a business unit. For purposes of covenant compliance, the amount of any Investment shall be the amount actually invested, without adjustment for subsequent increases or decreases in the value of such Investment.

IRS ” means the Internal Revenue Service or any successor federal tax Governmental Authority.

L/C Issuer ” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.06(a) .

Lead Arranger ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the introductory paragraph hereto.

Lease ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.01(o) .

Leasehold Property ” means any leasehold interest of any Credit Party as lessee under any lease of real property.

Lender-Related Persons ” means, with respect to any Lender, such Lender, together with such Lender’s Affiliates, and the officers, directors, employees, counsel, agents, and attorneys-in-fact of such Lender and such Lender’s Affiliates.

Lenders ” means, collectively, the lenders identified on the signature pages hereof, together with their respective successors and permitted assigns, each a “ Lender ”.

Letter of Credit ” means a letter of credit issued by the L/C Issuer (or its designee) or a Person approved by the Revolving Agent as it may hereafter be amended or replaced from time to time pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the L/C Issuer.

 

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Letter of Credit Application ” shall have the meaning associated with such term in Section 1.06(d) .

Letter of Credit Exposure ” means at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount at such time of all outstanding Letters of Credit of the L/C Issuer plus (b) the aggregate unpaid amount at such time of all unreimbursed drawings under Letters of Credit.

Letter of Credit Issuance Fee ” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 3.06(d) .

Letter of Credit Obligations ” means all outstanding obligations incurred by the Revolving Lenders at the request of the Borrower, whether direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, due or not due, in connection with the issuance of Letters of Credit by the Revolving Lenders or another L/C Issuer or the purchase of a participation with respect to any Letter of Credit. The amount of such Letter of Credit Obligations shall equal the maximum amount that may be payable under Letters of Credit at such time or at any time thereafter by the Revolving Lenders thereupon or pursuant thereto.

LIBOR Period ” means, with respect to any LIBOR Rate Loan, the period commencing on the date of the making of such LIBOR Rate Loan (or the continuation of a LIBOR Rate Loan or the conversion of an Alternate Base Rate Loan to a LIBOR Rate Loan) and ending one, two, three or six months (and to the extent available to all of the Revolving Lenders or Term Lenders, as applicable, nine or twelve months) thereafter; and provided that the foregoing provisions are subject to the following:

(a) if any LIBOR Period pertaining to a LIBOR Rate Loan would otherwise end on a day that is not a Business Day, such LIBOR Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless the result of such extension would be to carry such LIBOR Period into another calendar month, in which event such LIBOR Period shall end on the immediately preceding Business Day;

(b) any LIBOR Period pertaining to a LIBOR Rate Loan that begins on the last Business 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 LIBOR Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the relevant calendar month; and

(c) any LIBOR Period in respect of any Loan that would otherwise extend beyond the Maturity Date shall end on the Maturity Date.

LIBOR Rate ” means for each LIBOR Period, a rate of interest determined by the Revolving Agent equal to:

(a) the offered rate for deposits in United States Dollars for the applicable LIBOR Period that appears on Reuter’s Page LIBOR 01 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time), on the second full Business Day next preceding the first day of such LIBOR Period (unless such date is not a Business Day, in which event the next succeeding Business Day will be used); divided by

 

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(b) a number equal to 1.0 minus the aggregate (but without duplication) of the rates (expressed as a decimal fraction) of reserve requirements in effect on the day that is two (2) Business Days prior to the beginning of such LIBOR Period (including basic, supplemental, marginal and emergency reserves under any regulations of the Federal Reserve Board or other Governmental Authority having jurisdiction with respect thereto, as now and from time to time in effect) for Eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency Liabilities” in Regulation D of the Federal Reserve Board) that are required to be maintained by a member bank of the Federal Reserve System.

If such interest rates shall cease to be available from Reuter’s (or its successor satisfactory to Administrative Agent), the LIBOR Rate shall be determined from such financial reporting service or other information as shall be mutually acceptable to the Revolving Agent and the Company.

LIBOR Rate Loans ” means Loans which bear interest at a rate determined by reference to the LIBOR Rate.

Lien ” means any lien, security interest, imperfection of title or other encumbrance of any kind, or any other type of preferential arrangement which has the effect of a lien or security interest, including, without limitation, the lien or retained security title of a conditional vendor and any easement, right of way or other encumbrance on title to real property.

Liquidity ” means the amount available to be borrowed as Revolving Loans under Section 1.01(a) plus cash or Cash Equivalents of the Credit Parties subject to Control Agreements.

Loan Documents ” means this Agreement, the Notes, the Security Documents, the Fee Letter and all other agreements, instruments, and other documents executed and delivered by any Credit Party pursuant hereto or thereto or otherwise evidencing or securing any Loan, in each case, excluding any Hedging Agreements.

Loans ” means, collectively, the Revolving Loans and the Term Loans.

Material Adverse Effect ” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, liabilities, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) operating results, performance or projections of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Credit Parties to perform their obligations hereunder or under any of the other Loan Documents or (c) the rights and remedies of any Agent or any Lender hereunder or under any other Loan Document. It is understood that the filing of a notice of appeal by SNC-Lavalin from the Order Sustaining Estate Parties’ Objections to Proofs of Claim Nos. 1099 and 1100 Filed by SNC-Lavalin Power Ontario Inc. and Temporarily Allowing for Plan Voting Purposes Claim No. 1099 shall not, in and of itself, constitute a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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Material Contract ” shall mean any agreement under which the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis receives or pays or is projected to receive or pay $7,500,000 (seven million five hundred thousand Dollars) or more during any 12-month period.

Maturity Date ” means the earlier of (i) the Scheduled Maturity Date or (ii) the date upon which the Loans are due and payable hereunder, whether by acceleration or otherwise.

Monthly Officer’s Certificate ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6.01(b) .

Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service and any successor thereto.

Mortgaged Property ” means each parcel of real property and the improvements thereto as set forth as of the Closing Date on Schedule 14 and any other such property which becomes subject to a Mortgage granted in connection with this Agreement.

Mortgages ” means the mortgages and deeds of trust executed and delivered by certain of the Credit Parties in favor of the Collateral Agent, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, as the same may be amended, modified and otherwise supplemented from time to time.

Multiemployer Plan ” means a “ multiemployer plan ” as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of any Credit Party or any of their ERISA Affiliates has contributed, or has been obligated to contribute, at any time during the preceding six years, or has liability.

Net Cash Proceeds ” means 100% of the Cash received by a Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party from time to time in connection with an Asset Sale or Equity Issuance (whether as initial consideration, through the payment of deferred consideration, the release of any reserve taken in connection with such sale or issuance or the release or adjustment of any provision for Taxes in connection with such sale or issuance), after deducting therefrom only (a) the principal amount of any Indebtedness of such Credit Party secured by any Permitted Lien on any asset that is the subject of an Asset Sale (other than Indebtedness assumed by the purchaser of such asset) which is required to be, and is, repaid in connection with such Asset Sale (other than Indebtedness under this Agreement), together with any interest thereon or fees in connection therewith, (b) reasonable fees and expenses related to any such sale or issuance reasonably incurred by such Credit Party in connection therewith and (c) a provision for any Taxes to be paid or reasonably estimated to be payable, in connection with any such sale or issuance (after taking into account any tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements); provided , however , that with respect to any Asset Sale, in the event that a Credit Party or any Subsidiary is required to take a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any contingent liabilities associated with any such sale, such Credit Party or Subsidiary may deduct from the Net Cash Proceeds received from such Disposition an amount equal to such reserve; provided , further , upon the release of such reserves or the determination that such reserves are no longer necessary, such amounts shall be considered Net Cash Proceeds and applied to the prepayment of Loans in accordance with Section 2.02(a) .

 

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Net Casualty/Condemnation Proceeds ” means, with respect to any Casualty or Condemnation, the amount of any insurance proceeds or condemnation awards received by a Credit Party or any Subsidiary from time to time in connection with such Casualty or Condemnation (net of all reasonable fees and expenses related thereto reasonably incurred by such Credit Party in connection therewith), but excluding any proceeds or awards of errors and omissions insurance; provided , however , in the event that a Credit Party or any Subsidiary is required to take a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any contingent liabilities associated with such Casualty or Condemnation, such Credit Party or Subsidiary may deduct from the Net Cash Proceeds received from such Casualty or Condemnation an amount equal to such reserve; provided , further , upon the release of such reserves or the determination that such reserves are no longer necessary, such amounts shall be considered Net Cash Proceeds and applied to the prepayment of Loans in accordance with Section 2.02(a) or Section 2.20(c) , as applicable.

Net Income ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the net income (loss) of such Person and its consolidated Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

Net Working Capital ” means the (i) increase (or decrease) of each of accounts payable, billings in excess of costs, and other current liabilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, during any Fiscal Year, plus or minus (ii) the decrease (or increase) of each of total accounts receivable, inventory, cost in excess of billings, and other current assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, during any Fiscal Year; provided, however, that all of the accrued but unpaid professional fees and other costs of administration of, or incurred during, the Chapter 11 Cases by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and any amounts identified in items (iv), (v), (vi), and (ix) of clause (a) of Consolidated EBITDA shall be deducted from both clause (i) and clause (ii) of this definition in determining Net Working Capital as of any date.

Non-Consenting Lender ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 13.03(a) .

Non-U.S. Lender ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.05(e)(i) .

Note ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 1.05(a) .

Notice of Borrowing ” means a notice substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto and made a part hereof.

Notice of Conversion/Continuation ” means a notice substantially in the form of Exhibit E attached hereto and made a part hereof.

Obligations ” means all Loans, advances, debts, liabilities, obligations, Hedging Obligations, covenants and duties, owing by any Credit Party to the Administrative Agent, the Revolving Agent, the L/C Issuer, the Collateral Agent, any Lender, any Affiliate of any Lender, any Hedging Agreement Provider or any Person entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, of any kind or nature, present or future, whether or not evidenced by any note, guaranty or other instrument, whether or not for the payment of money, whether arising by reason of an extension of credit, loan, guaranty, indemnification, interest rate contract, foreign exchange contract or in any other manner, whether direct or indirect (including those acquired by assignment), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, but in all such circumstances only to the extent now existing or hereafter arising or however acquired, arising under or in connection with this Agreement, the Notes or any other Loan Document. The term includes all interest (including any interest that, but for the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, would have accrued), charges, expenses, fees, attorneys’ fees and disbursements and any other sum chargeable to the Credit Parties under this Agreement, the Notes or any other Loan Document or any Hedging Agreement.

 

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Off-Balance Sheet Obligation ” means the monetary obligation of a Person under (a) a so-called synthetic, off-balance sheet or tax retention lease, or (b) an agreement for the use or possession of property creating obligations that do not appear on the balance sheet of such Person but which, upon the insolvency or bankruptcy of such Person, would be characterized as the Indebtedness of such Person (without regard to accounting treatment); it being the intent of the parties hereto that no monetary obligations under true operating leases be included in Off-Balance Sheet Obligations.

Offer to Prepay ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.02(d) .

Operating Lease ” means, as applied to any Person, any lease (including leases that may be terminated by the lessee at any time) of any property (whether real, personal or mixed) that is not a Capitalized Lease other than any such lease under which that Person is the lessor.

Other Lender ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 13.03(b) .

Other Taxes ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.05(b) .

Participant ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 13.09(e) .

Participating Lender ” means, individually and collectively, each of the Lenders and each L/C Issuer.

Participating Lender Expenses ” means all:

(a) costs or expenses (including taxes and insurance premiums) paid, advanced or incurred by or on behalf of any Agent in connection with the Loans or Letters of Credit, the Collateral, or any other transaction with the Credit Parties or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party;

(b) reasonable fees or charges paid or incurred by or on behalf of any Agent in connection with the Participating Lenders’ transactions with the Credit Parties or their Subsidiaries, including fees or charges for photocopying, notarization, couriers and messengers, telecommunication, public record searches (including tax lien, litigation, and UCC searches, searches with the patent and trademark office, or the copyright office), filing, recording, publication, real estate surveys, real estate title policies and endorsements, environmental audits and appraisals;

(c) reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Agent or any Participating Lender in the disbursement of funds to, for the benefit of, or on behalf of, any Credit Party, any Subsidiary of a Credit Party or any Participating Lender (by wire transfer or otherwise);

 

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(d) charges paid or incurred by any Agent resulting from the dishonor or return of checks or other items of payment;

(e) reasonable costs and expenses paid or incurred by any Agent or any Participating Lender to correct any default or enforce any provision of the Loan Documents, or in gaining possession of, maintaining, handling, preserving, storing, shipping, selling, preparing for sale, or advertising to sell the Collateral, or any portion thereof, irrespective of whether a sale is consummated;

(f) fees and expenses of or incurred by any Agent related to any action permitted to be taken under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, including in connection with inspections, audits or appraisals of the Collateral, the resignation or appointment of any Agent, or the taking of any action upon the instruction of the Required Lenders, Required Revolving Lenders, Required Term Lenders or all affected Lenders;

(g) reasonable costs and expenses of or incurred by any Agent or any Participating Lender in connection with third party claims or any other suit or proceeding relating to the Loan Documents, the validity, priority or enforceability of the Obligations or the interest of the Secured Parties in all or any portion of the Collateral or otherwise in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents or the relationship of any one or more of the Participating Lenders with any Credit Party or any Subsidiary of a Credit Party;

(h) the reasonable costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by any Agent in advising, structuring, drafting, reviewing, administering, syndicating, or amending the Loan Documents;

(i) each Agent’s and each Participating Lender’s reasonable costs and expenses (including attorneys’, accountants’, consultants’, and other advisors’ fees and expenses) incurred after the occurrence of any Event of Default, in any workout or restructuring, in any bankruptcy or other insolvency proceeding, or otherwise in terminating, enforcing, or defending the Loan Documents, irrespective of whether suit is brought, or in taking any Remedial Action concerning the Collateral;

(j) all liabilities and costs arising from or in connection with the past, present or future operations of a Credit Party involving any damage to real or personal Property or natural resources or harm or injury alleged to have resulted from any Release of Hazardous Materials on, upon or into such Property;

(k) any Environmental Liabilities and Costs incurred in connection with any facility of any Credit Party including any Remedial Action for any Hazardous Materials present on or arising out of the operations of any facility of any Credit Party; and

(l) any liabilities and costs incurred in connection with any Environmental Lien.

Participating Member State ” means each state so described in any EMU Legislation.

Patent ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Security Agreement.

 

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Patriot Act ” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Title III of Pub. L. No. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001).

Patriot Act-Related Requirements ” means the Patriot Act, the Trading with the Enemy Act, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the International Security and Development Cooperation Act, the Export Administration Act, the Arms Export Control Act and similar statutes administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control or the U.S. Bureau of Export Administration and the regulations promulgated under such statutes.

Perfection Certificate ” means the perfection certificate in the form set forth as Exhibit J.

Permits ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 5.01(m) .

Permitted Indebtedness ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 8.03 .

Permitted Indebtedness Refinancing ” means, with respect to any Indebtedness, any subsequent extension, renewal or refinancing thereof; provided that (i) the aggregate principal amount of the Indebtedness to be extended, renewed or refinanced does not increase from that amount outstanding at the time of any such extension, renewal or refinancing and (ii) the terms of the Indebtedness following such extension, renewal or refinancing are no less favorable to the obligors than prior to such extension, renewal or refinancing and are not materially adverse to the Lenders taken as a whole.

Permitted Liens ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 8.01 .

Permitted Protest ” means the right of a Person to protest any Lien (other than any such Lien that secures all or any portion of the Obligations) or Taxes, provided that (a) a reserve with respect to such obligation is established, if required, by such Person in such amount as is required under GAAP and (b) any such protest is instituted promptly and prosecuted diligently and in good faith by such Person.

Person ” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

Plan ” means any “employee benefit plan”, as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA.

Plan of Reorganization ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Recitals.

Pledged Debt ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Security Agreement.

Post-Petition Loan Agreement ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the Recitals.

Prepayment Fee ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.03 .

Property ” means any right or interest in or to property of any kind whatsoever, whether real, personal or mixed and whether tangible or intangible.

 

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Proposed Change ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 13.03(a) .

Pro Rata Share ” means, at any time, with respect to (a) any Revolving Lender in the case of any determination to be made hereunder dealing with the rights or obligations of such Revolving Lender as between itself and the other Revolving Lenders, the percentage obtained by dividing (i) the Revolving Commitment of such Revolving Lender at such time by the Total Revolving Commitments at such time or, (ii) if the Revolving Commitments have been terminated, the amount of such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Loans and Letter of Credit Exposure at such time by the Aggregate Revolving Exposure at such time (b) any Term Lender in the case of any determination to be made hereunder dealing with the rights or obligations of such Term Lender as between itself and the other Term Lenders, the percentage obtained by dividing the amount of such Term Lender’s Term Loan at such time by the aggregate Term Loans of all Term Lenders at such time or (c) any Lender in the case of any determination to be made hereunder dealing with the rights or obligations of such Lender as between itself and the other Lenders, the percentage obtained by dividing , (i) if such Lender is a Revolving Lender, (A) the Revolving Commitment of such Lender at such time by the Total Revolving Commitments and the aggregate Term Loans of all Term Lenders at such time or, (B) if the Revolving Commitments have been terminated, the amount of such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Loans and Letter of Credit Exposure at such time by the Total Aggregate Exposure at such time or (ii) if such Lender is a Term Lender, (A) the amount of such Term Lender’s Term Loan at such time by the Total Revolving Commitments and the aggregate Term Loans of all Term Lenders at such time or, (B) if the Revolving Commitments have been terminated, the amount of such Term Lender’s Term Loan at such time by the Total Aggregate Exposure at such time. The initial Pro Rata Shares are set out on Schedule B .

Quarterly Compliance Certificate ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 6.01(b) .

Ratings Agencies ” means Moody’s and S&P, or if either of such Persons cease to perform credit ratings or other applicable services, such nationally recognized statistical rating organization the Administrative Agent may select.

Real Estate Asset ” means any real property, or any direct or indirect interest in any real property, in which any Credit Party has a fee, leasehold or other interest, including without limitation the Mortgaged Properties.

Registered Intellectual Property ” means all Intellectual Property that has been registered with, filed in or issued by, as the case may be, the United States Patent and Trademark Office or such other similar filing offices, domestic or foreign, as applicable.

Regulation T ”, “ Regulation U ”, and “ Regulation X ” mean, respectively, Regulations T, U, and X of the Federal Reserve Board or any successor, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time.

Release ” means any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, seeping, migrating, dumping or disposing of any Hazardous Material (including the abandonment or discarding of barrels, containers and other closed receptacles containing any Hazardous Material) into the indoor or outdoor environment, including ambient air, soil, surface or ground water.

 

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Remedial Action ” means all actions taken to (a) clean up, remove, remediate, contain, treat, monitor, assess, evaluate or in any other way address Hazardous Materials in the indoor or outdoor workplace environment; (b) prevent or minimize a Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials so they do not migrate or endanger or threaten to endanger public health or welfare or the indoor or outdoor environment; (c) perform pre-remedial studies and investigations and post-remedial operation and maintenance activities; or (d) any other actions authorized by 42 U.S.C. § 9601.

Reportable Event ” means any of the events described in Section 4043(c) of ERISA or the regulations thereunder other than a Reportable Event as to which the provision of thirty (30) days’ notice to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation is waived under applicable regulations.

Reports ” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.01(e) .

Required Lenders ” means Lenders comprising the Required Revolving Lenders and the Required Term Lenders.

Required Revolving Lenders ” means, at any time, collectively, (i) the Revolving Lenders having more than 50% of the Total Revolving Commitments or (ii) if the Revolving Commitments have been terminated, more than 50% of the aggregate outstanding amount of the Aggregate Revolving Exposure.

Required Term Lenders ” means, at any time, Term Lenders having more than 50% of the aggregate outstanding amount of the Term Loans.

Requirements of Law ” means, as to any Person, the charter and by-laws or other organizational or Governing Documents of such Person, and any law, ordinance, rule, regulation, requirement, or determination of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject, including, without limitation, the Patriot Act Related Requirements, the Securities Act, the Securities Exchange Act, Regulations T, U and X, ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code, the Fair Labor Standards Act and any certificate of occupancy, zoning ordinance, building, environmental or land use requirement or Permit or environmental, labor, employment, occupational safety or health law, rule or regulation.

Restricted Material ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 13.20 .

Restricted Payments ” means, with respect to any Person, (a) any dividend or other distribution, direct or indirect, on account of any shares of any class of Capital Stock of, such Person, now or hereafter outstanding, except a dividend or distribution payable solely in shares of that class of stock or in any junior class of stock to the holders of that class, (b) any redemption, retirement, sinking fund or similar payment, purchase or other acquisition for value, direct or indirect, of any shares of any class of capital stock of, partnership interest of or other equity interest of, such Person now or hereafter outstanding, (c) any payment or prepayment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest, fees or other charges on or with respect to, and any redemption, purchase, retirement, defeasance, sinking fund or similar payment and any claim for rescission with respect to any Indebtedness which is subordinated to the Obligations and (d) any payment made to redeem, purchase, repurchase or retire, or to obtain the surrender of, any outstanding warrants, options or other rights to acquire shares of any class of Capital Stock of such Person now or hereafter outstanding.

 

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Restricted Period ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 13.20 .

Revolving Agent ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the introductory paragraph hereto.

Revolving Commitment ” means, with respect to any Revolving Lender, the obligation of such Revolving Lender at such time to make Revolving Loans and to incur Letter of Credit Obligations or purchase risk participations in Letters of Credit pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and as specified in Schedule C .

Revolving Defaulting Lender ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 1.01(d) .

Revolving Lender ” means a Lender that has a Revolving Commitment and/or that has an outstanding Revolving Loan.

Revolving Loan ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 1.01(a) .

Revolving Note ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 1.05(a) .

Revolving Register ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 13.09(d) .

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and any successor thereto.

Sale and Leaseback Transaction ” means any arrangement pursuant to which any Credit Party, directly or indirectly, becomes liable as lessee, guarantor or other surety with respect to any Lease, whether an Operating Lease or a Capitalized Lease, of any Property that such Credit Party (a) has sold or transferred (or is to sell or transfer) to, or arranged the purchase by, a Person other than a Credit Party or (b) intends to use for substantially the same purpose as any other Property that has been sold or is transferred (or is to be sold or transferred) by such Credit Party to a Person other than a Credit Party in connection with such Lease.

Scheduled Maturity Date ” means January 22, 2014.

Secured Parties ” means the Agents, the Participating Lenders and the Hedging Agreement Providers.

Securities ” means any Capital Stock, shares, voting trust certificates, bonds, debentures, notes, loans or other evidences of indebtedness, secured or unsecured, convertible, subordinated or otherwise, or any certificates of interest, shares or participations in temporary or interim certificates for the purchase or acquisition of, or any right to subscribe to, purchase or acquire any of the foregoing, but shall not include the Obligations.

 

121


Securities Account ” shall have the meaning provided in Section 8-501(a) of the UCC.

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor Federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.

Securities Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended or any successor Federal statute, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.

Security Agreement ” means the Security and Pledge Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, among the Borrower, the other Assignors identified therein and the Collateral Agent in the form of Exhibit L , as such agreement may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance therewith and herewith.

Security Documents ” means the Security Agreement, the Mortgages, the Control Agreements and any other documents granting a Lien upon the Collateral as security for all or any part of the Obligations.

Senior Officer ” means, with respect to any Credit Party, such Credit Party’s president, chief executive officer, chief administrative officer, chief financial officer, managing director or chief accounting officer.

SNC Litigation ” means the litigation with respect to, or arising from, the filing of a notice of appeal by SNC-Lavalin from the Order Sustaining Estate Parties’ Objections to Proofs of Claim Nos. 1099 and 1100 Filed by SNC-Lavalin Power Ontario Inc. and Temporarily Allowing for Plan Voting Purposes Claim No. 1099.

Software ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Security Agreement.

Solvent ” or “ Solvency ” with respect to any Person means (a) the fair value of the property of such Person exceeds its total liabilities (including, without limitation, contingent liabilities), (b) the present fair saleable value of the assets of such Person is not less than the amount that will be required to pay its probable liability on its existing debts as they become absolute and matured, (c) such Person does not intend to incur debts or liabilities beyond its ability to pay, as such debts and liabilities mature, and (d) such Person is not engaged, and is not about to engage, in business or a transaction for which its property would constitute an unreasonably small capital. The amount of contingent liabilities at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in the light of all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability.

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person at any date, any corporation, limited or general partnership, limited liability company, trust, association or other entity (a) the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of such Person in such Person’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP or (b) of which more than 50% of (i) the outstanding Capital Stock having (in the absence of contingencies) ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors of such corporation, (ii) the interest in the capital or profits of such partnership or limited liability company or (iii) the beneficial interest in such trust or estate is, at the time of determination, owned or controlled directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, by such Person.

 

122


Swap Contract ” means (a) any and all rate swap transactions, basis swaps, credit derivative transactions, rate hedging agreements, forward rate transactions, commodity swaps, commodity options, forward commodity contracts, equity or equity index swaps or options, bond or bond price or bond index swaps or options or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transactions, interest rate options, forward foreign exchange transactions, cap transactions, floor transactions, collar transactions, currency swap transactions, cross-currency rate swap transactions, currency options, spot contracts, or any other similar transactions or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, and (b) any and all transactions of any kind, and the related confirmations, which are subject to the terms and conditions of, or governed by, any form of master agreement published by the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., any International Foreign Exchange Master Agreement, or any other master agreement, including any such obligations or liabilities under any such master agreement.

Swap Termination Value ” means, in respect of any one or more Swap Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Swap Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Swap Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in clause (a), the amount(s) determined as the mark-to-market value(s) for such Swap Contracts, as determined based upon one or more mid-market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Swap Contracts (which may include a Lender or any Affiliate of a Lender).

Sweep Date ” means with respect to any Fiscal Year, the 120 th day following the end of such Fiscal Year.

Syndication Agent ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in the introductory paragraph hereto.

Taxes ” means any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental Authority.

Term Defaulting Lender ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 1.02(d) .

Term Lender ” means a Lender that has a Term Loan Commitment outstanding and/or an outstanding Term Loan.

Term Loan ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 1.02(a) .

Term Loan Commitment ” means, with respect to any Lender, the obligation of such Lender at such time to make a Term Loan pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

Term Note ” has the meaning ascribed to it in Section 1.05(a) .

 

123


Term Register ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 13.09(d) .

Title Company ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.01(y)(iii) .

Title Policy ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.01(y)(iii) .

Total Aggregate Exposure ” means the sum of (a) the Aggregate Revolving Exposure and (b) the Term Loans.

Total Leverage Ratio ” means, on any date, the ratio of (a) an amount equal to (i) Consolidated Total Debt on such date minus (ii) the aggregate amount of Letter of Credit Obligations outstanding on such date to (b) Consolidated EBITDA for the four (4) Fiscal Quarters most recently ended on such date.

Total Revolving Commitment ” means the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Commitments of all the Revolving Lenders (it being understood and agreed that the maximum aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Commitments shall not exceed sixty million Dollars ($60,000,000), as reduced from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof).

Trademarks ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Security Agreement.

UCC ” means the Uniform Commercial Code enacted in the State of New York, as in effect from time to time; provided , however , that if by reason of mandatory provisions of law, any or all of the attachment, perfection, effect of perfection, non-perfection, priority or remedies with respect to the Collateral Agent’s Liens is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as enacted and in effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of New York, the term “ UCC ” means the Uniform Commercial Code as enacted and in effect in such other jurisdiction for purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such attachment, perfection, effect of perfection, non-perfection, priority or remedies.

Unused Commitment Fee ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.06(b) .

Wholly-Owned ” means, when used to describe any Subsidiary of a Credit Party, that all of the Capital Stock (other than directors’ qualifying shares) of such Subsidiary is owned by one or more Credit Parties or Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of the Credit Parties.

Williams Group ” means, collectively, Williams Industrial Services Group, L.L.C., Williams Industrial Services, LLC, Williams Specialty Services, LLC, Williams Plant Services, LLC and WSServices L.P.

 

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Section 14.02. Terms Generally . The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”. Unless the context requires otherwise, (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (c) the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof, (d) all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement, (e) any reference to any law or regulation herein shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time and (f) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights.

Section 14.03. Accounting and Other Terms . Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, each accounting term used herein shall have the meaning given to it under GAAP. All terms used in this Agreement which are defined in Article 8 or Article 9 of the UCC and which are not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meanings herein as set forth therein.

Section 14.04. Time References . Unless otherwise indicated herein, all references to time of day refer to Eastern standard time or Eastern daylight saving time, as in effect in New York, New York on such day. For purposes of the computation of a period of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including” and the words “to” and “until” each means “to but excluding”; provided , however , that with respect to a computation of fees or interest payable to the Agents or the Lenders, such period shall in any event consist of at least one full day.

(signature pages follow)

 

125


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the date first above written.

 

GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC.,

a Delaware corporation, as Borrower

By:  

/s/ John M. Matheson

  Name:   John M. Matheson
  Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

DELTAK CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, INC.,

a Wisconsin corporation, as a Guarantor

By:  

/s/ John M. Matheson

  Name:   John M. Matheson
  Title:   Director

DELTAK, L.L.C.,

A Delaware limited liability company, as a Guarantor

By:  

/s/ John M. Matheson

  Name:   John M. Matheson
  Title:   Director

BRADEN CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, INC.,

A Delaware corporation, as a Guarantor

By:  

/s/ John M. Matheson

  Name:   John M. Matheson
  Title:   Director

BRADEN MANUFACTURING, L.L.C.,

A Delaware limited liability company, as a Guarantor

By:  

/s/ John M. Matheson

  Name:   John M. Matheson
  Title:   Director
GLOBAL POWER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, L.L.C., A Delaware limited liability company, as a Guarantor
By:  

/s/ John M. Matheson

  Name:   John M. Matheson
  Title:   Manager

 

126


WILLIAMS INDUSTRIAL SERVICES GROUP, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, as a Guarantor
By:  

/s/ John M. Matheson

  Name:   John M. Matheson
  Title:   Manager

WILLIAMS INDUSTRIAL SERVICES, LLC,

a Georgia limited liability company, as a Guarantor

By:  

/s/ Michael E. Hanson

  Name:   Michael E. Hanson
  Title:   Manager

WILLIAMS SPECIALTY SERVICES, LLC,

a Georgia limited liability company, as a Guarantor

By:  

/s/ John M. Matheson

  Name:   John M. Matheson
  Title:   Manager

WILLIAMS PLANT SERVICES, LLC,

a Georgia limited liability company, as a Guarantor

By:  

/s/ John M. Matheson

  Name:   John M. Matheson
  Title:   Manager

WSSERVICES, LP,

a California limited partnership, as a Guarantor

By:  

/s/ John M. Matheson

  Name:   John M. Matheson
  Title:   Manager

 

127

Exhibit 10.2

AMENDMENT NO. 1

TO

CREDIT AGREEMENT

THIS AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (the “ Amendment ”), effective as of April 24, 2008, is made by and among GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC., a corporation formed under the laws of Delaware (the “ Company ” or the “ Borrower ”), the other Credit Parties party hereto, the Lenders party hereto, MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., a corporation formed under the laws of Delaware, as lead arranger and bookrunner and as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns, if any, the “ Administrative Agent ”), MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED, a corporation formed under the laws of Delaware, as collateral agent for the Secured Parties (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns, if any, the “ Collateral Agent ”), THE CIT GROUP/BUSINESS CREDIT, INC. a corporation formed under the laws of Delaware, as syndication agent and as revolving agent for the Revolving Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns, if any, the “ Revolving Agent ”) and GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, a corporation formed under the laws of Delaware, as documentation agent (in such capacity, the “ Documentation Agent ”, together with the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, the “ Agents ”).

WHEREAS, the Borrower, the other Credit Parties party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and the Agents are parties to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of January 22, 2008 (as it may be further amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “ Credit Agreement ”), pursuant to which the Lenders and the Agents provide the Borrower with certain financial accommodations; and

WHEREAS, the Credit Agreement shall be amended as set forth herein on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Definitions . All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Credit Agreement.

2. Amendment to Credit Agreement . The Credit Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

(a) Section 3.06(c) is hereby deleted and replaced in its entirety with the following:

(c) the Revolving Agent, for the account of the Revolving Lenders, a Letter of Credit fee in an amount equal to the Applicable Margin for Revolving Loans that are LIBOR Rate Loans times the undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit, payable quarterly in arrears and on the date of the termination or expiration of the Revolving Commitments; and


(b) Section 3.06(d) is hereby deleted and replaced in its entirety with the following:

(d) to the Revolving Agent for the benefit of the L/C Issuer, (i) payable quarterly upon notice from the Revolving Agent, an additional fee equal to 0.33% per annum times the average aggregate face amount of all Letters of Credit issued and outstanding during such three-month period plus , (ii) payable quarterly, applicable standard bank issuance and amendment charges, not to exceed, for each Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, $500.

(c) Section 14.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by (i) deleting the defined term “Letter of Credit Issuance Fee” and (ii) deleting the defined term “Consolidated EBITDA” in its entirety and replacing it with the following:

Consolidated EBITDA ” means, for any period, for the Credit Parties, determined on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to Consolidated Net Income for such period, plus (a) the following (without duplication) to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income: (i) Consolidated Interest Expense for such period; (ii) the provision for federal, state, local and foreign income taxes for such period; (iii) depreciation and amortization expense; (iv) cash restructuring charges and associated professional fee expenses taken on or after December 1, 2007 and prior to December 31, 2008 in an amount not to exceed $14,000,000 (fourteen million Dollars); (v) extraordinary cash expenses associated with tax and audit work incurred on or after December 1, 2007 and prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date in an amount not to exceed $4,000,000 (four million Dollars); (vi) cash expenses resulting from a draw of a Letter of Credit issued for the benefit of Air Liquide and associated with the Air Liquide settlement in an amount not to exceed $5,700,000 (five million seven hundred thousand Dollars); (vii) any non-cash write downs or non-cash write-offs including fixed asset impairments or write-downs, intangible asset impairments, deferred tax asset write-offs and non-cash stock compensation expenses; (viii) all extraordinary, non-recurring, non-cash items decreasing Consolidated Net Income for such period; (ix) cash costs and expenses not to exceed $1,000,000 (one million Dollars), incurred with respect to defending and/or prosecuting the SNC Litigation during the period from the Closing Date to December 31, 2009; and (x) all extraordinary, non-recurring, cash expenditures associated with approved bankruptcy claims and professional fees decreasing Consolidated Net Income for such period in an aggregate amount not to exceed $4,000,000 (four million Dollars); and minus (b) the following (without duplication) to the extent included in calculating such Consolidated Net Income: (i) all items constituting interest income; (ii) Federal, state, local and foreign income tax benefits for such period; (iii) write ups, reevaluations and non-Cash gains resulting from the marking or reevaluation of any asset; and (iv) all extraordinary, non-recurring, non-Cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income for such period; provided that Consolidated EBITDA for each monthly period ending on or prior to November 30, 2007 shall be the amount specified for such period on Schedule C-1 hereto.

 

2


3. Conditions Precedent . The amendments set forth in Section 2 above shall become effective as of April 24, 2008, but only once each of the following conditions is satisfied:

(a) (i) the Administrative Agent shall have received an amendment fee in an amount equal to $25,000, (ii) the Term Lenders shall have received an amendment fee in an amount equal to $177,750, (iii) the Revolving Lenders shall have received an amendment fee in an amount equal to $45,000, and (iv) the Borrower shall have paid all other Participating Lender Expenses required to be paid under the Loan Documents;

(b) the Administrative Agent shall have received this Amendment, duly executed by the Required Lenders, Administrative Agent, Revolving Agent and Borrower, and the same shall be in full force and effect;

(c) The representations and warranties in this Amendment, the Credit Agreement, as amended by this Amendment, and the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date hereof, as though made on such date;

(d) After giving effect to this Amendment, no Default, Event of Default or event that, with the giving of notice or passage of time, would constitute an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date hereof, nor shall result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein; and

(e) No injunction, writ, restraining order, or other order of any nature prohibiting, directly or indirectly, the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein shall have been issued and remain in force by any Governmental Authority against Borrower, any Guarantor or any Lender.

4. Representations and Warranties . Borrower hereby represents and warrants as follows:

(a) This Amendment and the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of Borrower and are enforceable against Borrower in accordance with their respective terms.

 

3


(b) The Borrower has the legal power and authority to execute and deliver this Amendment.

(c) The officers executing this Amendment have been duly authorized to execute and deliver the same and bind the Borrower with respect to the provisions hereof.

(d) The execution and delivery of this Amendment by the Borrower and the performance and observance by the Borrower of the provisions hereof do not violate or conflict with the organizational documents of the Borrower or any law applicable to the Borrower or result in a breach of any provisions of or constitute a default under any other agreement, instrument or document binding upon or enforceable against the Borrower.

(e) No Event of Default or Default has occurred and is continuing or would exist after giving effect to this Amendment.

5. Effect on the Credit Agreement .

(a) Except as specifically amended herein, the Credit Agreement, and all other documents, instruments and agreements executed and/or delivered in connection therewith, shall remain in full force and effect, and are hereby ratified and confirmed.

(b) The execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment shall not operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of any Lender or the Agents, or constitute a waiver of any provision of the Credit Agreement, or any other documents, instruments or agreements executed and/or delivered under or in connection therewith.

6. Governing Law . This Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns and shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York, without regard to principles of conflicts of law (other than Section 5-1401 of the General Obligations Law of the State of New York).

7. Captions . The captions herein are included for convenience of reference only and shall be ignored in the construction or interpretation hereof

8. Counterparts; Effectiveness . This Amendment may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument; provided no party shall be bound unless and until the parties hereto have each signed a counterpart hereof. Facsimile transmissions of any executed original documents and/or retransmission of any executed facsimile transmission shall be deemed to be the same as the delivery of an executed original. At the written request of any party hereto, the other parties hereto shall confirm facsimile transmissions by executing duplicate original documents and delivering the same to the requesting party or parties.

 

4


[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

5


IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the undersigned have duly executed this Amendment as of the day and year first above written.

 

GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP

INC. , a Delaware corporation, as Borrower

By:  

LOGO

  Name:   John M. Matheson
  Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

DELTAK CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, INC. ,

a Wisconsin corporation, as a Guarantor

By:  

LOGO

  Name:   John M. Matheson
  Title:   Director

DELTAK, L.L.C. , A Delaware limited liability

company, as a Guarantor

By:  

LOGO

  Name:   John M. Matheson
  Title:   Director

BRADEN CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, INC. ,

A Delaware corporation, as a Guarantor

By:  

LOGO

  Name:   John M. Matheson
  Title:   Director

BRADEN MANUFACTURING L.L.C. , A

Delaware limited liability company, as a Guarantor

By:  

LOGO

  Name:   John M. Matheson
  Title:   Director

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE – AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT]


GLOBAL POWER PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, L.L. C ., A Delaware limited liability company, as a Guarantor
By:  

LOGO

  Name:   John M. Matheson
  Title:   Manager
WILLIAMS INDUSTRIAL SERVICES GROUP, L.L.C. , a Delaware limited liability company, as a Guarantor
By:  

LOGO

  Name:   John M. Matheson
  Title:   Manager

WILLIAMS INDUSTRIAL SERVICES, LLC , a

Georgia limited liability company, as a Guarantor

By:  

LOGO

  Name:   David Willis
  Title:   Manager

WILLIAMS SPECIALTY SERVICES, LLC , a

Georgia limited liability company, as a Guarantor

By:  

LOGO

  Name:   John M. Matheson
  Title:   Manager

WILLIAMS PLANT SERVICES, LLC , a

Georgia limited liability company, as a Guarantor

By:  

LOGO

  Name:   John M. Matheson
  Title:   Manager

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE – AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT]

Exhibit 10.3

EXECUTION VERSION

AMENDMENT NO. 2

TO

CREDIT AGREEMENT

THIS AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (the “ Amendment ”), effective as of July 30, 2008, is made by and among GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC., a corporation formed under the laws of Delaware (the “ Company ” or the “ Borrower ”), the other Credit Parties party hereto, the Lenders party hereto, MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., a corporation formed under the laws of Delaware, as lead arranger and bookrunner and as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns, if any, the “ Administrative Agent ”), MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED, a corporation formed under the laws of Delaware, as collateral agent for the Secured Parties (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns, if any, the “ Collateral Agent ”), THE CIT GROUP/BUSINESS CREDIT, INC. a corporation formed under the laws of Delaware, as syndication agent and as revolving agent for the Revolving Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns, if any, the “ Revolving Agent ”) and GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, a corporation formed under the laws of Delaware, as documentation agent (in such capacity, the “ Documentation Agent ”, together with the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, the “ Agents ”).

WHEREAS, the Borrower, the other Credit Parties party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and the Agents are parties to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of January 22, 2008 and as amended on April 24, 2008 (as it may be further amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “ Credit Agreement ”), pursuant to which the Lenders and the Agents provide the Borrower with certain financial accommodations; and

WHEREAS, the Credit Agreement shall be amended as set forth herein on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Definitions . All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Credit Agreement.

2. Amendment to Credit Agreement . The Credit Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

(a) Subsection 1.01(a)(i) is hereby deleted and replaced in its entirety with the following:

(i) Twenty-five million Dollars ($25,000,000) or

(b) Section 3.06(b) is hereby amended by deleting the last sentence thereof and replacing it with the following: “The Unused Commitment Fee shall be non-refundable and paid monthly in arrears and on the date of the termination or expiration of the Revolving Commitments.”


(c) Section 3.06(c) is hereby deleted and replaced in its entirety with the following:

(c) the Revolving Agent, for the account of the Revolving Lenders, a Letter of Credit fee in an amount equal to the Letter of Credit Applicable Margin times the undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit, payable monthly in arrears and on the date of the termination or expiration of the Revolving Commitments;

(d) Section 3.06(d) is hereby deleted and replaced in its entirety with the following:

(d) to the Revolving Agent for the benefit of the L/C Issuer, (i) payable monthly upon notice from the Revolving Agent, an additional fee equal to 0.32% per annum times the average aggregate face amount of all Letters of Credit issued and outstanding during such one-month period plus, (ii) payable monthly, applicable standard bank issuance and amendment charges, not to exceed, for each Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, $500.

(e) Section 7.15(a) is hereby deleted and replaced in its entirety with the following:

(a) No Credit Party shall have any Deposit Account (other than the accounts listed on Schedule 5.01(t)(iii)) , commodities account or Securities Account other than accounts subject to Control Agreements and the Credit Parties shall cause the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, to have a valid, perfected, first-priority security interest in such accounts (other than those accounts listed on Schedule 5.01(t)(iii)) . The Credit Parties shall not permit the balance in the accounts listed on Schedule 5.01(t)(iii) to exceed $500,000 at any time.

(f) Section 7.15(c) is hereby deleted and replaced in its entirety with the following:

(c) Each Credit Party shall take all reasonable steps necessary from time to time to deposit or cause to be deposited promptly all of its Collections (including those sent in cash or otherwise directly to any Credit Party) into an account subject to a Control Agreement (other than with respect to those accounts listed on Schedule 5.01(t)(iii)) .

(g) Section 8.01(m) is hereby deleted in its entirety.

(h) Section 8.03 is hereby amended by (i) deleting the “and” at the end of clause (k) thereof, (ii) deleting the period at the end of clause (l) thereof and replacing it with “; and” and (iii) inserting a new clause (m) at the end thereof which shall read as follows:

“(m) Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries in an amount not to exceed $3,000,000.00 to be used to finance the renewal of insurance coverage for itself and its domestic and foreign Subsidiaries under its existing insurance plans.”

 

2


(i) Section 9.01 is hereby amended by deleting the table therein in its entirety and replacing it with the following:

 

Measurement Period Ending

   Ratio

March 31, 2008

   3.00x

June 30, 2008

   2.50x

September 30, 2008

   3.00x

December 31, 2008

   3.00x

March 31, 2009

   3.00x

June 30, 2009

   3.25x

September 30, 2009

   3.50x

December 31, 2009

   3.75x

March 31, 2010

   3.75x

June 30, 2010

   3.50x

September 30, 2010

   3.25x

December 31, 2010

   3.00x

March 31, 2011

   3.00x

June 30, 2011

   2.75x

September 30, 2011

   2.75x

December 31, 2011

   2.50x

March 31, 2012

   2.50x

June 30, 2012

   2.25x

September 30, 2012, and each period thereafter

   2.00x

(j) Section 9.02 is hereby amended by deleting the table therein in its entirety and replacing it with the following:

 

Measurement Period Ending

   Ratio

June 30, 2008

   2.00x

September 30, 2008

   1.75x

December 31, 2008

   1.75x

March 31, 2009

   1.75x

June 30, 2009

   1.60x

September 30, 2009

   1.50x

December 31, 2009

   1.40x

March 31, 2010

   1.45x

June 30, 2010

   1.50x

September 30, 2010

   1.55x

December 31, 2010

   1.60x

 

3


Measurement Period Ending

   Ratio

March 31, 2011

   1.60x

June 30, 2011

   1.70x

September 30, 2011

   1.70x

December 31, 2011

   1.80x

March 31, 2012

   1.80x

June 30, 2012

   1.90x

September 30, 2012

   1.90x

December 31, 2012, and each period thereafter

   2.00x

(k) Section 9.03 is hereby amended by deleting the table therein in its entirety and replacing it with the following:

 

Fiscal Month Ending

   Minimum
Liquidity

January 31, 2008

   $ 15,000,000

February 29, 2008

   $ 15,000,000

March 31, 2008

   $ 15,000,000

April 30, 2008

   $ 15,000,000

May 31, 2008

   $ 15,000,000

June 30, 2008

   $ 15,000,000

July 31, 2008

   $ 0

August 31, 2008

   $ 0

September 30, 2008

   $ 0

October 31, 2008

   $ 0

November 30, 2008

   $ 0

December 31, 2008

   $ 0

January 31, 2009

   $ 2,500,000

February 28, 2009

   $ 2,500,000

March 31, 2009

   $ 2,500,000

April 30, 2009

   $ 5,000,000

May 31, 2009

   $ 5,000,000

June 30, 2009

   $ 5,000,000

July 31, 2009, and each period thereafter

   $ 10,000,000

(l) Section 14.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by:

(i) adding the following defined term in appropriate alphabetical order:

Letter of Credit Applicable Margin ” means a percentage per annum equal to 2.75%.

 

4


(ii) deleting the defined term “Applicable Margin” in its entirety and replacing it with the following:

Applicable Margin ” means a percentage per annum, as set forth below:

 

     Alternate Base
Rate Loan
    LIBOR Rate Loan  

Revolving Loans

   2.50   3.50

Term Loans

   6.50   7.50

; and

(iii) deleting the defined term “Excluded Account” in its entirety.

(iv) deleting the defined term “Interest Payment Date” in its entirety and replacing it with the following:

Interest Payment Date ” means (i) for the Revolving Loans the last Business Day of each Fiscal Month and (ii) for the Term Loans, the last Business Day of each Fiscal Quarter, in each case commencing on the first such date to occur after the Closing Date, and the Maturity Date; provided that, with respect to the amount of any Loan prepaid, the Interest Payment Date shall be the date of such prepayment.

(m) The Schedules to the Credit Agreement are hereby amended by:

(i) deleting the existing Schedule 5.01(t)(i) and inserting Schedule 5.01(t)(i) in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.

(ii) inserting Schedule 5.01(t)(iii) in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B in appropriate numerical order.

3. Modification of Post-Closing Obligations .

(a) The obligations set forth in Schedule 4.03 of the Credit Agreement are hereby modified as follows:

(i) the obligation set forth in paragraph 1(e)(iii) of such Schedule is hereby waived, provided that in lieu of such obligation, on or before the date falling 30 days after the date of this Amendment, the Credit Parties shall deliver to the Collateral Agent a stock certificate (and related stock power) representing 65% of the Capital Stock of Global Power Equipment Group Inc. in Global Power Equipment Group (Hong Kong) Limited, the owner of 100% of the Capital Stock of Braden Power Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd; and

 

5


(ii) the time to satisfy the obligation set forth in paragraph 1(e)(iii) of such Schedule is hereby extended to the date falling 30 days after the date of this Amendment,

it being agreed and understood that the provisions of paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 of such Schedule shall apply to the above obligations, as if such obligations were set forth in such Schedule.

4. Conditions Precedent . The amendments set forth in Section 2 above shall become effective as of July     , 2008, but only once each of the following conditions is satisfied:

(a) (i) the Administrative Agent shall have received an amendment fee in an amount equal to $250,000, (ii) the Term Lenders shall, in aggregate have received an amendment fee in an amount equal to $437,500, (iii) the Revolving Lenders shall, in aggregate have received an amendment fee in an amount equal to $150,000, and (iv) the Borrower shall have paid all other Participating Lender Expenses required to be paid under the Loan Documents;

(b) the Administrative Agent shall have received this Amendment, duly executed by the Required Lenders, Administrative Agent, Revolving Agent and Borrower, and the same shall be in full force and effect;

(c) The representations and warranties in this Amendment, the Credit Agreement, as amended by this Amendment, and the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date hereof, as though made on such date (except to the extent such representations and warranties specifically relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such earlier date);

(d) After giving effect to this Amendment, no Default, Event of Default or event that, with the giving of notice or passage of time, would constitute an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date hereof, nor shall result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein; and

(e) No injunction, writ, restraining order, or other order of any nature prohibiting, directly or indirectly, the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein shall have been issued and remain in force by any Governmental Authority against Borrower, any Guarantor or any Lender.

5. Representations and Warranties . Borrower hereby represents and warrants as follows:

(a) This Amendment and the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of Borrower and are enforceable against Borrower in accordance with their respective terms.

 

6


(b) The Borrower has the legal power and authority to execute and deliver this Amendment.

(c) The officers executing this Amendment have been duly authorized to execute and deliver the same and bind the Borrower with respect to the provisions hereof.

(d) The execution and delivery of this Amendment by the Borrower and the performance and observance by the Borrower of the provisions hereof do not violate or conflict with the organizational documents of the Borrower or any law applicable to the Borrower or result in a breach of any provisions of or constitute a default under any other agreement, instrument or document binding upon or enforceable against the Borrower.

(e) No Event of Default or Default has occurred and is continuing (save as contemplated in Section 3 above) or would exist after giving effect to this Amendment.

6. Effect on the Credit Agreement .

(a) Except as specifically amended herein, the Credit Agreement, and all other documents, instruments and agreements executed and/or delivered in connection therewith, shall remain in full force and effect, and are hereby ratified and confirmed.

(b) The execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment shall not operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of any Lender or the Agents, or constitute a waiver of any provision of the Credit Agreement, or any other documents, instruments or agreements executed and/or delivered under or in connection therewith.

7. Governing Law . This Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns and shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York, without regard to principles of conflicts of law (other than Section 5-1401 of the General Obligations Law of the State of New York).

8. Captions . The captions herein are included for convenience of reference only and shall be ignored in the construction or interpretation hereof

9. Counterparts; Effectiveness . This Amendment may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument; provided no party shall be bound unless and until the parties hereto have each signed a counterpart hereof. Facsimile transmissions of any executed original documents and/or retransmission of any executed facsimile transmission shall be deemed to be the same as the delivery of an executed original. At the written request of any party hereto, the other parties hereto shall confirm facsimile transmissions by executing duplicate original documents and delivering the same to the requesting party or parties.

 

7


[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

8


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have duly executed this Amendment as of the day and year first above written.

 

GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP

INC. , a Delaware corporation, as Borrower

By:  

LOGO

  Name:   John M. Matheson
  Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

DELTAK CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, INC. ,

a Wisconsin corporation, as a Guarantor

By:  

LOGO

  Name:   John M. Matheson
  Title:   Director

DELTAK, L.L.C. , A Delaware limited liability

company, as a Guarantor

By:  

LOGO

  Name:   John M. Matheson
  Title:   Director

BRADEN CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, INC. ,

A Delaware corporation, as a Guarantor

By:  

LOGO

  Name:   John M. Matheson
  Title:   Director

BRADEN MANUFACTURING L.L.C. , A

Delaware limited liability company, as a Guarantor

By:  

LOGO

  Name:   John M. Matheson
  Title:   Director

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE – AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT]


GLOBAL POWER PROFESSIONAL

SERVICES, L.L. C . , A Delaware limited liability company, as a Guarantor

By:  

LOGO

  Name:   John M. Matheson
  Title:   Manager

WILLIAMS INDUSTRIAL SERVICES

GROUP, L.L.C. , a Delaware limited liability company, as a Guarantor

By:  

LOGO

  Name:   John M. Matheson
  Title:   Manager

WILLIAMS INDUSTRIAL SERVICES, LLC , a

Georgia limited liability company, as a Guarantor

By:  

LOGO

  Name:   David Willis
  Title:   Manager

WILLIAMS SPECIALTY SERVICES, LLC , a

Georgia limited liability company, as a Guarantor

By:  

LOGO

  Name:   John M. Matheson
  Title:   Manager

WILLIAMS PLANT SERVICES, LLC , a

Georgia limited liability company, as a Guarantor

By:  

LOGO

  Name:   John M. Matheson
  Title:   Manager

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE – AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT]

Exhibit 10.4

AMENDMENT NO. 3

TO

CREDIT AGREEMENT

THIS AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT (the “ Amendment No. 3 ”), dated as of December 31, 2009, is made by and among GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC., a corporation formed under the laws of Delaware (the “ Company ” or the “ Borrower ”), the other Credit Parties party hereto, the Lenders party hereto, MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., a corporation formed under the laws of Delaware, as administrative agent for the Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns, if any, the “ Administrative Agent ”) and revolving agent for the Revolving Lenders (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns, if any, the “ Revolving Agent ”), MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED, a corporation formed under the laws of Delaware, as collateral agent for the Secured Parties (in such capacity, together with its successors and assigns, if any, the “ Collateral Agent ”), and GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION, a corporation formed under the laws of Delaware, as documentation agent (in such capacity, the “ Documentation Agent ”, together with the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, and the Revolving Agent, the “ Agents ”).

WHEREAS, the Borrower, the other Credit Parties party thereto, the Lenders party thereto and the Agents are parties to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of January 22, 2008 and as amended on April 24, 2008 and July 30, 2008 (as it may be further amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “ Credit Agreement ”), pursuant to which the Lenders and the Agents provide the Borrower with certain financial accommodations; and

WHEREAS, the Credit Agreement shall be amended as set forth herein on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1. Definitions .

(a) All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Credit Agreement.


2. Amendment to Credit Agreement . The Credit Agreement is hereby amended as follows:

(a) Section 2.02 is hereby amended by inserting the following new Section 2.02(f) immediately following Section 2.02(e):

“(f) On the date Amendment No. 3 becomes effective in accordance with its terms and as a condition precedent to its effectiveness, Borrower shall pay the amount of $21,250,000 (twenty-one million two hundred fifty thousand Dollars) to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Term Lenders, as a principal prepayment on the outstanding Term Loans (the “Amendment No. 3 Prepayment Amount”). The Amendment No. 3 Prepayment Amount shall be applied as follows: (i) $6,250,000 (six million two hundred fifty thousand Dollars) shall ratably reduce the outstanding Term Loans and (ii) $15,000,000 (fifteen million Dollars) shall constitute an Offer to Prepay in accordance with Section 2.02(d) ; provided , that if any Term Lender rejects such Offer to Prepay, the accepting Term Lenders shall be offered such rejecting Term Lender’s Pro Rata Share on a pro rata basis. In the event that any portion of the Amendment No. 3 Prepayment Amount remains after being offered to the accepting Term Lenders, the Administrative Agent shall again make one or more Offers to Prepay to the remaining accepting Term Lenders until all accepting Term Lenders have been paid in full in cash, provided that the Administrative Agent shall promptly return to Borrower any balance of the Amendment No. 3 Prepayment Amount remaining after the completion of this process. Notwithstanding Section 2.02(e) , or any other provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, the prepayment under this Section 2.02(f) will be applied to immediately reduce the principal balance of the Term Loans (to the extent not returned by the Administrative Agent to Borrower as provided in the immediately preceding sentence) and the entire Amendment No. 3 Prepayment Amount (whether or not returned by the Administrative Agent to Borrower as so provided) will be credited to reduce the amount of the mandatory prepayments that the Borrower otherwise would be required to make as follows: (i) on the Sweep Date for the 2009 Fiscal Year, the Borrower shall be entitled to reduce the Offer to Prepay that it otherwise is required to make under Section 2.02(d) by $15,000,000 (fifteen million Dollars); provided that if such required Offer to Prepay is less than $15,000,000 (fifteen million Dollars), any remaining amounts shall be credited to reduce the amount of the mandatory prepayments that the Borrower is required to make on the Sweep Date for each subsequent Fiscal Year until such $15,000,000 (fifteen million Dollars) is exhausted, and (ii) on each of December 31, 2009, March 31, 2010, June 30, 2010, September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2010, the Borrower shall be entitled to reduce the amortization payments otherwise required under Section 1.02 to zero by crediting the amounts paid under this Section 2.02(f) up to $6,250,000 (six million two hundred fifty thousand Dollars).”;

(b) Section 3.06(d) is hereby deleted and replaced in its entirety with the following:

(d) to the Revolving Agent for the benefit of the L/C Issuer, (i) payable monthly upon notice from the Revolving Agent, an additional fee equal to (y) 0.32% per annum times the average aggregate face amount of all Letters of Credit outstanding issued by the Revolving Agent, and (z) 0.50% per annum times the average aggregate face amount of all Letters of Credit outstanding issued by a third-party issuer approved by the Revolving Agent, in each case during such one-month period plus, (ii) payable monthly, applicable standard bank issuance and amendment charges, not to exceed, for each Letter of Credit issuance or amendment, $500.

(c) Section 7.15(a) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by inserting “and, from and after January 1, 2009, $1,000,000” immediately after “$500,000”;

 

2


(d) Section 8.02(d)(i) of the Credit Agreement is hereby deleted and replaced in its entirety by:

“(i) any Credit Party in and to any Foreign Subsidiary in the form of contributions to capital, loans, advances, guarantees or other forms of credit support; provided that (A) the aggregate amount of such Investments does not exceed (i) $5,000,000 (five million Dollars), plus (ii) up to $1,500,000 (one million five hundred thousand Dollars) in connection with the exchange of the Indebtedness evidenced by the Global Intercompany Note between Braden Manufacturing LLC, as Payee and Braden Manufacturing S.A. de C.V., as Payor for Capital Stock of Braden Manufacturing S.A. de C.V., and (B) each item of intercompany Indebtedness shall be evidenced by the Global Intercompany Note which shall be pledged as security for the Obligations of the holder thereof under the Loan Documents and delivered to the Administrative Agent pursuant to the terms of the Security Documents;”

(e) Section 8.02(j) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended to delete “and” at the end of such Section;

(f) Section 8.02(k) of the Credit Agreement is hereby deleted and replaced in its entirety by:

“(k) Investments by a Credit Party in the form of Letters of Credit issued under this Agreement (i) in favor of the customers of Braden Europe to support the obligations of Braden Europe to such customers under Braden Europe Project Contracts in an aggregate amount that, when added together with the Letter of Credit Exposure in favor of customers of Braden Europe, does not exceed $5,000,000 (five million Dollars); (ii) in favor of the customers of Braden Shanghai to support the obligations of Braden Shanghai to such customers under Braden Shanghai Project Contracts and/or the lender or lenders to Braden Shanghai to support (but not to exceed the amount of) Indebtedness permitted under Section 8.03(k) , in an aggregate amount that, when added together with the Letter of Credit Exposure in favor of customers of Braden Shanghai, does not exceed $5,000,000 (five million Dollars); and (iii) in connection with a Credit Party’s obligations under a Permitted Servicing Joint Venture;”;

(g) Section 8.02 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by inserting the following new Section 8.02(l) and Section 8.02(m) immediately following Section 8.02(k):

“(l) Non-cash Investments consisting of the entry into Permitted Servicing Joint Ventures by subsidiaries of the Credit Parties services division, provided that the Credit Parties shall not be party to more than six (6) Permitted Servicing Joint Ventures at any given time.

 

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(i) A “ Permitted Servicing Joint Venture ” means a joint venture, limited liability company or other business entity between a Credit Party and one or more third parties (“Joint Venture”) that meets each and all of the following criteria: (A) the formation and governing documents for the Joint Venture provide that the liability of the Credit Party that is a party thereto (as among all of the parties to the Joint Venture) is expressly limited to no more than such Credit Party’s pro rata portion of the scope of services and/or other liabilities arising from the Joint Venture, (B) the terms of which formation and governing agreements provide for indemnification of such Credit Party against any damages caused by any other member of the Joint Venture, (C) the scope of the services to be provided by the Joint Venture shall be consistent with the scope of services currently provided by the Credit Parties in the ordinary course of their business (taking into account any services that may be currently subcontracted by the Credit Parties in the ordinary course of their business), (D) the Joint Venture shall be formed solely for the purpose of bidding upon and entering into one or more contracts with one or more customers upon terms that provide that the aggregate contract value as to such Credit Party under each such contract shall be (I) calculated on a “time and materials” basis or “fixed fee at risk” or (II) a lump sum or fixed fee amount not to exceed $7,500,000 (seven million five hundred thousand Dollars) in the aggregate across all Permitted Servicing Joint Ventures during any 12-month period, and (E) such Credit Party, the Joint Venture or the customer or customers of the Joint Venture shall obtain customary liability and commercial insurance, in amounts and from an insurer with an investment grade rating as may be necessary for prudent execution of the work by the Joint Venture. In no event shall a Permitted Servicing Joint Venture be considered a “Subsidiary” for purposes of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

(ii) The Borrower shall submit a Servicing Joint Venture Proposal Package with respect to a proposed Joint Venture to the Administrative Agent at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the time at which the formation and governing documents of such Joint Venture would become binding upon a Credit Party. If the Borrower submits a Servicing Joint Venture Package for an Investment that does not satisfy the criteria set forth in Section 8.02(l)(i) , the Administrative Agent may, in its sole discretion, determine to approve such Investment as a Permitted Servicing Joint Venture, notwithstanding the failure of such Investment to satisfy the criteria set forth in Section 8.02(l)(i) . The Administrative Agent shall respond to the Borrower’s request for such approval within five (5) Business Days after receipt of the Servicing Joint Venture Proposal Package.

(iii) Within five (5) Business Days following the execution of definitive documentation relating to such Permitted Servicing Joint Venture, the Borrower shall deliver to the Administrative Agent sufficient copies of all such definitive documentation for distribution to the Lenders (any such documentation that meets the definition of a Material Contract, shall be considered a Material Contract). The Borrower shall deliver a copy of any notices of default given or received within three (3) days and, upon written request of the Administrative Agent, such additional material or documentation provided by or to the Credit Parties with respect to each such Permitted Servicing Joint Venture as may be reasonably requested; and”;

 

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“(m) Investments consisting of Permitted Acquisitions.”

(h) Section 8.03(j)(ii) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting “€5,000,000” and replacing it with “€8,000,000”;

(i) Section 9.02 of the Credit Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

Section 9.02 Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio . The Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, as of any date set forth below, shall not be less than the ratio set forth opposite such date below:

 

Measurement Period Ending

   Ratio
June 30, 2008    2.00x
September 30, 2008    1.75x
December 31, 2008    1.75x
March 31, 2009    1.75x
June 30, 2009    1.60x
September 30, 2009    1.50x
December 31, 2009    1.40x
March 31, 2010    1.45x
June 30, 2010    1.10x
September 30, 2010    1.55x
December 31, 2010    1.60x
March 31, 2011    1.60x
June 30, 2011    1.70x
September 30, 2011    1.70x
December 31, 2011    1.80x
March 31, 2012    1.80x
June 30, 2012    1.90x
September 30, 2012    1.90x
December 31, 2012, and each period thereafter    2.00x

(j) Section 14.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following defined terms in appropriate alphabetical order:

Acquisition ” means (a) the purchase or other acquisition by a Person or its Subsidiaries of all or substantially all of the assets of (or any division or business line of) any other Person, or (b) the purchase or other acquisition (whether by means of a merger, consolidation, or otherwise) by a Person or its Subsidiaries of all or substantially all of the Capital Stock of any other Person.

 

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Amendment No. 1 ” means that certain Amendment to the Credit Agreement, effective as of April 24, 2008.

Amendment No. 2 ” means that certain Amendment to the Credit Agreement, effective as of July 30, 2008.

Amendment No. 3 ” means this Amendment No. 3.

Permitted Acquisition ” means Acquisitions that satisfy the following criteria:

(i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result from the consummation of the proposed Acquisition and the proposed Acquisition is consensual;

(ii) no Indebtedness will be incurred, assumed, or would exist with respect to a Credit Party or its Subsidiaries as a result of such Acquisition, other than Permitted Indebtedness, and no Liens will be incurred, assumed, or would exist with respect to the assets of a Credit Party or its Subsidiaries as a result of such Acquisition other than Permitted Liens;

(iii) the Borrower has provided the Administrative Agent with written confirmation, supported by reasonably detailed calculations, that on a pro forma basis (including pro forma adjustments arising out of events which are directly attributable to such proposed Acquisition, are factually supportable, and are expected to have a continuing impact, in each case, determined as if the combination had been accomplished at the beginning of the relevant period; such eliminations and inclusions to be mutually and reasonably agreed upon by Credit Party and the Administrative Agent) created by adding the historical combined financial statements of Borrower (including the combined financial statements of any other Person or assets that were the subject of a prior Permitted Acquisition during the relevant period) to the historical consolidated financial statements of the Person to be acquired (or the historical financial statements related to the assets to be acquired) pursuant to the proposed Acquisition, Borrower and its Subsidiaries (i) would have been in compliance with the financial covenants in Section 9 of the Agreement for the four (4) fiscal quarter periods ended immediately prior to the proposed date of consummation of such proposed Acquisition, and (ii) are projected to be in compliance with the financial covenants in Section 9 for the four (4) fiscal quarter period ended one year after the proposed date of consummation of such proposed Acquisition;

 

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(iv) the Borrower has provided the Administrative Agent with its due diligence package relative to the proposed Acquisition, including forecasted balance sheets, profit and loss statements, and cash flow statements of the Person or assets to be acquired, all prepared on a basis consistent with such Person’s (or assets’) historical financial statements, together with appropriate supporting details and a statement of underlying assumptions for the one (1) year period following the date of the proposed Acquisition, on a quarter by quarter basis), in form and substance (including as to scope and underlying assumptions) reasonably satisfactory to The Administrative Agent;

(v) the assets being acquired or the Person whose Stock is being acquired did not have negative EBITDA (using a definition of EBITDA that is mutually and reasonably agreed upon by the Borrower and the Administrative Agent) during the twelve (12) consecutive month period most recently concluded prior to the date of the proposed Acquisition;

(vi) the Borrower has provided the Administrative Agent with written notice of the proposed Acquisition at least fifteen (15) Business Days prior to the anticipated closing date of the proposed Acquisition and, not later than five (5) Business Days prior to the anticipated closing date of the proposed Acquisition, copies of the acquisition agreement and other material documents relative to the proposed Acquisition, which agreement and documents must be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent;

(vii) the assets being acquired (other than a de minimis amount of assets in relation to Borrower’s and its Subsidiaries’ total assets), or the Person whose Capital Stock is being acquired, are useful in or engaged in, as applicable, the business of Borrower and its Subsidiaries or a business reasonably related thereto;

(viii) the assets being acquired (other than a de minimis amount of assets in relation to the assets being acquired) are located within the United States or Canada, or the Person whose Capital Stock is being acquired is organized in a jurisdiction located within the United States or Canada;

(ix) the subject assets or Capital Stock, as applicable, are being acquired directly by a Credit Party and, in connection therewith, such Credit Party shall have complied with Section 7.06 , Section 7.07 and Section 7.14 , as applicable, of this Agreement and, in the case of an acquisition of Capital Stock, the applicable Credit Party shall have demonstrated to the Administrative Agent that the new Credit Parties have received consideration sufficient to make the joinder documents binding and enforceable against such new Credit Parties; and

 

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(x) the purchase consideration payable in respect of all Permitted Acquisitions (including the proposed Acquisition and including deferred payment obligations) shall not exceed $10,000,000 in the aggregate; provided , however , that the purchase consideration payable in respect of any single Acquisition or series of related Acquisitions shall not exceed $5,000,000 in the aggregate. ”

Permitted Servicing Joint Venture ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 8.02(l)(i) .

Project Contracts ” means contracts for the sale of equipment and/or the provision of services in the ordinary course of business.

Servicing Joint Venture Proposal Package ” means, with respect to any proposed Permitted Servicing Joint Venture, the following items, each in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and in sufficient copies for each Lender:

(a) a copy of the proposed formation and governing documents for the proposed Permitted Servicing Joint Venture, together with a description in reasonable detail of the proposed Permitted Servicing Joint Venture and the nature of the project or projects for which the proposed Permitted Servicing Joint Venture would be formed;

(b) a certificate of Corporate Counsel (or such person performing similar functions) of the Borrower certifying that:

(i) such proposed Permitted Servicing Joint Venture satisfies the criteria set forth in Section 8.02(l)(i) or, if discretionary approval is required with respect to any such criteria, a request for such discretionary approval;

(ii) the entry into such proposed Permitted Servicing Joint Venture would not cause or result in a Default or Event of Default; and

(iii) the Credit Parties are in compliance with the covenants contained in Article IX (both immediately before and after the entry into the proposed Permitted Servicing Joint Venture) after giving effect to this Amendment.

(k) Section 14.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the following defined terms in their entirety and substituting the defined terms set forth below in appropriate alphabetical order:

Applicable Margin ” means, (a) for each Revolving Loan, the Applicable Revolver Margin, and (b) for each Term Loan, the Applicable Term Margin.

Applicable Revolver Margin ” means, as of any Interest Payment Date and for the fiscal quarter immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date, the following margin based upon the most recent Total Leverage Ratio calculation as of the end of the fiscal quarter immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date; provided , however , that at any time that an Event of Default exists hereunder, the Applicable Revolver Margin shall be at Level I:

 

LEVEL

  

TOTAL LEVERAGE RATIO

  

LIBOR RATE LOANS

  

ALTERNATE BASE RATE LOANS

I    ³ 3.50 to 1.0    4 and one half percentage points (4.5%)    3 and one half percentage points (3.5%)
II    < 3.50 to 1.0    3 and one half percentage points (3.5%)    2 and one half percentage points (2.5%)

 

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Except as set forth in the initial proviso in this definition, the Applicable Revolver Margin shall be based upon the most recent Total Leverage Ratio calculation, which will be calculated on a fiscal quarter basis. Except as set forth in the initial proviso in this definition, the Applicable Revolver Margin shall be re-determined each quarter on the first day of the month following the date of delivery to the Administrative Agent of the certified calculation of the Total Leverage Ratio pursuant to Section 9.02 hereof; provided , however, that if the Borrower fails to provide such certified calculation when due, the Applicable Revolver Margin immediately shall be set at the margin in the row styled “Level I” until the date on which such certification is delivered (on which date (but not retroactively), without constituting a waiver of any Default or Event of Default occasioned by the failure to timely deliver such certification, the Applicable Revolver Margin shall be set at the margin based upon the Total Leverage Ratio calculation disclosed by such certification).

Applicable Term Margin ” means, as of any Interest Payment Date and for the fiscal quarter immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date, the following margin based upon the most recent Total Leverage Ratio calculation as of the end of the fiscal quarter immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date; provided , however , that at any time that an Event of Default exists hereunder, the Applicable Term Margin shall be at Level I:

 

LEVEL

  

TOTAL LEVERAGE RATIO

  

LIBOR RATE LOANS

  

ALTERNATE BASE RATE LOANS

I    ³ 3.50 to 1.0    8 and one half percentage points (8.5%)    7 and one half percentage points (7.5%)
II    < 3.50 to 1.0    7 and one half percentage points (7.5%)    6 and one half percentage points (6.5%)

 

9


Except as set forth in the initial proviso in this definition, the Applicable Term Margin shall be based upon the most recent Total Leverage Ratio calculation, which will be calculated on a fiscal quarter basis. Except as set forth in the initial proviso in this definition, the Applicable Term Margin shall be re-determined each quarter on the first day of the month following the date of delivery to the Administrative Agent of the certified calculation of the Total Leverage Ratio pursuant to Section 9.02 hereof; provided , however, that if the Borrower fails to provide such certified calculation when due, the Applicable Term Margin immediately shall be set at the margin in the row styled “Level I” until the date on which such certification is delivered (on which date (but not retroactively), without constituting a waiver of any Default or Event of Default occasioned by the failure to timely deliver such certification, the Applicable Term Margin shall be set at the margin based upon the Total Leverage Ratio calculation disclosed by such certification).

Debt For Borrowed Money ” of any Person means, at any date of determination, without duplication, the sum of (a) all items that, in accordance with GAAP, would be classified as liabilities on a consolidated balance sheet of such Person at such date and (b) all obligations of such Person under acceptance, letter of credit or similar facilities at such date; provided that, with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, Debt for Borrowed Money shall exclude, to the extent otherwise included in the items in clause (a) or (b) of this definition, (i) accounts payable and accrued liabilities incurred by the Company or any of such Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and not related to financing activities of the Company or any of such Subsidiaries, and (ii) notes, bills and checks presented in the ordinary course of business by the Company or any of such Subsidiaries to banks for collection or deposit.

Letter of Credit Applicable Margin ” means a percentage per annum equal to the Applicable Revolver Margin for LIBOR Rate Loans.

Loan Documents ” means this Agreement, the Notes, the Security Documents, the Fee Letter, Amendment No. 1, Amendment No. 2 and Amendment No. 3 and all other agreements, instruments, and other documents now or hereafter executed and delivered by any Credit Party pursuant hereto or thereto or otherwise evidencing or securing any Loan, in each case, excluding any Hedging Agreements.

Net Working Capital ” means the (i) increase (or decrease) of each of accounts payable, billings in excess of costs, and other current liabilities of the Credit Parties, on a consolidated basis, during any Fiscal Year, plus or minus (ii) the decrease (or increase) of each of total accounts receivable, inventory, cost in excess of billings, and other current assets of the Credit Parties, on a consolidated basis, during any Fiscal Year; provided, however, that all of the accrued but unpaid professional fees and other costs of administration of, or incurred during, the Chapter 11 Cases by any of the Credit Parties and any amounts identified in items (iv), (v), (vi), and (ix) of clause (a) of Consolidated EBITDA shall be deducted from both clause (i) and clause (ii) of this definition in determining Net Working Capital as of any date.

(l) Section 14.01 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the defined term “ Letter of Credit Issuance Fee ” in its entirety.

 

10


(m) The definition of “ Excess Cash Flow ” in Section 14.01 is hereby amended by deleting clause (e) thereof and replacing it with the following: “(e) all regularly scheduled payments and voluntary prepayments of principal of the Term Loans during such Fiscal Year; provided that the payment made under Section 2.02(f) of this Agreement for March 31, 2010, June 30, 2010, September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2010 shall not be deducted from the calculation of Excess Cash Flow for Fiscal Year 2009 but instead shall be deducted from Excess Cash Flow for Fiscal Year 2010 in accordance with the crediting of such payment against the payments otherwise due under Section 1.02 and Section 2.02(d) in Fiscal Year 2010.”

3. Conditions Precedent . The amendments set forth in Section 2 above shall become effective as of December 31, 2009, but only after each and all of the following conditions has been satisfied:

(a) (i) The Administrative Agent shall have received an amendment fee in an amount equal to $25,000, (ii) the Term Lenders shall, in aggregate have received an amendment fee in an amount equal to $113,313 (it being understood that no Prepayment Fee shall be required with respect to the Amendment No. 3 Prepayment), (iii) the Revolving Lenders shall, in aggregate have received an amendment fee in an amount equal to $150,000, and (iv) the Borrower shall have paid all other Participating Lender Expenses required to be paid under the Loan Documents;

(b) The Administrative Agent shall have received this Amendment, duly executed by the Required Lenders, Administrative Agent, Revolving Agent, the Borrower and the other Credit Parties, and the same shall be in full force and effect;

(c) The Administrative Agent shall have received on behalf of itself, the other Agents, and the Lenders, a favorable written opinion of special counsel for the Borrower, with respect to such matters as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent;

(d) The representations and warranties in this Amendment, the Credit Agreement, as amended by this Amendment, and the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date hereof, as though made on such date (except to the extent such representations and warranties specifically relate to an earlier date);

(e) After giving effect to this Amendment, no Default, Event of Default or event that, with the giving of notice or passage of time, would constitute an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date hereof, nor shall result from the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein; and

(f) No injunction, writ, restraining order, or other order of any nature prohibiting, directly or indirectly, the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein shall have been issued and remain in force by any Governmental Authority against Borrower, any other Credit Party, any Agent or any Lender.

4. Representations and Warranties . Each Credit Party signatory hereto hereby represents and warrants as follows:

(a) This Amendment and the Credit Agreement, as amended hereby, constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of such Credit Party and are enforceable against such Credit Party in accordance with their respective terms;

 

11


(b) Such Credit Party has all requisite entity and legal power and authority to execute and deliver this Amendment;

(c) The officers executing this Amendment have been duly authorized to execute and deliver the same and bind such Credit Party with respect to the provisions hereof;

(d) The execution and delivery of this Amendment by such Credit Party and the performance and observance by such Credit Party of the provisions hereof do not violate or conflict with the organizational documents of such Credit Party or any law applicable to such Credit Party or result in a breach of any provisions of or constitute a default under any other agreement, instrument or document binding upon or enforceable against such Credit Party; and

(e) No Event of Default or Default has occurred and is continuing or would exist after giving effect to this Amendment.

5. Effect on the Credit Agreement .

(a) Except as specifically amended herein, the Credit Agreement, and all other documents, instruments and agreements executed and/or delivered in connection therewith including each of the Loan Documents, shall remain in full force and effect, and are hereby ratified and confirmed.

(b) The execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Amendment shall not operate as a waiver of any right, power or remedy of any Lender or any Agent, or constitute a waiver of any provision of the Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other documents, instruments or agreements executed and/or delivered under or in connection therewith.

6. Governing Law . This Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns and shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the law of the State of New York, without regard to principles of conflicts of law (other than Section 5-1401 of the General Obligations Law of the State of New York).

7. Captions . The captions herein are included for convenience of reference only and shall be ignored in the construction or interpretation hereof.

8. Counterparts; Effectiveness . This Amendment may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument; provided no party shall be bound unless and until the parties hereto have each signed a counterpart hereof. Facsimile transmissions or electronic transmission by portable document format (PDF) of any executed original documents and/or retransmission of any executed facsimile or electronic transmission shall be deemed to be the same as the delivery of an executed original. At the written request of any party hereto, the other parties hereto shall confirm facsimile or electronic transmissions by executing duplicate original documents and delivering the same to the requesting party or parties.

 

12


[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

13


IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the undersigned have duly executed this Amendment as of the day and year first above written.

 

GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP

INC. , a Delaware corporation, as Borrower

By:  

/s/ David L. Keller

  Name: David L. Keller
  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

DELTAK CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, INC.,

a Wisconsin corporation, as a Guarantor

By:  

/s/ David L. Keller

  Name: David L. Keller
  Title: Director

DELTAK, L.L.C., A Delaware limited liability

company, as a Guarantor

By:  

/s/ David L. Keller

  Name: David L. Keller
  Title: Director

BRADEN CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, INC .,

A Delaware corporation, as a Guarantor

By:  

/s/ David L. Keller

  Name: David L. Keller
  Title: Director

BRADEN MANUFACTURING, L.L.C., A

Delaware limited liability company, as a Guarantor

By:  

/s/ David L. Keller

  Name: David L. Keller
  Title: Director

GLOBAL POWER PROFESSIONAL

SERVICES, L.L.C. , A Delaware limited liability company, as a Guarantor

By:  

/s/ David L. Keller

  Name: David L. Keller
  Title: Manager

[SIGNATURE PAGE – AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT]


WILLIAMS INDUSTRIAL SERVICES

GROUP, L.L.C. , a Delaware limited liability company, as a Guarantor

By:  

/s/ David L. Keller

  Name: David L. Keller
  Title: Manager

WILLIAMS INDUSTRIAL SERVICES, LLC, a

Georgia limited liability company, as a Guarantor

By:  

/s/ David Willis

  Name: David Willis
  Title: Manager

WILLIAMS SPECIALTY SERVICES, LLC, a

Georgia limited liability company, as a Guarantor

By:  

/s/ David L. Keller

  Name: David L. Keller
  Title: Manager

WILLIAMS PLANT SERVICES, LLC, a

Georgia limited liability company, as a Guarantor

By:  

/s/ David L. Keller

  Name: David L. Keller
  Title: Manager

[SIGNATURE PAGE – AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT]


CONSTRUCTION & MAINTENANCE

PROFESSIONALS, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company, as a Guarantor

By:  

/s/ David L. Keller

  Name: David L. Keller
  Title: Manager

WILLIAMS GLOBAL SERVICES, INC., a

Georgia corporation, as a Guarantor

By:  

/s/ Candice L. Cheeseman

 

Name: Candice L. Cheeseman

Title: Secretary

[SIGNATURE PAGE – AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO CREDIT AGREEMENT]

Exhibit 10.5

EXECUTION COPY

GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP, INC.

 

 

BACKSTOP STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

 

Dated as of October 23, 2007


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

               Page
1.    Backstop; Direct Purchase    1
   1.1.    Backstop; Direct Purchase    1
   1.2.    Consideration Warrants    2
   1.3.    Break-up Fee    2
   1.4.    The Rights Offering and Private Placement    3
   1.5.    Commitment Order    4
2.    Conditions to Closing    5
   2.1.    Conditions Precedent to Obligations of the Backstop Purchasers    5
   2.2.    Conditions Precedent to Obligations of the Company    9
3.    Representations and Warranties of the Company    10
   3.1.    Organization of the Company    10
   3.2.    Capitalization of the Company    10
   3.3.    Organization and Capitalization of the Subsidiaries    10
   3.4.    Authority; No Conflict    11
   3.5.    Legal Proceedings    12
   3.6.    Brokers or Finders    12
   3.7.    Exemption from Registration    12
   3.8.    Chapter 11 Plan    12
   3.9.    No Violation or Default    13
   3.10.    Title to Intellectual Property    13
   3.11.    Licenses and Permits    13
   3.12.    Compliance With Environmental Laws    14
   3.13.    Compliance With ERISA    14
   3.14.    No Unlawful Payments    14
   3.15.    No Restrictions on Material Subsidiaries    15
   3.16.    Monthly Operating Reports    15
   3.17.    Revised Business Plan    15
4.    Representations and Warranties of the Backstop Purchasers    15
   4.1.    Organization of Such Backstop Purchaser    15
   4.2.    Authority; No Conflict.    15
   4.3.    Shares Not Registered    16
   4.4.    Legends    16
   4.5.    Economic Risk    17
   4.6.    Acquisition for Own Account    17
   4.7.    Sophistication    17
   4.8.    Accredited Investor    17
   4.9.    Access to Information    17
   4.10.    Brokers or Finders    17
   4.11.    Legal Proceedings    17
   4.12.    Arm’s Length    17


THIS BACKSTOP STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of October 23, 2007, by and among Global Power Equipment Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“ Global Power ”), and the entities and individuals set forth on Schedule 1 attached hereto (individually, a “ Backstop Purchaser ” and collectively, the “ Backstop Purchasers ”). The “ Company ”, as that term is used herein, refers to both Global Power, debtor and debtor in possession in the Chapter 11 Cases, and Global Power Equipment Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, as reorganized as of the Effective Date (“ Reorganized Global Power ”), as the context requires. Certain other capitalized terms used in this Agreement are defined in Section 12 . Each capitalized term used herein but not defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Chapter 11 Plan. References to a “ Schedule ” or an “ Exhibit ” are, unless otherwise specified, to a Schedule or an Exhibit attached to this Agreement and references to a “ Section ” are, unless otherwise specified, to one of the Sections of this Agreement.

RECITALS

In connection with a plan of reorganization of the Company, the Company is contemplating: (i) a rights offering (the “ Rights Offering ”) of Reorganized Global Power’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “ Common Stock ”) pursuant to which existing Holders will receive a right to purchase shares of Common Stock in accordance with Section 1145 and (ii) a private placement (the “ Private Placement ”) of shares of Common Stock pursuant to which certain Holders who are “accredited investors” will receive the right to purchase shares of Common Stock in accordance with an exemption from registration under the Securities Act.

The Company desires to sell and the Backstop Purchasers desire to purchase shares of Common Stock of the Company for the consideration and on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.

AGREEMENT

The parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

1. Backstop; Direct Purchase .

1.1. Backstop; Direct Purchase . Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement,

(a) each Backstop Purchaser agrees to purchase (the “ Backstop Commitment ”) from the Company, at the Purchase Price, a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the product of (i) such Backstop Purchaser’s Commitment Percentage multiplied by (ii) the difference of (A) the sum of the Rights Offering Shares and the Private Placement Shares minus (B) the sum of the Rights Offering Subscription Shares and the Private Placement Subscription Shares (such difference, the “ Backstop Shares ”); and

(b) each Backstop Purchaser agrees to purchase (the “ Direct Purchase Commitment ”, and together with the Backstop Commitment, the “ Commitment ”) from the Company, at the Purchase Price, a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the product of (i) such Backstop Purchaser’s Commitment Percentage multiplied by (ii) a number of shares of Common Stock specified by the Company pursuant to Section 1.4(g) as Direct Purchase Shares (the “ Direct Purchase Shares ”, and together with the Backstop Shares, the “ Investor Shares ”).

 

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In no event shall the aggregate Purchase Price paid by the Backstop Purchasers for all of the Investor Shares exceed $90 million. The closing of the separate purchases and sales of the Investor Shares (the “ Closing ”), if any, shall take place on the Effective Date. On the Effective Date, the Company shall deliver to each Backstop Purchaser stock certificates evidencing the Investor Shares to be purchased by such Backstop Purchaser upon payment of the purchase price therefor in the aggregate amount equal to the number of Investor Shares to be purchased by such Backstop Purchaser multiplied by the Purchase Price (the “ Backstop Purchase Price ”). All Investor Shares will be delivered with any and all issue, stamp, transfer or similar taxes or duties payable in connection with such delivery duly paid by the Company to the extent not exempt under Section 1146 of the Bankruptcy Code and as required under the Confirmation Order (as defined below) or applicable law. The Backstop Purchase Price of each such Backstop Purchaser is payable by transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by the Company no later than three (3) Business Days prior to the Effective Date.

1.2. Consideration Warrants . In further consideration for the Commitment by the Backstop Purchasers, on the Effective Date, the Company shall issue to the Backstop Purchasers warrants (the “ Consideration “Warrants ”) with an aggregate value equal to 5.5% of the Adjusted Aggregate Offering Amount to purchase Common Stock (the “ Equity Consideration ”), provided ; however , that if the Termination Date is extended to February 28, 2008, then the Equity Consideration shall be increased to an amount equal to 6.5% of the Adjusted Aggregate Offering Amount. The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Consideration Warrants shall be such number of shares as is necessary to cause the aggregate Black Scholes formula value of such Consideration Warrants (assuming (A) a five (5) year term; (B) a strike price equal to the Pro Forma Stock Price; (C) 35% volatility; and (D) the stock price set at the Pro Forma Stock Price) to equal the Equity Consideration. The Consideration Warrants shall be allocated and issued to the Backstop Purchasers in accordance with their Commitment Percentages. In the event that this Agreement is terminated prior to the Effective Date, the Consideration Warrants shall not be issued. The Consideration Warrants shall contain customary anti-dilution adjustments, including, without limitation, upon below-market issuances of stock or rights to purchase stock (on a weighted-average basis), dividends payable in stock, cash or rights, stock splits, subdivisions, combinations, reclassifications, etc.). For the avoidance of doubt, attached hereto as Exhibit A are representative examples computing the number of shares to be issued on account of the Consideration Warrants under certain scenarios.

1.3. Break-up Fee .

(a) Non Creditor/Noteholder Plan . Subject to Section 1.3(b) , the Company shall pay to each Backstop Purchaser an amount equal to $2.5 million multiplied by such Backstop Purchaser’s Commitment Percentage, if (i) the Debtors exercise a Fiduciary Out (as defined in Section 1 of the Plan Support Agreement) and (ii) the Company enters into an Inconsistent Transaction Agreement, or files any pleading or document with the Bankruptcy Court, evidencing its intention to support, or otherwise supports, any Inconsistent Transaction. Subject to Section 1.3(b) , the fee payable pursuant to this Section 1.3(a) shall be paid within three (3) Business Days following any of the events specified in (a)(ii) in the previous sentence. The Company shall provide notice promptly, and in no event more than one (1) Business Day following a Change of Recommendation or the occurrence of any of the events specified in (i) or (ii) above.

 

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(b) Creditor/Noteholder Plan . Notwithstanding Section 1.3(a) , if the Creditors’ Committee or any of the Noteholders file a Creditor/Noteholder Plan with the Bankruptcy Court, then the fees payable in Section 1.3(a) shall not be payable and the Company shall pay to each Backstop Purchaser an amount equal to the product of (i) $2.0 million, less any Reimbursable Expenses paid or payable (as of the applicable date of payment of the fee in this Section 1.3(b) ) pursuant to Section 7 , multiplied by (ii) such Backstop Purchaser’s Commitment Percentage subject to the following sentence. If the Creditor/Noteholder Plan is consummated, then the fees payable pursuant to this Section 1.3(b) shall be paid to the Backstop Purchasers upon the effective date of the Creditor/Noteholder Plan; provided , that , if any party or parties file a plan of reorganization of the Debtors in the Bankruptcy Court other than a Creditor/Noteholder Plan (in each case, an “ Alternate Plan ”) which Alternate Plan competes with the Creditor/Noteholder Plan, then the fees payable in this Section 1.3(b) shall be payable upon the entry of an order approving the disclosure statement relating to the Creditor/Noteholder Plan or the Alternate Plan, as applicable.

(c) Alternate Plan . If no fees are paid pursuant to Section 1.3(a) and an Alternate Plan is consummated, then the Company shall pay to each Backstop Purchaser an amount equal to the product of (i) the difference of (A) $2.5 million minus (B) the amounts paid pursuant to Section 1.3(b), if any, multiplied by (ii) such Backstop Purchaser’s Commitment Percentage. The additional fees payable pursuant to this Section 1.3(c) shall be payable on the effective date of the Alternate Plan.

(d) Any fees payable pursuant to this Section 1.3 (collectively, the “ Break-Up Fee ”) shall be paid by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account specified by each Backstop Purchaser.

1.4. The Rights Offering and Private Placement .

(a) In connection with the Rights Offering each Holder will receive a right to purchase shares of Common Stock (the “ Subscription Right ”) in exchange for each share of Global Power’s existing common stock owned by such Holder in accordance with Section 1145 (the shares issuable upon the exercise of the Subscription Rights, the “ Rights Offering Subscription Shares ”). The number of Subscription Rights that shall be issued to each Holder shall be limited such that no Holder will be issued Subscription Rights, or have the ability to exercise Subscription Rights for Rights Offering Subscription Shares, unless the issuance of Subscription Rights or the issuance of the Rights Offering Subscription Shares upon the exercise thereof, would be exempt from registration under the Securities Act pursuant to Section 1145.

(b) In connection with the Private Placement, each Accredited Holder shall be offered the right to purchase up to a number of shares of Common Stock (the shares issuable upon exercise of such rights, the “ Private Placement Subscription Shares ”) that, together with the maximum number of Rights Offering Shares that such Holder is allowed to purchase in the Rights Offering upon exercise of Subscription Rights, would equal such Holder’s Ratable Portion of the aggregate number of Rights Offering Shares, Private Placement Shares and Direct Purchase Shares.

 

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(c) The Company will commence the Rights Offering and the Private Placement as part of the Chapter 11 Plan solicitation process. Each Holder will have the opportunity to participate in the Rights Offering by electing to exercise its Subscription Rights by completing and executing a subscription form in the manner specified in the instructions accompanying the subscription form, each of which will be distributed to each Holder in the Company’s solicitation package. Each Accredited Holder will have the opportunity to purchase Private Placement Shares by completing and executing a subscription form in the manner specified in the instructions accompanying the subscription form, each of which will be distributed to each Accredited Holder by the Company. Each Holder may exercise its Subscription Rights and the Accredited Holders may elect to purchase Private Placement Shares during a period (the “ Rights Exercise Period ”) specified in the Chapter 11 Plan.

(d) The Company will issue the Rights Offering Shares to the Holders with respect to which Subscription Rights were validly exercised, and will issue the Private Placement Subscription Shares to the Accredited Holders that validly exercise the right to purchase Private Placement Shares, on the Effective Date.

(e) In no event shall the Aggregate Offering Amount be less than $57.5 million or greater than $90 million.

(f) There will be no over-subscription rights provided in connection with the Rights Offering or the Private Placement.

(g) The Company hereby agrees and undertakes to give the Backstop Purchasers by electronic facsimile transmission the certification by an executive officer of the Company written notice (a “ Purchase Notice ”) of the Rights Offering Amount, Private Placement Amount, Direct Purchase Amount, the number of Direct Purchase Shares and the number of Backstop Shares, if any, and the aggregate Backstop Purchase Price therefor, at the earliest practicable date and in any event no later than five (5) Business Days prior to the Effective Date (the date of delivery of such Purchase Notice, (the “ Determination Date ”)

 

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1.5. Commitment Order . On October 4, 2007, the Company filed a motion (the “ Agreement Motion ”) in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Required Backstop Purchasers, seeking an order of the Bankruptcy Court, including, without limitation, providing that the Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions are not subject to termination if the Company enters into an Inconsistent Transaction except pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, approving this Agreement and the exhibits and schedules hereto (said schedules and exhibits being subject to such redaction, if any, as the Required Backstop Purchasers and the Equity Committee reasonably determine to be necessary and appropriate including, without limitation, the names of the Backstop Purchasers and the Commitment Percentages and Maximum Commitment Amount of each) and the issuance of the Consideration Warrants and the payment of the Break-Up Fee provided for herein, and the release and exculpation of the Backstop Purchasers, their Affiliates, representatives and advisors from any liability for participation in the transactions contemplated hereby to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law (provided, that such release and exculpation shall not prohibit or impede the Company’s ability to assert defenses or counterclaims in connection with or relating to this Agreement) (the “ Commitment Order ”). The Company agrees that it shall use its reasonable best efforts, subject to any applicable fiduciary duties and the Plan Support Agreement, to (i) obtain a waiver of Bankruptcy Rule 6004(g) and request that the Commitment Order be effective immediately upon its entry by the Bankruptcy Court, which Commitment Order shall not be revised, modified, or amended by the Confirmation Order for the Chapter 11 Plan or any other further order of this Bankruptcy Court, (ii) fully support the Agreement Motion, and any application seeking Bankruptcy Court approval and authorization to pay the fees and expenses hereunder including the Break-Up Fee, if any, as an administrative expense of the estate under Section 507(b) of the Bankruptcy Code, including but not limited to, filing supporting affidavits on behalf of the Company and/or its financial advisor and providing the testimony of the affiants if needed and (iii) obtain approval of the Commitment Order as soon as practicable following the filing of the motion therefor. The Company shall file with the Bankruptcy Court an executed copy of this Agreement within two (2) Business Days following the execution of this Agreement by the parties hereto. In the event that the Company files pleadings that supplement the Agreement Motion, the Company shall duly consider in good faith any comments on the Agreement Motion that are consistent with this Agreement and the Settlement Term Sheet, and any other reasonable comments of each of the Backstop Purchasers and their counsel, and shall not reject such comments without first discussing the reasons therefor with the Backstop Purchasers or their counsel and giving due consideration to the views of the Backstop Purchasers and their counsel.

2. Conditions to Closing .

2.1. Conditions Precedent to Obligations of the Backstop Purchasers . The obligations of the Backstop Purchasers to consummate the Contemplated Transactions will be subject to the following conditions precedent, each of which may be waived in writing by the Required Backstop Purchasers:

(a) all representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement shall be true, complete and accurate in all material respects (except for such representations and warranties that are qualified by materiality or a Material Adverse Effect and the representation in Section 3.3(d) , which representations and warranties shall be true, complete and accurate in all respects) on the Effective Date (except to the extent that any such representation expressly speaks as of an earlier date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date)

(b) on the Effective Date, all covenants of the Company contained in this Agreement shall have been complied with by the Company in all material respects;

 

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(c)

(i) the Company shall have delivered to the Backstop Purchasers and their counsel no less than five (5) Business Days prior to each Relevant Date and the Required Backstop Purchasers shall have made the determination referred to in Section 2.1(c)(ii) with respect to, at each Relevant Date, (1) the Chapter 11 Plan (A) the terms of which are consistent in all material respects with this Agreement, (B) that provides for the release and exculpation of the Backstop Purchasers, their Affiliates, representatives and advisors for participation in the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (provided, that such release and exculpation shall not prohibit or impede the Company’s ability to assert defenses or counterclaims in connection with this Agreement), and (C) that has conditions to confirmation and the occurrence of the Effective Date (and to what extent any such conditions can be waived and by whom) that are consistent with this Agreement in all material respects and (2) all Material Investment Documents. In addition, the Company shall notify the Backstop Purchasers in writing of any proposed changes under consideration to the Chapter 11 Plan and any related Plan Documents sufficiently prior to agreement on such changes to permit the Backstop Purchasers to comment and to take such actions as may be necessary to protect their rights. The Backstop Purchasers agree to respond with their position on any such proposed changes as soon as reasonably practicable after such notification, but in no event later than five (5) days after notification of such changes. The term “Material Investment Documents” shall mean the Confirmation Order, the Disclosure Statement, this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined below), and any amendments and/or supplements to the foregoing or the Chapter 11 Plan. The term “Relevant Date” shall mean the Disclosure Statement Filing Date, the Disclosure Statement Approval Date, the date of issuance of the Confirmation Order and the Effective Date. The Company shall duly consider in good faith any comments on the Chapter 11 Plan and the Material Investment Documents that are consistent with this Agreement and the Settlement Term Sheet, and any other reasonable comments of each of the Backstop Purchasers and their counsel, and shall not reject such comments without first discussing the reasons therefor with the Backstop Purchasers or their counsel and giving due consideration to the views of the Backstop Purchasers and their counsel.

(ii) with respect to the documents referred to in Section 2.1(c)(i) , the Required Backstop Purchasers shall have determined that they are reasonably satisfied with the terms thereof;

(iii) the conditions referred to in Section 2.1(c)(i) above shall be deemed to have been conclusively satisfied without further action by any party unless:

(1) with respect to the Chapter 11 Plan and any Material Investment Documents, in each case delivered to the Backstop Purchasers and their counsel by the Company prior to the Disclosure Statement Filing Date, the Required Backstop Purchasers shall have delivered (and have not withdrawn) a written deficiency notice to the Company asserting with reasonable specificity that such condition was not satisfied prior to the Disclosure Statement Approval Date, and the Company shall not have cured such deficiency within ten (10) days of the Company’s receipt of such notice (the “ Cure Period ”);

 

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(2) with respect to any amendments or supplements to the Chapter 11 Plan or any Material Investment Documents delivered to the Backstop Purchasers and their counsel by the Company occurring after the Disclosure Statement Filing Date and prior to the Disclosure Statement Approval Date, the Required Backstop Purchasers have delivered (and have not withdrawn), a written deficiency notice to the Company reasonably asserting with reasonable specificity that such condition was not satisfied prior to the Disclosure Statement Approval Date, and the Company shall not have cured such deficiency during the Cure Period;

(3) with respect to any amendments or supplements to the Chapter 11 Plan or any Material Investment Documents delivered to the Backstop Purchasers and their counsel by the Company after the Disclosure Statement Approval Date and prior to the date of issuance of the Confirmation Order, the Required Backstop Purchasers have delivered (and have not withdrawn) a written deficiency notice to the Company asserting with reasonable specificity that such condition was not satisfied prior to the date of issuance of the Confirmation Order, and the Company shall not have cured such deficiency during the Cure Period; and

(4) with respect to any amendments or supplements to the Chapter 11 Plan or any Material Investment Documents delivered to the Backstop Purchasers and their counsel by the Company after the date of issuance of the Confirmation Order and prior to the Effective Date, the Required Backstop Purchasers have delivered (and have not withdrawn), within five (5) Business Days of delivery by the Company of the final form of such document accompanied by a written request for approval of such documents, a written deficiency notice to the Company reasonably asserting with reasonable specificity that such condition is not satisfied and the Company shall not have cured such deficiency during the Cure Period.

(d) the Commitment Order shall have been entered by the Bankruptcy Court and such order shall not have been stayed, modified or vacated on appeal;

(e) the Confirmation Order shall have been entered by the Bankruptcy Court and such order shall not have been stayed, modified or vacated on appeal;

(f) from date hereof through the Effective Date, there shall not have occurred any event that has had or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

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(g) a corporate charter, bylaws and other governance documents of the Reorganized Global Power shall have been adopted, in form and substance consistent with this Agreement and reasonably satisfactory to the Required Backstop Purchasers and the Equity Committee;

(h) all necessary governmental, regulatory and third-party approvals, waivers and/or consents in connection with the Rights Offering, the Private Placement and the Chapter 11 Plan shall have been obtained and remain in full force and effect, and there shall exist no injunction which would preclude the execution of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

(i) the Company shall have delivered an officer’s certificate dated as of the Effective Date certifying that the resolutions duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company, authorizing and approving its performance of the transactions contemplated hereby and execution and delivery of this Agreement and the documents contemplated hereby, remain in full force and effect;

(j) the Company shall have delivered an officer’s certificate, dated as of the Effective Date, certifying that the conditions specified in clauses (a), (b) and (f) of this Section 2.1 have been satisfied.

(k) the Company shall have commenced the Rights Offering and the Private Placement, the Rights Offering and the Private Placement shall have been conducted in all material respects in accordance with this Agreement and the Expiration Time shall have occurred.

(1) the Backstop Purchasers shall have received a Purchase Notice in accordance with Section 1.4(g) from the Company, dated as of the Determination Date, certifying as to the number of Backstop Shares to be purchased pursuant to the Backstop Commitment;

(m) no action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued, in each case, by any federal, state or foreign Governmental Body, that, as of the Effective Date, prohibits the issuance or sale of the Subscription Rights, the Rights Offering Shares, the Private Placement Shares or the Investor Shares; and no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that, as of the Effective Date, prohibits the issuance or sale of the Subscription Rights, the Rights Offering Shares, the Private Placement Shares or the Investor Shares;

(n) subject to Section 1.3(b) , all Reimbursable Expenses shall have been paid on or prior to the Effective Date (assuming submission of one or more invoices) or payment thereof shall have been provided for in the Chapter 11 Plan;

 

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(o) the Company shall have entered into an exit financing facility, consisting of the Exit Facility, any New Senior Notes, any other senior notes or securities, and any other senior indebtedness or securities issued in connection with the Exit Facility, each of which shall be issued by the Company or its subsidiaries, with a lender or lenders to be identified by the Company (i) the terms of which shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Required Backstop Purchasers, (ii) which provides for between $65 million and $100 million of debt to be funded at Closing (not including for this purpose any undrawn amount under the revolving credit facility or amounts under the letter of credit facility) and (iii) if the amount of debt funded at Closing (not including for this purpose any undrawn amount under the revolving credit facility or amounts under the letter of credit facility) is $90 million or greater, which provides for an Average Interest Rate of 11.000% or less (the “ Exit Financing Facility ”).

(p) the material terms of the management incentive plan of the Company shall be reflected in the Chapter 11 Plan and such plan shall be reasonably acceptable to the Backstop Purchasers and the Equity Committee.

(q) the Company and the Backstop Purchasers shall have entered into a registration rights agreement, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Required Backstop Purchasers, the Company and the Equity Committee and dated as of the Effective Date which shall include, among other customary terms and conditions, piggyback registration rights upon the Company registering its stock (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”); and

(r) the conditions to the Effective Date of the Chapter 11 Plan shall have been satisfied or waived by the Company and any other party entitled to waive conditions under the Chapter 11 Plan in accordance with the Chapter 11 Plan, and the Effective Date shall have occurred or will occur on the Closing.

2.2. Conditions Precedent to Obligations of the Company . The obligations of the Company to consummate the Contemplated Transactions will be subject to the following conditions precedent, each of which may be waived in writing by the Company, in consultation with the Equity Committee:

(a) on the Effective Date, all representations and warranties of the Backstop Purchasers contained in this Agreement shall be true, complete and accurate in all material respects;

(b) on the Effective Date, all covenants of the Backstop Purchasers contained in this Agreement shall have been complied with by the Backstop Purchasers in all material respects;

(c) the Commitment Order shall have been entered by the Bankruptcy Court and such order shall not have been stayed, modified or vacated on appeal;

(d) the Confirmation Order, shall have been entered by the Bankruptcy Court and shall not have been stayed, modified or vacated on appeal;

(e) all necessary governmental, regulatory and third-party approvals, waivers and/or consents in connection with the Rights Offering, the Private Placement and the Chapter 11 Plan shall have been obtained and remain in full force and effect, and there shall exist no injunction which would preclude the execution of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

 

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(f) each of the Backstop Purchasers shall have delivered to the Company a certificate executed by such Backstop Purchaser, dated the Closing, certifying that the conditions specified in clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 2.2 have been satisfied with respect to such Backstop Purchaser; and

(g) the Company shall have received the proceeds of the Rights Offering, the Private Placement and the Exit Financing Facility that, together with the proceeds of the sale of the Investor Shares, are sufficient to fund fully the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Chapter 11 Plan.

3. Representations and Warranties of the Company . The Company represents and warrants to the Backstop Purchasers as set forth below.

3.1. Organization of the Company . As of the date of this Agreement, the Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with full corporate power and authority to conduct its business as it is now being conducted, to own or use the properties and assets that it purports to own or use, except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company is duly qualified or registered to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction in which either the ownership or use of the properties owned or used by it, or the nature of the activities conducted by it, requires such qualification or registration, except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

3.2. Capitalization of the Company . As of the Effective Date, the only shares of capital stock that shall be issued and outstanding shall be those shares of Common Stock that shall have been issued in accordance with the Chapter 11 Plan and this Agreement. Except for the Consideration Warrants and as otherwise provided hereunder or as set forth on Schedule 3.2 , there will be no options, warrants, convertible securities or rights that are or may become exercisable or exchangeable for, convertible into, or that otherwise give the holder any right to acquire shares of capital stock of the Company or to receive payments based in whole or in part upon the value of the capital stock of the Company, whether pursuant to a phantom stock plan or otherwise. Except as provided hereunder, there will be no Contracts relating to the issuance, sale or transfer of any equity securities or other securities of the Company. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.2 , there are no outstanding Contracts of the Company to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any of its equity securities or other securities. As of the Effective Date, all of the outstanding Common Stock will have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.

3.3. Organization and Capitalization of the Subsidiaries .

(a) Schedule 3.3(a) sets forth the name, jurisdiction of incorporation or organization (as applicable) of each Subsidiary. Except for the Company’s Subsidiaries, and as otherwise described on Schedule 3.3(a) , the Company does not have any direct or indirect equity interest constituting at least 10% of the voting securities of any Person. Except as described on Schedule 3.3(a), neither the Company nor any of its Material Subsidiaries has any Contract to directly or indirectly acquire any equity or other ownership interest in any Person or business.

 

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(b) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.3(b), each Material Subsidiary is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company (as applicable), duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization (as applicable), with full corporate, partnership or limited liability company (as applicable) power and authority to conduct its business as it is now being conducted, to own or use the properties and assets that it purports to own or use, except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.3(b) , each Material Subsidiary is duly qualified or registered to do business as a foreign corporation, partnership, limited liability company (as applicable) and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction in which either the ownership or use of the properties owned or used by it, or the nature of the activities conducted by it, requires such qualification or registration, except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c) All of the outstanding capital stock or other equity securities of each Material Subsidiary directly or indirectly owned by the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and the Company has good and marketable title to such capital stock or other equity securities, free and clear of all Encumbrances, except as set forth on Schedule 3.3(c) . Except as set forth on Schedule 3.3(c) there are no options, warrants, convertible securities or rights that are or may become exercisable or exchangeable for, convertible into, or that otherwise give the holder any right to acquire shares of capital stock of any Material Subsidiary or to receive payments based in whole or in part upon the value of the capital stock of any Material Subsidiary, whether pursuant to a phantom stock plan or otherwise. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.3(c) , there are no Contracts relating to the issuance, sale or transfer of any equity securities or other securities of any Material Subsidiary. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.3(c), there are no outstanding Contracts of the Company or any Material Subsidiary to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any equity securities or other securities of any Material Subsidiary.

(d) The Investor Shares and the Consideration Warrants to be issued and sold to the Backstop Purchasers hereunder, when the Investor Shares arc issued and delivered against payment therefor by the Backstop Purchasers, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable

3.4. Authority; No Conflict .

(a) At the Closing, subject to the entry of the Confirmation Order and compliance with the requirements of the Bankruptcy Code, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions will have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Company. Subject to approval of the Bankruptcy Court, this Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms and the Company has the absolute and unrestricted right, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder.

(b) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.4(b), and except for the Confirmation Order and the other Consents required by the Bankruptcy Code, neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation or performance of any of the Contemplated Transactions will (with or without notice or lapse of time):

(i) contravene, conflict with, or result in a violation of (1) any provision of the Organizational Documents of the Company, or (2) any resolution adopted by the board of directors (or similar governing body) of the Company;

 

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(ii) contravene, conflict with, or result in a violation of, or give any Governmental Body or other Person the right to challenge this Agreement or the Contemplated Transactions or to exercise any remedy or obtain any relief under, any Legal Requirement or any Order to which the Company, or any of the assets owned or used by the Company, may be subject;

(iii) contravene, conflict with or result in a violation or breach of any provision of or give any Person the right to declare a default under or terminate, any Contract to which the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries is bound;

(iv) result in the imposition or creation of any Encumbrance upon or with respect to any of the assets owned or used by the Company; or

(v) require the Company to give any notice to or obtain any Consent from any Person;

except, in the case of clauses (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v) above, where such occurrence would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

3.5. Legal Proceedings . Except as set forth on Schedule 3.5 , as of the date hereof, there is no pending Proceeding against the Company that challenges, or that would reasonably be expected to have the effect of preventing, delaying, making illegal, or otherwise interfering with, any of the Contemplated Transactions, which, if adversely determined, would be reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Company to consummate the Contemplated Transactions.

3.6. Brokers or Finders . Except as set forth on Schedule 3.6 , neither the Company, any Material Subsidiary nor any of their respective agents has incurred any obligation or liability, contingent or otherwise, for brokerage or finders’ fees or agents’ commissions or other similar payment in connection with this Agreement or the Contemplated Transactions.

3.7. Exemption from Registration . Assuming the accuracy of the Backstop Purchasers’ representations set forth in Section 4 , the offer and sale of the Investor Shares by the Company in the manner contemplated by this Agreement will be exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

 

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3.8. Chapter 11 Plan . Prior to the entry of the Commitment Order, the Company will have the requisite corporate power and authority to execute the Chapter 11 Plan and file the Chapter 11 Plan with the Bankruptcy Court and, subject to the entry of the Confirmation Order and the expiration, or waiver by the Bankruptcy Court, of the 10-day period set forth in Bankruptcy Rule 3020(e), to perform its obligations thereunder, and will have taken all necessary corporate actions required for the due authorization, execution, delivery and performance of it by the Chapter 11 Plan. The Chapter 11 Plan will be duly and validly filed with the Bankruptcy Court by the Company and, upon entry of the Confirmation Order and the expiration, or waiver by the Bankruptcy Court, of the 10-day period set forth in Bankruptcy Rule 3020(e), will constitute the valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.

3.9. No Violation or Default . As of the date hereof, neither the Company nor any of its Material Subsidiaries is in violation of its Organizational Documents. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.9 or as a result of the Chapter 11 Cases, as of the date hereof, neither the Company nor any of its Material Subsidiaries is: (i) in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries is subject; or (ii) in violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) above, for any such default or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

3.10. Title to Intellectual Property . Except as set forth on Schedule 3.10 , as of the date hereof, the Company and its Material Subsidiaries own or possess adequate rights to use all material patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, copyrights, licenses and know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures) necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses, except where the failure to own or possess any such rights would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and as of the date hereof, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, to the Knowledge of the Company, the conduct of their respective businesses does not infringe in any material respect with any such rights of others, and the Company and its Material Subsidiaries have not received any written notice of any material claim of infringement or conflict with any such material rights of others.

3.11. Licenses and Permits . As of the date hereof, (i) the Company and its Material Subsidiaries possess all licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by, and have made all declarations and filings with, the appropriate Governmental Bodies that are necessary for the ownership or lease of their respective properties or the conduct of their respective businesses, except where the failure to possess or make the same would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (ii) except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Company nor any of its Material Subsidiaries has received written notice of any revocation or modification of any such license, certificate, permit or authorization, or has any Knowledge that any such license, certificate, permit or authorization will not be renewed in the ordinary course.

 

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3.12. Compliance With Environmental Laws . As of the date hereof, (i) the Company and its Material Subsidiaries, are in compliance with any and all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws, rules, regulations, decisions and orders relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (collectively, “ Environmental Laws ”): (ii) the Company and its Material Subsidiaries have received and are in compliance with all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses; and (iii) neither the Company nor any of its Material Subsidiaries has received written notice of any actual or potential liability for the investigation or remediation of any disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, except, in the case of each of the clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The representations and warranties in this Section 3.12 are the sole and exclusive representations and warranties of the Company concerning environmental matters.

3.13. Compliance With ERISA .

(a) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.13 , (i) each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ ERISA ”), that is maintained, administered or contributed to by the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries for employees or former employees of the Company and its Material Subsidiaries has been maintained in compliance with its terms and the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), except where the failure to comply with such applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (ii) no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any such plan excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption, except such transactions that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and for each such plan that is subject to the funding rules of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, no “accumulated funding deficiency” as defined such sections of the Code and ERISA has, as of the date hereof, been incurred, whether or not waived, that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

3.14. No Unlawful Payments . From commencement of the Chapter 11 Cases through the date hereof, neither the Company nor any of its Material Subsidiaries nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries, has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977; or (iv) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment, except, in the case of each of the foregoing clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv), as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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3.15. No Restrictions on Material Subsidiaries . Subject to the Bankruptcy Code and except as otherwise set forth on Schedule 3.15 on or prior to the date hereof, no Material Subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, under any Contract to which it is a party or is subject, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such Material Subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such Material Subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such Material Subsidiary’s properties or assets to the Company or any other Material Subsidiary of the Company.

3.16. Monthly Operating Reports . The Monthly Operating Reports filed by the Company with the Bankruptcy Court have been filed and prepared in all material respects in accordance with the Bankruptcy Rules.

3.17. Revised Business Plan . The Company has delivered the Revised Business Plan to each Backstop Purchaser. The Revised Business Plan reflects the current financial projections for the Company. The financial projections of the Company set forth in the Disclosure Statement shall be materially consistent with the financial projections set forth in the Revised Business Plan.

4. Representations and Warranties of the Backstop Purchasers . Each Backstop Purchaser, severally and not jointly, hereby represents and warrants as set forth below. Each representation, warranty and agreement is made as of the date hereof and as of the Effective Date:

4.1. Organization of Such Backstop Purchaser . Such Backstop Purchaser is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization (as applicable), with full corporate, partnership, limited duration company, limited liability company or other similar (as applicable) power and authority to conduct its business as it is now being conducted, to own or use the properties and assets that it purports to own or use and to perform all its obligations under any Contract to which it is a party.

4.2. Authority; No Conflict .

(a) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of such Backstop Purchaser. This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Backstop Purchaser, enforceable against such Backstop Purchaser in accordance with its terms. Such Backstop Purchaser has the absolute and unrestricted right, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder.

(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement will not, directly or indirectly (with or without notice or lapse of time):

(i) contravene, conflict with, or result in a violation of (1) any provision of the Organizational Documents of such Backstop Purchaser, if applicable, or (2) any resolution adopted by the board of directors (or similar governing body) or the stockholders of such Backstop Purchaser; or

 

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(ii) contravene, conflict with, or result in a violation of, or give any Governmental Body or other Person the right to challenge this Agreement or to exercise any remedy or obtain any relief under, any Legal Requirement or any Order to which such Backstop Purchaser, or any of the assets owned or used by such Purchaser, may be subject.

Except (i) for Consents which have been obtained and notices which have been given and (ii) where the failure to give any notice or obtain any Consent would not be reasonably likely to prevent or materially delay the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, such Backstop Purchaser is not and will not be required to give any notice to or obtain any Consent from any Person in connection with the execution and delivery by such Backstop Purchaser of this Agreement. In no event will the Backstop Purchase Price to be paid by such Backstop Purchaser hereunder, plus the purchase price, if any, to be paid by such Backstop Purchaser to purchase shares of Common Stock subscribed for by such Backstop Purchaser in the Rights Offering and the Private Placement, plus the value of the shares of Common Stock to be received by such Backstop Purchaser in exchange for the existing Common Stock of the Company held by such Backstop Purchaser pursuant to the Chapter 11 Plan exceed the lowest notification threshold under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.

4.3. Shares Not Registered . Such Backstop Purchaser understands that the Investor Shares, the Consideration Warrants and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Consideration Warrants (the “ Warrant Shares ”) have not been registered under the Securities Act. Such Backstop Purchaser also understands that the Investor Shares, the Consideration Warrants and the Warrant Shares are being offered and sold pursuant to an exemption from registration contained in the Securities Act, based in part upon such Backstop Purchaser’s representations contained in this Agreement and cannot be sold unless subsequently registered under the Securities Act or an exemption from registration is available.

4.4. Legends . The Backstop Purchasers agree with the Company that the certificates evidencing the Investor Shares, the Consideration Warrants and the Warrant Shares will bear a legend substantially similar to the following:

“THE SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED UNLESS THERE IS AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER SUCH ACT COVERING SUCH SECURITIES OR THE SECURITIES ARE SOLD AND TRANSFERRED IN A TRANSACTION THAT IS EXEMPT FROM OR NOT SUBJECT TO THE REGISTRATION AND PROSPECTUS DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS OF SUCH ACT.”

 

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4.5. Economic Risk . Such Backstop Purchaser understands that this is a highly speculative investment with a substantial risk of loss of such Backstop Purchaser’s entire investment. Such Backstop Purchaser is in a position to bear the economic risk of such loss. Such Backstop Purchaser understands that it has no registration rights with respect to the Investor Shares, the Consideration Warrants and the Warrant Shares except as provided in the Registration Rights Agreement.

4.6. Acquisition for Own Account . Such Backstop Purchaser is acquiring the Investor Shares for its own account for investment and not with a present view toward distribution, as such term is used in Section 2(a)(l 1) of the Securities Act.

4.7. Sophistication . Such Backstop Purchaser has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Investor Shares, the Consideration Warrants and the Warrant Shares being acquired hereunder.

4.8. Accredited Investor . Such Backstop Purchaser represents that it is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act.

4.9. Access to Information . Such Backstop Purchaser has been given access to Company documents, records, and other information, has received physical delivery of all those which it has requested, and has had adequate opportunity to ask questions of, and receive answers from, the Company’s officers, employees, agents, accountants, and representatives concerning the Company’s business, operations, financial condition, assets, liabilities, and all other matters relevant to its investment in the Investor Shares, the Consideration Warrants and the Warrant Shares.

4.10. Brokers or Finders . Such Backstop Purchaser has not, and its agents have not, incurred any obligation or liability, contingent or otherwise, for brokerage or finders’ fees or agents’ commissions or other similar payment in connection with this Agreement, for which the Company may be liable.

4.11. Legal Proceedings . There is no pending Proceeding against such Backstop Purchaser that challenges, or that would reasonably be expected to have the effect of preventing, delaying, making illegal, or otherwise interfering with, any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, which, if adversely determined, would be reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the ability of such Backstop Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

4.12. Arm’s Length . Such Backstop Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that the Company is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to such Backstop Purchaser with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby (including in connection with determining the terms of the Rights Offering and the Private Placement). Additionally, such Backstop Purchaser is not relying on the Company for any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory advice, except as specifically set forth in this Agreement. Such Backstop Purchaser shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

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4.13. Available Funds . Such Backstop Purchaser has, and will have on the Effective Date, unrestricted cash on hand sufficient to pay the Backstop Purchase Price and to effect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

4.14. Acknowledgement of Backstop Purchaser . Such Backstop Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that it has conducted its own independent review and analysis of the business, assets, condition, operations and prospects of the Company and the Material Subsidiaries. In entering into this Agreement, such Backstop Purchaser has relied solely upon its investigation and analysis and the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the Company set forth in this Agreement, and Purchaser acknowledges that, other than as set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its Material Subsidiaries makes or has made any representation or warranty, either express or implied, as to the Company, any of its Material Subsidiaries, their assets and properties, the results of their operations, their liabilities, the conduct of their respective businesses, their prospects or the accuracy or completeness of any of the information (including, without limitation, projections, forecasts, budgets and estimates) provided or made available to such Backstop Purchaser and its Affiliates and representatives prior to the execution of this Agreement upon which such Backstop Purchaser is relying.

5. Covenants Prior to Effective Date .

5.1. Consents . Each Backstop Purchaser and the Company shall use (and the Company shall cause its Subsidiaries to use) their reasonable best efforts to obtain at the earliest practicable date all consents and approvals required to consummate the Contemplated Transactions, including, without limitation, the consents and approvals identified in Schedules 3.4(b) or otherwise required as a condition to Closing pursuant to Section 2.1 or 2.2 .

5.2. Reasonable Best Efforts . Between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Date, the parties hereto will use their reasonable best efforts to cause the conditions set forth in Section 2 to be satisfied.

5.3. Plan Support . Until the earlier of (i) the Closing and (ii) the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, the Backstop Purchasers agree to support confirmation of the Chapter 11 Plan and agree not to support any other plan of reorganization with regard to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. In furtherance of the foregoing, the Backstop Purchasers agree not to file any pleading or take any other action in the Bankruptcy Court with respect to this Agreement, the Chapter 11 Plan, the Disclosure Statement or the Confirmation Order or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby that is inconsistent in any respect with this Agreement or the Company’s effort to obtain the entry of the Confirmation Order consistent with this Agreement.

5.4. Authorization of Stock . On or before the Effective Date, the Company will authorize the issue and sale of the Rights Offering Shares, the Private Placement Shares and the Investor Shares.

 

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5.5. Chapter 11 Plan . The Company shall file the Chapter 11 Plan and the Disclosure Statement and use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the entry of the Confirmation Order by the Bankruptcy Court. The Company will authorize, execute, file with the Bankruptcy Court and seek confirmation and consummation of, the Chapter 11 Plan that (i) is consistent in all material respects with this Agreement, (ii) provides for the exculpation of the Backstop Purchasers, in their capacity as such, their Affiliates, representatives and advisors in connection with their affiliation with or representation of the Backstop Purchasers in that capacity to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law (provided, that such exculpation shall not prohibit or impede the Company’s ability to assert defenses or counterclaims in connection with or relating to this Agreement), and (iii) has conditions to confirmation and the Effective Date (and to what extent any such conditions can be waived and by whom) that are reasonably consistent with this Agreement. The Disclosure Statement, any exhibits or schedules thereto, and any further documents filed and incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Statement when such documents become effective or are filed with the Bankruptcy Court will conform in all material respects to the Bankruptcy Code. The Company will provide to the Backstop Purchasers and their counsel a copy of the Chapter 11 Plan and the Disclosure Statement and a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on such documents prior to such documents being filed with the Bankruptcy Court. In addition, the Company will provide to the Backstop Purchasers and their counsel a copy of the Confirmation Order and a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on such order prior to such order being filed with the Bankruptcy Court.

5.6. Rights Offering/Private Placement . The Company shall effectuate the Rights Offering and the Private Placement as provided herein and use reasonable best efforts to seek entry of an order of the Bankruptcy Court, prior to the commencement of the Rights Offering, authorizing the Company to conduct the Rights Offering pursuant to the securities exemption provisions set forth in Section 1145(a) of the Bankruptcy Code.

5.7. Notification . The Company shall notify, or cause the subscription agent to notify, on each Friday during the Rights Exercise Period and on each Business Day during the five (5) Business Days prior to the Expiration Time (and any extensions thereto), or more frequently if reasonably requested by the Backstop Purchasers, the Backstop Purchasers of the aggregate number of (i) Rights Offering Subscription Shares known by the Company or the subscription agent to have been subscribed for pursuant to the Rights Offering and (ii) Private Placement Subscription Shares known by the Company or the subscription agent to have been subscribed for pursuant to the Private Placement, in each case, as of the close of business on the preceding Business Day or the most recent practicable time before such request, as the case may be.

5.8. Investor Shares . The Company shall determine the number of Investor Shares and provide a Purchase Notice that accurately reflects the number of Investor Shares as so determined and shall provide to the Backstop Purchasers a certification by the subscription agent of the Backstop Shares or, if such certification is not available, such written backup to the determination of the Backstop Shares as Backstop Purchasers may reasonably request.

5.9. Stock Splits, Dividends, etc . In the event of any stock split, stock dividend, stock combination or similar transaction affecting the number of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Purchase Price and the number of Investor Shares to be purchased hereunder will be proportionally adjusted to reflect the increase or decrease in the number of issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock.

 

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5.10. Use of Proceeds . The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Common Stock from the Rights Offering, the Private Placement and the Commitment to fund the payment of Allowed Claims in accordance with the Chapter 11 Plan.

5.11. Board of Reorganized Global Power . The Chapter 11 Plan shall provide that the newly constituted board of directors (“ Board ”) of Reorganized Global Power shall initially consist of five (5) to seven (7) members with one (1) director who shall be the chief executive officer, two (2) directors chosen by the Required Backstop Purchasers (“ BP Directors ”) who are reasonably acceptable to the Equity Committee and two (2) directors chosen by the Equity Committee who are reasonably acceptable to the Required Backstop Purchasers. The Company shall notify the Backstop Purchasers at least five (5) Business Days prior to the date that it files a document (the “ Director Identification ”) in the Chapter 11 Cases that identifies the members of the Board and the Company. The Required Backstop Purchasers shall notify the Company of the names of the BP Directors on or prior to two (2) Business Days prior to the filing of the Director Identification. If a director chosen by the Equity Committee is either an employee, former employee or an Affiliate of any member of the Backstop Purchasers who also serves on the Equity Committee, such Backstop Purchaser shall not participate in the selection of the two (2) directors to be selected by the Required Backstop Purchasers. If the decision is made to expand the Board to more than five (5) directors prior to the Effective Date, the Chapter 11 Plan shall provide that the Equity Committee and the Required Backstop Purchasers shall jointly select the additional director(s).

5.12. Monthly Operating Reports . The Company shall file Monthly Operating Reports with the Bankruptcy Court in accordance with the Bankruptcy Rules and such reports shall have been have been filed and prepared in all material respects in accordance with the Bankruptcy Rules.

5.13. Management Incentive Plan . The material terms of the management incentive plan of the Company shall be reflected in the Chapter 11 Plan and such plan shall be reasonably acceptable to the Backstop Purchasers and the Equity Committee.

5.14. Exit Financing Facility . The Company shall provide to a subcommittee of the Backstop Purchasers, the composition of which shall be determined by the Backstop Purchasers and provided to the Company, copies of all written proposals, including any term sheets, commitment letters or otherwise, relating to any portion of the Exit Financing Facility within two (2) Business Days of receipt of such proposals by the Company or its advisors to be used solely for purposes of protecting the rights of the Backstop Purchasers under this Agreement.

 

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6. Termination .

(a) This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby may be abandoned at any time by mutual written consent of the Company and each of the Backstop Purchasers.

(b) This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby may be abandoned at any time by the Required Backstop Purchasers upon written notice to the Company if:

(i) there has been a material breach by the Company of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement that is not curable or, if curable, is not cured within 20 days after written notice of such breach is given by the Required Backstop Purchasers to the Company and the Equity Committee or any of the conditions precedent to the obligations to the Backstop Purchasers shall have become incapable of fulfillment (other than through the failure of the Backstop Purchasers to comply with their obligations) and shall not have been waived by the Required Backstop Purchasers;

(ii) if the Commitment Order is not entered by the Bankruptcy Court within 20 days after the motion seeking same is filed;

(iii) (A) there shall have been a Change of Recommendation or (B) the Company shall have (i) entered into an Inconsistent Transaction Agreement, or (ii) filed any pleading or document with the Bankruptcy Court, evidencing its intention to support, or otherwise supports any Inconsistent Transaction.

(c) This Agreement shall terminate automatically on January 4, 2008; provided , however , if the Company and the Equity Committee are still pursuing confirmation of the Chapter 11 Plan, such date may be extended by the Company to February 28, 2008 (such date, as it may be extended, the “ Termination Date ”); provided , further , in the event the Termination Date is so extended the Equity Consideration shall be increased to 6.5% as set forth in Section 1.2 above.

(d) This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby may be abandoned at any time, by the Company upon written notice to the Backstop Purchasers if:

(i) The Debtors exercise a Fiduciary Out (as defined in Section 1 of the Plan Support Agreement) and the Company shall have entered into an Inconsistent Transaction Agreement.

(ii) if there has been a material breach by the Backstop Purchasers of any of their representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement that is not curable or, if curable, is not cured within 20 days after written notice of such breach is given by the Company to the Backstop Purchasers or any of the conditions precedent to the obligations to the Company shall have become incapable of fulfillment (other than through the failure of the Company to comply with their obligations) and shall not have been waived by the Company.

 

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(e) If this Agreement shall be terminated in accordance with paragraph (a) of this Section 6, all obligations of the parties hereunder shall terminate without liability of any party to the others.

(f) If this Agreement shall be terminated in accordance with paragraphs (b), (c) or (d)(i) of this Section 6 , all obligations of the parties hereunder shall terminate without liability of any party to the others except that (x) nothing contained herein shall release any party from liability for breach of this Agreement and (y) the covenants and agreements made by parties herein in Section 1.3 , Section 1.5 Sections 7 through 11 shall survive indefinitely in accordance with their terms.

(g) If this Agreement is terminated in accordance with paragraph (d)(ii) of this Section 6 , all obligations of the parties hereunder shall terminate without liability of any party to the other except that (x) nothing contained herein shall release any party from liability for breach of this Agreement and (y) the covenants and agreements made by parties herein in Sections 8 through 11 shall survive indefinitely in accordance with their terms.

7. Reimbursable Expenses . In consideration of the Backstop Commitment, and subject to the terms of this Section 7 and Section 1.3(b) , the Company shall pay the reasonable, documented fees and expenses of one primary law firm and one local Delaware counsel firm engaged by the Backstop Purchasers incurred since July 26, 2007 related to the negotiation, documentation and execution of the transactions contemplated herein and the enforcement, attempted enforcement or preservation of any rights or remedies contained in this Agreement and the documentation executed in connection herewith, whether in any action, suit or proceeding (including any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding) or otherwise (such fees and expenses, the “ Reimbursable Expenses ). Such payments shall be made promptly after the submission of an invoice from the Backstop Purchasers to the Company, and shall not be subject to further Bankruptcy Court approval (except that any objection as to the reasonableness of such Reimbursable Expenses shall be determined by the Bankruptcy Court).

8. Survival of Representations and Warranties . All representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or made in writing by or on behalf of the Company to the Backstop Purchasers in connection with the Contemplated Transactions shall survive the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, except that representations made in Sections 3.5 and 3.6 and Sections 3.11 through 3.18 shall only survive for a period of two (2) years after the Effective Date.

 

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9. Amendments and Waivers . Any term of this Agreement may be amended or modified and the observance of any term of this Agreement may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively) only with the prior written consent of (a) the Required Backstop Purchasers and (b) the Company except for an amendment to Schedule 1 pursuant to Section 11.1 . However, in the event that any such amendment results in a material adverse change to the economic terms, governance rights and/or conditions precedent set forth in this Agreement or the Chapter 11 Plan in the reasonable opinion of a Backstop Purchaser, such Backstop Purchaser may, within two (2) Business Days of such amendment, elect to opt out of its obligation to provide its share of the Backstop Commitment under this Agreement. In the event that a Backstop Purchaser is not willing to provide its share of the Backstop Commitment pursuant to this provision or otherwise, the remaining Backstop Purchasers may agree in writing to share the additional commitment necessary to fulfill the Backstop Commitment among themselves and the Required Backstop Purchasers may replace the departed Backstop Purchaser with one or more new investors but only if the Backstop Purchasers re-confirm to the Company in writing their representations set forth in Section 4.14 .

10. Notices, etc . Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, notices and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered, mailed by first-class mail, postage pre-paid or sent by facsimile or electronic mail, addressed,

(a) If to a Backstop Purchaser, at the address set forth in Schedule I or at such other address as such Backstop Purchaser shall have furnished to the Company in writing

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to
STROOCK & STROOCK & LAVAN LLP
180 Maiden Lane
New York, NY 10038
Attention:    Brett Lawrence
Fax:    (212) 806-6006
Email:    blawrence@stroock.com

(b) If to the Company at:

 

Global Power Equipment Group, Inc.
6120 South Yale
Suite 1480
Tulsa, OK 74136
Attention:    Candice L. Cheeseman
Fax:    (918) 274-2367
Email:    ccheeseman@globalpower.com
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to
WHITE & CASE LLP
Wachovia Financial Center
200 South Biscayne Blvd., Suite 4900
Miami, FL 33131
Attention:    John K. Cunningham, Esq.
Fax:    (305) 358-5744
Email    jcunningham@whitecase.com
And

 

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WHITE & CASE LLP

1155 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10036

Attention:    Daniel M. Latham, Esq.
Fax:    (212) 354-8113
Email:    dlatham@whitecase.com

(c) If to the Equity Committee (c/o its Chairman) at:

 

PPM AMERICA PRIVATE EQUITY FUND, LP

225 West Wacker Drive, Suite 1200

Chicago, IL 60606

Attention:    Joel L. Klein, Executive Vice President
Fax:    (312) 634-0728
Email:    joel.klein@ppmamerica.com
Attention:    Brian Ng, Assistant VP – Workouts
Fax:    (312) 236-5224
Email:    brian.ng@ppmamerica.com
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to

BROWN RUDNICK BERLACK ISRAELS LLP

CityPlace I

185 Asylum Street

Hartford, CT 06103

Attention:    Howard L. Siegel, Esq.
Fax:    (860) 509-6619
Email:    hsiegel@brownrudnick.com

BROWN RUDNICK BERLACK ISRAELS LLP

One Financial Center

Boston, MA 02111

Attention:    Steven D. Pohl, Esq.
Fax:    (617) 856-8201
Email:    spohl@brownrudnick.com

Each such notice, request or other communication shall be effective (i) if given by mail, 72 hours after such communication is deposited in the mails with first class postage prepaid, addressed as aforesaid, (ii) if sent by facsimile, when sent and receipt is telephonically confirmed or (iii) if given by any other means (including, without limitation, by air courier), when delivered at the address specified above.

 

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11. Miscellaneous .

11.1. Assignments, Successors, and No Third-Party Rights . No party may assign any of its rights under this Agreement without the prior consent of the other parties; provided , however , that, on or before the Effective Date, any Backstop Purchaser, may assign its rights to purchase all or any portion of the Investor Shares to accounts managed by such Backstop Purchaser for which such Backstop Purchaser has discretionary investment authority, or in the case of any account for which Zesiger Capital Group LLC (“ ZCG ”) has discretionary investment authority to any other to any other account for which ZCG has discretionary authority, to any Backstop Purchaser, and to any Affiliate thereof, in each case, who is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act (a “P ermitted Backstop Assignee ”), by delivering a written notice of such assignment to the Company (a “ Backstop Assignment Notice ”). Subject in each case to the preceding sentence, (i) this Agreement will apply to, be binding in all respects upon, enforceable by and inure to the benefit of the legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns of the parties and (ii) following delivery of any Backstop Assignment Notice: (a) Schedule 1 shall be amended to reflect the names and addresses of each Permitted Backstop Assignee and the Commitment Percentage and Maximum Commitment Amount that shall apply to each such Permitted Backstop Assignee; and (b) each such Permitted Backstop Assignee shall execute and deliver to the Company a joinder agreement, pursuant to which such Backstop Permitted Assignee shall be granted the rights afforded to, and shall accept the duties and obligations (which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include, without limitation, the representations and warranties) of, a “Backstop Purchaser” hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no assignment hereunder by any Backstop Purchaser shall relieve such Backstop Purchaser of its liability for the full performance of all of the terms, agreements, covenants and conditions of this Agreement. Nothing expressed or referred to in this Agreement will be construed to give any Person other than the parties to this Agreement any legal or equitable right, remedy, or claim under or with respect to this Agreement or any provision of this Agreement. This Agreement and all of its provisions and conditions are for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties to this Agreement and their legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns.

11.2. Severability . Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall (to the full extent permitted by law) not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

11.3. Entire Agreement . This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements between the parties with respect to its subject matter (including the Commitment Letter and the Rights Offering Term Sheet), and constitutes (along with the documents referred to in this Agreement) a complete and exclusive statement of the terms of the agreement between the parties with respect to its subject matter.

11.4. Construction . Each covenant contained herein shall be construed (absent express provision to the contrary) as being independent of each other covenant contained herein, so that compliance with any one covenant shall not (absent such an express contrary provision) be deemed to excuse compliance with any other covenant. Where any provision herein refers to action to be taken by any Person, or which such Person is prohibited from taking, such provision shall be applicable whether such action is taken directly or indirectly by such Person.

 

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11.5. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original but all of which together shall constitute one instrument. Each counterpart may consist of a number of copies hereof, each signed by less than all, but together signed by all, of the parties hereto.

11.6. Governing Law . This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the rights of the parties shall be governed by, the law of the State of New York, without giving effect to the conflicts of law principles thereof.

11.7. Submission to Jurisdiction . Each party of this Agreement irrevocably consents and agrees that any legal action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement and any action for enforcement of any judgment in respect thereof will be brought, (i) if prior to the Effective Date, in the Bankruptcy Court and (ii) if on or after the Effective Date, in the courts of the State of New York, County of New York or. if it has or can acquire jurisdiction, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and, by execution and delivery of this Agreement, each party of this Agreement hereby submits to and accepts for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, the exclusive jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts and appellate courts from any appeal thereof. Each party to this Agreement further irrevocably consents to the service of process out of any of the aforementioned courts in any such action or proceeding by the delivery of copies thereof in the manner set forth in Section 10 . Each party to this Agreement hereby irrevocably waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any of the aforesaid actions or proceedings arising out of or in connection with this Agreement brought in the courts referred to above and hereby further irrevocably waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Nothing in this Section shall be deemed to constitute a submission to jurisdiction, consent or waiver with respect to any matter not specifically referred to herein.

11.8. Waiver of Trial by Jury . TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ALL RIGHT OF TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, SUIT, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY MATTER ARISING HEREUNDER.

11.9. Publicity . The Company and the Backstop Purchasers each shall consult with each other prior to issuing any press releases (and provide each other a reasonable opportunity to review and comment upon such release) or otherwise making public announcements with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and prior to making any filings with any third party or any Governmental Body (including any national securities exchange or interdealer quotation service) with respect thereto, except as may be required by Legal Requirement or by the request of any Governmental Body.

 

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11.10. Limitation on Liability . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the total aggregate amount payable by the Backstop Purchasers, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, for Losses arising under this Agreement for a breach or nonperformance of any representations, warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement or in any related agreement, document, instrument or certificate shall not exceed, (i) prior to the Closing, $10 million plus, in the case of the Company, any Reimbursable Expenses paid or payable pursuant to Section 7 and (ii) on and after the Closing, an amount equal to the aggregate Purchase Price paid by the Backstop Purchasers hereunder plus, in the case of the Company, any Reimbursable Expenses paid or payable pursuant to Section 7 . The Company agrees that any damages paid or payable to the Backstop Purchasers under this Agreement shall be deemed an administrative expense of the estate under Section 503(b) and Section 507(a) of the Bankruptcy Code

12. Definitions .

12.1. Certain Defined Terms . As used in this Agreement the following terms have the following respective meanings:

Accredited Holder : means each Holder that the Company reasonably believes to be an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act.

Adjusted Aggregate Offering Amount : means the Aggregate Offering Amount minus an amount equal to the lesser of (i) 50% of the Direct Purchase Amount or (ii) $4 million.

Affiliate : has the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 12b-2 under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, in effect on the date hereof.

Aggregate Offering Amount : means the sum of the Rights Offering Amount, the Private Placement Amount and the Direct Purchase Amount.

Average Interest Rate : means an amount expressed as a percentage equal to the total amount of annual interest payable on the debt funded by the Exit Financing Facility (not including for this purpose any undrawn amount under the revolving credit facility or amounts under the letter of credit facility) divided by the total amount of debt funded by the Exit Financing Facility (not including for this purpose any undrawn amount under the revolving credit facility or amounts under the letter of credit facility), in each case immediately after the Closing.

Bankruptcy Code : means United States Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C. §§ 101, et seq.

Bankruptcy Court : means the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.

Business Day : means a day of the year other than Saturdays, Sundays or any other days on which the banks are not required or authorized to close in New York City.

 

27


Change of Recommendation : means (i) the Company or its board of directors or any committee thereof shall have withheld, withdrawn, qualified or modified (or resolved or proposed to withhold, withdraw, qualify or modify) its approval or recommendation of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or (ii) the Company or its board of directors or any committee thereof shall have approved or recommended, or proposed to approve or recommend (including by filing any pleading or document with the Bankruptcy Court), any Inconsistent Transaction.

Chapter 11 Cases : means the Chapter 11 Cases jointly administered as Case No. 06-11045 in the Bankruptcy Court, In re Global Power Equipment Corporation, et al., Debtors .

Chapter 11 Plan : means a plan of reorganization of the Debtors under the Chapter 11 Cases on terms materially consistent with the form of plan of reorganization attached to the Plan Support Agreement and the terms set forth in this Agreement.

Commitment Letter : means the commitment letter dated August 7. 2007 from Black Horse Capital LP; Black Horse Capital (QP) LP; Black Horse Capital Offshore Ltd.; D.E. Shaw Laminar Portfolios, L.L.C.; D.E. Shaw Oculus Portfolios, L.L.C.; Hain Capital Holdings, LLC; Post Distressed Master Fund, L.P.; Post Strategic Master Fund, L.P.; Post Total Return Master Fund, L.P.; Post Aggressive Credit Master Fund, L.P.; MW Post Portfolio Fund, Ltd.; DB Distressed Opportunities Master Portfolio Ltd.; Virginia Retirement System; IIFR DS Opportunity Master Trust; PPM America Private Equity Fund LP; DKR Wolf Point Management L.P.; Zesiger Capital Group LLC.

Commitment Percentage : means for each Backstop Purchaser, the percentage (expressed as a decimal) listed next to each such Backstop Purchaser’s name on Schedule 1 hereto under the heading “Commitment Percentage”.

Consent : means any approval, consent, ratification, waiver or other authorization (including any Governmental Authorization).

Contemplated Transactions : means all of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Contract : means any written agreement, contract, obligation, instrument, promise or undertaking that is legally binding.

Creditors’ Committee : means the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the Chapter 11 Cases.

Creditor/Noteholder Plan : means a plan of reorganization of the Debtors under the Chapter 11 Cases sponsored by the Creditors’ Committee and/or the Noteholders which provides that the Noteholders will receive in respect of their Noteholder Claims, on the effective date of such plan, beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of the voting capital stock of the Company.

Debtors : means the Company and the other debtors subject to the Chapter 11 Cases.

 

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Direct Purchase Amount : means an amount equal to the product of (i) the Direct Purchase Shares and (ii) the Purchase Price.

Disclosure Statement : means the disclosure statement related to the Chapter 11 Plan.

Disclosure Statement Approval Date : means the date of entry on the docket of the Bankruptcy Court of an order by the Bankruptcy Court approving the Disclosure Statement.

Disclosure Statement Filing Date : means the date of filing by the Company with the Bankruptcy Court of a Disclosure Statement.

Effective Date : means the Effective Date (as defined in the Chapter 11 Plan).

Encumbrance : means any charge, claim, community property interest, condition, equitable interest, lien, option, pledge, security interest, right of first refusal or restriction of any kind, including any restriction on use, voting, transfer, receipt of income or exercise of any other attribute of ownership.

Enterprise Value : means $220 million.

Equity Committee : means the Official Committee of Equity Security Holders in the Chapter 11 Cases.

Expiration Time : means the deadline for submission of ballots for the Chapter 11 Plan voting as defined in the Chapter 11 Plan or, otherwise, as set by the Bankruptcy Court.

GAA P: means United States generally accepted accounting principles.

Governmental Body : means any:

(a) nation, state, county, city, town, village, district or other jurisdiction of any nature;

(b) federal, state, local, municipal, foreign or other government;

(c) governmental or quasi-governmental authority of any nature (including any governmental agency, branch, department, official or entity and any court or other tribunal);

(d) multi-national organization or body; or

(e) body exercising, or entitled to exercise, any administrative, executive, judicial, legislative, police, regulatory or taxing authority or power of any nature.

Holder : means holders of Global Power’s existing common stock on the record date of the Rights Offering as determined pursuant to the Chapter 11 Plan.

Inconsistent Transaction : means any transaction that is inconsistent with this Agreement or the Chapter 11 Plan.

 

29


Inconsistent Transaction Agreement : means any Contract relating to any Inconsistent Transaction.

Knowledge of the Company : means the actual knowledge of the individuals listed on Schedule 12.1(a).

Legal Requirement : means any federal, state, local, municipal, foreign, international, multinational or other administrative order, constitution, law, ordinance, principle of common law, regulation, statute or treaty.

Loss(es) : means any and all losses, liabilities, damages, deficiencies, obligations, fines, expenses, claims, demands, actions, suits, proceedings, judgments or settlements, including interest and penalties recovered by a third party with respect thereto and out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys’ and accountants’ fees and expenses incurred in the investigation or defense of any of the same or in asserting, preserving or enforcing any rights hereunder, suffered by a party hereto.

Material Adverse Effect : means any circumstance, change or effect that individually or in the aggregate with all other circumstances, changes or effects, has a material adverse effect on the business, operations or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided , however , that the following circumstances, changes or effects shall not be deemed to constitute a “Material Adverse Effect”: (i) changes in economic or political conditions or the financing, banking, currency or capital markets in general that do not result in the New York Stock Exchange being closed for two successive business days; (ii) the announcement of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or other communication by any Backstop Purchaser or any of its Affiliates of its plans or intentions (including in respect of employees) with respect to any of the businesses of the Company and its Subsidiaries, including, without limitation, losses or threatened losses of employees, customers, suppliers, distributors or others having relationships with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (iii) changes affecting industries, markets or geographical areas in which the Company or its Subsidiaries conduct their respective businesses or (iv) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any actions by the Backstop Purchasers or the Company taken in accordance with this Agreement or in connection with the transactions contemplated thereby; provided , that , clauses (i) and (iii) shall not include, and thus the determination of “Material Adverse Effect” shall not exclude, such changes or effects to the extent and only to the extent that such changes or effects have a disproportionately negative effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, as compared to other companies in the industries, markets or geographical areas in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate.

Material Subsidiaries : means the Subsidiaries of the Company set forth on Schedule 12.1(b) .

Maximum Commitment Amount : means for each Backstop Purchaser, the dollar amount listed next to each such Backstop Purchaser’s name on Schedule 1 hereto under the heading “Maximum Commitment Amount.”

Noteholders : means any and all holders of the Notes.

 

30


Noteholder Claims : means the claims of the Noteholders in the Chapter 11 Cases for principal, interest, redemptions premiums, liquidated damages and costs with respect to the Notes.

Notes : means the Company’s 4.25% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2011.

Order : means any award, decision, injunction, judgment, order, ruling, subpoena or verdict entered, issued, made, or rendered by any court, administrative agency or other Governmental Body or by any arbitrator.

Organizational Documents : means (a) the articles or certificate of incorporation and the by-laws of a corporation; (b) the partnership agreement and any statement of partnership of a general partnership; (c) the limited partnership agreement and the certificate of limited partnership of a limited partnership; (d) the operating or limited liability company agreement and the certificate of formation of a limited liability company; (e) the operating or limited duration company agreement and the certificate of formation of a limited duration company, (f) any charter, joint venture agreement or similar document adopted or filed in connection with the creation, formation or organization of a Person; and (g) any amendment to any of the foregoing.

Plan Support Agreement : means the Plan Support Agreement, filed on October 9, 2007, by and among the Debtors, the Creditors’ Committee, the Equity Committee and the Noteholders.

Person : means an individual, a partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a limited liability company, a trust, an unincorporated organization or a government or any department or agency thereof.

Pre-Plan Equity Value : means Enterprise Value less all claims to be paid in cash or reserved for pursuant to the Chapter 11 Plan.

Private Placement Amount : means an amount equal to the product of (i) the aggregate number of Private Placement Shares and (ii) the Purchase Price.

Private Placement Shares : means the shares of Common Stock offered to Accredited Holders pursuant to the Private Placement.

Proceeding : means any action, arbitration, audit, hearing, investigation, litigation or suit (whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or informal) commenced, brought, conducted or heard by or before, or otherwise involving, any Governmental Body or arbitrator.

Pro Forma Shares : means the Rights Offering Shares plus the Private Placement Shares plus 47.1 million shares.

Pro Forma Stock Price : means a price per share equal to (a) the sum of (i) Pre-Plan Equity Value, and (ii) the product of (A) Purchase Price multiplied by (B) the sum of Rights Offering Shares and the Private Placement Shares, divided by (b) the Pro Forma Shares.

 

31


Purchase Price : means a price per share, depending on the Aggregate Offering Amount, as follows:

If the Aggregate Offering Amount is over $57.5 million but not greater than $60 million, the price per share will be $1.08.

If the Aggregate Offering Amount is over $60 million but not greater than $65 million, the price per share will be $1.00.

If the Aggregate Offering Amount is over $65 million but not greater than $70 million, the price per share will be $.93.

If the Aggregate Offering Amount is over $70 million but not greater than $75 million, the price per share will be $0.85.

If the Aggregate Offering Amount is over $75 million but not greater than $80 million, the price per share will be $0.78.

If the Aggregate Offering Amount is over $80 million but not greater than $85 million, the price per share will be $0.71.

If the Aggregate Offering Amount is over $85 million but not greater than $90 million, the price per share will be $0.63.

Ratable Portion : means the ratio (expressed as a percentage) of (i) the number of shares of the Company held by each holder of a GPEG Equity Interest (as defined in the Chapter 11 Plan) on the Record Date (as defined in the Chapter 11 Plan) to (ii) the aggregate number of shares of the Company held by all holders of GPEG Equity Interests on the Record Date.

Required Backstop Purchasers : means the Backstop Purchasers providing at least two-thirds of the Backstop Commitment.

Revised Business Plan : means the Five Year Business Plan (reforecast) dated July 10, 2007 and the exhibits thereto, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit B .

Rights Offering Amount : means the an amount equal to the product of (i) the aggregate number of Rights Offering Shares and (ii) the Purchase Price.

Rights Offering Shares : means the shares of Common Stock offered to Holders pursuant to the Rights Offering.

Rights Offering Term Sheet : means the term sheet relating to the rights offering which was attached to the Commitment Letter.

Section 1145 : means Section 1145 of the Bankruptcy Code.

Securities Act : means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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Schedules : means the Schedules to this Agreement delivered contemporaneously herewith by the Company to the Backstop Purchasers.

Subsidiary : means with respect to any Person (the “ Owner ”), any corporation or other Person of which securities or other interests having the power to elect a majority of that corporation’s or other Person’s board of directors or similar governing body, or otherwise having the power to direct the business and policies of that corporation or other Person (other than securities or other interests having such power only upon the happening of a contingency that has not occurred), are held by the Owner or one or more of its Subsidiaries.

Any of the above-defined terms may, unless the context otherwise requires, be used in the singular or plural depending on the reference.

12.2. Accounting Terms . As used in this Agreement, and in any certificate, report or other document made or delivered pursuant to this Agreement, accounting terms not defined in Section 12.1 and accounting terms partly defined in said Section 12.1 to the extent not defined, shall have the respective meanings given to them under GAAP.

12.3. Schedules . Any item disclosed in one Schedule shall be deemed disclosed in each other Schedule and shall qualify all of the representations and warranties contained in Section 3 of this Agreement to the extent that it is reasonably apparent from such disclosure that such disclosure is applicable to such other Schedule.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP, INC.
By:  

LOGO

  Name:   John M. Matheson
  Title:   President and CEO

[Signature Page to Backstop Stock Purchase Agreement]

Exhibit 10.6

EXECUTION COPY

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

among

GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC.

and

THE INVESTORS PARTY HERETO

Dated as of January 22, 2008


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

   1

Section 1.1.

  

Definitions

   1

ARTICLE II REGISTRATION AND RELATED RIGHTS

   3

Section 2.1.

  

Piggyback Registration

   3

Section 2.2.

  

Registration Procedures

   4

Section 2.3.

  

Registration Expenses

   6

Section 2.4.

  

Participation in Registration

   7

Section 2.5.

  

Specific Performance

   7

ARTICLE III INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION

   7

Section 3.1.

  

Indemnification by the Company

   7

Section 3.2.

  

Indemnification by Investors

   8

Section 3.3.

  

Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings

   8

Section 3.4.

  

Contribution

   9

ARTICLE IV MISCELLANEOUS

   10

Section 4.1.

  

Notices

   10

Section 4.2.

  

Additional Parties

   10

Section 4.3.

  

Amendments and Waivers

   10

Section 4.4.

  

Successors and Assigns

   10

Section 4.5.

  

Captions

   11

Section 4.6.

  

Counterpart

   11

Section 4.7.

  

Governing Laws; Venue

   11

Section 4.8.

  

Severability

   11

Section 4.9.

  

Representations and Warranties

   12

Section 4.10.

  

No Conflicting Rights

   12

Section 4.11.

  

Entire Agreement

   12


REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as January 22, 2008 (this “ Agreement ”), by and among Global Power Equipment Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and the parties identified as “ Investors ” on the signature pages hereof and any parties identified on the signature pages of any joinder agreements executed and delivered pursuant to Section 4.2 of this Agreement.

WHEREAS, the Company and the Investors desire to provide for certain matters relating to the rights of the Investors in respect of their ownership of Shares (as defined below);

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of their mutual covenants set forth in this Agreement, the parties hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1. Definitions . The following terms, as used herein, have the following meanings:

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

Advice ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 of this Agreement.

Agreement ” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Preamble of this Agreement.

Backstop Stock Purchase Agreement ” shall mean the Backstop Stock Purchase Agreement among the Company and each of the Backstop Purchasers therein, dated as of October 23, 2007.

Commission ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Common Stock ” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.

Company ” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Preamble of this Agreement.

 


Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

Investors ” shall have the meaning as set forth in the Preamble and shall include any permitted transferees of such Investors that become a party by executing a joinder agreement to this Agreement; provided , however , that no Person shall become an Investor solely as a result of an acquisition of Shares (or rights or warrants to subscribe for or otherwise purchase such Shares) from an Investor in a transaction pursuant to a registration statement under the Securities Act or pursuant to Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in force) under the Securities Act. Any Person shall cease to be an Investor at such time as he no longer holds any Registrable Securities (assuming exercise of all Warrants held by such Person).

Losses ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1 of this Agreement.

NASD ” means the meaning as set forth in Section 2.2(g) of this Agreement.

Person ” means an individual, a corporation, a limited liability company, a partnership, an association, a trust or any other entity or organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.

Piggyback Registration ” shall have the meaning as set forth in Section 2.1(a) of this Agreement.

Registrable Securities ” means any Common Stock held by an Investor and any Common Stock issuable upon conversion of any Warrants held by an Investor. As to any particular Registrable Securities, such securities will cease to be Registrable Securities when (i) a registration statement with respect to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act and such securities shall have been sold, transferred, disposed of or exchanged in accordance with such registration statement, (ii) such securities have been transferred to a Person to whom the rights under this Agreement are not assigned in accordance with this Agreement, (iii) such securities are sold or transferred in accordance with the provisions of Rule 144 under the Securities Act or (iv) all of the Registrable Securities held by the Investor are immediately salable under Rule 144 under the Securities Act in a single transaction.

Registration and Registrations ” shall have the meanings as set forth in Section 2.2 of this Agreement.

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor statute, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

Shares ” means shares of Common Stock.

Warrant ” shall mean the warrants to purchase Common Stock issued to the Backstop Purchasers pursuant to the Backstop Stock Purchase Agreement.

 

2


ARTICLE II

REGISTRATION AND RELATED RIGHTS

Section 2.1. Piggyback Registration .

(a) Right to Piggyback . If at any time, the Company proposes to register any of its Common Stock under the Securities Act in connection with the offering of such Common Stock (except pursuant to a registration statement filed on Form S-4 or on Form S-8 or such other forms as shall be prescribed under the Securities Act for the same purposes) whether or not for sale for its own account (a “ Piggyback Registration ”), the Company shall provide written notice to each Investor of its intention to do so at least 30 days prior to the anticipated filing date. Upon the written request of any Investor given within 20 days after the providing of any such notice by the Company, the Company shall cause to be registered under the Securities Act all of the Registrable Securities held by such Investor that have been so requested to be registered, subject to the provisions of subsection 2.1(c) and Section 2.2.

(b) Selection of Underwriters . If the Company in its sole discretion decides a Piggyback Registration shall be underwritten, the Company shall have sole discretion in the selection of any underwriter or underwriters to manage such Piggyback Registration.

(c) Priority on Piggyback Registrations . If the managing underwriter or underwriters of a Piggyback Registration advises or advise the Company in writing that in its or their opinion the number of Registrable Securities proposed to be sold in such Piggyback Registration exceeds the number which can be sold, or adversely affects the price at which the securities are to be sold in such offering (other than in de minimis amounts), the Company will include in such registration only the number of Registrable Securities which, in the opinion of such underwriter or underwriters, can be sold in such offering and which will not adversely affect the price thereof (other than in de minimis amounts). Subject to Section 4.10, the Registrable Securities so included in such Piggyback Registration shall be apportioned (i) first, up to the full amount of shares of Common Stock that the Company proposes to sell or that any other Person has requested be sold upon demand, (ii) second, subject to Section 2.10 of the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 7, 2001, by and among the Company and the other parties thereto, up to the full amount of Registrable Securities requested to be included by the Investors, allocated among the Investors on a pro rata basis according to the total amount of Registrable Securities requested for inclusion by said Investors, or in such other proportions as shall mutually be agreed to among such Investors and (iii) third, up to the full amount of shares of Common Stock requested to be included by any other holder of securities of the Company.

(d) Withdrawal by the Company . If, at any time after giving written notice of its intention to register any of its securities as set forth herein and prior to the effect of a registration statement filed in connection with such Registration, the Company’s Board of Directors shall determine in its good faith judgment for any reason not to register securities, the Company may, at its election, give written notice of such determination to each Investor and thereupon shall be relieved of its obligation to register any Registrable Securities in connection with such registration (but not from its obligation to pay the registration expenses in connection therewith as provided herein).

 

3


Section 2.2. Registration Procedures . It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company and any underwriter or underwriters to take any action pursuant to this Article II that the Investors requesting inclusion in any Piggyback Registration (each, a “ Registration, ” and collectively, the “ Registrations ”) shall furnish to the Company such information regarding them, the Registrable Securities held by them, the intended method of disposition of such Registrable Securities, and such agreements regarding indemnification, disposition of such securities and the other matters referred to in this Article II as the Company shall reasonably request and as shall be required in connection with the action to be taken by the Company. With respect to any request by an Investor for Registration that includes Registrable Securities held by an Investor, the Company shall, subject to the provisions of this Section 2.2, as expeditiously as practicable:

(a) prepare and file with the Commission a registration statement on the appropriate form prescribed by the Commission and use its reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective;

(b) immediately notify each Investor participating in the Registration and, if applicable, any underwriter or underwriters of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration of any stop order threatened or issued by the Commission and take all actions reasonably required to prevent the entry of a stop order or if entered to have it rescinded or otherwise removed;

(c) notify each Investor, of the effectiveness of each registration statement filed hereunder and prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, post-effective amendments and supplements to such registration statement, and any documents required to be incorporated by reference therein, as may be necessary to keep the registration statement effective until the distribution of Registrable Securities shall have been completed or until the expiration of 90 days (or such longer period as the Company may decide) after the effective date, whichever is earlier; cause the prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement and, as so supplemented, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act (or any successor rule); and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act applicable to it with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement during the applicable period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement or supplement to the prospectus;

(d) furnish to the Investors participating in the Registration and, if applicable, to the underwriter or underwriters of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration such number of copies of the registration statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, the prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto), any exhibits or documents incorporated by reference in the foregoing items and such other documents as such Investors or underwriter or underwriters, if any, may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the securities being sold by the Investors;

 

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(e) on or prior to the date on which the registration statement is declared effective, use its reasonable efforts to register or qualify, and cooperate with the Investors, the underwriter or underwriters, if any, and their counsel in connection with the registration or qualification of the Registrable Securities covered by the registration statement for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of each state and other jurisdiction of the United States as such Investors or managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, may reasonably request (considering the nature or size of the offering and the expense and time involved in such qualification or registration), and to do any and all other reasonable acts or things which may be necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in all such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by the applicable registration statement; provided , however , that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or to take any action which would subject it to general service of process or to taxation in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject;

(f) notify each Investor participating in the Registration and, if applicable, the underwriter or underwriters of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration, at any time when a prospectus is required to be delivered under the Securities Act, of any event as a result of which the prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, and prepare a supplement or amendment to the prospectus or any such document incorporated therein so that thereafter the prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made;

(g) use its reasonable efforts to cause the Registrable Securities covered by the registration statement to be registered with or approved by such governmental agencies or authorities within the United States, including, without limitation, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the “ NASD ”), as may be necessary to enable the seller or sellers thereof or the underwriter or underwriters, if any, to consummate the disposition of such Registrable Securities;

(h) use its reasonable efforts to cause the Registrable Securities covered by the registration statement to be listed or quoted (as the case may be) on any national securities exchange or automated quotation system on which any Common Stock is listed or quoted, and to provide a transfer agent and registrar for such securities covered by such registration statement no later than the effective date of such registration statement;

(i) enter into such customary agreements (including an underwriting agreement in customary form) reasonably satisfactory to the Company and take all other actions in connection with those agreements as the Investors participating in the Registration and, if applicable, the underwriter or underwriters of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration, reasonably request to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities;

 

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(j) give each Investor who holds Registrable Securities registered under such registration statement, the underwriter or underwriters, if any, and their respective counsel and accountants, (i) the timely and reasonable opportunity to participate in the preparation by reviewing and commenting on such registration statement and each amendment or supplement to the registration statement with respect to (A) any information pertaining solely to such Investor and its plan of distribution that is contained therein and the Company shall make the corrections reasonably requested by such holder with respect to such information prior to filing any such registration statement, amendment or supplement and (B) any other part of such registration statement to the extent consistent with any investigation described in this Section 2.2(j)(iii) and the Company shall consider such comments in good faith prior to any such filing, (ii) each prospectus included therein or filed with the Commission and (iii) such access to its books and records and such opportunities to discuss the business of the Company with its officers and the independent public accountants who have certified its financial statements as shall be reasonably necessary or advisable, in the opinion of each of such Investors and such underwriters’ respective counsel, to conduct appropriate due diligence as contemplated by the Securities Act;

(k) use its reasonable efforts to provide to the underwriters, if any, with legal opinions and “cold comfort” letters in customary form and substance as the underwriter or underwriters of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration reasonably request; and

(l) use its reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, an earnings statement complying with the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and covering the period of at least twelve months, beginning with the first fiscal quarter beginning after the effective date of the registration statement.

The Investors, upon receipt of any notice from the Company that the prospectus prepared pursuant to the terms hereof contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, will forthwith discontinue disposition of the Registrable Securities until the Investors receive copies of a supplemented or amended prospectus or until they are advised in writing (the “ Advice ”) by the Company that the use of the prospectus may be resumed, and have received copies of any supplemented or amended prospectus, and, if so directed by the Company, each Investor shall, or shall request the managing underwriter or underwriters, if any to, deliver to the Company all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such Investor’s possession, of the prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice. In the event the Company shall give any such notice, the time periods mentioned in subsection (c) of this Section 2.2 shall be extended by the number of days during the period from and including any date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when each Investor covered by such registration statement shall have received the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by the immediately preceding sentence or the Advice.

Section 2.3. Registration Expenses . Except where this Agreement specifies otherwise, in the case of any Registration, the Company shall bear all reasonable expenses in connection with its obligations in connection therewith, including the expenses of preparing any registration statement, commission and state “blue sky” filing, registration and qualification fees and expenses (including reasonable fees and reasonable expenses of counsel in connection with blue sky surveys), fees and expenses associated with filings required to be made with the NASD, fees and expenses of counsel for the Company, reasonable fees and reasonable expenses of one firm of counsel for all the Investors and of one firm of independent public accountants (including the reasonable cost of providing any legal opinions or “cold comfort” letters), and all printing costs and reasonable expenses; provided , however , that the Company shall not be responsible for the underwriting discounts and commissions or placement fees of underwriters directly attributable to the Registrable Securities included in such Registration.

 

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Section 2.4. Participation in Registration . No Investor may participate in any Registration hereunder unless such Investor (a) agrees to sell its securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Company and (b) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, underwriting agreements, lock-up agreements and other documents reasonably and customarily required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements. Nothing in this Section 2.4 shall be construed to create any additional rights regarding the registration of Registrable Securities in any Person otherwise than as set forth in this Article II.

Section 2.5. Specific Performance . The parties agree that the recovery of damages may not be an adequate remedy for the breach of the covenants of the Company contained in this Article II and, accordingly, agree that the Investors shall be entitled to seek specific performance of the obligations contained herein.

ARTICLE III

INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION

Section 3.1. Indemnification by the Company . In connection with any registration statement filed to effect a Registration pursuant to this Agreement, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by law, each Investor that is a holder of Registrable Securities participating in such a Registration hereunder, its officers, directors, employees, partners and Affiliates, each underwriter, if any, of such Registrable Securities and each Person controlling (within the meaning of the Securities Act) such Investor or underwriter against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (as incurred or suffered and including, but not limited to, any and all expenses incurred in investigating, preparing or defending any litigation or proceeding, whether commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever) (“ Losses ”), which arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the registration statement or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or by any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any prospectus forming a part of such registration statement or preliminary prospectus or final prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereof or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (except insofar as the same are caused by or contained in any information furnished in writing to the Company by such Investor or underwriter or its representative with respect to such Person expressly for use therein) or any violation by the Company of any rule or regulation promulgated pursuant to any federal, state or common law rule or regulation including, without limitation, the Securities Act, applicable to the Company and relating to action or inaction required of the Company in connection with any such registration, qualification or compliance. Such indemnity shall be effective notwithstanding any investigation made by or on behalf of any Investor or any such officer, director, partner, employee, or controlling person and shall survive any transfer by the same of the Registrable Securities.

 

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Section 3.2. Indemnification by Investors . In connection with any registration statement filed pursuant to this Agreement to effect a Registration, each Investor that is a holder of Registrable Securities participating in such Registration agrees, severally and not jointly, to (and, as a condition precedent to the filing of such registration statement, the Company may require an undertaking reasonably satisfactory to it from each such participating Investor and from any prospective underwriter therefor agreeing to) indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Company, each officer of the Company who signs the registration statement, each director of the Company and each Person who controls (within the meaning of the Securities Act) the Company, against any Losses arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in such registration statement or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or by any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any prospectus forming a part of such registration statement or preliminary prospectus or final prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereof or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is contained in any information with respect to such Investor so furnished in writing to the Company by such Investor or its representative expressly for use therein; provided , however , that no such Investor shall be responsible for Losses in excess of the net proceeds to be received by such Investor from the sale of Registrable Securities covered by the applicable registration statement. The Company shall be entitled to receive indemnities from underwriters, selling brokers, dealer-managers and similar securities/industry professionals participating in the distribution as set forth in the customary underwriting agreement or engagement agreements with respect thereto.

Section 3.3. Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings . Each Person entitled to indemnification hereunder will (a) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification or contribution pursuant to this Agreement and (b) permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; provided , however , that any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall have the right to employ separate counsel and to participate in the defense of such claim, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Person unless (x) the indemnifying party has agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses, (y) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense of such claim or employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Person or (z) in the reasonable judgment of such Person, based upon advice of its counsel, a conflict of interest may exist between such Person and the indemnifying party with respect to such claims (in which case, if the indemnified party notifies the indemnifying party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such claim on behalf of such Person); provided , further , that an indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim on behalf of all indemnified parties shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to local counsel) for all indemnified parties. If the indemnifying party assumes the defense, or is not, pursuant to clause (z) above, entitled to assume the defense, it shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement or compromise made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). No indemnifying party will be permitted to consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to the indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect to such claim or litigation. In addition, without the consent of the indemnified party (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld), no indemnifying party will be permitted to consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which provides for any action on the part of the indemnified party other than the payment of money damages which are to be paid in full by the indemnifying party. Likewise, no indemnified party may enter into any settlement without the consent of the indemnifying party. If requested by the indemnifying party, the indemnified party agrees to cooperate with the indemnifying party and its counsel in contesting any claim that the indemnifying party elects to contest.

 

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Section 3.4. Contribution . If the indemnification provided for in this Article III from the indemnifying party is unavailable to an indemnified party hereunder in respect of any Losses, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such Losses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such indemnified party, on the other hand, or, if such allocation is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by and fault of the indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such indemnified party, on the other hand, in connection with the actions which resulted in such Losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefit shall be determined by reference to, among other things, the amount of net proceeds received by each party from the offering to which such contribution relates. The relative fault of such indemnifying party and indemnified party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, has been made by, or relates to information supplied by, such indemnifying party or indemnified party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the Losses referred to above shall be deemed to include, without limitation, any legal or other fees, costs or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or proceeding. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, no Investor shall be responsible for Losses in excess of the net proceeds to be received by such Investor from the sale of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement.

The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 3.4 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The obligations of the Investors to contribute in this Section 3.4 are several in proportion to the net proceeds received from the sale of Registrable Securities by each such Investor and not joint.

 

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ARTICLE IV

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 4.1. Notices . All notices, requests and other communications to any party hereunder shall be in writing (including facsimile or similar writing) and shall be given to such party such party at its address or facsimile number set forth on: (x) the signature page hereof, with respect to the Company, (b)  Schedule A hereto, with respect to the Investors, (c) the signature page of any joinder agreement executed and delivered pursuant to Section 4.2 of this Agreement or (d) such other address or facsimile number as such party may hereafter specify for the purpose by notice to the party sending the communication. Each such notice, request or other communication shall be effective (w) if given by facsimile, when such facsimile is transmitted to the facsimile number specified in this Section and receipt is confirmed, (x) if given by mail, three (3) business days after such communication is deposited in the mail registered or certified, return receipt requested, with postage prepaid, addressed as aforesaid, (y) if given by an overnight delivery service, one (1) business day after such communication is deposited with a reputable, overnight delivery service, postage or delivery charges prepaid, addressed as aforesaid, or (z) if given by any other means, when delivered at the address specified in this Section 4.1.

Section 4.2. Additional Parties . Only Persons (other than the initial signatories hereto) that execute a joinder agreement in the form of Exhibit A shall be deemed to be Investors. Except to the extent limited in any other joinder agreement, each Person that so becomes an Investor after the date hereof shall be entitled to all rights and privileges of an Investor as if such Investor had been an original signatory to this Agreement.

Section 4.3. Amendments and Waivers . Any provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived if, but only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and is signed by the Company and Investors holding Registrable Securities that, in the aggregate, represent at least 66.67% of the Registrable Securities held by Investors, so long as the effect thereof will be that the consenting Investors will not be treated more favorably than all other Investors. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this Section 4.3 shall be binding upon each Investor, each future Investor and the Company. Upon the effectuation of each such amendment or waiver, the Company shall promptly give written notice thereof to the Investors who have not previously consented thereto in writing.

Section 4.4. Successors and Assigns . (a) The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; provided , however , that no assignment of rights of an Investor under this Agreement will be valid unless made in connection with a contemporaneous transfer of Registrable Securities or Warrants convertible into Registrable Securities; provided , further , that upon any such assignment, the assignee shall comply with Section 4.2 hereof. The Company may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement other than in connection with a transaction contemplated by Section 4.4(b).

 

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(b) In the event that the Company shall at any time be party to a transaction or series of transactions pursuant to which all of the Common Stock shall be exchanged for equity securities in another entity, the Company agrees that the entity resulting from, or issuing securities in, such transaction or series of transactions shall be deemed the successor to the Company under this Agreement and shall assume all of the Company’s rights and obligations hereunder.

(c) Financial Statements . The Company shall furnish to each Investor that is a signatory to this Agreement on the date hereof and who has furnished to the Company a confidentiality agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company, the monthly and annual financial information required to be furnished pursuant to the Section 6.01(a)(i), (ii), and (iii) and Section 6.01(c)(i) of the Credit Agreement, dated January 22, 2008, among the Company and certain lenders named therein (the “ Credit Agreement ”), contemporaneously with the Company’s delivery of such information to the Agents (as defined in the Credit Agreement). The right to receive financial information pursuant to this Section 4.4(c) may not be sold, transferred or assigned to a third party including pursuant to a transfer of Registrable Securities or Warrants convertible into Registrable Securities. The provisions of this Section 4.4(c) shall terminate (i) with respect to any Investor at the time such Investor no longer holders Registrable Securities and (ii) at such time as the Company has become subject to the periodic filing requirements of the Exchange Act.

Section 4.5. Captions . The captions of this Agreement are included for convenience of reference only, do not constitute a part hereof and shall be disregarded in the construction hereof.

Section 4.6. Counterpart . This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

Section 4.7. Governing Laws; Venue . THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND OF ANY NEW YORK STATE COURT FOR PURPOSES OF ALL LEGAL PROCEEDINGS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. EACH PARTY HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT AND ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.

Section 4.8. Severability . Any term or provision of this Agreement which is invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement, or affecting the validity or enforceability of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement in any other jurisdiction.

 

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Section 4.9. Representations and Warranties . (a) Each Investor represents and warrants that this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Investor and constitutes the legally valid and binding obligation of such Investor, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights in general or by general principles of equity.

(b) The Company represents and warrants this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by it and constitutes the legally valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights in general or by general principles of equity.

Section 4.10. No Conflicting Rights . The Company shall not, on or after the date hereof, grant any registration rights to any Person which by their terms are not subordinate to or pari passu with the registration rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or which conflict with or impair the rights granted hereby.

Section 4.11. Entire Agreement . This Agreement is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement, and is intended to be a complete and exclusive agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year first above written.

 

GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC.
By:  

LOGO

  Name:   John M. Matheson
  Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

Global Power Equipment Group Inc.

6120 South Yale

Suite 1480

Tulsa, OK 74136

Attention: Candice L. Cheeseman

Fax: (918) 274-2367

Email: ccheeseman@globalpower.com

[Signature Page to the Registration Rights Agreement]

Exhibit 10.7

THIS WARRANT AND THE UNDERLYING SHARES OF THE COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON EXERCISE OF THIS WARRANT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR ANY OTHER SECURITIES LAWS. THIS WARRANT AND THE UNDERLYING SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON THE EXERCISE OF THE WARRANT MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION INDER THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS, OR RECEIPT BY THE COMPANY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL OR OTHER EVIDENCE ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH SALE OR TRANSFER OF SUCH SECURITIES IN EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC.

WARRANT

 

Warrant No.      Issuance Date: January 22, 2008
     Expiration Date: January 22, 2013

Global Power Equipment Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), hereby certifies that, for value received,                     , or its successors or registered assigns (collectively, and including any of their respective affiliates, (the “ Holder ”), are entitles to purchase from the Company up to a total of                      shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “ Common Stock ”), of the Company (as adjusted from time to time as provided in Section 9 , each such share, a “ Warrant Share ” and all such shares, the “ Warrant Shares ”) at an exercise price equal to $0.8806 per Warrant Share (as adjusted from time to time as provided in Section 9 , the “ Exercise Price ”), at any time ad from time to time, in whole or in part, on or after the date hereof through and including January 22, 2013 (the “ Expiration Date ”), and subject to the following terms and conditions.

1. Registration of Warrant . The Company shall register the Warrant, upon records to be maintained by the Company for that purpose (the Warrant Register”), in the name of the record Holder hereof from time to time. The Company may deem and treat the registered Holder of this Warrant as the absolute owner hereof for the purpose of any exercise hereof or distribution to the Holder, and for all purposes, absent actual notice to the contrary.

2. Registration of Transfers . The Company shall register the transfer of any position of this Warrant in the Warrant register, upon the surrender of this Warrant, with the Form of Assignment attached hereto duly completed and signed, to the Warrant Agent or to the Company at its address specified herein. Upon any such registration or transfer, a new warrant to purchase Common Stock, in substantially the form of this Warrant (any such new warrant, a “New Warrant”), evidencing the portion of this Warrant so transferred shall be issued to the transferee and a New Warrant evidencing the remaining portion of this Warrant not so transferred, if any, shall be issued to the transferring Holder. The Acceptance of the New Warrant by the transferee thereof shall be deemed the acceptance by such transferee of all rights and obligations of a holder of a Warrant.


3. Warrant and Warrant Shares Not Registered . By receipt of the Warrant, the Holder understands that this Warrant and the Warrant Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act ”). The Holder also understands that this Warrant and the Warrant Shares are being offered and sold pursuant to an exemption from registration contained in the Securities Act, based in part upon the Holder’s representations contained in the Backstop Agreement, dated as of October 23, 2007, among the Company and the Backstop Purchasers therein (the “Backstop Agreement ”). The Holder further understands and agrees with the Company that this Warrant and the Warrant Shares may only be resold, transferred, assigned or hypothecated (i) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, or (ii) pursuant to an exemption from such registration afforded by the Securities Act, in which case the Holder shall deliver to the Company an opinion of counsel, or such other evidence acceptable to the Company, that such exemption is available.

4. Legends .

(a) Legends. The Holder agrees with the Company that certificates evidencing any New Warrants shall bear the same restrictive legend appearing on the face of this Warrant. The Holder further agrees with the Company that the certificates evidencing the Warrant Shares will bear the following legend:

THE SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”) AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED OR HYPOTHECATED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AS TO THE SECURITIES ACT OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL OR OTHER EVIDENCE SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY TO THE EFFECT THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.

(b) Removal of Legends . The restrictions upon transferability of this Warrant, the Warrant Shares and the New Warrants (together, the “Securities”) shall cease when (i) such Securities are sold pursuant to a registration statement covering such securities that has become effective pursuant to the Securities Act or (ii) an exemption from such registration exists under the Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws, and the company has received a written opinion from counsel or other evidence satisfactory to the Company to the effect that such registration is not required. When such restrictions upon transferability terminate, upon request from the Holder or the shareholder, as the case may be, the Company shall, or instruct its transfer agent to, promptly, and without expense to the Holder or the shareholder, as the case maybe, issue replacement Securities in the name of the Holder or the shareholder, as the case may be, not bearing the legends set forth on the face of this Warrant or set forth herein.


5. Exercise and Duration of Warrant .

(a) This Warrant shall be exercisable by the registered Holder at any time and from time to time, in whole or in part, on or after the date hereof to and including the Expiration Date. At 5:00 P.M., New York City time on the Expiration Date, the portion of this Warrant not exercised prior thereto shall be and become void and of no value.

(b) A Holder may exercise this Warrant by Delivering to the company (i) an exercise notice in the form attached hereto (the “ Exercise Notice ”), appropriately completed and duly signed, and (ii) payment of the Exercise Price for the number of Warrant Shares as to which this Warrant is being exercised as provided in Section 10 hereof, and the date such items are delivered to the Company (as determined in accordance with the notice provisions hereof) is an “ Exercise Date .”

6. Delivery of Warrant Shares .

(a) Upon exercise of this Warrant, the Company shall promptly (but in no event later than three trading dates after the Exercise Date) issue or cause to be issued and cause to be delivered to the Holder, a certificate for the Warrant Shares issuable upon such exercise. The Holder shall be deemed to have become holder of record of such Warrant Shares as of the Exercise Date.

(b) This Warrant is exercisable on or after the date hereof, either in its entirety or, from time to time, for a portion of the number of Warrant Shares. Upon surrender of this Warrant following one or more partial exercises, the Company shall issue or cause to be issued, at its expense, a New Warrant evidencing the right to purchase the remaining number of Warrant Shares.

(c) The Company’s obligations to issue and deliver Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms hereof are absolute and unconditional, irrespective of any action or inaction by the Holder to enforce the same, any waiver or consent with respect too any provision hereof, the recovery of any judgment against any person or entity or any action to enforce the same, or any set off, counterclaim, recoupment, limitation, or termination, or any breach or alleged breach by the Holder or any other person or entity of any obligation to the Company or any violation or alleged violation of the law by the Holder or any other person or entity, and irrespective of any other circumstance which might otherwise limit such obligation of the Company to the Holder in connection with the issuance of Warrant Shares. Nothing herein shall limit the Holder’s right to pursue any other remedies available to it hereunder, at law or in equity including, without limitation, a decree of specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to the Company’s failure to timely deliver certificates representing shares of Common Stock upon exercise of this Warrant as required pursuant to the terms hereof.

7. Charges, Taxes and Expenses . Issuance and delivery of certificates for Warrant Shares upon exercise of this Warrant shall be made without charge to the Holder for any issue or transfer tax, withholding tax, transfer agent fee or other incidental tax or expense in respect of the issuance of such certificates, all of which taxes and expenses shall be paid by the Company; provided however, that the Company shall not be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the registration of any certificates for Warrant Shares or Warrant in a name other that that of the initial Holder or an affiliate thereof. The Holder shall be responsible for all other tax liability that may arise as a result of holding or transferring this Warrant or receiving Warrant shares upon exercise hereof.


8. Reservation of Warrant Shares . The Company covenants that it will at all times reserve and keep available out of the aggregate of its authorized but unissued and otherwise unreserved Common Stock, solely for the purpose of enabling it to issue Warrant Shares upon exercise of the Warrant as herein provided, the number of Warrant Shares which are the issuable and deliverable upon the exercise of this entire Warrant, free from preemptive rights or any other contingent purchase rights of persons other than the Holder (taking into account the adjustments of Section 9). The Company covenants that all Warrant Shares so issuable and deliverable shall, upon issuance and the payment of the applicable Exercise Price is accordance with the terms hereof, be duly and validly authorized, issued and fully paid and nonassessable. The Company will take all such action as may be necessary to assure that such shares of Common Stock may be issued as provided herein without violation of any applicable law or regulation, or of any requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system upon which the Common Stock may be listed.

9. Certain Adjustments . The Exercise Price and number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant are subject to adjustment from time to time as set forth in this Section 9 .

(a) Stock Dividends and Splits. If the Company, at any time while this warrant is outstanding, (A) pay a stock dividend on its Common Stock or otherwise makes a distribution on any class of capital stock that is payable in shares of Common Stock, (B) subdivides outstanding shares of Common Stock into a larger number of shares, or (C) combines outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the Exercise Price shall be multiplied by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such denominator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event. Any adjustment made pursuant to clause (A) of this paragraph shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitles to receive such dividend or distribution, and any adjustment pursuant to clause (B) or (C) of this paragraph shall become effective immediately after the effective date of such subdivision or combination.

(b) Adjustment for Reclassification, Exchange and Substitution. If at any time this Warrant is outstanding, the common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant is changed into the same or a different number of shares of any class or classes of stock, this Warrant will thereafter represent the right to acquire such number and kind of securities as would have been issuable as a result of exercise of this Warrant and the Exercise Price therefore shall be appropriately adjusted, all subject to further adjustment in this Section 9 .

(c) Adjustments for Other Dividends and Distributions. In the case the Company shall, by dividend or otherwise, distribute to all holders of Common Stock shares of any class of capital stock of the Company, debt securities, assets or other property of the Company (Excluding and dividend to distribution referred to in Section 9(a) (any of the foregoing hereinafter in this Section 9(c) call the “ Distribution Assets ”), then, in each such case, the Exercise Price shall be decreased so that the Exercise Price shall be equal to the price determined by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect on the record date of such distribution with respect t such dividend or distribution by a fraction,


(i) the numerator of which shall be (x) the Fair Market Value (As defined below) per share of the common Stock on such record date minus (y) the fair market value of the Distributed Assets applicable to one share of Common Stock, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Board of Directors ”);

(ii) the denominator of which shall be the Fair Market Value per share of the Common Stock on such record date,

such adjustment to become effective immediately prior to the opening of business on the day following such record date; provided, however , that in the event the then fair market value (as so determined) of the portion of the Distributed Assets so distributed applicable to one share of Common Stock is equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on such record date, in lieu of the foregoing adjustment, adequate provision shall be made so that the Holder shall have the right to receive upon exercise of this warrant the amount of Distributes Assets the Holder would have received had the Holder exercised the Warrant on such record date. In the event that such dividend or distribution is declared but nor so paid or made, the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant and the Exercise Price shall again be adjusted to be the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this Warrant and the Exercise Price that would be in effect if such dividend or distribution had not been declared.

(iii) For purposes of this Warrant, “ Fair Market Value ” means:

(A) If the security is traded on a securities exchange or through the Nasdaq National Market, the Fair Market Value shall be deemed to be the average of the closing prices of the securities on such exchange or quotation system, or, if there has been no sales on any such exchange or quotation system in any day, the average of the highest bid and lowest asked prices on such exchange or quotation system as of 4:00 pm, New York time, or, if on any day such security is not traded on an exchange or quoted in the Nasdaq Stock Market System, the average of the highest bid and lowest asked prices on such day in the domestic over-the-counter market as reported by the National Quotation Bureau, Incorporated or any similar successor organization, in such case average over a period of ten (10) business days consisting of the business day as of which the Fair Market Value is being determined and the nine (9) consecutive business days prior to such day; or

(B) If at any time such security is not listed on any consecutive securities exchange or quoted in the Nasdaq Stock Market System or the over-the-counter market, the Fair Market Value shall be the fair value thereof, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors.


(d) Adjustment for Mergers or Reorganizations, etc . Any reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, consolidation, merger, sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or other transaction involving the Company in which the Common Stock is converted into or exchanged for securities, cash or other property while this Warrant is outstanding (other than a transaction covered by Sections 9(a) or (c) is referred to herein as an “Organic Change”. Prior to the consummation of any such Organic Change, the Company shall make appropriate provision (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors) to ensure that the Holder shall have the right to receive, in lieu of or in addition to (as the case may be) such shares of Common Stock immediately acquirable and receivable upon exercise of this Warrant, the kind and amount of securities, cash or other property as the Holder would have received after the Organic Change if the Holder had exercised this Warrant immediately before the effective date of such Organic Change, assuming the Holder did not exercise his rights of election, if any, as to the kind or amount of stock, other securities or other property or assets (including cash) receivable upon such Organic Change, provided that , (i) if the kind or amount of stock, other securities or other property class or assets (including cash) receivable upon such Organic Change is not the same for each share of Common Stock in respect of which such rights of election shall not have been exercised (“nonelecting share”), then the kind and amount of stock, other securities or other property or assets (including cash) receivable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be the kind and amount so receivable per share by a plurality of the nonelecting shares upon such Organic Change and (ii) if there are no nonelecting shares, then the kind and amount of stock, other securities or other property or assets (including cash) receivable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be deemed to be the kind and amount so receivable per share by a plurality of holders of Common Stock upon such Organic Change. The Company shall not effect and Organic Change unless, prior to the consummation thereof, the successor entity (if other than the Company) resulting from the Organic Change assumes by written instrument the obligation to deliver to the Holder such shares f stock, securities or assets as, in accordance with the foregoing provisions, the Holder may be entitled to acquire; provided , that any assumption shall not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder.

(e) Adjustments to the Conversion Prices for Certain Dilutive Issuances.

(i) Special Definitions . For purposes of this Section 9(e) , the following definitions apply:

(A) “ Additional Shares of Common Stock ” shall mean all shares of Common Stock issued (or, pursuant to Section 9(e)(ii) , deemed to be issued) by the Company after the original issue date of this Warrant (other than shares of Common Stock issued or issuable to officers, directors or employees of, or consultants to, the Company pursuant to the Management Incentive Plan and the Management Co-Investment Plan, as contemplated by the plan of reorganization of the Company and its affiliated debtors on the date hereof).

(B) “ Convertible Securities ” shall mean any evidences of indebtedness, shares or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock.

(C) “ Options ” shall mean rights, options or warrants to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise acquire either Common Stock or Convertible Securities.


(ii) Deemed Issuance of Additional Shares of Common Stock . In the event the Company, at any time or from time to time while this Warrant is outstanding, shall issue any Options or Convertible Securities or shall fix a record date for the determination of holders of any class of securities then entitled to receive any such Options or Convertible Securities, then the maximum number of shares (as set forth in the instrument relating thereto without regard to any provisions contained therein designed to protect against dilution) of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of such Options or, in the case of Convertible Securities and Option therefore, the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities, shall be deemed to be Additional Shares of common Stock issued as of the time of such issuance of such issuance of such Convertible Securities or Options or, in case such a record date shall have been fixed, as of the close of business on such record date; provided , further , that in any such case in which Additional Shares of Common Stock are deemed to be issued:

(A) no further adjustments to the Exercise Price shall be made upon the subsequent issue of Convertible Securities or shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of such Options or conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities; and

(B) if such Options or Convertible Securities by their terms provide, with the passage of time or otherwise, for any increase in the consideration payable to the Company, or decrease in the number of shares of common Stock issuable, upon the exercise, conversion or exchange thereof, the Exercise Price computed upon the original issue thereof (or upon the occurrence of a record date with respect thereto), and any subsequent adjustments based thereon, shall, upon any such increase or decrease becoming effective, be recomputed to reflect such increase or decrease insofar as it affects such Options or the rights of conversion or exchange under such Convertible Securities; provided , that no readjustment pursuant to this clause (B) shall have the effect of increasing the Exercise Price to an amount which exceeds the Exercise Price on the original adjustment date.

(iii) Adjustment of Exercise Price Upon Issuance of Additional Shares of Common Stock . In the event the Company, at any time while this Warrant is outstanding, shall issue Additional Shares of Common Stock (including Additional Shares of Common Stock deemed to be issued pursuant to Section 9(e)(ii)) without consideration or for consideration per share less than the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock, then the Exercise Price shall be reduced, concurrently with such issue, to a price (calculated to the nearest cent) determined by multiplying the Exercise Price then in effect, by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such issue plus the number of shares of Common Stock which the aggregate consideration received by the Company for the total number of Additional Shares of Common Stock so issued would purchase at the Fair Market Value in the effect immediately prior to such issuance, and the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such issue plus the number of such Additional Shares of Common Stock so issued. For the purpose of the above calculation, the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such issue shall be calculated on a fully diluted basis, as if all Convertible Securities had been fully converted into shares of Common Stock and any outstanding Options bearing an exercise price which is lower than the price at which the Additional Shares of Common Stock were issued had been fully exercised (and the resulting securities fully converted into shares of Common Stock, if so convertible) as of such date.


(iv) Determination of Consideration . For purposes of this Section 9(e) , the consideration received by the Company in connect with the issuance of any Additional Shares of Common Stock shall be computed as follows:

(A) Cash and Property . Such consideration shall:

(1) insofar as it consists of cash, be computed at the aggregate amount of cash received by the Company, excluding amounts paid or payable for accrued interest or accrued dividends;

(2) insofar as it consists of property other than cash, be computed at the fair market value thereof at the time of such issuance, as determined by the Board of Directors in good faith; and

(3) in the event Additional Shares of Common Stock are issued together with other shares or securities or other assets of the Company for consideration which covers both cash and property, be the proportion of such consideration so received, computed as provided in clauses (1) and (2) above, as determined by the Board of Directors in good faith.

(B) Options and Convertible Securities . The consideration per share received by the Company for Additional Shares of Common Stock deemed to have been issued pursuant to Section 9(e)(ii) relating to Options and Convertible Securities shall be determined by dividing:

(1) the total amount, if any, received or receivable by the Company as consideration for the issuance of such Options or Convertible Securities, plus the minimum aggregate amount of additional consideration (as set forth in the instruments relating thereto, without regard to any provision contained therein designed to protect against dilution) payable to the Company upon the exercise of such Options or the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities, or in the case of Options for Convertible Securities, the exercise of such Options for Convertible Securities and the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities, by

(2) the maximum number of shares of Common Stock (as set forth in the instruments relating thereof, without regard to any provision contained therein designed to protect against the dilution) issuable upon the exercise of such Options or conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities, or in the case of Options for Convertible Securities, the exercise of such Options for Convertible Securities and the conversion or exchange of such Convertible Securities.


(f) Adjustment in Number of Warrant Shares . Upon each adjustment of the Exercise Price as a result of the calculations made in this Section 9 , the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be adjusted my multiplying such number of Warrant Shares by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the exercise Price in effect immediately prior to such adjustment and the denominator of which shall be the Exercise Price in effect after giving effect to such adjustment.

(g) Calculations . All calculations under this Section 9 shall be made to the nearest cent or the nearest 1/100 th of a share, as applicable. The number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at any given time shall not include shares owned or held by or for the account of the Company, and the disposition of any such shares shall be considered an issue or sale of Common Stock.

(h) Notice of Adjustment . Upon the occurrence of each adjustment pursuant to the Section 9 , the Company at its expense will promptly compute such adjustment in accordance with the terms of this Warrant and prepare a certificate setting forth such adjustment, including a statement of the adjusted Exercise Price and adjusted number or type of Warrant Shares or other securities issuable upon exercise of this Warrant (as applicable), describing the transactions giving rise to such adjustments and showing in detail the facts upon which such adjustment is based. The Company will promptly deliver a copy of each such certificate to the Holder and to the Company’s transfer agent.

(i) Notice of Corporate Events; Termination . If the Company (i) declares a dividend or any other distribution of cash, securities or other property in respect of its Common Stock, including without limitation any granting of rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any capital stock of the Company or any Subsidiary, (ii) authorizes or approves, enters into any agreement contemplating, or solicits, stockholder approval for any merger, sale or similar transaction pursuant to which Common Stock is converted or exchanged for cash, securities or property or (iii) authorizes the voluntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the affairs of the Company, then the Company shall deliver to the Holder a notice describing the material terms and conditions of such transaction at least 15 calendar days prior to the applicable record or effective date on which a person would need to hold Common Stock in order to participate in or vote with respect to such transaction, and the Company will take all steps reasonably necessary in order to insure that the Holder is given the practical opportunity to exercise this Warrant prior to such time so as to participate in or vote with respect to such transaction; provided , however , that the failure to deliver such notice or any defect therein shall not affect the validity of the corporate action required to be described in such notice.

10. Payment of Exercise Price . The Holder shall pay the Exercise Price by (i) paying to the Company cash in immediately available funds or (ii) providing a written notice to the Company that the Holder is exercising this Warrant on a “cashless exercise” basis by authorizing the Company to withhold from issuance a number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise of this Warrant which, when multiplied by the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of exercise, is equal to the aggregate Exercise Price (and such withheld shares shall no longer be issuable under this Warrant).


11. Fractional Shares . The Company shall not be required to issue or cause to be issued fractional Warrant Shares on the exercise of this Warrant. If any fraction of a Warrant Share would, except for the provisions of this Section, be issuable upon exercise of this Warrant, the number of Warrant Shares to be issued will be rounded up to the nearest whole share.

12. Notices . Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries hereunder (including without limitation any Exercise Notice) shall be in writing and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the date of transmission, if such notice of communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number specified in this Section prior to 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on a trading day, (ii) the next trading day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number specified in this Section on a day that is not a trading day or later than 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on any trading day, (iii) the trading day following the date of mailing, if sent by nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (iv) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The address for such notices or communications shall be as follows:

If to the Company, to:

Global Power Equipment Group Inc.

6120 South Yale

Suite 1480

Tulsa, OK 74136

Attention: Candice L. Cheeseman

Fax: (918) 274-2367

Email: ccheeseman@globalpower.com

If to the Holder, to the address provided in the Backstop Agreement or to such other address provided to the Company in writing.

13. Warrant Agent . The Company shall serve as warrant agent under this Warrant. Upon 30 days notice to the Holder, the Company may appoint a new warrant agent. Any corporation into which the Company or any new warrant agent may be merged or any corporate resulting form any consolidation to which the Company or any new warrant agent shall be a party or any corporation to which the Company or any new warrant agent transfers substantially all of its corporate trust or shareholders services business shall be a successor warrant agent under this Warrant without any further act. Any such successor warrant agent shall promptly cause notice of its succession as warrant agent to be mailed (by first class mail, postage prepaid) to the Holder at the Holder’s last address as shown on the Warrant Register.


14. Loss, Theft or Destruction of Warrant . In the event that the Holder notifies the Company that this Warrant has been lost, stolen or destroyed, then a replacement Warrant, identical in all respects to the original Warrant (except for any adjustment pursuant hereto to the Exercise Price or number of Warrant Shares issuable hereunder, if different form the numbers shown on the original Warrant) shall be delivered to the Holder by the Company; provided , that the Holder executes and delivers to the Company an agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Company to indemnify the Company from any loss incurred by the Company in connection with such Warrant.

15. Miscellaneous .

(a) This Warrant may only be assigned by the Holder as provided in Section 3 herein. This Warrant may be amended only in writing signed by the Company and the Holder.

(b) The Company will not, by amendment of its governing documents or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all such terms and in the taking of all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order to protect the rights of the Holder against impairment. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company (i) will not increase the par value of any Warrant Shares above the amount payable therefore on such exercise, (ii) will take all such action as may be reasonably necessary or appropriate in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and nonassessable Warrant Shares on the exercise of this Warrant, and (iii) will not close its shareholder books or records in any manner which interferes with the timely exercise of this Warrant.

(c) GOVERNING LAW; VENUE; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL . THE CORPORATE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE SHALL GOVERN ALL ISSUES CONCERNING THE RELATIVE RIGHTS OF THE COMPANY AND ITS STOCKHOLDERS. ALL QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE CONSTRUCTION, VALIDITY, ENJORCEMENT AND INTERPRETATION OF THIS WARRANT SHALL BE GOVERED BY AND CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS SITTING IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR WITH ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR DISCUSSED HEREIN (INCLUDING WITH RESPECT TO THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE BACKSTOP AGREEMENT), AND HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, AND AGREES NOT TO ASSERT IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING, ANY CLAIM THAT IT IS NOT PERSONALLY SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY SUCH COURT, THAT SUCH SUITE, ACTION OR PROCEEDING IS IMPROPER. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF PROCESS AND CONSENTS TO THE PROCESS BEING SERVED IN ANY SUCH SUITE, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY MAILING A COPY THEREOF VIA REGISTERED OR CERITIFIED MAIL OR OVERNIGHT DELIVERY (WITH EVIDENCE OF DELIVERY) TO SUCH PARTY AT THE ADDRESS IN EFFECT FOR NOTICES TO IT UNDER THIS WARRANT AND AGREES THAT SUCH SERVICE SHALL CONSITUTE GOOD AND SUFFICIENT SERVICE OF PROCESS AND NOTICE THEREOF, NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN SHALL BE DEEMED TO LIMIT IN ANY WAY ANY RIGHT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW. THE COMPANY HEREBY WAIVES ALL RIGHTS TO A TRIAL BY JURY.


(d) The headings herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Warrant and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof.

(e) In case any one or more of the provisions of this Warrant shall be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, the validity and enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions of this Warrant shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and the parties will attempt in good faith to agree upon the valid and enforceable provision which shall be a commercially reasonable suitable therefore, and upon so agreeing, shall incorporate such substitute provision in this Warrant.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK,

SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be duly executed by its authorized officer as of the date first indicated above.

 

COMPANY
GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:


FORM OF EXERCISE NOTICE

(To be executed by the Holder to exercise the right to purchase shares of Common Stock under the foregoing Warrant)

To: Global Power Equipment Group Inc.

The undersigned is the Holder of Warrant No.              (the “ Warrant ”) issued by Global Power Equipment Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined have the respective meanings set forth in the Warrant.

 

1. The Warrant is currently exercisable to purchase a total of                      Warrant Shares.

 

2. The undersigned Holder hereby exercises its right to purchase                      Warrant Shares pursuant to the Warrant.

 

3. The holder shall pay the sum of $              to the Company or hereby Exercises the Warrant on a “cashless exercise” basis in accordance with the terms of Section 10 of the Warrant.

 

4. Pursuant to the exercise, the Company shall deliver to the holder Warrant Shares in accordance with the terms of the Warrant.

 

5. Following this exercise, the Warrant shall be exercisable to purchase a total of                      Warrant Shares.

 

Dated:              ,               Name of Holder:
     (Print)   

 

     By:   

 

     Name:   

 

     Title:   

 

     (Signature must conform in all respects to name of Holder as specified on the face of the Warrant)


FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

[To be completed and signed only upon transfer of Warrant]

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell, assigns and transfers unto                                          the right represented by the within Warrant to purchase                      shares of Common Stock of Global Power Equipment Group Inc. to which the within Warrant relates and appoints                      attorney to transfer said right on the books of Global Power Equipment Group Inc. with full power of substitution in the premises.

 

Dated:              ,           
 

 

  (Signature must conform in all respects to name of Holder as specified on the face of the Warrant)
 

 

  Address of Transferee
 

 

 

 

In the presence of:  

 

 

Exhibit 10.8

MANAGEMENT INCENTIVE CO-INVESTMENT PLAN

OF GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC. (THE “INCENTIVE PLAN”)

Objective

To reward certain members of the senior management of Global Power Equipment Group Inc. (“Global Power”) and its subsidiaries (collectively with Global Power, the “Company”) for their commitment and maximum efforts to the Company during its reorganization pursuant to chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code, 11 U.S.C. §§ 101, et seq. (the “Bankruptcy Code”) and to incentivize their future efforts to grow the value of the Company upon its exit from Bankruptcy. The Incentive Plan is not intended to be a capital-raising device, and all securities issued pursuant to the Incentive Plan are intended to be exempt from registration under Rule 701 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), as compensatory securities issued under a “bona fide” incentive compensation plan.

Senior Management

Senior management includes those employees designated by Global Power management whose efforts materially contributed to the Company’s exit from Bankruptcy and whose efforts are anticipated to materially contribute to the future growth of the Company’s value (the “Identified Group”).

Terms of the Incentive Plan - Participation/Eligibility

Global Power management, in its discretion, will designate the members of the Identified Group. The Identified Group will consist of between seven (7) and thirty (30) senior managers of the Company. Each member of the Identified Group will have the opportunity to participate in the Incentive Plan.

Participation in the Incentive Plan is strictly voluntary, and no member of the Identified Group will be obligated to participate in the Incentive Plan.

A member of the Identified Group that chooses to participate in the Incentive Plan (a “Participating Senior Manager”) will be awarded one (1) share of Global Power common stock at no additional cost (such awarded shares, the “Incentive Shares”) for every two (2) shares of Global Power common stock purchased by that Participating Senior Manager pursuant to the Incentive Plan (such purchased shares, the “MIP Shares”) at a per share price equal to the Applicable Share Price (as that term is defined in the Company’s Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization).

Global Power will issue up to a total number of shares of Global Power common stock pursuant to the Incentive Plan equal to the sum of (i) an amount equal to $1,500,000 (the “MIP Amount”) divided by the Applicable Share Price (i.e., the MIP Shares), plus (ii) an amount equal to 50 percent of the amount determined under (i) (i.e., the Incentive Shares).

Participation in the Incentive Plan is subject to the successful reorganization of the Company pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code. In the event that no such reorganization occurs, then the Company shall have no liability, and Participating Senior Managers shall have no rights, under the Incentive Plan.


Subscription Rights

Each member of the Identified Group will be given the right to subscribe for a portion of the MIP Amount in any amount not less than $5,000 and not in excess of $200,000 (such amount selected by each Participating Senior Manager, the “Initial Subscription Amount”). In the event that the aggregate Initial Subscription Amount of all Participating Senior Managers equals or exceeds the MIP Amount, the MIP Amount allocated to each Participating Senior Manager will be an amount determined separately for each Participating Senior Manager (the “Adjusted Subscription Amount”) equal to (i) the MIP Amount multiplied by (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is that Participating Senior Manager’s Initial Subscription Amount and the denominator of which is the aggregate Initial Subscription Amount of all Participating Senior Managers.

The number of MIP Shares ultimately issued to each Participating Senior Manager will be that Participating Senior Manager’s Initial Subscription Amount (or Adjusted Subscription Amount, if applicable), divided by the Applicable Share Price rounded down to the nearest even whole number. All MIP Shares purchased by a Participating Senior Manager are subject to all of the same terms contained in this Incentive Plan, including the grant of one (1) Incentive Share to a Participating Senior Manager for every two (2) MIP Shares purchased by such Participating Senior Manager.

Award Vesting

The MIP Shares shall be fully vested upon issuance to a Participating Senior Manager. Except upon the death, Disability, 1 or Retirement 2 of a Participating Senior Manager (which will result in immediate vesting), and except as provided below in the headings “Termination of Participating Senior Manager Prior to Vesting of the Incentive Shares” and “Change of Control,” all Incentive Shares shall vest on the third anniversary of the date on which the Incentive Shares are granted (“Vesting Period”). The date on which Incentive Shares are granted is the date on which the Participating Senior Manager to whom the Incentive Shares are granted closes on the acquisition of the MIP Shares that such Participating Senior Manager elects to subscribe for.

A Participating Senior Manager may not sell, assign, transfer, pledge, mortgage, hypothecate, or otherwise dispose of or encumber the Incentive Shares at any time prior to their vesting.

 

1 “Disability” shall mean the inability of a Participating Senior Manager to perform substantially all the duties of their employment position with the Company or Subsidiary by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which is expected to be permanent and continues for more than 180 days. The Company may require such proof of Disability as the Company in its sole discretion deems appropriate and the Company’s determination as to whether a Participating Senior Manager is disabled shall be conclusive, final, and binding on all parties concerned.
2 “Retirement” shall mean the voluntary termination of a Participating Senior Manager’s full-time employment with the Company or Subsidiary on the date on which such Participating Senior Manager becomes, or after attaining, 65 years of age.

 

2


Taxes

Each Participating Senior Manager must acknowledge in writing the existence of U.S. federal, state and local income tax and employment tax withholding obligations with respect to the Incentive Shares and agree that such requirements will be satisfied by the Participating Senior Manager. If required by applicable law, a Participating Senior Manager shall be required to pay such taxes, if any, to the Company in cash upon the expiration of the Vesting Period (including any portion thereof) or such earlier dates as the Participating Senior Manager elects pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), or as of which the value of any Incentive Shares first becomes includible in the Participating Senior Manager’s gross income for income tax purposes. If tax withholding is required by applicable law, in no event shall Incentive Shares be delivered to the Participating Senior Manager until all amounts due have been paid to the Company by the Participating Senior Manager in cash in the amount of such tax required to be withheld with respect to the Incentive Shares or the Participating Senior Manager has otherwise entered into an agreement satisfactory to the Company providing for payment of withholding tax. In the event that the Participating Senior Manager elects immediate U.S. federal income taxation with respect to all or any portion of the Incentive Shares pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code, the Participating Senior Manager agrees to notify the Company thereof in writing within ten (10) days of such election.

Termination of Participating Senior Manager Prior to Vesting of the Incentive Shares

If a Participating Senior Manager voluntarily terminates employment with the Company for any reason or the Company terminates a Participating Senior Manager for cause prior to the expiration of the Vesting Period, the Incentive Shares of such terminated Participating Senior Manager shall automatically be forfeited and shall revert to Global Power without any action required by the Participating Senior Manager or the Company. Should the Company terminate a Participating Senior Manager without cause prior to the expiration of the Vesting Period, such Participating Senior Manager will immediately be fully vested in their Incentive Shares under the same terms and conditions as if the Vesting Period expired.

Change of Control

Upon a Change of Control of the Company, the Participating Senior Managers will immediately be fully vested in their Incentive Shares under the same terms and conditions as if the Vesting Period expired. In addition, to the fullest extent possible, the Company shall seek to provide each Participating Senior Manager that desires to participate in the transaction constituting a Change of Control tag along rights to participate in such transaction on similar terms upon a Change of Control of the Company. For purposes of the Incentive Plan, the term “Change of Control” shall mean any transaction that would constitute an “ownership change” (as that term is defined in Section 382(g) of the Code) of Global Power, or a sale by the Company of substantially all of its assets.

 

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Securities Law Restrictions For MIP Shares and Incentive Shares

Any MIP Shares and Incentive Shares issued to a Participating Senior Manager pursuant to the Incentive Plan will not be registered under the Securities Act, and such MIP Shares and Incentive Shares will be offered and sold to Participating Senior Managers pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act that is afforded by Rule 701 under the Securities Act. The MIP Shares and the Incentive Shares may only be resold, transferred, assigned or hypothecated by a Participating Senior Manager (i) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, or (ii) pursuant to an exemption from such registration afforded by the Securities Act, in which case such Participating Senior Manager shall deliver to the Company an opinion of counsel, or such other evidence satisfactory to the Company, that such exemption is available. Certificates evidencing any MIP Shares or Incentive Shares will bear a legend substantially in the form set forth below:

“THE SECURITIES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “ SECURITIES ACT ”) AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED OR HYPOTHECATED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AS TO THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR AN OPINION OF COUNSEL OR OTHER EVIDENCE SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY TO THE EFFECT THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED.”

Miscellaneous

Issuance of the Incentive Shares shall not be considered wages, salaries or compensation under any other benefit plan of the Company.

Additional Incentive Plan Provisions

The Company shall direct the administration of the Incentive Plan. The Company shall have full power to amend, modify, rescind, construe and interpret the Incentive Plan. Any action taken or decision made by the Company arising out of, or in connection with, the construction, administration, interpretation or effect of the Incentive Plan or of any rules and regulations adopted thereunder shall be conclusive and binding upon all Participants and all persons claiming under or through a Participant.

No employee, officer, or director of the Company shall have any liability for any decision or action if made or done in good faith, and the Company shall indemnify each director, employee, and officer of the Company acting in good faith pursuant to the Incentive Plan against any loss or expense arising therefrom.

Nothing in the Incentive Plan shall be construed or interpreted as giving any employee the right to be employed or retained by the Company or impair the right of the Company to control its employees or to terminate the services of any employee at any time. The Incentive Plan shall not create any rights of future participation herein.

 

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The laws of the State of Delaware shall determine and govern the validity and construction of the Incentive Plan in all respects. If any term or condition herein conflicts with applicable law, the validity of the remaining provisions shall not be affected thereby.

No person eligible to receive any Incentive Shares shall have any rights to pledge, assign or otherwise dispose of all or any portion of such payments, either directly or by operation of law, including but not by way of limitation, execution, levy, garnishment, attachment, pledge or bankruptcy. If a Participating Senior Manager is not living at the time Incentive Shares become vested in accordance with the Incentive Plan, such Incentive Shares shall be deemed fully vested and owned by the beneficiaries designated by the Participating Senior Manager in a will or trust instrument, or if none, to the Participating Senior Manager’s heirs at law.

The administrative expense of the Incentive Plan will be borne by the Company.

Neither the establishment of the Incentive Plan nor the issuance of Incentive Shares hereunder shall be deemed to create a trust. The Incentive Plan shall constitute an unfunded, unsecured liability of the Company to issue Incentive Shares in accordance with the provisions of the Incentive Plan, and no individual shall have any security or other interest in any assets of the Company in connection with the Incentive Plan.

To the extent possible, Incentive Shares under the Incentive Plan are intended to fall within exceptions to Section 409A of the Code, as amended, and applicable regulations and Treasury guidance with respect to such Section 409A. As a result, the provisions of the Incentive Plan shall be construed to effect such intent to the extent possible.

Effective Date

The Incentive Plan was approved by the Board of Directors of Global Power on December 4, 2007, and shall continue, as amended from time to time, with respect to the Company’s performance through December 4, 2011.

 

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Exhibit 10.9

GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC.

2008 MANAGEMENT INCENTIVE PLAN

1. Purpose and Eligibility . The purpose of this 2008 Management Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) of Global Power Equipment Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”) is to provide stock options, restricted stock, stock issuances and other equity interests in the Company (each, an “ Award ”) to (a) employees or officers of the Company and its Parents and Subsidiaries and (b) any other Person who is determined by the Board to have made (or is expected to make) contributions to the Company. Any person to whom an Award has been granted under the Plan is called a “ Participant .” Additional definitions are contained in Section 10 .

2. Administration .

a. Administration by Board of Directors . The Plan will be administered by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Board ”). The Board, in its sole discretion, shall have the authority to grant and amend Awards, to adopt, amend and repeal rules relating to the Plan and to interpret and correct the provisions of the Plan and any Award. The Board shall have authority, subject to the express limitations of the Plan, (i) to construe and determine the respective Stock Option Agreement, Awards and the Plan, (ii) to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan and any Awards, (iii) to determine the terms and provisions of the respective Stock Option Agreements and Awards, which need not be identical, (iv) to initiate an Option Exchange Program, and (v) to make all other determinations in the judgment of the Board of Directors necessary or desirable for the administration and interpretation of the Plan. The Board may correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any Stock Option Agreement or Award in the manner and to the extent it shall deem expedient to carry the Plan, any Stock Option Agreement or Award into effect and it shall be the sole and final judge of such expediency. All decisions by the Board shall be final and binding on all interested persons. Neither the Company nor any member of the Board shall be liable for any action or determination relating to the Plan.

b. Appointment of Committee . To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may delegate any or all of its powers under the Plan to one or more committees or subcommittees of the Board (a “ Committee ”). If so delegated, all references in the Plan to the “ Board ” shall mean such Committee or the Board.

c. Delegation to Executive Officers . To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may delegate to one or more executive officers of the Company the power to grant Awards and exercise such other powers under the Plan as the Board may determine, provided that the Board shall fix the maximum number of Awards to be granted and the maximum number of shares issuable to any one Participant pursuant to Awards granted by such executive officers.

 

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d. Applicability of Section Rule 16b-3 . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing if, or at such time as, the Common Stock is or becomes registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), or any successor statute, the Plan shall be administered in a manner consistent with Rule 16b-3 promulgated thereunder, as it may be amended from time to time, or any successor rules (“ Rule 16b-3 ”), such that all subsequent grants of Awards hereunder to Reporting Persons, as hereinafter defined, shall be exempt under such rule. Those provisions of the Plan which make express reference to Rule 16b-3 or which are required in order for certain option transactions to qualify for exemption under Rule 16b-3 shall apply only to such persons as are required to file reports under Section 16 (a) of the Exchange Act (a “ Reporting Person ”).

e. Applicability of Section 162 (m) . Those provisions of the Plan which are required by or make express reference to Section 162 (m) of the Code or any regulations thereunder, or any successor section of the Code or regulations thereunder (“ Section 162 (m) ”) shall apply only upon the Company’s becoming a company that is subject to Section 162(m). Notwithstanding any provisions in this Plan to the contrary, whenever the Board is authorized to exercise its discretion in the administration or amendment of this Plan or any Award hereunder or otherwise, the Board may not exercise such discretion in a manner that would cause any outstanding Award that would otherwise qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) to fail to so qualify under Section 162(m).

3. Stock Available for Awards .

a. Number of Shares . Subject to adjustment under Section 3(c ), the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock of the Company (the “ Common Stock ”) that may be issued pursuant to the Plan is the Available Shares (as defined on the last page). If any Award is (i) canceled, expires, forfeited, is settled in cash, settled by delivery of fewer shares of Common Stock than the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the award or option or otherwise is terminated without delivery of the shares of Common Stock to the holder of such award or option or (ii) or shares that were withheld from such an Award or separately surrendered by the Participant in payment of an exercise price or taxes relating to such an Award shall be deemed to constitute shares not delivered and will be available under the Plan for subsequent awards.

b. Per-Participant Limit . Subject to adjustment under Section 3(c) , no Participant may be granted Awards during any one fiscal year to purchase more than 4,000,000 shares of Common Stock.

c. Adjustment to Common Stock . Subject to Section 7 , in the event of any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, exchange of shares, liquidation, spin-off, split-up, or other similar change in capitalization or similar event, (i) the number and class of Available Shares and the per-Participant share limit, (ii) the number and class of securities, vesting schedule and exercise price per share subject to each outstanding Option, (iii) the repurchase price per security subject to repurchase, and (iv) the terms of each other outstanding Award shall be adjusted by the Company (or substituted Awards may be made if applicable) to the extent the Board shall determine, in good faith, that such an adjustment (or substitution) is appropriate. Any such adjustment to outstanding Awards will be effected in a manner that precludes the enlargement of rights and benefits under such Awards.

 

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4. Stock Options .

a. General . The Board may grant options to purchase Common Stock (each, an “ Option ”) and determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by each Option, the exercise price of each Option and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of each Option and the shares of Common Stock issued upon the exercise of each Option, including, but not limited to, vesting provisions, repurchase provisions and restrictions relating to applicable federal or state securities laws. Each Option will be evidenced by a Stock Option Agreement, consisting of a Notice of Stock Option Award and a Stock Option Award Agreement (collectively, a “ Stock Option Agreement ”).

b. Incentive Stock Options . To the extent that the Company and the Board intend that an Option qualify as an incentive stock option (an “ Incentive Stock Option ”) as defined in Section 422 of the Code, as amended, or any successor statute (“ Section 422 ”), then an Option shall be granted only to an employee of the Company and shall be subject to and shall be construed consistently with the requirements of Section 422 and regulations thereunder. The Board and the Company shall have no liability if an Option or any part thereof that is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option does not qualify as such. An Option or any part thereof that does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option is referred to herein as a “ Nonstatutory Stock Option ” or “ Nonqualified Stock Option .”

c. Dollar Limitation . For so long as the Code shall so provide, Options granted to any employee under the Plan (and any other incentive stock option plans of the Company) which are intended to qualify as Incentive Stock Options shall not qualify as Incentive Stock Options to the extent that such Options, in the aggregate, become exercisable for the first time in any one calendar year for shares of Common Stock with an aggregate Fair Market Value (as defined below) (determined as of the respective date or dates of grant) of more than $100,000. The amount of Incentive Stock Options which exceed such $100,000 limitation shall be deemed to be Nonqualified Stock Options. For the purpose of this limitation, unless otherwise required by the Code or regulations of the Internal Revenue Service or determined by the Board, Options shall be taken into account in the order granted, and the Board may designate that portion of any Incentive Stock Option that shall be treated as Nonqualified Option in the event that the provisions of this paragraph apply to a portion of any Option. The designation described in the preceding sentence may be made at such time as the Committee considers appropriate, including after the issuance of the Option or at the time of its exercise.

d. Exercise Price . The Board shall establish the exercise price (or determine the method by which the exercise price shall be determined) at the time each Option is granted and specify the exercise price in the applicable Stock Option Agreement, provided, however, in no event may the per share exercise price of an Incentive Stock Option be less than the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date such Option is granted. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant who, at the time of grant of such Option, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, then the exercise price shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant. In the case of a grant of an Incentive Stock Option to any other Participant, the exercise price shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant.

 

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e. Duration of Options . Each Option shall be exercisable at such times and subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may specify in the applicable Stock Option Agreement; provided, that the term of any Incentive Stock Option may not be more than ten (10) years from the date of grant. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Participant who, at the time of grant of such Option, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the term of the Option shall be no longer than five (5) years from the date of grant.

f. Exercise of Option . Options may be exercised only by delivery to the Company of a written notice of exercise signed by the proper person together with payment in full as specified in Section 4(g) and the Stock Option Agreement for the number of shares for which the Option is exercised.

g. Payment Upon Exercise . Common Stock purchased upon the exercise of an Option shall be paid for by one or any combination of the following forms of payment as permitted by the Board in its sole and absolute discretion:

i. by check payable to the order of the Company;

ii. only if the Common Stock is then publicly traded, by delivery of an irrevocable and unconditional undertaking by a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the Company sufficient funds to pay the exercise price, or delivery by the Participant to the Company of a copy of irrevocable and unconditional instructions to a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the Company cash or a check sufficient to pay the exercise price;

iii. to the extent explicitly provided in the applicable Stock Option Agreement, by delivery of shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant valued at Fair Market Value;

iv. to the extent that Common Stock is not registered (or filed a registration statement with the SEC) under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, or any successor statute, then by delivery of a promissory note of the Participant, with full recourse to the Participant, to the Company (and delivery to the Company by the Participant of a check in an amount equal to the par value of the shares purchased); or

v. payment of such other lawful consideration as the Board may determine.

Except as otherwise expressly set forth in a Stock Option Agreement, the Board shall have no obligation to accept consideration other than cash and in particular, unless the Board so expressly provides, in no event will the Company accept the delivery of shares of Common Stock that have not been owned by the Participant at least six months prior to the exercise. The fair market value of any shares of the Company’s Common Stock or other non-cash consideration which may be delivered upon exercise of an Option shall be determined in such manner as may be prescribed by the Board.

 

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h. Acceleration, Extension, Etc . The Board may, in its sole discretion, and in all instances subject to any relevant tax and accounting considerations which may adversely impact or impair the Company, (i) accelerate the date or dates on which all or any particular Options or Awards granted under the Plan may be exercised, or (ii) extend the dates during which all or any particular Options or Awards granted under the Plan may be exercised or vest.

i. Determination of Fair Market Value . If, at the time an Option is granted under the Plan, the Company’s Common Stock is publicly traded under the Exchange Act, “ Fair Market Value ” shall mean (i) if the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, including without limitation the Nasdaq National Market or The Nasdaq Small Cap Market of The Nasdaq Stock Market, its fair market value shall be the last reported sales price for such stock (on that date) or the closing bid, if no sales were reported as quoted on such exchange or system as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Board deems reliable; or (ii) the average of the closing bid and asked prices last quoted (on that date) by an established quotation service for over-the-counter securities, if the Common Stock is not reported on a national market system. In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock, the fair market value thereof shall be determined in good faith by the Board after taking into consideration all factors which it deems appropriate.

5. Restricted Stock .

a. Grants . The Board may grant Awards to Participants of restricted shares of Common Stock, subject to (i) delivery to the Company by the Participant of a check in an amount at least equal to the par value of the shares purchased, and (ii) the right of the Company to repurchase all or part of such shares at their issue price or other stated or formula price from the Participant in the event that conditions specified by the Board in the applicable Award are not satisfied prior to the end of the applicable restriction period or periods established by the Board for such Award (each, a “ Restricted Stock Award ”). The Company shall issue the shares of Restricted Stock subject to the Restricted Stock Award in book entry form, registered in the name of the Participant with notations regarding the applicable restrictions on transfer imposed under the Award Agreement; provided, however, that the Corporation may, in its discretion, elect to issue such shares in certificate form.

b. Terms and Conditions . The Board shall determine the terms and conditions of any such Restricted Stock Award. Any stock certificates issued in respect of a Restricted Stock Award shall be registered in the name of the Participant and, unless otherwise determined by the Board, deposited by the Participant, together with a stock power endorsed in blank, with the Company (or its designee). After the expiration of the applicable restriction periods, the Company (or such designee) shall deliver the certificates no longer subject to such restrictions to the Participant or, if the Participant has died, to the beneficiary designated by a Participant, in a manner determined by the Board, to receive amounts due or exercise rights of the Participant in the event of the Participant’s death (the “ Designated Beneficiary ”). In the absence of an effective designation by a Participant, Designated Beneficiary shall mean the Participant’s estate.

 

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6. Other Stock-Based Awards . The Board shall have the right to grant other Awards based upon the Common Stock having such terms and conditions as the Board may determine, including, without limitation, the grant of shares based upon certain conditions, the grant of securities convertible into Common Stock and the grant of stock appreciation rights, phantom stock awards, performance stock, deferred stock, restricted stock units, shares of Common Stock not subject to any restrictions or stock units.

7. General Provisions Applicable to Awards .

a. Transferability of Awards . Except as the Board may otherwise determine or provide in an Award, Awards shall not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered by the person to whom they are granted, either voluntarily or by operation of law, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and, during the life of the Participant, shall be exercisable only by the Participant; provided, however, except as the Board may otherwise determine or provide in an Award, that Nonstatutory Stock Options and Restricted Stock Awards may be transferred pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order (as defined in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended) or to a grantor-retained annuity trust or a similar estate-planning vehicle in which the trust is bound by all provisions of the Stock Option Agreement and Restricted Stock Award, which are applicable to the Participant. References to a Participant, to the extent relevant in the context, shall include references to authorized transferees.

b. Documentation . Each Award under the Plan shall be evidenced by a written instrument in such form as the Board shall determine or as executed by an officer of the Company pursuant to authority delegated by the Board. Each Award may contain terms and conditions in addition to those set forth in the Plan, provided that such terms and conditions do not contravene the provisions of the Plan or applicable law.

c. Board Discretion . The terms of each type of Award need not be identical, and the Board need not treat Participants uniformly.

d. Additional Award Provisions . The Board may, in its sole discretion, include additional provisions in any Stock Option Agreement, Restricted Stock Award or other Award granted under the Plan, including without limitation restrictions on transfer, repurchase rights, commitments to pay cash bonuses, to make, arrange for or guaranty loans or to transfer other property to Participants upon exercise of Awards, or transfer other property to Participants upon exercise of Awards, or such other provisions as shall be determined by the Board; provided that such additional provisions shall not be inconsistent with any other term or condition of the Plan or applicable law.

e. Termination of Status . The Board shall determine the effect on an Award of the disability (as defined in Code Section 22(e)(3)), death, retirement, authorized leave of absence or other change in the employment or other status of a Participant and the extent to which, and the period during which, the Participant, or the Participant’s legal representative, conservator, guardian or Designated Beneficiary, may exercise rights under the Award, subject to applicable law and the provisions of the Code related to Incentive Stock Options.

 

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f. Change of Control of the Company .

i. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the applicable Stock Option Agreement or Restricted Stock Award or other Award, in connection with the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined below), the Board shall, in its sole discretion as to any outstanding Award (including any portion thereof; on the same basis or on different bases, as the Board shall specify), take one or any combination of the following actions:

A. make appropriate provision for the continuation of such Award by the Company or the assumption of such Award by the surviving or acquiring entity and by substituting on an equitable basis for the shares then subject to such Award either (x) the consideration payable with respect to the outstanding shares of Common Stock in connection with the Change of Control, (y) shares of stock of the surviving or acquiring corporation or (z) such other securities as the Board deems appropriate, the Fair Market Value of which shall not materially differ from the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock subject to such Award immediately preceding the Change of Control (as determined by the Board in its sole discretion);

B. accelerate the date of exercise or vesting of such Award;

C. In the event that the surviving or acquiring entity refuses to assume or substitute for the Award, the Participant shall be fully vested in the Award and have the right to exercise the Award, if applicable. If the Award becomes fully vested in the event of a Change of Control, the Company shall notify the Participant, in writing or electronically, that the Award is fully vested and exercisable for a period of at least fifteen (15) days from the date of such notice, which notice shall be provided at least fifteen (15) days prior to the closing of the Change of Control and that any Award that is not exercised shall terminate upon the expiration of such fifteen (15) day period.

D. permit the exchange of such Award for the right to participate in any stock option or other employee benefit plan of any successor corporation;

E. provide for the repurchase of the Award for an amount equal to the difference of (i) the consideration received per share for the securities underlying the Award in the Change of Control minus (ii) the per share exercise price of such securities. Such amount shall be payable in cash or the property payable in respect of such securities in connection with the Change of Control. The value of any such property shall be determined by the Board in its discretion; or

F. solely with respect to a transaction described in Section 7(F)(i)(F)(c) below, provide for the termination of such Award immediately prior to the consummation of the Change of Control; provided that no such termination will be effective if the Change of Control is not consummated.

 

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G. For the purpose of this Agreement, a “ Change of Control ” shall mean:

(a) 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 (the “ Exchange Act ”)) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 50% or more of the then outstanding shares of voting stock of the Company (the “ Voting Stock ”); provided, however, that any acquisition by the Company or its subsidiaries, or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or its subsidiaries of 50% or more of Voting Stock shall not constitute a Change of Control; and provided, further, that any acquisition by a corporation with respect to which, following such acquisition, more than 50% of the then outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation, is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of the Voting Stock immediately prior to such acquisition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership, immediately prior to such acquisition, of the Voting Stock, shall not constitute a Change of Control; and provided, further that the acquisition of 50% or more of the Voting Stock pursuant to a transaction, the primary purpose of which was to effect an equity financing of the Company, shall not constitute a Change of Control; or

(b) Individuals who, as of the Effective Date, constitute the Board (the “ Incumbent Directors ”) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the members of this Board; provided that any individual who becomes a director after the Effective Date whose election or nomination for election by the Company’s Shareholders was approved by a majority of the members of the Incumbent Directors (other than an election or nomination of an individual whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened “election contest” relating to the election of the Directors of the Company (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 under the Exchange Act), “ tender offer ” (as such term is used in Section 14(d) of the Exchange Act) or a proposed Merger (as defined below) shall be deemed to be members of the Incumbent Directors; or

(c) The consummation of (i) a reorganization, merger or consolidation (any of the foregoing, a “ Merger ”), in each case, with respect to which the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of the Voting Stock immediately prior to such Merger do not, following such Merger, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from the Merger (the Resulting Corporation ”) as a result of the individuals’ and entities’ shareholdings in the Company immediately prior to the consummation of the Merger and without regard to any of the individual’s and entities’ shareholdings in the Resulting Corporation immediately prior to the consummation of the Merger, (ii) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (iii) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, excluding a sale or other disposition of assets to a subsidiary of the Company.

 

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g. Dissolution or Liquidation . In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Board shall notify each Participant as soon as practicable prior to the effective date of such proposed transaction. The Board in its sole discretion may provide for a Participant to have the right to exercise his or her Award until fifteen (15) days prior to such transaction as to all of the shares of Common Stock covered by the Option or Award, including shares as to which the Option or Award would not otherwise be exercisable, which exercise may in the sole discretion of the Board, be made subject to and conditioned upon the consummation of such proposed transaction. In addition, the Board may provide that any Company repurchase option applicable to any shares of Common Stock purchased upon exercise of an Option or Award shall lapse as to all such shares of Common Stock, provided the proposed dissolution and liquidation takes place at the time and in the manner contemplated. To the extent it has not been previously exercised, an Award will terminate upon the consummation of such proposed action.

h. Assumption of Options Upon Certain Events . In connection with a merger or consolidation of an entity with the Company or the acquisition by the Company of property or stock of an entity, the Board may grant Awards under the Plan in substitution for stock and stock-based awards issued by such entity or an affiliate thereof. The substitute Awards shall be granted on such terms and conditions as the Board considers appropriate in the circumstances.

i. Parachute Payments and Parachute Awards . Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7(f) , if, in connection with a Change of Control described therein, a tax under Section 4999 of the Code would be imposed on the Participant (after taking into account the exceptions set forth in Sections 280G(b)(4) and 280G(b)(5) of the Code), then the number of Awards which shall become exercisable, realizable or vested as provided in such Section shall be reduced (or delayed), to the minimum extent necessary, so that no such tax would be imposed on the Participant (the Awards not becoming so accelerated, realizable or vested, the “ Parachute Awards ”); provided, however, that if the “aggregate present value” of the Parachute Awards would exceed the tax that, but for this sentence, would be imposed on the Participant under Section 4999 of the Code in connection with the Change of Control, then the Awards shall become immediately exercisable, realizable and vested without regard to the provisions of this sentence. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the “aggregate present value” of an Award shall be calculated on an after-tax basis (other than taxes imposed by Section 4999 of the Code) and shall be based on economic principles rather than the principles set forth under Section 280G of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder. All determinations required to be made under this Section 7(i) shall be made by the Company.

 

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j. Amendment of Awards . The Board may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding Award including, but not limited to, substituting therefor another Award of the same or a different type, changing the date of exercise or realization, and converting an Incentive Stock Option to a Nonstatutory Stock Option, provided that the Participant’s consent to such action shall be required unless the Board determines that the action, taking into account any related action, would not materially and adversely affect the Participant.

k. Conditions on Delivery of Stock . The Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan or to remove restrictions from shares previously delivered under the Plan until (i) all conditions of the Award have been met or removed to the satisfaction of the Company, (ii) in the opinion of the Company’s counsel, all other legal matters in connection with the issuance and delivery of such shares have been satisfied, including any applicable securities laws and any applicable stock exchange or stock market rules and regulations, and (iii) the Participant has executed and delivered to the Company such representations or agreements as the Company may consider appropriate to satisfy the requirements of any applicable laws, rules or regulations.

l. Acceleration . The Board may at any time provide that any Options shall become immediately exercisable in full or in part, that any Restricted Stock Awards shall be free of some or all restrictions, or that any other stock-based Awards may become exercisable in full or in part or free of some or all restrictions or conditions, or otherwise realizable in full or in part, as the case may be, despite the fact that the foregoing actions may (i) cause the application of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code if a Change of Control of the Company occurs, or (ii) disqualify all or part of the Option as an Incentive Stock Option. In addition, the Board may, in its sole discretion, and in all instances subject to any relevant tax and accounting considerations which may adversely impact or impair the Company, extend the dates during which all or any particular Options or Awards granted under the Plan may be exercised.

m. Time of Granting Awards . The grant of an Award shall, for all purposes, be the date on which the Company completes the corporate action relating to the grant of such Award and all conditions to the grant have been satisfied, provided that conditions to the grant, exercise or vesting of an Award shall not defer the date of grant. Notice of a grant shall be given to each Participant to whom an Award is so granted within a reasonable time after the determination has been made.

n. Participation in Foreign Countries . The Board shall have the authority to adopt such modifications, procedures, and subplans as may be necessary or desirable to comply with provisions of the laws of foreign countries in which the Company or its Subsidiaries may operate to assure the viability of the benefits from Awards granted to Participants performing services in such countries and to meet the objectives of the Plan.

 

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8. Withholding . The Company shall have the right to deduct from payments of any kind otherwise due to the optionee or recipient of an Award any federal, state or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to any shares issued upon exercise of Options under the Plan or the purchase of shares subject to the Award. Subject to the prior approval of the Company, which may be withheld by the Company in its sole discretion, the optionee or recipient of an Award may elect to satisfy such obligation, in whole or in part, (a) by causing the Company to withhold shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable pursuant to the exercise of an Option or the purchase of shares subject to an Award or (b) by delivering to the Company shares of Common Stock already owned by the optionee or Award recipient of an Award. The shares so delivered or withheld shall have a Fair Market Value of the shares used to satisfy such withholding obligation as shall be determined by the Company as of the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined. An optionee or recipient of an Award who has made an election pursuant to this Section may only satisfy his or her withholding obligation with shares of Common Stock which are not subject to any repurchase, forfeiture, unfulfilled vesting or other similar requirements.

9. No Exercise of Option if Engagement or Employment Terminated for Cause . If the employment or engagement of any Participant is terminated “for Cause”, the Award may terminate, upon a determination of the Board, on the date of such termination and the Option shall thereupon not be exercisable to any extent whatsoever and the Company shall have the right to repurchase any shares of Common Stock subject to a Restricted Stock Award whether or not such shares have vested. For purposes of this Section 9 , “ for Cause ” shall mean the occurrence of any one of the following as determined by the Board: (i) a material breach of the Participant’s covenants under the “Confidential Information” or “Noncompete, Nonsolicitation” sections of the Participant’s employment agreement with the Company; (ii) the commission by the Participant of a felony, or any crime involving theft, dishonesty or moral turpitude; (iii) the commission by the Participant of act(s) or omission(s) which are willful and deliberate acts intended to harm or injure the business, operations, financial condition or reputation of the Company or any affiliate of the Company; (iv) the Participant’s disregard of the directives of the Board or his or her supervisor; (v) the Participant’s drunkenness or use of drugs which interferes with the performance of the Participant’s duties, which drunkenness or use of drugs continues after receipt of notice to the Participant from the Company of his or her violation of this provision; or (vi) any attempt by the Participant to secure any personal profit in connection with the business of the Company unless given prior written approval by unanimous consent of the Board. The Board may in its discretion waive or modify the provisions of this Section at a meeting of the Board with respect to any individual Participant with regard to the facts and circumstances of any particular situation involving a determination under this Section.

10. Miscellaneous .

a. Definitions .

i. “ Company ”, for purposes of eligibility under the Plan, shall include any present or future subsidiary corporations of Global Power Equipment Group Inc., as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code (a “ Subsidiary ”), and any present or future parent corporation of Global Power Equipment Group Inc., as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code. For purposes of Awards other than Incentive Stock Options, the term “Company” shall include any other business venture in which the Company has a direct or indirect significant interest, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion.

ii. “ Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

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iii. “ Effective Date ” means the date the Plan was approved by the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware in an Order Confirming the First Amended Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization for Global Power Equipment Group Inc. and Its Affiliated Debtors, dated December 21, 2007.

iv. “ Employee” for purposes of eligibility under the Plan shall include a person to whom an offer of employment has been extended by the Company.

v. “ Option Exchange Program ” means a program whereby outstanding options are exchanged for options with a lower exercise price.

b. No Right To Employment or Other Status . No person shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award, and the grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to continued employment or any other relationship with the Company. The Company expressly reserves the right at any time to dismiss or otherwise terminate its relationship with a Participant free from any liability or claim under the Plan.

c. No Rights As Stockholder . Subject to the provisions of the applicable Award, no Participant or Designated Beneficiary shall have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock to be distributed with respect to an Award until becoming the record holder thereof.

d. Compliance with Law . The Company shall not be required to sell or issue any shares of Common Stock under any Award if the sale or issuance of such shares would constitute a violation by the Participant, any other individual exercising an Option, or the Company of any provision of any law or regulation of any governmental authority, including without limitation any federal or state securities laws or regulation. If at any time the Company shall determine, in its discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of any share subject to an Award up on any security exchange or under any governmental regulatory body is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the issuance or purchase of shares hereunder, no shares of Common Stock may be issued or sold to the Participant or any other individual exercising an Option pursuant to such Award unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent, or approval shall have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Company, and any delay caused thereby shall in no way effect the date of termination of the Award. Any determination in this connection by the Board shall be final, binding and conclusive. The Company may, but shall in no event be obligated to, register any securities covered hereby pursuant to the Securities Act. The Company shall not be obligated to take any affirmative action in order to cause the exercise of an Option or the issuance of shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan to comply with any law or regulation of any governmental authority. As to any jurisdiction that expressly imposes that a Option shall not be exercised until the shares of Common Stock covered by such Option are registered or exempt from registration, the exercise of such Option (under circumstances in which the laws of such jurisdiction apply) shall be deemed conditioned up on the effectiveness of such registration or availability of such an exemption.

e. Effective Date and Term of Plan . The Plan shall become effective on the date on which it is adopted by the Board. No Awards shall be granted under the Plan after the completion of ten years from the date on which the Plan was adopted by the Board, but Awards previously granted may extend beyond that date.

 

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f. Amendment of Plan . The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time.

g. Governing Law . The provisions of the Plan and all Awards made hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to any applicable conflicts of law principles.

 

Available Shares:    14,954,060   

 

13

Exhibit 10.10

G LOBAL P OWER E QUIPMENT G ROUP I NC .

Braden Manufacturing, Deltak Specialty Boiler Systems, Williams Industrial Services Group

Incentive Compensation Plan Description

Purpose

The Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors of Global Power Equipment Group Inc. (the “Company”) has approved this Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) to reward employees for enhancing the value of the Company. The purpose of the Plan is to motivate employees to increase the value of the Company, and, when appropriate and possible, to encourage them to think and act like stakeholders of the Company.

The Plan will reward the Participants based upon (i) achievement against a Financial Performance Metric set forth by the Committee and (ii) achievement of determined personal and departmental goals approved by each employee’s supervisor.

The Plan Year will coincide with the fiscal year of the Company. Awards made under the Plan are in addition to Base Salary and Base Salary adjustments to maintain market competitiveness.

The Committee reserves the right to amend, modify or revoke the Plan at its discretion, without prior notice to Participants; provided, however, any amendments, modifications or revocations shall not be retroactive as to Awards granted in prior Plan Years. This is a discretionary program and no contractual right or property interest to any benefit described herein is intended to be created by this document or any related action of the Company, and none should be inferred from the descriptions of the Plan.

Definitions

Award – Cash awarded to a Participant under the Plan, net of all required federal and state withholding taxes, due to Corporate or Business Unit performance and results.

Base Salary – The aggregate amount of wages and/or salary (but excluding any bonus, disability pay or severance pay) earned by a Participant during the applicable Plan Year in which the Participant was eligible to participate in the Plan.

Business Unit – Refers to any particular business unit of the Company.

Corporate – Refers to the Company and its Business Units in the aggregate.


Disability – The same meaning as such term or similar term as defined in the disability insurance policy maintained by the Company which covers the Participant at the time of the alleged disability, or in the event the Company maintains more than one disability insurance policy which covers the Participant at such time, the meaning in the disability policy most recently acquired by the Company. If the Company maintains no such disability insurance policy at such time, “Disability” shall mean a mental or physical impairment or illness, which, in the judgment of the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, totally and presumably permanently prevents the individual from fully completing his normal job responsibilities for the Company.

Maximum Annual Incentive % – A maximum value of annual incentive expressed as a percentage of a Participant’s Base Salary. This value is equal to two times the Target Annual Incentive %.

Participant – Any person designated by Business Unit Presidents and approved by the Global Power CEO or Human Resources Director.

Payout and Payout Date – Is deemed to occur at the end of a Plan Year. Actual payout will be as soon as practicable after completion of audited financial statements for the Plan Year.

Financial Performance Metric – Critical financial criteria against which the Committee decides to measure performance.

Currently EBITDA is the Financial Performance Metric:

EBITDA – Net income or (loss) for any period plus (a) the following to the extent deducted in calculating net income for such period: (i) interest charges for such period; (ii) the provision for federal, state, local and foreign income taxes for such period; (iii) depreciation and amortization expense; (iv) letter of credit fees; (v) incentive bonuses paid under the Plan and all other Incentive Plans; (vi) other costs related to the Chapter 11 cases filed by the Company and its Business Units; (vii) other non-recurring, non-cash expenses; and (viii) any other non-cash write-downs or non-cash write-offs including fixed asset impairment or write-downs, intangible asset impairments, deferred tax asset write-offs and non-cash stock component expenses; and minus (b) the following, to the extent included in calculating such net income: (i) federal, state, local and foreign income tax benefits recorded by the Company for such period; and (ii) all extraordinary, non-recurring, non-cash items increasing net income for such period.

 

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The Committee has the right to amend or change the Financial Performance Metrics at its discretion, including amendments or changes in light of unforeseen events.

Performance Metric Hurdles – An assigned threshold, target and maximum value that corresponds with each individual Financial Performance Metric against which performance is measured.

Plan – Incentive Compensation Plan (“ICP”) as set forth in this document and as amended by the Committee from time to time.

Plan Year – The fiscal year of the Company.

Target Annual Incentive % – A target value of annual incentive expressed as a percentage of a Participant’s Base Salary determined by the Committee prior to, or as soon as practicable after, the beginning of each Plan Year.

Threshold Annual Incentive % – A threshold value of annual incentive expressed as a percentage of a Participant’s Base Salary. This value corresponds to the minimum performance criteria to receive any Payout under the Plan. This value is equal to one-half the Target Annual Incentive %.

Administration

The guidelines and procedures set forth herein will be followed by the management of the Company at the direction of the Compensation Committee with respect to operation of the Plan.

Participation/Eligibility

All employees of the Company (including its Business Units) are eligible to participate in the Plan (except certain employee groups already under another incentive plan) as designated by the BU Presidents and approved by the Global Power CEO or Human Resources Director.

Each Participant, whose employment is terminated due to death or Disability during a Plan Year, shall be eligible for an Award based upon the Base Salary earned by such Participant prior to termination. Such Award shall be paid in a lump sum on or before March 15 th of the year after such employment termination due to death or Disability. Otherwise, no Participant shall be eligible to receive part or all of an Award unless the Participant is employed by the Company on the date Awards are paid under the Plan.

 

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Timing of Award Payments

After the year-end internal financial statements have been audited for a Plan Year, the Awards generated, if any, will be determined. Participant must be employed on the Payout Date or the Award will be forfeited, except in cases of death or Disability provided for above.

Award Determination

The Awards for each Plan Year shall be calculated based on the Company’s or designated Business Unit’s actual financial performance, per the audited internal financial statements, as compared to threshold, target and maximum Performance Metric Hurdle levels for the Financial Performance Metrics, determined for that Plan Year by the Committee for that respective unit of the Company. The Participants will be granted a percentage of their calculated Incentive Award based on the results of their Financial Performance Metric, as established by the Committee and a percentage based upon achievement of the employee’s personal goals. The total pool of overall Award dollars shall remain the same as originally calculated based on Financial Metric Performance regardless of whether employees achieve 100% of financial metrics and personal goals.

Duration of Plan

The Plan is an integral part of the Company’s compensation plan for the future. The Committee reserves the power and the right at any time, and from time to time, to modify, amend or terminate (in whole or in part) any or all of the provisions of the Plan; provided, however, that no such modification or amendment shall be retroactive to reduce or affect any Awards otherwise due and payable under the provisions of the Plan for any Plan Year during which the Plan was in effect.

Termination of Plan

The incentive computation for the year in which the termination of the Plan occurs will be based on the period ending on the last business day immediately prior to the effective date of the Plan termination. All performance calculations will be adjusted to coincide with such period.

 

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Additional Plan Provisions

 

 

Nothing in the Plan shall be construed or interpreted as giving any employee the right to be employed or retained by the Company or impair the right of the Company to control its employees or to terminate the services of any employee at any time. The Plan shall not create any rights of future participation herein.

 

 

The Company shall deduct all required federal tax and any required state tax withholding from the Awards.

 

5

Exhibit 10.11

Global Power Equipment Group Inc.

Restricted Stock Award Agreement

[INSERT NAME] (the “ Grantee ”) was awarded [INSERT] shares of common stock (“ Common Stock ”) of Global Power Equipment Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ’), subject to the terms and conditions hereof.

 

Grant Date: [INSERT DATE]    Restriction Lapse Dates: See Section 2 below   

Restricted Stock Award Agreement (the “ Award Agreement ”) pursuant to the Global Power Equipment Group Inc. 2008 Director’s Equity Incentive Plan, as it may be amended from time to time (the “ Plan ”).

W I T N E S S E T H :

WHEREAS, the Company and the Grantee desire to enter into an agreement whereby the Company will grant the Grantee Restricted Stock.

NOW THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Grantee agree as follows:

1. Grant of Restricted Stock . Pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Award Agreement and the Plan (which is incorporated herein by reference), the Company hereby grants to the Grantee the number of shares of Common Stock as provided above. The shares of Common Stock covered by this Award Agreement are sometimes hereinafter referred to as the “ Restricted Stock Shares ”. The Grantee shall pay to the Company the amount determined by multiplying the par value of the Common Stock times the number of Restricted Stock Shares. The Restricted Stock Shares will not be evidenced by certificates prior to the time that the vesting restrictions with respect thereto lapse. The number and class of securities and vesting schedule of the Restricted Stock Shares are subject to adjustment as set forth herein and in the Plan. In the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Award Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Plan shall prevail. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan.

2. Vesting . 25% of the Restricted Stock Shares granted under this Award Agreement shall vest on the date hereof. The remaining Restricted Stock Shares granted under this Award Agreement shall vest in three equal installments (each constituting 25% of the aggregate Restricted Stock Shares) on each of January 22, 2010, January 22, 2011 and January 22, 2012 (the “ Vesting Period ”) subject to the Grantee continuing to serve as a member of the Board as of the applicable date. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary: (a) upon the consummation of a Change of Control of the Company, then all unvested Restricted Stock Shares shall be immediately and fully vested, and (b) upon the death or disability of the Grantee, then the Grantee shall be vested in that number of Restricted Stock Shares equal to the product of (X) the number of unvested Restricted Stock Shares that otherwise would have vested in the calendar year of termination if the Grantee had not terminated service as a member of the Board by reason of death or disability multiplied by (Y) a fraction equal to the number of days that the Grantee served in the year of termination over 365. To the extent that Restricted Stock Shares do not vest for any reason, the Company shall pay to the Grantee the amount originally paid by the Grantee with respect to such Restricted Stock Shares pursuant to Section 1.

3. Nontransferability . The Restricted Stock Shares granted pursuant to this Award Agreement may not be transferred without the consent of the Company prior to their vesting, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

4. No Rights Other Than Those Expressly Created . Neither this Award Agreement, the Restricted Stock Shares, nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as (i) giving the Grantee any right to be retained as a member of the Board, (ii) giving the Grantee any equity or interest of any kind in any assets of the Company, or (iii) creating a trust of any kind or a fiduciary relationship of any kind between the Grantee and the Company. As to any claim for any unpaid amounts or distributions under this Award Agreement, any person having a claim for payments shall be an unsecured creditor.


5. Compliance with Laws .

(a) Taxes . The Grantee shall be liable and responsible for all taxes owed in connection with the Restricted Stock Shares, including the awarding and vesting thereof. The Company does not commit and is under no obligation to structure the Restricted Stock Shares to reduce or eliminate the Grantee’s tax liability.

(b) Securities Law Compliance . Upon vesting (or partial vesting) of the Restricted Stock Shares granted hereunder, the Grantee shall make such representations and furnish such information as may, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, be appropriate to permit the Company to issue or transfer the Restricted Stock Shares in compliance with the provisions of applicable federal or state securities laws. The Company, in its discretion, may postpone the issuance and delivery of Restricted Stock Shares until completion of such registration or other qualification of such shares under any federal or state laws, or stock exchange listing, as the Company may consider appropriate. In addition, the Company may require that prior to the issuance or transfer of Restricted Stock Shares, the Grantee enter into a written agreement to comply with any restrictions on subsequent disposition that the Company deems necessary or advisable under any applicable federal and state securities laws. Certificates of Stock issued hereunder may be legended to reflect such restrictions.

(c) General . No Restricted Stock Shares shall be issued unless and until the Company is satisfied, in its sole discretion, that there has been compliance with all legal requirements applicable to the issuance of such Restricted Stock Shares.

6. Miscellaneous .

(a) Definitions .

(i) “ Change of Control ” shall mean: (a) 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 (the “ Exchange Act”)) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 50% or more of the then outstanding shares of voting stock of the Company (the “ Voting Stock ”); provided, however, that any acquisition by the Company or its subsidiaries, or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or its subsidiaries of 50% or more of Voting Stock shall not constitute a Change of Control; and provided, further, that any acquisition by a corporation with respect to which, following such acquisition, more than 50% of the then outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation, is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of the Voting Stock immediately prior to such acquisition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership, immediately prior to such acquisition, of the Voting Stock, shall not constitute a Change of Control; or (b) Individuals who, as of the Effective Date, constitute the Board (the “ Incumbent Directors ”) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the members of this Board; provided that any individual who becomes a director after the Effective Date whose election or nomination for election by the Company’s Shareholders was approved by a majority of the members of the Incumbent Directors (other than an election or nomination of an individual whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened “election contest” relating to the election of the Directors of the Company (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 under the Exchange Act), “ tender offer ” (as such term is used in Section 14(d) of the Exchange Act) or a proposed Merger (as defined below) shall be deemed to be members of the Incumbent Directors; or (c) The consummation of (i) a reorganization, merger or consolidation (any of the foregoing, a “ Merger ”), in each case, with respect to which the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of the Voting Stock immediately prior to such Merger do not, following such Merger, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from the Merger (the Resulting Corporation ”) as a result of the individuals’ and entities’ shareholdings in the Company immediately prior to the consummation of the Merger and without regard to any of the individual’s and entities’ shareholdings in the Resulting Corporation immediately prior to the consummation of the Merger, (ii) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (iii) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, excluding a sale or other disposition of assets to a subsidiary of the Company.

 

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(ii) “ Disability ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Company’s long term disability plan.

(b) 409A Compliance . The Company may, in its sole and absolute discretion, delay payments hereunder or make such other modifications with respect to the issuance of stock hereunder as it reasonably deems necessary to comply with Section 409A of the Code and interpretative guidance thereunder.

(c) Discretion of the Committee . Unless otherwise explicitly provided herein, the Board of Directors of the Company, or an authorized committee thereof, shall make all determinations required to be made hereunder, including determinations required to be made by the Company, and shall interpret all provisions of this Award Agreement and the underlying Restricted Stock Shares, as it deems necessary or desirable, in its sole and unfettered discretion. Such determinations and interpretations shall be binding and conclusive to the Company and the Grantee.

(d) Amendment . This Award Agreement may only be modified or amended by a writing signed by both parties.

(e) Notices . Any notices required to be given under this Award Agreement shall be sufficient if in writing and if sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, and addressed as follows:

if to the Company:

Global Power Equipment Group Inc.

Attention: General Counsel

6120 South Yale, Suite 1480

Tulsa, OK 74136

if to the Grantee:

[INSERT NAME AND ADDRESS OF GRANTEE]

or to such other address as either party may designate under the provisions hereof.

(f) Entire Agreement . This Award Agreement shall supersede in its entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Grantee, whether oral or written, with respect to the Restricted Stock Shares granted hereunder including, without limitation, any prior written employment, change of control agreement or other similar written agreement, if any, that may provide, in certain circumstances, for acceleration of Restricted Stock Shares granted to the Grantee.

(g) Successors and Assigns . The rights and obligations of the Company under this Award Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of the Company.

(h) Applicable Law; Severability . All rights and obligations under this Award Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware. In the event that any court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that any provision, or any portion thereof, contained in this Award Agreement shall be unenforceable in any respect, then such provision shall be deemed limited to the extent that such court deems it enforceable, and as so limited shall remain in full force and effect. In the event that such court shall deem any such provision, or portion thereof, wholly unenforceable, the remaining provisions of this Award Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect.

 

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(i) Paragraph Headings; Rules of Construction . The paragraph headings used in this Award Agreement are for convenience or reference, and are not to be construed as part of this Award Agreement. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that the rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of this Award Agreement.

(j) Electronic Copies . The Company may choose to deliver certain materials relating to the Plan in electronic form. By accepting this Award Agreement, the Grantee consents and agrees that the Company may deliver the Plan prospectus and the Company’s annual report to Grantee in an electronic format. If at any time Grantee would prefer to receive paper copies of these documents, the Company will provide such copies upon request.

(k) Fractional Shares . No Fractional Shares of Common Stock shall be issued hereunder. Any fractional shares shall be rounded to next whole number using normal convention.

(l) No Waiver of Rights, Powers and Remedies . No failure or delay by a party hereto in exercising any right, power or remedy under this Award Agreement, and no course of dealing between the parties hereto, shall operate as a waiver of any such right, power or remedy of the party, unless explicitly provided for herein. No single or partial exercise of any right, power or remedy under this Award Agreement by a party hereto, nor any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce any such right, power or remedy, shall preclude such party from any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy hereunder.

(m) Counterparts . This Award Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, including by electronic or facsimile signature, each of which shall be deemed in original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

[GRANTEE]      Global Power Equipment Power Group Inc.

 

     By:   

 

        [NAME AND TITLE]

 

4

Exhibit 10.12

Global Power Equipment Group Inc.

Amended and Restated Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement

[INSERT NAME] (the “ Grantee ”) was awarded [ INSERT #] of Restricted Stock Units

 

Grant Date: June 23, 2008    Restriction Lapse Dates: See Section 4 below   

Amended and Restated Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (the “ Award Agreement ”) pursuant to the Global Power Equipment Group Inc. 2008 Management Incentive Plan, as it may be amended from time to time (the “ Plan ”), which replaces the previously executed Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement with a Grant Date of June 23, 2008, as amended (the “Original Award Agreement”), except to the extent provided herein.

W I T N E S S E T H :

WHEREAS, the Company and the Grantee desire to enter into an agreement whereby the Company will grant the Grantee Restricted Stock Units (“ RSUs ”) in respect of the Company’s Common Stock, $.01 par value per share (the “ Common Stock ”).

NOW THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Grantee agree as follows:

1. Grant of RSUs . Pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Award Agreement and the Plan (which is incorporated herein by reference), the Company hereby grants to the Grantee the number of RSUs as provided above. The shares of Common Stock covered by these RSUs are sometimes hereinafter referred to as the “ RSU Shares ”. The number and class of securities and vesting schedule of the RSUs are subject to adjustment as set forth herein and in the Plan. In the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Award Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Plan shall prevail. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan.

2. Restricted Stock Units . Each RSU entitles the Grantee to receive from the Company (i) one share of Common Stock at the Vesting Date (as defined below) and (ii) the right to receive notional dividend equivalents, if any, each in accordance with the terms of this Award Agreement and the Plan. At such time as the Grantee is entitled to be issued RSU Shares pursuant hereto, the Company shall in its sole discretion either (i) deliver a certificate or certificates representing the RSU Shares or (ii) issue the RSU Shares in book entry form, registered in the name of the Grantee.

3. Dividend Equivalents . Until the Vesting Date, whenever dividends are paid or distributed with respect to the Common Stock, the Grantee shall be entitled to receive notional dividend equivalents (the “ Dividend Equivalents ”) in an amount equal in value to the amount of the dividend or property distributed on a single share of Common Stock multiplied by the number of RSUs credited to the Grantee’s account as of the record date for such dividend or distribution. Payment of the notional dividend equivalents paid on RSUs will be withheld by the Company and shall be delivered to the Grantee as of the Vesting Date, if and only to the extent that the RSUs have vested as of said date, as set forth in paragraph 4.

4. Vesting .

(a) Vesting Schedule . The RSUs granted under this Award Agreement shall vest in four installments. The first installment (consisting of 25% of the total RSU Shares) shall vest in accordance with the Original Agreement. The remaining 75% of the RSUs granted under this Award Agreement shall vest as follows:

(i) 50% of the remaining 75% of the RSUs granted under this Award Agreement shall vest in three equal installments (each consisting of 12.5% of the total RSU Shares) on March 31 st of each calendar year commencing in 2009 (with respect to each such installment, the “ Vesting Date ”) subject to achieving both of the following conditions (A) the Company’s achievement of its adjusted annual target EBITDA for the calendar year immediately preceding the Vesting Date (“ EBITDA Target ”), as determined on an annual basis, in writing, by the Board of Directors and (B) the Grantee continuing in a Service relationship with the Company or its Affiliate until the Vesting Date; provided, however, that if the Grantee is terminated without Cause after the end of such immediately preceding calendar year and prior to the Vesting Date (the “ Interim Period ”), then he or she shall still vest notwithstanding that he or she is not in a Service relationship with the Company on the Vesting Date so long as the EBITDA Target for such immediately preceding calendar year has been achieved; and


(ii) 50% of the remaining 75% of the RSUs granted under this Award Agreement shall vest in three equal installments (each consisting of 12.5% of the total RSU Shares) on the Vesting Date subject to the Grantee continuing in a Service relationship with the Company or its Affiliate until the Vesting Date; provided, however, that if the Grantee is terminated without Cause during the Interim Period, then he or she shall still vest notwithstanding that he or she is not in a Service relationship with the Company on the Vesting Date.

For the calendar year ended December 31, 2009, the Board of Directors has determined the EBITDA Target to be $42,506,000 calculated in accordance with the following definition of EBITDA:

EBITDA – Net income or (loss) for the operating divisions for any period plus (a) the following to the extent deducted in calculating net income for such period: (i) interest charges for such period; (ii) the provision for federal, state, local and foreign income taxes for such period; (iii) depreciation and amortization expense; (iv) letter of credit fees; (v) incentive bonuses paid under the Plan and all other Incentive Plans; (vi) other costs related to the Chapter 11 cases filed by the Company and its Business Units; (vii) other non-recurring, non-cash expenses; and (viii) any other non-cash write-downs or non-cash write-offs including fixed asset impairment or write-downs, intangible asset impairments, deferred tax asset write-offs and non-cash stock component expenses; and minus (b) the following, to the extent included in calculating such net income: (i) federal, state, local and foreign income tax benefits recorded by the Company for such period; and (ii) all extraordinary, non-recurring, non-cash items increasing net income for such period.

Thereafter, EBITDA Targets shall be set forth in the ICP Plan or if no such targets are set forth in the ICP Plan, then EBITDA Targets shall be determined by the Board in its sole discretion. In the event that an EBITDA Target is not achieved in one calendar year, then that percentage of RSU Shares that would have otherwise vested on account thereof will be irrevocably forfeited. For purposes hereof, EBITDA shall be calculated in the same manner as provided in the ICP unless otherwise determined by the Board.

(b) Service Termination . Whether a termination of Service (as defined below) shall have occurred for purposes of this Award Agreement shall be determined by the Company, which determination shall be final, binding and conclusive. Notwithstanding Section 4(a) of this Award Agreement:

(i) For Cause . If Grantee’s Service is terminated prior to the Vesting Date for Cause (as defined below), then all then unvested RSUs shall immediately terminate and Grantee shall have no further rights hereunder, including without limitation any rights to receive any Dividend Equivalents as set forth in paragraph 3.

(ii) Voluntary Separation . Grantee may terminate his or her Service with the Company at any time. If Grantee elects to terminate his or her Service with the Company prior to completing two years of Service with the Company, then the unvested RSUs shall terminate and Grantee shall have no further rights hereunder, including, without limitation, any rights to receive any Dividend Equivalents as set forth in paragraph 3. If Grantee elects to terminate his or her Service with the Company after completing two years of Service with the Company, then the Grantee shall be vested in that number of RSUs equal to (A) the product of (X) the number of unvested RSUs that otherwise would have vested in the calendar year following termination in accordance with paragraph 4(a) hereto if the Grantee had not terminated Service multiplied by (Y) a fraction equal to the number of days that the Grantee provided Service to the Company in the year of termination over 365, plus (B) if termination occurs during an Interim Period, the number of unvested RSUs that otherwise would have vested at the end of such Interim Period, it being understood that the number of RSUs to be vested pursuant to this sentence shall be determined (and the related RSU Shares shall be issued to the Grantee) as soon as possible and in any event before March 15 of the calendar year following termination and that all RSUs that do not vest in accordance with this sentence shall immediately terminate and Grantee shall have no further rights hereunder with respect thereto, including without limitation any rights to receive any Dividend Equivalents with respect thereto as set forth in paragraph 3.

 

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(iii) Involuntary Separation . If the Company terminates Grantee’s Service without Cause prior to Grantee completing three years of Service, then, in addition to any shares vested pursuant to the provisos in paragraph 4(a) (if applicable), the Grantee shall be vested in that number of RSUs equal to the product of (X) the number of unvested RSUs that otherwise would have vested in the calendar year following termination in accordance with paragraph 4(a) hereto if the Grantee had not terminated Service multiplied by (Y) a fraction equal to the number of days that the Grantee provided Service to the Company in the year of termination over 365, it being understood that the number of RSUs to be vested pursuant to this sentence shall be determined (and the related RSU Shares shall be issued to the Grantee) as soon as possible and in any event before March 15 of the calendar year following termination and that all RSUs that do not vest in accordance with this sentence shall immediately terminate and Grantee shall have no further rights hereunder with respect thereto, including without limitation any rights to receive any Dividend Equivalents with respect thereto as set forth in paragraph 3. If the Company terminates Grantee’s Service without Cause after Grantee has completed at least three years of Service, then the RSUs shall be accelerated such that all unvested shares shall immediately vest and shall be considered vested shares as of the date of termination. If Grantee’s Service is terminated prior to the Vesting Date for Good Reason (as defined below), then all unvested RSUs shall be accelerated and immediately vested notwithstanding Section 4(a).

(iv) Change of Control . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, upon the consummation of a Change of Control of the Company, then all unvested RSUs shall be immediately and fully vested.

(v) Death/Disability . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, upon the death or disability of the Grantee, then the Grantee shall be vested in that number of RSUs equal to (A) the product of (X) the number of unvested RSUs that otherwise would have vested in the calendar year following termination in accordance with paragraph 4(a) hereto if the Grantee had not terminated Service by reason of death or disability multiplied by (Y) a fraction equal to the number of days that the Grantee provided Service to the Company in the year of termination over 365, plus (B) if termination occurs during an Interim Period, the number of unvested RSUs that otherwise would have vested at the end of such Interim Period, it being understood that the number of RSUs to be vested pursuant to this sentence shall be determined (and the related RSU Shares shall be issued to the Grantee) as soon as possible and in any event before March 15 of the calendar year following termination and that all RSUs that do not vest in accordance with this sentence shall immediately terminate and Grantee shall have no further rights hereunder with respect thereto, including without limitation any rights to receive any Dividend Equivalents with respect thereto as set forth in paragraph 3.

5. Nontransferability . The RSUs granted pursuant to this Award Agreement may not be transferred without the consent of the Company, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

6. No Rights Other Than Those Expressly Created . Neither this Award Agreement, the RSUs, nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as (i) giving the Grantee any right to be retained in the Service of, or continue to be affiliated with, the Company, (ii) giving the Grantee any equity or interest of any kind in any assets of the Company, or (iii) creating a trust of any kind or a fiduciary relationship of any kind between the Grantee and the Company. As to any claim for any unpaid amounts or distributions under this Award Agreement, any person having a claim for payments shall be an unsecured creditor. The Grantee shall not have any of the rights of a stockholder with respect to any RSU Shares or any Dividend Equivalents until such time as the underlying RSU has been vested and the RSU Shares have been issued.

 

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7. Compliance with Laws .

(a) Withholding of Taxes . Pursuant to applicable federal, state, local or foreign laws, the Company may be required to collect or withhold income or other taxes from Grantee upon the Vesting Date or at some other time. The Company may require, upon the Vesting Date, or demand, at such other time as it may consider appropriate, that the Grantee pay the Company the amount of any taxes which the Company may determine is required to be collected or withheld, and the Grantee shall comply with the requirement or demand of the Company.

(b) Securities Law Compliance . Upon vesting (or partial vesting) of the RSUs granted hereunder, the Grantee shall make such representations and furnish such information as may, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, be appropriate to permit the Company to issue or transfer the RSU Shares in compliance with the provisions of applicable federal or state securities laws. The Company, in its discretion, may postpone the issuance and delivery of RSU Shares until completion of such registration or other qualification of such shares under any federal or state laws, or stock exchange listing, as the Company may consider appropriate. In addition, the Company may require that prior to the issuance or transfer of RSU Shares, the Grantee enter into a written agreement to comply with any restrictions on subsequent disposition that the Company deems necessary or advisable under any applicable federal and state securities laws. Certificates of Stock issued hereunder may be legended to reflect such restrictions.

(c) General . No RSU Shares shall be issued or Dividend Equivalents distributed upon vesting of an RSU granted hereunder unless and until the Company is satisfied, in its sole discretion, that there has been compliance with all legal requirements applicable to the issuance of such RSU Shares and/or distribution of such Dividend Equivalents.

8. Miscellaneous .

(a) Definitions .

(i) “Cause ” shall mean the occurrence of any one of the following with respect to the Grantee as determined by the Board: (i) a material breach of the Grantee’s covenants under the “Confidential Information” or “Noncompete, Nonsolicitation” sections of the Grantee’s employment agreement with the Company; (ii) the commission by the Grantee of a felony, or any crime involving theft, dishonesty or moral turpitude; (iii) the commission by the Grantee of act(s) or omission(s) which are willful and deliberate acts intended to harm or injure the business, operations, financial condition or reputation of the Company or any affiliate of the Company; (iv) the Grantee’s disregard of the directives of the Board or his or her supervisor; (v) the Grantee’s drunkenness or use of drugs which interferes with the performance of the Grantee’s duties, which drunkenness or use of drugs continues after receipt of notice to the Grantee from the Company of his or her violation of this provision; or (vi) any attempt by the Grantee to secure any personal profit in connection with the business of the Company unless given prior written approval by unanimous consent of the Board.

 

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(ii) “ Change of Control ” shall mean: (a) 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 (the “ Exchange Act”)) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 50% or more of the then outstanding shares of voting stock of the Company (the “ Voting Stock ”); provided, however, that any acquisition by the Company or its subsidiaries, or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or its subsidiaries of 50% or more of Voting Stock shall not constitute a Change of Control; and provided, further, that any acquisition by a corporation with respect to which, following such acquisition, more than 50% of the then outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation, is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of the Voting Stock immediately prior to such acquisition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership, immediately prior to such acquisition, of the Voting Stock, shall not constitute a Change of Control; or (b) Individuals who, as of the Effective Date, constitute the Board (the “ Incumbent Directors ”) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the members of this Board; provided that any individual who becomes a director after the Effective Date whose election or nomination for election by the Company’s Shareholders was approved by a majority of the members of the Incumbent Directors (other than an election or nomination of an individual whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened “election contest” relating to the election of the Directors of the Company (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 under the Exchange Act), “ tender offer ” (as such term is used in Section 14(d) of the Exchange Act) or a proposed Merger (as defined below) shall be deemed to be members of the Incumbent Directors; or (c) The consummation of (i) a reorganization, merger or consolidation (any of the foregoing, a “ Merger ”), in each case, with respect to which the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of the Voting Stock immediately prior to such Merger do not, following such Merger, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from the Merger (the Resulting Corporation ”) as a result of the individuals’ and entities’ shareholdings in the Company immediately prior to the consummation of the Merger and without regard to any of the individual’s and entities’ shareholdings in the Resulting Corporation immediately prior to the consummation of the Merger, (ii) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (iii) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, excluding a sale or other disposition of assets to a subsidiary of the Company.

(iii) “ Disability ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Company’s long term disability plan.

(iv) “ Good Reason ” shall have the meaning given to it in the Grantee’s governing employment agreement, if any. If the Grantee’s governing employment agreement does not include such a definition, then Good Reason shall mean (i) material diminution in Grantee’s base salary; (ii) material diminution in Grantee’s, or the person to whom the Grantee reports, authority, duties or responsibilities; (iii) requirement that the Grantee report to a corporate officer or employee instead of reporting to the Company’s Board of Directors, if applicable; (iv) material diminution in the budget over which the Grantee retains authority; (v) material change in the geographic location at which Grantee must perform services; or (vi) action or inaction by the Company that constitutes a material breach of the Grantee’s employment agreement, if any.

(v) “ ICP Plan ” shall mean the then current Incentive Compensation Plan of the Company.

(vi) “ Service ” shall mean service as a Service Provider to the Company. For purposes of this Award Agreement, commencement of Service for purposes of determining years of service shall begin on January 22, 2008.

(vii) “ Service Provider ” shall mean an employee, officer or director of the Company or an Affiliate of the Company or a consultant providing services to the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.

(b) 409A Compliance . The Company may, in its sole and absolute discretion, delay payments hereunder or make such other modifications with respect to the issuance of stock hereunder as it reasonably deems necessary to comply with Section 409A of the Code and interpretative guidance thereunder.

(c) Discretion of the Committee . Unless otherwise explicitly provided herein, the Board of Directors of the Company, or an authorized committee thereof, shall make all determinations required to be made hereunder, including determinations required to be made by the Company, and shall interpret all provisions of this Award Agreement and the underlying RSUs, as it deems necessary or desirable, in its sole and unfettered discretion. Such determinations and interpretations shall be binding and conclusive to the Company and the Grantee.

 

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(d) Amendment . This Award Agreement may only be modified or amended by a writing signed by both parties.

(e) Notices . Any notices required to be given under this Award Agreement shall be sufficient if in writing and if sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, and addressed as follows:

if to the Company:

Global Power Equipment Group Inc.

C/O General Counsel

6120 South Yale

Suite 1480

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74136

if to the Grantee:

[INSERT NAME AND ADDRESS OF GRANTEE]

or to such other address as either party may designate under the provisions hereof.

(f) Entire Agreement . This Award Agreement shall supersede in its entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Grantee, whether oral or written, with respect to the RSUs granted hereunder including, without limitation, any prior written employment, change of control agreement or other similar written agreement, if any, that may provide, in certain circumstances, for acceleration of restricted stock units granted to the Grantee.

(g) Successors and Assigns . The rights and obligations of the Company under this Award Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of the Company.

(h) Applicable Law; Severability . All rights and obligations under this Award Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware. In the event that any court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that any provision, or any portion thereof, contained in this Award Agreement shall be unenforceable in any respect, then such provision shall be deemed limited to the extent that such court deems it enforceable, and as so limited shall remain in full force and effect. In the event that such court shall deem any such provision, or portion thereof, wholly unenforceable, the remaining provisions of this Award Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect.

(i) Paragraph Headings; Rules of Construction . The paragraph headings used in this Award Agreement are for convenience or reference, and are not to be construed as part of this Award Agreement. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that the rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of this Award Agreement.

(j) Electronic Copies . The Company may choose to deliver certain materials relating to the Plan in electronic form. By accepting this Award Agreement, the Grantee consents and agrees that the Company may deliver the Plan prospectus and the Company’s annual report to Grantee in an electronic format. If at any time Grantee would prefer to receive paper copies of these documents, the Company will provide such copies upon request.

(k) Fractional Shares . No Fractional Shares of Common Stock shall be issued hereunder. Any fractional shares shall be rounded to next whole number using normal convention.

 

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(k) No Waiver of Rights, Powers and Remedies . No failure or delay by a party hereto in exercising any right, power or remedy under this Award Agreement, and no course of dealing between the parties hereto, shall operate as a waiver of any such right, power or remedy of the party, unless explicitly provided for herein. No single or partial exercise of any right, power or remedy under this Award Agreement by a party hereto, nor any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce any such right, power or remedy, shall preclude such party from any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy hereunder.

(l) Counterparts . This Award Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, including by electronic or facsimile signature, each of which shall be deemed in original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

[GRANTEE]      Global Power Equipment Power Group Inc.

 

     By:   

 

 

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Exhibit 10.13

Global Power Equipment Group Inc.

Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement

[INSERT NAME] (the “ Grantee ”) was awarded [ INSERT #] of Restricted Stock Units

 

Grant Date: February 9, 2009   Restriction Lapse Dates: See Section 4 below

Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (the “ Award Agreement ”) pursuant to the Global Power Equipment Group Inc. 2008 Management Incentive Plan, as it may be amended from time to time (the “ Plan ”).

W I T N E S S E T H :

WHEREAS, the Company and the Grantee desire to enter into an agreement whereby the Company will grant the Grantee Restricted Stock Units (“ RSUs ”) in respect of the Company’s Common Stock, $.01 par value per share (the “ Common Stock ”).

NOW THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Grantee agree as follows:

1. Grant of RSUs . Pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Award Agreement and the Plan (which is incorporated herein by reference), the Company hereby grants to the Grantee the number of RSUs as provided above. The shares of Common Stock covered by these RSUs are sometimes hereinafter referred to as the “ RSU Shares ”. The number and class of securities and vesting schedule of the RSUs are subject to adjustment as set forth herein and in the Plan. In the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Award Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Plan shall prevail. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan.

2. Restricted Stock Units . Each RSU entitles the Grantee to receive from the Company (i) one share of Common Stock at the Vesting Date (as defined below) and (ii) the right to receive notional dividend equivalents, if any, each in accordance with the terms of this Award Agreement and the Plan. At such time as the Grantee is entitled to be issued RSU Shares pursuant hereto, the Company shall in its sole discretion either (i) deliver a certificate or certificates representing the RSU Shares or (ii) issue the RSU Shares in book entry form, registered in the name of the Grantee.

3. Dividend Equivalents . Until the Vesting Date, whenever dividends are paid or distributed with respect to the Common Stock, the Grantee shall be entitled to receive notional dividend equivalents (the “Dividend Equivalents”) in an amount equal in value to the amount of the dividend or property distributed on a single share of Common Stock multiplied by the number of RSUs credited to the Grantee’s account as of the record date for such dividend or distribution. Payment of the notional dividend equivalents paid on RSUs will be withheld by the Company and shall be delivered to the Grantee as of the Vesting Date, if and only to the extent that the RSUs have vested as of said date, as set forth in paragraph 4.

4. Vesting .

(a) Vesting Schedule . 50% of the RSUs granted under this Award Agreement shall vest in four equal installments (each consisting of 12.5% of the total RSU Shares) on March 31 st of each calendar year following the year in which the Grant Date occurred (with respect to each such installment, the “ Vesting Date ”) subject to achieving both of the following conditions (i) the Company’s achievement of its adjusted annual target EBITDA for the calendar year immediately preceding the Vesting Date (“ EBITDA Target ”), as determined on an annual basis, in writing, by the Board of Directors and (ii) the Grantee continuing in a Service relationship with the Company or its Affiliate until the Vesting Date; provided, however, that if the Grantee is terminated without Cause after the end of such immediately preceding calendar year and prior to the Vesting Date (the “ Interim Period ”), then he or she shall still vest notwithstanding that he or she is not in a Service relationship with the Company on the Vesting Date so long as the EBITDA Target for such immediately preceding calendar year has been achieved. The remaining 50% of the RSUs granted under this Award Agreement shall vest in four equal installments (each consisting of 12.5% of the total RSU Shares) on the Vesting Date subject to the Grantee continuing in a Service relationship with the Company or its Affiliate until the Vesting Date; provided, however, that if the Grantee is terminated without Cause during the Interim Period, then he or she shall still vest notwithstanding that he or she is not in a Service relationship with the Company on the Vesting Date. For the calendar year ended December 31, 2009, the Board of Directors has determined the EBITDA Target to be $42,506,000 calculated in accordance with the following definition of EBITDA:

EBITDA – Net income or (loss) for the operating divisions for any period plus (a) the following to the extent deducted in calculating net income for such period: (i) interest charges for such period; (ii) the provision for federal, state, local and foreign income taxes for such period; (iii) depreciation and amortization expense; (iv) letter of credit fees; (v) incentive bonuses paid under the Plan and all other Incentive Plans; (vi) other costs related to the Chapter 11 cases filed by the Company and its Business Units; (vii) other non-recurring, non-cash expenses; and (viii) any other non-cash write-downs or non-cash write-offs including fixed asset impairment or write-downs, intangible asset impairments, deferred tax asset write-offs and non-cash stock component expenses; and minus (b) the following, to the extent included in calculating such net income: (i) federal, state, local and foreign income tax benefits recorded by the Company for such period; and (ii) all extraordinary, non-recurring, non-cash items increasing net income for such period.


Thereafter, EBITDA Targets shall be set forth in the ICP Plan or if no such targets are set forth in the ICP Plan, then EBITDA Targets shall be determined by the Board in its sole discretion. In the event that an EBITDA Target is not achieved in one calendar year, then that percentage of RSU Shares that would have otherwise vested on account thereof will be irrevocably forfeited. For purposes hereof, EBITDA shall be calculated in the same manner as provided in the ICP unless otherwise determined by the Board.

(b) Service Termination . Whether a termination of Service (as defined below) shall have occurred for purposes of this Award Agreement shall be determined by the Company, which determination shall be final, binding and conclusive. Notwithstanding Section 4(a) of this Award Agreement:

(i) For Cause . If Grantee’s Service is terminated prior to the Vesting Date for Cause (as defined below), then all then unvested RSUs shall immediately terminate and Grantee shall have no further rights hereunder, including without limitation any rights to receive any Dividend Equivalents as set forth in paragraph 3.

(ii) Voluntary Separation . Grantee may terminate his or her Service with the Company at any time. If Grantee elects to terminate his or her Service with the Company prior to completing two years of Service with the Company, then the unvested RSUs shall terminate and Grantee shall have no further rights hereunder, including, without limitation, any rights to receive any Dividend Equivalents as set forth in paragraph 3. If Grantee elects to terminate his or her Service with the Company after completing two years of Service with the Company, then the Grantee shall be vested in that number of RSUs equal to (A) the product of (X) the number of unvested RSUs that otherwise would have vested in the calendar year following termination in accordance with paragraph 4(a) hereto if the Grantee had not terminated Service multiplied by (Y) a fraction equal to the number of days that the Grantee provided Service to the Company in the year of termination over 365, plus (B) if termination occurs during an Interim Period, the number of unvested RSUs that otherwise would have vested at the end of such Interim Period, it being understood that the number of RSUs to be vested pursuant to this sentence shall be determined (and the related RSU Shares shall be issued to the Grantee) as soon as possible and in any event before March 15 of the calendar year following termination and that all RSUs that do not vest in accordance with this sentence shall immediately terminate and Grantee shall have no further rights hereunder with respect thereto, including without limitation any rights to receive any Dividend Equivalents with respect thereto as set forth in paragraph 3.

 

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(iii) Involuntary Separation . If the Company terminates Grantee’s Service without Cause prior to Grantee completing three years of Service, then, in addition to any shares vested pursuant to the provisos in paragraph 4(a) (if applicable), the Grantee shall be vested in that number of RSUs equal to the product of (X) the number of unvested RSUs that otherwise would have vested in the calendar year following termination in accordance with paragraph 4(a) hereto if the Grantee had not terminated Service multiplied by (Y) a fraction equal to the number of days that the Grantee provided Service to the Company in the year of termination over 365, it being understood that the number of RSUs to be vested pursuant to this sentence shall be determined (and the related RSU Shares shall be issued to the Grantee) as soon as possible and in any event before March 15 of the calendar year following termination and that all RSUs that do not vest in accordance with this sentence shall immediately terminate and Grantee shall have no further rights hereunder with respect thereto, including without limitation any rights to receive any Dividend Equivalents with respect thereto as set forth in paragraph 3. If the Company terminates Grantee’s Service without Cause after Grantee has completed at least three years of Service, then the RSUs shall be accelerated such that all unvested shares shall immediately vest and shall be considered vested shares as of the date of termination. If Grantee’s Service is terminated prior to the Vesting Date for Good Reason (as defined below), then all unvested RSUs shall be accelerated and immediately vested notwithstanding Section 4(a).

(iv) Change of Control . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, upon the consummation of a Change of Control of the Company, then all unvested RSUs shall be immediately and fully vested.

(v) Death/Disability . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, upon the death or disability of the Grantee, then the Grantee shall be vested in that number of RSUs equal to (A) the product of (X) the number of unvested RSUs that otherwise would have vested in the calendar year following termination in accordance with paragraph 4(a) hereto if the Grantee had not terminated Service by reason of death or disability multiplied by (Y) a fraction equal to the number of days that the Grantee provided Service to the Company in the year of termination over 365, plus (B) if termination occurs during an Interim Period, the number of unvested RSUs that otherwise would have vested at the end of such Interim Period, it being understood that the number of RSUs to be vested pursuant to this sentence shall be determined (and the related RSU Shares shall be issued to the Grantee) as soon as possible and in any event before March 15 of the calendar year following termination and that all RSUs that do not vest in accordance with this sentence shall immediately terminate and Grantee shall have no further rights hereunder with respect thereto, including without limitation any rights to receive any Dividend Equivalents with respect thereto as set forth in paragraph 3.

5. Nontransferability . The RSUs granted pursuant to this Award Agreement may not be transferred without the consent of the Company, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

6. No Rights Other Than Those Expressly Created . Neither this Award Agreement, the RSUs, nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as (i) giving the Grantee any right to be retained in the Service of, or continue to be affiliated with, the Company, (ii) giving the Grantee any equity or interest of any kind in any assets of the Company, or (iii) creating a trust of any kind or a fiduciary relationship of any kind between the Grantee and the Company. As to any claim for any unpaid amounts or distributions under this Award Agreement, any person having a claim for payments shall be an unsecured creditor. The Grantee shall not have any of the rights of a stockholder with respect to any RSU Shares or any Dividend Equivalents until such time as the underlying RSU has been vested and the RSU Shares have been issued.

7. Compliance with Laws .

(a) Withholding of Taxes . Pursuant to applicable federal, state, local or foreign laws, the Company may be required to collect or withhold income or other taxes from Grantee upon the Vesting Date or at some other time. The Company may require, upon the Vesting Date, or demand, at such other time as it may consider appropriate, that the Grantee pay the Company the amount of any taxes which the Company may determine is required to be collected or withheld, and the Grantee shall comply with the requirement or demand of the Company.

 

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(b) Securities Law Compliance . Upon vesting (or partial vesting) of the RSUs granted hereunder, the Grantee shall make such representations and furnish such information as may, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, be appropriate to permit the Company to issue or transfer the RSU Shares in compliance with the provisions of applicable federal or state securities laws. The Company, in its discretion, may postpone the issuance and delivery of RSU Shares until completion of such registration or other qualification of such shares under any federal or state laws, or stock exchange listing, as the Company may consider appropriate. In addition, the Company may require that prior to the issuance or transfer of RSU Shares, the Grantee enter into a written agreement to comply with any restrictions on subsequent disposition that the Company deems necessary or advisable under any applicable federal and state securities laws. Certificates of Stock issued hereunder may be legended to reflect such restrictions.

(c) General . No RSU Shares shall be issued or Dividend Equivalents distributed upon vesting of an RSU granted hereunder unless and until the Company is satisfied, in its sole discretion, that there has been compliance with all legal requirements applicable to the issuance of such RSU Shares and/or distribution of such Dividend Equivalents.

8. Miscellaneous .

(a) Definitions .

(i) “Cause ” shall mean the occurrence of any one of the following with respect to the Grantee as determined by the Board: (i) a material breach of the Grantee’s covenants under the “Confidential Information” or “Noncompete, Nonsolicitation” sections of the Grantee’s employment agreement with the Company; (ii) the commission by the Grantee of a felony, or any crime involving theft, dishonesty or moral turpitude; (iii) the commission by the Grantee of act(s) or omission(s) which are willful and deliberate acts intended to harm or injure the business, operations, financial condition or reputation of the Company or any affiliate of the Company; (iv) the Grantee’s disregard of the directives of the Board or his or her supervisor; (v) the Grantee’s drunkenness or use of drugs which interferes with the performance of the Grantee’s duties, which drunkenness or use of drugs continues after receipt of notice to the Grantee from the Company of his or her violation of this provision; or (vi) any attempt by the Grantee to secure any personal profit in connection with the business of the Company unless given prior written approval by unanimous consent of the Board.

(ii) “ Change of Control ” shall mean: (a) 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 (the “ Exchange Act”)) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 50% or more of the then outstanding shares of voting stock of the Company (the “ Voting Stock ”); provided, however, that any acquisition by the Company or its subsidiaries, or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or its subsidiaries of 50% or more of Voting Stock shall not constitute a Change of Control; and provided, further, that any acquisition by a corporation with respect to which, following such acquisition, more than 50% of the then outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation, is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of the Voting Stock immediately prior to such acquisition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership, immediately prior to such acquisition, of the Voting Stock, shall not constitute a Change of Control; or (b) Individuals who, as of the Effective Date, constitute the Board (the “ Incumbent Directors ”) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the members of this Board; provided that any individual who becomes a director after the Effective Date whose election or nomination for election by the Company’s Shareholders was approved by a majority of the members of the Incumbent Directors (other than an election or nomination of an individual whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened “election contest” relating to the election of the Directors of the Company (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 under the Exchange Act), “ tender offer ” (as such term is used in Section 14(d) of the Exchange Act) or a proposed Merger (as defined below) shall be deemed to be members of the Incumbent Directors; or (c) The consummation of (i) a reorganization, merger or consolidation (any of the foregoing, a “ Merger ”), in each case, with respect to which the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of the Voting Stock immediately prior to such Merger do not, following such Merger, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from the Merger (the Resulting Corporation ”) as a result of the individuals’ and entities’ shareholdings in the Company immediately prior to the consummation of the Merger and without regard to any of the individual’s and entities’ shareholdings in the Resulting Corporation immediately prior to the consummation of the Merger, (ii) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (iii) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, excluding a sale or other disposition of assets to a subsidiary of the Company.

 

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(iii) “ Disability ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Company’s long term disability plan.

(iv) “ Good Reason ” shall have the meaning given to it in the Grantee’s governing employment agreement, if any. If the Grantee’s governing employment agreement does not include such a definition, then Good Reason shall mean (i) material diminution in Grantee’s base salary; (ii) material diminution in Grantee’s, or the person to whom the Grantee reports, authority, duties or responsibilities; (iii) requirement that the Grantee report to a corporate officer or employee instead of reporting to the Company’s Board of Directors, if applicable; (iv) material diminution in the budget over which the Grantee retains authority; (v) material change in the geographic location at which Grantee must perform services; or (vi) action or inaction by the Company that constitutes a material breach of the Grantee’s employment agreement, if any.

(v) “ ICP Plan ” shall mean the then current Incentive Compensation Plan of the Company.

(vi) “ Service ” shall mean service as a Service Provider to the Company. For purposes of this Award Agreement, commencement of Service for purposes of determining years of service shall begin on January 22, 2008.

(vii) “ Service Provider ” shall mean an employee, officer or director of the Company or an Affiliate of the Company or a consultant providing services to the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.

(b) 409A Compliance . The Company may, in its sole and absolute discretion, delay payments hereunder or make such other modifications with respect to the issuance of stock hereunder as it reasonably deems necessary to comply with Section 409A of the Code and interpretative guidance thereunder.

(c) Discretion of the Committee . Unless otherwise explicitly provided herein, the Board of Directors of the Company, or an authorized committee thereof, shall make all determinations required to be made hereunder, including determinations required to be made by the Company, and shall interpret all provisions of this Award Agreement and the underlying RSUs, as it deems necessary or desirable, in its sole and unfettered discretion. Such determinations and interpretations shall be binding and conclusive to the Company and the Grantee.

(d) Amendment . This Award Agreement may only be modified or amended by a writing signed by both parties.

 

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(e) Notices . Any notices required to be given under this Award Agreement shall be sufficient if in writing and if sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, and addressed as follows:

if to the Company:

Global Power Equipment Group Inc.

C/O General Counsel

6120 South Yale

Suite 1480

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74136

if to the Grantee:

[INSERT NAME AND ADDRESS OF GRANTEE]

or to such other address as either party may designate under the provisions hereof.

(f) Entire Agreement . This Award Agreement shall supersede in its entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Grantee, whether oral or written, with respect to the RSUs granted hereunder including, without limitation, any prior written employment, change of control agreement or other similar written agreement, if any, that may provide, in certain circumstances, for acceleration of restricted stock units granted to the Grantee.

(g) Successors and Assigns . The rights and obligations of the Company under this Award Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of the Company.

(h) Applicable Law; Severability . All rights and obligations under this Award Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware. In the event that any court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that any provision, or any portion thereof, contained in this Award Agreement shall be unenforceable in any respect, then such provision shall be deemed limited to the extent that such court deems it enforceable, and as so limited shall remain in full force and effect. In the event that such court shall deem any such provision, or portion thereof, wholly unenforceable, the remaining provisions of this Award Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect.

(i) Paragraph Headings; Rules of Construction . The paragraph headings used in this Award Agreement are for convenience or reference, and are not to be construed as part of this Award Agreement. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that the rule of construction to the effect that any ambiguities are resolved against the drafting party shall not be employed in the interpretation of this Award Agreement.

(j) Electronic Copies . The Company may choose to deliver certain materials relating to the Plan in electronic form. By accepting this Award Agreement, the Grantee consents and agrees that the Company may deliver the Plan prospectus and the Company’s annual report to Grantee in an electronic format. If at any time Grantee would prefer to receive paper copies of these documents, the Company will provide such copies upon request.

(k) Fractional Shares . No Fractional Shares of Common Stock shall be issued hereunder. Any fractional shares shall be rounded to next whole number using normal convention.

(k) No Waiver of Rights, Powers and Remedies . No failure or delay by a party hereto in exercising any right, power or remedy under this Award Agreement, and no course of dealing between the parties hereto, shall operate as a waiver of any such right, power or remedy of the party, unless explicitly provided for herein. No single or partial exercise of any right, power or remedy under this Award Agreement by a party hereto, nor any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce any such right, power or remedy, shall preclude such party from any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy hereunder.

 

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(l) Counterparts . This Award Agreement may be executed in multiple counterparts, including by electronic or facsimile signature, each of which shall be deemed in original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

[GRANTEE]    Global Power Equipment Power Group Inc.

 

   By:  

 

     [NAME AND TITLE]

 

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Exhibit 10.14

GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC.

2008 DIRECTOR’S EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

1. Purpose and Eligibility . The purpose of this 2008 Director’s Equity Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”) of Global Power Equipment Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”) is to provide stock options, restricted stock, stock issuances and other equity interests in the Company (each, an “ Award ”) to Directors of the Company. Any person to whom an Award has been granted under the Plan is called a “ Participant .” Additional definitions are contained in Section 9 .

2. Administration .

a. Administration by Board of Directors . The Plan will be administered by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Board ”). The Board, in its sole discretion, shall have the authority to grant and amend Awards, to adopt, amend and repeal rules relating to the Plan and to interpret and correct the provisions of the Plan and any Award. The Board shall have authority, subject to the express limitations of the Plan, (i) to construe and determine the respective Stock Option Agreement, Awards and the Plan, (ii) to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan and any Awards, (iii) to determine the terms and provisions of the respective Stock Option Agreements and Awards, which need not be identical, and (iv) to make all other determinations in the judgment of the Board necessary or desirable for the administration and interpretation of the Plan. The Board may correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any Stock Option Agreement or Award in the manner and to the extent it shall deem expedient to carry the Plan or any Stock Option Agreement or Award into effect and it shall be the sole and final judge of such expediency. All decisions by the Board shall be final and binding on all interested persons. Neither the Company nor any member of the Board shall be liable for any action or determination relating to the Plan.

b. Appointment of Committee . To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may delegate any or all of its powers under the Plan to one or more committees or subcommittees of the Board (a “ Committee ”). If so delegated, all references in the Plan to the “ Board ” shall mean such Committee or the Board.

c. Applicability of Section Rule 16b-3 . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing if, or at such time as, the Common Stock is or becomes registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), or any successor statute, the Plan shall be administered in a manner consistent with Rule 16b-3 promulgated thereunder, as it may be amended from time to time, or any successor rules (“ Rule 16b-3 ”), such that all subsequent grants of Awards hereunder to Reporting Persons, as hereinafter defined, shall be exempt under such rule. Those provisions of the Plan which make express reference to Rule 16b-3 or which are required in order for certain option transactions to qualify for exemption under Rule 16b-3 shall apply only to such persons as are required to file reports under Section 16 (a) of the Exchange Act (a “ Reporting Person ”).


3. Stock Available for Awards .

a. Number of Shares . Subject to adjustment under Section 3(b ), the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock of the Company (the “ Common Stock ”) that may be issued pursuant to the Plan is the Available Shares (as defined on the last page). If any Award is canceled, expires, forfeited, settled in cash, or otherwise terminated without delivery of the shares of Common Stock to the holder of such Award, the shares of Common Stock which were the subject of such Award will be available under the Plan for subsequent Awards. If any Award is settled by delivery of fewer shares of Common Stock than the number of shares of Common Stock underlying such Award, shares that were withheld from such an Award in payment of an exercise price or taxes relating to such an Award shall be deemed to constitute shares not delivered and will be available under the Plan for subsequent Awards.

b. Adjustment to Common Stock . Subject to Section 7 , in the event of any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, exchange of shares, liquidation, spin-off, split-up, or other similar change in capitalization or similar event, (i) the number and class of Available Shares, (ii) the number and class of securities, vesting schedule and exercise price per share subject to each outstanding Option, (iii) the repurchase price per security subject to repurchase, and (iv) the terms of each other outstanding Award shall be adjusted by the Company (or substituted Awards may be made if applicable) to the extent the Board shall determine, in good faith, that such an adjustment (or substitution) is appropriate. Any such adjustment to outstanding Awards will be effected in a manner that precludes the enlargement of rights and benefits under such Awards.

4. Stock Options .

a. General . The Board may grant options to purchase Common Stock (each, an “ Option ”) and determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by each Option, the exercise price of each Option and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of each Option and the shares of Common Stock issued upon the exercise of each Option, including, but not limited to, vesting provisions, repurchase provisions and restrictions relating to applicable federal or state securities laws. Each Option will be evidenced by a Stock Option Agreement, consisting of a Notice of Stock Option Award and a Stock Option Award Agreement (collectively, a “ Stock Option Agreement ”).

b. Duration of Options . Each Option shall be exercisable at such times and subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may specify in the applicable Stock Option Agreement.

c. Exercise of Option . Options may be exercised only by delivery to the Company of a written notice of exercise signed by the proper person together with payment in full as specified in Section 4(d) and the Stock Option Agreement for the number of shares for which the Option is exercised.

 

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d. Payment Upon Exercise . Common Stock purchased upon the exercise of an Option shall be paid for by one or any combination of the following forms of payment as permitted by the Board in its sole and absolute discretion:

i. by check payable to the order of the Company;

ii. only if the Common Stock is then publicly traded, by delivery of an irrevocable and unconditional undertaking by a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the Company sufficient funds to pay the exercise price, or delivery by the Participant to the Company of a copy of irrevocable and unconditional instructions to a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the Company cash or a check sufficient to pay the exercise price;

iii. to the extent explicitly provided in the applicable Stock Option Agreement, by delivery of shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant valued at Fair Market Value;

iv. to the extent that Common Stock is not registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, or any successor statute, then by delivery of a promissory note of the Participant, with full recourse to the Participant, to the Company (and delivery to the Company by the Participant of a check in an amount equal to the par value of the shares purchased); or

v. payment of such other lawful consideration as the Board may determine.

Except as otherwise expressly set forth in a Stock Option Agreement, the Board shall have no obligation to accept consideration other than cash and in particular, unless the Board so expressly provides, in no event will the Company accept the delivery of shares of Common Stock that have not been owned by the Participant at least six months prior to the exercise. The fair market value of any shares of the Company’s Common Stock or other non-cash consideration which may be delivered upon exercise of an Option shall be determined in such manner as may be prescribed by the Board.

e. Acceleration, Extension, Etc . The Board may, in its sole discretion, and in all instances subject to any relevant tax and accounting considerations which may adversely impact or impair the Company, (i) accelerate the date or dates on which all or any particular Options or Awards granted under the Plan may be exercised, or (ii) extend the dates during which all or any particular Options or Awards granted under the Plan may be exercised or vest.

f. Determination of Fair Market Value . If, at the time an Option is granted under the Plan, the Company’s Common Stock is publicly traded under the Exchange Act, “ Fair Market Value ” shall mean (i) if the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, including without limitation the Nasdaq National Market or The Nasdaq Small Cap Market of The Nasdaq Stock Market, its fair market value shall be the last reported sales price for such stock (on that date) or the closing bid, if no sales were reported as quoted on such exchange or system as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Board deems reliable; or (ii) the average of the closing bid and asked prices last quoted (on that date) by an established quotation service for over-the-counter securities, if the Common Stock is not reported on a national market system. In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock, the fair market value thereof shall be determined in good faith by the Board after taking into consideration all factors which it deems appropriate.

 

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5. Restricted Stock .

a. Grants . The Board may grant Awards to Participants of restricted shares of Common Stock, subject to (i) delivery to the Company by the Participant of a check in an amount at least equal to the par value of the shares purchased, and (ii) the right of the Company to repurchase all or part of such shares at their issue price or other stated or formula price from the Participant in the event that conditions specified by the Board in the applicable Award are not satisfied prior to the end of the applicable restriction period or periods established by the Board for such Award (each, a “ Restricted Stock Award ”). The Company shall issue the shares of Restricted Stock subject to the Restricted Stock Award in book entry form, registered in the name of the Participant with notations regarding the applicable restrictions on transfer imposed under the Award Agreement; provided, however, that the Corporation may, in its discretion, elect to issue such shares in certificate form.

b. Terms and Conditions . The Board shall determine the terms and conditions of any such Restricted Stock Award. Any stock certificates issued in respect of a Restricted Stock Award shall be registered in the name of the Participant and, unless otherwise determined by the Board, deposited by the Participant, together with a stock power endorsed in blank, with the Company (or its designee). After the expiration of the applicable restriction periods, the Company (or such designee) shall deliver the certificates no longer subject to such restrictions to the Participant or, if the Participant has died, to the beneficiary designated by a Participant, in a manner determined by the Board, to receive amounts due or exercise rights of the Participant in the event of the Participant’s death (the “ Designated Beneficiary ”). In the absence of an effective designation by a Participant, Designated Beneficiary shall mean the Participant’s estate.

6. Other Stock-Based Awards . The Board shall have the right to grant other Awards based upon the Common Stock having such terms and conditions as the Board may determine, including, without limitation, the grant of shares based upon certain conditions, the grant of securities convertible into Common Stock and the grant of stock appreciation rights, phantom stock awards, performance stock, deferred stock, restricted stock units, shares of Common Stock not subject to any restrictions or stock units.

7. General Provisions Applicable to Awards .

a. Transferability of Awards . Except as the Board may otherwise determine or provide in an Award, Awards shall not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered by the person to whom they are granted, either voluntarily or by operation of law, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and, during the life of the Participant, shall be exercisable only by the Participant; provided, however, except as the Board may otherwise determine or provide in an Award, that Options and Restricted Stock Awards may be transferred pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order (as defined in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended) or to a grantor-retained annuity trust or a similar estate-planning vehicle in which the trust is bound by all provisions of the Stock Option Agreement and Restricted Stock Award, which are applicable to the Participant. References to a Participant, to the extent relevant in the context, shall include references to authorized transferees.

 

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b. Documentation . Each Award under the Plan shall be evidenced by a written instrument in such form as the Board shall determine or as executed by an officer of the Company pursuant to authority delegated by the Board. Each Award may contain terms and conditions in addition to those set forth in the Plan, provided that such terms and conditions do not contravene the provisions of the Plan or applicable law.

c. Additional Award Provisions . The Board may, in its sole discretion, include additional provisions in any Stock Option Agreement, Restricted Stock Award or other Award granted under the Plan, including without limitation restrictions on transfer, repurchase rights, commitments to pay cash bonuses, to make, arrange for or guaranty loans or to transfer other property to Participants upon exercise of Awards, or transfer other property to Participants upon exercise of Awards, or such other provisions as shall be determined by the Board; provided that such additional provisions shall not be inconsistent with any other term or condition of the Plan or applicable law.

d. Termination of Status . The Board shall determine the effect on an Award of the disability (as defined in Code Section 22(e)(3)), death, retirement, authorized leave of absence or other change in the employment or other status of a Participant and the extent to which, and the period during which, the Participant, or the Participant’s legal representative, conservator, guardian or Designated Beneficiary, may exercise rights under the Award.

e. Change of Control of the Company .

i. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the applicable Stock Option Agreement or Restricted Stock Award or other Award, in connection with the occurrence of a Change of Control (as defined below), the Board shall, in its sole discretion as to any outstanding Award (including any portion thereof; on the same basis or on different bases, as the Board shall specify), take one or any combination of the following actions:

A. make appropriate provision for the continuation of such Award by the Company or the assumption of such Award by the surviving or acquiring entity and by substituting on an equitable basis for the shares then subject to such Award either (x) the consideration payable with respect to the outstanding shares of Common Stock in connection with the Change of Control, (y) shares of stock of the surviving or acquiring corporation or (z) such other securities as the Board deems appropriate, the Fair Market Value of which shall not materially differ from the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock subject to such Award immediately preceding the Change of Control (as determined by the Board in its sole discretion);

B. accelerate the date of exercise or vesting of such Award;

 

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C. In the event that the surviving or acquiring entity refuses to assume or substitute for the Award, the Participant shall be fully vested in the Award and have the right to exercise the Award, if applicable. If the Award becomes fully vested in the event of a Change of Control, the Company shall notify the Participant, in writing or electronically, that the Award is fully vested and exercisable for a period of at least fifteen (15) days from the date of such notice, which notice shall be provided at least fifteen (15) days prior to the closing of the Change of Control and that any Award that is not exercised shall terminate upon the expiration of such fifteen (15) day period.

D. permit the exchange of such Award for the right to participate in any stock option or other employee benefit plan of any successor corporation;

E. provide for the repurchase of the Award for an amount equal to the difference of (i) the consideration received per share for the securities underlying the Award in the Change of Control minus (ii) the per share exercise price of such securities. Such amount shall be payable in cash or the property payable in respect of such securities in connection with the Change of Control. The value of any such property shall be determined by the Board in its discretion; or

F. solely with respect to a transaction described in Section 7(e)(i)(G)(c) below, provide for the termination of such Award immediately prior to the consummation of the Change of Control; provided that no such termination will be effective if the Change of Control is not consummated.

G. For the purpose of this Agreement, a “ Change of Control ” shall mean:

(a) 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 (the “ Exchange Act ”)) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 50% or more of the then outstanding shares of voting stock of the Company (the “ Voting Stock ”); provided, however, that any acquisition by the Company or its subsidiaries, or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or its subsidiaries of 50% or more of Voting Stock shall not constitute a Change of Control; and provided, further, that any acquisition by a corporation with respect to which, following such acquisition, more than 50% of the then outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation, is then beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of the Voting Stock immediately prior to such acquisition in substantially the same proportion as their ownership, immediately prior to such acquisition, of the Voting Stock, shall not constitute a Change of Control; and provided, further that the acquisition of 50% or more of the Voting Stock pursuant to a transaction, the primary purpose of which was to effect an equity financing of the Company, shall not constitute a Change of Control ; or

 

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(b) Individuals who, as of the Effective Date, constitute the Board (the “ Incumbent Directors ”) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the members of this Board; provided that any individual who becomes a director after the Effective Date whose election or nomination for election by the Company’s Shareholders was approved by a majority of the members of the Incumbent Directors (other than an election or nomination of an individual whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened “election contest” relating to the election of the Directors of the Company (as such terms are used in Rule 14a-11 under the Exchange Act)), “ tender offer ” (as such term is used in Section 14(d) of the Exchange Act) or a proposed Merger (as defined below) shall be deemed to be members of the Incumbent Directors; or

(c) The consummation of (i) a reorganization, merger or consolidation (any of the foregoing, a “ Merger ”), in each case, with respect to which the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of the Voting Stock immediately prior to such Merger do not, following such Merger, beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the then outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from the Merger (the “ Resulting Corporation ”) as a result of the individuals’ and entities’ shareholdings in the Company immediately prior to the consummation of the Merger and without regard to any of the individual’s and entities’ shareholdings in the Resulting Corporation immediately prior to the consummation of the Merger, (ii) a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (iii) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, excluding a sale or other disposition of assets to a subsidiary of the Company.

f. Dissolution or Liquidation . In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Board shall notify each Participant as soon as practicable prior to the effective date of such proposed transaction. The Board in its sole discretion may provide for a Participant to have the right to exercise his or her Award until fifteen (15) days prior to such transaction as to all of the shares of Common Stock covered by the Option or Award, including shares as to which the Option or Award would not otherwise be exercisable, which exercise may in the sole discretion of the Board, be made subject to and conditioned upon the consummation of such proposed transaction. In addition, the Board may provide that any Company repurchase option applicable to any shares of Common Stock purchased upon exercise of an Option or Award shall lapse as to all such shares of Common Stock, provided the proposed dissolution and liquidation takes place at the time and in the manner contemplated. To the extent it has not been previously exercised, an Award will terminate upon the consummation of such proposed action.

g. Assumption of Options Upon Certain Events . In connection with a merger or consolidation of an entity with the Company or the acquisition by the Company of property or stock of an entity, the Board may grant Awards under the Plan in substitution for stock and stock-based awards issued by such entity or an affiliate thereof. The substitute Awards shall be granted on such terms and conditions as the Board considers appropriate in the circumstances.

 

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h. Parachute Payments and Parachute Awards . Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7(e) , if, in connection with a Change of Control described therein, a tax under Section 4999 of the Code would be imposed on the Participant (after taking into account the exceptions set forth in Sections 280G(b)(4) and 280G(b)(5) of the Code), then the number of Awards which shall become exercisable, realizable or vested as provided in such Section shall be reduced (or delayed), to the minimum extent necessary, so that no such tax would be imposed on the Participant (the Awards not becoming so accelerated, realizable or vested, the “ Parachute Awards ”); provided, however, that if the “aggregate present value” of the Parachute Awards would exceed the tax that, but for this sentence, would be imposed on the Participant under Section 4999 of the Code in connection with the Change of Control, then the Awards shall become immediately exercisable, realizable and vested without regard to the provisions of this sentence. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the “aggregate present value” of an Award shall be calculated on an after-tax basis (other than taxes imposed by Section 4999 of the Code) and shall be based on economic principles rather than the principles set forth under Section 280G of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder. All determinations required to be made under this Section 7(h) shall be made by the Company.

i. Amendment of Awards . The Board may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding Award including, but not limited to, substituting therefor another Award of the same or a different type, changing the date of exercise or realization, provided that the Participant’s consent to such action shall be required unless the Board determines that the action, taking into account any related action, would not materially and adversely affect the Participant.

j. Conditions on Delivery of Stock . The Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan or to remove restrictions from shares previously delivered under the Plan until (i) all conditions of the Award have been met or removed to the satisfaction of the Company, (ii) in the opinion of the Company’s counsel, all other legal matters in connection with the issuance and delivery of such shares have been satisfied, including any applicable securities laws and any applicable stock exchange or stock market rules and regulations, and (iii) the Participant has executed and delivered to the Company such representations or agreements as the Company may consider appropriate to satisfy the requirements of any applicable laws, rules or regulations.

k. Acceleration . The Board may at any time provide that any Options shall become immediately exercisable in full or in part, that any Restricted Stock Awards shall be free of some or all restrictions, or that any other stock-based Awards may become exercisable in full or in part or free of some or all restrictions or conditions, or otherwise realizable in full or in part, as the case may be, despite the fact that the foregoing actions may cause the application of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code if a Change of Control of the Company occurs. In addition, the Board may, in its sole discretion, and in all instances subject to any relevant tax and accounting considerations which may adversely impact or impair the Company, extend the dates during which all or any particular Options or Awards granted under the Plan may be exercised.

 

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l. Time of Granting Awards . The grant of an Award shall, for all purposes, be the date on which the Company completes the corporate action relating to the grant of such Award and all conditions to the grant have been satisfied, provided that conditions to the grant, exercise or vesting of an Award shall not defer the date of grant. Notice of a grant shall be given to each Participant to whom an Award is so granted within a reasonable time after the determination has been made.

8. Withholding . The Company shall have the right to deduct from payments of any kind otherwise due to the optionee or recipient of an Award any federal, state or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to any shares issued upon exercise of Options under the Plan or the purchase of shares subject to the Award. Subject to the prior approval of the Company, which may be withheld by the Company in its sole discretion, the optionee or recipient of an Award may elect to satisfy such obligation, in whole or in part, (a) by causing the Company to withhold shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable pursuant to the exercise of an Option or the purchase of shares subject to an Award or (b) by delivering to the Company shares of Common Stock already owned by the optionee or Award recipient of an Award. The shares so delivered or withheld shall have a Fair Market Value of the shares used to satisfy such withholding obligation as shall be determined by the Company as of the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined. An optionee or recipient of an Award who has made an election pursuant to this Section may only satisfy his or her withholding obligation with shares of Common Stock which are not subject to any repurchase, forfeiture, unfulfilled vesting or other similar requirements.

9. Miscellaneous .

a. Definitions .

i. “ Company ”, for purposes of eligibility under the Plan, shall include any present or future subsidiary corporations of Global Power Equipment Group Inc., as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code (a “ Subsidiary ”), and any present or future parent corporation of Global Power Equipment Group Inc., as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

ii. “ Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

iii. “ Effective Date ” means the date the Plan is approved by the Board.

b. No Rights As Stockholder . Subject to the provisions of the applicable Award, no Participant or Designated Beneficiary shall have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock to be distributed with respect to an Award until becoming the record holder thereof.

 

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c. Compliance with Law . The Company shall not be required to sell or issue any shares of Common Stock under any Award if the sale or issuance of such shares would constitute a violation by the Participant, any other individual exercising an Option, or the Company of any provision of any law or regulation of any governmental authority, including without limitation any federal or state securities laws or regulation. If at any time the Company shall determine, in its discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of any share subject to an Award upon any security exchange or under any governmental regulatory body is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the issuance or purchase of shares hereunder, no shares of Common Stock may be issued or sold to the Participant or any other individual exercising an Option pursuant to such Award unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent, or approval shall have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Company, and any delay caused thereby shall in no way effect the date of termination of the Award. Any determination in this connection by the Board shall be final, binding and conclusive. The Company may, but shall in no event be obligated to, register any securities covered hereby pursuant to the Securities Act. The Company shall not be obligated to take any affirmative action in order to cause the exercise of an Option or the issuance of shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan to comply with any law or regulation of any governmental authority. As to any jurisdiction that expressly imposes that a Option shall not be exercised until the shares of Common Stock covered by such Option are registered or exempt from registration, the exercise of such Option (under circumstances in which the laws of such jurisdiction apply) shall be deemed conditioned up on the effectiveness of such registration or availability of such an exemption.

d. Effective Date and Term of Plan . The Plan shall become effective on the date on which it is adopted by the Board. No Awards shall be granted under the Plan after the completion of ten years from the date on which the Plan was adopted by the Board, but Awards previously granted may extend beyond that date.

e. Amendment of Plan . The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time.

f. Governing Law . The provisions of the Plan and all Awards made hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to any applicable conflicts of law principles.

 

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Available Shares:   1,500,000

 

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Exhibit 10.15

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This Employment Agreement (this “Agreement”) is entered into between Global Power Equipment Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and David L. Keller (“Executive”) on September 11, 2009 to set forth the terms pursuant to which Executive will become President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company on September 14, 2009 (the “Effective Date”).

The Company and Executive, intending to be bound upon execution of this Agreement on the date first set forth above, agree as follows:

1. Employment; Term . The Company engages and employs Executive, for an initial term extending from the Effective Date through September 13, 2012, to render such services in the administration and operation of its affairs as are customarily performed by presidents and chief executive officers of companies similar in size to, and in a similar business as, the Company, together with such other duties as, from time to time, may be specified by its Board of Directors (the “Board”) in a manner consistent with his status as the principal executive officer of the Company, all in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement. By not later than June 13, 2012, if Executive’s employment under this Agreement has not been earlier terminated under any of Sections 7.2 through 7.6, the Company and Executive will discuss whether or not they then mutually agree that the term of Executive’s employment should be extended for an additional year through September 13, 2013, and if they do so mutually agree, each will confirm that fact in a writing delivered to the other by not later than July 13, 2012. The term of Executive’s employment under this Agreement, through the Termination Date (as defined in Section 8 below), is sometimes referred to below as the “Contract Period.”

2. Full-Time Services; Location; Compliance .

2.1 Full-Time Services . Throughout the Contract Period, Executive will devote substantially all of his business time and efforts to the service of the Company and its Subsidiaries (as defined below in this Section 2.1), except for usual vacation periods, reasonable periods of illness, and reasonable periods of time devoted to his personal financial affairs and charitable and civic activities that do not interfere with the performance by Executive of his duties under this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Subsidiary” means any corporation, partnership, or other entity a majority of the voting control of which is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by the Company.

2.2 Location . The Company acknowledges that Executive will not relocate his personal residence to the Tulsa, Oklahoma area. Throughout the Contract Period, Executive will spend substantially all of the Business Days on which he works for the Company either at the Company’s headquarters in Tulsa (where he will spend a substantial majority of those days) or travelling to the offices of the Company’s Subsidiaries or to other destinations to which the business of the Company would take him without regard to where he might maintain his personal residence. Except as may otherwise be agreed by the Board, Executive will not regularly use a home office or other office maintained by him outside of the Company’s headquarters or the offices of its Subsidiaries to perform services on behalf of the Company during Business Days. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Business Day” means any day (other than a day on which Executive is on vacation) on which the Company’s headquarters are open for business.


2.3 Compliance . In the performance of his duties under this Agreement Executive will comply with all policies, procedures, and rules established by the Company from time to time and with all applicable laws and governmental rules and regulations.

3. Executive Officer and Board Member . Throughout the Contract Period: (a) Executive will hold the offices of President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company; (b) Executive will report to and be accountable to the Board; and (c) the Company will use its best efforts to cause Executive to be elected to the Board at each meeting of the shareholders of the Company at which directors are elected.

4. Compensation . For all services to be rendered by Executive to the Company and its Subsidiaries under this Agreement during the Contract Period, including services as an officer, director, or member of any committee of the Board, or any other services specified by the Board, the Company will pay and provide to Executive the compensation and benefits specified in this Section 4.

4.1 Base Salary . The Company will pay Executive base salary (the “Base Salary”), in equal monthly or more frequent installments, at the rate of not less than $435,000 per year, subject to such increases as the Board may approve.

4.2 Annual Bonus . Throughout the Contract Period, Executive will be a participant in and entitled to bonuses under the Company’s Management Incentive Compensation Plan as in effect from time to time (the “MICP”) with, for each “Bonus Year” (as defined in the MICP): (a) a target bonus of 80% of the Base Salary paid to Executive during that Bonus Year, and (b) a maximum bonus of 160% of the Base Salary paid to Executive during that Bonus Year.

4.3 Equity Grant .

(a) As of the Effective Date, the Company will grant to Executive 750,000 Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”) under the Company’s 2008 Management Incentive Plan (the “MIP”). Subject to acceleration under the terms of the MIP or another provision of this Section 4.3, the RSUs so granted will vest 25% per year on March 31 of each of 2010 through 2013, provided:

(i) As to one half of the RSUs that might vest on any particular March 31 (the “Time Vested RSUs”), Executive remains in the employ of the Company through that date, and

(ii) As to the other one half of the RSUs that might vest on any particular March 31 (the “Performance Vested RSUs”):

(A) Executive remains in the employ of the Company through that date, and

(B) the Company achieves its EBITDA Target (as defined in the MICP) for the immediately preceding calendar year, as determined after the end of that immediately preceding calendar year.

(b) If (i) Executive remains in the employ of the Company through September 13, 2012, (ii) the term of Executive’s employment is not extended by mutual agreement of the parties to September 13, 2013 as contemplated by Section 1 above, and (iii) Executive has not died before March 31, 2013, Executive’s rights to RSUs scheduled to vest on March 31, 2013 will vest on that date to the same extent as if Executive had remained in the employ of the Company through that date.

 

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(c) The grant of RSUs specified in this Section 4.3 is intended to provide Executive with appropriate equity incentive for the entire Contract Period and, unless otherwise determined by the Board at some time after the Effective Time, Executive will not be granted additional awards of RSUs at any later time.

5. Benefits .

5.1 401(k) Plan and Flex Benefit Plan . Throughout the Contract Period, Executive will be entitled to participate in the Company’s 401(k) plan and its Flex Benefit Plan on the terms and conditions generally applicable to senior executives of the Company.

5.2 Insurance, Salary Continuation on Disability . Throughout the Contract Period, the Company will provide to Executive life, accidental death and dismemberment, short and long term disability, and travel accident insurance on the terms and conditions generally applicable to senior executives of the Company. If Executive becomes disabled while employed by the Company, the Company will pay to Executive the difference between his Base Salary and the benefit payable under the Company provided short term disability insurance for a period of up to six months. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company will not provide medical or dental insurance to Executive at any time during or after the Contract Period.

5.3 Vacation . In addition to paid holidays generally provided to senior executives of the Company, Executive will be entitled to four weeks of paid vacation per year, to be taken at times selected by Executive in such a manner as to minimize disruption to the operations of the Company.

5.4 Housing and Automobile . The Company will provide Executive an allowance for or will directly pay the costs of (as may be determined by mutual agreement of the Board and Executive from time to time) (a) a suitable apartment in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area, and (b) a suitable automobile for his use while in the Tulsa area.

6. Expense Reimbursement . The Company will reimburse Executive for reasonable and necessary business expenses incurred in performing his duties under this Agreement. These reimbursements will be made in accordance with, and subject to any relevant limitations in, the Company’s policies in effect from time to time with respect to travel, entertainment, and other business expenses (including documentation requirements).

7. Termination .

7.1 Upon Expiration of the Term . Unless earlier terminated pursuant to another provision of this Section 7 or extended by mutual agreement of the parties for one additional year as contemplated by Section 1 above, Executive’s employment under this Agreement will terminate without further action by either party on September 13, 2012. If Executive’s employment under this Agreement is extended for one additional year as contemplated by Section 1 above and is not thereafter earlier terminated pursuant to another provision of this Section 7, Executive’s employment under this Agreement will terminate without further action by either party on September 13, 2013.

 

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7.2 Death or Disability . Executive’s employment under this Agreement will terminate immediately upon his death. The Company may terminate Executive’s employment under this Agreement immediately upon giving notice of termination if Executive is Disabled (as defined below in this Section 7.2) for an aggregate of 90 days in any consecutive 12 calendar months or for 60 consecutive days. For these purposes, Executive will be deemed to be “Disabled” on any date if he is then unable to engage in his own occupation of President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months.

7.3 For Cause by the Company . The Company may terminate Executive’s employment under this Agreement for “Cause” at any time upon the occurrence of any of the following circumstances (as determined by the Board):

(a) Consistent failure by Executive (other than as a result of disability) to perform his duties and responsibilities as specified in Sections 1 and 2 above, which failure continues for 15 days after the Board has advised Executive in writing of that failure.

(b) A material breach of the Executive’s covenants under Section 12.1 (captioned “Confidentiality”) or Section 12.3 (captioned “Noncompetition”).

(c) A material breach by Executive of any other provision of this Agreement not specified in either of Sections 7.3(a) or 7.3(b), which breach is not cured in all substantial respects within 30 days after the Board has advised Executive in writing of the nature of the breach.

(d) Commission by Executive of a felony, or any crime involving theft, dishonesty, or moral turpitude.

(e) Commission by Executive of any one or more acts or omissions that are willful and deliberate and taken or omitted with intent to harm or injure the business, operations, financial condition, or reputation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(f) Disregard by Executive of directives of the Board.

(g) Drunkenness or use of drugs by Executive that interferes with the performance of his duties under this Agreement and continues after receipt of notice to Executive from the Company of his violation of this provision.

(h) Any action taken by Executive to secure any personal profit in connection with the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries without first obtaining the unanimous consent of all of the members of the Board other than Executive to the taking of that action.

7.4 For Good Reason by Executive . Executive may terminate his employment under this Agreement for “Good Reason” if:

(a) The Company materially diminishes Executive’s duties and responsibilities from those set forth in Sections 1 and 3 above or materially breaches any of its obligations under this Agreement (the first date on which any such diminution or other material breach occurs being the “Good Reason Trigger Date”);

(b) Executive delivers written notice to the Board, not later than 90 days after the Good Reason Trigger Date, of the occurrence of the diminution or other breach and of Executive’s intention to terminate his employment for Good Reason based upon that occurrence;

 

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(c) The Company fails to rescind the diminution or to cure the other breach specified in the notice by the Executive, as the case may be, within 30 days after Executive has provided the written notice contemplated by Section 7.4(a); and

(d) Executive actually terminates his employment by a subsequent written notice to the Company specifying an effective date of termination that is not earlier than the expiration of the 30 day period specified in Section 7.4(c) and not later than one year after the Good Reason Trigger Date.

7.5 Without Cause by the Company . The Company may terminate Executive’s employment under this Agreement at any time without Cause pursuant to written notice provided to Executive upon the affirmative vote of a majority of all of the members of the Board (other than Executive). Any termination under this Section 7.5 will be effective at such time as the Board may specify in that written notice.

7.6 Without Good Reason by Executive . Executive may terminate his employment under this Agreement at any time without Good Reason pursuant to written notice provided to the Company. Any termination under this Section 7.6 will be effective at such time as Executive may specify in that written notice.

8. Payments upon Termination . For all purposes of this Agreement, the term “Termination Date” means the date on which Executive’s employment with the Company terminates.

8.1 Upon Termination For Cause, Without Good Reason, or at Expiration of Term . If Executive’s employment under this Agreement is terminated by the Company for Cause, by Executive without Good Reason, or upon expiration of the term as contemplated in Section 7.1, the Company will pay and provide to Executive his Base Salary through the Termination Date, to the extent not already paid, and, except as may otherwise be required by law, the Company will not pay or provide to Executive any further compensation or other benefits under this Agreement after the Termination Date. The Company will pay any Base Salary referred to in this Section 8.1 to Executive within 30 days of the Termination Date.

8.2 Upon Termination Without Cause or For Good Reason . If Executive’s employment under this Agreement is terminated by the Company without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason, the Company will pay and provide to Executive the amounts and benefits specified in this Section 8.2, except that the Company will not be obligated to pay Executive the salary continuation payments specified in Section 8.2(d) unless either (x) the Company is deemed to have waived Executive’s obligation to provide a Release as provided in Section 9.2 or (y) Executive has timely executed a Release as contemplated by Section 9.3. The amounts and benefits specified in this Section 8.2 are as follows:

(a) Executive’s Base Salary through the Termination Date, to the extent not already paid, and continuing insurance coverage as specified in Section 5.2 through the Termination Date. The Company will pay any Base Salary referred to in this Section 8.2(a) to Executive within 30 days of the Termination Date.

(b) The amount of the annual bonus under the MICP with respect to the immediately preceding calendar year, to the extent not already paid. The Company will pay this amount to Executive on the same date and in the same amount that the annual bonus for that year would have been paid if Executive’s employment had not been terminated, but in any event not later than March 15 of the current year.

 

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(c) If and only if the Termination Date is at least three full months after the beginning of the MICP Bonus Year within which the Termination Date falls, a lump sum amount (a “Pro Rata Annual Bonus”) equal to a pro rata portion of the full year annual bonus under the MICP that Executive would have been entitled to had his employment continued through the date on which bonuses for that Bonus Year are paid, based on actual financial results of the Company for the entire Bonus Year and individual performance by Executive during that part of the Bonus Year ending on the Termination Date (the “Full Year Pro Forma Bonus Amount”). Any Pro Rata Bonus payable under this Section 8.2(c) will be equal to the Full Year Pro Forma Bonus Amount multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days between January 1 of the Bonus Year and the Termination Date and the denominator of which is 365. The Company will pay any Pro Rata Annual Bonus that may be payable pursuant to this Section 8.2(c) on the same date as other bonuses are paid with respect to the Bonus Year in which the Termination Date falls, but not later than March 15 of the immediately following year.

(d) Continuation of Base Salary, at the rate in effect immediately before the Termination Date or, if Section 8.2(e) applies, at the reduced rate specified in that section, through the first to occur of (i) the end of the then current term and (ii) the first anniversary of the Termination Date. For these purposes , the phrase “the end of the then current term” (x) means the third anniversary of the Effective Date if the Termination Date occurs before that third anniversary and (y) means the fourth anniversary of the Effective Date if the Termination Date occurs after the third but before the fourth anniversary of the Effective Date. The salary continuation payments to be made under this Section 8.2(d) will be made at the same times as salary payments would have been made to Executive if his employment with the Company had continued through the first anniversary of the Termination Date.

(e) This Section 8.2(e) will apply only if the aggregate amount of salary continuation payments under Section 8.2(d), without reference to this Section 8.2(e) (the “Unreduced Amount”), is greater than 1.95 times the dollar limit on separation pay set forth in Section 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code (the product of 1.95 times the dollar limit set forth in Section 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code is referred to in this Agreement as the “Modified Limit”). If this Section 8.2(e) applies:

(i) the amount of each salary continuation payment to be made under Section 8.2(d) will be ratably reduced to the extent necessary so that, in the aggregate, the dollar value of all salary continuation payments to be made under Section 8.2(d) will equal the Modified Limit; and

(ii) the Company will make a single lump sum payment to Executive in an amount equal to the amount by which the Unreduced Amount exceeds the Modified Limit. The Company will pay the amount, if any, provided for in this Section 8.2(e)(ii) to Executive during the period of 30 consecutive days that begins exactly six months after the Termination Date.

 

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8.3 Upon Termination by Reason of Death or Disability . If Executive’s employment under this Agreement is terminated by reason of his death or by the Company pursuant to Section 7.2 following Executive’s disability, the Company will pay and provide to Executive or to his personal representative the amounts specified in this Section 8.3 and, except as may otherwise be required by law, the Company will not pay or provide to or on behalf of Executive any further compensation or other benefits under this Agreement after the Termination Date. The amounts and benefits specified in this Section 8.3 are as follows:

(a) Executive’s Base Salary through the Termination Date, to the extent not already paid. The Company will pay this amount to Executive or his personal representative, as the case may be, within 30 days of the Termination Date.

(b) The amount of the Annual Bonus with respect to the immediately preceding calendar year, to the extent not already paid. The Company will pay this amount to Executive or his personal representative, as the case may be, on the same date and in the same amount that the Annual Bonus for that year would have been paid if Executive’s employment had not been terminated, but in any event not later than March 15 of the current year.

(c) If and only if the Termination Date is at least three full months after the beginning of the MICP Bonus Year within which the Termination Date falls, a Pro Rata Annual Bonus determined in the same manner and payable at the same time as if the termination were by the Company without Cause and Section 8.2(c) applied.

(d) Only in the case of termination for Disability, the Company will pay any amount due under the Company’s salary continuation policy (which provides for payment of the difference between monthly benefits under the Company sponsored short term disability insurance and Executive’s Base Salary that would have been received for those months) except that if any such monthly differential amount would, but for this Section 8.3(d) be paid later than March 15 of the year following the year in which the Termination Date occurs, the total of all amounts that would be so paid after that March 15 will be accelerated and paid to Executive not later than that March 15.

9. Release . This Section 9 will apply only upon termination of Executive’s employment by the Company without Cause or by Executive for Good Reason.

9.1 Presentation of Release by the Company . If this Section 9 applies, the Company may present to Executive, not later than 21 days after the Termination Date, a form of release (a “Release”) of all current and future claims, known or unknown, arising on or before the date on which the Release is to be executed, that Executive or his assigns have or may have against the Company or any Subsidiary, and the directors, officers, and affiliates of any of them, in such form as may reasonably be presented by the Company together with a covering message in which the Company advises Executive that the Release is being presented in accordance with this Section 9.1 and that a failure by Executive to execute and return the Release as contemplated by Section 9.3 would relieve the Company of the obligation to make salary continuation payments or any lump sum payment under Section 8.2(d).

9.2 Effect of Failure by the Company to Present Release . If the Company fails to present a Release and covering message to Executive as contemplated by Section 9.1 within 21 days of the Termination Date, the Company will be deemed to have waived the requirement that Executive execute a Release as a condition to receiving salary continuation payments or any lump sum payment under Section 8.2(d).

 

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9.3 Execution of Release by Executive . If the Company does present a Release and covering message to Executive as contemplated by Section 9.1 within 21 days of the Termination Date, Executive will have until 50 days after the Termination Date (i.e., at least 29 days after presentation of the Release to Executive) within which to deliver an executed copy of the Release to the Company and thereby satisfy the condition to receiving salary continuation payments or any lump sum payment under Section 8.2(d), provided that Executive does not revoke the execution of the Release during any applicable revocation period.

9.4 Effect of Failure to Execute Release or of Revocation of Release . If, after the Company has timely presented a Release and covering message to Executive as contemplated by Section 9.1, Executive fails to deliver an executed copy of the Release to the Company within 50 days after the Termination Date or revokes the execution of the Release during any applicable revocation period, Executive will be deemed to have waived the right to receive salary continuation payments or any lump sum payment under Section 8.2(d).

10. No Obligation to Seek Other Employment or to Otherwise Mitigate Salary Continuation Payments . Executive will not be required to mitigate the amount of any salary continuation payments under Section 8.2(d) by seeking other employment or otherwise and the amount of any such salary continuation payments will not be reduced by any compensation or benefits earned by Executive as the result of employment by another employer or otherwise after the Termination Date.

11. Work Product . All inventions, drawings, improvements, developments, methods, processes, programs, designs, and all similar or related information that relates to the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ actual or anticipated business or research and development or existing or future products or services and that are conceived, developed, contributed to, or made by Executive (either solely or jointly with others) while he is employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (“Work Product”) will be the sole and exclusive property of the Company or the relevant Subsidiary, as the case may be. Executive will promptly disclose any such Work Product to the Company and take such actions as may be requested by the Company (whether during or after employment) to establish and confirm such ownership (including, without limitation, assignments, consents, powers of attorney, and other instruments).

12. Covenants and Confidential Information . Executive acknowledges the Company’s reliance on and expectation of Executive’s commitment to performance of his duties and responsibilities during the Contract Period and he assumes the obligations set out in this Section 12 in light of that reliance and expectation on the part of the Company.

12.1 Confidentiality . Throughout the Contract Period and at all times thereafter, Executive will not disclose, divulge, discuss, copy, or otherwise use or suffer to be used in any manner, in competition with, or contrary to the interests of, the Company, and will use his best efforts and diligence to safeguard and to protect against disclosure, misuse, espionage, loss, or theft any and all confidential information relating to the Company’s operations, properties, or otherwise to its particular business or other trade secrets of the Company (“Confidential Information”), it being acknowledged by Executive that all confidential information regarding the business of the Company compiled or obtained by, or furnished to Executive during his employment by or association with the Company is Confidential Information as defined in this Section 12.1 and the Company’s exclusive property.

(a) The restrictions in this Section 12.1 will not apply to any information to the extent that it (i) is clearly obtainable in the public domain, (ii) becomes obtainable in the public domain, except by reason of the breach by Executive of his obligations under this Section 12.1, (iii) was not acquired by Executive in connection with his employment or affiliation with the Company, (iv) was not acquired by Executive from the Company or its representatives, or (v) is required to be disclosed by rule of law or by order of a court or governmental body or agency.

 

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(b) Upon the Termination Date or at any other time the Company may request, for whatever reason, Executive will deliver (and in the event of the Executive’s death or Disability, his representative will deliver) to the Company all electronic equipment or backup files of or relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries, all memoranda, correspondence, customer data, notes, plans, records, reports, manuals, photographs, computer tapes, and software and other documents and data (and copies thereof) relating to Confidential Information, Work Product, or the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that he may then possess or have under his control. If the Company requests, the Executive (or his representative) will provide written confirmation that Executive has returned all such materials to the Company and its Subsidiaries.

(c) Upon the Termination Date or at any other time the Company may request, for whatever reason, Executive will assign all rights, title, and interest in Confidential Information, Work Product, all electronic equipment or backup files of or relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, all memoranda, correspondence, customer data, notes, plans, records, reports, manuals, photographs, computer tapes and software, and other documents and data (and copies thereof) relating to Confidential Information, Work Product or the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that Executive may then possess, have under his control, or have ever developed, obtained, or contributed to during his tenure with the Company.

12.2 Nonsolicitation . During the Contract Period and for a period of one year thereafter through the first anniversary of the Termination Date, Executive will not directly or indirectly: (a) solicit or induce or attempt to solicit or induce any employee of the Company and/or of any Subsidiary or affiliate to terminate his or her employment with the Company and/or any Subsidiary; (b) hire any person who was an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries at any time during Executive’s employment by the Company; or (c) induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, distributor, franchisee, licensee, or other individual or entity that has any business relationship with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to cease doing business with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or in any way interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, distributor, franchisee, licensee, or other individual or entity and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

12.3 Noncompetition . During the Contract Period and for a period of one year thereafter through the first anniversary of the Termination Date, Executive will not directly or indirectly own, operate, manage, control, participate in, consult with, advise, provide services for, or in any manner engage in any business (including by himself or in association with any individual or entity) in competition with the businesses of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as such businesses (the “Businesses”) exist during the Executive’s employment with the Company, within the United States or any other geographical area in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries engages or plans to engage in the Businesses, except that this Section 12.3 will not prohibit Executive from owning not more than 2% of the outstanding stock of a publicly traded corporation, so long as the Executive has no active participation in the business of that corporation.

 

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12.4 Remedies; Attorney’s Fees . Executive acknowledges that the remedy at law for any breach by him of this Section 12 may be inadequate and that the damages following from any such breach may not be readily susceptible to being measured in monetary terms. Accordingly, Executive agrees that, upon adequate proof of Executive’s violation of any legally enforceable provision of this Section 12, (a) the Company will be entitled to immediate injunctive relief and may obtain a temporary order restraining any threatened or further breach, and (b) the Company will be entitled to recover from Executive its costs of any action (including reasonable attorneys’ and experts fees and expenses) brought to enforce, or recover damages with respect to any violation of, the provisions of this Section 12. Nothing in this Section 12 will be deemed to limit the Company’s remedies at law or in equity for any breach by Executive of any of the provisions of this Section 12 that may be pursued or availed of by the Company.

12.5 Acknowledgement . Executive has carefully considered the nature and extent of the restrictions upon him and the rights and remedies conferred upon the Company under this Section 12, and hereby acknowledges and agrees that the same are reasonable in time and territory, are designed to eliminate competition that otherwise would be unfair to the Company, do not stifle the inherent skill and experience of Executive, would not operate as a bar to Executive’s sole means of support, are fully required to protect the legitimate interests of the Company, and do not confer a benefit upon the Company disproportionate to the detriment to Executive.

13. Compliance with Section 409A .

13.1 Six Month Delay on Certain Payments, Benefits, and Reimbursements . If Executive is a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code (“Section 409A”), as determined under the Company’s policy for determining specified employees on the Termination Date, each payment, benefit, or reimbursement paid or provided under this Agreement that constitutes a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A, that is to be paid or provided as a result of a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A, and that would otherwise be paid or provided at any time (a “Scheduled Time”) that is on or before the date (the “Six Month Date”) that is exactly six months after the Termination Date (other than payments, benefits, or reimbursements that are treated as separation pay under Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(v) of the Treasury Regulations) will not be paid or provided at the Scheduled Time but will be accumulated (together with interest at the applicable federal rate under Section 7872(f)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code in effect on the Termination Date) through the Six Month Date and paid or provided during the period of 30 consecutive days beginning on the first business day after the Six Month Date (that period of 30 consecutive days, the “Seventh Month after the Termination Date”), except that if Executive dies before the Six Month Date, the payments, benefits, or reimbursements will be accumulated only through the date of his death and thereafter paid or provided not later than 30 days after the date of death.

13.2 Earlier Payment if Not a Specified Employee . If Executive is not a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A (as determined under the Company’s policy for determining specified employees in effect on the Termination Date), any lump sum payment to be made by the Company to Executive after the Termination Date (a) that constitutes a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A, (b) that is to be paid or provided as a result of a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A, and (c) that would otherwise (but for this Section 13) be paid or provided at a Scheduled Time that is on or before the Six Month Date will be paid by the Company to Executive at the Scheduled Time rather than during the Seventh Month after the Termination Date.

 

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13.3 Additional Limitations on Reimbursements and In-Kind Benefits . Any reimbursement of expenses or in-kind benefits provided to Executive after the Termination Date under any section of this Agreement that are taxable benefits (and that are not disability pay or death benefit plans within the meaning of Section 409A) are intended to comply, to the maximum extent possible, with the exception to Section 409A set forth in Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(v) of the Treasury Regulations. To the extent that any reimbursement of expenses or in-kind benefits provided under any section of this Agreement either do not qualify for that exception, or are provided beyond the applicable time periods set forth in Section 1.409A-1(b)(9)(v) of the Treasury Regulations, then they will be subject to the following additional rules: (i) any reimbursement of eligible expenses will be paid within 30 days following Executive’s written request for reimbursement; provided that Executive provides written notice no later than 60 days before the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the expense was incurred so that the Company can make the reimbursement within the time periods required by Section 409A; (ii) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits provided, during any calendar year will not affect the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in-kind benefits to be provided, during any other calendar year; and (iii) the right to reimbursement or in-kind benefits will not be subject to liquidation or exchange for any other benefit.

13.4 Compliance Generally . Each payment or reimbursement and the provision of each benefit under this Agreement shall be considered a separate payment and not one of a series of payments for purposes of Section 409A. The Company and Executive intend that the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement will either be exempt from the application of, or comply with, the requirements of Section 409A. This Agreement is to be construed, administered, and governed in a manner that effects that intent and the Company will not take any action that is inconsistent with that intent. Without limiting the foregoing, the payments and benefits provided under this Agreement may not be deferred, accelerated, extended, paid out, or modified in a manner that would result in the imposition upon Executive of an additional tax under Section 409A.

13.5 Termination of Employment to Constitute a Separation from Service . The parties intend that the phrase “termination of employment” and words and phrases of similar import mean a “separation from service” with the Company within the meaning of Section 409A. Executive and the Company will take all steps necessary (including taking into account this Section 13.5 when considering any further agreement regarding provision of services by Executive to the Company after the Termination Date) to ensure that (a) any termination of employment under this Agreement constitutes a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A, and (b) the Termination Date is the date on which Executive experiences a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A.

13.6 References to the Internal Revenue Code and its Sections . For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Internal Revenue Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and references to any of Sections 409A, 280G, and 4999, are references to those respective sections of the Internal Revenue Code. References in this Agreement to Section 409A are intended to include any proposed, temporary, or final regulations, or any other guidance, promulgated with respect to Section 409A by the U.S. Department of Treasury or the Internal Revenue Service.

14. Survival of Obligations . Except as is otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the respective obligations of the Company and Executive under this Agreement will survive any termination of Executive’s employment under this Agreement.

 

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15. Notices . Notices and all other communications provided for in this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given: (a) when delivered in person (to the General Counsel of the Company in the case of notices to the Company and to Executive in the case of notices to Executive); (b) the first business day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, properly addressed and charges prepaid; or (c) the third business day after mailing by United States registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, properly addressed and postage prepaid. Notices to the Company will be properly addressed if addressed, as follows:

Global Power Equipment Group Inc.

6120 South Yale, Suite 1480

Tulsa, OK 74136

Attention: General Counsel

Telephone: 918.488.0828

Notices to Executive will be properly addressed if addressed to Executive’s home address as communicated by Executive to the Company as of the Effective Date. Either party may change the address to which notices are to be sent by courier or mailed by notice to the other in accordance with this Section 15.

16. Entire Agreement . This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding between Executive and the Company on its subject matter and supersedes any prior understandings, agreements, or representations by either party to the other, whether written or oral, relevant to the subject matter of this Agreement.

17. Miscellaneous .

17.1 No Conflict . Executive represents and warrants that he is not a party to any agreement, contract, or understanding, whether employment or otherwise, that would restrict or prohibit him from undertaking or performing employment in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

17.2 Assistance . During the term of this Agreement and thereafter, Executive will provide reasonable assistance to the Company in litigation and regulatory matters that relate to events that occurred during Executive’s period of employment with the Company. Executive will be entitled to reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket travel or related costs and expenses relating to any such cooperation or assistance that occurs following the Termination Date.

17.3 Severability . The provisions of this Agreement are severable and if any one or more provision is determined to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions and any partially unenforceable provision to the extent enforceable in any jurisdiction nevertheless will be binding and enforceable.

17.4 Benefit of Agreement . The rights and obligations of the Company under this Agreement will inure to the benefit of, and will be binding on, the Company and its successors and assigns, and the rights and obligations (other than obligations to perform services) of Executive under this Agreement will inure to the benefit of, and will be binding upon, Executive and his heirs, personal representatives, and assigns.

17.5 No Waiver . The failure of either party to enforce any provision or provisions of this Agreement will not in any way be construed as a waiver of any such provision or provisions as to any future violations thereof, nor prevent that party from later enforcing each and every other provision of this Agreement. The rights granted the parties in this Agreement are cumulative and the waiver of any single remedy will not constitute a waiver of that party’s right to assert all other legal remedies available to it under the circumstances.

 

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17.6 Modification . This Agreement may not be modified or terminated orally. No modification or termination will be valid unless in writing and signed by the party against which the modification or termination is sought to be enforced.

17.7 Governing Law and Venue . The provisions of this Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made in and to be performed exclusively within that State, notwithstanding any conflict of law provision to the contrary. The parties consent to venue and personal jurisdiction over them in the courts of the State of Delaware and federal courts sitting in Delaware, for purposes of construing and enforcing this Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and Executive have executed this Agreement, the Company by a duly authorized representative, on the date first written above.

 

   GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC.

/s/ David L. Keller

   By:   

/s/ Candice L. Cheeseman

DAVID L. KELLER       Candice L. Cheeseman
      Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

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Exhibit 10.16

AMENDED AND RESTATED

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is dated effective as of November 21, 2006 (the “Effective Date”), by and among Global Power Equipment Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and John M. Matheson (the “Executive”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in Section 1 of this Agreement.

WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive desire to enter into an agreement regarding the employment by the Company of the Executive effective as of the Effective Date; and

WHEREAS, the Executive is entrusted with knowledge of the particular business methods of the Company and its Subsidiaries and is trained and instructed in the particular operation methods of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and the relationship between the Company and the Executive is one in which the Company places special trust and confidence in the Executive.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of employment and in further consideration of these mutual covenants and agreements, the parties hereto, each intending to be bound, covenant and agree as follows:

1. Definitions . As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

“Additional Employment Term” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(i) of this Agreement.

“Affiliate” means, when used with reference to a specified Person, any Person that directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by or is under common control with the specified Person. As used in this definition, “control” (including, with its correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) shall mean possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise). With respect to any Person who is an individual, “Affiliates” shall also include, without limitation, any member of such individual’s Family Group.

“Base Salary” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(i) of this Agreement.

“Benefits” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(ii) of this Agreement.

“Board” means the Company’s Board of Directors.

“Bonus” means awards under the Management Incentive Plan.


“Bonus Year” means an annual bonus period under the Management Incentive Plan.

“Businesses” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) of this Agreement.

“Cause” means the occurrence of any one of the following as determined by the Board: (i) a material breach of the Executive’s covenants under Section 4 or Section 5 of this Agreement; (ii) the commission by the Executive of a felony, or any crime involving theft, dishonesty or moral turpitude; (iii) the commission by the Executive of act(s) or omission(s) which are willful and deliberate acts intended to harm or injure the business, operations, financial condition or reputation of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company; (iv) the Executive’s disregard of the directives of the Board; (v) the Executive’s drunkenness or use of drugs which interferes with the performance of the Executive’s duties under this Agreement, which drunkenness or use of drugs continues after receipt of notice to the Executive from the Company of his violation of this provision; or (vi) any attempt by the Executive to secure any personal profit in connection with the business of the Company unless given prior written approval by unanimous consent of the Board.

“Confidential Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a)(i) of this Agreement.

“Disability” means that the Executive is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, or is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Company.

“Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in the opening paragraph of this Agreement.

“Employment Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(ii) of this Agreement.

“Employment Term” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(i) of this Agreement.

“Family Group” means, with respect to any Person who is an individual: (i) such Person’s spouse, former spouse and descendants (whether natural or adopted), parents and their descendants and any spouse of the foregoing persons (collectively, “relatives”) or (ii) the trustee, fiduciary or personal representative of such Person and any trust solely for the benefit of such Person and/or such Person’s relatives.

 

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“Geographical Area” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) of this Agreement.

“Good Reason” for resignation by the Executive means his resignation because of: (i) a material reduction in the annual base salary of the Executive, a material reduction in the employee benefits granted to the Executive, or a material reduction in the Executive’s percentage participation in the Management Incentive Plan or a material reduction in the Executive’s percentage participation in any New MIP from the percentage previously awarded to the Executive if and when a New MIP is approved and adopted, (ii) a material modification to the Management Incentive Plan, which modification materially and adversely affects the determination of the Executive’s bonus for any calendar year for which such Management Incentive Plan is applicable, unless such modification is generally applicable to all participants in the Management Incentive Plan and such modification has been approved by (x) if the Board has less than three Management Board Members, then all such Management Board Members or (y) if the Board has three or more Management Board Members, then any two of such Management Board Members, (iii) a requirement that the Executive be based at any office or location more than 50 miles from Tulsa, Oklahoma, or (iv) a removal of the Executive as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company by action of the Board without Cause, in each case, other than with the consent of the Executive.

“Initial Employment Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(i) of this Agreement.

“Management Board Member” means any member of the Board who is also a full-time employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

“Management Incentive Plan” or “MIP” means the Company’s 2008 Management Incentive Plan for the 2008 calendar year and thereafter until a New MIP is approved and adopted.

“New MIP” means the Company’s Incentive Compensation Program or Plan approved and adopted by the Board to be effective for any calendar year after 2008.

“Noncompete Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) of this Agreement.

“Person” means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, an association, a limited liability company, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization or a governmental entity or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof.

“Post-Termination Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) of this Agreement.

 

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“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association or other business entity of which (i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or (ii) if a partnership, limited liability company, association or other business entity, a majority of the partnership or other similar ownership interest thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof. For purposes hereof, a Person or Persons shall be deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a partnership, limited liability company, association or other business entity if such Person or Persons shall be allocated a majority of partnership, limited liability company, association or other business entity gains or losses or shall be or control the managing director, manager or a general partner of such partnership, limited liability company, association or other business entity.

“Termination Date” means the date of the Executive’s separation of service from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for reasons other than death, as determined under Section 409A of the Code and applicable guidance thereunder; provided, however, that in the event such determination cannot be made under such Section 409A and/or guidance, “Termination Date” shall mean the date that the Executive ceases to be employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for any reason other than death.

“Work Product” has the meaning set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement.

2. Employment .

(a) Employment . The Company agrees to employ the Executive, and the Executive hereby accepts employment with the Company, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement for the Employment Period (as herein defined).

(b) Positions and Duties .

(i) Commencing on the date hereof and continuing during the Employment Period, the Executive shall serve as an employee and the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company under the supervision and direction of the Board and shall have the normal duties, responsibilities and authority of President and Chief Executive Officer of a corporation and such other duties as shall be assigned to the Executive by the Board from time to time.

(ii) The Executive shall devote his best efforts and his full business time and attention (except for permitted vacation periods and reasonable periods of illness or other incapacity which does not constitute Disability) to the business and affairs of the Company. The Executive shall perform his duties and responsibilities to the best of his abilities in a diligent, trustworthy, businesslike and efficient manner. The foregoing shall not preclude the Executive from devoting reasonable time to civic and charitable affairs and with the consent of the Board serving on a maximum of one board of a for-profit entity other than the Board or the board of directors of any Subsidiary of the Company, provided that such activity does not interfere in any material respect with the performance of his duties hereunder. The Executive shall perform all services in accordance with the policies, procedures and rules established by the Company. In addition, the Executive shall comply with all laws, rules and regulations that are generally applicable to the Company, its Subsidiaries and their employees, directors and officers.

 

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(c) Base Salary and Benefits .

(i) Base Salary . During the Employment Period, the Executive’s base salary shall be in an amount set by the Board, but under no circumstances will be less than $446,250 per annum, effective January 1, 2009 (the “Base Salary”), which salary shall be paid by the Company in regular installments in accordance with the Company’s general payroll practices and shall be subject to customary withholding. On an annual basis, the Board shall review and determine the appropriateness of an increase in the Base Salary as in effect as of the date of such review.

(ii) Benefits . During the Employment Period, in addition to the Base Salary payable to the Executive pursuant to Section 2(c)(i) hereof, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in the following employee benefit programs, plans and policies (collectively, the “Benefits”):

(A) The employee benefit programs (including, but not limited to, option plans and benefit programs which provide group pension, life and health insurance and other medical benefits) that the Company, with the approval of the Board, now or hereafter makes available generally to its management as well as the employee benefits listed on Exhibit A hereto; provided that any awards under any option plans shall be set by the Board, in its sole discretion;

(B) Subject to its restrictions and conditions, including performance thresholds and metrics as set by the Board, the Management Incentive Plan with any awards thereunder to be set by the Board at a level of no less than a target bonus of 80% of salary (the actual bonus may range from 40% to 160% depending on performance), it being understood and agreed that if the New MIP is not in place during any calendar year, the Executive will have substantially the same bonus opportunities as existed under the Management Incentive Plan during the prior calendar year; and

(C) The Company’s Club Membership Policy (which, subject to certain limitations, provides for payment of an initiation fee and monthly fees).

 

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(iii) Expenses . The Company shall reimburse the Executive for all reasonable and necessary business expenses incurred by the Executive in performing his duties under this Agreement which are consistent with the Company’s policies in effect from time to time with respect to travel, entertainment and other business expenses subject to the Company’s receipt of supporting documentation in accordance with the Company’s customary reporting and documentation provisions.

(d) Term .

(i) This Agreement is an employment contract for a term of three (3) years beginning as of the Effective Date and ending on the third anniversary of the Effective Date (the “Initial Employment Term”). At the end of the Initial Employment Term, and at the end of each Additional Employment Term (as herein defined), unless the Company (with the approval of the Board) has provided the Executive with at least sixty (60) days advance written notice, so long as the Executive continues to be employed by the Company, this employment contract shall automatically renew for a term of one (1) year (each such additional term, an “Additional Employment Term”). The Initial Employment Term and each Additional Employment Term shall be referred to herein as an “Employment Term.” Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Employment Term is subject to early termination (x) by reason of the Executive’s death or Disability, (y) by resolution of the Board with or without Cause, or (z) upon the Executive’s voluntary resignation with or without Good Reason. For all purposes under this Agreement, a delivery of a notice by the Company to the Executive pursuant to this Section 2(d)(i) to avoid an Additional Employment Term shall be treated as if an Employment Term has been terminated early by resolution of the Board without Cause.

(ii) The period of the Initial Employment Term together with each Additional Employment Term, if any, shall be referred to herein as the “Employment Period.” Notwithstanding any termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company, this Agreement shall remain a valid and enforceable contract between the parties, including without limitation Sections 3, 4 and 5 hereof.

(e) Employment Termination .

(i) If any Employment Term is terminated early by resolution of the Board with Cause or by reason of the Executive’s voluntary resignation without Good Reason, then the Executive shall be entitled to receive only all previously earned and accrued but unpaid Base Salary and vacation time up to the Termination Date (and not any accrued but unpaid Bonus as of the Termination Date).

 

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(ii) If any Employment Term is terminated early by reason of the Executive’s death or Disability, then the Executive shall be entitled to receive only (x) all previously earned and accrued but unpaid Base Salary and vacation time up to the Termination Date or date of death, (y) a portion of the Bonus earned by the Executive during the Bonus Year in which such termination occurs determined on a pro rated basis based on the number of days of the applicable Bonus Year prior to the Termination Date or date of death as compared to the number of days in such Bonus Year, which payment will be made on or before March 15th of the year after such Bonus Year and (z) any Bonus earned by the Executive during any Bonus Year which ended prior to the Termination Date or date of death and which has not been paid as of such date, which payment will be made on or before March 15th of the year after such Bonus Year.

(iii) If any Employment Term is terminated early by reason of the Executive’s voluntary resignation with Good Reason or by resolution of the Board without Cause, then, subject to the second and third sentences of Section 2(e)(iv), the Executive shall be entitled to receive only the following: (v) all previously earned and accrued but unpaid Base Salary and vacation time up to the Termination Date, (w) any Bonus earned by the Executive during any Bonus Year which ended prior to the Termination Date and which has not been paid as of such date, (x) his Base Salary and an amount equal to the Company’s estimate of the cost of the Benefits marked on Exhibit A with an “#” (which estimate shall be based on the amounts incurred by the Company in connection with the provision of such Benefits) for the twelve month period beginning on the Termination Date with respect to which the Executive takes all actions required to continue such Benefits; provided, however, that such twelve-month period shall be extended until the date on which the Initial Employment Term would have ended if more than twelve months remained in the Initial Employment Term on the Termination Date; provided, further, that in lieu of providing such benefits, the Company may elect to pay the Executive the cost of premiums for such benefits, (y) an amount equal to the cost of the Benefits referred to in Section 2(c)(ii)(C) hereof for the three month period beginning on the Termination Date, and (z) the amount of any target Bonus which would have been earned by the Executive during the Bonus Year in which such termination occurs determined on a pro rated basis based on the number of days of the applicable Bonus Year prior to the Termination Date as compared to the number of days in such Bonus Year. The compensation payable pursuant to this Section 2(e)(iii) shall be paid within 60 days after the Termination Date. In addition, any equity interests held by Executive under a stock or similar plan of the Company shall vest on the Termination Date.

 

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(iv) Notwithstanding the payments or benefits set forth in Sections 2(e)(ii) and 2(e)(iii), the period for which the Executive is entitled to health care continuation coverage under Section 4980B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, shall begin to run on the Termination Date and shall not be extended on account of payments made or reimbursed by the Company pursuant hereto. As a condition to receiving any payments pursuant to clauses (w) through (z) of Section 2(e)(iii), the Executive shall execute and deliver to the Company a general release (with ancillary covenants not to sue and other similar standard provisions) of the Company and its Affiliates and their respective officers, directors and employees from all claims of any kind whatsoever arising out of the Executive’s employment or termination thereof (including without limitation, civil rights claims), in such form as reasonably requested by the Company; provided, however, that the release will not affect any contractual rights the Executive may otherwise have under any stock option plans of the Company or option agreements thereunder; and provided further that the release shall not apply to any rights to which the Executive is entitled in accordance with plan provisions under any employee benefit plan or fringe benefit plan or program of the Company and its Affiliates. In the event the Executive does not execute and deliver such release to the Company before payment is required to be made pursuant to such clauses, the Executive shall forfeit his right to receive any payments pursuant to such clauses.

(v) Except as expressly provided in this Section 2(e), the Executive hereby agrees that upon and after the Termination Date, no severance compensation of any kind, nature or amount (including by operation of law) shall be payable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates to the Executive and the Executive hereby irrevocably waives any claim for severance compensation of any kind, nature or amount (including by operation of law).

(vi) Except as expressly provided in this Section 2(e), upon the Termination Date, except as required by law, all of the Executive’s rights to Benefits hereunder (if any) shall cease.

(vii) Subject to restrictive covenants contained in Section 5 hereof, the Executive may obtain other engagements or employment after the Termination Date, and any compensation received or receivable by the Executive shall not reduce any amounts which the Company is required to pay to the Executive pursuant to this Agreement.

3. Work Product . The Executive agrees that all inventions, drawings, improvements, developments, methods, processes, programs, designs and all similar or related information which relates to the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ actual or anticipated business or research and development or existing or future products or services and which are conceived, developed, contributed to or made by the Executive (either solely or jointly with others) while employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (“Work Product”) shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company or any such Subsidiary. The Executive will promptly disclose such Work Product to the Company and perform all actions requested by the Company (whether during or after employment) to establish and confirm such ownership (including, without limitation, assignments, consents, powers of attorney and other instruments).

 

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4. Confidential Information .

(a) The Executive acknowledges:

(i) That the Work Product, artificial intelligence systems, information, customer lists, goodwill, observations and data disclosed to, developed by or obtained by his while employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries concerning the business or affairs of the Company or any such Subsidiary (including without limitation the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ technology, methods of doing business and supplier and customer information) (collectively, “Confidential Information”) are highly confidential and uniquely valuable to the Company and its Subsidiaries;

(ii) That such Confidential Information is and shall continue to be the property of the Company or any such Subsidiary;

(iii) That the Company and each of its Subsidiaries has a proprietary interest in their respective Confidential Information, including without limitation the identity of their respective customers and suppliers, solicited customers, customer and supplier lists;

(iv) That the continued success of the Company and its Subsidiaries depends in large part on keeping the Confidential Information from becoming known to competitors of the Company and its Subsidiaries; and

(v) That the Company and its Subsidiaries will be irreparably harmed by disclosure of any Confidential Information.

(b) Therefore, the Executive agrees:

(i) That, during his employment and for all times thereafter, except as required by law or court order, he shall not directly or indirectly disclose to any unauthorized person or use for his own account any Confidential Information without the prior written consent of the Company, unless and to the extent that the aforementioned matters become generally known to and available for use by the public other than as a result of the Executive’s acts or omissions to act;

(ii) To use his best efforts and diligence to safeguard the Confidential Information and to protect it against disclosure, misuse, espionage, loss or theft;

(iii) That upon the Termination Date or at any other time the Company may request, for whatever reason, the Executive shall deliver (and in the event of the Executive’s death or Disability, his representative shall deliver) to the Company all computer equipment or backup files of or relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries, all memoranda, correspondence, customer data, notes, plans, records, reports, manuals, photographs, computer tapes and software and other documents and data (and copies thereof) relating to the Confidential Information, the Work Product or the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which he may then possess or have under his control. If the Company requests, the Executive (or his representative) agrees to provide written confirmation that the Executive has returned all such materials to the Company or one of its Subsidiaries; and

 

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(iv) That upon the Termination Date or at any other time the Company may request, for whatever reason, the Executive shall assign all rights, title and interest in the Confidential Information, the Work Product, all computer equipment or backup files of or relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, all memoranda, correspondence, customer data, notes, plans, records, reports, manuals, photographs, computer tapes and software and other documents and data (and copies thereof) relating to the Confidential Information, the Work Product or the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which the Executive may then possess, has under his control, or has ever developed, obtained, or contributed to during his tenure with the Company.

5. Noncompete, Nonsolicitation .

(a) The Executive agrees that, during the time he is employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and during any applicable Post-Termination Period (as herein defined) (the “Noncompete Period”), he shall not directly or indirectly own, operate, manage, control, participate in, consult with, advise, provide services for, or in any manner engage in any business (including by himself or in association with any person, firm, corporate or other business organization or through any other entity) in competition with, or potential competition with, the businesses of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as such businesses (the “Businesses”) exist during the Executive’s employment by the Company, within the United States or any other geographical area in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries engages or plans to engage in the Businesses (the “Geographical Area”). Nothing herein shall prohibit the Executive from being a passive owner of not more than 2% of the outstanding stock of a corporation which is publicly traded, so long as the Executive has no active participation in the business of such corporation. For purposes of this Section 5, “Post-Termination Period” means the twelve (12) month period beginning on the Termination Date.

(b) During the Noncompete Period, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly through another entity (i) induce or attempt to induce any employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to leave the employ of the Company or any such Subsidiary, or in any way interfere with the relationship between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and any employee thereof, including without limitation, inducing or attempting to induce any union, employee or group of employees to interfere with the business or operations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) hire any person who was an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries at any time during the Executive’s employment period, or (iii) induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, distributor, franchisee, licensee or other business relation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to cease doing business with the Company or any such Subsidiary, or in any way interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, distributor, franchisee, licensee or business relation and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

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(c) The Executive agrees that: (i) the covenants set forth in this Section 5 are reasonable in geographical and temporal scope and in all other respects, (ii) the Company would not have entered into this Agreement but for the covenants of the Executive contained herein, and (iii) the covenants contained herein have been made in order to induce the Company to enter into this Agreement.

(d) If, at the time of enforcement of this Section 5, a court shall hold that the duration, scope or area restrictions stated herein are unreasonable under circumstances then existing, the parties agree that the maximum duration, scope or area reasonable under such circumstances shall be substituted for the stated duration, scope or area and that the court shall be allowed to revise the restrictions contained herein to cover the maximum period, scope and area permitted by law.

(e) The Executive recognizes and affirms that in the event of his breach of any provision of this Section 5, money damages would be inadequate and the Company would have no adequate remedy at law. Accordingly, the Executive agrees that in the event of a breach or a threatened breach by the Executive of any of the provisions of this Section 5, the Company, in addition and supplementary to other rights and remedies existing in its favor, may apply to any court of law or equity of competent jurisdiction for specific performance and/or injunctive or other relief in order to enforce or prevent any violations of the provisions hereof (without posting a bond or other security).

6. Indemnification . Executive shall be entitled to indemnification by the Company pursuant to and in accordance with the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws.

7. Notices . All notices, demands or other communications to be given or delivered under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered personally, mailed by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid, sent via a nationally recognized overnight courier, charges prepaid, or sent via facsimile. Such notices, demands and other communications will be sent to the address indicated below:

To the Company:

Global Power Equipment Group Inc.

6120 South Yale, Suite 1480

Tulsa, OK 74136

Attention: Secretary

Facsimile No.: (918) 488-8389

 

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To the Executive:

to Executive’s last address or facsimile

number on the records of the Company

or such other address or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party shall have specified by prior written notice to the sending party; provided, that the failure to deliver copies of notices as indicated above shall not affect the validity of any notice. Any such notice, demand or other communication shall be deemed to have been received (i) when delivered, if personally delivered, or sent by nationally-recognized overnight courier or sent via facsimile or (ii) on the third business day following the date on which the piece of mail containing such notice, demand or other communication is posted if sent by certified or registered mail.

8. Miscellaneous .

(a) Warranty by the Executive . The Executive represents and warrants to the Company that he is not a party to any agreement containing a noncompetition provision or other restriction with respect to (i) the nature of any services or business which he is entitled to perform or conduct for the Company under this Agreement, or (ii) the disclosure or use of any information which directly or indirectly relates to the nature of the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the services to be rendered by the Executive under this Agreement.

(b) Severability . If any provision or clause of this Agreement, or portion thereof shall be held by any court or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, invalid, or unenforceable in such jurisdiction, the remainder of such provision shall not be thereby affected and shall be given full effect, without regard to the invalid portion. It is the intention of the parties that, if any court construes any provision or clause of this Agreement, or any portion thereof, to be illegal, void or unenforceable because of the duration of such provision or the area matter covered thereby, such court shall reduce the duration, area, or matter of such provision, and, in its reduced form, such provision shall then be enforceable and shall be enforced.

(c) Complete Agreement . This Agreement shall embody the complete agreement and understanding among the Executive, the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries and supersedes and preempts any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among such parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way. Except as specifically set forth herein, this Agreement does not supersede any agreements evidencing the grant of restricted stock, restricted stock units or long-term incentives to the Executive under the Company’s 2008 Management Incentive Plan or any future equity plan of the Company.

(d) Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which is deemed to be an original and all of which taken together constitute one and the same agreement.

 

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(e) Successors and Assigns, Transfer . This Agreement is intended to bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive and the Company and their respective successors, heirs and assigns.

(f) Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware, without giving effect to any rules, principles or provisions of choice of law or conflict of laws.

(g) Remedies . The Company and the Executive will be entitled to enforce its or his respective rights under this Agreement specifically, to recover damages and costs (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) caused by any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights existing in its or his favor. The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that the Company will suffer irreparable harm and money damages may not be an adequate remedy for any breach of the provisions of this Agreement by the Executive and that the Company may in its sole discretion apply to any court of law or equity of competent jurisdiction (without posting any bond or deposit) for specific performance and/or other injunctive relief in order to enforce or prevent any violations of the provisions of this Agreement.

(h) Amendment and Waiver . The provisions of this Agreement may be amended and waived only with the prior written consent of the Company (with the approval of the Board) and the Executive.

[Signature Page to Follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the 31 st day of December, 2008, effective as of the Effective Date.

 

GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC.
By:  

/s/ Candice L. Cheeseman

Name:   Candice L. Cheeseman
Title:  

Vice President of Administration, General

Counsel and Secretary

/s/ John M. Matheson

John M. Matheson

 

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Exhibit A

Benefits Schedule

John M. Matheson

 

#    Medical Insurance
#    Dental Insurance
   Long Term Disability
   Salary Continuation*
#    Life Insurance
   Accidental Death & Dismemberment
#    Travel Accident Insurance
   9 Paid Holidays Per Year
   4 Weeks Paid Vacation Per Year
   Profit Sharing Plan
   401(k) Plan
   Flexible Benefit Plan
   Preparation of Annual Taxes

 

* If disabled, the Company would pay the difference between his regular salary and the benefit Short Term Disability would pay for up to six months

Exhibit 10.17

SEPARATION AGREEMENT

This Separation Agreement (this “Agreement”) is entered into between Global Power Equipment Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and John M. Matheson (“Matheson”) on September 11, 2009.

Matheson has been employed by the Company pursuant to an Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated effective as of November 21, 2006 (the “Employment Agreement”) and has also been a member of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”). This Agreement sets forth the terms upon which Matheson’s employment by the Company and his membership on the Board will cease and the form of the release that Matheson will sign as a condition to receiving certain payments from the Company following the termination of his employment.

The Company and Matheson agree as follows:

1. Transition . Matheson acknowledges that the Board had determined to terminate his employment without Cause (as defined in the Employment Agreement) and to hire another individual (the “New CEO”) to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and that the New CEO will assume the positions of President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and will join the Board effective September 14, 2009 (the “Transition Date”).

1.1 Resignation . By execution of this Agreement and without any further action, Matheson hereby resigns, effective as of the opening of business on the Transition Date, as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, as a member of the Board, and from every other office or position that he now holds with respect to the Company or any of its affiliates or the governing bodies of any of them, except that this resignation does not apply to Matheson’s status as an employee. Upon presentation to him by the Secretary of the Company from time to time, Matheson will sign such further documents as may be reasonably appropriate to reflect these various resignations.

1.2 Cooperation and Continuing Services . During the period beginning on the Transition Date and ending on October 14, 2009 or such earlier date as the Board may specify pursuant to Section 1.3 (the “Transition Period”), Matheson will perform such services, if any, as may be reasonably requested of him by the New CEO that are relevant to an orderly transition from Matheson’s tenure as CEO to the tenure of the New CEO and are consistent with Matheson’s status as a former CEO of the Company. During the Transition Period:

(a) Matheson will continue to be employed by the Company, will make himself available on a full time basis to perform services for the Company as may be requested by the New CEO, and will refrain from taking any action with respect to the management and affairs of the Company that is inconsistent with any direction the New CEO may give to him.

(b) The Company will continue to pay and provide to Matheson Base Salary and Benefits at the same levels and subject to the same conditions as in effect immediately before the Transition Date.

(c) The Company will provide Matheson with such office and secretarial services, if any, as the New CEO may deem appropriate to the level of services the New CEO requests that Matheson provide from time to time during the Transition Period.


1.3 Early Termination of Transition Period . Although at the time of execution of this Agreement the Board does not contemplate terminating the Transition Period before October 14, 2009, the Board retains the right, which it has delegated to the Chairman of the Board and is exercisable by him in his absolute discretion, to terminate the Transition Period at any time between the Transition Date and October 14, 2009, inclusive, for any reason or for no reason.

2. Nature of Termination . For all purposes, the termination of Matheson’s employment with the Company will be treated as a termination by resolution of the Board without Cause as contemplated by clause (x) of Section 2(d)(i) of the Employment Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the termination of Matheson’s employment with the Company will not be treated, for any purpose, as a voluntary resignation by Matheson for Good Reason.

3. Termination Date . Matheson’s employment with the Company will terminate on the last day of the Transition Period (that last day, whether it is October 14, 2009 or any earlier date on which the Board may terminate the Transition Period pursuant to Section 1.3 being the “Termination Date”).

4. Compensation, Benefits, and Equity Awards . In connection with the termination of his employment, the Company will pay, provide, and deliver to Matheson certain payments, benefits, and equity interests in the Company in connection with each of (a) the Employment Agreement, (b) his two RSU Agreements (as defined in Section 4.2(b) below), and (c) the Management Incentive Co-Investment Plan, in each case as further specified below in this Section 4.

4.1 Payments Pursuant to Section 2(e)(iii) of the Employment Agreement . Subject to execution and delivery to the Company of the Release (as defined in Section 8 below) and to Matheson not having revoked the Release within seven days of its execution and delivery, the Company will pay to Matheson the following amounts, net of applicable withholding, by not later than the Lump Sum Payment Date (as defined in Section 8 below) (references to “Clauses” are to particular clauses of Section 2(e)(iii) of the Employment Agreement):

(a) $446,250, representing one year’s Base Salary, as contemplated by Clause (x).

(b) $14,514, representing the Company’s estimate of one year’s cost of the Benefits marked on Exhibit A to the Employment Agreement with an “#,” as contemplated by Clause (x).

(c) $2,195, representing three months of club dues, as contemplated by Clause (y).

(d) $500,000, representing a premium above the pro rata Bonus for that part of 2009 ending on the Termination Date that is contemplated by Clause (z).

In addition, the Company will pay to Matheson, within 30 days of the Termination Date, all previously earned and accrued but unpaid Base Salary and vacation time up to the Termination Date, as contemplated by Clause (v), which amounts will be paid whether or not Matheson executes and delivers the Release. The aggregate amount specified in Sections 4.1(a) through 4.1(d) is sometimes referred to in the remainder of this Agreement as the “Lump Sum Severance Amount.”

 

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4.2 Issuance of Common Stock Pursuant to RSU Agreements .

(a) Background . Under the Company’s 2008 Management Incentive Plan, the Company granted Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”) to Matheson as follows: (i) 785,088 RSUs with a Grant Date of June 23, 2008, and (ii) 749,847 RSUs with a grant date of February 9, 2009. Of the 785,088 RSUs with a Grant Date of June 23, 2008, 196,272 RSUs vested in March, 2009 and the Company issued to Matheson 196,272 shares of Common Stock in full satisfaction of Matheson’s rights with respect to those 196,272 RSUs.

(b) RSUs That Could Vest for 2009 . Each of the two Restricted Stock Award Agreements (the “RSU Agreements”) covering the two grants of RSUs made to Matheson provides in effect (at Section 4(b)(iii) of each RSU Agreement) that, upon termination of Matheson’s employment without Cause at any time during 2009, he is to be vested in a pro rata portion of the RSUs that would have vested on March 31, 2010 had his employment continued through that date, taking into account whether or not the Company met the EBITDA Target for 2009. The total number of RSUs that could so vest for all of 2009 is 383,784 RSUs, consisting of 196,272 RSUs with a Grant Date of June 23, 2008 and 187,462 RSUs with a Grant Date of February 9, 2009. The Company hereby waives the requirement that the Company must meet the EBITDA Target for 2009 insofar as that requirement might apply to any RSUs that might vest for 2009. Taking into account this waiver by the Company and the waiver by the Company that is noted in Section 4.2(b)(ii) and otherwise applying each of the RSU Agreements according to its terms:

(i) of the 383,784 RSUs that could have vested for 2009, 270,191 RSUs will vest on the Termination Date by reason of Matheson’s service through the Transition Date (270,191 is the product of 383,784 multiplied by 257/365), and

(ii) an additional 100,000 RSUs will vest on the Termination Date by reason of the Company waiving any provision to the contrary in the RSU Agreements.

The Company will issue shares of Common Stock to Matheson with respect to the aggregate of 370,191 RSUs noted as vesting in (i) and (ii) (the “Vested 2009 RSUs”) by not later than the Lump Sum Payment Date.

(c) Forfeiture of All Other RSUs . Except as provided in Section 4.2(b) with respect to the Vested 2009 RSUs, on the Termination Date, all RSUs granted to Matheson will terminate without any further action by any party and Matheson will have no further rights under either of the two RSU Agreements.

4.3 Vesting of Incentive Shares under Management Incentive Co-Investment Plan . The Company issued 76,893 shares of Common Stock to Matheson as Incentive Shares under the Company’s Management Incentive Co-Investment Plan. On the Termination Date, those 76,893 Incentive Shares will be fully vested without further action by any party.

4.4 COBRA Rights . Matheson will be eligible for benefits from the Company under the Consolidated Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 (“COBRA”) as required by that law and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

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4.5 Reimbursement of Certain Legal Fees . The Company will reimburse Matheson for reasonable legal fees and expenses incurred by him in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement upon presentation by Matheson of an invoice covering those legal fees and expenses issued by the counsel that represented him in those negotiations.

4.6 No Other Compensation, Benefits, or Equity . Except as specifically provided above in this Section 4 or in Section 5 with respect to indemnification rights, Matheson will have no further rights to receive compensation, benefits, or equity in any form from the Company or any of its affiliates after the Termination Date by reason of the Employment Agreement, any Restricted Stock Award Agreement, the Management Incentive Co-Investment Plan, or any other agreement, plan, or program.

5. Continuing Obligations under Employment Agreement . Sections 3, 4, 5, and 6 of the Employment Agreement (captioned, respectively, “Work Product,” “Confidential Information,” “Noncompete, Nonsolicitation,” and “Indemnification”) will remain in effect after the Termination Date according to their respective terms (and, to the extent relevant to the enforcement of these specified sections, in accordance with Sections 1, 7, and 8 of the Employment Agreement (captioned, respectively, “Definitions,” “Notices,” and “Miscellaneous”)).

6. Return of Company Property .

6.1 On the Termination Date, except as otherwise provided in Section 6.2, (a) Matheson will deliver to the Company all computer equipment or backup files of or relating to the Company and all of the other items listed in Section 4(b)(iii) of the Employment Agreement that he may then have in his possession or under his control, and (b) Matheson will deliver to the Company all other tangible property belonging to the Company that he may then have in his possession or control.

6.2 Matheson will be permitted to retain and need not return to the Company (a) his Company-supplied laptop computer (but not any Company information that may be on that computer), and (b) his Company-supplied BlackBerry (but not any Company information that may be on that BlackBerry). In addition, Matheson may retain the cell phone number that he has used in connection with that BlackBerry.

7. Assistance . During the Transition Period and after the Termination Date, Matheson will provide reasonable assistance to the Company in litigation and regulatory matters that relate to events that occurred during Matheson’s period of employment with the Company. Matheson will be entitled to reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket travel or related costs and expenses relating to any such cooperation or assistance that occurs following the Termination Date. Unless otherwise agreed at some future point: (a) Matheson will not be required to spend more than the equivalent of three full working days in any calendar quarter providing such cooperation and assistance, and (b) the Company will pay Matheson at the rate of $1,500 per full working day for any such cooperation or assistance provided by Matheson in response to a specific request by the Company, except that no per diem payment will be required with respect to Matheson’s cooperation and assistance if Matheson himself is a defendant in the litigation or a target in the regulatory enforcement at issue.

8. Release . This Agreement will become effective between the Company and Matheson immediately upon exchange of signed copies between the two of them. However, the Company will not pay any portion of the Lump Sum Severance Amount to Matheson unless he has first executed and delivered to the Company a release, effective as of the Termination Date, in the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A (the “Release”) and has not revoked that Release within seven days of the date of its delivery to the Company. Unless and until Matheson has so executed and delivered and not revoked the Release, nothing in this Agreement will release any claim that Matheson may have against the Company or any affiliate. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Lump Sum Payment Date” means the later of (a) two business days after the seven day period for revocation specified in the Release has expired, and (b) 30 days after the Termination Date.

 

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9. No Disclosure Regarding This Agreement .

9.1 Matheson will not disclose any information regarding the existence or substance of this Agreement, except: (a) to an attorney with whom Matheson chooses to consult regarding this Agreement; (b) to Matheson’s spouse; (c) to Matheson’s professional tax return preparers or advisers; (d) to relevant taxing authorities; (e) if and only to the extent necessary to secure enforcement of this Agreement; and (f) if and only to the extent required by a valid subpoena or court order, in which case Matheson will first afford the Company the opportunity to raise any objection that the Company may have to the purported requirement that Matheson reveal such information. Matheson will ensure that none of the individuals listed in (a), (b), or (c) communicates any such information to any other person or entity.

9.2 The Company will take reasonable steps to maintain the confidentiality of the existence and substance of this Agreement, but the Company will be permitted to disclose the existence of this Agreement and its substance as may be required by applicable law. If and to the extent the Company discloses the existence and/or substance of this Agreement, whether as required by applicable law or otherwise, Matheson will be relieved from his obligation not to disclose any information regarding the existence or substance of this Agreement but Matheson will have no other recourse against the Company with respect to that disclosure.

10. Withholding and Reporting . All payments to be made, benefits to be provided, and shares of Common Stock to be issued with respect to RSUs by the Company to Matheson under this Agreement will be subject to applicable tax withholding and reporting by the Company. Matheson will timely pay, and will indemnify the Company with respect to, any taxes payable by him with respect to payments, benefits, and equity interests received pursuant to this Agreement in excess of amounts withheld.

11. Section 409A Compliance . The parties intend that all payments and benefits under this Agreement will comply with or be exempt from the application of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code (“Section 409A”) and, to the extent practicable, the terms of this Agreement are to be interpreted accordingly. The Company does not warrant or guaranty the tax treatment to Matheson arising from his receipt of any payment, benefit, or equity interest under this Agreement or otherwise and neither the Company nor any of its affiliates will be liable for any taxes, interest, penalties, or other amounts payable by Matheson or anyone claiming through him with respect to any such receipt or other matter.

12. Miscellaneous .

12.1 Notices . Notices and all other communications provided for in this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given: (a) when delivered in person (to the General Counsel of the Company in the case of notices to the Company and to Matheson in the case of notices to Matheson); (b) the first business day after deposit with a nationally recognized overnight courier, properly addressed and charges prepaid; or (c) the third business day after mailing by United States registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, properly addressed and postage prepaid. Notices to the Company will be properly addressed if addressed, as follows:

Global Power Equipment Group Inc.

6120 South Yale, Suite 1480

Tulsa, OK 74136

Attention: General Counsel

Telephone: 918.488.0828

 

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Notices to Matheson will be properly addressed if addressed to Matheson’s home address as reflected on the records of the Company as of the date first set forth above. Either party may change the address to which notices are to be sent by courier or mailed by notice to the other in accordance with this Section 12.1.

12.2 Entire Agreement . This Agreement contains the entire agreement and understanding between Matheson and the Company on its subject matter and supersedes any prior understandings, agreements, or representations by either party to the other, whether written or oral, relevant to the subject matter of this Agreement.

12.3 Benefit of Agreement . The rights and obligations of the Company under this Agreement will inure to the benefit of, and will be binding on, the Company and its successors and assigns, and the rights and obligations (other than obligations to observe restrictive covenants) of Matheson under this Agreement will inure to the benefit of, and will be binding upon, Matheson and his heirs and personal representatives.

12.4 Governing Law . The provisions of this Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made in and to be performed exclusively within that State, notwithstanding any conflict of law provision to the contrary.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and Matheson have executed this Agreement, the Company by a duly authorized representative, on the date first written above.

 

GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC.
By:  

LOGO

  Candice L. Cheeseman
 

Vice President of Administration,

General Counsel and Secretary

LOGO

JOHN M. MATHESON

 

6

Exhibit 10.18

AMENDED AND RESTATED

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is dated effective as of January 28, 2008 (the “Effective Date”), by and among Global Power Equipment Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and David L. Willis (the “Executive”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in Section 1 of this Agreement.

WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive desire to enter into an agreement regarding the employment by the Company of the Executive effective as of the Effective Date; and

WHEREAS, the Executive is entrusted with knowledge of the particular business methods of the Company and its Subsidiaries and is trained and instructed in the particular operation methods of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and the relationship between the Company and the Executive is one in which the Company places special trust and confidence in the Executive.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of employment and in further consideration of these mutual covenants and agreements, the parties hereto, each intending to be bound, covenant and agree as follows:

1. Definitions . As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

“Additional Employment Term” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(i) of this Agreement.

“Affiliate” means, when used with reference to a specified Person, any Person that directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by or is under common control with the specified Person. As used in this definition, “control” (including, with its correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) shall mean possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise). With respect to any Person who is an individual, “Affiliates” shall also include, without limitation, any member of such individual’s Family Group.

“Base Salary” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(i) of this Agreement.

“Benefits” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(ii) of this Agreement.

“Board” means the Company’s Board of Directors.

“Bonus” means awards under the Management Incentive Plan.


“Bonus Year” means an annual bonus period under the Management Incentive Plan.

“Businesses” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) of this Agreement.

“Cause” means the occurrence of any one of the following as determined by the Board: (i) a material breach of the Executive’s covenants under Section 4 or Section 5 of this Agreement; (ii) the commission by the Executive of a felony, or any crime involving theft, dishonesty or moral turpitude; (iii) the commission by the Executive of act(s) or omission(s) which are willful and deliberate acts intended to harm or injure the business, operations, financial condition or reputation of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company; (iv) the Executive’s disregard of the directives of the Board; (v) the Executive’s drunkenness or use of drugs which interferes with the performance of the Executive’s duties under this Agreement, which drunkenness or use of drugs continues after receipt of notice to the Executive from the Company of his violation of this provision; or (vi) any attempt by the Executive to secure any personal profit in connection with the business of the Company unless given prior written approval by unanimous consent of the Board.

“Confidential Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a)(i) of this Agreement.

“Disability” means that the Executive is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, or is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Company.

“Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in the opening paragraph of this Agreement.

“Employment Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(ii) of this Agreement.

“Employment Term” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(i) of this Agreement.

“Family Group” means, with respect to any Person who is an individual: (i) such Person’s spouse, former spouse and descendants (whether natural or adopted), parents and their descendants and any spouse of the foregoing persons (collectively, “relatives”) or (ii) the trustee, fiduciary or personal representative of such Person and any trust solely for the benefit of such Person and/or such Person’s relatives.

 

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“Geographical Area” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) of this Agreement.

“Good Reason” for resignation by the Executive means his resignation because of: (i) a material reduction in the annual base salary of the Executive, a material reduction in the employee benefits granted to the Executive, or a material reduction in the Executive’s percentage participation in the Management Incentive Plan or a material reduction in the Executive’s percentage participation in any New MIP from the percentage previously awarded to the Executive if and when a New MIP is approved and adopted, (ii) a material modification to the Management Incentive Plan, which modification materially and adversely affects the determination of the Executive’s bonus for any calendar year for which such Management Incentive Plan is applicable, unless such modification is generally applicable to all participants in the Management Incentive Plan and such modification has been approved by (x) if the Board has less than three Management Board Members, then all such Management Board Members or (y) if the Board has three or more Management Board Members, then any two of such Management Board Members, (iii) a requirement that the Executive be based at any office or location more than 50 miles from Tulsa, Oklahoma, or (iv) a removal of the Executive as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company by action of the Board without Cause, in each case, other than with the consent of the Executive.

“Initial Employment Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(i) of this Agreement.

“Management Board Member” means any member of the Board who is also a full-time employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

“Management Incentive Plan” or “MIP” means the Company’s 2008 Management Incentive Plan for the 2008 calendar year and thereafter until a New MIP is approved and adopted.

“New MIP” means the Company’s Incentive Compensation Program or Plan approved and adopted by the Board to be effective for any calendar year after 2008.

“Noncompete Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) of this Agreement.

“Person” means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, an association, a limited liability company, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization or a governmental entity or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof.

“Post-Termination Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) of this Agreement.

 

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“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association or other business entity of which (i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or (ii) if a partnership, limited liability company, association or other business entity, a majority of the partnership or other similar ownership interest thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof. For purposes hereof, a Person or Persons shall be deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a partnership, limited liability company, association or other business entity if such Person or Persons shall be allocated a majority of partnership, limited liability company, association or other business entity gains or losses or shall be or control the managing director, manager or a general partner of such partnership, limited liability company, association or other business entity.

“Termination Date” means the date of the Executive’s separation of service from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for reasons other than death, as determined under Section 409A of the Code and applicable guidance thereunder; provided, however, that in the event such determination cannot be made under such Section 409A and/or guidance, “Termination Date” shall mean the date that the Executive ceases to be employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for any reason other than death.

“Work Product” has the meaning set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement.

2. Employment .

(a) Employment . The Company agrees to employ the Executive, and the Executive hereby accepts employment with the Company, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement for the Employment Period (as herein defined).

(b) Positions and Duties .

(i) Commencing on the date hereof and continuing during the Employment Period, the Executive shall serve as an employee and the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company under the supervision and direction of the Board and shall have the normal duties, responsibilities and authority of Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of a corporation and such other duties as shall be assigned to the Executive by the Board from time to time.

(ii) The Executive shall devote his best efforts and his full business time and attention (except for permitted vacation periods and reasonable periods of illness or other incapacity which does not constitute Disability) to the business and affairs of the Company. The Executive shall perform his duties and responsibilities to the best of his abilities in a diligent, trustworthy, businesslike and efficient manner. The foregoing shall not preclude the Executive from devoting reasonable time to civic and charitable affairs and with the consent of the Board serving on a maximum of one board of a for-profit entity other than the Board or the board of directors of any Subsidiary of the Company, provided that such activity does not interfere in any material respect with the performance of his duties hereunder. The Executive shall perform all services in accordance with the policies, procedures and rules established by the Company. In addition, the Executive shall comply with all laws, rules and regulations that are generally applicable to the Company, its Subsidiaries and their employees, directors and officers.

 

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(c) Base Salary and Benefits .

(i) Base Salary . During the Employment Period, the Executive’s base salary shall be in an amount set by the Board, but under no circumstances will be less than $253,000 per annum, effective January 1, 2009 (the “Base Salary”), which salary shall be paid by the Company in regular installments in accordance with the Company’s general payroll practices and shall be subject to customary withholding. On an annual basis, the Board shall review and determine the appropriateness of an increase in the Base Salary as in effect as of the date of such review.

(ii) Benefits . During the Employment Period, in addition to the Base Salary payable to the Executive pursuant to Section 2(c)(i) hereof, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in the following employee benefit programs, plans and policies (collectively, the “Benefits”):

(A) The employee benefit programs (including, but not limited to, option plans and benefit programs which provide group pension, life and health insurance and other medical benefits) that the Company, with the approval of the Board, now or hereafter makes available generally to its management as well as the employee benefits listed on Exhibit A hereto; provided that any awards under any option plans shall be set by the Board, in its sole discretion;

(B) Subject to its restrictions and conditions, including performance thresholds and metrics as set by the Board, the Management Incentive Plan with any awards thereunder to be set by the Board at a level of no less than a target bonus of 55% of salary (the actual bonus may range from 27.5% to 110% depending on performance), it being understood and agreed that if the New MIP is not in place during any calendar year, the Executive will have substantially the same bonus opportunities as existed under the Management Incentive Plan during the prior calendar year; and

(C) The Company’s Club Membership Policy (which, subject to certain limitations, provides for payment of an initiation fee and monthly fees).

 

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(iii) Expenses . The Company shall reimburse the Executive for all reasonable and necessary business expenses incurred by the Executive in performing his duties under this Agreement which are consistent with the Company’s policies in effect from time to time with respect to travel, entertainment and other business expenses subject to the Company’s receipt of supporting documentation in accordance with the Company’s customary reporting and documentation provisions.

(d) Term .

(i) This Agreement is an employment contract for a term of two (2) years beginning as of the Effective Date and ending on the second anniversary of the Effective Date (the “Initial Employment Term”). At the end of the Initial Employment Term, and at the end of each Additional Employment Term (as herein defined), unless the Company (with the approval of the Board) has provided the Executive with at least sixty (60) days advance written notice, so long as the Executive continues to be employed by the Company, this employment contract shall automatically renew for a term of one (1) year (each such additional term, an “Additional Employment Term”). The Initial Employment Term and each Additional Employment Term shall be referred to herein as an “Employment Term.” Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Employment Term is subject to early termination (x) by reason of the Executive’s death or Disability, (y) by resolution of the Board with or without Cause, or (z) upon the Executive’s voluntary resignation with or without Good Reason. For all purposes under this Agreement, a delivery of a notice by the Company to the Executive pursuant to this Section 2(d)(i) to avoid an Additional Employment Term shall be treated as if an Employment Term has been terminated early by resolution of the Board without Cause.

(ii) The period of the Initial Employment Term together with each Additional Employment Term, if any, shall be referred to herein as the “Employment Period.” Notwithstanding any termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company, this Agreement shall remain a valid and enforceable contract between the parties, including without limitation Sections 3, 4 and 5 hereof.

(e) Employment Termination .

(i) If any Employment Term is terminated early by resolution of the Board with Cause or by reason of the Executive’s voluntary resignation without Good Reason, then the Executive shall be entitled to receive only all previously earned and accrued but unpaid Base Salary and vacation time up to the Termination Date (and not any accrued but unpaid Bonus as of the Termination Date).

 

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(ii) If any Employment Term is terminated early by reason of the Executive’s death or Disability, then the Executive shall be entitled to receive only (x) all previously earned and accrued but unpaid Base Salary and vacation time up to the Termination Date or date of death, (y) a portion of the Bonus earned by the Executive during the Bonus Year in which such termination occurs determined on a pro rated basis based on the number of days of the applicable Bonus Year prior to the Termination Date or date of death as compared to the number of days in such Bonus Year, which payment will be made on or before March 15th of the year after such Bonus Year and (z) any Bonus earned by the Executive during any Bonus Year which ended prior to the Termination Date or date of death and which has not been paid as of such date, which payment will be made on or before March 15th of the year after such Bonus Year.

(iii) If any Employment Term is terminated early by reason of the Executive’s voluntary resignation with Good Reason or by resolution of the Board without Cause, then, subject to the second and third sentences of Section 2(e)(iv), the Executive shall be entitled to receive only the following: (v) all previously earned and accrued but unpaid Base Salary and vacation time up to the Termination Date, (w) any Bonus earned by the Executive during any Bonus Year which ended prior to the Termination Date and which has not been paid as of such date, (x) his Base Salary and an amount equal to the Company’s estimate of the cost of the Benefits marked on Exhibit A with an “#” (which estimate shall be based on the amounts incurred by the Company in connection with the provision of such Benefits) for the twelve month period beginning on the Termination Date with respect to which the Executive takes all actions required to continue such Benefits; provided, however, that such twelve-month period shall be extended until the date on which the Initial Employment Term would have ended if more than twelve months remained in the Initial Employment Term on the Termination Date; provided, further, that in lieu of providing such benefits, the Company may elect to pay the Executive the cost of premiums for such benefits, (y) an amount equal to the cost of the Benefits referred to in Section 2(c)(ii)(C) hereof for the three month period beginning on the Termination Date, and (z) the amount of any target Bonus which would have been earned by the Executive during the Bonus Year in which such termination occurs determined on a pro rated basis based on the number of days of the applicable Bonus Year prior to the Termination Date as compared to the number of days in such Bonus Year. The compensation payable pursuant to this Section 2(e)(iii) shall be paid within 60 days after the Termination Date. In addition, any equity interests held by Executive under a stock or similar plan of the Company shall vest on the Termination Date.

 

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(iv) Notwithstanding the payments or benefits set forth in Sections 2(e)(ii) and 2(e)(iii), the period for which the Executive is entitled to health care continuation coverage under Section 4980B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, shall begin to run on the Termination Date and shall not be extended on account of payments made or reimbursed by the Company pursuant hereto. As a condition to receiving any payments pursuant to clauses (w) through (z) of Section 2(e)(iii), the Executive shall execute and deliver to the Company a general release (with ancillary covenants not to sue and other similar standard provisions) of the Company and its Affiliates and their respective officers, directors and employees from all claims of any kind whatsoever arising out of the Executive’s employment or termination thereof (including without limitation, civil rights claims), in such form as reasonably requested by the Company; provided, however, that the release will not affect any contractual rights the Executive may otherwise have under any stock option plans of the Company or option agreements thereunder; and provided further that the release shall not apply to any rights to which the Executive is entitled in accordance with plan provisions under any employee benefit plan or fringe benefit plan or program of the Company and its Affiliates. In the event the Executive does not execute and deliver such release to the Company before payment is required to be made pursuant to such clauses, the Executive shall forfeit his right to receive any payments pursuant to such clauses.

(v) Except as expressly provided in this Section 2(e), the Executive hereby agrees that upon and after the Termination Date, no severance compensation of any kind, nature or amount (including by operation of law) shall be payable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates to the Executive and the Executive hereby irrevocably waives any claim for severance compensation of any kind, nature or amount (including by operation of law).

(vi) Except as expressly provided in this Section 2(e), upon the Termination Date, except as required by law, all of the Executive’s rights to Benefits hereunder (if any) shall cease.

(vii) Subject to restrictive covenants contained in Section 5 hereof, the Executive may obtain other engagements or employment after the Termination Date, and any compensation received or receivable by the Executive shall not reduce any amounts which the Company is required to pay to the Executive pursuant to this Agreement.

3. Work Product . The Executive agrees that all inventions, drawings, improvements, developments, methods, processes, programs, designs and all similar or related information which relates to the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ actual or anticipated business or research and development or existing or future products or services and which are conceived, developed, contributed to or made by the Executive (either solely or jointly with others) while employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (“Work Product”) shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company or any such Subsidiary. The Executive will promptly disclose such Work Product to the Company and perform all actions requested by the Company (whether during or after employment) to establish and confirm such ownership (including, without limitation, assignments, consents, powers of attorney and other instruments).

 

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4. Confidential Information .

(a) The Executive acknowledges:

(i) That the Work Product, artificial intelligence systems, information, customer lists, goodwill, observations and data disclosed to, developed by or obtained by his while employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries concerning the business or affairs of the Company or any such Subsidiary (including without limitation the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ technology, methods of doing business and supplier and customer information) (collectively, “Confidential Information”) are highly confidential and uniquely valuable to the Company and its Subsidiaries;

(ii) That such Confidential Information is and shall continue to be the property of the Company or any such Subsidiary;

(iii) That the Company and each of its Subsidiaries has a proprietary interest in their respective Confidential Information, including without limitation the identity of their respective customers and suppliers, solicited customers, customer and supplier lists;

(iv) That the continued success of the Company and its Subsidiaries depends in large part on keeping the Confidential Information from becoming known to competitors of the Company and its Subsidiaries; and

(v) That the Company and its Subsidiaries will be irreparably harmed by disclosure of any Confidential Information.

(b) Therefore, the Executive agrees:

(i) That, during his employment and for all times thereafter, except as required by law or court order, he shall not directly or indirectly disclose to any unauthorized person or use for his own account any Confidential Information without the prior written consent of the Company, unless and to the extent that the aforementioned matters become generally known to and available for use by the public other than as a result of the Executive’s acts or omissions to act;

(ii) To use his best efforts and diligence to safeguard the Confidential Information and to protect it against disclosure, misuse, espionage, loss or theft;

 

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(iii) That upon the Termination Date or at any other time the Company may request, for whatever reason, the Executive shall deliver (and in the event of the Executive’s death or Disability, his representative shall deliver) to the Company all computer equipment or backup files of or relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries, all memoranda, correspondence, customer data, notes, plans, records, reports, manuals, photographs, computer tapes and software and other documents and data (and copies thereof) relating to the Confidential Information, the Work Product or the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which he may then possess or have under his control. If the Company requests, the Executive (or his representative) agrees to provide written confirmation that the Executive has returned all such materials to the Company or one of its Subsidiaries; and

(iv) That upon the Termination Date or at any other time the Company may request, for whatever reason, the Executive shall assign all rights, title and interest in the Confidential Information, the Work Product, all computer equipment or backup files of or relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, all memoranda, correspondence, customer data, notes, plans, records, reports, manuals, photographs, computer tapes and software and other documents and data (and copies thereof) relating to the Confidential Information, the Work Product or the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which the Executive may then possess, has under his control, or has ever developed, obtained, or contributed to during his tenure with the Company.

5. Noncompete, Nonsolicitation .

(a) The Executive agrees that, during the time he is employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and during any applicable Post-Termination Period (as herein defined) (the “Noncompete Period”), he shall not directly or indirectly own, operate, manage, control, participate in, consult with, advise, provide services for, or in any manner engage in any business (including by himself or in association with any person, firm, corporate or other business organization or through any other entity) in competition with, or potential competition with, the businesses of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as such businesses (the “Businesses”) exist during the Executive’s employment by the Company, within the United States or any other geographical area in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries engages or plans to engage in the Businesses (the “Geographical Area”). Nothing herein shall prohibit the Executive from being a passive owner of not more than 2% of the outstanding stock of a corporation which is publicly traded, so long as the Executive has no active participation in the business of such corporation. For purposes of this Section 5, “Post-Termination Period” means the twelve (12) month period beginning on the Termination Date.

(b) During the Noncompete Period, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly through another entity (i) induce or attempt to induce any employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to leave the employ of the Company or any such Subsidiary, or in any way interfere with the relationship between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and any employee thereof, including without limitation, inducing or attempting to induce any union, employee or group of employees to interfere with the business or operations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) hire any person who was an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries at any time during the Executive’s employment period, or (iii) induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, distributor, franchisee, licensee or other business relation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to cease doing business with the Company or any such Subsidiary, or in any way interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, distributor, franchisee, licensee or business relation and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

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(c) The Executive agrees that: (i) the covenants set forth in this Section 5 are reasonable in geographical and temporal scope and in all other respects, (ii) the Company would not have entered into this Agreement but for the covenants of the Executive contained herein, and (iii) the covenants contained herein have been made in order to induce the Company to enter into this Agreement.

(d) If, at the time of enforcement of this Section 5, a court shall hold that the duration, scope or area restrictions stated herein are unreasonable under circumstances then existing, the parties agree that the maximum duration, scope or area reasonable under such circumstances shall be substituted for the stated duration, scope or area and that the court shall be allowed to revise the restrictions contained herein to cover the maximum period, scope and area permitted by law.

(e) The Executive recognizes and affirms that in the event of his breach of any provision of this Section 5, money damages would be inadequate and the Company would have no adequate remedy at law. Accordingly, the Executive agrees that in the event of a breach or a threatened breach by the Executive of any of the provisions of this Section 5, the Company, in addition and supplementary to other rights and remedies existing in its favor, may apply to any court of law or equity of competent jurisdiction for specific performance and/or injunctive or other relief in order to enforce or prevent any violations of the provisions hereof (without posting a bond or other security).

6. Indemnification . Executive shall be entitled to indemnification by the Company pursuant to and in accordance with the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws.

7. Notices . All notices, demands or other communications to be given or delivered under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered personally, mailed by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid, sent via a nationally recognized overnight courier, charges prepaid, or sent via facsimile. Such notices, demands and other communications will be sent to the address indicated below:

To the Company:

Global Power Equipment Group Inc.

6120 South Yale, Suite 1480

Tulsa, OK 74136

Attention: Chief Executive Officer

Facsimile No.: (918) 488-8389

 

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To the Executive:

to Executive’s last address or facsimile

number on the records of the Company

or such other address or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party shall have specified by prior written notice to the sending party; provided, that the failure to deliver copies of notices as indicated above shall not affect the validity of any notice. Any such notice, demand or other communication shall be deemed to have been received (i) when delivered, if personally delivered, or sent by nationally-recognized overnight courier or sent via facsimile or (ii) on the third business day following the date on which the piece of mail containing such notice, demand or other communication is posted if sent by certified or registered mail.

8. Miscellaneous .

(a) Warranty by the Executive . The Executive represents and warrants to the Company that he is not a party to any agreement containing a noncompetition provision or other restriction with respect to (i) the nature of any services or business which he is entitled to perform or conduct for the Company under this Agreement, or (ii) the disclosure or use of any information which directly or indirectly relates to the nature of the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the services to be rendered by the Executive under this Agreement.

(b) Severability . If any provision or clause of this Agreement, or portion thereof shall be held by any court or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, invalid, or unenforceable in such jurisdiction, the remainder of such provision shall not be thereby affected and shall be given full effect, without regard to the invalid portion. It is the intention of the parties that, if any court construes any provision or clause of this Agreement, or any portion thereof, to be illegal, void or unenforceable because of the duration of such provision or the area matter covered thereby, such court shall reduce the duration, area, or matter of such provision, and, in its reduced form, such provision shall then be enforceable and shall be enforced.

(c) Complete Agreement . This Agreement shall embody the complete agreement and understanding among the Executive, the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries and supersedes and preempts any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among such parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way. Except as specifically set forth herein, this Agreement does not supersede any agreements evidencing the grant of restricted stock, restricted stock units or long-term incentives to the Executive under the Company’s 2008 Management Incentive Plan or any future equity plan of the Company.

(d) Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which is deemed to be an original and all of which taken together constitute one and the same agreement.

 

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(e) Successors and Assigns, Transfer . This Agreement is intended to bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive and the Company and their respective successors, heirs and assigns.

(f) Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware, without giving effect to any rules, principles or provisions of choice of law or conflict of laws.

(g) Remedies . The Company and the Executive will be entitled to enforce its or his respective rights under this Agreement specifically, to recover damages and costs (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) caused by any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights existing in its or his favor. The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that the Company will suffer irreparable harm and money damages may not be an adequate remedy for any breach of the provisions of this Agreement by the Executive and that the Company may in its sole discretion apply to any court of law or equity of competent jurisdiction (without posting any bond or deposit) for specific performance and/or other injunctive relief in order to enforce or prevent any violations of the provisions of this Agreement.

(h) Amendment and Waiver . The provisions of this Agreement may be amended and waived only with the prior written consent of the Company (with the approval of the Board) and the Executive.

[Signature Page to Follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the 31 st day of December, 2008, effective as of the Effective Date.

 

GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC.
By:  

/s/ John M. Matheson

Name:   John M. Matheson
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

/s/ David L. Willis

David L. Willis

 

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Exhibit A

Benefits Schedule

David L. Willis

 

#    Medical Insurance
#    Dental Insurance
   Long Term Disability
   Salary Continuation*
#    Life Insurance
   Accidental Death & Dismemberment
#    Travel Accident Insurance
   9 Paid Holidays Per Year
   4 Weeks Paid Vacation Per Year
   Profit Sharing Plan
   401(k) Plan
   Flexible Benefit Plan
   Preparation of Annual Taxes

 

* If disabled, the Company would pay the difference between his regular salary and the benefit Short Term Disability would pay for up to six months

Exhibit 10.19

AMENDED AND RESTATED

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is dated effective as of September 1, 2008 (the “Effective Date”), by and among Global Power Equipment Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Dean J. Glover (the “Executive”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in Section 1 of this Agreement.

WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive desire to enter into an agreement regarding the employment by the Company of the Executive effective as of the Effective Date; and

WHEREAS, the Executive is entrusted with knowledge of the particular business methods of the Company and its Subsidiaries and is trained and instructed in the particular operation methods of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and the relationship between the Company and the Executive is one in which the Company places special trust and confidence in the Executive.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of employment and in further consideration of these mutual covenants and agreements, the parties hereto, each intending to be bound, covenant and agree as follows:

1. Definitions . As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

“Additional Employment Term” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(i) of this Agreement.

“Affiliate” means, when used with reference to a specified Person, any Person that directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by or is under common control with the specified Person. As used in this definition, “control” (including, with its correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) shall mean possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise). With respect to any Person who is an individual, “Affiliates” shall also include, without limitation, any member of such individual’s Family Group.

“Base Salary” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(i) of this Agreement.

“Benefits” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(ii) of this Agreement.

“Board” means the Company’s Board of Directors.

“Bonus” means awards under the Management Incentive Plan.


“Bonus Year” means an annual bonus period under the Management Incentive Plan.

“Businesses” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) of this Agreement.

“Cause” means the occurrence of any one of the following as determined by the Board: (i) a material breach of the Executive’s covenants under Section 4 or Section 5 of this Agreement; (ii) the commission by the Executive of a felony, or any crime involving theft, dishonesty or moral turpitude; (iii) the commission by the Executive of act(s) or omission(s) which are willful and deliberate acts intended to harm or injure the business, operations, financial condition or reputation of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company; (iv) the Executive’s disregard of the directives of the Board; (v) the Executive’s drunkenness or use of drugs which interferes with the performance of the Executive’s duties under this Agreement, which drunkenness or use of drugs continues after receipt of notice to the Executive from the Company of his violation of this provision; or (vi) any attempt by the Executive to secure any personal profit in connection with the business of the Company unless given prior written approval by unanimous consent of the Board.

“Confidential Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a)(i) of this Agreement.

“Disability” means that the Executive is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, or is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Company.

“Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in the opening paragraph of this Agreement.

“Employment Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(ii) of this Agreement.

“Employment Term” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(i) of this Agreement.

“Family Group” means, with respect to any Person who is an individual: (i) such Person’s spouse, former spouse and descendants (whether natural or adopted), parents and their descendants and any spouse of the foregoing persons (collectively, “relatives”) or (ii) the trustee, fiduciary or personal representative of such Person and any trust solely for the benefit of such Person and/or such Person’s relatives.

 

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“Geographical Area” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) of this Agreement.

“Good Reason” for resignation by the Executive means his resignation because of: (i) a material reduction in the annual base salary of the Executive, a material reduction in the employee benefits granted to the Executive, or a material reduction in the Executive’s percentage participation in the Management Incentive Plan or a material reduction in the Executive’s percentage participation in any New MIP from the percentage previously awarded to the Executive if and when a New MIP is approved and adopted, (ii) a material modification to the Management Incentive Plan, which modification materially and adversely affects the determination of the Executive’s bonus for any calendar year for which such Management Incentive Plan is applicable, unless such modification is generally applicable to all participants in the Management Incentive Plan and such modification has been approved by (x) if the Board has less than three Management Board Members, then all such Management Board Members or (y) if the Board has three or more Management Board Members, then any two of such Management Board Members, (iii) a requirement that the Executive be based at any office or location more than 50 miles from Tulsa, Oklahoma, or (iv) a removal of the Executive as Senior Vice President and President of the Products Division of the Company by action of the Board without Cause, in each case, other than with the consent of the Executive.

“Initial Employment Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(i) of this Agreement.

“Management Board Member” means any member of the Board who is also a full-time employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

“Management Incentive Plan” or “MIP” means the Company’s 2008 Management Incentive Plan for the 2008 calendar year and thereafter until a New MIP is approved and adopted.

“New MIP” means the Company’s Incentive Compensation Program or Plan approved and adopted by the Board to be effective for any calendar year after 2008.

“Noncompete Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) of this Agreement.

“Person” means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, an association, a limited liability company, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization or a governmental entity or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof.

“Post-Termination Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) of this Agreement.

 

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“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association or other business entity of which (i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or (ii) if a partnership, limited liability company, association or other business entity, a majority of the partnership or other similar ownership interest thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof. For purposes hereof, a Person or Persons shall be deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a partnership, limited liability company, association or other business entity if such Person or Persons shall be allocated a majority of partnership, limited liability company, association or other business entity gains or losses or shall be or control the managing director, manager or a general partner of such partnership, limited liability company, association or other business entity.

“Termination Date” means the date of the Executive’s separation of service from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for reasons other than death, as determined under Section 409A of the Code and applicable guidance thereunder; provided, however, that in the event such determination cannot be made under such Section 409A and/or guidance, “Termination Date” shall mean the date that the Executive ceases to be employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for any reason other than death.

“Work Product” has the meaning set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement.

2. Employment .

(a) Employment . The Company agrees to employ the Executive, and the Executive hereby accepts employment with the Company, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement for the Employment Period (as herein defined).

(b) Positions and Duties .

(i) Commencing on the date hereof and continuing during the Employment Period, the Executive shall serve as an employee and the Senior Vice President and President of the Products Division of the Company under the supervision and direction of the Board and shall have the normal duties, responsibilities and authority of Senior Vice President and President of the Products Division of a corporation and such other duties as shall be assigned to the Executive by the Board from time to time.

(ii) The Executive shall devote his best efforts and his full business time and attention (except for permitted vacation periods and reasonable periods of illness or other incapacity which does not constitute Disability) to the business and affairs of the Company. The Executive shall perform his duties and responsibilities to the best of his abilities in a diligent, trustworthy, businesslike and efficient manner. The foregoing shall not preclude the Executive from devoting reasonable time to civic and charitable affairs and with the consent of the Board serving on a maximum of one board of a for-profit entity other than the Board or the board of directors of any Subsidiary of the Company, provided that such activity does not interfere in any material respect with the performance of his duties hereunder. The Executive shall perform all services in accordance with the policies, procedures and rules established by the Company. In addition, the Executive shall comply with all laws, rules and regulations that are generally applicable to the Company, its Subsidiaries and their employees, directors and officers.

 

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(c) Base Salary and Benefits .

(i) Base Salary . During the Employment Period, the Executive’s base salary shall be in an amount set by the Board, but under no circumstances will be less than $306,000 per annum, effective January 1, 2009 (the “Base Salary”), which salary shall be paid by the Company in regular installments in accordance with the Company’s general payroll practices and shall be subject to customary withholding. On an annual basis, the Board shall review and determine the appropriateness of an increase in the Base Salary as in effect as of the date of such review.

(ii) Benefits . During the Employment Period, in addition to the Base Salary payable to the Executive pursuant to Section 2(c)(i) hereof, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in the following employee benefit programs, plans and policies (collectively, the “Benefits”):

(A) The employee benefit programs (including, but not limited to, option plans and benefit programs which provide group pension, life and health insurance and other medical benefits) that the Company, with the approval of the Board, now or hereafter makes available generally to its management as well as the employee benefits listed on Exhibit A hereto; provided that any awards under any option plans shall be set by the Board, in its sole discretion;

(B) Subject to its restrictions and conditions, including performance thresholds and metrics as set by the Board, the Management Incentive Plan with any awards thereunder to be set by the Board at a level of no less than a target bonus of 65% of salary (the actual bonus may range from 32.5% to 130% depending on performance), it being understood and agreed that if the New MIP is not in place during any calendar year, the Executive will have substantially the same bonus opportunities as existed under the Management Incentive Plan during the prior calendar year; and

(C) The Company’s Club Membership Policy (which, subject to certain limitations, provides for payment of an initiation fee and monthly fees).

 

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(iii) Expenses . The Company shall reimburse the Executive for all reasonable and necessary business expenses incurred by the Executive in performing his duties under this Agreement which are consistent with the Company’s policies in effect from time to time with respect to travel, entertainment and other business expenses subject to the Company’s receipt of supporting documentation in accordance with the Company’s customary reporting and documentation provisions.

(d) Term .

(i) This Agreement is an employment contract for a term of two (2) years beginning as of the Effective Date and ending on the second anniversary of the Effective Date (the “Initial Employment Term”). At the end of the Initial Employment Term, and at the end of each Additional Employment Term (as herein defined), unless the Company (with the approval of the Board) has provided the Executive with at least sixty (60) days advance written notice, so long as the Executive continues to be employed by the Company, this employment contract shall automatically renew for a term of one (1) year (each such additional term, an “Additional Employment Term”). The Initial Employment Term and each Additional Employment Term shall be referred to herein as an “Employment Term.” Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Employment Term is subject to early termination (x) by reason of the Executive’s death or Disability, (y) by resolution of the Board with or without Cause, or (z) upon the Executive’s voluntary resignation with or without Good Reason. For all purposes under this Agreement, a delivery of a notice by the Company to the Executive pursuant to this Section 2(d)(i) to avoid an Additional Employment Term shall be treated as if an Employment Term has been terminated early by resolution of the Board without Cause.

(ii) The period of the Initial Employment Term together with each Additional Employment Term, if any, shall be referred to herein as the “Employment Period.” Notwithstanding any termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company, this Agreement shall remain a valid and enforceable contract between the parties, including without limitation Sections 3, 4 and 5 hereof.

(e) Employment Termination .

(i) If any Employment Term is terminated early by resolution of the Board with Cause or by reason of the Executive’s voluntary resignation without Good Reason, then the Executive shall be entitled to receive only all previously earned and accrued but unpaid Base Salary and vacation time up to the Termination Date (and not any accrued but unpaid Bonus as of the Termination Date).

 

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(ii) If any Employment Term is terminated early by reason of the Executive’s death or Disability, then the Executive shall be entitled to receive only (x) all previously earned and accrued but unpaid Base Salary and vacation time up to the Termination Date or date of death, (y) a portion of the Bonus earned by the Executive during the Bonus Year in which such termination occurs determined on a pro rated basis based on the number of days of the applicable Bonus Year prior to the Termination Date or date of death as compared to the number of days in such Bonus Year, which payment will be made on or before March 15th of the year after such Bonus Year and (z) any Bonus earned by the Executive during any Bonus Year which ended prior to the Termination Date or date of death and which has not been paid as of such date, which payment will be made on or before March 15th of the year after such Bonus Year.

(iii) If any Employment Term is terminated early by reason of the Executive’s voluntary resignation with Good Reason or by resolution of the Board without Cause, then, subject to the second and third sentences of Section 2(e)(iv), the Executive shall be entitled to receive only the following: (v) all previously earned and accrued but unpaid Base Salary and vacation time up to the Termination Date, (w) any Bonus earned by the Executive during any Bonus Year which ended prior to the Termination Date and which has not been paid as of such date, (x) his Base Salary and an amount equal to the Company’s estimate of the cost of the Benefits marked on Exhibit A with an “#” (which estimate shall be based on the amounts incurred by the Company in connection with the provision of such Benefits) for the twelve month period beginning on the Termination Date with respect to which the Executive takes all actions required to continue such Benefits; provided, however, that such twelve-month period shall be extended until the date on which the Initial Employment Term would have ended if more than twelve months remained in the Initial Employment Term on the Termination Date; provided, further, that in lieu of providing such benefits, the Company may elect to pay the Executive the cost of premiums for such benefits, (y) an amount equal to the cost of the Benefits referred to in Section 2(c)(ii)(C) hereof for the three month period beginning on the Termination Date, and (z) the amount of any target Bonus which would have been earned by the Executive during the Bonus Year in which such termination occurs determined on a pro rated basis based on the number of days of the applicable Bonus Year prior to the Termination Date as compared to the number of days in such Bonus Year. The compensation payable pursuant to this Section 2(e)(iii) shall be paid within 60 days after the Termination Date. In addition, any equity interests held by Executive under a stock or similar plan of the Company shall vest on the Termination Date.

 

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(iv) Notwithstanding the payments or benefits set forth in Sections 2(e)(ii) and 2(e)(iii), the period for which the Executive is entitled to health care continuation coverage under Section 4980B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, shall begin to run on the Termination Date and shall not be extended on account of payments made or reimbursed by the Company pursuant hereto. As a condition to receiving any payments pursuant to clauses (w) through (z) of Section 2(e)(iii), the Executive shall execute and deliver to the Company a general release (with ancillary covenants not to sue and other similar standard provisions) of the Company and its Affiliates and their respective officers, directors and employees from all claims of any kind whatsoever arising out of the Executive’s employment or termination thereof (including without limitation, civil rights claims), in such form as reasonably requested by the Company; provided, however, that the release will not affect any contractual rights the Executive may otherwise have under any stock option plans of the Company or option agreements thereunder; and provided further that the release shall not apply to any rights to which the Executive is entitled in accordance with plan provisions under any employee benefit plan or fringe benefit plan or program of the Company and its Affiliates. In the event the Executive does not execute and deliver such release to the Company before payment is required to be made pursuant to such clauses, the Executive shall forfeit his right to receive any payments pursuant to such clauses.

(v) Except as expressly provided in this Section 2(e), the Executive hereby agrees that upon and after the Termination Date, no severance compensation of any kind, nature or amount (including by operation of law) shall be payable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates to the Executive and the Executive hereby irrevocably waives any claim for severance compensation of any kind, nature or amount (including by operation of law).

(vi) Except as expressly provided in this Section 2(e), upon the Termination Date, except as required by law, all of the Executive’s rights to Benefits hereunder (if any) shall cease.

(vii) Subject to restrictive covenants contained in Section 5 hereof, the Executive may obtain other engagements or employment after the Termination Date, and any compensation received or receivable by the Executive shall not reduce any amounts which the Company is required to pay to the Executive pursuant to this Agreement.

3. Work Product . The Executive agrees that all inventions, drawings, improvements, developments, methods, processes, programs, designs and all similar or related information which relates to the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ actual or anticipated business or research and development or existing or future products or services and which are conceived, developed, contributed to or made by the Executive (either solely or jointly with others) while employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (“Work Product”) shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company or any such Subsidiary. The Executive will promptly disclose such Work Product to the Company and perform all actions requested by the Company (whether during or after employment) to establish and confirm such ownership (including, without limitation, assignments, consents, powers of attorney and other instruments).

 

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4. Confidential Information .

(a) The Executive acknowledges:

(i) That the Work Product, artificial intelligence systems, information, customer lists, goodwill, observations and data disclosed to, developed by or obtained by his while employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries concerning the business or affairs of the Company or any such Subsidiary (including without limitation the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ technology, methods of doing business and supplier and customer information) (collectively, “Confidential Information”) are highly confidential and uniquely valuable to the Company and its Subsidiaries;

(ii) That such Confidential Information is and shall continue to be the property of the Company or any such Subsidiary;

(iii) That the Company and each of its Subsidiaries has a proprietary interest in their respective Confidential Information, including without limitation the identity of their respective customers and suppliers, solicited customers, customer and supplier lists;

(iv) That the continued success of the Company and its Subsidiaries depends in large part on keeping the Confidential Information from becoming known to competitors of the Company and its Subsidiaries; and

(v) That the Company and its Subsidiaries will be irreparably harmed by disclosure of any Confidential Information.

(b) Therefore, the Executive agrees:

(i) That, during his employment and for all times thereafter, except as required by law or court order, he shall not directly or indirectly disclose to any unauthorized person or use for his own account any Confidential Information without the prior written consent of the Company, unless and to the extent that the aforementioned matters become generally known to and available for use by the public other than as a result of the Executive’s acts or omissions to act;

(ii) To use his best efforts and diligence to safeguard the Confidential Information and to protect it against disclosure, misuse, espionage, loss or theft;

(iii) That upon the Termination Date or at any other time the Company may request, for whatever reason, the Executive shall deliver (and in the event of the Executive’s death or Disability, his representative shall deliver) to the Company all computer equipment or backup files of or relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries, all memoranda, correspondence, customer data, notes, plans, records, reports, manuals, photographs, computer tapes and software and other documents and data (and copies thereof) relating to the Confidential Information, the Work Product or the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which he may then possess or have under his control. If the Company requests, the Executive (or his representative) agrees to provide written confirmation that the Executive has returned all such materials to the Company or one of its Subsidiaries; and

 

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(iv) That upon the Termination Date or at any other time the Company may request, for whatever reason, the Executive shall assign all rights, title and interest in the Confidential Information, the Work Product, all computer equipment or backup files of or relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, all memoranda, correspondence, customer data, notes, plans, records, reports, manuals, photographs, computer tapes and software and other documents and data (and copies thereof) relating to the Confidential Information, the Work Product or the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which the Executive may then possess, has under his control, or has ever developed, obtained, or contributed to during his tenure with the Company.

5. Noncompete, Nonsolicitation .

(a) The Executive agrees that, during the time he is employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and during any applicable Post-Termination Period (as herein defined) (the “Noncompete Period”), he shall not directly or indirectly own, operate, manage, control, participate in, consult with, advise, provide services for, or in any manner engage in any business (including by himself or in association with any person, firm, corporate or other business organization or through any other entity) in competition with, or potential competition with, the businesses of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as such businesses (the “Businesses”) exist during the Executive’s employment by the Company, within the United States or any other geographical area in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries engages or plans to engage in the Businesses (the “Geographical Area”). Nothing herein shall prohibit the Executive from being a passive owner of not more than 2% of the outstanding stock of a corporation which is publicly traded, so long as the Executive has no active participation in the business of such corporation. For purposes of this Section 5, “Post-Termination Period” means the twelve (12) month period beginning on the Termination Date.

(b) During the Noncompete Period, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly through another entity (i) induce or attempt to induce any employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to leave the employ of the Company or any such Subsidiary, or in any way interfere with the relationship between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and any employee thereof, including without limitation, inducing or attempting to induce any union, employee or group of employees to interfere with the business or operations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) hire any person who was an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries at any time during the Executive’s employment period, or (iii) induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, distributor, franchisee, licensee or other business relation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to cease doing business with the Company or any such Subsidiary, or in any way interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, distributor, franchisee, licensee or business relation and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

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(c) The Executive agrees that: (i) the covenants set forth in this Section 5 are reasonable in geographical and temporal scope and in all other respects, (ii) the Company would not have entered into this Agreement but for the covenants of the Executive contained herein, and (iii) the covenants contained herein have been made in order to induce the Company to enter into this Agreement.

(d) If, at the time of enforcement of this Section 5, a court shall hold that the duration, scope or area restrictions stated herein are unreasonable under circumstances then existing, the parties agree that the maximum duration, scope or area reasonable under such circumstances shall be substituted for the stated duration, scope or area and that the court shall be allowed to revise the restrictions contained herein to cover the maximum period, scope and area permitted by law.

(e) The Executive recognizes and affirms that in the event of his breach of any provision of this Section 5, money damages would be inadequate and the Company would have no adequate remedy at law. Accordingly, the Executive agrees that in the event of a breach or a threatened breach by the Executive of any of the provisions of this Section 5, the Company, in addition and supplementary to other rights and remedies existing in its favor, may apply to any court of law or equity of competent jurisdiction for specific performance and/or injunctive or other relief in order to enforce or prevent any violations of the provisions hereof (without posting a bond or other security).

6. Indemnification . Executive shall be entitled to indemnification by the Company pursuant to and in accordance with the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws.

7. Notices . All notices, demands or other communications to be given or delivered under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered personally, mailed by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid, sent via a nationally recognized overnight courier, charges prepaid, or sent via facsimile. Such notices, demands and other communications will be sent to the address indicated below:

To the Company:

Global Power Equipment Group Inc.

6120 South Yale, Suite 1480

Tulsa, OK 74136

Attention: Chief Executive Officer

Facsimile No.: (918) 488-8389

 

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To the Executive:

to Executive’s last address or facsimile

number on the records of the Company

or such other address or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party shall have specified by prior written notice to the sending party; provided, that the failure to deliver copies of notices as indicated above shall not affect the validity of any notice. Any such notice, demand or other communication shall be deemed to have been received (i) when delivered, if personally delivered, or sent by nationally-recognized overnight courier or sent via facsimile or (ii) on the third business day following the date on which the piece of mail containing such notice, demand or other communication is posted if sent by certified or registered mail.

8. Miscellaneous .

(a) Warranty by the Executive . The Executive represents and warrants to the Company that he is not a party to any agreement containing a noncompetition provision or other restriction with respect to (i) the nature of any services or business which he is entitled to perform or conduct for the Company under this Agreement, or (ii) the disclosure or use of any information which directly or indirectly relates to the nature of the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the services to be rendered by the Executive under this Agreement.

(b) Severability . If any provision or clause of this Agreement, or portion thereof shall be held by any court or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, invalid, or unenforceable in such jurisdiction, the remainder of such provision shall not be thereby affected and shall be given full effect, without regard to the invalid portion. It is the intention of the parties that, if any court construes any provision or clause of this Agreement, or any portion thereof, to be illegal, void or unenforceable because of the duration of such provision or the area matter covered thereby, such court shall reduce the duration, area, or matter of such provision, and, in its reduced form, such provision shall then be enforceable and shall be enforced.

(c) Complete Agreement . This Agreement shall embody the complete agreement and understanding among the Executive, the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries and supersedes and preempts any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among such parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way. Except as specifically set forth herein, this Agreement does not supersede any agreements evidencing the grant of restricted stock, restricted stock units or long-term incentives to the Executive under the Company’s 2008 Management Incentive Plan or any future equity plan of the Company.

(d) Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which is deemed to be an original and all of which taken together constitute one and the same agreement.

 

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(e) Successors and Assigns, Transfer . This Agreement is intended to bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive and the Company and their respective successors, heirs and assigns.

(f) Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware, without giving effect to any rules, principles or provisions of choice of law or conflict of laws.

(g) Remedies . The Company and the Executive will be entitled to enforce its or his respective rights under this Agreement specifically, to recover damages and costs (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) caused by any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights existing in its or his favor. The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that the Company will suffer irreparable harm and money damages may not be an adequate remedy for any breach of the provisions of this Agreement by the Executive and that the Company may in its sole discretion apply to any court of law or equity of competent jurisdiction (without posting any bond or deposit) for specific performance and/or other injunctive relief in order to enforce or prevent any violations of the provisions of this Agreement.

(h) Amendment and Waiver . The provisions of this Agreement may be amended and waived only with the prior written consent of the Company (with the approval of the Board) and the Executive.

[Signature Page to Follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the 31 st day of December, 2008, effective as of the Effective Date.

 

GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC.
By:  

/s/ John M. Matheson

Name:   John M. Matheson
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

/s/ Dean J. Glover

Dean J. Glover

 

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Exhibit A

Benefits Schedule

Dean J. Glover

 

# Medical Insurance
# Dental Insurance

Long Term Disability

Salary Continuation*

# Life Insurance

Accidental Death & Dismemberment

# Travel Accident Insurance

9 Paid Holidays Per Year

4 Weeks Paid Vacation Per Year

Profit Sharing Plan

401(k) Plan

Flexible Benefit Plan

Preparation of Annual Taxes

 

* If disabled, the Company would pay the difference between his regular salary and the benefit Short Term Disability would pay for up to six months

Exhibit 10.20

AMENDED AND RESTATED

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is dated effective as of October 1, 2007 (the “Effective Date”), by and among Global Power Equipment Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”), Williams Industrial Services Group, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”) and Kenneth Robuck (the “Executive”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in Section 1 of this Agreement.

WHEREAS, Holdings, the Company and the Executive desire to enter into an agreement regarding the employment by Holdings, the Company of the Executive effective as of the Effective Date; and

WHEREAS, the Company is a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Holdings; and

WHEREAS, the Executive is entrusted with knowledge of the particular business methods of Holdings and the Company and is trained and instructed in the particular operation methods of Holdings and the Company, and the relationship among Holdings, the Company and the Executive is one in which Holdings and the Company place special trust and confidence in the Executive.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of employment and in further consideration of these mutual covenants and agreements, the parties hereto, each intending to be bound, covenant and agree as follows:

1. Definitions . As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

“Additional Employment Term” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(i) of this Agreement.

“Affiliate” means, when used with reference to a specified Person, any Person that directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by or is under common control with the specified Person. As used in this definition, “control” (including, with its correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) shall mean possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise). With respect to any Person who is an individual, “Affiliates” shall also include, without limitation, any member of such individual’s Family Group.

“Base Salary” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(i) of this Agreement.

“Benefits” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(ii) of this Agreement.


“Board” means Holdings’ Board of Directors.

“Bonus” means awards under the Management Incentive Plan.

“Bonus Year” means an annual bonus period under the Management Incentive Plan.

“Businesses” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) of this Agreement.

“Cause” means the occurrence of any one of the following as determined by the Board: (i) a material breach of the Executive’s covenants under Section 4 or Section 5 of this Agreement; (ii) the commission by the Executive of a felony, or any crime involving theft, dishonesty or moral turpitude; (iii) the commission by the Executive of act(s) or omission(s) which are willful and deliberate acts intended to harm or injure the business, operations, financial condition or reputation of Holdings or the Company or any Affiliate of Holdings or the Company; (iv) the Executive’s disregard of the directives of the Board; (v) the Executive’s drunkenness or use of drugs which interferes with the performance of the Executive’s duties under this Agreement, which drunkenness or use of drugs continues after receipt of notice to the Executive from Holdings or the Company of his violation of this provision; or (vi) any attempt by the Executive to secure any personal profit in connection with the business of Holdings or the Company unless given prior written approval by unanimous consent of the Board.

“Confidential Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a)(i) of this Agreement.

“Disability” means that the Executive is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, or is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Company.

“Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in the opening paragraph of this Agreement.

“Employment Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(ii) of this Agreement.

“Employment Term” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(i) of this Agreement.

 

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“Family Group” means, with respect to any Person who is an individual: (i) such Person’s spouse, former spouse and descendants (whether natural or adopted), parents and their descendants and any spouse of the foregoing persons (collectively, “relatives”) or (ii) the trustee, fiduciary or personal representative of such Person and any trust solely for the benefit of such Person and/or such Person’s relatives.

“Geographical Area” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) of this Agreement.

“Good Reason” for resignation by the Executive means his resignation because of: (i) a material reduction in the annual base salary of the Executive, a material reduction in the employee benefits granted to the Executive, or a material reduction in the Executive’s percentage participation in the Management Incentive Plan or a material reduction in the Executive’s percentage participation in any New MIP from the percentage previously awarded to the Executive if and when a New MIP is approved and adopted, (ii) a material modification to the Management Incentive Plan, which modification materially and adversely affects the determination of the Executive’s bonus for any calendar year for which such Management Incentive Plan is applicable, unless such modification is generally applicable to all participants in the Management Incentive Plan and such modification has been approved by (x) if the Board has less than three Management Board Members, then all such Management Board Members or (y) if the Board has three or more Management Board Members, then any two of such Management Board Members, (iii) a requirement that the Executive be based at any office or location more than 50 miles from Tucker, Georgia, or (iv) a removal of the Executive as President of the Company and Senior Vice President of Holdings by action of the Board without Cause, in each case, other than with the consent of the Executive.

“Initial Employment Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(i) of this Agreement.

“Management Board Member” means any member of the Board who is also a full-time employee of Holdings, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

“Management Incentive Plan” or “MIP” means Holdings’ 2008 Management Incentive Plan for the 2008 calendar year and thereafter until a New MIP is approved and adopted.

“New MIP” means Holdings’ Incentive Compensation Program or Plan approved and adopted by the Board to be effective for any calendar year after 2008.

“Noncompete Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) of this Agreement.

“Person” means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, an association, a limited liability company, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization or a governmental entity or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof.

“Post-Termination Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) of this Agreement.

 

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“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association or other business entity of which (i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or (ii) if a partnership, limited liability company, association or other business entity, a majority of the partnership or other similar ownership interest thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof. For purposes hereof, a Person or Persons shall be deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a partnership, limited liability company, association or other business entity if such Person or Persons shall be allocated a majority of partnership, limited liability company, association or other business entity gains or losses or shall be or control the managing director, manager or a general partner of such partnership, limited liability company, association or other business entity.

“Termination Date” means the date of the Executive’s separation of service from Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries for reasons other than death, as determined under Section 409A of the Code and applicable guidance thereunder; provided, however, that in the event such determination cannot be made under such Section 409A and/or guidance, “Termination Date” shall mean the date that the Executive ceases to be employed by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries for any reason other than death.

“Work Product” has the meaning set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement.

2. Employment .

(a) Employment . Holdings and the Company agrees to employ the Executive, and the Executive hereby accepts employment with Holdings and the Company, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement for the Employment Period (as herein defined).

(b) Positions and Duties .

(i) Commencing on the date hereof and continuing during the Employment Period, the Executive shall serve as an employee and the President of the Company under the supervision and direction of the Board and shall have the normal duties, responsibilities and authority of President of a corporation and such other duties as shall be assigned to the Executive by the Board from time to time. In addition, the Executive shall serve as a Senior Vice President of Holdings under the supervision and direction of the Board and shall have the normal duties, responsibilities, and authority of a Senior Vice President of a corporation.

 

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(ii) The Executive shall devote his best efforts and his full business time and attention (except for permitted vacation periods and reasonable periods of illness or other incapacity which does not constitute Disability) to the business and affairs of Holdings and the Company. The Executive shall perform his duties and responsibilities to the best of his abilities in a diligent, trustworthy, businesslike and efficient manner. The foregoing shall not preclude the Executive from devoting reasonable time to civic and charitable affairs and with the consent of the Board serving on a maximum of one board of a for-profit entity other than the Board or the board of directors of any Subsidiary of Holdings, provided that such activity does not interfere in any material respect with the performance of his duties hereunder. The Executive shall perform all services in accordance with the policies, procedures and rules established by Holdings or the Company. In addition, the Executive shall comply with all laws, rules and regulations that are generally applicable to Holdings, its Subsidiaries and their employees, directors and officers.

(c) Base Salary and Benefits .

(i) Base Salary . During the Employment Period, the Executive’s base salary shall be in an amount set by the Board, but under no circumstances will be less than $307,650 per annum, effective January 1, 2009 (the “Base Salary”), which salary shall be paid by the Company in regular installments in accordance with the Company’s general payroll practices and shall be subject to customary withholding. On an annual basis, the Board shall review and determine the appropriateness of an increase in the Base Salary as in effect as of the date of such review.

(ii) Benefits . During the Employment Period, in addition to the Base Salary payable to the Executive pursuant to Section 2(c)(i) hereof, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in the following employee benefit programs, plans and policies (collectively, the “Benefits”):

(A) The employee benefit programs (including, but not limited to, option plans and benefit programs which provide group pension, life and health insurance and other medical benefits) that Holdings and the Company, with the approval of the Board, now or hereafter makes available generally to its management as well as the employee benefits listed on Exhibit A hereto; provided that any awards under any option plans shall be set by the Board, in its sole discretion;

(B) Subject to its restrictions and conditions, including performance thresholds and metrics as set by the Board, the Management Incentive Plan with any awards thereunder to be set by the Board at a level of no less than a target bonus of 55% of salary (the actual bonus may range from 27.5% to 110% depending on performance), it being understood and agreed that if the New MIP is not in place during any calendar year, the Executive will have substantially the same bonus opportunities as existed under the Management Incentive Plan during the prior calendar year; and

 

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(C) Holdings’ Club Membership Policy (which, subject to certain limitations, provides for payment of an initiation fee and monthly fees).

(iii) Expenses . The Company shall reimburse the Executive for all reasonable and necessary business expenses incurred by the Executive in performing his duties under this Agreement which are consistent with the Company’s policies in effect from time to time with respect to travel, entertainment and other business expenses subject to the Company’s receipt of supporting documentation in accordance with the Company’s customary reporting and documentation provisions.

(d) Term .

(i) This Agreement is an employment contract for a term of two (2) years beginning as of the Effective Date and ending on the second anniversary of the Effective Date (the “Initial Employment Term”). At the end of the Initial Employment Term, and at the end of each Additional Employment Term (as herein defined), unless the Company (with the approval of the Board) has provided the Executive with at least sixty (60) days advance written notice, so long as the Executive continues to be employed by the Company, this employment contract shall automatically renew for a term of one (1) year (each such additional term, an “Additional Employment Term”). The Initial Employment Term and each Additional Employment Term shall be referred to herein as an “Employment Term.” Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Employment Term is subject to early termination (x) by reason of the Executive’s death or Disability, (y) by resolution of the Board with or without Cause, or (z) upon the Executive’s voluntary resignation with or without Good Reason. For all purposes under this Agreement, a delivery of a notice by the Company to the Executive pursuant to this Section 2(d)(i) to avoid an Additional Employment Term shall be treated as if an Employment Term has been terminated early by resolution of the Board without Cause.

(ii) The period of the Initial Employment Term together with each Additional Employment Term, if any, shall be referred to herein as the “Employment Period.” Notwithstanding any termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company, this Agreement shall remain a valid and enforceable contract between the parties, including without limitation Sections 3, 4 and 5 hereof.

 

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(e) Employment Termination .

(i) If any Employment Term is terminated early by resolution of the Board with Cause or by reason of the Executive’s voluntary resignation without Good Reason, then the Executive shall be entitled to receive only all previously earned and accrued but unpaid Base Salary and vacation time up to the Termination Date (and not any accrued but unpaid Bonus as of the Termination Date).

(ii) If any Employment Term is terminated early by reason of the Executive’s death or Disability, then the Executive shall be entitled to receive only (x) all previously earned and accrued but unpaid Base Salary and vacation time up to the Termination Date or date of death, (y) a portion of the Bonus earned by the Executive during the Bonus Year in which such termination occurs determined on a pro rated basis based on the number of days of the applicable Bonus Year prior to the Termination Date or date of death as compared to the number of days in such Bonus Year, which payment will be made on or before March 15th of the year after such Bonus Year and (z) any Bonus earned by the Executive during any Bonus Year which ended prior to the Termination Date or date of death and which has not been paid as of such date, which payment will be made on or before March 15th of the year after such Bonus Year.

(iii) If any Employment Term is terminated early by reason of the Executive’s voluntary resignation with Good Reason or by resolution of the Board without Cause, then, subject to the second and third sentences of Section 2(e)(iv), the Executive shall be entitled to receive only the following: (v) all previously earned and accrued but unpaid Base Salary and vacation time up to the Termination Date, (w) any Bonus earned by the Executive during any Bonus Year which ended prior to the Termination Date and which has not been paid as of such date, (x) his Base Salary and an amount equal to the Company’s estimate of the cost of the Benefits marked on Exhibit A with an “#” (which estimate shall be based on the amounts incurred by the Company in connection with the provision of such Benefits) for the twelve month period beginning on the Termination Date with respect to which the Executive takes all actions required to continue such Benefits; provided, however, that such twelve-month period shall be extended until the date on which the Initial Employment Term would have ended if more than twelve months remained in the Initial Employment Term on the Termination Date; provided, further, that in lieu of providing such benefits, the Company may elect to pay the Executive the cost of premiums for such benefits, (y) an amount equal to the cost of the Benefits referred to in Section 2(c)(ii)(C) hereof for the three month period beginning on the Termination Date, and (z) the amount of any target Bonus which would have been earned by the Executive during the Bonus Year in which such termination occurs determined on a pro rated basis based on the number of days of the applicable Bonus Year prior to the Termination Date as compared to the number of days in such Bonus Year. The compensation payable pursuant to this Section 2(e)(iii) shall be paid within 60 days after the Termination Date. In addition, any equity interests held by Executive under a stock or similar plan of the Company shall vest on the Termination Date.

 

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(iv) Notwithstanding the payments or benefits set forth in Sections 2(e)(ii) and 2(e)(iii), the period for which the Executive is entitled to health care continuation coverage under Section 4980B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, shall begin to run on the Termination Date and shall not be extended on account of payments made or reimbursed by the Company pursuant hereto. As a condition to receiving any payments pursuant to clauses (w) through (z) of Section 2(e)(iii), the Executive shall execute and deliver to the Company a general release (with ancillary covenants not to sue and other similar standard provisions) of the Company and its Affiliates and their respective officers, directors and employees from all claims of any kind whatsoever arising out of the Executive’s employment or termination thereof (including without limitation, civil rights claims), in such form as reasonably requested by the Company; provided, however, that the release will not affect any contractual rights the Executive may otherwise have under any stock option plans of the Company or option agreements thereunder; and provided further that the release shall not apply to any rights to which the Executive is entitled in accordance with plan provisions under any employee benefit plan or fringe benefit plan or program of the Company and its Affiliates. In the event the Executive does not execute and deliver such release to the Company before payment is required to be made pursuant to such clauses, the Executive shall forfeit his right to receive any payments pursuant to such clauses.

(v) Except as expressly provided in this Section 2(e), the Executive hereby agrees that upon and after the Termination Date, no severance compensation of any kind, nature or amount (including by operation of law) shall be payable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates to the Executive and the Executive hereby irrevocably waives any claim for severance compensation of any kind, nature or amount (including by operation of law).

(vi) Except as expressly provided in this Section 2(e), upon the Termination Date, except as required by law, all of the Executive’s rights to Benefits hereunder (if any) shall cease.

(vii) Subject to restrictive covenants contained in Section 5 hereof, the Executive may obtain other engagements or employment after the Termination Date, and any compensation received or receivable by the Executive shall not reduce any amounts which the Company is required to pay to the Executive pursuant to this Agreement.

3. Work Product . The Executive agrees that all inventions, drawings, improvements, developments, methods, processes, programs, designs and all similar or related information which relates to Holdings’ or any of its Subsidiaries’ actual or anticipated business or research and development or existing or future products or services and which are conceived, developed, contributed to or made by the Executive (either solely or jointly with others) while employed by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries (“Work Product”) shall be the sole and exclusive property of Holdings or any such Subsidiary. The Executive will promptly disclose such Work Product to Holdings and perform all actions requested by Holdings (whether during or after employment) to establish and confirm such ownership (including, without limitation, assignments, consents, powers of attorney and other instruments).

 

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4. Confidential Information .

(a) The Executive acknowledges:

(i) That the Work Product, artificial intelligence systems, information, customer lists, goodwill, observations and data disclosed to, developed by or obtained by his while employed by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries concerning the business or affairs of Holdings or any such Subsidiary (including without limitation Holdings’ and its Subsidiaries’ technology, methods of doing business and supplier and customer information) (collectively, “Confidential Information”) are highly confidential and uniquely valuable to Holdings and its Subsidiaries;

(ii) That such Confidential Information is and shall continue to be the property of Holdings or any such Subsidiary;

(iii) That Holdings and each of its Subsidiaries has a proprietary interest in their respective Confidential Information, including without limitation the identity of their respective customers and suppliers, solicited customers, customer and supplier lists;

(iv) That the continued success of Holdings and its Subsidiaries depends in large part on keeping the Confidential Information from becoming known to competitors of Holdings and its Subsidiaries; and

(v) That Holdings and its Subsidiaries will be irreparably harmed by disclosure of any Confidential Information.

(b) Therefore, the Executive agrees:

(i) That, during his employment and for all times thereafter, except as required by law or court order, he shall not directly or indirectly disclose to any unauthorized person or use for his own account any Confidential Information without the prior written consent of Holdings, unless and to the extent that the aforementioned matters become generally known to and available for use by the public other than as a result of the Executive’s acts or omissions to act;

(ii) To use his best efforts and diligence to safeguard the Confidential Information and to protect it against disclosure, misuse, espionage, loss or theft;

 

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(iii) That upon the Termination Date or at any other time Holdings may request, for whatever reason, the Executive shall deliver (and in the event of the Executive’s death or Disability, his representative shall deliver) to Holdings all computer equipment or backup files of or relating to Holdings and its Subsidiaries, all memoranda, correspondence, customer data, notes, plans, records, reports, manuals, photographs, computer tapes and software and other documents and data (and copies thereof) relating to the Confidential Information, the Work Product or the business of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries which he may then possess or have under his control. If Holdings requests, the Executive (or his representative) agrees to provide written confirmation that the Executive has returned all such materials to Holdings or one of its Subsidiaries; and

(iv) That upon the Termination Date or at any other time Holdings may request, for whatever reason, the Executive shall assign all rights, title and interest in the Confidential Information, the Work Product, all computer equipment or backup files of or relating to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, all memoranda, correspondence, customer data, notes, plans, records, reports, manuals, photographs, computer tapes and software and other documents and data (and copies thereof) relating to the Confidential Information, the Work Product or the business of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries which the Executive may then possess, has under his control, or has ever developed, obtained, or contributed to during his tenure with Holdings.

5. Noncompete, Nonsolicitation .

(a) The Executive agrees that, during the time he is employed by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries and during any applicable Post-Termination Period (as herein defined) (the “Noncompete Period”), he shall not directly or indirectly own, operate, manage, control, participate in, consult with, advise, provide services for, or in any manner engage in any business (including by himself or in association with any person, firm, corporate or other business organization or through any other entity) in competition with, or potential competition with, the businesses of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries as such businesses (the “Businesses”) exist during the Executive’s employment by Holdings, within the United States or any other geographical area in which Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries engages or plans to engage in the Businesses (the “Geographical Area”). Nothing herein shall prohibit the Executive from being a passive owner of not more than 2% of the outstanding stock of a corporation which is publicly traded, so long as the Executive has no active participation in the business of such corporation. For purposes of this Section 5, “Post-Termination Period” means the twelve (12) month period beginning on the Termination Date.

(b) During the Noncompete Period, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly through another entity (i) induce or attempt to induce any employee of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries to leave the employ of Holdings or any such Subsidiary, or in any way interfere with the relationship between Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries and any employee thereof, including without limitation, inducing or attempting to induce any union, employee or group of employees to interfere with the business or operations of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) hire any person who was an employee of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries at any time during the Executive’s employment period, or (iii) induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, distributor, franchisee, licensee or other business relation of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries to cease doing business with Holdings or any such Subsidiary, or in any way interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, distributor, franchisee, licensee or business relation and Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

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(c) The Executive agrees that: (i) the covenants set forth in this Section 5 are reasonable in geographical and temporal scope and in all other respects, (ii) Holdings and the Company would not have entered into this Agreement but for the covenants of the Executive contained herein, and (iii) the covenants contained herein have been made in order to induce Holdings and the Company to enter into this Agreement.

(d) If, at the time of enforcement of this Section 5, a court shall hold that the duration, scope or area restrictions stated herein are unreasonable under circumstances then existing, the parties agree that the maximum duration, scope or area reasonable under such circumstances shall be substituted for the stated duration, scope or area and that the court shall be allowed to revise the restrictions contained herein to cover the maximum period, scope and area permitted by law.

(e) The Executive recognizes and affirms that in the event of his breach of any provision of this Section 5, money damages would be inadequate and Holdings and the Company would have no adequate remedy at law. Accordingly, the Executive agrees that in the event of a breach or a threatened breach by the Executive of any of the provisions of this Section 5, Holdings and the Company, in addition and supplementary to other rights and remedies existing in their favor, may apply to any court of law or equity of competent jurisdiction for specific performance and/or injunctive or other relief in order to enforce or prevent any violations of the provisions hereof (without posting a bond or other security).

6. Indemnification . Executive shall be entitled to indemnification by the Company pursuant to and in accordance with the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws.

7. Notices . All notices, demands or other communications to be given or delivered under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered personally, mailed by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid, sent via a nationally recognized overnight courier, charges prepaid, or sent via facsimile. Such notices, demands and other communications will be sent to the address indicated below:

To Holdings or the Company:

Global Power Equipment Group Inc.

6120 South Yale, Suite 1480

Tulsa, OK 74136

Attention: Chief Executive Officer

Facsimile No.: (918) 488-8389

 

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To the Executive:

to Executive’s last address or facsimile

number on the records of the Company

or such other address or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party shall have specified by prior written notice to the sending party; provided, that the failure to deliver copies of notices as indicated above shall not affect the validity of any notice. Any such notice, demand or other communication shall be deemed to have been received (i) when delivered, if personally delivered, or sent by nationally-recognized overnight courier or sent via facsimile or (ii) on the third business day following the date on which the piece of mail containing such notice, demand or other communication is posted if sent by certified or registered mail.

8. Miscellaneous .

(a) Warranty by the Executive . The Executive represents and warrants to the Holdings and Company that he is not a party to any agreement containing a noncompetition provision or other restriction with respect to (i) the nature of any services or business which he is entitled to perform or conduct for Holdings or the Company under this Agreement, or (ii) the disclosure or use of any information which directly or indirectly relates to the nature of the business of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or the services to be rendered by the Executive under this Agreement.

(b) Severability . If any provision or clause of this Agreement, or portion thereof shall be held by any court or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, invalid, or unenforceable in such jurisdiction, the remainder of such provision shall not be thereby affected and shall be given full effect, without regard to the invalid portion. It is the intention of the parties that, if any court construes any provision or clause of this Agreement, or any portion thereof, to be illegal, void or unenforceable because of the duration of such provision or the area matter covered thereby, such court shall reduce the duration, area, or matter of such provision, and, in its reduced form, such provision shall then be enforceable and shall be enforced.

(c) Complete Agreement . This Agreement shall embody the complete agreement and understanding among the Executive, Holdings, the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries and supersedes and preempts any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among such parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way. Except as specifically set forth herein, this Agreement does not supersede any agreements evidencing the grant of restricted stock, restricted stock units or long-term incentives to the Executive under Holdings’ 2008 Management Incentive Plan or any future equity plan of Holdings.

 

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(d) Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which is deemed to be an original and all of which taken together constitute one and the same agreement.

(e) Successors and Assigns, Transfer . This Agreement is intended to bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive, Holdings and the Company and their respective successors, heirs and assigns.

(f) Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware, without giving effect to any rules, principles or provisions of choice of law or conflict of laws.

(g) Remedies . Holding, the Company and the Executive will be entitled to enforce its or his respective rights under this Agreement specifically, to recover damages and costs (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) caused by any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights existing in its or his favor. The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that Holdings and the Company will suffer irreparable harm and money damages may not be an adequate remedy for any breach of the provisions of this Agreement by the Executive and that Holdings and/or the Company may in its/their sole discretion apply to any court of law or equity of competent jurisdiction (without posting any bond or deposit) for specific performance and/or other injunctive relief in order to enforce or prevent any violations of the provisions of this Agreement.

(h) Amendment and Waiver . The provisions of this Agreement may be amended and waived only with the prior written consent of Holdings and the Company (with the approval of the Board) and the Executive.

[Signature Page to Follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the 31 st day of December, 2008, effective as of the Effective Date.

 

GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC.
By:  

/s/ John M. Matheson

Name:   John M. Matheson
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer
WILLIAMS INDUSTRIAL SERVICES GROUP, L.L.C.
By:  

/s/ John M. Matheson

Name:   John M. Matheson
Title:   Manager

/s/ Kenneth Robuck

Kenneth Robuck

 

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Exhibit A

Benefits Schedule

Kenneth Robuck

 

#    Medical Insurance
#    Dental Insurance
   Long Term Disability
   Salary Continuation*
#    Life Insurance
   Accidental Death & Dismemberment
#    Travel Accident Insurance
   9 Paid Holidays Per Year
   4 Weeks Paid Vacation Per Year
   Profit Sharing Plan
   401(k) Plan
   Flexible Benefit Plan
   Preparation of Annual Taxes

 

* If disabled, the Company would pay the difference between his regular salary and the benefit Short Term Disability would pay for up to six months

Exhibit 10.21

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is dated as of November 21, 2006 (the “Effective Date”), by and among Global Power Equipment Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”), Braden Manufacturing, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”) and Gene F. Schockemoehl (the “Executive”). Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in Section 1 of this Agreement.

WHEREAS, Holdings, the Company and the Executive desire to enter into an agreement regarding the employment by the Company of the Executive effective as of the Effective Date, which agreement shall supersede the Executive’s current Employment Agreement, dated as of May 25, 2006, among Holdings, the Company and the Executive (the “Old Employment Agreement”); and

WHEREAS, the Company is a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Holdings; and

WHEREAS, the Executive is entrusted with knowledge of the particular business methods of Holdings and the Company and is trained and instructed in the particular operation methods of Holdings and the Company, and the relationship among Holdings, the Company and the Executive is one in which Holdings and the Company places special trust and confidence in the Executive.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of employment and in further consideration of these mutual covenants and agreements, the parties hereto, each intending to be bound, covenant and agree as follows:

1. Definitions . As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

“Additional Employment Term” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(i) of this Agreement.

“Affiliate” means, when used with reference to a specified Person, any Person that directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by or is under common control with the specified Person. As used in this definition, “control” (including, with its correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) shall mean possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether through ownership of securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise). With respect to any Person who is an individual, “Affiliates” shall also include, without limitation, any member of such individual’s Family Group.

“Base Salary” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(i) of this Agreement.

“Benefits” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(ii) of this Agreement.


“Board” means Holdings’ Board of Directors.

“Bonus” means awards under the MIC Plan or a New MIC Plan.

“Bonus Year” means an annual bonus period under the MIC Plan or a New MIC Plan.

“Businesses” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) of this Agreement.

“Cause” means the occurrence of any one of the following as determined by the Board: (i) a material breach of the Executive’s covenants under Section 4 or Section 5 of this Agreement; (ii) the commission by the Executive of a felony, or any crime involving theft, dishonesty or moral turpitude; (iii) the commission by the Executive of act(s) or omission(s) which are willful and deliberate acts intended to harm or injure the business, operations, financial condition or reputation of Holdings or the Company or any Affiliate of Holdings or the Company; (iv) the Executive’s disregard of the directives of the Board; (v) the Executive’s drunkenness or use of drugs which interferes with the performance of the Executive’s duties under this Agreement, which drunkenness or use of drugs continues after receipt of notice to the Executive from the Company of his violation of this provision; or (vi) any attempt by the Executive to secure any personal profit in connection with the business of the Company unless given prior written approval by unanimous consent of the Board.

“Confidential Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a)(i) of this Agreement.

“Disability” means that the Executive is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, or is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Company.

“Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in the opening paragraph of this Agreement.

“Employment Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(ii) of this Agreement.

“Employment Term” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(i) of this Agreement.

 

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“Family Group” means, with respect to any Person who is an individual: (i) such Person’s spouse, former spouse and descendants (whether natural or adopted), parents and their descendants and any spouse of the foregoing persons (collectively, “relatives”) or (ii) the trustee, fiduciary or personal representative of such Person and any trust solely for the benefit of such Person and/or such Person’s relatives.

“Geographical Area” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) of this Agreement.

“Good Reason” for resignation by the Executive means his resignation because of: (i) a material reduction in the annual base salary of the Executive, a material reduction in the employee benefits granted to the Executive, or a material reduction in the Executive’s percentage participation in the MIC Plan prior to the approval and adoption of a New MIC Plan or a material reduction in the Executive’s percentage participation in any New MIC Plan from the percentage previously awarded to the Executive if and when a New MIC Plan is approved and adopted, (ii) a modification to the MIC Plan as in effect on the date hereof which materially and adversely affects the determination of the Executive’s bonus with respect to the 2006 calendar year or thereafter if the MIC Plan continues to be in effect for any calendar year after the 2006 calendar year unless such modification is generally applicable to all participants in the MIC Plan and such modification has been approved by (x) if the Board has less than three Management Board Members, then all such Management Board Members or (y) if the Board has three or more Management Board Members, then any two of such Management Board Members, (iii) a modification to a New MIC Plan, which modification materially and adversely affects the determination of the Executive’s bonus for any calendar year for which such New MIC Plan is applicable, unless such modification is generally applicable to all participants in the New MIC Plan and such modification has been approved by (x) if the Board has less than three Management Board Members, then all such Management Board Members or (y) if the Board has three or more Management Board Members, then any two of such Management Board Members, (iv) a requirement that the Executive be based at any office or location more than 50 miles from Tulsa, Oklahoma, or (v) a removal of the Executive as President of the Company or as a Senior Vice President of Holdings by action of the Board, in each case, other than with the consent of the Executive.

“Initial Employment Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(i) of this Agreement.

“Management Board Member” means any member of the Board who is also a full-time employee of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries.

“MIC Plan” means Holdings’ and its Subsidiaries’ Management Incentive Compensation Program for the 2006 calendar year and thereafter until a New MIC Plan is approved and adopted.

 

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“New MIC Plan” means Holdings’ and its Subsidiaries’ Management Incentive Compensation Program or Plan approved and adopted by the Board to be effective for any calendar year after 2006.

“Noncompete Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) of this Agreement.

“Old Employment Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the first WHEREAS clause of this Agreement.

“Person” means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, an association, a limited liability company, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization or a governmental entity or any department, agency or political subdivision thereof.

“Post-Termination Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a) of this Agreement.

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association or other business entity of which (i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or (ii) if a partnership, limited liability company, association or other business entity, a majority of the partnership or other similar ownership interest thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof. For purposes hereof, a Person or Persons shall be deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a partnership, limited liability company, association or other business entity if such Person or Persons shall be allocated a majority of partnership, limited liability company, association or other business entity gains or losses or shall be or control the managing director, manager or a general partner of such partnership, limited liability company, association or other business entity.

“Termination Date” means the date of the Executive’s separation of service from Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries for reasons other than death, as determined under Section 409A of the Code and applicable guidance thereunder; provided, however, that in the event such determination cannot be made under such Section 409A and/or guidance, “Termination Date” shall mean the date that the Executive ceases to be employed by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries for any reason other than death.

“Work Product” has the meaning set forth in Section 3 of this Agreement.

 

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2. Employment .

(a) Employment . The Company agrees to employ the Executive, and the Executive hereby accepts employment with the Company, upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement for the Employment Period (as herein defined).

(b) Positions and Duties .

(i) Commencing on the date hereof and continuing during the Employment Period, the Executive shall serve as an employee and the President of the Company under the supervision and direction of the Board and shall have the normal duties, responsibilities and authority of President of a corporation and such other duties as shall be assigned to the Executive by the Board from time to time. In addition, the Executive shall serve as a Senior Vice President of Holdings under the supervision and direction of the Board and shall have the normal duties, responsibilities, and authority of a Senior Vice President of a corporation.

(ii) The Executive shall devote his best efforts and his full business time and attention (except for permitted vacation periods and reasonable periods of illness or other incapacity which does not constitute Disability) to the business and affairs of the Company. The Executive shall perform his duties and responsibilities to the best of his abilities in a diligent, trustworthy, businesslike and efficient manner. The foregoing shall not preclude the Executive from devoting reasonable time to civic and charitable affairs and with the consent of the Board serving on a maximum of one board of a for-profit entity other than the Board or the board of directors of any Subsidiary of Holdings, provided that such activity does not interfere in any material respect with the performance of his duties hereunder. The Executive shall perform all services in accordance with the policies, procedures and rules established by Holdings or the Company. In addition, the Executive shall comply with all laws, rules and regulations that are generally applicable to Holdings, its Subsidiaries and their employees, directors and officers.

(c) Base Salary and Benefits .

(i) Base Salary . During the Employment Period, the Executive’s base salary shall be in an amount set by the Board, but under no circumstances will be less than $250,000 per annum (the “Base Salary”), which salary shall be paid by the Company in regular installments in accordance with the Company’s general payroll practices and shall be subject to customary withholding. On an annual basis, the Board shall review and determine the appropriateness of an increase in the Base Salary as in effect as of the date of such review.

 

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(ii) Benefits . During the Employment Period, in addition to the Base Salary payable to the Executive pursuant to Section 2(c)(i) hereof, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in the following employee benefit programs, plans and policies (collectively, the “Benefits”):

(A) The employee benefit programs (including, but not limited to, option plans and benefit programs which provide group pension, life and health insurance and other medical benefits) that Holdings and the Company, with the approval of the Board, now or hereafter makes available generally to its management as well as the employee benefits listed on Exhibit A hereto; provided that any awards under any option plans shall be set by the Board, in its sole discretion;

(B) During calendar year 2006 and thereafter, the MIC Plan or any New MIC Plan, with any awards thereunder to be set by the Board at a level of no less than a 55% target bonus (with the actual bonus ranging from 27.5% to 110%), it being understood and agreed that if the MIC Plan or a New MIC Plan is not in place during any calendar year, the Executive will have substantially the same bonus opportunities as existed under the MIC Plan or a New MIC Plan during the prior calendar year; and

(C) Holdings’ Club Membership Policy (which, subject to certain limitations, provides for payment of an initiation fee and monthly fees).

(iii) Expenses . The Company shall reimburse the Executive for all reasonable and necessary business expenses incurred by the Executive in performing his duties under this Agreement which are consistent with the Company’s policies in effect from time to time with respect to travel, entertainment and other business expenses subject to the Company’s receipt of supporting documentation in accordance with the Company’s customary reporting and documentation provisions.

(d) Term .

(i) This Agreement is an employment contract for a term of two (2) years beginning as of the Effective Date and ending on the second anniversary of the Effective Date (the “Initial Employment Term”). At the end of the Initial Employment Term, and at the end of each Additional Employment Term (as herein defined), unless the Company (with the approval of the Board) has provided the Executive with at least sixty (60) days advance written notice, so long as the Executive continues to be employed by the Company, this employment contract shall automatically renew for a term of one (1) year (each such additional term, an “Additional Employment Term”). The Initial Employment Term and each Additional Employment Term shall be referred to herein as an “Employment Term.” Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Employment Term is subject to early termination (x) by reason of the Executive’s death or Disability, (y) by resolution of the Board with or without Cause, or (z) upon the Executive’s voluntary resignation with or without Good Reason. For all purposes under this Agreement, a delivery of a notice by the Company to the Executive pursuant to this Section 2(d)(i) to avoid an Additional Employment Term shall be treated as if an Employment Term has been terminated early by resolution of the Board without Cause.

 

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(ii) The period of the Initial Employment Term together with each Additional Employment Term, if any, shall be referred to herein as the “Employment Period.” Notwithstanding any termination of the Executive’s employment by the Company, this Agreement shall remain a valid and enforceable contract between the parties, including without limitation Sections 3, 4 and 5 hereof.

(e) Employment Termination .

(i) If any Employment Term is terminated early by resolution of the Board with Cause or by reason of the Executive’s voluntary resignation without Good Reason, then the Executive shall be entitled to receive only all previously earned and accrued but unpaid Base Salary and vacation time up to the Termination Date (and not any accrued but unpaid Bonus as of the Termination Date).

(ii) If any Employment Term is terminated early by reason of the Executive’s death or Disability, then the Executive shall be entitled to receive only (x) all previously earned and accrued but unpaid Base Salary and vacation time up to the Termination Date or date of death, (y) if the Termination Date or date of death is 3 months after the commencement of a Bonus Year, then a portion of the Bonus earned by the Executive during such Bonus Year in which such termination occurs determined on a pro rated basis based on the number of days of the applicable Bonus Year prior to the Termination Date or date of death as compared to the number of days in such Bonus Year, which payment will be made when such Bonus for such Bonus Year would otherwise be payable and (z) any Bonus earned by the Executive during any Bonus Year which ended prior to the Termination Date or date of death and which has not been paid as of such date, which payment will be made when such Bonus for such Bonus Year would otherwise be payable.

 

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(iii) Subject to the restrictions or conditions, if any, of any applicable provisions of the United States Code, 11 U.S.C. § 101, et seq . (the “Bankruptcy Code”), if any Employment Term is terminated early by reason of the Executive’s voluntary resignation with Good Reason or by resolution of the Board without Cause, then, subject to the last sentence of this section (iii) the Executive shall be entitled to receive only the following: (v) all previously earned and accrued but unpaid Base Salary and vacation time up to the Termination Date, (w) his Base Salary and an amount equal to the Company’s estimate of the cost of the Benefits marked on Exhibit A with an “#” (which estimate shall be based on the amounts incurred by the Company in connection with the provisions of such Benefits) for the twelve-month period beginning on the Termination Date; provided, however, that such twelve-month period shall be extended until the date on which the Initial Employment Term would have ended if more than twelve months remained in the Initial Employment Term on the Termination Date, (x) an amount equal to the cost of the Benefits referred to in Section 2(c)(ii)(C) hereof for the three-month period beginning on the Termination Date, (y) if the Termination Date is 3 months after the commencement of a Bonus Year, then a portion of the Bonus earned by the Executive during such Bonus Year in which such termination occurs determined on a pro rated basis based on the number of days of the applicable Bonus Year prior to the Termination Date as compared to the number of days in such Bonus Year, which payment will be made when such Bonus for such Bonus Year would otherwise be payable and (z) any Bonus earned by the Executive during any Bonus Year which ended prior to the Termination Date and which has not been paid as of such date, which payment will be made when such Bonus for such Bonus Year would otherwise be payable. Notwithstanding these payments or benefits, the period for which the Executive is entitled to health care continuation coverage under Section 4980B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, shall begin to run on the Termination Date and shall not be extended on account of payments made or reimbursed by the Company pursuant hereto. As a condition to receiving any payments pursuant to this Section 2(e)(iii), the Executive shall execute and deliver to the Company a general release (with ancillary covenants not to sue and other similar standard provisions) of Holdings and its Affiliates and their respective officers, directors and employees from all claims of any kind whatsoever arising out of the Executive’s employment or termination thereof (including without limitation, civil rights claims), in such form as reasonably requested by the Company; provided, however, that the release will not affect any contractual rights the Executive may otherwise have under any stock option plans of Holdings or option agreements thereunder; and provided further that the release shall not apply to any rights to which the Executive is entitled in accordance with plan provisions under any employee benefit plan or fringe benefit plan or program of any of Holdings, the Company and its Affiliates.

(iv) Except as expressly provided in this Section 2(e), the Executive hereby agrees that upon and after the Termination Date, no severance compensation of any kind, nature or amount (including by operation of law) shall be payable by Holdings, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates to the Executive and the Executive hereby irrevocably waives any claim for severance compensation of any kind, nature or amount (including by operation of law).

(v) Except as expressly provided in this Section 2(e), upon the Termination Date, except as required by law, all of the Executive’s rights to Benefits hereunder (if any) shall cease.

 

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(vi) Subject to restrictive covenants contained in Section 5 hereof, the Executive may obtain other engagements or employment after the Termination Date, and any compensation received or receivable by the Executive shall not reduce any amounts which the Company is required to pay to the Executive pursuant to this Agreement.

3. Work Product . The Executive agrees that all inventions, drawings, improvements, developments, methods, processes, programs, designs and all similar or related information which relates to Holdings’ or any of its Subsidiaries’ actual or anticipated business or research and development or existing or future products or services and which are conceived, developed, contributed to or made by the Executive (either solely or jointly with others) while employed by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries (“Work Product”) shall be the sole and exclusive property of Holdings or any such Subsidiary. The Executive will promptly disclose such Work Product to Holdings and perform all actions requested by Holdings (whether during or after employment) to establish and confirm such ownership (including, without limitation, assignments, consents, powers of attorney and other instruments).

4. Confidential Information .

(a) The Executive acknowledges:

(i) That the Work Product, artificial intelligence systems, information, customer lists, goodwill, observations and data disclosed to, developed by or obtained by him while employed by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries concerning the business or affairs of Holdings or any such Subsidiary (including without limitation Holdings’ and its Subsidiaries’ technology, methods of doing business and supplier and customer information) (collectively, “Confidential Information”) are highly confidential and uniquely valuable to Holdings and its Subsidiaries;

(ii) That such Confidential Information is and shall continue to be the property of Holdings or any such Subsidiary;

(iii) That Holdings and each of its Subsidiaries has a proprietary interest in their respective Confidential Information, including without limitation the identity of their respective customers and suppliers, solicited customers, customer and supplier lists;

(iv) That the continued success of Holdings and its Subsidiaries depends in large part on keeping the Confidential Information from becoming known to competitors of Holdings and its Subsidiaries; and

(v) That Holdings and its Subsidiaries will be irreparably harmed by disclosure of any Confidential Information.

 

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(b) Therefore, the Executive agrees:

(i) That, during his employment and for all times thereafter, except as required by law or court order, he shall not directly or indirectly disclose to any unauthorized person or use for his own account any Confidential Information without the prior written consent of Holdings, unless and to the extent that the aforementioned matters become generally known to and available for use by the public other than as a result of the Executive’s acts or omissions to act;

(ii) To use his best efforts and diligence to safeguard the Confidential Information and to protect it against disclosure, misuse, espionage, loss or theft;

(iii) That upon the Termination Date or at any other time Holdings may request, for whatever reason, the Executive shall deliver (and in the event of the Executive’s death or Disability, his representative shall deliver) to Holdings all computer equipment or backup files of or relating to Holdings and its Subsidiaries, all memoranda, correspondence, customer data, notes, plans, records, reports, manuals, photographs, computer tapes and software and other documents and data (and copies thereof) relating to the Confidential Information, the Work Product or the business of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries which he may then possess or have under his control. If Holdings requests, the Executive (or his representative) agrees to provide written confirmation that the Executive has returned all such materials to Holdings or one of its Subsidiaries; and

(iv) That upon the Termination Date or at any other time Holdings may request, for whatever reason, the Executive shall assign all rights, title and interest in the Confidential Information, the Work Product, all computer equipment or backup files of or relating to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, all memoranda, correspondence, customer data, notes, plans, records, reports, manuals, photographs, computer tapes and software and other documents and data (and copies thereof) relating to the Confidential Information, the Work Product or the business of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries which the Executive may then possess, has under his control, or has ever developed, obtained, or contributed to during his tenure with Holdings.

5. Noncompete, Nonsolicitation .

(a) The Executive agrees that, during the time he is employed by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries and during any applicable Post-Termination Period (as herein defined) (the “Noncompete Period”), he shall not directly or indirectly own, operate, manage, control, participate in, consult with, advise, provide services for, or in any manner engage in any business (including by himself or in association with any person, firm, corporate or other business organization or through any other entity) in competition with, or potential competition with, the businesses of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries as such businesses (the “Businesses”) exist during the Executive’s employment by the Company, within the United States or any other geographical area in which Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries engages or plans to engage in the Businesses (the “Geographical Area”). Nothing herein shall prohibit the Executive from being a passive owner of not more than 2% of the outstanding stock of a corporation which is publicly traded, so long as the Executive has no active participation in the business of such corporation. For purposes of this Section 5, “Post-Termination Period” means the twelve (12) month period beginning on the Termination Date.

 

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(b) During the Noncompete Period, the Executive shall not directly or indirectly through another entity (i) induce or attempt to induce any employee of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries to leave the employ of Holdings or any such Subsidiary, or in any way interfere with the relationship between Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries and any employee thereof, including without limitation, inducing or attempting to induce any union, employee or group of employees to interfere with the business or operations of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) hire any person who was an employee of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries at any time during the Executive’s employment period, or (iii) induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, distributor, franchisee, licensee or other business relation of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries to cease doing business with Holdings or any such Subsidiary, or in any way interfere with the relationship between any such customer, supplier, distributor, franchisee, licensee or business relation and Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries.

(c) The Executive agrees that: (i) the covenants set forth in this Section 5 are reasonable in geographical and temporal scope and in all other respects, (ii) Holdings and the Company would not have entered into this Agreement but for the covenants of the Executive contained herein, and (iii) the covenants contained herein have been made in order to induce Holdings and the Company to enter into this Agreement.

(d) If, at the time of enforcement of this Section 5, a court shall hold that the duration, scope or area restrictions stated herein are unreasonable under circumstances then existing, the parties agree that the maximum duration, scope or area reasonable under such circumstances shall be substituted for the stated duration, scope or area and that the court shall be allowed to revise the restrictions contained herein to cover the maximum period, scope and area permitted by law.

(e) The Executive recognizes and affirms that in the event of his breach of any provision of this Section 5, money damages would be inadequate and Holdings and the Company would have no adequate remedy at law. Accordingly, the Executive agrees that in the event of a breach or a threatened breach by the Executive of any of the provisions of this Section 5, Holdings and the Company, in addition and supplementary to other rights and remedies existing in their favor, may apply to any court of law or equity of competent jurisdiction for specific performance and/or injunctive or other relief in order to enforce or prevent any violations of the provisions hereof (without posting a bond or other security).

 

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6. Notices . All notices, demands or other communications to be given or delivered under or by reason of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered personally, mailed by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested and postage prepaid, sent via a nationally recognized overnight courier, charges prepaid, or sent via facsimile. Such notices, demands and other communications will be sent to the address indicated below:

To Holdings or the Company:

Global Power Equipment Group Inc.

6120 South Yale, Suite 1480

Tulsa, OK 74136

Attention: Chief Executive Officer

Facsimile No.: (918) 488-8389

To the Executive:

at the Executive’s last address or facsimile

number on the records of the Company

or such other address or to the attention of such other Person as the recipient party shall have specified by prior written notice to the sending party; provided, that the failure to deliver copies of notices as indicated above shall not affect the validity of any notice. Any such notice, demand or other communication shall be deemed to have been received (i) when delivered, if personally delivered, or sent by nationally-recognized overnight courier or sent via facsimile or (ii) on the third business day following the date on which the piece of mail containing such notice, demand or other communication is posted if sent by certified or registered mail.

7. Miscellaneous .

(a) Warranty by the Executive . The Executive represents and warrants to Holdings and the Company that he is not a party to any agreement containing a noncompetition provision or other restriction with respect to (i) the nature of any services or business which he is entitled to perform or conduct for Holdings or the Company under this Agreement, or (ii) the disclosure or use of any information which directly or indirectly relates to the nature of the business of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or the services to be rendered by the Executive under this Agreement.

(b) Severability . If any provision or clause of this Agreement, or portion thereof shall be held by any court or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, invalid, or unenforceable in such jurisdiction, the remainder of such provision shall not be thereby affected and shall be given full effect, without regard to the invalid portion. It is the intention of the parties that, if any court construes any provision or clause of this Agreement, or any portion thereof, to be illegal, void or unenforceable because of the duration of such provision or the area matter covered thereby, such court shall reduce the duration, area, or matter of such provision, and, in its reduced form, such provision shall then be enforceable and shall be enforced.

 

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(c) Complete Agreement . This Agreement shall embody the complete agreement and understanding among the Executive, Holdings and/or any of its Subsidiaries and supersedes and preempts any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among such parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way, including, but not limited to, the Old Employment Agreement. This Agreement does not supersede any agreements evidencing the grant of options or long-term incentives to the Executive under Holdings’ 2000 Option Plan, Holdings’ 2001 Option Plan, Holdings’ 2004 Stock Incentive Plan or any future equity plan of Holdings.

(d) Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in separate counterparts, each of which is deemed to be an original and all of which taken together constitute one and the same agreement.

(e) Successors and Assigns, Transfer . This Agreement is intended to bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive, Holdings and the Company and their respective successors, heirs and assigns.

(f) Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Delaware, without giving effect to any rules, principles or provisions of choice of law or conflict of laws.

(g) Remedies . Holdings, the Company and the Executive will be entitled to enforce its or his respective rights under this Agreement specifically, to recover damages and costs (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) caused by any breach of any provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights existing in its or his favor. The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that Holdings and the Company will suffer irreparable harm and money damages may not be an adequate remedy for any breach of the provisions of this Agreement by the Executive and that Holdings and/or the Company may in its/their sole discretion apply to any court of law or equity of competent jurisdiction (without posting any bond or deposit) for specific performance and/or other injunctive relief in order to enforce or prevent any violations of the provisions of this Agreement.

(h) Amendment and Waiver . The provisions of this Agreement may be amended and waived only with the prior written consent of Holdings and the Company (with the approval of the Board) and the Executive.

 

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

 

GLOBAL POWER EQUIPMENT GROUP INC.
By:  

/s/ John M. Matheson

Name:   John M. Matheson
Title:   Chief Executive Officer and President
BRADEN MANUFACTURING, L.L.C.
By:  

/s/ John M. Matheson

Name:   John M. Matheson
Title:   Vice President

/s/ Gene F. Schockemoehl

Gene F. Schockemoehl

 

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Exhibit A

Benefits Schedule

Gene F. Schockemoehl

 

#    Medical Insurance
#    Dental Insurance
   Short Term Disability
   Long Term Disability
   Salary Continuation*
#    Life Insurance
   Accidental Death & Dismemberment
#    Travel Accident Insurance
   9 Paid Holidays Per Year
   4 Weeks Paid Vacation Per Year
   Profit Sharing Plan
   401(k) Plan
   Flexible Benefit Plan
   Preparation of Annual Taxes

 

* If disabled, the Company would pay the difference between his regular salary and the benefit Short Term Disability would pay for up to six months

Exhibit 21.1

Global Power Equipment Group, Inc.

Registration Statement on Form 10

Exhibit 21.1

Subsidiaries of Global Power Equipment Group, Inc.

 

Consolidated Subsidiaries

  

Where Organized

Braden Construction Services, Inc.    Delaware
Braden Manufacturing, L.L.C.    Delaware
Deltak, L.L.C.    Delaware
Global Power Professional Services L.L.C.    Delaware
Williams Industrial Services Group, L.L.C.    Delaware
Construction & Maintenance Professionals, LLC    Georgia
Williams Global Services, Inc.    Georgia
Williams Industrial Services, LLC    Georgia
Williams Plant Services, LLC    Georgia
Williams Specialty Services, LLC    Georgia
Deltak Construction Services, Inc.    Wisconsin
Braden Manufacturing SA de CV    Mexico
Braden-Europe BV    The Netherlands
Global Power Equipment Group (Hong Kong) Limited    Hong Kong
Braden Power Equipment (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.    Peoples Republic of China