SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) March 29 , 201 9

 

Air T, Inc.

 

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

                 Delaware                                 001-35476                           52-1206400         
(State or Other Jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer
of Incorporation)   Identification No.)

                                                         

5930 Balsom Ridge Road

         Denver , North Carolina 28037          

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(Zip Code)

 

                                   ( 828 ) 464 - 8741                                 

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

 

                                      Not Applicable                                 

(Former name or former address, if changed from last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions ( see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

 

Written communication pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4c))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

 

 

 

Item 1.01             Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

 

On March 29, 2019, Air T, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with Minnesota Bank & Trust (“MBT”), dated as of March 28, 2019 (the “Amended Agreement”), principally to refinance the Worthington credit facility. The principal changes of the Amended Agreement are as follows: (1) the revolving credit facility increased to $17,000,000; (2) the rate was revised to the greater of (a) 4.00% or (b) the sum of (i) the prime rate minus (ii) 1.00%; (3) the maturity date extended to November 30, 2027; and (4) three parties were added: (a) Worthington Acquisition, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Stratus Aero Partners LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company; (b) Worthington Aviation, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Worthington Acquisition, LLC; and (c) Worthington MRO, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Worthington Acquisition, LLC (collectively, the “Worthington Entities”). The additional funds were applied to repay indebtedness owed by the Worthington Entities under that certain Loan Agreement dated as of May 11, 2018 to MBT. Additionally, the related Amended and Restated Guaranty in favor of MBT, dated as of March 28, 2019, amends that certain Guaranty dated as of December 21, 2017, which also adds the Worthington Entities as parties.

 

The above discussion is qualified in its entirety by reference to the forms of the credit agreement, note, security agreement and guaranty filed as Exhibits 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, and 10.4, to this Report, which are incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 2.03            Creation of a Direct Financial Obli g ation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant

 

To the extent responsive, the information included under Item 1.01 is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01            Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

Exhibit

Description

   

10.1

Form of Amended and Restated Credit Agreement between Air T, Inc. and Minnesota Bank & Trust dated March 28, 2019.

   

10.2

Form of Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Note in the principal amount of $17,000,000 to Minnesota Bank & Trust dated March 28, 2019.

   

10.3

Form of Amended and Restated Security Agreement in favor of Minnesota Bank & Trust dated March 28, 2019.

   

10.4

Form of Amended and Restated Guaranty in favor of Minnesota Bank & Trust dated March 28, 2019.

 

2

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

Date: April 4, 2019

 

 

AIR T, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/  Brett Reynolds

 

 

Brett Reynolds, Chief Financial Officer

 

3

Exhibit 10.1

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

 

Amended and Restated Credit Agreement

 

 

between

 

 

Air T, Inc.

 

 

and

 

 

Minnesota Bank & Trust

 

 

dated as of

 

March 28, 2019

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    Page
     

Article I Definitions and Interpretation

1  
     
Section 1.01 Definitions 1  
     
Section 1.02 Interpretation 21  
     
Article II The Commitments and Loans 21  
     
Section 2.01 Term Loans 21  
     
Section 2.02 Term Loans Not Revolving 22  
     

S ection 2.03 R evolving C redit C ommitment

22  
     
Section 2.04 Procedures for Revolving Credit Borrowing 22  
     
Section 2.05 Termination or Reduction of Revolving Credit Commitment 23  
     

S ection 2.06 R epayment of L oans ; E vidence of D ebt

23  
     
Section 2.07 Optional Prepayments 24  
     
Section 2.08 Mandatory Prepayments 24  
     

S ection 2.09 A pplication of P repayments

25  
     
Section 2.10 Interest 25  
     

S ection 2.11 R evolving C redit C ommitment F ee

25  
     
Section 2.12 Letters of Credit 25  
     
Article III Taxes, Etc. 27  
     
Section 3.01 Taxes 27  
     
Section 3.02 Increased Costs; Capital Adequacy Requirements 29  
     
Article IV Conditions Precedent 30  
     
Section 4.01 Conditions Precedent to Initial Loans 30  
     
Section 4.02 Conditions Precedent to Each Loan 31  
     
Article V Representations and Warranties 32  
     
Section 5.01 Existence; Compliance With Laws 32  
     

S ection 5.02 P ower ; A uthorization ; E nforceability

32  

 

 

 

 

Section 5.03 No Contravention 33  
     
Section 5.04 Financial Statements 33  
     
Section 5.05 No Material Adverse Effect 33  
     
Section 5.06 No Litigation 33  
     

S ection 5.07 N o D efault

33  
     
Section 5.08 Ownership of Property; Liens 34  
     
Section 5.09 Environmental Matters 34  
     
Section 5.10 Insurance 35  
     
Section 5.11 Material Contracts 35  
     
Section 5.12 Intellectual Property 35  
     
Section 5.13 Taxes 36  
     
Section 5.14 ERISA 36  
     
Section 5.15 Margin Regulations 36  
     
Section 5.16 Investment Company Act 36  
     
Section 5.17 Subsidiaries; Equity Interests 36  
     
Section 5.18 Labor Matters 37  
     

S ection 5.19 A ccuracy of I nformation , E tc.

37  
     
Section 5.20 Security Documents 37  
     
Section 5.21 Solvency 38  
     
Section 5.22 PATRIOT Act; OFAC and Other Regulations 38  
     

Article VI Affirmative Covenants

39  
     
Section 6.01 Financial Statements 39  
     
Section 6.02 Certificates; Other Information 40  
     
Section 6.03 Notices 41  
     
Section 6.04 Maintenance of Existence; Compliance 42  
     
Section 6.05 Performance of Material Contracts 42  
     
Section 6.06 Maintenance of Property; Insurance 42  
     
Section 6.07 Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions 42  
     
Section 6.08 Environmental Laws 43  
     
Section 6.09 Use of Proceeds 43  

 

 

 

 

Section 6.10 Additional Collateral; etc 43  
     
Section 6.11 Further Assurances 43  
     
Section 6.12 Deposit Accounts 44  
     

Article VII Negative Covenants

45  
     
Section 7.01 Limitation on Debt 45  
     
Section 7.02 Limitation on Liens 46  
     
Section 7.03 Mergers; Nature of Business 47  
     
Section 7.04 Limitation on Investments 47  
     
Section 7.05 Limitation on Dispositions 48  
     
Section 7.06 Limitation on Sales and Leasebacks 48  
     
Section 7.07 Limitation on Restricted Payments; Transfers to Non-Loan Parties 49  
     
Section 7.08 Limitation on Prepayments of Debt and Amendments of Debt Instruments 49  
     
Section 7.09 Limitation on Transactions With Affiliates 50  
     
Section 7.10 Fiscal Year 50  
     
Section 7.11 Limitation on Restrictive Agreements 50  
     
Section 7.12 Limitation on Amendments of Material Contracts 50  
     
Section 7.13 Financial Covenants 50  
     

Article VIII Events of Default and Remedies

51  
     
Section 8.01 Events of Default 51  
     
Section 8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default 53  
     
Section 8.03 Prepayment Obligations 54  
     

Article IX Miscellaneous

54  
     
Section 9.01 Notices 54  
     
Section 9.02 Amendments and Waivers 56  
     
Section 9.03 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver 56  
     
Section 9.04 Successors and Assigns 58  
     
Section 9.05 Survival 59  
     
Section 9.06 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness 59  
     
Section 9.07 Severability 60  
     
Section 9.08 Right of Setoff 60  

 

 

 

 

Section 9.09 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process 61  
     
Section 9.10 Waiver of Jury Trial 62  
     
Section 9.11 Headings 62  
     
Section 9.12 Confidentiality 62  
     
Section 9.13 USA PATRIOT Act 63  
     
Section 9.14 Intent of Amendment and Restatement; Termination of Worthington Loan Agreement 63  

 

 

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED Credit Agreement

 

 

This Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of March 28, 2019, is entered into between Air T, Inc. , a Delaware corporation (together with its successors and assigns, the “ Borrower ”), and Minnesota Bank & Trust , a Minnesota state banking corporation (together with its successors and assigns, the “ Lender ”).

 

RECITALS

 

 

A.       The Borrower and the Lender are the parties to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of December 21, 2017 (such Credit Agreement, as amended to date being, the “ Original Credit Agreement ”).

 

B.       The Borrower and the Lender desire to amend and restate the Original Credit Agreement in its entirety.

 

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Borrower and the Lender hereby agree that the Original Credit Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

Article
Definitions and Interpretation

 

Section 1.01 Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

 

Affiliate ” as to any Person, means any other Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” of a Person means the power, directly or indirectly, either to (a) vote 10% or more of the securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors (or persons performing similar functions) of such Person, or (b) direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether by contract or otherwise.

 

“Airco” means Airco, LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company.

 

Anti-terrorism Law ” means any Requirement of Law related to money laundering or financing terrorism including the PATRIOT Act, The Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act (31 U.S.C. §§ 5311-5330 and 12 U.S.C. §§ 1818(s), 1820(b) and 1951-1959) (also known as the “ Bank Secrecy Act ”), the Trading With the Enemy Act (50 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.) and Executive Order 13224 (effective September 24, 2001).

 

 

 

 

Asset Coverage Ratio ” means, at any Measurement Date, the ratio, calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP for the Borrower and the other Loan Parties, of: (a) the sum of (i) Total Assets minus (ii) Intangible Assets; divided by (b) the sum of (i) the outstanding principal balance of the Loans; plus (ii) Letter of Credit Obligations.

 

Asset Sale ” means any Disposition of Property or series of related Dispositions of Property (excluding any such Disposition permitted by Section 7.05 that yields gross proceeds to any Loan Party (valued at the principal amount thereof in the case of non-cash proceeds consisting of notes or other debt securities and valued at fair market value in the case of other non-cash proceeds) in excess of $250,000.00.

 

Banking Services ” means each and any of the following bank services provided to Borrower by Lender or any of its Affiliates: (a) commercial credit cards, (b) stored value cards, and (c) treasury management services (including, without limitation, controlled disbursement, automated clearinghouse transactions, return items, overdrafts and interstate depository network services).

 

Banking Services Liabilities ” means any and all obligations of the Borrower, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor) in connection with Banking Services.

 

Bankruptcy Code ” means Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended from time to time, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

 

Blocked Person ” means any Person that (a) is publicly identified on the most current list of “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons” published by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Department of the Treasury (“ OFAC ”) or resides, is organized or chartered, or has a place of business in a country or territory subject to OFAC sanctions or embargo programs, or (b) is publicly identified as prohibited from doing business with the United States under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the Trading With the Enemy Act, or any other Requirement of Law.

 

Board ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States (or any successor thereto).

 

Borrower ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Borrowing Base ” means, at any date of determination, the sum of: (a) 75% of Eligible Accounts; plus (b) 50% of Eligible Inventory; provided , however, that (x) the portion of the Borrowing Base attributable to Eligible Inventory shall be limited to not more than 60% of the total Borrowing Base, and (y) the Lender reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to adjust such borrowing base percentages and components based on its periodic evaluation of the Collateral. The amount of the Borrowing Base shall be determined periodically from the most recent Borrowing Base Certificate and supporting reports delivered to the Lender.

 

2

 

 

Borrowing Date ” means any Business Day specified by the Borrower in a Borrowing Notice as a date on which the Borrower requests the Lender to make a Loan hereunder.

 

Borrowing Notice ” means any request for a borrowing of Loans hereunder by Borrower, which may be submitted in writing or in electronic form.

 

Business Day ” means, a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in Minneapolis, Minnesota are authorized or required by law to close.

 

Capital Expenditures ” with respect to any Person, means the aggregate of all expenditures by such Person for the acquisition or leasing (pursuant to a capital lease) of fixed or capital assets, software or additions to Equipment (including replacements, capitalized repairs and improvements) which are required to be capitalized under GAAP on the balance sheet of such Person.

 

Capital Lease Obligations ” with respect to any Person, means the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases under GAAP on the balance sheet of such Person and the amount of such obligations shall be the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Cash Collateralize ” means to pledge and deposit with or deliver to the Lender, (a) for the benefit of the Lender, as collateral for Letter of Credit Obligations, cash or deposit account balances, in each case pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender or (b) for the benefit of the Lender during the continuance of an Event of Default, as collateral for any Obligations that are due or may become due, cash or deposit account balances, in each case pursuant to documentation in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender. “ Cash Collateral ” shall have a meaning correlative to the foregoing and shall include the proceeds of such cash collateral and other credit support.

 

Cash Equivalents ” as to any Person, means (a) securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support thereof) having maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition by such Person, (b) time deposits and certificates of deposit of any commercial bank having, or which is the principal banking subsidiary of a bank holding company organized under the laws of the United States or any State thereof, having maturities of not more than one year from the date of acquisition by such Person, (c) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than 90 days for underlying securities of the types described in clause (a) above entered into with any bank meeting the qualifications specified in clause (b) above, (d) commercial paper issued by any issuer rated at least A-1 by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, or at least P-1 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (or carrying an equivalent rating by a nationally recognized rating agency if both of the two named rating agencies cease publishing ratings of commercial paper issuers generally), and in each case maturing not more than one year after the date of acquisition by such Person or (e) investments in money market funds substantially all of whose assets are comprised of securities of the types described in clauses (a) through (d) above.

 

3

 

 

Change in Law ” means the occurrence after the date of this Agreement of (a) the adoption or effectiveness of any law, rule, regulation, judicial ruling, judgment or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application by any Governmental Authority of any law, rule, regulation or treaty, or (c) the making or issuance by any Governmental Authority of any request, rule, guideline or directive, whether or not having the force of law; provided that , notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary (x) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, as amended and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (y) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives concerning capital adequacy promulgated by the Lender for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities shall, in each case, be deemed to be a “Change in Law,” regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

 

Change of Control ” means (a) any Person or group of persons within the meaning of §13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (other than one or more Continuing Directors or Affiliates of Continuing Directors) becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the outstanding Equity Interests of the Borrower, or (b) individuals who constitute the Continuing Directors cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the board of directors of the Borrower.

 

Closing Date ” means the date on which the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.01 are satisfied or waived.

 

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

Collateral ” has the meaning for such term set forth in the Security Agreement.

 

Commitment ” means the Revolving Credit Commitment.

 

Consigned Inventory Eligibility Requirements ”: As set forth on Exhibit B to this Agreement.

 

4

 

 

Continuing Directors ” means the directors of the Borrower on the Closing Date, and each other director, if in each case, such other director’s nomination for election to the board of directors of the Borrower is recommended by at least a 66 2/3%/a majority of the Continuing Directors.

 

Contractual Obligation ” of any Person, means any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound, other than the Obligations.

 

Contrail ” means Contrail Aviation Support, LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company.

 

CSA means CSA Air, Inc., a North Carolina corporation.

 

Debt ” of any Person at any date, without duplication, means (a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money; (b) all obligations of such Person for the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than (i) trade payables and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business and not past due for more than 61 days after the date on which each such trade payable or account payable was created and (ii) any earn-out, purchase price adjustment or similar obligation until such obligation appears in the liabilities section of the balance sheet of such Person; (c) all obligations of such Person evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or other similar instruments; (d) all indebtedness created or arising under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement with respect to property acquired by such Person (even though the rights and remedies of the seller or lender under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or sale of such property); (e) all obligations of such Person to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise make any payment in respect of any Equity Interests in such Person or any other Person or any warrants, rights or options to acquire such Equity Interests, valued, in the case of redeemable preferred interests, at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends; (f) all obligations of such Person, contingent or otherwise, as an account party or applicant under acceptance, letter of credit or similar facilities in respect of obligations of the kind referred to in subsections (a) through (e) of this definition; (g) all Guaranty Obligations of such Person in respect of obligations of the kind referred to in subsections (a) through (f) above; and (h) all obligations of the kind referred to in subsections (a) through (g) above secured by (or which the holder of such obligation has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property (including accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, whether or not such Person has assumed or become liable for the payment of such obligation.

 

Debtor Relief Law ” means the Bankruptcy Code and all other liquidation, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, conservatorship, moratorium, receivership, insolvency, rearrangement, reorganization or similar debtor relief laws of the US or other applicable jurisdictions in effect from time to time.

 

5

 

 

Debt Service Coverage Ratio ” means, at any Measurement Date, the ratio, calculated on a consolidated basis for the Borrower and the other Loan Parties for the Measurement Period ending on such Measurement Date, of: (a) the sum of (i) EBITDA, minus (ii) dividends and other distributions paid in cash to shareholders of the Borrower; divided by (b) the aggregate amount of scheduled annual principal payments and interest expense on the Loans.

 

Default ” means any of the events specified in Section 8.01 which constitutes an Event of Default or which, upon the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both pursuant to Section 8.01 would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.

 

Disposition ” or “ Dispose ” means the sale, transfer, license, lease or other disposition (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions, and including any sale and leaseback transaction) of any property (including, without limitation, any Equity Interests) by any Person (or the granting of any option or other right to do any of the foregoing), including any sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and claims associated therewith.

 

Dollars ” means the lawful currency of the United States.

 

Domestic Subsidiary means a Subsidiary of the Borrower incorporated or organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia.

 

EBITDA ” means, for any Measurement Period, the sum, calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP for the Borrower and the other Loan Parties, of: (a) net income for such Measurement Period determined in accordance with GAAP (but excluding therefrom all non-operating income (including, without limitation, extra-ordinary, non-recurring or unusual gains) and all non-operating losses (including, without limitation, extra-ordinary, non-recurring or unusual losses)); plus (b) the sum of the following amounts deducted in arriving at net income (but without duplication for any item): (i) interest expense; (ii) depreciation, amortization and other non-cash charges; and (iii) federal, state, and local income taxes.

 

Eligible Accounts ” means, at any date of determination, the United States dollar value (net of deposits, finance charges and/or service charges) of only such accounts of the Loan Parties arising from the rendering of services in the ordinary course of business in which the Lender holds a first priority security interest and as to which the Lender, in its reasonable business judgment, shall from time to time determine to be collectible in a timely manner in the ordinary course of business without dispute or set-off. Without limiting the Lender’s right, in its reasonable business judgment, to consider any account not to be an Eligible Account, and by way of example only of types of accounts that the Lender will consider not to be Eligible Accounts, the Lender, notwithstanding any earlier classification of eligibility, may consider any account not to be an Eligible Account if:

 

(a)    any warranty is breached as to the account or the account debtor disputes liability or makes any claim with respect to the account;

 

6

 

 

(b)    the account is not paid by the account debtor within 120 days after the date of the original invoice relating thereto; or (ii) the account is owed by any account debtor who has not paid 10% or more of such account debtor’s accounts within the relevant time period specified in subsection (b)(i) above;

 

(c)  a petition in bankruptcy or other application for relief under any insolvency law is filed with respect to the account debtor owing the account, or the account debtor owing the account assigns for the benefit of creditors, becomes insolvent, fails, suspends, or goes out of business, or the Lender, in its reasonable business judgment, shall become dissatisfied with the creditworthiness of an account debtor owing an account;

 

(d)    the account arises from a sale to an account debtor that is outside the United States unless the sale is on letter of credit, acceptance or other terms acceptable to the Lender;

 

(e)    the account debtor is an Affiliate, supplier or creditor of a Loan Party;

 

(f)    the account debtor with respect thereto is the United States of America or any department, agency or instrumentality thereof (a “Federal Governmental Authority”), or any state, county or local governmental authority, or any department, agency or instrumentality thereof, unless the relevant Loan Party has assigned its right to payment of such account to the Lender pursuant to the Assignment of Claims Act of 1940 as amended in the case of the a Federal Governmental Authority, or pursuant to applicable state law, if any, in all other instances, and such assignment has been accepted and acknowledged by the appropriate government officers;

 

(g)    if the Lender, in its reasonable business judgment, has established a credit limit for the account debtor with respect thereto, the aggregate dollar amount of accounts due from such account debtor, including such account, exceeds such credit limit;

 

(h)    such Account is evidenced by chattel paper or instruments unless the original of such chattel paper or instruments is delivered to the Lender;

 

(i)     such account arises from a transaction for which surety or performance bonds are posted; or

 

(j)     any account for a customer deposit.

 

The amount of Eligible Accounts shall be computed on a monthly basis from the Borrowing Base Certificate and other information required to be delivered by the Borrower to the Lender pursuant to Section 6.02.

 

7

 

 

Eligible Assignee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04.

 

Eligible Inventory ” shall mean the book United States dollar value of the Loan Parties’ raw materials and finished goods inventory, in which only the Lender holds a first priority security interest and as to which the Lender, in its reasonable business judgment, shall elect from time to time to constitute Eligible Inventory. Without limiting the Lender’s right, in its reasonable business judgment, to consider any inventory not to be Eligible Inventory, and by way of example only of types of inventory that the Lender will consider not to be Eligible Inventory, the Lender, notwithstanding any earlier classification of eligibility, may consider any inventory not to be Eligible Inventory if: (a) such inventory is discontinued inventory; (b) such inventory (i) is not either located on premises owned, leased or rented by Borrower or stored with a bailee or warehouseman (other than a processor), (ii) is stored at any of the Primary Inventory Locations, unless a fully-executed landlord waiver has been delivered to the Lender in form reasonably satisfactory to the Lender, or (iii) is stored with a bailee or warehouseman unless an fully-executed bailee letter has been received by the Lender with respect thereto in form reasonably satisfactory to the Lender, (c) such inventory is consigned to a Loan Party, or (d) such inventory is consigned by a Loan Party, unless such Loan Party has complied with all of the Consigned Inventory Eligibility Requirements. The value of Eligible Inventory shall be the lower of the cost or market value of the Eligible Inventory computed in accordance with GAAP.

 

Environmental Action ” means any action, suit, demand, demand letter, claim, notice of violation or non-compliance, notice of liability or potential liability, investigation, proceeding, consent order or consent agreement relating in any way to any Environmental Law, any permit issued under any Environmental Law, or any Hazardous Material, or arising from alleged injury or threat to health, safety or the environment including (a) by any Governmental Authority for enforcement, clean-up, removal, response, remedial or other actions or damages and (b) any Governmental Authority or third party for damages, contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or injunctive relief.

 

Environmental Law ” means any and all Federal, state, foreign, local or municipal laws, rules, orders, regulations, statutes, ordinances, codes, decrees, requirements of any Governmental Authority or other Requirements of Law (including common law) as now or may at any time hereafter be in effect, and any binding judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, including any binding judicial or administrative order, consent decree or judgment, regulating, relating to or imposing liability or standards of conduct concerning protection of the environment or, to the extent relating to exposure to substances that are harmful or detrimental to the environment, or human health or safety.

 

Equipment ” has the meaning for such term set forth in the Security Agreement.

 

Equity Interests ” means any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital stock of a corporation, any and all equivalent ownership (or profit) interests in a Person (other than a corporation), securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of (or other ownership or profit interests in) such Person, and any and all warrants, rights or options to purchase any of the foregoing, whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such shares, warrants, options, rights or other interests are authorized or otherwise existing on any date of determination.

 

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ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time.

 

ERISA Affiliate ” means an entity, whether or not incorporated, that is under common control with the Borrower within the meaning of §4001 of ERISA or is part of a group that includes the Borrower and that is treated as a single employer under §414 of the Code.

 

Eurodollar Rate Loan ” means a Loan that accrues interest at the LIBOR Rate, as specified in the Note evidencing such Loan.

 

Excess Capital ” means, as of any date of determination, calculated on a consolidated basis for the Borrower and the other Loan Parties, the aggregate amount by which the Loan Parties’ actual Tangible Assets exceeds the amount of Tangible Assets necessary to show proforma compliance with all financial covenants calculated as of such date, where the analysis supporting such proforma analysis is performed based on the consolidated balance sheet for the Borrower and the other Loan Parties then most-recently delivered to the Lender pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b).

 

Excess Capital Certificate ” means, a certificate in form and substance acceptable to the Lender and executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, providing a detailed calculation of Excess Capital as of the date of a proposed Other Investment pursuant to Section 7.04(f) or of a Restricted Payment pursuant to Section 7.07.

 

Excluded Foreign Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary that is not organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any state or commonwealth thereof or under the laws of the District of Columbia, and in respect of which either (a) the pledge of all the Equity Interests of such Subsidiary as Collateral or (b) a guarantee by such Subsidiary of the Obligations, would, in the good faith judgment of the Borrower, result in the adverse tax consequences to the Borrower.

 

Event of Default ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.01.

 

Excluded Taxes ” means any of the following Taxes, imposed on or with respect to the Lender (a) Taxes imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated), and franchise Taxes, (b) any branch profits Taxes imposed by the United States or any similar Tax imposed by any other jurisdiction.

 

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“Fed Ex Contract” means that certain Aircraft Dry Lease and Services Agreement dated as of June 1, 2015, by and between Federal Express Corporation and Mountain Air Cargo, Inc.

 

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other principles as may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession in the United States, that are applicable to the circumstances as of the date of determination, consistently applied.

 

“GAS” means Global Aviation Services, LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company.

 

“GGS” means Global Ground Support, LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company.

 

Governmental Authority ” means the government of any nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether at the national, state, territorial, provincial, municipal or any other level, 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.

 

Guarantor (s) ” means, individually or collectively, as the case may be, each of the Loan Parties (other than the Borrower) that are listed on Schedule A to this Agreement, together with each other Subsidiary of the Borrower that becomes a Loan Party by executing a joinder to the Guaranty, and their respective successors and assigns.

 

Guaranty ” means, the Amended and Restated Guaranty dated as of even date herewith, executed by the Guarantors, in favor of the Lender, as the same may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time to the extent permitted under the Loan Documents.

 

Guaranty Obligation ” as to any Person, means any (a) obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having the effect of guaranteeing any Debt or other obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Debt or other obligation, (ii) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the obligee in respect of such Debt or other obligation of the payment or performance of such Debt or other obligation, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital, net worth or solvency or liquidity or any level of income or cash flow of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Debt or other obligation, or (iv) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee in respect of such Debt or other obligation of the payment or performance thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), or (b) Lien on any assets of such Person securing any Debt or other obligation of any other Person, whether or not such Debt or other obligation is assumed by such Person (or any right, contingent or otherwise, of any holder of such Debt to obtain any such Lien). The amount of any Guaranty Obligation shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the related primary obligation, or portion thereof, in respect of which such Guaranty Obligation is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof as determined by the guaranteeing Person in good faith.

 

10

 

 

Hazardous Materials ” means (a) any gasoline, petroleum or petroleum products or by-products, radioactive materials, friable asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, urea-formaldehyde insulation, polychlorinated biphenyls and radon gas, and (b) any other chemicals, materials or substances designated, classified or regulated as hazardous or toxic or as a pollutant or contaminant under any Environmental Law.

 

Heartland ” means Heartland Financial USA, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

Hedge Agreement ” means any agreement between Borrower and Lender or any affiliate of Lender (a “ Hedge Provider ”) now existing or hereafter entered into, which provides for and interest rate swap, cap, floor, collar, or any similar transaction or any combination of, or option with respect to, these or similar transactions, for the purpose of hedging Borrower’s exposure to fluctuations in interest rates.

 

Hedge Obligations ” means the liabilities, Debt, and obligations of the Borrower, if any, to the Hedge Provider under any Hedge Agreement.

 

“Indemnification Agreement” means that certain Environment and ADA Indemnification Agreement dated as of even date herewith duly executed by the Loan Parties with regards to the North Carolina Real Property.

 

Indemnified Taxes ” means (a) Taxes, other than Excluded Taxes, imposed on or with respect to any payment made by any Loan Party under any Loan Document, and (b) to the extent not otherwise described in (a), Other Taxes.

 

Insolvency ” with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, means such Plan is insolvent within the meaning of §4245 of ERISA.

 

Intangible Assets ” means, at any date of determination, the sum, calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP for the Borrower and the other Loan Parties, of (i) goodwill, organizational expenses, research and development expenses, trademarks, trade names, copyrights, patents, patent applications, licenses and rights in any thereof, covenants not to compete, training costs and other similar intangibles; (ii) deferred charges or unamortized debt discount and expense other than deferred income taxes; (iii) Investments which are not readily marketable but only to the extent that the aggregate book value of such Investments exceeds the Non-Marketable Securities Cap; (iv) any write-up in the book value of any assets resulting from a reevaluation thereof subsequent to the date of the Borrower’s consolidated annual financial statement described in Section 5.04(a); (v) accounts receivable, notes receivable or other receivables or amounts owed by officers, shareholders or Affiliates; and (vii) any asset acquired subsequent to the date of this Agreement which the Lender, in its reasonable business judgment, determines to be an intangible asset.

 

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Intellectual Property ” means any and all intellectual property, including copyrights, copyright licenses, patents, patent licenses, trademarks, trademark licenses, technology, know-how and processes, all rights therein, and all rights to sue at law or in equity for any past, present, or future infringement, violation, misuse, misappropriation or other impairment thereof, whether arising under United States, multinational or foreign laws or otherwise, including the right to receive injunctive relief and all proceeds and damages therefrom.

 

Investment(s) ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.04.

 

Jet Yard means Jet Yard, LLC, an Arizona limited liability company.

 

Lender ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Letter(s) of Credit ”: As provided in Section 2.12(a).

 

Letter of Credit Application ”: As provided in Section 2.12(c)

 

Letter of Credit Commission ”: As provided in Section 2.12(e)(i).

 

Letter of Credit Commitment ” shall mean, at any date, the maximum amount of Letter of Credit Obligations which may from time to time be outstanding hereunder, being initially $3,000,000.00 and, as the context may require, the agreement of the Lender to issue the Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower on behalf of itself and on behalf of the other Loan Parties.

 

Letter of Credit Commitment Termination Date ”: The earlier of: (a) the Revolving Credit Termination Date; or (b) the date upon which the obligation of the Lender to issue Letters of Credit is terminated pursuant to Section 2.12(b).

 

Letter of Credit Obligations ”: At any date, the sum of: (a) the aggregate amount available to be drawn on the Letters of Credit on such date; plus (b) the aggregate amount owed by the Borrower to the Lender on such date as a result of draws on the Letters of Credit for which the Borrower has not reimbursed the Lender.

 

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Liabilities ” means, at any Measurement Date, the aggregate amount of liabilities appearing on the Borrower’s consolidated balance sheet at such date prepared in accordance with GAAP.

 

Lien ” means any mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, assignment (as security), deposit arrangement, encumbrance, lien (statutory or other), charge or other security interest, or any preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement and any capital lease).

 

Loan ” means any Revolving Credit Loan or any Term Loan, as the context may require, and “ Loans ” means either Revolving Credit Loans or Term Loans, as the context may require.

 

Loan Documents ” means, collectively, this Agreement, the Security Agreement, the Guaranty, the Revolving Credit Note, the Term Notes, the North Carolina Assignment, the North Carolina Deed of Trust, each Hedge Agreement and all other agreements, documents, certificates and instruments executed and delivered to the Lender by any Loan Party in connection therewith.

 

Loan Parties ” means the Borrower, the Guarantors and each other Subsidiary of the Borrower that is now, or at any time hereafter becomes, party to the Guaranty and the Security Agreement. The term “Loan Party” shall expressly exclude the Excluded Foreign Subsidiaries, Contrail and Delphax Solutions, Inc. For avoidance of doubt, the initial Loan Parties are listed on Schedule A to this Agreement.

 

Loan Year ” means the 12-month period commencing on the date of this Agreement (or the anniversary date thereof in any subsequent year) and ending on the day preceding the immediately following anniversary date of this Agreement.

 

“MAC” means Mountain Air Cargo, Inc., a North Carolina corporation.

 

Margin Stock ” has the meaning specified in Regulation U of the Board as in effect from time to time.

 

Material Adverse Effect ” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, properties, liabilities (actual or contingent), operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Borrower, individually, or the Borrower and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole (provided that for purposes of this clause (a) an event shall deemed to be “material” if it involves, or could be expected to involve, at least $5,000,000), (b) the validity or enforceability of any Loan Document, (c) the perfection or priority of any Lien purported to be created by any Loan Document, (d) the rights or remedies of the Lender under any Loan Document or (e) the ability of any Loan Party to perform any of its payment obligations under any Loan Document to which it is a party.

 

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Material Contracts ” with respect to any Person, means each contract to which such Person is a party involving aggregate consideration payable by or to such Person equal to at least $5,000,000 annually or otherwise material to the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, performance, properties or prospects of such Person. The Fed Ex Contract shall, in any event, be a Material Contract for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Maturity Date ”: The earlier of: (a) the date on which the Loans become due and payable under Section 8.02 upon the occurrence of an Event of Default; or (b) (i) the Revolving Credit Termination Date for the Revolving Credit Loans; or (ii) January 1, 2028 for Term Loan A, Term Loan B and Term Loan D.

 

Measurement Date ” means the last day of each fiscal year of the Borrower, commencing with the fiscal year ending March 31, 2018.

 

Measurement Period ” means the period of twelve (12) consecutive fiscal months ending on a Measurement Date.

 

Multiemployer Plan ” means a Plan which is a multiemployer plan as defined in § 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate makes or is obligated to make contributions.

 

Net Cash Proceeds ” means (a) in connection with any Asset Sale or any Recovery Event, the proceeds thereof in the form of cash and Cash Equivalents in an amount for any Asset Sale or Recovery Event in excess of $250,000 and in the aggregate for all Asset Sales and Recovery Events in any fiscal year in excess of $2,000,000 (including any such proceeds actually received from deferred payments of principal pursuant to a note, a receivable or otherwise), net of attorneys’ fees, accountants’ fees, investment banking fees, amounts required to be reserved for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations pursuant to the agreements governing such Asset Sale, amounts required to be applied to the repayment of Debt secured by a Lien expressly permitted hereunder on any asset that is the subject of such Asset Sale or Recovery Event (other than any Lien pursuant to a Loan Document) and other customary fees and expenses actually incurred in connection therewith and net of taxes paid or reasonably estimated to be payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements) and (b) in connection with any issuance or sale of Equity Interests or any incurrence of Debt, the cash proceeds received from such issuance or incurrence, net of attorneys’ fees, investment banking fees, accountants’ fees, underwriting discounts and commissions and other customary fees and expenses actually incurred in connection therewith.

 

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Non-Marketable Securities Cap ” means, initially $500,000, as such amount may be increased from time-to-time with the Lender’s written consent following receipt of a request from the Borrower accompanied by such supporting materials as Lender may require.

 

“North Carolina Assignment of Rents means that certain Assignment of Leases and Rents document dated as of February 15, 2018, executed by the Borrower in favor of the Lender with regards to the North Carolina Real Property and recorded on February 21, 2018 in the records of the Register of Deeds, Lincoln County, North Carolina, as Document Number 574366.

 

“North Carolina Deed of Trust means that certain Deed of Trust, Assignment of Leases and Rents, Security Agreement and Fixture Financing Statement document dated as of February 15, 2018, executed by the Borrower for the benefit of the Lender with regards to the North Carolina Real Property and recorded on February 21, 2018 in the records of the Register of Deeds, Lincoln County, North Carolina, as Document Number 574365.

 

North Carolina Real Property means the real property described in the North Carolina Deed of Trust.

 

Note(s) ” means, individually or collectively, as the case may be, the Revolving Credit Note and the Term Notes.

 

Obligations ” means all Loans, Letter of Credit Obligations, advances, debts, liabilities, obligations, Banking Services Liabilities, covenants and duties, owing by any Loan Party to the Lender or any Hedge Provider of any kind or nature, present or future, which arise under this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any Hedge Agreement or by operation of law, 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, opening, guarantying or confirming of a letter of credit, guaranty, indemnification or in any other manner, whether joint, several, or joint and several, direct or indirect (including those acquired by assignment or purchases), absolute or contingent, due or to become due, and however acquired. The term includes, without limitation, all amounts owed by the Borrower to the Lender at such date as a result of draws on letters of credit paid by the Lender for which the Borrower has not reimbursed the Lender, all principal, interest, fees, charges, expenses, attorneys’ fees, and any other sum chargeable to any Loan Party under this Agreement or any other Loan Document or any Hedge Agreement.

 

Original Credit Agreement ”: As defined in the Recitals.

 

Other Investments ”: As defined in Section 7.04.

 

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Other Taxes ” means any and all present or future stamp, court, recording, filing, intangible, documentary or similar 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 or registration of, or performance under, or from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under or otherwise with respect to this Agreement or any other Loan Document (other than Excluded Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment).

 

Participant ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04(c).

 

Participant Register ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.04(c).

 

PATRIOT Act ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.13.

 

PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation established pursuant to Subtitle A of Title IV of ERISA (or any successor thereto).

 

Person ” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, limited or general partnership, unincorporated organization, Governmental Authority or other entity.

 

Plan ” at any one time, means any “employee benefit plan” that is covered by ERISA and in respect of which the Borrower or an ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated at such time, would under §4062 or §4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in §3(5) of ERISA.

 

“Primary Inventory Locations” means, initially, (a) the real property commonly known as 540 E. 56 Highway, Olathe, Kansas 66061-4640 that is leased by Global Ground Support, LLC from R.W.B.C., L.L.C., a Missouri limited liability company, (b) the real property commonly known as 1851 and 1853 S. Eisenhower Court, Wichita, Kansas 67209, that is leased by Airco, LLC from Martin Potash, and (c) the real property commonly known as 2340 John Mewborne Road Kinston, North Carolina 28504 that is leased by Mountain Air Cargo, Inc., from Global Transpark Corporation, a North Carolina limited liability company.

 

Projections ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.02.

 

Properties ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.09(a).

 

Recovery Event ” means any settlement of or payment to any Loan Party in respect of any property or casualty insurance claim or any condemnation proceeding relating to any asset of any Loan Party.

 

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Related Parties ” with respect to any Person, means such Person’s Affiliates and the directors, officers, employees, partners, agents, trustees, administrators, managers, advisors and representatives of it and its Affiliates.

 

Reorganization ” with respect to any Multiemployer Plan, means that such plan is in reorganization within the meaning of §4241 of ERISA.

 

Reportable Event ” means any of the events set forth in §4043© of ERISA, other than those events as to which the thirty day notice period is waived.

 

Requirement of Law ” as to any Person, means the certificate of incorporation and by-laws or other organizational or governing documents of such Person, and any law (including common law), statute, ordinance, treaty, rule, regulation, order, decree, judgment, writ, injunction, settlement agreement, 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.

 

Responsible Officer ” with respect to any Person, means the chief executive officer, president or chief financial officer of such Person, except that with respect to financial matters, the Responsible Officer shall be the chief financial officer or treasurer of such Person.

 

Restricted Payments ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.07.

 

“Revolving Credit Commitment” means the obligation of the Lender to make Revolving Credit Loans in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $17,000,000, as the same may be changed from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

“Revolving Credit Commitment Fee has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11.

 

Revolving Credit Commitment Period ”  means the period from and including the Closing Date to the Revolving Credit Termination Date.

 

Revolving Credit Loans ” means any revolving credit loan made by the Lender under Section 2.04.

 

Revolving Credit Note ” means the promissory note of the Borrower described in Section 2.06(a), substantially in the form of Exhibit A , as such promissory note may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and such term shall include any substitutions for, or renewals of, such promissory note.

 

Revolving Credit Termination Date ” means the earliest to occur of (a) November 30, 2019, (b) the date the Revolving Credit Commitment is reduced to zero pursuant to Section 2.05, and (c) the termination of the Revolving Credit Commitment pursuant to Section 8.02.

 

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SAIC ” means Space Age Insurance Company, a Utah corporation.

 

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission (or successors thereto or an analogous Governmental Authority).

 

Security Agreement ” means the Amended and Restated Security Agreement made by the Borrower and the other Loan Parties in favor of the Lender, dated as of even date herewith, as the same may be amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time to the extent permitted under the Loan Documents.

 

Single Employer Plan ” means any Plan that is covered by Title IV of ERISA, other than a Multiemployer Plan.

 

Solvent ” with respect to any Person as of any date of determination, means that on such date (a) the present fair salable value of the property and assets of such Person exceeds the debts and liabilities, including contingent liabilities, of such Person, (b) the present fair salable value of the property and assets of such Person is greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of such Person on its debts and other liabilities, including contingent liabilities, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured, (c) such Person does not intend to incur, or believe (nor should it reasonably believe) that it will incur, debts and liabilities, including contingent liabilities, beyond its ability to pay such debts and liabilities as they become absolute and matured, and (d) such Person does not have unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the business in which it is engaged as such business is now conducted and is proposed to be conducted. 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.

 

“Stratus” means Stratus Aero Partners, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

 

Subordination Agreement ” means each subordination agreement now or hereafter executed by a creditor of the Borrower in favor of the Lender.

 

Subordinated Debt ” means, all Debt of the Borrower which is contractually subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations pursuant to a Subordination Agreement on a form acceptable to the Lender in its reasonable discretion.

 

Subsidiary ” as to any Person, means any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or estate of or in which more than 50% of (a) the issued and outstanding capital stock having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether at the time capital stock of any other class of such corporation may have voting power upon the happening of a contingency), (b) the interest in the capital or profits of such partnership, limited liability company, or joint venture or (c) the beneficial interest in such trust or estate is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled through one or more intermediaries, or both, by such Person. Unless otherwise qualified, all references to a “Subsidiary” or to “Subsidiaries” in this Agreement shall refer to a Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

 

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Tangible Assets ” means, at any date of determination, the sum, calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP for the Borrower and the other Loan Parties, of (a) Total Assets minus (b) Intangible Assets.

 

Taxes ” means any and all present or future income, stamp or other taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges, fees or withholdings imposed, levied, withheld or assessed by any Governmental Authority, together with any interest, additions to tax or penalties imposed thereon and with respect thereto.

 

Term Loan(s) ”: means Term Loan A, Term Loan B and Term Loan D.

 

Term Loan A ”: means the Loan in the original principal amount of $10,000,000.00 made by Lender to Borrower under the Original Credit Agreement, evidenced by Term Note A.

 

Term Loan B ”: means the Loan in the original principal amount of $5,000,000.00 made by Lender to Borrower under the Original Credit Agreement, evidenced by Term Note B.

 

Term Loan D ”: means the Loan in the original principal amount of $1,680,000.00 made by Lender to Borrower under the Original Credit Agreement, evidenced by Term Note D.

 

Term Note A ”: means that certain Term Note A dated December 21, 2017, in the original principal amount of $10,000,000, made by the Borrower payable to the order of the Lender, as such promissory note may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and such term shall include any substitutions for, or renewals of, such promissory note.

 

Term Note B ”: means that certain Term Note B dated December 21, 2017, in the original principal amount of $5,000,000, made by the Borrower payable to the order of the Lender, made by the Borrower payable to the order of the Lender, as such promissory note may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and such term shall include any substitutions for, or renewals of, such promissory note.

 

Term Note D ”: means that certain Term Note D dated February 15, 2018, in the original principal amount of $1,680,000, made by the Borrower payable to the order of the Lender, as such promissory note may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and such term shall include any substitutions for, or renewals of, such promissory note.

 

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Term Note(s) ”: means the Term Note A, the Term Note B and the Term Note D.

 

Total Assets ”: At any date of determination, the aggregate amount of assets appearing on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and the other Loan Parties at such date prepared in accordance with GAAP.

 

Total Usage ”: At any date of determination, the sum of (a) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Credit Loans; plus (b) the Letter of Credit Obligations.

 

Worthington Acquisition ”: Worthington Acquisition, LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company.

 

Worthington Aviation ”: Worthington Aviation, LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company.

 

Worthington Entities ”: Worthington Acqusition, Worthington Aviation and Worthington MRO.

 

Worthington Loan Agreement ”: That certain Loan Agreement dated as of May 11, 2018, by and among the Lender, Worthington Acquisition, Worthington Aviation and Worthington MRO.

 

Worthington Loans ”: The “Revolving Credit Loans” and the “Term Loan” made by the Lender to the Worthington Borrowers pursuant to the Worthington Loan Agreement.

 

“Worthington MRO”: Worthington MRO, LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company.

 

Uniform Commercial Code ” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the state of Minnesota from time to time.

 

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Section 1.02 Interpretation With reference to this Agreement and each other Loan Document, unless otherwise specified herein or in such other Loan Document:

 

(a)      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 (i) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document 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 or in any other Loan Document), (ii) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (iii) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document, shall be construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision thereof, (iv) all references in a Loan Document to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (v) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and (vi) 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.

 

(b)      In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including;” the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding;” and the word “through” means “to and including.”

 

(c)      Any reference herein or in any other Loan Document to the satisfaction, repayment, or payment in full of the Obligations shall mean the repayment in Dollars in full in cash or immediately available funds (and in the case of any other contingent Obligations, providing Cash Collateral or other collateral as may be requested by the Lender) of all of the Obligations other than (i) unasserted contingent indemnification Obligations, and (ii) any Hedge Obligations relating to Hedge Agreements that, at such time, are allowed by the applicable Hedge Provider to remain outstanding without being required to be repaid.

 

(d)      All accounting terms not specifically or completely defined herein shall be construed in conformity with, and all financial data required to be submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in conformity with, GAAP as in effect from time to time, and applied on a consistent basis in a manner consistent with that used in preparing the Borrower’s audited financial statements, except as otherwise specifically prescribed herein.

 

Article II 
The Commitments and Loans

 

Section 2.01   Term Loan s .

 

On an after the Closing Date, each of the “Term Loan A”, “Term Loan B” and “Term Loan D” outstanding under the Original Credit Agreement shall be deemed to be Term Loans outstanding under and governed by this Agreement.

 

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Section 2.02     Term Loans not Revolving .           

 

Amounts borrowed under the Term Loans and repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed.

 

Section 2.03    Revolving Credit Commitment.

 

(a)      Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Lender agrees to make Revolving Credit Loans to the Borrower and to issue Letters of Credit for the account of the Borrower from time to time during the Revolving Credit Commitment Period in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not exceeding the lesser of (i) the amount of the Revolving Credit Commitment or (ii) the Borrowing Base. During the Revolving Credit Commitment Period the Borrower may use the Revolving Credit Commitment by borrowing, prepaying the Revolving Credit Loans in whole or in part, and re-borrowing, and requesting the issuance of Letters of Credit all in accordance with the terms and conditions hereof. On the Closing Date, (a) the entire aggregate outstanding principal balance of Revolving Credit Loans under the Original Credit Agreement shall be deemed to be Revolving Credit Loans under this Agreement, (b) all Letter of Credit Obligations under the Original Credit Agreement shall be deemed to be Letter of Credit Obligations under this Agreement, and (c) the entire aggregate outstanding principal balance of the Worthington Loans shall be refinanced with Revolving Credit Loans pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(b)      The Borrower shall repay all outstanding Revolving Credit Loans on the Revolving Credit Termination Date.

 

Section 2.04    Procedures for Revolving Credit Borrowing. The Borrower shall either (a) submit a draw request to the Lender in writing or telephonically; or (b) use the Lender’s electronic banking systems to request each proposed borrowing in accordance with the requirements of such systems as may be in effect from time to time. Each such notice shall be effective upon receipt by the Lender, shall be irrevocable, and shall specify the date and amount of borrowing requested. At the request of the Lender, a telephonic request must be confirmed in writing by the Borrower within three (3) Business Days after such request So long as (a) all conditions precedent set forth in Article IV with respect to such borrowing have been satisfied, and (b) with respect to a request for a Revolving Credit Loan, the Total Usage at such time does not exceed the lesser of (i) the amount of the Revolving Credit Commitment or (ii) the Borrowing Base, in each case after giving effect to such Revolving Credit Loan, the Lender shall provide immediately available funds to the Borrower in the amount of such requested borrowing on the requested borrowing date by depositing such funds into depository account number                        *, maintained by the Borrower with the Lender. Each borrowing shall be on a Business Day.

 

* This bank account information has been omitted pursuant to the Securities Exchange Commission rules and federal securities laws because it is personally identifiable information.

 

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Section 2.05    Termination or Reduction of Revolving Credit Commitment.

 

(a)     Upon not less than three Business Days’ notice to the Lender, the Borrower shall have the right to terminate the Revolving Credit Commitment or, from time to time, to reduce the aggregate amount of the Revolving Credit Commitment; provided, that no such termination or reduction of Revolving Credit Commitment shall be permitted if, after giving effect thereto and to any prepayments of the Revolving Credit Loans made on the effective date thereof, the Total Usage would exceed the Revolving Credit Commitment. Any such partial reduction shall be in an amount equal to $500,000, or a whole multiple thereof, and shall reduce permanently the Revolving Credit Commitment then in effect.

 

Section 2.06    Repayment of Loans; Evidence of Debt.

 

(a)       Revolving Note . The Revolving Credit Loans made by the Lender shall be evidenced by a Revolving Credit Note in the initial amount of the Revolving Credit Commitment. The Revolving Credit Loans and the Revolving Credit Note shall mature and be payable at Maturity of the Revolving Credit Loans. The Lender shall enter in its records the amount of each of its Revolving Credit Loans, the rate of interest borne on such Revolving Credit Loans, and the payments of the Revolving Credit Loans received by the Lender, and such records shall be conclusive evidence of the subject matter thereof, absent manifest error.

 

(b)       Term Note A . The Term Loan A made by the Bank shall be evidenced by the Term Note A. Term Loan A shall mature and be payable in accordance with the provisions of Term Note A. The Bank shall enter in its records the amount of Term Loan A, the rate of interest borne on Term Loan A and the payments of Term Loan A received by the Lender, and such records shall be conclusive evidence of the subject matter thereof, absent manifest error.

 

(c)       Term Note B . The Term Loan B made by the Bank shall be evidenced by the Term Note B. Term Loan B shall mature and be payable in accordance with the provisions of Term Note B. The Bank shall enter in its records the amount of Term Loan B, the rate of interest borne on Term Loan B and the payments of Term Loan B received by the Lender, and such records shall be conclusive evidence of the subject matter thereof, absent manifest error.

 

(d)       Term Note D . The Term Loan D made by the Bank shall be evidenced by the Term Note D. Term Loan D shall mature and be payable in accordance with the provisions of Term Note D. The Bank shall enter in its records the amount of Term Loan D, the rate of interest borne on Term Loan D and the payments of Term Loan D received by the Lender, and such records shall be conclusive evidence of the subject matter thereof, absent manifest error.

 

(e)     The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the Lender in full in cash, to the extent not previously paid, then-unpaid principal amount of each Loan on its Maturity Date.

 

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(f)       The Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing indebtedness of the Borrower to the Lender resulting from each Loan, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to the Lender from time to time under this Agreement.

 

Section 2.07   Optional Prepayments.

 

(a)        Voluntary .

 

(i)        Revolving Credit Loans . The Borrower shall have the right, by giving written notice to the Lender by not later than 3:00 p.m. (Minneapolis time) on the Business Day of such payment, to voluntarily prepay the Revolving Credit Loans in whole or in part at any time without premium or penalty.

 

(ii)      Term Loans . The Borrower shall have the right, by giving written notice to the Lender by not later than 3:00 p.m. (Minneapolis time) on the Business Day of such payment, to voluntarily prepay each Term Loan in whole or in part at any time, subject to the contemporaneous payment of any premium or fees set forth in the Term Note evidencing such Term Loan.

 

Section 2.08   Mandatory Prepayments .

 

(a)       Revolving Credit Loans . If, at any time, theTotal Usage exceeds the lesser of the Revolving Credit Commitment or the Borrowing Base, then the Borrower shall immediately prepay the Revolving Credit Loans and Cash Collateralize the Letter of Credit Obligations by the amount of such excess together with interest on the amount prepaid. Any prepayment required by this subsection shall be applied first to prepay the Revolving Loans, and the remainder of such prepayment, if any, shall be deposited in an interest-bearing account maintained at the Bank for application to the Borrower’s reimbursement obligations under Section 2.12(d) as payments are made on the Letters of Credit, with the balance, if any, to be applied to the other Obligations.

 

(b)       Term Loans . Upon the sale or other disposition (including, without limitation the loss or destruction of such item of equipment due to accident, fire or other cause) of any item of:

 

(i)       Equipment owned by a Loan Party, the Borrower shall make mandatory prepayments of the Loans to the extent of any Net Cash Proceeds received. Such Net Cash Proceeds shall be applied as follows: first to the then outstanding principal balance of the Revolving Credit Loans, second to Term Loan B, until such Loan is paid in full, and third to Term Loan C, until such Loan is paid in full; or

 

(ii)      Real Property owned by a Loan Party, the Borrower shall make mandatory prepayments of the Term Loan D to the extent of any Net Cash Proceeds received.

 

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Each such prepayment shall be accompanied by payment of accrued interest on the amount prepaid any prepayment premium described in the Note evidencing such Loan.

 

Section 2.09      Application of Prepayments .

 

(a)       Any partial prepayment of a Term Loan shall be applied to installments due on such Term Loan in the inverse order of their maturities.

 

Section 2.10      Interest.     

 

(a)       Term Loans . The Borrower agrees to pay interest on the outstanding principal amount of each Term Loan from the date of such Term Loan until such Term Loan is paid at the rates and at the times specified in the Term Note evidencing such Term Loan.

 

(b)       Revolving Credit Loans . The Borrower agrees to pay interest on the outstanding principal amount of the Revolving Credit Loans at the rates and at the times specified in the Revolving Credit Note.

 

Section 2.11     Revolving Credit Commitment Fee . The Borrower shall pay to the Lender a fee (the “ Revolving Credit Commitment Fee ”) in an amount determined by applying a rate of 0.11 % per annum to the average daily excess of the Revolving Credit Commitment over the outstanding principal balance of the Revolving Credit Loans. Such Revolving Credit Commitment Fee shall be payable to the Lender in arrears on the last day of each calendar month, commencing March 31, 2019, and on the Revolving Credit Termination Date.

 

Section 2.12     Letters of Credit .    

 

(a)       Letter of Credit Commitment . Subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, the Lender agrees to issue stand-by letters of credit (the “ Letters of Credit ”) from time to time on terms reasonably acceptable to the Lender on any Business Day during the period from the date hereof and ending on the Revolving Credit Termination Date; provided , however, that the Lender shall not be required to issue any Letter of Credit if, after giving effect to such issuance: (i) the Total Usage would exceed the lesser of: (A) the Revolving Credit Commitment or (B) the Borrowing Base; or (ii) the Letter of Credit Obligations would exceed the Letter of Credit Commitment.

 

(b)       Termination . The obligation of the Lender to issue any Letter of Credit shall terminate (i) immediately and without further action upon the occurrence of an Event of Default of the nature referred to in Section 8.01(f); or immediately when any Event of Default (other than of the nature specified in Section 8.01(f)) shall have occurred and be continuing and the Lender either shall have demanded payment of the Revolving Note or shall so elect by giving notice to the Borrower for purposes of this Section.

 

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(c)        Manner of Issuance of Letters of Credit . Letters of Credit shall be issued for the account of the Borrower, on behalf of itself and on behalf of the other Loan Parties, within two Business Days after receipt of notice from the Borrower to the Lender specifying the date of the requested issuance, the face amount of the requested Letter of Credit, and the expiry date of the requested Letter of Credit; provided that such notice and the required accompanying documentation is received before 12:00 noon (Minneapolis time); any notice received after 12:00 noon (Minneapolis time) on any Business Day shall be deemed to have been received on the immediately following Business Day. In no event shall any Letter of Credit have an expiry date later than the scheduled Revolving Credit Termination Date or a maturity of greater than one year. Each request for a Letter of Credit shall be accompanied by an appropriately completed and duly executed application for a Letter of Credit in form acceptable to the Lender (a “ Letter of Credit Application ”).

 

(d)      Reimbursement on Demand . The Borrower agrees to pay to the Lender on demand at the Lender’s address shown on the signature page hereof: (i) the amount of each draft or other request for payment drawn under any Letter of Credit (whether drawn before or on its stated expiry date), and (ii) interest on all amounts referred to in clause (i) above from the date of such draw until payment in full at a fluctuating rate per annum at all times equal to the Default Rate; provided, however, that so long as the conditions precedent set forth in Section 2.04 and Article IV are satisfied as of the date of any draw under the Letter of Credit, the Lender will make a Revolving Credit Loan in accordance with Section 2.04 to pay any draw under a Letter of Credit.

 

(e)        Letter of Credit Fees .

 

(i)      The Borrower agrees to pay to the Lender a commission (the “ Letter of Credit Commission ”) upon the undrawn face amount of the Letters of Credit outstanding from time to time. The Letter of Credit Commission shall be computed at a per annum rate equal to one percent (1.0%). The Letter of Credit Commission with respect to each Letter of Credit is payable in advance on the date of issuance of such Letter of Credit.

 

(ii)     The Borrower agrees to pay to the Lender all reasonable and customary charges, fees and expenses which the Lender may assess in connection with the issuance, extension, amendment or payment of any Letter of Credit in accordance with the schedule therefor then in effect, and any and all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses which the Lender may pay or incur in connection therewith.

 

(f)      Obligations Absolute . The Obligations of the Borrower under this Section 2.12 shall be unconditional and irrevocable and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances, including, without limitation, the following circumstances: (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto (collectively, the “ Related Documents ”); (ii) any amendment or waiver of, or any consent to departure from, all or any of the Related Documents; (iii) the existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other right that the Borrower may have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of any Letter of Credit (or any Persons for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the Lender or any other Person, whether in connection with any Related Document, the transactions contemplated therein, or any unrelated transaction, except as set forth in clause (v) below; (iv) any draft, statement 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, except as set forth in clause (v) below; (v) payment by the Lender under any Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or certificate which does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit, except in the case of payment resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Lender; or (vi) any other circumstance or event whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, except in the case of payment resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Lender.

 

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(g)       Conflicts . The rights of the Lender against the Borrower hereunder shall be in addition to all rights under (and shall control over any conflict under) any Letter of Credit Application.

 

(h)      Cash Collateral . If at any time (a) an Event of Default exists, (b) the Letter of Credit Commitment Termination Date has occurred, or (c) the Letter of Credit Commitment Date is scheduled to occur within 20 Business Days, then Borrower shall, at Lender’s request, Cash Collateralize all outstanding Letters of Credit. If Borrower fails to provide any Cash Collateral as required hereunder, Lender may advance, as Revolving Credit Loans, the amount of Cash Collateral required.

 

Article III  
Taxes, Etc.

 

Section 3.01    Taxes.

 

(a)      Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of the Borrower hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be made free and clear of and without deduction or withholding for any Taxes except as required by applicable law. If the Borrower is required by applicable law to deduct or withhold any Taxes from such payments, then:

 

(i)      if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, the amount payable by the Borrower shall be increased so that after all such required deductions or withholdings are made (including deductions or withholdings applicable to additional amounts payable under this Section), the Lender receives an amount equal to the amount it would have received had no such deduction or withholding been made, and

 

(ii)     the Borrower shall make such deductions or withholdings and timely pay the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

 

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(b)      Without limiting the provisions of Section 3.01(a) above, the Borrower shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

 

(c)      The Borrower shall indemnify the Lender, within ten days after demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes (including Indemnified Taxes imposed on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) paid or payable by the Lender, on or with respect to an amount payable by the Borrower under or in respect of this Agreement or under any other Loan Document, together with any reasonable expenses arising in connection therewith and with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. A certificate from the Lender as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to the Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

(d)      As soon as practicable after any payment of Taxes by the Borrower to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section 3.01, the Borrower shall deliver to the Lender the original or certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the relevant return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Lender.

 

(e)      If the Lender determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by the Borrower or with respect to which the Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section, it shall pay over such refund (or the amount of any credit in lieu of refund) to the Borrower (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by the Borrower under this Section with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund or credit in lieu of refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Lender and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund or credit in lieu of refund); provided that , the Borrower, upon the request of the Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower (plus any interest, penalties or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Lender in the event the Lender is required to repay such refund or credit in lieu of refund to such Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (e), in no event will the Lender be required to pay any amount to the Borrower pursuant to this paragraph if the payment of such amount would place the Lender in a less favorable net after-Tax position than it would have been in if the Tax subject to indemnification had not been deducted, withheld or otherwise imposed and the indemnification payments or additional amounts with respect to such Tax had never been paid. Nothing in this paragraph (e) shall be construed to require the Lender to make available its tax returns or any other information relating to its taxes that it deems confidential to the Borrower or any other Person.

 

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Section 3.02    Increased Costs; Capital Adequacy Requirements.

 

(a)      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, the Lender;

 

(ii)       subject the Lender to any Taxes (other than Indemnified Taxes) on its loans, commitments, or other obligations, or its deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto; or

 

(iii)      impose on the Lender or the London interbank market any other condition, cost or expense (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Rate Loans made by the Lender;

 

and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to the Lender of making, converting to, continuing or maintaining any Eurodollar Rate Loan or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan, or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by the Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of the Lender, the Borrower will pay to the Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate the Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

(b)      If the Lender determines that any Change in Law affecting the Lender, or Heartland (if any), regarding capital or liquidity requirements, has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on the Lender’s capital or on the capital of Heartland, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement, the Revolving Credit Commitment, the Term Loan Commitment or the Loans, to a level below that which the Lender or Heartland could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration the Lender’s policies and the policies of Heartland with respect to capital adequacy), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to the Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate the Lender or Heartland for any such reduction suffered.

 

(c)      A certificate from the Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate it or its holding company, as specified in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section and delivered to the Borrower, shall be conclusive absent manifest error. The Borrower shall pay the Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

 

(d)     Failure or delay on the part of the Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of the Lender’s right to demand such compensation; provided that , the Borrower shall not be required to compensate the Lender pursuant to this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions suffered more than 270 days prior to the date that the Lender notifies the Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of the 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 270 day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of such retroactive effect).

 

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A rticle IV 
Conditions Precedent

 

Section 4.01    Conditions Precedent to Initial Loans. The obligation of the Lender to make the initial Revolving Credit Loans or of the Lender to issue any Letter of Credit requested to be made by it hereunder is subject to the satisfaction or the waiver by the Lender of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)      The Lender shall have received:

 

(i)        this Agreement, the Revolving Credit Note, the Security Agreement and the Guaranty, each duly executed and delivered by an authorized officer of the Borrower and each of the other Loan Parties party thereto;

 

(ii)      results of a recent lien search in each of the jurisdictions where the Loan Parties are organized and the assets of the Loan Parties are located, and such searches reveal no Liens on any of the assets of the Loan Parties, except for Liens permitted under this Agreement or discharged on or prior to the Closing Date pursuant to documentation satisfactory to the Lender;

 

(iii)      an opinion of counsel to the Loan Parties, in form and substance acceptable to the Lender; and

 

(iv)      payment, in immediately available funds of a non-refundable origination fee in the amount of $20,000, together with reimbursement for all expenses for which invoices have been presented (including the fees and expenses of Lender’s legal counsel), on or before the Closing Date.

 

(b)      There shall have occurred no Material Adverse Effect since March 31, 2018.

 

(c)      The Lender shall have received, in form and substance satisfactory to it, a certificate of each Loan Party, certified by a secretary or assistant secretary of such Loan Party, dated the Closing Date, including:

 

(i)        a certificate of incorporation, of each Loan Party that is a corporation, certified by the Secretary of State of the state of its incorporation;

 

(ii)       by-laws for each Loan Party that is a corporation as in effect on the date on which the resolutions referred to below were adopted;

 

(iii)      a certification of formation, of each Loan Party that is a limited liability company, certified by the Secretary of State of the state of its organization;

 

(iv)      limited liability agreement for each Loan Party that is a limited liability company as in effect on the date on which the resolutions referred to below were adopted;

 

(v)       resolutions of the board of directors of each Loan Party approving the transaction and each Loan Document to which it is or is to be a party;

 

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(vi)      a certification that the names and signatures of the officers of each Loan Party authorized to sign each Loan Document to which it is or is to be a party and other documents to be delivered hereunder and thereunder are true and correct;

 

(vii)     evidence of good standing for each Loan Party from the State of its organization and each other state where it is qualified to do business.

 

(d)      The Lender shall have received an opinion of counsel to the Loan Parties, in form and substance acceptable to the Lender:

 

(e)      The Lender shall have received satisfactory evidence that each document (including any Uniform Commercial Code financing statement and appropriate filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or United States Copyright Office) required by the Loan Documents or any Requirement of Law or reasonably requested by the Lender to be filed, registered or recorded in order to create in favor of the Lender a perfected first priority Lien on the Collateral described therein, prior and superior in right to any other Person shall have been properly filed (or provided to the Lender) or executed and delivered in each jurisdiction.

 

(f)       The Lender or its agent shall have completed its survey of the business, operations and assets of the Borrower, and such survey shall provide the Lender with results and information which, in the Lender’s determination, are satisfactory to the Lender.

 

(g)      The Lender shall have received a Borrowing Base Certificate as of a date satisfactory to the Lender certified by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.

 

(h)      The Lender shall have received evidence of insurance coverage in form, scope and substance satisfactory to the Lender and otherwise in compliance with the terms of Section 5.10 and Section 6.06 of this Agreement.

 

Section 4.02    Conditions Precedent to Each Loan. The obligation of the Lender to make each Loan or to issue each Letter of Credit requested to be made by it hereunder (including, without limitation, its initial extension of credit), is subject to the satisfaction or the waiver by the Lender of the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)      Each of the representations and warranties made by any Loan Party in or pursuant to the Loan Documents shall be true and correct on and as of such date as if made on and as of such date.

 

(b)      No Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on such date or after giving effect to the Loans requested to be made on such date.

 

Each borrowing by the Borrower hereunder shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower, as of the date such Loan is made, that the conditions contained in Article IV have been satisfied.

 

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Article
Representations and Warranties

 

To induce the Lender to enter into this Agreement and to make the Loans and to issue Letters of Credit hereunder, the Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the Lender that:

 

Section 5.01    Existence; Compliance With Laws. Each Loan Party (a) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, (b) is duly qualified as a foreign corporation or other organization and in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where its ownership, lease or operation of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification except to the extent that the failure to qualify in such jurisdiction could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (c) is in compliance with all Requirements of Law except to the extent that the failure to comply therewith could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 5.02    Power; Authorization; Enforceability.

 

(a)      Each Loan Party has the power and authority, and the legal right, to own or lease and operate its property, and to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted, and to execute, deliver and perform the Loan Documents to which it is a party and, in the case of the Borrower, to obtain Loans hereunder. Each Loan Party has taken all necessary organizational action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which it is a party and, in the case of the Borrower, to authorize the borrowing of Loans on the terms and conditions contained herein. No consent or authorization of, filing with, notice to or other act by, or in respect of, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is required in connection with the extensions of credit hereunder or with the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents, which consents, authorizations, filings and notices have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect, and (ii) the filings referred to in Section 4.01(e). Each Loan Document has been duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party thereto.

 

(b)     This Agreement constitutes, and each other Loan Document when delivered hereunder will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of each Loan Party thereto, enforceable against each such Loan Party in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles (whether enforcement is sought by proceedings in equity or at law).

 

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Section 5.03    No Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, the borrowing of Loans hereunder and the use of the proceeds thereof will not violate any Requirement of Law or any Contractual Obligation of any Loan Party and will not result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any Lien on any of their respective properties or assets pursuant to any Requirement of Law or any such Contractual Obligation (other than the Liens created by the Loan Documents). No Requirement of Law or Contractual Obligation applicable to any Loan Party could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 5.04    Financial Statements.

 

(a)      The consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at March 31, 2018, and the related consolidated statements of income and of cash flows for the fiscal year ended on such date, audited by BDO USA, LLP, present fairly the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at such date, and the consolidated results of their operations and their consolidated cash flows for the fiscal year then ended, in accordance with GAAP.

 

(b)     The unaudited consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at December 31, 2018, and the related unaudited consolidated statements of income and of cash flows for the year-to-date period ended on such date, duly certified by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower, present fairly the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at such date, and the consolidated results of their operations and their consolidated cash flows for year-to-date period then ended, in accordance with GAAP (subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes).

 

Section 5.05    No Material Adverse Effect. Since March 31, 2018, no development or event has occurred that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 5.06    No Litigation. Other than as disclosed on Schedule 5.06, no action, suit, litigation, investigation or proceeding of or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority is pending or threatened by or against any Loan Party or against any of its property or assets (a) with respect to any of the Loan Documents or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or (b) that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 5.07    No Default. No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and no default has occurred and is continuing under or with respect to any Contractual Obligation of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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Section 5.08    Ownership of Property; Liens.

 

(a)      Each Loan Party has fee simple title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all its real property, and good title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all its other property, and none of such property is subject to any Lien except as permitted by Section 7.02.

 

(b)      Part A of Schedule 5.08 sets forth a complete and accurate list as of the date hereof of all Liens on the real property of any Loan Party, showing as of the date hereof the lienholder thereof and the real property of such Loan Party subject thereto.

 

(c)      Part B of Schedule 5.08 sets forth a complete and accurate list as of the date hereof of all real property owned by any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, showing as of the date hereof, the street address, county or other relevant jurisdiction, state, record owner and book value thereof.

 

(d)      Part C of Schedule 5.08 sets forth a complete and accurate list as of the date hereof of all leases of real property under which any Loan Party is the lessee, showing as of the date hereof, the street address, county or other relevant jurisdiction, state, lessor, lessee, expiration date and annual rental cost thereof.

 

(e)      Part D of Schedule 5.08 sets forth a complete and accurate list as of the date hereof of all leases of real property under which any Loan Party is the lessor, showing as of the date hereof, the street address, county or other relevant jurisdiction, state, lessor, lessee, expiration date and annual rental income thereof.

 

Section 5.09    Environmental Matters. Except as, in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect:

 

(a)      none of the facilities or properties currently or formerly owned, leased or operated by any Loan Party (the “ Properties ”) contain or previously contained, any Hazardous Materials in amounts or concentrations or under circumstances that constitute or constituted a violation of, or could result in liability under, any Environmental Law;

 

(b)      no Loan Party has received any notice of actual or alleged violation, non-compliance or liability regarding compliance with Environmental Laws or other environmental matters or with respect to any of the Properties or the business operated by any Loan Party, nor is there any reason to believe that any such notice will be received or is being threatened;

 

(c)      the Properties and all operations at the Properties are and formerly have been in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws, and there is no contamination at, under or about the Properties or violation of any Environmental Law with respect to the Properties or the business operated by any Loan Party;

 

(d)      Hazardous Materials have not been transported or disposed of from the Properties in violation of, or in a manner or to a location that could result in liability under, any Environmental Law; no Hazardous Materials have been generated, treated, stored or disposed of at, on or under any of the Properties in violation of, or in a manner that could result in liability under, any applicable Environmental Law; and there has been no release or threat of release of Hazardous Materials at or from the Properties, or arising from or related to the operations of any Loan Party in connection with the Properties or the business operated by any Loan Party, in violation of or in amounts or in a manner that could result in liability under Environmental Laws;

 

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(e)      no administrative or governmental action or judicial proceeding is pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened, under any Environmental Law to which any Loan Party is or will be a party with respect to the Properties or the business operated by any Loan Party, nor are there any decrees or orders or other administrative or judicial requirements outstanding under any Environmental Law with respect to the Properties or the business operated by any Loan Party; and

 

(f)       no Loan Party has assumed any liability of any other Person under Environmental Laws.

 

Section 5.10    Insurance. The properties of the Loan Parties are insured with financially sound and reputable insurance companies which are not Affiliates of the Borrower, in such amounts, with such deductibles and covering such risks as are customarily carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in localities where the applicable Loan Party operates. Schedule 5.10 sets forth a description of all insurance maintained by or on behalf of the Loan Parties as of the Closing Date. Each insurance policy listed on Schedule 5.10 is in full force and effect and all premiums in respect thereof that are due and payable have been paid.

 

Section 5.11    Material Contracts. Schedule 5.11 sets forth all Material Contracts to which any Loan Party is a party or is bound as of the Closing Date. The Borrower has delivered true, correct and complete copies of such Material Contracts to the Lender on or before the Closing Date. The Loan Parties are not in breach or in default in any material respect of or under any Material Contract and have not received any notice of the intention of any other party thereto to terminate any Material Contract.

 

Section 5.12    Intellectual Property. Each Loan Party owns, or is licensed to use, all Intellectual Property necessary for the conduct of its business as currently conducted or proposed to be conducted. No material claim has been asserted and is pending by any Person challenging the use, validity or effectiveness of any Intellectual Property, nor is the Borrower aware of any valid basis for any such claim. The use of Intellectual Property by each Loan Party does not materially infringe on the rights of any Person. Schedule 5.12 attached hereto is a complete list of all intellectual property that is owned by, or licensed to, Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

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Section 5.13    Taxes. Each Loan Party has filed all Federal, state and other tax returns that are required to be filed and has paid all taxes shown thereon to be due, together with applicable interest and penalties, and all other taxes, fees or other charges imposed on it or any of its property by any Governmental Authority (except those that are currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to which reserves in conformity with GAAP have been provided on the books of the relevant Loan Party). No tax Lien has been filed, and, to the knowledge of the Borrower, no claim is being asserted, with respect to any such tax, fee or other charge. No Loan Party is a party to any tax sharing agreement.

 

Section 5.14    ERISA. Each Plan is in compliance with ERISA, the Code and any Requirement of Law; neither a Reportable Event nor an “accumulated funding deficiency” (within the meaning of §412 or §430 of the Code or §302 of ERISA) has occurred (or is reasonably likely to occur) with respect to any Plan. No Single Employer Plan has terminated, and no Lien has been incurred in favor of the PBGC or a Plan. Based on the assumptions used to fund each Single Employer Plan, the present value of all accrued benefits under each such Plan did not materially exceed the value of the assets of such Plan allocable to such accrued benefit as of the last annual valuation date prior to the date on which this representation is made. Neither any Loan Party nor any ERISA Affiliate has incurred or is reasonably expected to incur any Withdrawal Liability that could reasonably be expected to result in a material liability under ERISA, in connection with any Multiemployer Plan. No such Multiemployer Plan is (or is reasonably expected to be) terminated, in Reorganization, or insolvent (within the meaning of §4245 of ERISA).

 

Section 5.15    Margin Regulations. The Borrower is not engaged in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock, 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.

 

Section 5.16    Investment Company Act. No Loan Party is or is required to be registered as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

Section 5.17    Subsidiaries; Equity Interests.

 

(a)      Except as disclosed to the Lender by the Borrower in writing from time to time after the Closing Date:

 

(i)       Part A of Schedule 5.17 sets forth the name, address of principal place of business, jurisdiction of formation and US taxpayer identification number (or in the case of a non-US Subsidiary that does not have a US taxpayer identification number, its unique identification number issued to it by its jurisdiction of formation) of each Subsidiary and, as to each such Subsidiary, the percentage of each class of Equity Interest owned by any Loan Party;

 

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(ii)      there are no outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, rights or other agreements or commitments (other than stock options granted to employees or directors and directors’ qualifying shares) relating to any Equity Interest of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, except as created by the Loan Documents.

 

(b)     All of the outstanding Equity Interests in each Subsidiary have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by a Loan Party in the amounts specified on Part B of Schedule 5.17 free and clear of all Liens except those created under the Loan Documents. All of the outstanding Equity Interests in the Borrower have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the Persons and in the amounts specified on Part C of Schedule 5.17 free and clear of all Liens except those created under the Loan Documents.

 

(c)      No Loan Party has any equity investments in any other corporation or entity other than those disclosed on Part D of Schedule 5.17.

 

Section 5.18    Labor Matters. Except as, in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (a) there are no strikes, lockouts or other labor disputes pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against any Loan Party, (b) hours worked by and wages paid to employees of each Loan Party have not violated the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable Requirement of Law, and (c) all payments due in respect of employee health and welfare insurance from any Loan Party have been paid or properly accrued on the books of the relevant Loan Party.

 

Section 5.19    Accuracy of Information, Etc. The Borrower has disclosed to the Lender all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No statement or information contained in this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any other document, certificate or statement furnished by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Lender, for use in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statement contained herein or therein not misleading. The Projections included in such materials are based upon good faith estimates and assumptions believed by the Borrower to be reasonable at the time made; it being recognized by the Lender that such Projections as to future events are not to be viewed as fact and that actual results during the period or periods covered by the Projections may differ from such projected results and such differences may be material.

 

Section 5.20    Security Documents.

 

(a)     The Security Agreement creates in favor of the Lender a legal, valid, continuing and enforceable security interest in the Collateral, the enforceability of which is subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law. The financing statements, releases and other filings are in appropriate form and have been or will be filed in the offices of the Secretary of State in which each Loan Party is organized. Upon such filings and/or the obtaining of “control” (as defined in the Uniform Commercial Code), the Lender will have a perfected Lien on, and security interest in, to and under all right, title and interest of the grantors thereunder in all Collateral that may be perfected by filing, recording or registering a financing statement or analogous document (including without limitation the proceeds of such Collateral subject to the limitations relating to such proceeds in the Uniform Commercial Code) or by obtaining control, under the Uniform Commercial Code (in effect on the date this representation is made) in each case prior and superior in right to any other Person, except for Liens permitted under Section 7.02.

 

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Section 5.21     Solvency. The Borrower and each of the Loan Parties is, and after giving effect to the incurrence of all Debt and obligations incurred in connection herewith will be, Solvent.

 

Section 5.22     PATRIOT Act; OFAC and Other Regulations.

 

(a)      No Loan Party, any of its Subsidiaries or any of the Affiliates or respective officers, directors, brokers or agents of such Loan Party, Subsidiary or Affiliate:

 

(i)        has violated any Anti-terrorism Laws; or

 

(ii)      has engaged in any transaction, investment, undertaking or activity that conceals the identity, source or destination of the proceeds from any category of prohibited offenses designated by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering.

 

(b)      No Loan Party, any of its Subsidiaries or any of the Affiliates or respective officers, directors, brokers or agents of such Loan Party, Subsidiary or Affiliate that is acting or benefiting in any capacity in connection with the Loans is a Blocked Person.

 

(c)      No Loan Party, any of its Subsidiaries or any of the Affiliates or respective officers, directors, brokers or agents of such Loan Party, Subsidiary or Affiliate acting or benefiting in any capacity in connection with the Loans:

 

(i)       conducts any business or engages in making or receiving any contribution of goods, services or money to or for the benefit of any Blocked Person;

 

(ii)      deals in, or otherwise engages in any transaction related to, any property or interests in property blocked pursuant to any Anti-terrorism Law; or

 

(iii)     engages in or conspires to engage in any transaction that evades or avoids, or has the purpose of evading or avoiding, or attempts to violate, any of the prohibitions set forth in any Anti-terrorism Law.

 

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Article VI 
Affirmative Covenants

 

So long as the Lender has any Revolving Credit Commitment hereunder, or any Loans, Letter of Credit Obligations or any other amounts payable to the Lender hereunder or under any other Loan Document have not been indefeasibly paid in full, the Borrower shall, and shall cause each cause each other Loan Party to (except that, in the case of the covenants set forth in Section 6.01, Section 6.02, and Section 6.03, the Borrower shall furnish all applicable materials to the Lender):

 

Section 6.01    Financial Statements. Furnish to the Lender:

 

(a)      As soon as available, but in any event within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a copy of the annual audit report of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such year including a copy of the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries as at the end of such year and the related audited consolidated statements of income and of cash flows for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous year, together with an opinion as to such audit report of Deloitte, LLP or other independent certified public accountants of nationally recognized standing which does not contain a “going concern” or similar qualification or exception, or qualification arising out of the scope of the audit, together with related consolidating financial statements and a certificate of such accounting firm to the Lender stating that in the course of the regular audit of the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, which audit was conducted by such accounting firm in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, such accounting firm has obtained no knowledge that a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or if, in the opinion of such accounting firm, a Default has occurred and is continuing, a statement as to the nature thereof; provided that , in the event of any change in generally accepted accounting principles used in the preparation of such financial statements, the Borrower shall also provide a reconciliation of such financial statements to GAAP, and

 

(b)      As soon as available and in any event within 45 days after the end of each fiscal quarter of each fiscal year, a copy of the unaudited financial statements of the Borrower prepared in conformity with GAAP (except for the omission of footnotes and prior period comparative data required by GAAP and for variations from GAAP which in the aggregate are not material) consisting of a consolidated balance sheet as of the close of such month and related consolidated statements of operations and retained earnings and cash flow for such month and from the beginning of such fiscal year to the end of such month and comparative figures for the corresponding portion of the preceding fiscal year together with related consolidating financial statements and the other monthly reports required by the Lender, in each case certified by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.

 

All such financial statements shall be complete and correct and shall be prepared in reasonable detail and in accordance with GAAP applied (except as approved by such accountants or Responsible Officer, as the case may be, and disclosed in reasonable detail therein) consistently throughout the periods reflected therein and with prior periods.

 

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Section 6.02    Certificates; Other Information. The Borrower shall furnish the following to the Lender:

 

(a)      As soon as available, but in any event within one hundred twenty (120) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, forecasts prepared by the management of the Borrower, in form satisfactory to the Lender, of projected consolidated balance sheets, income statements, statements of cash flows, projected changes in financial position and a description of the underlying assumptions applicable thereto, and as soon as available, significant revisions, if any, of such forecast with respect to such fiscal year (the “ Projections ”), which Projections shall in each case be accompanied by a certificate of the Borrower’s chief financial officer, treasurer or controller stating that such Projections are based on reasonable estimates, information and assumptions and that such individual has no reason to believe that such Projections are incorrect or misleading in any material respect;

 

(b)     As soon as available, and in any event within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a compliance certificate (the “ Compliance Certificate ”) in the form of Exhibit D , signed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower (i) containing all information and calculations necessary for determining compliance by the Loan Parties with the provisions of this Agreement as of the last day of such fiscal year of the Borrower and (ii) stating that each Loan Party during such period has observed and performed all of the covenants and other agreements, and satisfied every condition contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party to be observed, performed or satisfied by it, and that such officer has not obtained any knowledge of any Default or Event of Default except as specified in such certificate; and

 

(c)     As soon as available, and in any event within 15 Business Days after the end of each month of each fiscal year, a borrowing base certificate (the “ Borrowing Base Certificate ”) in the form provided by the Lender attached hereto showing the Borrowing Base as of the last Business Day of the previous month, accompanied by a detailed accounts receivable aging, a detailed inventory report, a detailed accounts payable aging and other supporting reports as may be required by the Lender and the Borrowing Base Certificate and such supporting reports shall be in a form acceptable to the Lender and certified as accurate by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower;

 

(d)      Promptly, and in any event within 30 days thereafter, to the extent not previously disclosed to the Lender, a description of any change in the jurisdiction of organization of any Loan Party;

 

(e)      Promptly after the same are sent, copies of all proxy statements, financial statements and reports that any Loan Party sends to any of its securities holders, and copies of all reports and registration statements that any Loan Party files with the SEC or any national securities exchange;

 

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(f)      Promptly upon receipt of the same, copies of all notices, requests and other documents received by any Loan Party under or pursuant to any Material Contract or instrument, indenture, loan agreement regarding or related to any breach or default by any party thereto or any other event that could materially impair the value of the interests or the rights of any Loan Party or otherwise have a Material Adverse Effect and copies of the foregoing and such information and reports regarding Material Contracts and such instruments, indentures, loan agreements as the Lender may reasonably request from time to time; and

 

(g)      Such other information respecting the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, performance, properties or prospects of any Loan Party as the Lender may from time to time request.

 

Section 6.03    Notices. Promptly and in any event within five days give notice to the Lender of:

 

(a)      The occurrence of any Default or Event of Default;

 

(b)      Any (i) default or event of default under any Material Contract of any Loan Party or (ii) litigation, investigation or proceeding that may exist at any time between any Loan Party and any Governmental Authority;

 

(c)      Any litigation or proceeding against any Loan Party (i) in which the amount involved is at least $500,000 and not covered in full by insurance, (ii) in which injunctive or similar relief is sought, or (iii) which relates to any Loan Document;

 

(d)      The following events, as soon as possible and in any event within five (5) days after the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates knows or has reason to know thereof:

 

(i)        the occurrence of any Reportable Event with respect to any Plan, a failure to make any required contribution to a Plan, the creation of any Lien in favor of the PBGC or any Multiemployer Plan; or

 

(ii)       the institution of proceedings or the taking of any other action by the PBGC or the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate or any Multiemployer Plan with respect to the withdrawal from, or the termination, Reorganization or Insolvency of, any Plan;

 

(e)       The occurrence of any Environmental Action against or of any noncompliance by any Loan Party with any Environmental Law or relevant permit; and

 

(f)       Any development or event that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Each notice pursuant to this Section 6.03 shall be accompanied by a statement of an executive officer of the Borrower setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action the relevant Loan Party proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

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Section 6.04    Maintenance of Existence; Compliance.

 

(a)      (i) Preserve, renew and maintain in full force and effect its corporate or organizational existence and (ii) take all reasonable action to maintain all rights, privileges and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of its business, except, in each case, as otherwise permitted under this Agreement.

 

(b)      Comply with all Contractual Obligations and Requirements of Law except to the extent that failure to comply therewith could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 6.05    Performance of Material Contracts. Perform and observe all the terms and provisions of each Material Contract to be performed or observed by it, maintain each Material Contract in full force and effect, enforce each such Material Contract in accordance with its terms, take all such action to such end as may be from time to time requested by the Lender and, upon request of the Lender, make to each other party to each Material Contract such demands and requests for information and reports or for action as any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is entitled to make under such Material Contract.

 

Section 6.06    Maintenance of Property; Insurance.

 

(a)      Maintain and preserve all of its property useful and necessary in its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted.

 

(b)      Maintain insurance with respect to its property and business (including without limitation, property, casualty and business interruption insurance) with financially sound and reputable insurance companies that are not Affiliates of the Borrower, in such amounts and covering such risks as are usually insured against by similar companies engaged in the same or a similar business. Each policy of liability insurance shall name the Lender as an additional insured and each policy of real property insurance shall name the Lender as mortgagee loss payee and each policy insuring any other Collateral shall name the Lender as lender loss payee.

 

Section 6.07    Inspection of Property; Books and Records; Discussions.

 

(a)      Keep proper books of records and accounts, in which full, true and correct entries in conformity with GAAP and all Requirements of Law shall be made of all dealings and transactions and assets in relation to its business and activities.

 

(b)      Permit the Lender and its representatives to (i) discuss Borrower’s business operations, properties and financial and other condition with its officers and employees and its independent public accountants and (ii) upon reasonable notice to visit the Borrower’s offices and inspect and make abstracts from any of its books and records including, without limitation, permitting the Lender to examine any Collateral securing the Loans and reimburse the Lender for all examination fees and expenses incurred in connection with such examinations at its then current rate for such services and for its out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection therewith; provided , however that the Lender agrees that, so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower’s obligations to reimburse the Lender for its examinations shall be limited to no more than one examination per any Loan Year plus its out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection therewith.

 

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Section 6.08    Environmental Laws.

 

(a)      Obtain, comply and maintain in all material respects, and ensure the same in all material respects by all tenants and subtenants, if any, with all applicable Environmental Laws, any and all licenses, approvals, notifications, registrations or permits required by applicable Environmental Laws.

 

(b)     Conduct and complete all investigations, studies, sampling and testing, and all remedial, removal and other actions necessary to remove and clean up all Hazardous Materials from any of its properties required under Environmental Laws and promptly comply in all material respects with all lawful orders and directives of all Governmental Authorities regarding Environmental Laws.

 

Section 6.09    Use of Proceeds. Use the proceeds of the Loans (a) to finance the acquisition of assets by the Borrower and the Domestic Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, including the purchase of inventory and equipment, (b) to finance Capital Expenditures of the Borrower and of its Domestic Subsidiaries, and (c) for general corporate purposes of the Borrower, in each case to the extent not prohibited under any Requirement of Law or the Loan Documents.

 

Section 6.10    Additional Collateral; etc.

 

(a)      With respect to any property acquired after the Closing Date by any Loan Party that is intended to be subject to a Lien created by any Loan Document, other than any property subject to a Lien expressly permitted by this Agreement, as to which the Lender, does not have a perfected Lien, promptly, and in any event within 30 days of acquiring such property:

 

(i)       execute and deliver to the Lender such supplements or amendments to the Security Agreement or such other documents as the Lender deems necessary or advisable to grant to the Lender a security interest in such property; and

 

(ii)      take all actions necessary or advisable to grant to the Lender a perfected first priority security interest in such property, including the filing of UCC-1 financing statements in such jurisdictions as may be required by the Security Agreement or by law or as may be requested by the Lender; and

 

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(iii)     execute and deliver to the Lender such supplements or amendments to any Loan Document as the Lender deems necessary or advisable to grant to the Lender a perfected first priority security interest in the Equity Interests of such new Subsidiary that are owned by any Loan Party;

 

(iv)     deliver to the Lender the certificates representing such Equity Interests, together with undated stock powers, in blank, executed by a duly authorized officer of the relevant Loan Party;

 

(v)      deliver to the Lender originals of any promissory notes evidencing intercompany loans provided by a Loan Party to any Person that is not a Loan Party, indorsed in blank by a duly authorized officer of the relevant Loan Party; and

 

(vi)     cause such new Subsidiary that the Borrower would like to become a Loan Party (an “ Additional Loan Party ”) to: (A) execute and deliver joinders to the Guaranty the Security Agreement, each in the form provided by the Lender (B) take all actions necessary or desirable to grant to the Lender a perfected first priority security interest in the Collateral owned by such new Subsidiary, including the filing of UCC-1 financing statements in such jurisdictions as may be required by such security agreement or by law or as may be requested by the Lender; and (C) execute and deliver a secretary’s certificate of such new Loan Party, with charter documents, by-laws and appropriate resolutions attached.

 

Section 6.11 Further Assurances. Promptly upon the request of the Lender:

 

(a)      Correct any material defect or error that may be discovered in any Loan Document or in the execution, acknowledgement, filing or recordation thereof; and

 

(b)    Do, execute, acknowledge, deliver, record, re-record, file, re-file, register and re-register any and all such further acts, deeds, conveyances, pledge agreements, mortgages, deeds of trust, trust deeds, assignments, financing statements and continuations thereof, termination statements, notices of assignments, transfers, certificates, assurances and other instruments as the Lender, may require from time to time in order to:

 

(i)       carry out more effectively the purposes of the Loan Documents;

 

(ii)      to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, subject any Loan Party’s properties, assets, rights or interests to the Liens now or hereafter intended to be covered by the Security Agreement and the other Loan Documents;

 

(iii)     perfect and maintain the validity, effectiveness and priority of the Liens intended to be created under the Security Agreement and the other Loan Documents;

 

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(iv)     each Loan Party (including, without limitation, each Additional Loan Party) will execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, to the Lender such documents, agreements and instruments (including, without limitation, account control agreements, landlord waivers and bailee agreements), and will take or cause to be taken such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements, fixture filings, and other documents and such other actions or deliveries, as applicable), which may be required by law or which the Lender may, from time to time, reasonably request to carry out the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to ensure perfection and priority of the Liens created or intended to be created by the Security Agreement, all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Lender and all at the expense of the Borrower; and

 

(v)      assure, convey, grant, assign, transfer, preserve, protect and confirm more effectively to the Lender, the rights granted or now or hereafter intended to be granted to the Lender under any Loan Document or under any other instruments executed in connection with any Loan Document to which any Loan Party is or is to be a party.

 

Section 6.12   Deposit Accounts . In order to facilitate the Lender’s maintenance and monitoring of its security interests in the Collateral, Borrower shall maintain, and cause each of the other Loan Parties to maintain, all of its operating accounts, deposit accounts and securities accounts with the Lender or an Affiliate of the Lender; provided, however, as a matter of convenience, each Loan Party may maintain up to $75,000 in deposits in demand deposit accounts at other commercial banking institutions in locales where the Lender or an Affiliate of Lender does not maintain a banking branch; provided further that the Borrower shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts to cause such other banking institutions to execute control agreements in favor of the Lender on forms acceptable to Lender with regards to such deposit accounts.

 

Article VII 
Negative Covenants

 

So long as the Lender has any Revolving Credit Commitment hereunder, or any Loans, Letter of Credit Obligations, or any other amounts payable to the Lender hereunder or under any other Loan Document have not been indefeasibly paid in full, the Borrower shall not, and shall not permit any other Loan Party to, do any of the following without the prior written consent of the Lender:

 

Section 7.01 Limitation on Debt. Create, incur, assume, permit to exist or otherwise become liable with respect to any Debt, except:

 

(a)      Debt of any Loan Party existing or arising under this Agreement and any other Loan Document;

 

(b)      Debt of:

 

(i)       the Borrower owed to any other Loan Party; and

 

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(ii)      any Loan Party owed to the Borrower or any other Loan Party;

 

(c)     Debt incurred to finance the acquisition of fixed or capital assets (including Capital Lease Obligations) secured by a Lien permitted under Section 7.02(f); provided that , (i) such Debt is incurred simultaneously with such acquisition; (ii) such Debt when incurred shall not exceed the purchase price of the asset financed and (iii) the aggregate principal amount of Debt permitted by this Section 7.01(b), shall not exceed $5,000,000 in the aggregate at any time outstanding;

 

(d)      Debt existing on the date hereof and listed on Schedule 7.1(d);

 

(e)      Subordinated Debt; and

 

(f)       Other unsecured Debt of the Borrower or any other Loan Parties in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $5,000,000 at any time.

 

Section 7.02 Limitation on Liens. Create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or assets (including Equity Interests of any of its Subsidiaries) now owned or hereafter acquired by it or on any income or rights in respect of any thereof, except:

 

(a)      Liens created pursuant to or arising under any Loan Document;

 

(b)      Liens imposed by law for taxes, assessments or governmental charges not yet due or which are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted if adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained in accordance with GAAP on the books of the applicable Person;

 

(c)      Carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s and other similar Liens imposed by law, arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 30 days or that are being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted;

 

(d)     Pledges and deposits and other Liens (i) made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations, and (ii) securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance to the Borrower or another Loan Party;

 

(e)     Liens (including deposits) to secure the performance of bids, tenders, trade contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other obligations of like nature, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

(f)      Easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way, minor defects or irregularities in title and similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business which, in the aggregate, are not material in amount and which do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or interfere materially with the ordinary conduct of business of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

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(g)      Liens on fixed or capital assets acquired by the Borrower or any other Loan Party after the date hereof; provided that (i) such security interests secure Debt permitted by Section 7.01(b), (ii) such Liens and the Debt secured thereby are incurred simultaneously with such acquisition, (iii) such Liens shall not apply to any other property or assets of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, and (iv) the amount of Debt initially secured thereby is not more than 100% of the purchase price of such fixed or capital asset;

 

(h)      Liens on the personal property of any Loan Party disclosed on Schedule 7.02 and

 

(i)       Judgment or other similar Liens in connection with legal proceedings in an aggregate principal amount net of amounts for which insurance providers have delivered written acknowledgements of coverage up to $500,000 in the aggregate, which, whether immediately or with the passage of time (i) do not give rise to an Event of Default under Section 8.01(g) and (ii) are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted.

 

Section 7.03 Mergers; Nature of Business.

 

(a)      Merge into or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or liquidate or dissolve, except that, if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (i) any Subsidiary of the Borrower that is a Loan Party may merge into the Borrower in a transaction in which the Borrower is the surviving corporation, (ii) any Loan Party (other than the Borrower) may merge into any other Loan Party in a transaction in which the surviving entity is a Loan Party, and (iii) any Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party may liquidate or dissolve if the Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of the Borrower and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lender.

 

(b)     Engage in any business other than (i) businesses of the type conducted by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the date hereof, and (ii) any other businesses, except for: (x) business of the types listed on Schedule 7.03 to this Agreement or (y) that are substantially similar to any type of business listed on Schedule 7.03.

 

Section 7.04 Limitation on Investments. Make any advance, loan, extension of credit (by way of guaranty or otherwise) or capital contribution to, or purchase, hold or acquire any Equity Interests, bonds, notes, debentures or other debt securities of, or any assets constituting a business unit of, or make any other investment in, any Person (all of the foregoing, “ Investments ”), except:

 

(a)      Investments in Cash Equivalents;

 

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(b)      Loans and advances to officers, directors, or employees of any Loan Party in the ordinary course of business (including for travel, entertainment and relocation expenses) in an aggregate amount not to exceed $500,000 at any time outstanding;

 

(c)      Intercompany Investments by any Loan Party in the Borrower or any Person that, prior to such Investment, is a Loan Party;

 

(d)      Extensions of trade credit in the ordinary course of business (including any instrument evidencing the same and any instrument, security or other asset acquired through bona fide collection efforts with respect to the same);

 

(e)      Investments in marketable securities traded on national exchanges and other securities that carry a Standard & Poor’s rating of BBB- or a Moody’s rating of Baa3 or better; and

 

(f)      Only so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing either before or following the making of any such Investment, the Borrower may make other Investments that would not otherwise be permitted by this Section 7.04 (“ Other Investments ”), provided , that (a) Borrower shall provide Lender with a schedule of each Other Investment with a value (valued at cost) in excess of $100,000 attached to each Borrowing Base Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 6.02(c); and (b) if at any time the aggregate amount (valued at cost) of Other Investments made by the Borrower and the other Loan Parties on a consolidated basis on or after the Closing Date exceeds $5,000,000, the amount of any additional Other Investments permitted pursuant to this Section 7.04(f) in excess of $5,000,000 shall be limited to the amount of Excess Capital as calculated on a pro forma basis as set forth on an Excess Capital Certificate delivered to the Lender prior to the making of any such Other Investment.

 

Section 7.05 Limitation on Dispositions. Dispose of any of its property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or issue or sell any Equity Interests to any Person, except:

 

(a)      The sale or Disposition of machinery and equipment no longer used or useful in the business of any Loan Party;

 

(b)      The Disposition of obsolete or worn-out property of a Loan Party in the ordinary course of its business;

 

(c)      The sale or lease of inventory for fair value in the ordinary course of business of a Loan Party; and

 

(d)      The sale of securities of the types described in Section 7.04(e) for fair value in the ordinary course of business of a Loan Party.

 

Section 7.06 Limitation on Sales and Leasebacks. Enter into any arrangement with any Person whereby such Loan Party shall sell or otherwise transfer any property owned by such Loan Party to (a) such Person and thereafter rent or lease such Property from such Person or (b) any other Person to whom funds have been or are to be advanced by such Person on the security of such Property or rental obligations of such Loan Party.

 

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Section 7.07 Limitation on Restricted Payments; Transfers to non- Loan Parties .

 

(a)      Declare or pay any dividend on, or make any payment on account of, or set apart assets for a sinking or other analogous fund for, the purchase, redemption, defeasance, retirement or other acquisition of, any Equity Interests of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, whether now or hereafter outstanding, or make any other distribution in respect thereof, either directly or indirectly, whether in cash or property or in obligations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (collectively, “ Restricted Payments ”), provided , that:

 

(i)       a Subsidiary of the Borrower may make a Restricted Payment to the Borrower;

 

(ii)      The Borrower may declare and pay dividends and make other distributions and payments with respect to its Equity Interests if payable solely in its Equity Interests; and

 

(iii)    Only so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing either before or following the making thereof, the Borrower may make Restricted Payments that would not otherwise be permitted by this Section 7.07, provided that such Restricted Payments shall be limited to the amount of Excess Capital as calculated on a pro forma basis as set forth on an Excess Capital Certificate delivered to the Lender prior to the making of any such Restricted Payment.

 

(b)      Transfer any asset of a Loan Party to an Affiliate that is not a Loan Party.

 

Section 7.08 Limitation on Prepayments of Debt and Amendments of Debt Instruments.

 

(a)      Make or offer to make any optional or voluntary payment or prepayment on or redemption, defeasance or purchase of any (whether principal or interest) Subordinated Debt; or

 

(b)      Amend, modify, waive or otherwise change, or consent or agree to any amendment, modification, waiver or other change to any Subordinated Debt, other than any amendment, modification, waiver or other change which (i) would extend the maturity or reduce the amount of any payment of principal thereof or reduce the rate or extend any date for payment of interest thereon; and (ii) does not involve the payment of a consent fee.

 

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Section 7.09 Limitation on Transactions With Affiliates. Enter into or be a party to any transaction including any purchase, sale, lease or exchange of property, the rendering of any service or the payment of any management, advisory or similar fees, with any Affiliate unless such transaction is:

 

(a)      Otherwise permitted by the terms of this Agreement; or

 

(b)      In the ordinary course of business of the Borrower or the relevant Subsidiary, as the case may be, and on fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to the Borrower or the relevant Subsidiary, as the case may be, than those that would have been obtained in a comparable transaction on an arm’s length basis from an unrelated Person.

 

Section 7.10 Fiscal Year. Change the end of the Borrower’s fiscal year to a date other than March 31.

 

Section 7.11 Limitation on Restrictive Agreements. Enter into or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Subsidiary of the Borrower to:

 

(a)      Make Restricted Payments in respect of any Equity Interests of such Subsidiary held by, or pay any Debt owed to, the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower;

 

(b)      Make loans or advances to, or Investments in, the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower; and

 

(c)     Transfer any of its assets to the Borrower or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower, except for such encumbrances or restrictions (i) existing under the Loan Documents, and (ii) with respect to a Subsidiary imposed pursuant to an agreement that has been entered into in connection with the Disposition of all or substantially all of the Equity Interests or assets of such Subsidiary.

 

Section 7.12 Limitation on Amendments of Material Contracts. Amend, supplement or otherwise modify (pursuant to a waiver or otherwise):

 

(a)      Its articles of incorporation, certificate of designation, operating agreement, bylaws or other organizational document; or

 

(b)      The terms and conditions of any Material Contract;

 

in each case, in any respect materially adverse to the interests of the Lender, without the Lender’s prior written consent.

 

Section 7.13 Financial Covenants. Permit, as of any Measurement Date:

 

(a)      the Debt Service Coverage Ratio for the Measurement Period ending on such Measurement Date to be less than or equal to 1.25 to 1.0; or

 

(b)      the Asset Coverage Ratio to be less than 1.50 to 1.00.

 

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Article VIII 
Events of Default and Remedies

 

Section 8.01 Events of Default. Each of the following events or conditions shall constitute an “ Event of Default ” (whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or come about or be effected by any Requirement of Law or otherwise):

 

(a)      the Borrower fails to pay, (i) whether at stated maturity, by acceleration, by notice of voluntary prepayment, by mandatory prepayment or otherwise, (A) any principal of any Loan or any interest thereon when due, or (B) any Letter of Credit Obligation, or (ii) any fee or other amount payable hereunder or under any other Loan Document when due and such failure remains unremedied for a period of five (5) days;

 

(b)      any representation, warranty, certification or other statement of fact made or deemed made by or on behalf of any Loan Party herein or in any other Loan Document or any amendment or modification hereof or thereof or waiver hereunder or thereunder or in any certificate, document, report, financial statement or other document furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, proves to have been false or misleading in any material respect on or as of the date made or deemed made;

 

(c)      any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any covenant, term, condition or agreement contained in Section 6.03, Section 6.04(a), Section 6.09, Section 6.11, or Article VII;

 

(d)     any Loan Party fails to perform or observe any other covenant, term, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document (other than as provided in subsections (a) through (c) of this Section 8.01, and such failure continues unremedied for a period of thirty (30) days after written notice to the Borrower from the Lender;

 

(e)      Any Loan Party:

 

(i)       fails to pay any principal or interest in respect of any Debt in excess of $1,000,000 (including any Guaranty Obligation, but excluding any Debt outstanding under this Agreement) when due and such failure continues after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in the agreement or instrument relating to such Debt;

 

(ii)      fails to perform or observe any other covenant, term, condition or agreement relating to any such Debt or contained in any instrument or agreement evidencing or relating thereto, or any other event occurs or condition exists, the effect of which failure or other event or condition is to cause, or to permit the holder or beneficiary of such Debt (or a trustee or agent on behalf of such holder or beneficiary) to cause, with the giving of notice, if required, such Debt to become due prior to its stated maturity (or, in the case of any such Debt constituting a Guaranty Obligation, to become payable); or any such Debt is declared to be due and payable, or required to be prepaid or redeemed (other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment or redemption or as a mandatory prepayment), purchased or defeased, or an offer to prepay, redeem, purchase or defease such Debt shall be required to be made, in each case prior to the stated maturity thereof;

 

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provided that , a default, event or condition described in clause (i) or (ii) of this subsection (e) shall not at any time constitute an Event of Default unless, at such time, one or more defaults, events or conditions of the type described in clauses (i) and (ii) of this subsection (e) has occurred and is continuing with respect to Debt the outstanding principal amount of which exceeds in the aggregate $1,000,000.

 

(f)       Any Loan Party:

 

(i)       commences any case, proceeding or other action under any existing or future Debtor Relief Law, seeking (A) to have an order for relief entered with respect to it, or (B) to adjudicate it as bankrupt or insolvent, or (C) reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, winding-up, liquidation, dissolution, composition or other relief with respect to it or its debts, or (D) appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator or other similar official for it or for all or any substantial part of its assets, or (y) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors;

 

(ii)      there is commenced against any Loan Party in a court of competent jurisdiction any case, proceeding or other action of a nature referred to in clause (i) above which (x) results in the entry of an order for relief or any such adjudication or appointment or (y) remains undismissed, undischarged, unstayed or unbonded for thirty (30) days;

 

(iii)     there is commenced against any Loan Party any case, proceeding or other action seeking issuance of a warrant of attachment, execution or similar process against all or any substantial part of its assets which results in the entry of an order for any such relief which has not been vacated, discharged, stayed or bonded pending appeal within (30) days from the entry thereof;

 

(iv)     any Loan Party is generally not, or is unable to, or admits in writing its inability to, pay its debts as they become due; or

 

(v)      any Loan Party takes any action in furtherance of, or indicating its consent to, approval of, or acquiescence in, any of the acts set forth in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above.

 

(vi)     (A) any Person shall engage in any “prohibited transaction” (as defined in §406 of ERISA or §4975 of the Code) involving any Plan; (B) any failure to satisfy the minimum funding standard (within the meaning of Sections §412 or §430 of the Code or §302 of ERISA) shall exist with respect to any Plan, or any Lien in favor of the PBGC or a Plan shall arise on the assets of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate; (C) a Reportable Event shall occur with respect to, or proceedings shall commence to have a trustee appointed, or a trustee shall be appointed, to administer or to terminate, any Single Employer Plan, which Reportable Event or commencement of proceedings or appointment of trustee is likely to result in the termination of such Plan for purposes of Title IV of ERISA; (D) any Single Employer Plan shall terminate for purposes of Title IV of ERISA; or (F) the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate shall incur any liability in connection with a withdrawal from, or the Insolvency or Reorganization of, a Multiemployer Plan.

 

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(g)     one or more final and non-appealable judgments or decrees is entered against any Loan Party by a court of competent jurisdiction involving, in the aggregate, a liability (not paid or fully covered by insurance from an insurer that is rated at least “A” by A.M. Best Company as to which the relevant insurance company has been notified and has not denied coverage) in an amount in excess of $50,000 and all such judgments or decrees have not been vacated, discharged, stayed or bonded pending appeal within thirty (30) days from the entry thereof;

 

(h)     the Security Agreement or the North Carolina Deed of Trust ceases for any reason to be valid, binding and in full force and effect or any Lien created by the Security Agreement or the North Carolina Deed of Trust ceases to be enforceable and of the same effect and priority purported to be created thereby, other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder;

 

(i)       any provision of any Loan Document ceases for any reason to be valid, binding and in full force and effect, other than as expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder;

 

(ii)      any Loan Party contests in any manner the validity or enforceability of any provision of any Loan Document;

 

(iii)     any Loan Party denies that it has any or further liability or obligation under any provision of any Loan Document (other than as a result of repayment in full of the Obligations and termination of the Revolving Credit Commitment and the Term Loan Commitment) or purports to revoke, terminate or rescind any provision of any Loan Document;

 

(i)       any Change of Control occurs;

 

(j)       the Fed Ex Contract is terminated for any reason; or

 

(k)      there occurs in, the reasonable judgment of the Lender, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 8.02 Remedies Upon Event of Default. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, then:

 

(a)      if such event is an Event of Default specified in Section 8.01(f) above with respect to the Borrower, the Commitments shall automatically and immediately terminate and the Loans (with accrued interest thereon) and all other amounts owing under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall immediately become due and payable;

 

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(b)      if such event is an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default under Section 8.01(f)), any or all of the following actions may be taken:

 

(i)        the Lender may, by notice to the Borrower, declare the Commitments to be terminated forthwith, whereupon the Commitments shall immediately terminate;

 

(ii)       the Lender may, by notice to the Borrower, declare the Loans (with accrued interest thereon) and all other amounts owing under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to be due and payable forthwith, whereupon the same shall immediately become due and payable;

 

(iii)      the Lender may require that the Borrower Cash Collateralize the Letter of Credit Obligations or any other Loan Obligations that are contingent or not yet due and payable, in each case, in an amount determined by the Lender in accordance with this Agreement; and

 

(iv)     the Lender may exercise all rights and remedies available to it under the Security Agreement, the Guaranty, the North Carolina Assignment, the North Carolina Deed of Trust and each other Loan Document.

 

Section 8.03 Prepayment Obligations . The Borrower agrees that if the Obligations become immediately due and payable in full at a time when one or more Letters of Credit are outstanding, the Borrower shall thereupon automatically be obligated to pay the Lender, in addition to all other amounts owing under this Agreement, the aggregate face amount of all Letters of Credit then outstanding. The foregoing obligation to pay in advance for amounts which the Lender may later have to pay pursuant to the Letters of Credit is and shall at all times constitute a part of the “Obligations”. Amounts paid by the Borrower pursuant to this Section shall be made directly to an interest-bearing collateral account maintained at the Lender for application to the Borrower’s reimbursement obligations under Section 2.12(d) as payments are made on the Letters of Credit, with the balance, if any, to be applied to the other Obligations.

 

Article IX 
Miscellaneous

 

Section 9.01 Notices .

 

(a)     Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (or by e-mail as provided in paragraph (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be made in writing and mailed by certified or registered mail, delivered by hand or overnight courier service, or sent by facsimile as follows:

 

(i)       If to the Borrower or any other Loan Party, to it at:

 

Air T, Inc.

5930 Balsom Ridge Road

Denver, North Carolina 28037

Attention: Candice L. Otey

 

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with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice or service of process):

 

Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A.

225 S. 6 th Street

Minneapolis, MN 55402

Attention: David E. Moran, Esq.

 

 

(ii)      If to the Lender, to it at

 

Minnesota Bank & Trust

9800 Bren Road East, Suite 200

Minnetonka, MN 55343

Attention: Mr. Eric P. Gundersen, SVP

 

with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice or service of process):

 

Fabyanske, Westra, Hart & Thomson, P.A.

333 South Seventh Street, Suite 2600

Minneapolis, MN 55402

Attention: Frederick H. Ladner, Esq.

Fax Number: 612-359-7602

 

Notices mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by hand or overnight courier service shall be deemed to have been given when received. Notices sent by facsimile during the recipient’s normal business hours shall be deemed to have been given when sent (and if sent after normal business hours shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of the recipient’s business on the next Business Day).

 

(b)     Notices and other communications to the Lender hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communications (including e-mail and internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Lender. The Lender or the Borrower (on behalf of the Loan Parties) may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that , approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

 

(c)      Unless the Lender specifies otherwise:

 

(i)       notices and other communications sent by e-mail shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgment from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgment), and

 

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(ii)     notices or communications posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor;

 

provided that , if such notice, e-mail or other communication is not sent during the recipient’s normal business hours, such notice, e-mail or communication shall be deemed to have been sent at the recipient’s opening of business on the next Business Day.

 

(d) Either party hereto may change its address or facsimile number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other party.

 

Section 9.02 Amendments and Waivers.

 

(a)      No failure to exercise and no delay in exercising, on the part of the Lender, any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder or under the other Loan Documents shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, remedy, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, remedy, power or privilege. The rights, remedies, powers and privileges herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any rights, remedies, powers and privileges provided by law. No waiver of any provision of any Loan Document or consent to any departure by any Loan Party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall comply with paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan shall not be construed as a waiver of any Default, regardless of whether the Lender may have had notice or knowledge of such Default at the time.

 

(b)      Neither this Agreement nor any other Loan Document nor any provision hereof or thereof may be waived, amended or modified except (i) in the case of this Agreement, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Borrower and the Lender, or (ii) in the case of any other Loan Document, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by the Lender and the Loan Party or Loan Parties that are parties thereto.

 

Section 9.03 Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.

 

(a)      The Borrower agrees to pay:

 

(i)      all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Lender and its Affiliates, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for the Lender, in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery and administration of the Loan Documents and any amendments, waivers or other modifications of the provisions of any Loan Document (whether or not the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents are consummated) and;

 

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(ii)      all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Lender, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for the Lender, in connection with the enforcement or protection of its rights (i) in connection with the Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section 9.03, or (ii) in connection with the Loans issued under this Agreement, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with any restructuring, workout or negotiations in respect of the Loan Documents or such Loans.

 

(b)     The Borrower agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Lender and each of its Related Parties (each, an “ Indemnified Party ”) from and against, any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities and related expenses (including the reasonable fees, charges and expenses of any counsel for any Indemnified Party, incurred by any Indemnified Party or asserted against any Indemnified Party by any Person (including the Borrower or any other Loan Party) other than such Indemnified Party and its Related Parties arising out of, in connection with, or by reason of:

 

(i)       the execution or delivery of any Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated in any Loan Document, the performance by the parties thereto of their respective obligations under any Loan Document or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents;

 

(ii)      any Loan or the actual or proposed use of the proceeds therefrom;

 

(iii)     any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property currently or formerly owned or operated by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in any way; or

 

(iv)     any actual or prospective claim, investigation, litigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory, whether brought by a third party or by the Borrower or any other Loan Party, and regardless of whether any Indemnified Party is a party thereto; provided that , such indemnity shall not be available to any Indemnified Party to the extent that such claims, damages, losses, liabilities or related expenses (A) are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and non-appealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnified Party or (B) result from a claim brought by the Borrower or any other Loan Party against any Indemnified Party for breach in bad faith of such Indemnified Party’s obligations under any Loan Document, if a court of competent jurisdiction has rendered a final and non-appealable judgment in favor of the Borrower or such Loan Party on such claim. This Section 9.03 shall only apply to Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages or similar charges arising from a non-Tax claim.

 

(c)      The Borrower agrees, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, not to assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnified Party, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (including, without limitation, any loss of profits or anticipated savings), as opposed to actual or direct damages, resulting from this Agreement or any other Loan Document or arising out of such Indemnified Party’s activities in connection herewith or therewith (whether before or after the Closing Date).

 

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(d)      All amounts due under Section 9.03 shall be payable promptly after demand is made for payment by the Lender.

 

(e)      The Borrower agrees that neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries will settle, compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened claim, action or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought under Section 9.03 (whether or not any Indemnified Party is an actual or potential party to such claim, action or proceeding) without the prior written consent of the applicable Indemnified Party, unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such claim, action or proceeding.

 

Section 9.04 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 permitted hereby, except that the Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrower 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 Related Parties of the Lender) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

(b)      The Lender may, at any time, without the consent of the Borrower, assign to one or more Eligible Assignees (as defined below) all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of the Commitments and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided, however, that Lender shall not, without Borrower’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), make any such assignment to a Person described in clauses (ii) or (iii) of the definition of “Eligible Assignee” at any time when there is no outstanding Default or Event of Default. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Eligible Assignee ” means any Person other than a natural Person that is (i) an Affiliate of the Lender (which term shall, in any event, include Heartland and Subsidiaries of Heartland), (ii) a commercial bank, insurance company, investment or mutual fund or other Person that is an “accredited investor” (as defined in Regulation D under the Securities Act) or (iii) a corporate entity that possesses financial sophistication and standing similar to that of the Lender. Subject to notification of an assignment, the assignee shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned, have the rights and obligations of the Lender under this Agreement, and the Lender shall, to the extent of the interest assigned, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an assignment covering all of the Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, the Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Section 3.01, Section 3.02 and Section 9.03. The Borrower hereby agrees to execute any amendment and/or any other document that may be necessary to effectuate such an assignment, including an amendment to this Agreement to provide for multiple lenders and an administrative agent to act on behalf of such lenders. Any assignment or transfer by the Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this paragraph shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by the Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section.

 

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(c)      The Lender may, at any time, without the consent of the Borrower, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (each, a “ Participant ”) in all or a portion of the Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of the Commitments and the Loans owing to it); provided, that so long as no Default or Event of Default is outstanding at the time of any such sale, Lender agrees that it will not sell a participation to any Person that is not an Affiliate of Lender (which term shall, in any event, include Heartland and Subsidiaries of Heartland) without Borrower’s prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

 

Section 9.05 Survival. All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Loan Parties in the Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the making of any Loans, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party or on its behalf and notwithstanding that the Lender may have notice or knowledge of any Event of Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of, or any accrued interest on, any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid and so long as the Revolving Credit Commitment has not expired or terminated. The provisions of Section 3.01, Section 3.02 and Article IX shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Commitments or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

 

Section 9.06 Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.

 

(a)     This Agreement and any amendments, waivers, consents or supplements hereto may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract. This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Lender constitute the entire contract among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, with respect to the subject matter hereof. Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Lender and when the Lender shall have received a counterpart hereof executed by the Borrower. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by facsimile or in electronic (“pdf” or “tif”) format shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. This Agreement and each other Loan Document has been reviewed by all parties hereto and incorporate the requirements of such parties. Each party waives the rule of construction that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the party drafting the same and agrees such rules will not be employed in the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document.

 

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(b)     The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of similar import in any Loan Document shall be deemed to include electronic or digital signatures or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same effect, validity and enforceability as manually executed signatures or a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, to the extent and as provided for under applicable law, including the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act of 2000 (15 USC § 7001 et seq.), the Electronic Signatures and Records Act of 1999 (NY State Technology Law §§ 301-309), or any other similar state laws based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.

 

Section 9.07 Severability. If any term or provision of any Loan Document is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision thereof or invalidate or render unenforceable such term or provision in any other jurisdiction. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify the applicable Loan Document so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

 

Section 9.08 Right of Setoff. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Lender and each of its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, and without prior notice to the Borrower, any such notice being expressly waived by the Borrower, to set off and appropriate 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 the Lender or Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any Loan Party against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower or such Loan Party now or hereafter existing under the Loan Documents to the Lender or its Affiliates, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, and irrespective of whether or not the Lender or any Affiliate shall have made any demand under the Loan Documents and although such obligations of such Loan Party are owed to a branch, office or Affiliate of the Lender different from the branch, office or Affiliate holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness. The Lender agrees to notify the Borrower promptly after any such set off and appropriation and application; provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set off and appropriation and application.

 

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Section 9.09 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.

 

( a )      This Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any claim, controversy, dispute or cause of action (whether in contract or tort or otherwise) based upon, arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document (except, as to any other Loan Document, as expressly set forth therein) and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Minnesota, without regard to conflicts of laws principles thereof.

 

(b)    AT THE OPTION OF THE LENDER, THIS AGREEMENT, THE NOTES AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS TO WHICH THE BORROWER IS A PARTY MAY BE ENFORCED IN ANY FEDERAL COURT OR MINNESOTA STATE COURT SITTING IN MINNEAPOLIS OR ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA; AND THE BORROWER CONSENTS TO THE JURISDICTION AND VENUE OF ANY SUCH COURT AND WAIVES ANY ARGUMENT THAT VENUE IN SUCH FORUMS IS NOT CONVENIENT. IN THE EVENT THE BORROWER COMMENCES ANY ACTION IN ANOTHER JURISDICTION OR VENUE UNDER ANY TORT OR CONTRACT THEORY ARISING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY FROM THE RELATIONSHIP CREATED BY THIS AGREEMENT, THE LENDER AT ITS OPTION SHALL BE ENTITLED TO HAVE THE CASE TRANSFERRED TO ONE OF THE JURISDICTIONS AND VENUES ABOVE DESCRIBED, OR IF SUCH TRANSFER CANNOT BE ACCOMPLISHED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, TO HAVE SUCH CASE DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.

 

(c)     Each Loan Party irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any such court referred to in subsection (b) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

 

(d)     Each Loan Party irrevocably consents to the service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 9.01 and agrees that nothing herein will affect the right of any party hereto to serve process in any other manner permitted by applicable law.

 

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Section 9.10 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO AGENT, ATTORNEY, REPRESENTATIVE OR ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

Section 9.11 Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.

 

Section 9.12 Confidentiality.

 

(a)     The Lender agrees to maintain the confidentiality of all non-public information received from the Borrower or any other Loan Party relating to the Borrower or its Subsidiaries or their respective businesses; provided that , in the case of information received from the Borrower or any Loan Party after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as being confidential information (the “ Information ”), except that Information may be disclosed:

 

(i)        to its Affiliates and its Related Parties in connection with the administration of this Agreement and the preservation, exercise or enforcement of the rights of the Lender under this Agreement, or to manage its and its Affiliates’ banking relationships with the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential);

 

(ii)       to the extent required or requested by any regulatory authority purporting to have jurisdiction over such Person or its Related Parties (including any self-regulatory authority);

 

(iii)      to the extent required by any Requirement of Law or regulations or by any subpoena, court order or similar legal process;

 

(iv)      in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or under any other Loan Document or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of its rights hereunder or thereunder;

 

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(v)      to (x) any actual or potential assignee, transferee or participant in connection with the assignment or transfer by the Lender of any Loans or any participations therein or (y) any actual or prospective party (or its Related Parties) to any swap, derivative or other transaction under which payments are to be made by reference to the Borrower or any other Loan Party or any Subsidiary or any of their respective obligations, this Agreement or payments hereunder;

 

(vi)      with the consent of the Borrower; or

 

(vii)    to the extent such Information (x) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (y) is available to the Lender on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (z) becomes available to the Lender or any of its Affiliates on a non-confidential basis from a source other than the Borrower or any other Loan Party.

 

(b)     Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

 

Section 9.13 USA PATRIOT Act. The Lender hereby notifies each Loan Party that pursuant to the requirements of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56, signed into law October 26, 2001) (the “ PATRIOT Act ”), it is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each Loan Party, which information includes the name and address of each Loan Party and other information that will allow the Lender to identify such Loan Party in accordance with the PATRIOT Act, and the Borrower agrees to provide, or cause the other Loan Parties to provide, such information from time to time to the Lender.

 

Section 9.14  Intent of Amendment and Restatement; Termination of Worthington Loan Agreement. This Agreement amends and restates the Original Credit Agreement in its entirety. The execution, delivery and effectiveness of this Agreement shall not operate as a waiver of any of the Bank’s rights, powers or remedies under the Original Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, nor constitute a waiver of any provision of the Original Credit Agreement or any such Loan Document other than as set forth herein. This Agreement amends and restates the Original Credit Agreement in its entirety and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof. On the Closing Date, the Original Agreement shall be completely amended and restated by this Agreement, and each reference in each Loan Document to:

 

(a)      the “Credit Agreement,” “Loan Agreement,” “therein,” “thereof,” “thereby,” or words of like import referring to the Original Agreement shall mean and be a reference to this Agreement; and

 

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(b)      to “the Revolving Credit Note,” “thereunder,” “thereof,” “therein” or words of like import referring to the Revolving Credit Note shall mean and be a reference to the Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Note executed and delivered by the Borrowers pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Effective on the Closing Date, following the refinancing of the Worthington Loans with proceeds of Revolving Credit Loans, all commitments on the part of the Lender to extend credit to the Worthington Entities pursuant to the Worthington Loan Agreement shall automatically terminate.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

Air T, Inc. , a Delaware corporation

   
 

By:                                                       

Name: Brett Reynolds

Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

 

Minnesota Bank & Trust , a Minnesota state

banking corporation

   
 

By                                                

Name: Eric P. Gundersen

Title: Senior Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Amended and Restated Credit Agreement Signature Page]

 

 

 

 

EXHIBITS TO CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

 

 

 

EXHIBITS

 

EXHIBIT A

FORM OF REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE

   

EXHIBIT B

CONSIGNED INVENTORY ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

   

EXHIBIT C

FORM OF BORROWING BASE CERTIFICATE

   

EXHIBIT D

FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

 

SCHEDULES

 

SCHEDULE A

LOAN PARTIES ON THE CLOSING DATE

   

SCHEDULE 5.06

LITIGATION

   

SCHEDULE 5.08

REAL PROPERTY

   

SCHEDULE 5.10

INSURANCE

   

SCHEDULE 5.11

MATERIAL CONTRACTS

   

SCHEDULE 5.12

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

   

SCHEDULE 5.17

SUBSIDIARIES; EQUITY INTERESTS

   

SCHEDULE 7.01

EXISTING DEBT

   

SCHEDULE 7.02

EXISTING LIENS

   

SCHEDULE 7.03

Prohibited Lines of Business

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT A

FORM OF REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE

 

[see attached]

 

 

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE

 

 

U.S. $17,000,000.00 Dated as of March 28, 2019
  Minnetonka, Minnesota

 

 

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, on the Revolving Credit Termination Date (as defined in the Credit Agreement hereinafter defined) the undersigned, AIR T, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “ Borrower ”), promises to pay to the order of Minnesota Bank & Trust, a Minnesota state banking corporation (the “ Lender ”), the principal sum of SEVENTEEN MILLION AND NO/100THS DOLLARS (U.S. $17,000,000.00) or, if less, the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans (as hereinafter defined) made by the Lender to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement.

 

Interest. The Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount hereof from the date hereof until such principal amount is paid in full at a fluctuating annual rate of interest equal to the greater of (a) 4.00% or (b) the sum of (i) the Prime Rate (hereinafter defined), as in effect on the date hereof and as the same may adjust from time to time, minus (ii) 1.00%. Interest accrued during each calendar month shall be due and payable on the first day of the following calendar month, with the first such interest payment due on April 1, 2019. Interest shall also be payable at maturity and interest accrued after maturity shall be payable on demand. The term “Prime Rate” shall mean the prime rate published in the money rates section of the Wall Street Journal, floating, and changing with each change of such published rate, or if the Wall Street Journal ceases to publish such rate, as published in the Federal Reserve Board’s Statistical Release H. 15. If the Prime Rate becomes unavailable during the term of this loan, Lender may designate a substitute index after notifying Borrower. Lender will tell Borrower the current Index rate upon Borrower’s request. Borrower understands that Lender may make loans based on other rates as well. Interest on the unpaid principal balance of this Note will be calculated as described in the “INTEREST CALCULATION METHOD” paragraph. NOTICE: under no circumstances will the interest rate on this Note be more than the maximum rate allowed by applicable law.

 

Payments . Both principal and interest are payable in lawful money of the United States of America to the Lender at 9800 Bren Road East, Suite 200, Minnetonka, MN 55343 (or other location specified by the Lender) in immediately available funds. By its execution of this Note, the Borrower authorizes the Lender to charge from time to time against any of Borrower’s depository accounts maintained with the Lender any such payments when due and the Lender will use its reasonable efforts to notify the Borrower of such charges.

 

Interest Calculation Method . Interest on this Note shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed in any portion of a month in which interest is due. If any payment to be made by the Borrower hereunder shall become due on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day.

 

 

 

 

Prepayment; Minimum Interest Charge . In any event, even upon full prepayment of this Note, Borrower understands that Lender is entitled to a minimum interest charge of $10.00. Other than Borrower’s obligations to pay any minimum interest charge, Borrower may pay without penalty all or a portion of the amount earlier than it is due. Early payments will not, unless agreed to by Lender in writing, relieve Borrower of Borrower’s obligation to continue to make payments of accrued unpaid interest. Rather, early payment will reduce the principal balance due. Borrower agrees not to send Lender payments marked “paid in full”, “without recourse”, or similar language. If Borrower sends such a payment, Lender may accept it without losing any of Lender’s rights under this Note, and Borrower will remain obligated to pay any further amount owed to Lender. All written communications concerning disputed amounts, including any check or other payment instrument that indicates that the payment constitutes “payment in full” of the amount owed or that is tendered with other conditions or limitations or as full satisfaction of a disputed amount must be mailed or delivered to: Minnesota Bank & Trust, 9800 Bren Road East, Suite 200, Minnetonka, MN 55343.

 

Late Charge . If a payment due hereunder is not made within seven days after the date when due, Borrower shall pay to Lender a late payment charge of 5% of the amount of the overdue payment to compensate Lender for a portion of the cost related to handling the overdue payment.

 

Interest After Default . Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, including failure to pay upon final maturity, the interest rate on this Note shall be increased by adding an additional 3.000 percentage point margin (“ Default Rate Margin ”). The Default Rate Margin shall also apply to each succeeding interest rate change that would have applied had there been no default. However, in no event will the interest rate exceed the maximum interest rate limitations under applicable law.

 

Credit Agreement . This Note is the Revolving Credit Note referred to in, and is entitled to the benefits of, the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of March 28, 2019 (as amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time being the “ Credit Agreement ”; capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein being used herein as therein defined) between the Borrower and the Lender. The Credit Agreement, among other things, (i) provides for the making of Revolving Credit Loans (the “ Revolving Credit Loans ”) by the Lender to the Borrower from time to time in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the dollar amount first above mentioned, the indebtedness of the Borrower resulting from each such Revolving Credit Loan being evidenced by this Note; (ii) contains provisions for acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the happening of certain stated events prior to the maturity hereof upon the terms and conditions therein specified; and (iii) contains provisions for the mandatory prepayment hereof upon certain conditions.

 

 

 

 

Security Agreement . This Note is secured by, among other things, that certain Amended and Restated Security Agreement dated as of March 28, 2019, executed by the Borrower and certain of its Subsidiaries in favor of the Lender.

 

Waiver of Presentment and Demand for Payment; Etc. Borrower and any endorsers or guarantors hereof severally waive presentment and demand for payment, notice of intent to accelerate maturity, protest or notice of protest and non-payment, bringing of suit and diligence in taking any action to collect any sums owing hereunder or in proceeding against any of the rights and properties securing payment hereunder, and expressly agree that this Note, or any payment hereunder, may be extended from time to time, and consent to the acceptance of further security or the release of any security for this Note, all without in any way affecting the liability of Borrower and any endorsers or guarantors hereof. No extension of time for the payment of this Note, or any installment thereof, made by agreement by Lender with any Person now or hereafter liable for the payment of this Note, shall affect the original liability under this Note of the undersigned, even if the undersigned is not a party to such agreement.

 

Event of Default. Any “Event of Default” (as defined in the Credit Agreement) shall constitute an Event of Default under this Note. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, in addition to any other rights or remedies Lender may have at law or in equity or under the Credit Agreement or under any other Loan Document, Lender may, at its option, without notice to Borrower, declare immediately due and payable the entire unpaid principal sum hereof, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon plus any other sums owing at the time of such Event of Default pursuant to this Note, the Security Agreement or any other Loan Document. The failure to exercise the foregoing or any other options shall not constitute a waiver of the right to exercise the same or any other option at any subsequent time in respect of the same event or any other event. The acceptance by the holder of any payment hereunder which is less than payment in full of all amounts due and payable at the time of such payment shall not constitute a waiver of the right to exercise any of the foregoing options at that time or at any subsequent time.

 

Expense Reimbursement. Borrower agrees to pay all expenses for the preparation of this Note, as set forth in the Credit Agreement, including exhibits, and any amendments to this Note as may from time to time hereafter be required, and the reasonable attorneys’ fees and legal expenses of counsel for Lender from time to time incurred in connection with the preparation and execution of this Note and any document relevant to this Note, any amendments hereto or thereto, and the consideration of legal questions relevant hereto and thereto. Borrower agrees to reimburse Lender upon demand for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including attorneys’ fees and legal expenses) in connection with Lender’s enforcement of the obligations of the Borrower hereunder or under the Security Agreement or any other collateral document, whether or not suit is commenced including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and legal expenses in connection with any appeal of a lower court’s order or judgment. The obligations of the Borrower under this paragraph shall survive any termination of the Credit Agreement, this Note, the Security Agreement, and any other Loan Document.

 

 

 

 

Successors and Assigns . This Note shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns except that Borrower may not assign or transfer its rights hereunder without the prior written consent of Lender, which consent may be withheld in Lender’s sole discretion. In connection with the actual or prospective sale by the Lender of any interest or participation in the loan obligation evidenced by this Note, Borrower hereby authorizes the Lender to furnish any information concerning the Borrower or any of its affiliates, however acquired, to any Person or entity.

 

Usury . Borrower and Lender agree that no payment of interest or other consideration made or agreed to be made by Borrower to Lender pursuant to this Note shall, at any time, be in excess of the maximum rate of interest permissible by law. In the event such payments of interest or other consideration provided for in this Note shall result in an effective rate of interest which, for any period of time, is in excess of the limit of the usury or any other law applicable to the loan evidenced hereby, all sums in excess of those lawfully collectible as interest for the period in question shall, without further agreement or notice between or by any party hereto, be applied to the unpaid principal balance and not to the payment of interest; if a surplus remains after full payment of principal and lawful interest, the surplus shall be remitted by Lender to Borrower, and Borrower hereby agrees to accept such remittance. This provision shall control every other obligation of the Borrower and Lender relating to this Note.

 

Business Purpose Loan . The Loan is a business loan. Borrower hereby represents that this loan is for commercial use and not for personal, family or household purposes. The Borrower agrees that the Loan evidenced by this Note is an exempted transaction under the Truth In Lending Act, 15 U.S.C., §1601, et seq.

 

Governing Law . THE VALIDITY, CONSTRUCTION AND ENFORCEABILITY OF THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.

 

WAIVER OF DEFENSES . OTHER THAN CLAIMS BASED UPON THE FAILURE OF THE LENDER TO ACT IN A COMMERCIALLY REASONABLE MANNER, THE BORROWER WAIVES EVERY PRESENT AND FUTURE DEFENSE (OTHER THAN THE DEFENSE OF PAYMENT IN FULL), CAUSE OF ACTION, COUNTERCLAIM OR SETOFF WHICH THE BORROWER MAY NOW HAVE OR HEREAFTER MAY HAVE TO ANY ACTION BY THE LENDER IN ENFORCING THIS NOTE OR ANY OF THE LOAN DOCUMENTS. THIS PROVISION IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR THE LENDER GRANTING ANY FINANCIAL ACCOMMODATION TO THE BORROWER.

 

Waiver of Right to Jury Trial; Venue . BORROWER WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION RELATING TO OR ARISING FROM THIS NOTE. AT THE OPTION OF LENDER, THIS NOTE MAY BE ENFORCED IN ANY UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA OR THE STATE COURT SITTING IN HENNEPIN OR RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA. BORROWER CONSENTS TO THE JURISDICTION AND VENUE OF ANY SUCH COURT AND WAIVES ANY ARGUMENT THAT VENUE IN SUCH FORUMS IS NOT PROPER OR CONVENIENT. IN THE EVENT AN ACTION IS COMMENCED IN ANOTHER JURISDICTION OR VENUE UNDER ANY TORT OR CONTRACT THEORY ARISING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY FROM THE RELATIONSHIP CREATED BY THIS NOTE, LENDER, AT ITS OPTION, SHALL BE ENTITLED TO HAVE THE CASE TRANSFERRED TO ONE OF THE JURISDICTIONS AND VENUES ABOVE DESCRIBED, OR IF SUCH TRANSFER CANNOT BE ACCOMPLISHED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, TO HAVE SUCH CASE DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.

 

 

 

 

Amendment and Restatement . This Note is being executed and delivered in restatement of, but not in payment of, that certain Revolving Credit Note dated November 12, 2018, made by the Borrower payable to the order of the Lender in the original principal amount of $13,000,000.00; provided, however, that interest accrued on such replaced note through the date hereof shall be due and payable on April 1, 2019.

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower has caused this Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Note to be signed by its duly authorized officer in favor of Minnesota Bank & Trust and to be dated as of the date set forth above.

 

 

 

AIR T, INC., a Delaware corporation  

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:  

Brett Reynolds  

 

 

Its:  

Chief Financial Officer  

 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT B

CONSIGNED INVENTORY ELIGIBILITY

REQUIREMENTS

 

 

 

 

 

1.

The consigning Loan Party must have provided Lender with recent UCC lien searches from the State in which a consignee (“Consignee”) is organized, showing that such Loan Party has filed UCC1 financing statements naming such Loan Party as secured party and such Consignee as Debtor covering such consigned Inventory and disclosing any UCC filings in favor of such Consignee’s secured creditors in such jurisdictions.

 

2.

Such Loan Party must have provided Lender with copies of authenticated notifications sent by such Loan Party with respect to its delivery of the consigned Inventory to such Consignee’s secured creditors. Such notifications must have been sent on or before the date of delivery by such Loan Party of such consigned Inventory to such Consignee.

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

FORM OF BORROWING BASE CERTIFICATE

 

[see attached]

 

 

 

 

Borrowing Base Certificate

 

Minnesota Bank & Trust

9800 Bren Road East, Suite 200

Minnetonka, MN 55343

Attention: Mr. Eric P. Gundersen, SVP

 

Computed as of: _______________________       Report Number:                                    

          

 

The undersigned is the Borrower under that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of March __, 2019 (such Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, as amended to date and as it may be further amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time being the “ Credit Agreement ”; capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein being used as therein defined) between AIR T, INC. (the “ Borrower ”) and MINNESOTA BANK & TRUST (the “ Lender ”).

 

The Borrower hereby reaffirms all representations and warranties to the Credit Agreement and certifies and warrants that the Borrower and the other Loan Parties hold, subject to the security interest of the Lender under the Agreement, and the other Loan Documents, the following Collateral computed on a consolidated basis as of _____________ __, 201_.

 

A.      ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

1.    Accounts Receivable Balance as of period ending above

 

$                                  

2.    Less: Ineligible Accounts

   

a.  Receivables over 120 days past invoice date

$                                  

 

b.  10% redline rule

$                                  

 

c.  Insolvent

$                                  

 

d.  Foreign

$                                  

 

e.  Affiliated

$                                  

 

f.  Contras

$                                  

 

g.  U.S. Government

$                                  

 

h.  Bonded

$                                  

 

i.   State, county, municipality

$                                  

 

j.   Customer deposits

$                                  

 

k.  Excess of concentration limit for account debtor

$                                  

 

l.   Other miscellaneous

$                                  

 

3.    TOTAL Ineligibles

 

($                               )

4.    Total Eligible Accounts (Line A.1 – Line A.3)

 

$                                  

5.    Eligible Accounts Loan Value at 75% of Line A.4.

 

$                                  

 

 

 

 

  B. INVENTORY Report dated                                                                           (see attached)

 

1.    Raw Materials and Finished Goods Inventory

 

$                                  

2.    Less:

   

a.  Discontinued

$                                                  

 

b.  Stored at a location w/out appropriate landlord/bailee/warehouseman’s waiver

$                                  

 

c.  Consigned to a Loan Party

   

d.  Inventory consigned by a Loan Party that does not comply with all Consigned Inventory Requirements

$                                  

 

3.    Total Ineligibles

 

$                                  

4.    Total Eligible Inventory

(Line B.1-Line B.3)

 

 

$                                  

5.    Eligible Inventory Loan Value @ 50% of Line B.4 1

 

$                                  

     

C.           Borrowing Base:  

1.   (Line A.4 + Line B.5)

 

 

$                                  

     

D.            Availability/Amount to be Repaid :

   

1.    Total Usage (Outstanding principal balance of Revolving Loans + Letter of Credit Obligations)

$                                  

 

2.    Revolving Credit Commitment ($13,000,000 – outstanding principal balance of Term Loan C)

$                                  

 

3.    Borrowing Base (Line C.1.)

   

4A.   Availability (Amount by which the lesser of [Line D.1 and Line D.3] exceeds Line D.1)

 

$                                  

4B.  Amount to be repaid (Amount by which Line D.1 exceeds the lesser of [Line D.1 and Line D.3] exceeds Line D.1)

 

$                                  

 


Not to exceed sixty percent (60%) of the total Borrowing Base

 

 

 

 

The Borrower further certifies and warrants that no Event of Default is existing as of the date hereof and, to the best knowledge and belief of the officer of the Borrower executing this Borrowing Base Certificate, there has not been (except as may otherwise indicated below) any change to the information set forth above since the computation date specified above which would materially reduce the amounts shown if such amounts were computed as of the date of this Borrowing Base Certificate and all of the information provided on: (a) the Inventory report attached as Schedule A to this Borrowing Base Certificate and (b) the Other Investments report attached as Schedule B to this Borrower Base Certificate, is true and correct as of the date hereof.

 

 

AIR T, INC.

 

By                                                           Title:                                                          Date:                                                          

      

 

 

 

EXHIBIT D

 

FORM OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

[see attached]

 

 

 

 

COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

 

Minnesota Bank & Trust          

9800 Bren Road East, Suite 200

Minnetonka, MN 55343

 

Attention: Mr. Eric P. Gundersen, sVP

 

The undersigned is the Borrower under that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of March __, 2019 (as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, herein called the “Agreement;” capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein being used as therein defined) between AIR T, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Borrower ”), and MINNESOTA BANK & TRUST (the “ Lender ”).

 

Pursuant to Section 6.02(b) of the Agreement, the undersigned certifies to the Lender as follows:

 

The consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries attached hereto for the period ending ______________, 201__ (the “ Financial Statements ”) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP (except, in the case of the interim unaudited financial statements, for the absence of footnotes and subject to customary year end adjustments).

 

1.  The representations and warranties contained in Article V of the Credit Agreement are true and correct as of the date hereof as though made on that date except to the extent that such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date and except that the representations and warranties set forth in Section 5.04 of the Credit Agreement to the financial statements of the Borrower shall be deemed a reference to the audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, then most recently delivered to the Lender pursuant to Section 6.01(a) or (b) of the Credit Agreement, as the case may be.

 

2.  As of _________, 201__, (the “ Measurement Date ”) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing [except ( describe here any Default or Event of Default and the action which the undersigned proposes to take with respect thereto. )].

 

 

 

 

 

3.   Section 7.13(a) . As of the Measurement Date, the minimum required Debt Service Coverage Ratio for the Measurement Period ending on the Measurement Date was 1.25 to 1.00 and the actual Debt Service Coverage Ratio was ___ to 1.00, as calculated in accordance with the Credit Agreement as set forth on the spreadsheet attached hereto as Schedule I and incorporated herein by reference.

 

4.   Section 7.13(b) . As of the Measurement Date, the minimum permitted Asset Coverage Ratio was 1.50 to 1.00 and the Borrower’s actual Leverage Ratio was ___ to 1.00, as calculated in accordance with the Credit Agreement as set forth on the spreadsheet attached hereto as Schedule I and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

AIR T, Inc.

 

By                                                           Title:                                                          Date:                                                          

 

 

 

 

Schedule I to Compliance Certificate

 

Covenant Calculations

 

[see attached]

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE A

LOAN PARTIES ON THE CLOSING DATE

 

 

Loan Party Name

State of Incorporation/Organization

   

Airco, LLC

North Carolina

Air T, Inc.

Delaware

Air T Global Leasing, LLC

North Carolina

Airco Services, LLC

North Carolina

CSA Air, Inc.

North Carolina

Global Aviation Partners LLC

Delaware

Global Aviation Services, LLC

North Carolina

Global Ground Support, LLC

North Carolina

Jet Yard, LLC

Arizona

Mountain Air Cargo, Inc.

North Carolina

Stratus Aero Partners LLC

Delaware

Space Age Insurance Company

Utah

Worthington Acquisition, LLC

North Carolina

Worthington Aviation, LLC

North Carolina

Worthington MRO, LLC

North Carolina

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 5.06

LITIGATION

 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 5.08

REAL PROPERTY

 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 5.10

INSURANCE

 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 5.11

MATERIAL CONTRACTS

 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 5.12

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 5.17

SUBSIDIARIES; EQUITY INTERESTS

 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 7.01

EXISTING DEBT

 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 7.02

EXISTING LIENS

 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 7.03

 

Prohibited Lines of Business

 

 

1.

Adult entertainment

2.

Drug-related paraphernalia or any establishments selling drug-related paraphernalia

3.

Gambling

4.

Pawn shops

5.

Liquor Stores, bars, nightclubs, microbreweries, or any other use where the primary source of revenue is alcohol sales

6.

“Second hand” stores whose principal business is selling used merchandise, thrift shops, salvation army type stores, “goodwill” type stores, and similar businesses;

7.

Any pool hall, bingo parlor, amusement park, arcade or gambling establishment;

8.

Tattoo or/and piercing stores, except as ear piercing may be an ancillary service offered at a salon;

9.

Tobacco and alcoholic beverages, including the manufacture or distribution or any establishments where such items are sold

10.

Deep discount retail or grocery stores

11.

Car sales or car lots

12.

Marinas, new or used boat dealers

13.

Payday lending

14.

Manufactured/Mobile home and Recreational Vehicle dealers

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE

 

 

U.S. $17,000,000.00   Dated as of March 28, 2019
  Minnetonka, Minnesota

 

 

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, on the Revolving Credit Termination Date (as defined in the Credit Agreement hereinafter defined) the undersigned, AIR T, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “ Borrower ”), promises to pay to the order of Minnesota Bank & Trust, a Minnesota state banking corporation (the “ Lender ”), the principal sum of SEVENTEEN MILLION AND NO/100THS DOLLARS (U.S. $17,000,000.00) or, if less, the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Revolving Credit Loans (as hereinafter defined) made by the Lender to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement.

 

Interest. The Borrower promises to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount hereof from the date hereof until such principal amount is paid in full at a fluctuating annual rate of interest equal to the greater of (a) 4.00% or (b) the sum of (i) the Prime Rate (hereinafter defined), as in effect on the date hereof and as the same may adjust from time to time, minus (ii) 1.00%. Interest accrued during each calendar month shall be due and payable on the first day of the following calendar month, with the first such interest payment due on April 1, 2019. Interest shall also be payable at maturity and interest accrued after maturity shall be payable on demand. The term “Prime Rate” shall mean the prime rate published in the money rates section of the Wall Street Journal, floating, and changing with each change of such published rate, or if the Wall Street Journal ceases to publish such rate, as published in the Federal Reserve Board’s Statistical Release H. 15. If the Prime Rate becomes unavailable during the term of this loan, Lender may designate a substitute index after notifying Borrower. Lender will tell Borrower the current Index rate upon Borrower’s request. Borrower understands that Lender may make loans based on other rates as well. Interest on the unpaid principal balance of this Note will be calculated as described in the “INTEREST CALCULATION METHOD” paragraph. NOTICE: under no circumstances will the interest rate on this Note be more than the maximum rate allowed by applicable law.

 

Payments . Both principal and interest are payable in lawful money of the United States of America to the Lender at 9800 Bren Road East, Suite 200, Minnetonka, MN 55343 (or other location specified by the Lender) in immediately available funds. By its execution of this Note, the Borrower authorizes the Lender to charge from time to time against any of Borrower’s depository accounts maintained with the Lender any such payments when due and the Lender will use its reasonable efforts to notify the Borrower of such charges.

 

Interest Calculation Method . Interest on this Note shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed in any portion of a month in which interest is due. If any payment to be made by the Borrower hereunder shall become due on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day.

 

 

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE

 Page 2

 

 

U.S. $17,000,000.00   March 28, 2019

 

 

 

 

Prepayment; Minimum Interest Charge . In any event, even upon full prepayment of this Note, Borrower understands that Lender is entitled to a minimum interest charge of $10.00. Other than Borrower’s obligations to pay any minimum interest charge, Borrower may pay without penalty all or a portion of the amount earlier than it is due. Early payments will not, unless agreed to by Lender in writing, relieve Borrower of Borrower’s obligation to continue to make payments of accrued unpaid interest. Rather, early payment will reduce the principal balance due. Borrower agrees not to send Lender payments marked “paid in full”, “without recourse”, or similar language. If Borrower sends such a payment, Lender may accept it without losing any of Lender’s rights under this Note, and Borrower will remain obligated to pay any further amount owed to Lender. All written communications concerning disputed amounts, including any check or other payment instrument that indicates that the payment constitutes “payment in full” of the amount owed or that is tendered with other conditions or limitations or as full satisfaction of a disputed amount must be mailed or delivered to: Minnesota Bank & Trust, 9800 Bren Road East, Suite 200, Minnetonka, MN 55343.

 

Late Charge . If a payment due hereunder is not made within seven days after the date when due, Borrower shall pay to Lender a late payment charge of 5% of the amount of the overdue payment to compensate Lender for a portion of the cost related to handling the overdue payment.

 

Interest After Default . Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, including failure to pay upon final maturity, the interest rate on this Note shall be increased by adding an additional 3.000 percentage point margin (“ Default Rate Margin ”). The Default Rate Margin shall also apply to each succeeding interest rate change that would have applied had there been no default. However, in no event will the interest rate exceed the maximum interest rate limitations under applicable law.

 

Credit Agreement . This Note is the Revolving Credit Note referred to in, and is entitled to the benefits of, the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of March 28, 2019 (as amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time being the “ Credit Agreement ”; capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein being used herein as therein defined) between the Borrower and the Lender. The Credit Agreement, among other things, (i) provides for the making of Revolving Credit Loans (the “ Revolving Credit Loans ”) by the Lender to the Borrower from time to time in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the dollar amount first above mentioned, the indebtedness of the Borrower resulting from each such Revolving Credit Loan being evidenced by this Note; (ii) contains provisions for acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the happening of certain stated events prior to the maturity hereof upon the terms and conditions therein specified; and (iii) contains provisions for the mandatory prepayment hereof upon certain conditions.

 

 

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE

 Page 3

 

 

U.S. $17,000,000.00   March 28, 2019

 

 

 

 

Security Agreement . This Note is secured by, among other things, that certain Amended and Restated Security Agreement dated as of March 28, 2019, executed by the Borrower and certain of its Subsidiaries in favor of the Lender.

 

Waiver of Presentment and Demand for Payment; Etc. Borrower and any endorsers or guarantors hereof severally waive presentment and demand for payment, notice of intent to accelerate maturity, protest or notice of protest and non-payment, bringing of suit and diligence in taking any action to collect any sums owing hereunder or in proceeding against any of the rights and properties securing payment hereunder, and expressly agree that this Note, or any payment hereunder, may be extended from time to time, and consent to the acceptance of further security or the release of any security for this Note, all without in any way affecting the liability of Borrower and any endorsers or guarantors hereof. No extension of time for the payment of this Note, or any installment thereof, made by agreement by Lender with any Person now or hereafter liable for the payment of this Note, shall affect the original liability under this Note of the undersigned, even if the undersigned is not a party to such agreement.

 

Event of Default. Any “Event of Default” (as defined in the Credit Agreement) shall constitute an Event of Default under this Note. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, in addition to any other rights or remedies Lender may have at law or in equity or under the Credit Agreement or under any other Loan Document, Lender may, at its option, without notice to Borrower, declare immediately due and payable the entire unpaid principal sum hereof, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon plus any other sums owing at the time of such Event of Default pursuant to this Note, the Security Agreement or any other Loan Document. The failure to exercise the foregoing or any other options shall not constitute a waiver of the right to exercise the same or any other option at any subsequent time in respect of the same event or any other event. The acceptance by the holder of any payment hereunder which is less than payment in full of all amounts due and payable at the time of such payment shall not constitute a waiver of the right to exercise any of the foregoing options at that time or at any subsequent time.

 

 

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE

 Page 4

 

 

U.S. $17,000,000.00   March 28, 2019

 

 

 

 

Expense Reimbursement. Borrower agrees to pay all expenses for the preparation of this Note, as set forth in the Credit Agreement, including exhibits, and any amendments to this Note as may from time to time hereafter be required, and the reasonable attorneys’ fees and legal expenses of counsel for Lender from time to time incurred in connection with the preparation and execution of this Note and any document relevant to this Note, any amendments hereto or thereto, and the consideration of legal questions relevant hereto and thereto. Borrower agrees to reimburse Lender upon demand for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including attorneys’ fees and legal expenses) in connection with Lender’s enforcement of the obligations of the Borrower hereunder or under the Security Agreement or any other collateral document, whether or not suit is commenced including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and legal expenses in connection with any appeal of a lower court’s order or judgment. The obligations of the Borrower under this paragraph shall survive any termination of the Credit Agreement, this Note, the Security Agreement, and any other Loan Document.

 

Successors and Assigns . This Note shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns except that Borrower may not assign or transfer its rights hereunder without the prior written consent of Lender, which consent may be withheld in Lender’s sole discretion. In connection with the actual or prospective sale by the Lender of any interest or participation in the loan obligation evidenced by this Note, Borrower hereby authorizes the Lender to furnish any information concerning the Borrower or any of its affiliates, however acquired, to any Person or entity.

 

Usury . Borrower and Lender agree that no payment of interest or other consideration made or agreed to be made by Borrower to Lender pursuant to this Note shall, at any time, be in excess of the maximum rate of interest permissible by law. In the event such payments of interest or other consideration provided for in this Note shall result in an effective rate of interest which, for any period of time, is in excess of the limit of the usury or any other law applicable to the loan evidenced hereby, all sums in excess of those lawfully collectible as interest for the period in question shall, without further agreement or notice between or by any party hereto, be applied to the unpaid principal balance and not to the payment of interest; if a surplus remains after full payment of principal and lawful interest, the surplus shall be remitted by Lender to Borrower, and Borrower hereby agrees to accept such remittance. This provision shall control every other obligation of the Borrower and Lender relating to this Note.

 

Business Purpose Loan . The Loan is a business loan. Borrower hereby represents that this loan is for commercial use and not for personal, family or household purposes. The Borrower agrees that the Loan evidenced by this Note is an exempted transaction under the Truth In Lending Act, 15 U.S.C., §1601, et seq.

 

 

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE

 Page 5

 

 

U.S. $17,000,000.00   March 28, 2019

 

 

 

 

Governing Law . THE VALIDITY, CONSTRUCTION AND ENFORCEABILITY OF THIS NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.

 

WAIVER OF DEFENSES . OTHER THAN CLAIMS BASED UPON THE FAILURE OF THE LENDER TO ACT IN A COMMERCIALLY REASONABLE MANNER, THE BORROWER WAIVES EVERY PRESENT AND FUTURE DEFENSE (OTHER THAN THE DEFENSE OF PAYMENT IN FULL), CAUSE OF ACTION, COUNTERCLAIM OR SETOFF WHICH THE BORROWER MAY NOW HAVE OR HEREAFTER MAY HAVE TO ANY ACTION BY THE LENDER IN ENFORCING THIS NOTE OR ANY OF THE LOAN DOCUMENTS. THIS PROVISION IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR THE LENDER GRANTING ANY FINANCIAL ACCOMMODATION TO THE BORROWER.

 

Waiver of Right to Jury Trial; Venue . BORROWER WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION RELATING TO OR ARISING FROM THIS NOTE. AT THE OPTION OF LENDER, THIS NOTE MAY BE ENFORCED IN ANY UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA OR THE STATE COURT SITTING IN HENNEPIN OR RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA. BORROWER CONSENTS TO THE JURISDICTION AND VENUE OF ANY SUCH COURT AND WAIVES ANY ARGUMENT THAT VENUE IN SUCH FORUMS IS NOT PROPER OR CONVENIENT. IN THE EVENT AN ACTION IS COMMENCED IN ANOTHER JURISDICTION OR VENUE UNDER ANY TORT OR CONTRACT THEORY ARISING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY FROM THE RELATIONSHIP CREATED BY THIS NOTE, LENDER, AT ITS OPTION, SHALL BE ENTITLED TO HAVE THE CASE TRANSFERRED TO ONE OF THE JURISDICTIONS AND VENUES ABOVE DESCRIBED, OR IF SUCH TRANSFER CANNOT BE ACCOMPLISHED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, TO HAVE SUCH CASE DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.

 

Amendment and Restatement . This Note is being executed and delivered in restatement of, but not in payment of, that certain Revolving Credit Note dated November 12, 2018, made by the Borrower payable to the order of the Lender in the original principal amount of $13,000,000.00; provided, however, that interest accrued on such replaced note through the date hereof shall be due and payable on April 1, 2019.

 

 

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE

 Page 6

 

 

U.S. $17,000,000.00    

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower has caused this Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Note to be signed by its duly authorized officer in favor of Minnesota Bank & Trust and to be dated as of the date set forth above.

 

 

 

AIR T, INC., a Delaware corporation  

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:  

Brett Reynolds  

 

 

Its:  

 Chief Financial Officer  

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.3

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED SECURITY AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of March 28, 2019, is entered into by and among AIR T, INC., a Delaware corporation (together with its successors and assigns, the “ Borrower ”), and the guarantors listed on the signature pages hereto (the " Original Guarantors ") or from time to time party hereto by execution of a joinder agreement (the " Additional Guarantors ", and together with the Original Guarantors, the " Guarantors "), as grantors, pledgors, assignors and debtors (the Borrower, together with the Guarantors, in such capacities and together with any successors in such capacities, the " Grantors ", and each, a " Grantor "), in favor of MINNESOTA BANK & TRUST, a Minnesota state banking corporation (together with its successors and assigns, the “ Secured Party ”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower and the Lender are parties to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of December 21, 2017 (such Credit Agreement, as amended to date being, the “Original Credit Agreement”), pursuant to which the Lender has extended credit to the Borrower.

 

WHEREAS, as a condition precedent to the effectiveness of the Original Credit Agreement, the Borrower and certain Subsidiaries of the Borrower (the “ Existing Guarantors ”) executed and delivered to Lender that certain Security Agreement dated as of December 21, 2017 (the “ Existing Security Agreement ”), pursuant to which the Borrower and the the Existing Guarantors granted a first priority security interest in their assets to the Secured Party as collateral for all obligations of the Borrower to the Secured Party.

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower and the Secured Party have entered into that certain Amended and Restated Credit dated as of even date herewith, amending and restating the Original Credit Agreement in its entirety (such Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, as it may be amended, modified, supplemented, replaced or restated from time to time being, the “ Credit Agreement ”; capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein being used herein as therein defined.

 

WHEREAS, as a condition to the effectiveness of the Credit Agreement, Lender requires that the Existing Security Agreement be amended and restated in its entirety by this Agreement.

 

WHEREAS, Borrower and each of the Guarantors has determined that the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement are in its best business and pecuniary interest.

 

 

 

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of these premises and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree to amend and restate the Existing Security Agreement in its entirety to read as follows::

 

1.      Definitions .

 

(a)     Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Credit Agreement. With reference to this Agreement, unless otherwise specified herein: (i) the definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined, (ii) whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms, (iii) the words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”, (iv) the word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall”, (v) 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), (vi) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s permitted successors and assigns, (vii) 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, (viii) all references herein to Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement, (ix) 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, (x) the term “documents” includes any and all instruments, documents, agreements, certificates, notices, reports, financial statements and other writings, however evidenced, whether in physical or electronic form, (xi) in the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including;” the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding;” and the word “through” means “to and including”, (xii) Section headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement and (xiii) where the context requires, terms relating to the Collateral or any part thereof, when used in relation to a Grantor, shall refer to such Grantor’s Collateral or the relevant part thereof.

 

(b)     The following terms shall have the meanings set forth in the UCC (defined below) : Accession, Account, Account Debtor, Adverse Claim, As-Extracted Collateral, Certificated Security, Chattel Paper, Commercial Tort Claim, Consumer Goods, Deposit Account, Document, Electronic Chattel Paper, Equipment, Farm Products, Financial Asset, Fixtures, General Intangible, Goods, Instrument, Inventory, Investment Company Security, Investment Property, Letter-of-Credit Right, Manufactured Home, Payment Intangible, Proceeds, Securities Account, Securities Intermediary, Security, Software, Supporting Obligation and Tangible Chattel Paper.

 

(c)      In addition, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below :

 

Assignment of Claims Act ” means the Assignment of Claims Act of 1940 (41 U.S.C. Section 15, 31 U.S.C. Section 3737, and 31 U.S.C. Section 3727), including all amendments thereto and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Collateral ” has the meaning provided in Section 2 hereof.

 

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Control ” means the manner in which “control” is achieved under the UCC with respect to any Collateral for which the UCC specifies a method of achieving “control”.

 

Copyright License ” means any agreement now or hereafter in existence, providing for the grant by, or to, any rights (including, without limitation, the grant of rights for a party to be designated as an author or owner and/or to enforce, defend, use, display, copy, manufacture, distribute, exploit and sell, make derivative works, and require joinder in suit and/or receive assistance from another party) covered in whole or in part by a Copyright.

 

Copyrights ” means, collectively, all of the following of any Grantor: (i) all copyrights, works protectable by copyright, copyright registrations and copyright applications anywhere in the world, (ii) all derivative works, counterparts, extensions and renewals of any of the foregoing, (iii) all income, royalties, damages and payments now or hereafter due and/or payable under any of the foregoing or with respect to any of the foregoing, including, without limitation, damages or payments for past, present and future infringements, violations or misappropriations of any of the foregoing, (iv) the right to sue for past, present and future infringements, violations or misappropriations of any of the foregoing and (v) all rights corresponding to any of the foregoing throughout the world.

 

Government Contract ” means a contract between any Grantor and an agency, department or instrumentality of the United States or any state, municipal or local Governmental Authority located in the United States or all obligations of any such Governmental Authority arising under any Account now or hereafter owing by any such Governmental Authority, as Account Debtor, to any Grantor.

 

Intellectual Property ” means, collectively, all of the following of any Grantor: (i) all systems software and applications software (including source code and object code), all documentation for such software, including, without limitation, user manuals, flowcharts, functional specifications, operations manuals, and all formulas, processes, ideas and know-how embodied in any of the foregoing, (ii) concepts, discoveries, improvements and ideas, know-how, technology, reports, design information, trade secrets, practices, specifications, test procedures, maintenance manuals, research and development, inventions (whether or not patentable), blueprints, drawings, data, customer lists, catalogs, and all physical embodiments of any of the foregoing, (iii) Patents and Patent Licenses, Copyrights and Copyright Licenses, Trademarks and Trademark Licenses and (iv) other agreements with respect to any rights in any of the items described in the foregoing clauses (i), (ii), and (iii).

 

Issuer ” means the issuer of any Pledged Equity.

 

Patent License ” means any agreement, now or hereafter in existence, providing for the grant by, or to, any Grantor of any rights (including, without limitation, the right for a party to be designated as an owner and/or to enforce, defend, make, have made, make improvements, manufacture, use, sell, import, export, and require joinder in suit and/or receive assistance from another party) covered in whole or in part by a Patent.

 

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Patents ” means collectively, all of the following of any Grantor: (i) all patents, all inventions and patent applications anywhere in the world, (ii) all improvements, counterparts, reissues, divisional, re-examinations, extensions, continuations (in whole or in part) and renewals of any of the foregoing and improvements thereon, (iii) all income, royalties, damages or payments now or hereafter due and/or payable under any of the foregoing or with respect to any of the foregoing, including, without limitation, damages or payments for past, present or future infringements, violations or misappropriations of any of the foregoing, (iv) the right to sue for past, present and future infringements, violations or misappropriations of any of the foregoing and (v) all rights corresponding to any of the foregoing throughout the world.

 

Pledged Equity ” means, with respect to each Grantor, (i) 100% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of each Subsidiary of such Grantor that is directly owned by such Grantor, in each case together with the certificates (or other agreements or instruments), if any, representing such shares, and all options and other rights, contractual or otherwise, with respect thereto, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

(1)    all Equity Interests representing a dividend thereon, or representing a distribution or return of capital upon or in respect thereof, or resulting from a stock split, revision, reclassification or other exchange therefor, and any subscriptions, warrants, rights or options issued to the holder thereof, or otherwise in respect thereof; and

 

(2)     in the event of any consolidation or merger involving any Issuer and in which such Issuer is not the surviving Person, all shares of each class of the Equity Interests of the successor Person formed by or resulting from such consolidation or merger, to the extent that such successor Person is a direct Subsidiary of a Grantor.

 

Trademark License ” means any agreement, now or hereafter in existence, providing for the grant by, or to, any Grantor of any rights in (including, without limitation, the right for a party to be designated as an owner and/or to enforce, defend, use, mark, police, and require joinder in suit and/or receive assistance from another party) covered in whole, or in part, by a Trademark.

 

Trademarks ” means, collectively, all of the following of any Grantor: (i) all trademarks, trade names, corporate names, company names, business names, fictitious business names, internet domain names, trade styles, service marks, logos, other business identifiers, whether registered or unregistered, all registrations and recordings thereof, and all applications in connection therewith (other than each United States application to register any trademark or service mark prior to the filing under applicable law of a verified statement of use for such trademark or service mark) anywhere in the world, (ii) all counterparts, extensions and renewals of any of the foregoing, (iii) all income, royalties, damages and payments now or hereafter due and/or payable under any of the foregoing or with respect to any of the foregoing, including, without limitation, damages or payments for past, present or future infringements, violations, dilutions or misappropriations of any of the foregoing, (iv) the right to sue for past, present or future infringements, violations, dilutions or misappropriations of any of the foregoing and (v) all rights corresponding to any of the foregoing (including the goodwill) throughout the world.

 

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Vehicles ” means all cars, trucks, trailers, construction and earth moving equipment and other vehicles covered by a certificate of title under the laws of any state, all tires and all other appurtenances to any of the foregoing.

 

Vessel ” means any watercraft or other artificial contrivance used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation on water (including, without limitation, those whose primary purpose is the maritime transportation of cargo or which are otherwise engaged, used or useful in any business activities of the Grantors) which are owned by and registered (or to be owned and registered) in the name of any of the Grantors, including, without limitation, any Vessel leased or otherwise registered in the foregoing parties’ names, pursuant to a lease or other operating agreement constituting a capital lease obligation, in each case together with all related spares, equipment and any additional improvements, vessel owned, bareboat chartered or operated by a Grantor other than Vessels owned by an entity other than a Grantor and which are managed under Vessel management agreements.

 

UCC ” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the state of Minnesota except as such term may be used in connection with the perfection of the Collateral and then the applicable jurisdiction with respect to such affected Collateral shall apply.

 

USPTO ” means the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

 

Work ” means any work that is subject to copyright protection pursuant to Title 17 of the United States Code.

 

2.      Grant of Security Interest in the Collateral . To secure the prompt payment and performance in full when due, whether by lapse of time, acceleration, mandatory prepayment or otherwise, of the Obligations, each Grantor hereby grants to the Secured Party, a continuing security interest in, and a right to set off against, any and all right, title and interest of such Grantor in and to all of the following, whether now owned or existing or owned, acquired, or arising hereafter (collectively, the “ Collateral ”): (a) all Accounts; (b) all cash, currency and Cash Equivalents; (c) all Chattel Paper (including Electronic Chattel Paper and Tangible Chattel Paper); (d) those certain Commercial Tort Claims set forth on Schedule A (as updated from time to time); (e) all Deposit Accounts; (f) all Documents; (g) all Equipment; (h) all Fixtures; (i) all General Intangibles; (j) all Goods; (k) all Instruments; (l) all Intellectual Property; (m) all Inventory; (n) all Investment Property; (o) all Letter-of-Credit Rights; (p) all Payment Intangibles; (q) all Pledged Equity; (r) all Securities Accounts; (s) all Software; (t) all Supporting Obligations; (u) all Vehicles; (v) all books and records pertaining to the Collateral; (w) all Accessions and all Proceeds and products of any and all of the foregoing and (x) all other personal property of any kind or type whatsoever now or hereafter owned by such Grantor or as to which such Grantor now or hereafter has the power to transfer interest therein.

 

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The Grantors and the Secured Party hereby acknowledge and agree that the security interest created hereby in the Collateral (a) constitutes continuing collateral security for all of the Obligations, whether now existing or hereafter arising and (b) is not to be construed as an assignment of any Intellectual Property.

 

3.      Representations and Warranties . Each Grantor hereby represents and warrants to the Secured Party that:

 

(a)      Ownership . Each Grantor is the legal and beneficial owner of its Collateral and has the right to pledge, sell, assign or transfer the same. There exists no Adverse Claim with respect to the Pledged Equity of such Grantor.

 

(b)      Security Interest/Priority . This Agreement creates a valid security interest in favor of the Secured Party, in the Collateral of such Grantor and, when properly perfected by filing, shall constitute a valid and perfected, first priority security interest in such Collateral (including all uncertificated Pledged Equity consisting of partnership or limited liability company interests that do not constitute Securities), free and clear of all Liens except for Permitted Liens. No Grantor has authenticated any agreement authorizing any secured party thereunder to file a financing statement, except to perfect Permitted Liens. The taking possession by the Secured Party of the certificated securities (if any) evidencing the Pledged Equity and all other Instruments constituting Collateral will perfect and establish the first priority of the Secured Party’s security interest in all the Pledged Equity evidenced by such certificated securities and such Instruments. With respect to any Collateral consisting of a Deposit Account, Securities Intermediary or held in a Securities Account, upon execution and delivery by the applicable Grantor, the applicable Securities Intermediary and the Secured Party of an agreement granting control to the Secured Party over such Collateral, the Secured Party shall have a valid and perfected, first priority security interest in such Collateral.

 

(c)      Types of Collateral . None of the Collateral consists of, or is the Proceeds of, (i) As-Extracted Collateral, (ii) Consumer Goods, (iii) Farm Products, (iv) Manufactured Homes, (v) standing timber, (vi) an aircraft, airframe, aircraft engine or related property, (vii) an aircraft leasehold interest, (viii) a Vessel or (ix) any other interest in or to any of the foregoing.

 

(d)      Accounts . (i) Each Account of the Grantors and the papers and documents relating thereto are genuine and in all material respects what they purport to be, (ii) each Account arises out of (A) a bona fide sale of goods sold and delivered by such Grantor (or is in the process of being delivered) or (B) services theretofore actually rendered by such Grantor to, the account debtor named therein, (iii) no Account of a Grantor is evidenced by any Instrument or Chattel Paper unless such Instrument or Chattel Paper, to the extent requested by the Secured Party, has been endorsed over and delivered to, or submitted to the control of, the Secured Party, (iv) no surety bond was required or given in connection with any Account of a Grantor or the contracts or purchase orders out of which they arose, (v) the right to receive payment under each Account is assignable and (vi) no Account Debtor has any defense, set-off, claim or counterclaim against any Grantor that can be asserted against the Secured Party, whether in any proceeding to enforce the Secured Party’s rights in the Collateral otherwise, except defenses, setoffs, claims or counterclaims that are not, in the aggregate, material to the value of the Accounts.

 

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(e)     Equipment and Inventory . With respect to any Equipment and/or Inventory of a Grantor, each such Grantor has exclusive possession and control of such Equipment and Inventory of such Grantor except for (i) Equipment leased by such Grantor as a lessee, (ii) Equipment or Inventory in transit with common carriers or (iii) Equipment and/or Inventory in the possession or control of a warehouseman, bailee or any agent or processor of such Grantor to the extent such Grantor has complied with Section 4(e). No Inventory of a Grantor is held by a Person other than a Grantor pursuant to consignment, sale or return, sale on approval or similar arrangement. Collateral consisting of Inventory is of good and merchantable quality, free from defects. None of such Inventory is subject to any licensing, Patent, Trademark, trade name or Copyright with any Person that restricts any Grantor’s ability to use, manufacture, lease, sell or otherwise dispose of such Inventory. The completion of the manufacturing process of such Inventory by a Person other than the applicable Grantor would be permitted under any contract to which such Grantor is a party or to which the Inventory is subject.

 

(f)      Authorization of Pledged Equity . All Pledged Equity (i) is duly authorized and validly issued, (ii) is fully paid and, to the extent applicable, nonassessable and is not subject to the preemptive rights of any Person, (iii) is beneficially owned as of record by a Grantor and (iv) constitute all the issued and outstanding shares of all classes of the equity of such Issuer issued to such Grantor.

 

(g)     Partnership and Limited Liability Company Interests . Except as previously disclosed to the Secured Party, none of the Collateral consisting of an interest in a partnership or a limited liability company (i) is dealt in or traded on a securities exchange or in a securities market, (ii) by its terms expressly provides that it is a Security governed by Article 8 of the UCC, (iii) is an Investment Company Security, (iv) is held in a Securities Account or (v) constitutes a Security or a Financial Asset.

 

(h)      Contracts; Agreements; Licenses . No Grantor has any material contracts, agreements or licenses which are non-assignable by their terms, or as a matter of law, or which prevent the granting of a security interest therein.

 

(i)      Consents; Etc. No approval, consent, exemption, authorization or other action by, notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person (including, without limitation, any stockholder, member or creditor of such Grantor), is necessary or required for (i) the grant by such Grantor of the security interest in the Collateral granted hereby or for the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by such Grantor, (ii) the perfection of such security interest (to the extent such security interest can be perfected by filing under the UCC, the granting of control (to the extent required under Section 4(c) hereof) or by filing an appropriate notice with the USPTO or the United States Copyright Office) or (iii) the exercise by the Secured Party or the Secured Parties of the rights and remedies provided for in this Agreement (including, without limitation, as against any Issuer), except for (A) the filing or recording of UCC financing statements or other filings under the Assignment of Claims Act, (B) the filing of appropriate notices with the USPTO and the United States Copyright Office, (C) obtaining control to perfect the Liens created by this Agreement (to the extent required under Section 4(c) hereof), (D) such actions as may be required by Laws affecting the offering and sale of securities, (E) consents, authorizations, filings or other actions which have been obtained or made, and (F) as may be required with respect to Vehicles registered under a certificate of title.

 

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(j)      Commercial Tort Claims . As of the Closing Date, no Grantor has any Commercial Tort Claims seeking damages in excess of $50,000 other than as set forth on Schedule A attached hereto.

 

(k)      Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks .

 

(i)       All Intellectual Property of such Grantor is valid, subsisting, unexpired, enforceable and has not been abandoned.

 

(ii)      No holding, decision or judgment has been rendered by any Governmental Authority that would limit, cancel or question the validity of any Intellectual Property of any Grantor.

 

(iii)     All applications pertaining to the Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks of each Grantor have been duly and properly filed, and all registrations or letters pertaining to such Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks have been duly and properly filed and issued.

 

(iv)     No Grantor has made any assignment or agreement in conflict with the security interest in the Intellectual Property of any Grantor hereunder.

 

(v)      Each Grantor and each of its Subsidiaries, own, or possess the right to use, all of the Intellectual Property that is reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, without conflict with the rights of any other Person.

 

(vi)     No slogan or other advertising device, product, process, method, substance, part or other material now employed, or now contemplated to be employed by any Grantor or any of its Subsidiaries infringes upon any rights held by any other Person.

 

(vii)    No proceeding, claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or, to the best knowledge of such Grantor, threatened, which, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to constitute a Material Adverse Occurrence.

 

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4.      Covenants . Each Grantor covenants that such Grantor shall:

 

(a)      Maintenance of Perfected Security Interest; Further Information .

 

(i)      Maintain the security interest created by this Agreement as a first priority perfected security interest (subject only to Permitted Liens) and shall defend such security interest against the claims and demands of all Persons whomsoever (other than the holders of Permitted Liens).

 

(ii)    From time to time furnish to the Secured Party upon the Secured Party’s reasonable request, statements and schedules further identifying and describing the assets and property of such Grantor and such other reports in connection therewith as the Secured Party may reasonably request, all in reasonable detail.

 

(b)     Required Notifications . Each Grantor shall promptly notify the Secured Party, in writing, of: (i) any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) on any of the Collateral which would adversely affect the ability of the Secured Party to exercise any of its remedies hereunder and (ii) the occurrence of any other event which could reasonably be expected to have a material impairment on the aggregate value of the Collateral or on the security interests created hereby.

 

(c)      Perfection through Possession and Control .

 

(i)     If any amount payable under or in connection with any of the Collateral shall be or become evidenced by any Instrument or Tangible Chattel Paper or Supporting Obligation, or if any property constituting Collateral shall be stored or shipped subject to a Document, ensure that such Instrument, Tangible Chattel Paper, Supporting Obligation or Document is either in the possession of such Grantor at all times or, if requested by the Secured Party to perfect its security interest in such Collateral, is delivered to the Secured Party duly endorsed in a manner satisfactory to the Secured Party. Such Grantor shall ensure that any Collateral consisting of Tangible Chattel Paper is marked with a legend acceptable to the Secured Party indicating the Secured Party’s security interest in such Tangible Chattel Paper. To the extent the value of all certificated securities, Instruments, Documents, Supporting Obligation and Tangible Chattel Paper not in the possession of the Secured Party exceeds $50,000, the Grantors shall deliver such certificated securities, Instruments, Documents, Supporting Obligations and Tangible Chattel Paper to the Secured Party so that the value in the aggregate of all certificated securities, Instruments, Documents, Supporting Obligations and Tangible Chattel Paper not in the possession of the Secured Party does not exceed $50,000.

 

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(ii)     Deliver to the Secured Party promptly upon the receipt thereof by or on behalf of a Grantor, all certificates and instruments constituting Certificated Securities or Pledged Equity. Prior to delivery to the Secured Party, all such certificates constituting Pledged Equity shall be held in trust by such Grantor for the benefit of the Secured Party pursuant hereto. All such certificates representing Pledged Equity shall be delivered in suitable form for transfer by delivery or shall be accompanied by duly executed instruments of transfer or assignment in blank, substantially in the form provided in Exhibit A hereto or other form acceptable to the Secured Party.

 

(iii)    If any Collateral shall consist of Deposit Accounts, Electronic Chattel Paper, Letter-of-Credit Rights, Securities Accounts or uncertificated Investment Property, execute and deliver (and, with respect to any Collateral consisting of a Securities Account or uncertificated Investment Property, cause the Securities Intermediary or the Issuer, as applicable, with respect to such Investment Property to execute and deliver) to the Secured Party all control agreements, assignments, instruments or other documents as reasonably requested by the Secured Party for the purposes of obtaining and maintaining Control of such Collateral.

 

(d)     Filing of Financing Statements, Notices, etc . Each Grantor shall execute and deliver to the Secured Party and/or file such agreements, assignments or instruments (including affidavits, notices, reaffirmations and amendments and restatements of existing documents, as the Secured Party may reasonably request) and do all such other things as the Secured Party may reasonably deem necessary or appropriate (i) to assure to the Secured Party its security interests hereunder, including (A) such instruments as the Secured Party may from time to time reasonably request in order to perfect and maintain the security interests granted hereunder in accordance with the UCC, including, without limitation, financing statements (including continuation statements), (B) with regard to Copyrights, a Notice of Grant of Security Interest in Copyrights substantially in the form of Exhibit B or other form acceptable to the Secured Party, (C) with regard to Patents, a Notice of Grant of Security Interest in Patents for filing with the USPTO substantially in the form of Exhibit C or other form acceptable to the Secured Party and (D) with regard to Trademarks, a Notice of Grant of Security Interest in Trademarks for filing with the USPTO substantially in the form of Exhibit D or other form acceptable to the Secured Party, (ii) to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and (iii) to otherwise protect and assure the Secured Party of its rights and interests hereunder. Furthermore, each Grantor also hereby irrevocably makes, constitutes and appoints the Secured Party, its nominee or any other person whom the Secured Party may designate, as such Grantor’s attorney in fact with full power and for the limited purpose to prepare and file (and, to the extent applicable, sign) in the name of such Grantor any financing statements, or amendments and supplements to financing statements, renewal financing statements, notices or any similar documents which in the Secured Party’s reasonable discretion would be necessary or appropriate in order to perfect and maintain perfection of the security interests granted hereunder, such power, being coupled with an interest, being and remaining irrevocable until the Termination Date. Each Grantor hereby agrees that a carbon, photographic or other reproduction of this Agreement or any such financing statement is sufficient for filing as a financing statement by the Secured Party without notice thereof to such Grantor wherever the Secured Party may in its sole discretion desire to file the same.

 

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(e)      Collateral Held by Warehouseman, Bailee, etc.

 

(i)      If any Collateral is at any time in the possession or control of a warehouseman, bailee or any agent or processor of such Grantor (A) notify the Secured Party of such possession, (B) notify such Person in writing of the Secured Party’s security interest for the benefit of the Secured Parties in such Collateral, (C) instruct such Person to hold all such Collateral for the Secured Party’s account and subject to the Secured Party’s instructions and (D) unless otherwise consented to in writing by the Secured Party, obtain (1) a written acknowledgment from such Person that it is holding such Collateral for the benefit of the Secured Party and (2) such other documentation required by the Secured Party (including, without limitation, subordination and access agreements).

 

(ii)     Perfect and protect such Grantor’s ownership interests in all Inventory stored with a consignee against creditors of the consignee by filing and maintaining financing statements against the consignee reflecting the consignment arrangement filed in all appropriate filing offices, providing any written notices required by the UCC to notify any prior creditors of the consignee of the consignment arrangement, and taking such other actions as may be appropriate to perfect and protect such Grantor’s interests in such inventory under Section 2-326, Section 9-103, Section 9-324 and Section 9-505 of the UCC or otherwise, which such financing statements filed pursuant to this Section shall be assigned to the Secured Party.

 

(f)      Treatment of Accounts . Not grant or extend the time for payment of any Account, or compromise or settle any Account for less than the full amount thereof, or release any person or property, in whole or in part, from payment thereof, or amend, supplement or modify any Account in any manner that could reasonably be likely to adversely affect the value thereof, or allow any credit or discount thereon, other than as normal and customary in the ordinary course of a Grantor’s business. Each Grantor will deliver to the Secured Party a copy of each material demand, notice or document received by it that questions or calls into doubt the validity or enforceability of any Account.

 

(g)     Commercial Tort Claims . Execute and deliver such statements, documents and notices and do and cause to be done all such things as may be required by the Secured Party, or required by Law to create, preserve, perfect and maintain the Secured Party’s security interest in any Commercial Tort Claims initiated by or in favor of any Grantor.

 

(h)      Inventory . With respect to the Inventory of each Grantor:

 

(i)       At all times maintain inventory records reasonably satisfactory to the Secured Party, keeping correct and accurate records itemizing and describing the kind, type, quality and quantity of Inventory and such Grantor’s cost therefore and daily withdrawals therefrom and additions thereto.

 

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(ii)     Produce, use, store and maintain the Inventory with all reasonable care and caution and in accordance with applicable standards of any insurance and in conformity with applicable Laws (including the requirements of the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended and all rules, regulations and orders related thereto).

 

(i)        Books and Records . Mark its books and records (and shall cause the Issuer of the Pledged Equity of such Grantor to mark its books and records) to reflect the security interest granted pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(i)      Nature of Collateral . At all times maintain the Collateral as personal property and not affix any of the Collateral to any real property in a manner which would change its nature from personal property to real property or a Fixture to real property, unless the Secured Party shall have a perfected Lien on such Fixture or real property.

 

(j)      Issuance or Acquisition of Equity Interests in Partnerships or Limited Liability Companies .

 

(i)      Not without executing and delivering, or causing to be executed and delivered, to the Secured Party such agreements, documents and instruments as the Secured Party may reasonably require, issue or acquire any Pledged Equity consisting of an interest in a partnership or a limited liability company that (A) is dealt in or traded on a securities exchange or in a securities market, (B) by its terms expressly provides that it is a Security governed by Article 8 of the UCC, (C) is an investment company security, (D) is held in a Securities Account or (E) constitutes a Security or a Financial Asset.

 

(ii)     Without the prior written consent of the Secured Party, no Grantor will (A) vote to enable, or take any other action to permit, any applicable Issuer to issue any Investment Property or Equity Interests constituting partnership or limited liability company interests, except for those additional Investment Property or Equity Interests constituting partnership or limited liability company interests that will be subject to the security interest granted herein in favor of the Secured Parties, or (B) enter into any agreement or undertaking restricting the right or ability of such Grantor or the Secured Party to sell, assign or transfer any Investment Property or Pledged Equity or Proceeds thereof. The Grantors will defend the right, title and interest of the Secured Party in and to any Investment Property and Pledged Equity against the claims and demands of all Persons whomsoever.

 

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(iii)    If any Grantor shall become entitled to receive or shall receive (A) any Certificated Securities (including, without limitation, any certificate representing a stock dividend or a distribution in connection with any reclassification, increase or reduction of capital or any certificate issued in connection with any reorganization), option or rights in respect of the ownership interests of any Issuer, whether in addition to, in substitution of, as a conversion of, or in exchange for, any Investment Property, or otherwise in respect thereof, or (B) any sums paid upon or in respect of any Investment Property upon the liquidation or dissolution of any Issuer, such Grantor shall accept the same as the agent of the Secured Parties, hold the same in trust for the Secured Parties, segregated from other funds of such Grantor, and promptly deliver the same to the Secured Party, in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

(k)      Intellectual Property .

 

(i)      Not do any act or omit to do any act whereby any material Copyright may become invalidated and (A) not do any act, or omit to do any act, whereby any material Copyright may become injected into the public domain; (B) notify the Secured Party immediately if it knows that any material Copyright may become injected into the public domain or of any materially adverse determination or development (including, without limitation, the institution of, or any such determination or development in, any court or tribunal in the United States or any other country) regarding a Grantor’s ownership of any such Copyright or its validity; (C) take all necessary steps as it shall deem appropriate under the circumstances, to maintain and pursue each application (and to obtain the relevant registration) of each material Copyright owned by a Grantor and to maintain each registration of each material Copyright owned by a Grantor including, without limitation, filing of applications for renewal where necessary; and (D) promptly notify the Secured Party of any material infringement, misappropriation, dilution or impairment of any Copyright of a Grantor of which it becomes aware and take such actions as it shall reasonably deem appropriate under the circumstances to protect such Copyright, including, where appropriate, the bringing of suit for infringement, dilution or impairment or seeking injunctive relief and seeking to recover any and all damages for such infringement, misappropriation, dilution or impairment.

 

(ii)      Not make any assignment or agreement in conflict with the security interest in the Copyrights of each Grantor hereunder.

 

(iii)     (A) Continue to use each material Trademark on each and every trademark class of goods applicable to its current line as reflected in its current catalogs, brochures and price lists in order to maintain such Trademark in full force free from any claim of abandonment for non-use, (B) maintain as in the past the quality of products and services offered under such Trademark, (C) employ such Trademark with the appropriate notice of registration, if applicable, (D) not adopt or use any mark that is confusingly similar or a colorable imitation of such Trademark unless the Secured Party, shall obtain a perfected security interest in such mark pursuant to this Agreement, and (E) not (and not permit any licensee or sublicensee thereof to) do any act or omit to do any act whereby any such Trademark may become invalidated.

 

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(iv)     Not do any act, or omit to do any act, whereby any material Patent may become abandoned or dedicated.

 

(v)      Notify the Secured Party and the Secured Parties immediately if it knows that any application or registration relating to any material Patent or Trademark may become abandoned or dedicated, or of any materially adverse determination or development (including, without limitation, the institution of, or any such determination or development in, any proceeding in the USPTO or any court or tribunal in any country) regarding such Grantor ownership of any Patent or Trademark or its right to register the same or to keep and maintain the same.

 

(vi)     Take all reasonable and necessary steps, including, without limitation, in any proceeding before the USPTO, or any similar office or agency in any other country or any political subdivision thereof, to maintain and pursue each application (and to obtain the relevant registration) and to maintain each registration of each material Patent and Trademark, including, without limitation, filing of applications for renewal, affidavits of use and affidavits of incontestability.

 

(vii)    Promptly notify the Secured Party and the Secured Parties after it learns that any material Patent or Trademark included in the Collateral is infringed, misappropriated, diluted or impaired by a third party and promptly sue for infringement, misappropriation, dilution or impairment, to seek injunctive relief where appropriate and to recover any and all damages for such infringement, misappropriation, dilution or impairment, or to take such other actions as it shall reasonably deem appropriate under the circumstances to protect such Patent or Trademark.

 

(viii)   Not make any assignment or agreement in conflict with the security interest in the Patents or Trademarks of each Grantor hereunder.

 

(ix)     Grants to the Secured Party a royalty free license to use such Grantor’s Intellectual Property in connection with the enforcement of the Secured Party’s rights hereunder, but only to the extent any license or agreement granting such Grantor rights in such Intellectual Property do not prohibit such use by the Secured Party.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Grantors may, in their reasonable business judgment, fail to maintain, pursue, preserve or protect any Copyright, Patent or Trademark which is not material to their businesses.

 

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(l)      Equipment . Maintain each item of Equipment in good working order and condition (reasonable wear and tear and obsolescence excepted).

 

(m)    Government Contracts . Promptly notify the Secured Party, in writing, if it enters into any contract with a Governmental Authority under which such Governmental Authority, as account debtor, owes a monetary obligation to any Grantor under any Account.

 

(n)      Vehicles . Upon the request of the Secured Party upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, file or cause to be filed in each office in each jurisdiction which the Secured Party shall deem reasonably advisable to perfect its Liens on the Vehicles, all applications for certificates of title or ownership (and any other necessary documentation) indicating the Secured Party’s first priority Lien on the Vehicle (subject to any Permitted Liens) covered by such certificate.

 

(o)      Internet Property Rights . With respect to its rights, titles and interests in and to any internet domain names or registration rights relating thereto, and any internet websites or the content thereof (collectively, “ Internet Property Rights ”) whether now existing or hereafter created or acquired and wheresoever located, each Grantor shall cause to be delivered to the Secured Party an undated transfer document with respect to each of its internet domain names, duly executed in blank by such Grantor and in the form required by the applicable internet domain name registrar, sufficient to effect the transfer of each internet domain name to the transferee thereof named in such transfer form upon delivery to such registrar.

 

(p)      Further Assurances .

 

(i)      Promptly upon the request of the Secured Party and at the sole expense of the Grantors, duly execute and deliver, and have recorded, such further instruments and documents and take such further actions as the Secured Party may reasonably request for the purpose of obtaining or preserving the full benefits of this Agreement and of the rights and powers herein granted, including, without limitation, (A) the assignment of any Material Contract, (B) with respect to Government Contracts, assignment agreements and notices of assignment, in form and substance satisfactory to the Secured Party, duly executed by any Grantors party to such Government Contract in compliance with the Assignment of Claims Act (or analogous state applicable Law), and (C) all applications, certificates, instruments, registration statements, and all other documents and papers the Secured Party may reasonably request and as may be required by law in connection with the obtaining of any consent, approval, registration, qualification, or authorization of any Person deemed necessary or appropriate for the effective exercise of any rights under this Agreement; provided that no Grantor shall be required to take any action to perfect a security interest in any Collateral that the Secured Party reasonably determines in its sole discretion that the costs and burdens to the Grantors of perfecting a security interest in such Collateral (including any applicable stamp, intangibles or other taxes) are excessive in relation to value to the Secured Party afforded thereby.

 

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(ii)     From time to time upon the Secured Party’s reasonable request, promptly furnish such updates to the information disclosed pursuant to this Agreement and the Credit Agreement, including any Schedules hereto or thereto, such that such updated information is true and correct as of the date so furnished.

 

5.     Authorization to File Financing Statements . Each Grantor hereby authorizes the Secured Party to prepare and file such financing statements (including continuation statements) or amendments thereof or supplements thereto or other instruments as the Secured Party may from time to time deem necessary or appropriate in order to perfect and maintain the security interests granted hereunder in accordance with the UCC, which such financing statements may describe the Collateral in the same manner as described herein or may contain an indication or description of Collateral that describes such property in any other manner as the Secured Party may determine, in its sole discretion, is necessary, advisable or prudent to ensure the perfection of the security interest in the Collateral granted herein, including, without limitation, describing such property as “all assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired” or “all personal property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired.”

 

6.      Advances . On failure of any Grantor to perform any of the covenants and agreements contained herein or in any other Loan Document, the Secured Party may, at its sole option and in its sole discretion, perform the same and in so doing may expend such sums as the Secured Party may reasonably deem advisable in the performance thereof, including, without limitation, the payment of any insurance premiums, the payment of any taxes, a payment to obtain a release of a Lien or potential Lien, expenditures made in defending against any adverse claim and all other expenditures which the Secured Party may make for the protection of the security hereof or which may be compelled to make by operation of Law. All such sums and amounts so expended shall be repayable by the Grantors on a joint and several basis promptly upon timely notice thereof and demand therefor, shall constitute additional Obligations and shall bear interest from the date said amounts are expended at the Default Rate. No such performance of any covenant or agreement by the Secured Party on behalf of any Grantor, and no such advance or expenditure therefor, shall relieve the Grantors of any Default or Event of Default. The Secured Party may make any payment hereby authorized in accordance with any bill, statement or estimate procured from the appropriate public office or holder of the claim to be discharged without inquiry into the accuracy of such bill, statement or estimate or into the validity of any tax assessment, sale, forfeiture, tax lien, title or claim except to the extent such payment is being contested in good faith by a Grantor in appropriate proceedings and against which adequate reserves are being maintained in accordance with GAAP.

 

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7.      Remedies .

 

(a)     General Remedies . Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and during continuation thereof, the Secured Party on behalf of the Secured Parties shall have, in addition to the rights and remedies provided herein, in the Loan Documents, in any other documents relating to the Obligations, or by any applicable Law (including, but not limited to, levy of attachment, garnishment and the rights and remedies set forth in the UCC of the jurisdiction applicable to the affected Collateral), the rights and remedies of a secured party under the UCC (regardless of whether the UCC is the law of the jurisdiction where the rights and remedies are asserted and regardless of whether the UCC applies to the affected Collateral), and further, the Secured Party may, with or without judicial process or the aid and assistance of others, (i) enter on any premises on which any of the Collateral may be located and, without resistance or interference by the Grantors, take possession of the Collateral, (ii) dispose of any Collateral on any such premises, (iii) require the Grantors to assemble and make available to the Secured Party at the expense of the Grantors any Collateral at any place and time designated by the Secured Party which is reasonably convenient to both parties, (iv) remove any Collateral from any such premises for the purpose of effecting sale or other disposition thereof, or (v) without demand and without advertisement, notice, hearing or process of law, all of which each of the Grantors hereby waives to the fullest extent permitted by Law, at any place and time or times, sell, lease, assign, give option or options to purchase, or otherwise dispose of and deliver the Collateral or any part thereof (or contract to do any of the foregoing), in one or more parcels any or all Collateral held by or for it at public or private sale (which in the case of a private sale of Pledged Equity, shall be to a restricted group of purchasers who will be obligated to agree, among other things, to acquire such securities for their own account, for investment and not with a view to the distribution or resale thereof), at any exchange or broker’s board or elsewhere, by one or more contracts, in one or more parcels, for money, upon credit or otherwise, at such prices and upon such terms as the Secured Party deems advisable, in its sole discretion (subject to any and all mandatory legal requirements). Each Grantor acknowledges that any such private sale may be at prices and on terms less favorable to the seller than the prices and other terms which might have been obtained at a public sale and, notwithstanding the foregoing, agrees that such private sale shall be deemed to have been made in a commercially reasonable manner and, in the case of a sale of Pledged Equity, that the Secured Party shall have no obligation to delay sale of any such securities for the period of time necessary to permit the Issuer of such securities to register such securities for public sale under the Securities Act of 1933. The Secured Party shall have the right upon any such public sale or sales, and, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, upon any such private sale or sales, to purchase the whole or any part of the Collateral so sold. Neither the Secured Party’s compliance with applicable Law nor its disclaimer of warranties relating to the Collateral shall be considered to adversely affect the commercial reasonableness of any sale. To the extent the rights of notice cannot be legally waived hereunder, each Grantor agrees that any requirement of reasonable notice shall be met if such notice, specifying the place of any public sale or the time after which any private sale is to be made, is personally served on or mailed, postage prepaid, to the Borrowers in accordance with the notice provisions of the Credit Agreement at least 10 days before the time of sale or other event giving rise to the requirement of such notice. Each Grantor further acknowledges and agrees that any offer to sell any Pledged Equity which has been (A) publicly advertised on a bona fide basis in a newspaper or other publication of general circulation in the financial community of Minnesota, Minnesota (to the extent that such offer may be advertised without prior registration under the Securities Act of 1933), or (B) made privately in the manner described above shall be deemed to involve a “public sale” under the UCC, notwithstanding that such sale may not constitute a “public offering” under the Securities Act of 1933, and the Secured Party may, in such event, bid for the purchase of such securities. The Secured Party shall not be obligated to make any sale or other disposition of the Collateral regardless of notice having been given. To the extent permitted by applicable Law, any Secured Party may be a purchaser at any such sale. To the extent permitted by applicable Law, each of the Grantors hereby waives all of its rights of redemption with respect to any such sale. Subject to the provisions of applicable Law, the Secured Party may postpone or cause the postponement of the sale of all or any portion of the Collateral by announcement at the time and place of such sale, and such sale may, without further notice, to the extent permitted by Law, be made at the time and place to which the sale was postponed, or the Secured Party may further postpone such sale by announcement made at such time and place. To the extent permitted by applicable Law, each Grantor waives all claims, damages and demands it may acquire against the Secured Party or any Secured Party arising out of the exercise by them of any rights hereunder except to the extent any such claims, damages or demands result solely from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Secured Party as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, in each case against whom such claim is asserted. Each Grantor agrees that the internet shall constitute a “place” for purposes of Section 9-610(b) of the UCC and that any sale of Collateral to a licensor pursuant to the terms of a license agreement between such licensor and a Grantor is sufficient to constitute a commercially reasonable sale (including as to method, terms, manner, and time) within the meaning of Section 9-610 of the UCC.

 

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(b)      Remedies Relating to Accounts .

 

(i)      During the continuation of an Event of Default, whether or not the Secured Party has exercised any or all of its rights and remedies hereunder, (A) each Grantor shall notify (such notice to be in form and substance satisfactory to the Secured Party) its Account Debtors and parties to the Material Contracts subject to a security interest hereunder that such Accounts and the Material Contracts have been assigned to the Secured Party and promptly upon request of the Secured Party, instruct all account debtors to remit all payments in respect of Accounts to a mailing location selected by the Secured Party and (B) the Secured Party shall have the right to enforce any Grantor’s rights against its customers and account debtors, and the Secured Party or its designee may notify any Grantor’s customers and account debtors that the Accounts of such Grantor have been assigned to the Secured Party or of the Secured Party’s security interest therein, and may (either in its own name or in the name of a Grantor or both) demand, collect (including without limitation by way of a lockbox arrangement), receive, take receipt for, sell, sue for, compound, settle, compromise and give acquittance for any and all amounts due or to become due on any Account, and, in the Secured Party’s discretion, file any claim or take any other action or proceeding to protect and realize upon the security interest of the Secured Parties in the Accounts.

 

(ii)      Each Grantor acknowledges and agrees that the Proceeds of its Accounts remitted to or on behalf of the Secured Party in accordance with the provisions hereof shall be solely for the Secured Party’s own convenience and that such Grantor shall not have any right, title or interest in such Accounts or in any such other amounts except as expressly provided herein. Neither the Secured Party nor the Secured Parties shall have any liability or responsibility to any Grantor for acceptance of a check, draft or other order for payment of money bearing the legend “payment in full” or words of similar import or any other restrictive legend or endorsement or be responsible for determining the correctness of any remittance.

 

(iii)    During the continuation of an Event of Default, (A) the Secured Party shall have the right, but not the obligation, to make test verifications of the Accounts in any manner and through any medium that it reasonably considers advisable, and the Grantors shall furnish all such assistance and information as the Secured Party may require in connection with such test verifications, (B) upon the Secured Party’s request and at the expense of the Grantors, the Grantors shall cause independent public accountants or others satisfactory to the Secured Party to furnish to the Secured Party reports showing reconciliations, aging and test verifications of, and trial balances for, the Accounts and (C) the Secured Party in its own name or in the name of others may communicate with account debtors on the Accounts to verify with them to the Secured Party’s satisfaction the existence, amount and terms of any Accounts.

 

(iv)     Upon the request of the Secured Party, each Grantor shall forward to the Secured Party, on the last Business Day of each week, deposit slips related to all cash, money, checks or any other similar items of payment received by the Grantor during such week, and, if requested by the Secured Party, copies of such checks or any other similar items of payment, together with a statement showing the application of all payments on the Collateral during such week and a collection report with regard thereto, in form and substance satisfactory to the Secured Party.

 

(c)      Deposit Accounts/Securities Accounts . Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and during continuation thereof, the Secured Party may prevent withdrawals or other dispositions of funds in Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts subject to control agreements or held with any Secured Party.

 

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(d)      Investment Property/Pledged Equity . Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and during the continuation thereof: the Secured Party shall have the right to receive any and all cash dividends, payments or distributions made in respect of any Investment Property or Pledged Equity or other Proceeds paid in respect of any Investment Property or Pledged Equity, and any or all of any Investment Property or Pledged Equity may, at the option of the Secured Party, be registered in the name of the Secured Party or its nominee, and the Secured Party or its nominee may thereafter exercise (i) all voting, corporate and other rights pertaining to such Investment Property, or any such Pledged Equity at any meeting of shareholders, partners or members of the relevant Issuers or otherwise and (ii) any and all rights of conversion, exchange and subscription and any other rights, privileges or options pertaining to such Investment Property or Pledged Equity as if it were the absolute owner thereof (including, without limitation, the right to exchange at its discretion any and all of the Investment Property or Pledged Equity upon the merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or other fundamental change in the corporate, partnership or limited liability company structure of any Issuer or upon the exercise by any Grantor or the Secured Party of any right, privilege or option pertaining to such Investment Property or Pledged Equity, and in connection therewith, the right to deposit and deliver any and all of the Investment Property or Pledged Equity with any committee, depositary, transfer agent, registrar or other designated agency upon such terms and conditions as the Secured Party may determine), all without liability except to account for property actually received by it; but the Secured Party shall have no duty to any Grantor to exercise any such right, privilege or option and the Secured Party shall not be responsible for any failure to do so or delay in so doing. In furtherance thereof, each Grantor hereby authorizes and instructs each Issuer with respect to any Collateral consisting of Investment Property and/or Pledged Equity to (A) comply with any instruction received by it from the Secured Party in writing that (1) states that an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (2) is otherwise in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, without any other or further instructions from such Grantor, and each Grantor agrees that each Issuer shall be fully protected in so complying following receipt of such notice and prior to notice that such Event of Default is no longer continuing, and (B) except as otherwise expressly permitted hereby, pay any dividends, distributions or other payments with respect to any Investment Property or Pledged Equity directly to the Secured Party. Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Secured Party shall have given notice to the relevant Grantor of the Secured Party’s intent to exercise its corresponding rights pursuant to this Section 7, each Grantor shall be permitted to receive all cash dividends, payments or other distributions made in respect of any Investment Property and any Pledged Equity, in each case paid in the normal course of business of the relevant Issuer and consistent with past practice, to the extent permitted in the Credit Agreement, and to exercise all voting and other corporate, company and partnership rights with respect to any Investment Property and Pledged Equity to the extent not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

 

(e)      Material Contracts . Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and during the continuation thereof, the Secured Party shall be entitled to (but shall not be required to): (i) proceed to perform any and all obligations of the applicable Grantor under any Material Contract and exercise all rights of such Grantor thereunder as fully as such Grantor itself could, (ii) do all other acts which the Secured Party may deem necessary or proper to protect its security interest granted hereunder, provided such acts are not inconsistent with or in violation of the terms of any of the Credit Agreement, of the other Loan Documents or applicable Law, and (iii) sell, assign or otherwise transfer any Material Contract in accordance with the Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents and applicable Law, subject, however, to the prior approval of each other party to such Material Contract, to the extent required under such Material Contract.

 

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(f)      Access . In addition to the rights and remedies hereunder, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and during the continuance thereof, the Secured Party shall have the right to enter and remain upon the various premises of the Grantors without cost or charge to the Secured Party, and use the same, together with materials, supplies, books and records of the Grantors for the purpose of collecting and liquidating the Collateral, or for preparing for sale and conducting the sale of the Collateral, whether by foreclosure, auction or otherwise. In addition, the Secured Party may remove Collateral, or any part thereof, from such premises and/or any records with respect thereto, in order to effectively collect or liquidate such Collateral. If the Secured Party exercises its right to take possession of the Collateral, each Grantor shall also at its expense perform any and all other steps reasonably requested by the Secured Party to preserve and protect the security interest hereby granted in the Collateral, such as placing and maintaining signs indicating the security interest of the Secured Party, appointing overseers for the Collateral and maintaining inventory records.

 

(g)     Nonexclusive Nature of Remedies . Failure by the Secured Party or the Secured Parties to exercise any right, remedy or option under this Agreement, any other Loan Document, any other document relating to the Obligations, or as provided by Law, or any delay by the Secured Party or the Secured Parties in exercising the same, shall not operate as a waiver of any such right, remedy or option. No waiver hereunder shall be effective unless it is in writing, signed by the party against whom such waiver is sought to be enforced and then only to the extent specifically stated, which in the case of the Secured Party or the Secured Parties shall only be granted as provided herein. To the extent permitted by Law, neither the Secured Party, the Secured Parties, nor any party acting as attorney for the Secured Party or the Secured Parties, shall be liable hereunder for any acts or omissions or for any error of judgment or mistake of fact or law other than their gross negligence or willful misconduct hereunder as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. The rights and remedies of the Secured Party and the Secured Parties under this Agreement shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any other right or remedy which the Secured Party or the Secured Parties may have.

 

(h)     Retention of Collateral . In addition to the rights and remedies hereunder, the Secured Party may, in compliance with Sections 9-620 and 9-621 of the UCC or otherwise complying with the requirements of applicable Law of the relevant jurisdiction, accept or retain the Collateral in satisfaction of the Obligations. Unless and until the Secured Party shall have provided such notices, however, the Secured Party shall not be deemed to have retained any Collateral in satisfaction of any Obligations for any reason.

 

(i)      Waiver; Deficiency . Each Grantor hereby waives, to the extent permitted by applicable Laws, all rights of redemption, appraisement, valuation, stay, extension or moratorium now or hereafter in force under any applicable Laws in order to prevent or delay the enforcement of this Agreement or the absolute sale of the Collateral or any portion thereof. In the event that the proceeds of any sale, collection or realization are insufficient to pay all amounts to which the Secured Party or the Secured Parties are legally entitled, the Grantors shall be jointly and severally liable for the deficiency, together with interest thereon at the Default Rate, together with the costs of collection and the fees, charges and disbursements of counsel. Any surplus remaining after the full payment and satisfaction of the Obligations shall be returned to the Grantors or to whomsoever a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine to be entitled thereto.

 

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(j)      Registration Rights .

 

(i)      If the Secured Party shall determine that in order to exercise its right to sell any or all of the Collateral it is necessary or advisable to have such Collateral registered under the provisions of the Securities Act (any such Collateral, the “ Restricted Securities Collateral ”), the relevant Grantor will cause each applicable Issuer (and the officers and directors thereof) that is a Grantor or a Subsidiary of a Grantor to (A) execute and deliver all such instruments and documents, and do or cause to be done all such other acts as may be, in the opinion of the Secured Party, necessary or advisable to register such Restricted Securities Collateral, or that portion thereof to be sold, under the provisions of the Securities Act, (B) use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the registration statement relating thereto to become effective and to remain effective for a period of one year from the date of the first public offering of such Restricted Securities Collateral, or that portion thereof to be sold, and (C) make all amendments thereto and/or to the related prospectus which, in the opinion of the Secured Party, are necessary or advisable, all in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission applicable thereto. Each Grantor agrees to cause each applicable Issuer (and the officers and directors thereof) to comply with the provisions of the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of any and all jurisdictions which the Secured Party shall designate and to make available to its security holders, as soon as practicable, an earnings statement (which need not be audited) which will satisfy the provisions of the Securities Act.

 

(ii)     Each Grantor agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to do or cause to be done all such other acts as may be necessary to make such sale or sales of all or any portion of the Restricted Securities Collateral valid and binding and in compliance with any and all other applicable Laws. Each Grantor further agrees that a breach of any of the covenants contained in this Section 7 will cause irreparable injury to the Secured Party, that the Secured Party has no adequate remedy at law in respect of such breach and, as a consequence, that each and every covenant contained in this Section 7 shall be specifically enforceable against such Grantor, and such Grantor hereby waives and agrees not to assert any defenses against an action for specific performance of such covenants except for a defense that no Event of Default has occurred under the Credit Agreement.

 

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8.      Rights of the Secured Party .

 

(a)      Power of Attorney . In addition to other powers of attorney contained herein, each Grantor hereby designates and appoints the Secured Party, and each of its designees or agents, as attorney-in-fact of such Grantor, irrevocably and with power of substitution, with authority to take any or all of the following actions upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default:

 

(i)       to demand, collect, settle, compromise, adjust, give discharges and releases, all as the Secured Party may reasonably determine;

 

(ii)      to commence and prosecute any actions at any court for the purposes of collecting any Collateral and enforcing any other right in respect thereof;

 

(iii)     to defend, settle or compromise any action brought and, in connection therewith, give such discharge or release as the Secured Party may deem reasonably appropriate;

 

(iv)     to receive, open and dispose of mail addressed to a Grantor and endorse checks, notes, drafts, acceptances, money orders, bills of lading, warehouse receipts or other instruments or documents evidencing payment, shipment or storage of the goods giving rise to the Collateral of such Grantor on behalf of and in the name of such Grantor, or securing, or relating to such Collateral;

 

(v)      to sell, assign, transfer, make any agreement in respect of, or otherwise deal with or exercise rights in respect of, any Collateral or the goods or services which have given rise thereto, as fully and completely as though the Secured Party were the absolute owner thereof for all purposes;

 

(vi)     to adjust and settle claims under any insurance policy relating thereto;

 

(vii)    to execute and deliver all assignments, conveyances, statements, financing statements, continuation financing statements, security agreements, affidavits, notices and other agreements, instruments and documents that the Secured Party may determine necessary in order to perfect and maintain the security interests and liens granted in this Agreement and in order to fully consummate all of the transactions contemplated herein;

 

(viii)   to institute any foreclosure proceedings that the Secured Party may deem appropriate;

 

(ix)     to sign and endorse any drafts, assignments, proxies, stock powers, verifications, notices and other documents relating to the Collateral;

 

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(x)     to exchange any of the Pledged Equity or other property upon any merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization or other readjustment of the Issuer thereof and, in connection therewith, deposit any of the Pledged Equity with any committee, depository, transfer agent, registrar or other designated agency upon such terms as the Secured Party may reasonably deem appropriate;

 

(xi)     to vote for a shareholder resolution, or to sign an instrument in writing, sanctioning the transfer of any or all of the Pledged Equity into the name of the Secured Party or one or more of the Secured Parties or into the name of any transferee to whom the Pledged Equity or any part thereof may be sold pursuant to Section 7 hereof;

 

(xii)    to pay or discharge taxes, liens, security interests or other encumbrances levied or placed on or threatened against the Collateral;

 

(xiii)   to direct any parties liable for any payment in connection with any of the Collateral to make payment of any and all monies due and to become due thereunder directly to the Secured Party or as the Secured Party shall direct;

 

(xiv)   to receive payment of and receipt for any and all monies, claims, and other amounts due and to become due at any time in respect of or arising out of any Collateral;

 

(xv)    in the case of any Intellectual Property, execute and deliver, and have recorded, any and all agreements, instruments, documents and papers as the Secured Party may request to evidence the security interests created hereby in such Intellectual Property and the goodwill and General Intangibles of such Grantor relating thereto or represented thereby; and

 

(xvi)   do and perform all such other acts and things as the Secured Party may reasonably deem to be necessary, proper or convenient in connection with the Collateral.

 

This power of attorney is a power coupled with an interest and shall be irrevocable until the date on which all Obligations are indefeasibly paid in full and the Commitments have terminated. The Secured Party shall be under no duty to exercise or withhold the exercise of any of the rights, powers, privileges and options expressly or implicitly granted to the Secured Party in this Agreement, and shall not be liable for any failure to do so or any delay in doing so. The Secured Party shall not be liable for any act or omission or for any error of judgment or any mistake of fact or law in its individual capacity or its capacity as attorney-in-fact except acts or omissions resulting from its gross negligence or willful misconduct as determined by a final non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. This power of attorney is conferred on the Secured Party solely to protect, preserve and realize upon its security interest in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon the Secured Party to exercise any such powers.

 

23

 

 

(b)      Assignment by the Secured Party . The Secured Party may from time to time assign the Obligations to a successor Secured Party appointed in accordance with the Credit Agreement, and such successor shall be entitled to all of the rights and remedies of the Secured Party under this Agreement in relation thereto.

 

(c)      The Secured Party’s Duty of Care . Other than the exercise of reasonable care to assure the safe custody of the Collateral while being held by the Secured Party hereunder, the Secured Party shall have no duty or liability to preserve rights pertaining thereto, it being understood and agreed that the Grantors shall be responsible for preservation of all rights in the Collateral, and the Secured Party shall be relieved of all responsibility for the Collateral upon surrendering it or tendering the surrender of it to the Grantors. The Secured Party shall be deemed to have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of the Collateral in its possession if the Collateral is accorded treatment substantially equal to that which the Secured Party accords its own property, which shall be no less than the treatment employed by a reasonable and prudent agent in the industry, it being understood that the Secured Party shall not have responsibility for taking any necessary steps to preserve rights against any parties with respect to any of the Collateral. In the event of a public or private sale of Collateral pursuant to Section 7 hereof, the Secured Party shall have no responsibility for (i) ascertaining or taking action with respect to calls, conversions, exchanges, maturities, tenders or other matters relating to any Collateral, whether or not the Secured Party has or is deemed to have knowledge of such matters, or (ii) taking any steps to clean, repair or otherwise prepare the Collateral for sale.

 

(d)     Liability with Respect to Accounts . Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, each of the Grantors shall remain liable under each of the Accounts to observe and perform all the conditions and obligations to be observed and performed by it thereunder, all in accordance with the terms of any agreement giving rise to each such Account. Neither the Secured Party nor any Secured Party shall have any obligation or liability under any Account (or any agreement giving rise thereto) by reason of or arising out of this Agreement or the receipt by the Secured Party or any Secured Party of any payment relating to such Account pursuant hereto, nor shall the Secured Party or any Secured Party be obligated in any manner to perform any of the obligations of a Grantor under or pursuant to any Account (or any agreement giving rise thereto), to make any payment, to make any inquiry as to the nature or the sufficiency of any payment received by it or as to the sufficiency of any performance by any party under any Account (or any agreement giving rise thereto), to present or file any claim, to take any action to enforce any performance or to collect the payment of any amounts which may have been assigned to it or to which it may be entitled at any time or times.

 

(e)      Releases of Collateral .

 

(i)       If any Collateral shall be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of by any Grantor in a transaction permitted by the Credit Agreement, then the Secured Party, at the request and sole expense of such Grantor, shall promptly execute and deliver to such Grantor all releases and other documents, and take such other action, reasonably necessary for the release of the Liens created hereby or by any other Collateral Document on such Collateral.

 

24

 

 

(ii)     The Secured Party may release any of the Pledged Equity from this Agreement or may substitute any of the Pledged Equity for other Pledged Equity without altering, varying or diminishing in any way the force, effect, lien, pledge or security interest of this Agreement as to any Pledged Equity not expressly released or substituted, and this Agreement shall continue as a first priority lien on all Pledged Equity not expressly released or substituted.

 

9.     Application of Proceeds . After the exercise of remedies provided for in Section 8.02 of the Credit Agreement (or after the Loans have automatically become immediately due and payable as set forth in Section 8.02 of the Credit Agreement) any payments in respect of the Obligations and any proceeds of the Collateral, when received by the Secured Party or any Secured Party in cash or Cash Equivalents will be applied in reduction of the Obligations in such order of application as the Secured Party may elect.

 

10.    Continuing Agreement .

 

(a)     This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect until the Termination Date, at which time this Agreement shall be automatically terminated (other than obligations under this Agreement which expressly survive such termination) and the Secured Party shall, upon the request and at the expense of the Grantors, forthwith release all of its liens and security interests hereunder and shall execute and deliver all UCC termination statements and/or other documents reasonably requested by the Grantors evidencing such termination.

 

(b)     This Agreement shall continue to be effective or be automatically reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, in whole or in part, of any of the Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Secured Party or any Secured Party as a preference, fraudulent conveyance or otherwise under any Debtor Relief Law, all as though such payment had not been made; provided that in the event payment of all or any part of the Obligations is rescinded or must be restored or returned, all reasonable costs and expenses (including without limitation any reasonable legal fees and disbursements) incurred by the Secured Party or any Secured Party in defending and enforcing such reinstatement shall be deemed to be included as a part of the Obligations.

 

11.    Amendments; Waivers; Modifications, etc . This Agreement and the provisions hereof may not be amended, waived, modified, changed, discharged or terminated except as set forth in Section 12 of the Credit Agreement.

 

12.    Successors in Interest . This Agreement shall be binding upon each Grantor, its successors and assigns and shall inure, together with the rights and remedies of the Secured Party and the Secured Parties hereunder, to the benefit of the Secured Party and the Secured Parties and their successors and permitted assigns.

 

25

 

 

13.    Notices . All notices required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be in conformance with Section 9.02 of the Credit Agreement; provided that notices and communications to the Grantors shall be directed to the Grantors, at the address of the Borrowers set forth in the Credit Agreement.

 

14.    Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which where so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument. It shall not be necessary in making proof of this Agreement to produce or account for more than one such counterpart. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by fax transmission or other electronic mail transmission (e.g. “pdf” or “tif”) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, to the extent a manually executed counterpart is not specifically required to be delivered, upon the request of any party, such fax transmission or electronic mail transmission shall be promptly followed by such manually executed counterpart.

 

15.    Headings . The headings of the sections hereof are provided for convenience only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or construction of any provision of this Agreement.

 

16.    Governing Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Venue; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL .

 

(a)     This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with, and the rights of the parties shall be governed by, the laws of the State of Minnesota, except to the extent that the perfection of the security interest hereunder, or the enforcement of any remedies hereunder, with respect to any particular Collateral shall be governed by the laws of a jurisdiction other than the State of Minnesota.

 

(b)      Venue . AT THE OPTION OF THE SECURED PARTY, THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT TO WHICH ANY GRANTOR IS A PARTY MAY BE ENFORCED IN ANY FEDERAL COURT OR MINNESOTA STATE COURT SITTING IN MINNEAPOLIS OR ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA; AND EACH GRANTOR CONSENTS TO THE JURISDICTION AND VENUE OF ANY SUCH COURT AND WAIVES ANY ARGUMENT THAT VENUE IN SUCH FORUMS IS NOT CONVENIENT. IN THE EVENT ANY GRANTOR COMMENCES ANY ACTION IN ANOTHER JURISDICTION OR VENUE UNDER ANY TORT OR CONTRACT THEORY ARISING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY FROM THE RELATIONSHIP CREATED BY THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, THE SECURED PARTY AT ITS OPTION SHALL BE ENTITLED TO HAVE THE CASE TRANSFERRED TO ONE OF THE JURISDICTIONS AND VENUES ABOVE-DESCRIBED, OR IF SUCH TRANSFER CANNOT BE ACCOMPLISHED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, TO HAVE SUCH CASE DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.

 

(c)      WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY . THE GRANTORS AND THE SECURED PARTY EACH WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING TO ENFORCE OR DEFEND ANY RIGHTS (i) UNDER THE LOAN DOCUMENTS OR UNDER ANY AMENDMENT, INSTRUMENT, DOCUMENT OR AGREEMENT DELIVERED OR WHICH MAY IN THE FUTURE BE DELIVERED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH OR (ii) ARISING FROM ANY RELATIONSHIP EXISTING IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, AND AGREES THAT ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE TRIED BEFORE A COURT AND NOT BEFORE A JURY.

 

26

 

 

17.    Severability . If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, such provision shall be fully severable and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect and shall be construed without giving effect to the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provisions.

 

18.    Entirety . This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the other documents relating to the Obligations represent the entire agreement of the parties hereto and thereto, and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, if any, including any commitment letters or correspondence relating to the Loan Documents, any other documents relating to the Obligations, or the transactions contemplated herein and therein.

 

19.    Other Security . To the extent that any of the Obligations are now or hereafter secured by property other than the Collateral (including, without limitation, real property and securities owned by a Grantor), or by a guarantee, endorsement or property of any other Person, then the Secured Party shall have the right to proceed against such other property, guarantee or endorsement upon the occurrence of any Event of Default, and the Secured Party shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to determine which rights, security, liens, security interests or remedies the Secured Party shall at any time pursue, relinquish, subordinate, modify or take with respect thereto, without in any way modifying or affecting any of them or the Obligations or any of the rights of the Secured Party or the Secured Parties under this Agreement, under any other of the Loan Documents or under any other document relating to the Obligations.

 

20.    Joinder . At any time after the date of this Agreement, one or more additional Persons may become party hereto by executing and delivering to the Secured Party a Joinder Agreement in a form provided by the Secured Party. Immediately upon such execution and delivery of such Joinder Agreement (and without any further action), each such additional Person will become a party to this Agreement as an “Grantor” and have all of the rights and obligations of a Grantor hereunder and this Agreement and the schedules hereto shall be deemed amended by such Joinder Agreement.

 

21.      Consent of Issuers of Pledged Equity . Any Loan Party that is an Issuer hereby acknowledges, consents and agrees to the grant of the security interests in such Pledged Equity by the applicable Grantors pursuant to this Agreement, together with all rights accompanying such security interest as provided by this Agreement and applicable Law, notwithstanding any anti-assignment provisions in any operating agreement, limited partnership agreement or similar organizational or governance documents of such Issuer.

 

27

 

 

22.    Joint and Several Obligations of Grantors .

 

(a)     Each of the Grantors is accepting joint and several liability hereunder in consideration of the financial accommodations to be provided by the Secured Party under the Credit Agreement, for the mutual benefit, directly and indirectly, of each of the Grantors and in consideration of the undertakings of each of the Grantors to accept joint and several liability for the obligations of each of them.

 

(b)     Each of the Grantors jointly and severally hereby irrevocably and unconditionally accepts, not merely as a surety but also as a primary obligor, joint and several liability with the other Grantors with respect to the payment and performance of all of the Obligations, it being the intention of the parties hereto that (i) all the Obligations shall be the joint and several obligations of each of the Grantors without preferences or distinction among them and (ii) a separate action may be brought against each Grantor to enforce this Agreement whether or not the Borrower, any other Grantor or any other person or entity is joined as a party.

 

(c)    Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained herein, in any other of the Loan Documents, to the extent the obligations of a Grantor shall be adjudicated to be invalid or unenforceable for any reason (including, without limitation, because of any applicable state or federal law relating to fraudulent conveyances or transfers) then the obligations of such Grantor hereunder shall be limited to the maximum amount that is permissible under applicable law (whether federal or state and including, without limitation, Debtor Relief Laws).

 

23.      Marshaling . The Secured Party shall not be required to marshal any present or future collateral security (including but not limited to the Collateral) for, or other assurances of payment of, the Obligations or any of them or to resort to such collateral security or other assurances of payment in any particular order, and all of its rights and remedies hereunder and in respect of such collateral security and other assurances of payment shall be cumulative and in addition to all other rights and remedies, however existing or arising. To the extent that it lawfully may, each Grantor hereby agrees that it will not invoke any law relating to the marshaling of collateral which might cause delay in or impede the enforcement of the Secured Party’s rights and remedies under this Agreement or under any other instrument creating or evidencing any of the Obligations or under which any of the Obligations is outstanding or by which any of the Obligations is secured or payment thereof is otherwise assured, and, to the extent that it lawfully may, each Grantor hereby irrevocably waives the benefits of all such laws.

 

24.    Injunctive Relief .

 

(a)    Each Grantor recognizes that, in the event such Grantor fails to perform, observe or discharge any of its obligations or liabilities under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, any remedy of law may prove to be inadequate relief to the Secured Party. Therefore, each Grantor agrees that the Secured Party, at the option of the Secured Party, shall be entitled to temporary and permanent injunctive relief in any such case without the necessity of proving actual damages.

 

28

 

 

(b)    The Secured Party and each Grantor hereby agree that no such Person shall have a remedy of punitive or exemplary damages against any other party to a Loan Document and each such Person hereby waives any right or claim to punitive or exemplary damages that they may now have or may arise in the future in connection with any dispute under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, whether such dispute is resolved through arbitration or judicially.

 

25.    Effect on Existing Security Agreement . The Existing Security Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety by this Agreement, but such amendment and restatement does not alter the original date and continuing effectiveness of, the Existing Security Agreement.

 

 

 

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

29

 

 

Each of the parties hereto has caused a counterpart of this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

 

GRANTORS:  AIR T, INC.
   
 

By:                                                                                             

Name: Brett Reynolds

Title:   Chief Financial Officer

   
   
  AIRCO, LLC
   
 

By:                                                                                             

Name: Candice L. Otey

Title:    Secretary

   
   
  CSA AIR, INC.
   
 

By:                                                                                             

Name: Candice L. Otey

Title:    Secretary

   
   
  GLOBAL AVIATION SERVICES, LLC
   
 

By:                                                                                             

Name: Candice L. Otey

Title:    Secretary

   
   
  GLOBAL GROUND SUPPORT, INC.
   
 

By:                                                                                             

Name: Candice L. Otey

Title:    Secretary

   
  JET YARD, LLC
   
 

By: Stratus Aero Partners, LLC

Its:  Sole Member

   
 

By:                                                                                             

Name: Candice L. Otey

Title:    Secretary

                   

 

 

 

  MOUNTAIN AIR CARGO, INC.
   
 

By:                                                                                             

Name: Candice L. Otey

Title:    Secretary

   
   
  STRATUS AERO PARTNERS, LLC
   
 

By:                                                                                             

Name: Candice L. Otey

Title:    Secretary

   
   
  AIR T GLOBAL LEASING, LLC
   
 

By:                                                                                             

Name: Candice L. Otey

Title:    Secretary

   
   
  AIRCO SERVICES, LLC
   
 

By:                                                                                             

Name: Candice L. Otey

Title:    Secretary

   
   
 

SPACE AGE INSURANCE COMPANY

   
 

By:                                                                                             

Name: Candice L. Otey

Title:    Secretary

 

 

 

 

Worthington acquisition, LLC , a   n orth

C arolina limited liability company

   
  By:                                                                           
  Name:                                                                          
  Its:                                                                          

   

 

 

 

 

 

Worthington aviation , LLC , a North

Carolina limited liability company

     
  By:                                                                          
  Name:                                                                          
  Its:                                                                          
     
     
 

Worthington MRO, LLC , a N orth  C arolina

limited liability company

     
  By:                                                                          
  Name:                                                                          
  Its:                                                                          

 

 

 

 

Accepted and agreed to as of the date first above written.

 

MINNESOTA BANK & TRUST ,

as Secured Party

 

By:                                                                   

Name:   Eric P. Gundersen

Title:     Senior Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Security Agreement Signature Page]

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE A

 

Commercial Tort Claims in Excess of $50,000

 

 

None.

 

 

 

 

Exhibit A

 

[FORM OF]

 

IRREVOCABLE STOCK POWER

 

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers to __________________ the following Equity Interests of [___________], a [_________] [corporation] [limited liability company]:

               

No. of Shares                                                                        Certificate No.

 

 

 

and irrevocably appoints __________________________________ its agent and attorney-in-fact to transfer all or any part of such Equity Interests and to take all necessary and appropriate action to effect any such transfer. The agent and attorney-in-fact may substitute and appoint one or more persons to act for him.

 

                                                                              
   
  By:                                                                        
  Name:                                                                   
  Title:                                                                     

 

   

 

 

 

Exhibit B

 

[FORM OF]

 

NOTICE

OF

GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST

IN

COPYRIGHTS

 

 

United States Copyright Office

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Please be advised that pursuant to the Security Agreement dated as of March 28, 2019 (as amended, modified, extended, restated, renewed, replaced, or supplemented from time to time, the “ Agreement ”) by and among the Grantors party thereto (each an “ Grantor ” and collectively, the “ Grantors ”) and MINNESOTA BANK & TRUST, as Secured Party (the “ Secured Party ”), the undersigned Grantor has granted a continuing security interest in and continuing lien upon the copyrights and copyright applications shown on Schedule 1 attached hereto to the Secured Party.

 

The undersigned Grantor and the Secured Party, hereby acknowledge and agree that the security interest in the foregoing copyrights and copyright applications (a) may only be terminated in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and (b) is not to be construed as an assignment of any copyright or copyright application.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

[GRANTOR]

   
  By:                                                                        
  Name:                                                                   
  Title:                                                                     

 

                              

 

Acknowledged and Accepted:

 

MINNESOTA BANK & TRUST,

as Secured Party

 

By:                                                                        

Name:                                                                   

Title:                                                                     

 

 

 

 

Exhibit C

 

[FORM OF]

 

NOTICE

OF

GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST

IN

PATENTS

 

 

United States Patent and Trademark Office

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Please be advised that pursuant to the Security Agreement dated as of March 28, 2019 (as amended, modified, extended, restated, renewed, replaced, or supplemented from time to time, the “ Agreement ”) by and among the Grantors party thereto (each an “ Grantor ” and collectively, the “ Grantors ”) and MINNESOTA BANK & TRUST, as Secured Party (the “ Secured Party ”), the undersigned Grantor has granted a continuing security interest in and continuing lien upon the patents and patent applications shown on Schedule 1 attached hereto to the Secured Party.

 

The undersigned Grantor and the Secured Party, hereby acknowledge and agree that the security interest in the foregoing patents and patent applications (a) may only be terminated in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and (b) is not to be construed as an assignment of any patent or patent application.

 

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

[GRANTOR]

   
  By:                                                                        
  Name:                                                                   
  Title:                                                                     

 

 

 

Acknowledged and Accepted:

 

MINNESOTA BANK & TRUST,

as Secured Party

 

By:                                                                        

Name:                                                                   

Title:                                                                     

 

 

 

 

Exhibit D

 

[FORM OF]

 

NOTICE

OF

GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST

IN

TRADEMARKS

 

United States Patent and Trademark Office

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Please be advised that pursuant to the Amended and Restated Security Agreement dated as of March 28, 2019 (as amended, modified, extended, restated, renewed, replaced, or supplemented from time to time, the “Agreement”) by and among the Grantors party thereto (each a “Grantor” and collectively, the “Grantors”) and MINNESOTA BANK & TRUST, as Secured Party (the “Secured Party”), the undersigned Grantor has granted to the Secured Party a continuing security interest in and continuing lien upon the trademarks and trademark applications shown on Schedule 1 attached hereto together with the goodwill of the business with which such trademarks and trademark applications are associated.

 

The undersigned Grantor and the Secured Party, hereby acknowledge and agree that the security interest in the foregoing trademarks and trademark applications (a) may only be terminated in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and (b) is not to be construed as an assignment of any trademark or trademark application.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

[GRANTOR]

   
  By:                                                                        
  Name:                                                                   
  Title:                                                                     

 

 

 

Acknowledged and Accepted:

 

MINNESOTA BANK & TRUST,

as Secured Party

 

By:                                                                        

Name:                                                                   

Title:                                                                     

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.4

 

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED GUARANTY

 

THIS GUARANTY, dated as of March 28, 2019, is jointly and severally executed by the guarantors listed on the signature pages hereto (the " Original Guarantors ", which term includes each of the Existing Guarantors, hereinafter defined) or from time to time party hereto by execution of a joinder agreement (the " Additional Guarantors ", and together with the Original Guarantors, the " Guarantors "), in favor of MINNESOTA BANK & TRUST, a Minnesota state banking corporation (together with its successors and assigns, the “ Lender ”).

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, Air T, Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with its successors and assigns, the “Borrower”), and Minnesota Bank & Trust, a Minnesota state banking corporation (together with its successors and assigns, the “ Lender ”), a parties to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of December 21, 2017 (such Credit Agreement, as amended to date being, the “ Original Credit Agreement ”), pursuant to which the Lender has extended credit to the Borrower.

 

WHEREAS, as a condition precedent to the effectiveness of the Original Credit Agreement, certain Subsidiaries of the Borrower (the “ Existing Guarantors ”) executed and delivered to Lender that certain Guaranty dated as of December 21, 2017, pursuant to which the Existing Guarantors guaranteed the payment and performance of all obligations of the Borrower to the Lender.

 

WHEREAS, the Borrower and Lender have entered into that certain Amended and Restated Credit dated as of even date herewith, amending and restating the Original Credit Agreement in its entirety (such Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, as it may be amended, modified, supplemented, replaced or restated from time to time being, the “ Credit Agreement ”; capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein being used herein as therein defined.

 

WHEREAS, in order to induce Lender to enter into the Credit Agreement, and as additional security for the Loans and for all sums advanced by the Lender under the Notes and the Credit Agreement, and for the payment and performance by Borrower of its obligations under the Notes and the Credit Agreement, Borrower has agreed to obtain, and Guarantors have jointly and severally agreed to execute, deliver and perform, this Guaranty; and

 

WHEREAS, the Lender is unwilling to enter into the Credit Agreement or to make any advances under the Notes and/or the Credit Agreement unless this Guaranty is executed by the Guarantors and is delivered to Lender and remains in full force and effect; and

 

WHEREAS, this Guaranty amends, restates and replaces, in its entirety, the Existing Guaranty;

 

 

 

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the Lender entering into the Credit Agreement, Lender’s agreement to make the Loans to Borrower in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement and of other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby jointly and severally acknowledged by the Guarantors, the Guarantors hereby jointly and severally covenant and agree with the Lender to amend, restate and replace the Existing Guaranty in its entirety to read as follows:

 

Section 1.    Guaranty of Payment . For value received, and in consideration of any loan or other financial accommodation heretofore or hereafter at any time made or granted to Air T, Inc., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter called the “ Borrower ”), by the Lender, the undersigned hereby jointly and severally unconditionally guarantee the full and prompt payment when due, whether by acceleration or otherwise, and at all times thereafter, of all obligations of the Borrower to the Lender, howsoever created, arising or evidenced, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, or now or hereafter existing, or due or to become due, including, without limitation, all Obligations of the Borrower to the Lender pursuant to that certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of March 28, 2019 (as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented, restated or replaced from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”; capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to such terms in the Credit Agreement) by and between the Borrower and the Lender (all such obligations being hereinafter collectively called the “ Obligations ”), and each of the undersigned further agrees to pay all expenses, including fees of attorneys (who may be employees of the Lender or any Affiliate) and legal expenses, paid or incurred by the Lender in endeavoring to collect the Obligations, or any part thereof, and in enforcing this Guaranty.

 

Section 2.      Acceleration of the Time of Payment of Amount Payable Under the Guaranty . Each of the undersigned agrees that if any of the undersigned shall be dissolved or shall be or become insolvent (however defined) or any of the undersigned voluntarily commences or there is commenced involuntarily against such undersigned a case under the United States Bankruptcy Code, the full amount of all Obligations, whether due and payable or unmatured, shall be immediately due and payable without demand or notice thereof, to the extent provided in the Credit Agreement.

 

Section 3.      Security Interest in Deposits and Other Property . To secure all obligations of each of the undersigned hereunder, the Lender shall have a Lien upon and security interest in (and may, without demand or notice of any kind, at any time and from time to time when any amount shall be due and payable by such undersigned hereunder, appropriate and apply toward the payment of such amount, in such order as the Lender may elect, any and all balances, credits, deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final), accounts or moneys of or in the name of such undersigned now or hereafter with the Lender or any Affiliate of the Lender and any and all property of every kind or description of or in the name of such undersigned now or hereafter with the Lender or any Affiliate of the Lender and any and all property of every kind or description of or in the name of such undersigned now or hereafter, for any reason or purpose whatsoever, in the possession or control of, or in transit to, the Lender or any Affiliate of the Lender or bailee for any such Person.

 

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Section 4.      Continuing Guaranty . This Guaranty shall in all respects be a continuing, absolute and unconditional Guaranty, and shall remain in full force and effect (notwithstanding, without limitation, the dissolution of any of the undersigned or that at any time or from time to time all Obligations may have been paid in full), subject to discontinuance as to any of the undersigned only upon actual receipt by the Lender of written notice from such undersigned, or any person duly authorized and acting on behalf of such undersigned, of the discontinuance hereof as to such undersigned; provided , however , that no such notice of discontinuance shall affect or impair any of the agreements and obligations of such undersigned hereunder with respect to any and all Obligations existing prior to the time of actual receipt of such notice by the Lender, any and all Obligations created or acquired thereafter pursuant to any previous commitments made by the Lender, any and all extensions or renewals of any of the foregoing, any and all interest on any of the foregoing, and any and all expenses paid or incurred by the Lender in endeavoring to collect any of the foregoing and in enforcing this Guaranty against such undersigned; and all of the agreements and obligations of such undersigned under this Guaranty shall, notwithstanding any such notice of discontinuance, remain fully in effect until all such Obligations (including any extensions or renewals of any thereof) and all such interest and expenses shall have been paid in full. Any such notice of discontinuance by or on behalf of any of the undersigned shall not affect or impair the obligations hereunder of any other of the undersigned.

 

Section 5.      Recission or Return of Payment on Obligations . The undersigned further jointly and severally agree that, if at any time all or any part of any payment theretofore applied by the Lender to any of the Obligations is or must be rescinded or returned by the Lender for any reason whatsoever (including, without limitation, the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Borrower or any of the undersigned), such Obligations shall, for the purposes of this Guaranty, to the extent that such payment is or must be rescinded or returned, be deemed to have continued in existence, notwithstanding such application by the Lender, and this Guaranty shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, as to such Obligations, all as though such application by the Lender had not been made.

 

Section 6.      Lender Permitted to Take Certain Actions . The Lender may, from time to time (but shall not be obligated to), whether before or after any discontinuance of this Guaranty, at its sole discretion and without notice to the undersigned (or any of them), take any or all of the following actions: (a) retain or obtain a security interest in any property to secure any of the Obligations or any obligation hereunder; (b) retain or obtain the primary or secondary obligation of any obligor or obligors, in addition to the undersigned, with respect to any of the Obligations; (c) extend or renew for one or more periods (whether or not longer than the original period), alter or exchange any of the Obligations, or release or compromise any obligation of any of the undersigned hereunder or any obligation of any nature of any other obligor with respect to any of the Obligations; (d) release its security interest in, or surrender, release or permit any substitution or exchange for, all or any part of any property securing any of the Obligations or any obligation hereunder, or extend or renew for one or more periods (whether or not longer than the original period) or release, compromise, alter or exchange any obligations of any nature of any obligor with respect to any such property; and (e) resort to the undersigned (or any of them) for payment of any of the Obligations, whether or not the Lender (i) shall have resorted to any property securing any of the Obligations or any obligation hereunder or (ii) shall have proceeded against the Borrower or any other of the undersigned or any other obligor primarily or secondarily obligated with respect to any of the Obligations (all of the actions referred to in preceding clauses (i) and (ii) being hereby expressly waived by the undersigned).

 

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Section 7.      Application of Payments . Any amounts received by the Lender from whatsoever source on account of the Obligations may be applied by it toward the payment of such of the Obligations and in such order of application, as the Lender may from time to time elect.

 

Section 8.      Subordination . Except as the Lender may hereafter expressly consent in writing, the payment of all obligations of the Borrower to the undersigned, howsoever created, arising or evidenced, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent or now or hereafter existing, as due or to become due (collectively, the “Guarantor Liabilities”) shall be postponed and subordinated to the payment in full of all Obligations, and no payments or other distributions whatsoever in respect of any Guarantor Liabilities shall be made, nor shall any property or assets of the Borrower or any other person obligated on the Obligations be applied to the purchase or other acquisition or retirement of any Guarantor Liabilities following the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default. If any payment on the Guarantor Liabilities is prohibited from being paid by operation of this Guaranty such payment shall be payable only after the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of the Credit Agreement, and the Borrower’s failure to make a payment on the Guarantor Liabilities by reason of this Guaranty shall not constitute an event of default on the Guarantor Liabilities.

 

Section 9.      Waiver of Claims . Until such time as this Guaranty shall have been discontinued as to all of the undersigned and the Lender shall have received payment of the full amount of all Obligations and of all obligations of the undersigned hereunder and the Credit Agreement has been terminated, no payment made by or for the account of the undersigned (or any of them) pursuant to this Guaranty shall entitle any of the undersigned by subrogation or otherwise to any payment by the Borrower or from or out of any property of the Borrower, and none of the undersigned shall exercise any right or remedy against the Borrower or any property of the Borrower by reason of an performance by such undersigned of this Guaranty.

 

Section 10.   Waiver of Notice and Other Matters . Each of the undersigned hereby expressly waives: (a) notice of the acceptance by the Lender of this Guaranty; (b) notice of the existence or creation or non-payment of all or any of the Obligations; (c) presentment, demand, notice of dishonor, protest, and all other notices whatsoever; and (d) all diligence in collection or protection of or realization upon the Obligations or any thereof, any obligation hereunder, or any security for or guaranty of any of the foregoing.

 

Section 11.   Assignment of Obligations . Subject to provisions of Credit Agreement, the Lender may, from time to time, whether before or after any discontinuance of this Guaranty, without notice to the undersigned (or any of them), assign or transfer any or all of the Obligations or any interest therein; and, notwithstanding any such assignment or transfer or any subsequent assignment or transfer thereof, such Obligations shall be and remain Obligations for the purposes of this Guaranty, and each and every immediate and successive assignee or transferee of any of the Obligations or of any interest therein shall, to the extent of the interest of such assignee or transferee in the Obligations, be entitled to the benefits of this Guaranty to the same extent as if such assignee or transferee were the transferor; provided, that, unless the Lender shall otherwise consent in writing, the Lender shall have an unimpaired right, prior and superior to that of any such assignee or transferee, to enforce this Guaranty, for the benefit of the Lender, as to those of the Obligations which the Lender has not assigned or transferred.

 

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Section 12.    Information Concerning Borrower . Each of the undersigned hereby warrants to the Lender that such undersigned now has and will continue to have independent means of obtaining information concerning the affairs, financial condition and business of the Borrower. The Lender shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide the undersigned (or any of them) with any credit or other information concerning the affairs, financial condition or business of the Borrower, which may come into the Lender’s possession.

 

Section 13.    Waiver and Modifications . No delay on the part of the Lender in the exercise of any right or remedy shall operate as a waiver thereof, and no single or partial exercise by the Lender of any right or remedy shall preclude other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or remedy; nor shall any modification or waiver of any of the provisions of this Guaranty be binding upon the Lender except as expressly set forth in a writing duly signed and delivered on behalf of the Lender.

 

Section 14.    Obligations Under Guaranty . No action of the Lender permitted hereunder shall in any way affect or impair the rights of the Lender and the obligations of the undersigned under this Guaranty. For the purposes of this Guaranty, the Obligations shall include all Obligations of the Borrower to the Lender, notwithstanding any right or power of the Borrower or anyone else to assert any claim or defense as to the invalidity or un enforceability of any such Obligation, and no such claim or defense shall affect or impair the obligations of the undersigned hereunder. The obligations of the undersigned under this Guaranty shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of any circumstance whatsoever which might constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of the undersigned (or any of them). Each of the undersigned hereby acknowledges that there are no conditions to the effectiveness of this Guaranty.

 

Section 15.    Successors . This Guaranty shall be binding upon each of the undersigned, and upon the successors and assigns of such undersigned, and to the extent that the Borrower or any of the undersigned is either a partnership or a corporation, all references herein to the Borrower and to the undersigned, respectively, shall be deemed to include any successor or successors, whether immediate or remote, to such partnership or corporation.

 

Section 16.    Joint and Several Obligation . If more than one party shall execute this Guaranty, the term “undersigned,” as used herein, shall mean all parties executing this Guaranty and each of them, and all such parties shall be jointly and severally obligated hereunder.

 

Section 17.     Governing Law . THE VALIDITY, CONSTRUCTION AND ENFORCEABILITY OF THIS GUARANTY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.

 

Section 18.   Consent to Jurisdiction . AT THE OPTION OF THE LENDER, THIS GUARANTY MAY BE ENFORCED IN ANY FEDERAL COURT OR MINNESOTA STATE COURT SITTING IN MINNEAPOLIS, OR ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA; AND EACH OF THE UNDERSIGNED CONSENTS TO THE JURISDICTION AND VENUE OF ANY SUCH COURT AND WAIVES ANY ARGUMENT THAT VENUE IN SUCH FORUMS IS NOT CONVENIENT. IN THE EVENT ANY OF THE UNDERSIGNED COMMENCES ANY ACTION IN ANOTHER JURISDICTION OR VENUE UNDER ANY TORT OR CONTRACT THEORY ARISING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY FROM THE RELATIONSHIP CREATED BY THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT, THE LENDER, AT ITS OPTION, SHALL BE ENTITLED TO HAVE THE CASE TRANSFERRED TO ONE OF THE JURISDICTIONS AND VENUES ABOVE-DESCRIBED, OR IF SUCH TRANSFER CANNOT BE ACCOMPLISHED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, TO HAVE SUCH CASE DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.

 

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Section 19.    Waiver of Jury Trial . EACH OF THE UNDERSIGNED HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING TO ENFORCE OR DEFEND ANY RIGHTS (a) UNDER THIS GUARANTY OR UNDER ANY AMENDMENT, INSTRUMENT, DOCUMENT OR AGREEMENT DELIVERED OR WHICH MAY IN THE FUTURE BE DELIVERED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH, OR (b) ARISING FROM ANY BANKING RELATIONSHIP EXISTING IN CONNECTION WITH THIS GUARANTY, AND AGREES THAT ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE TRIED BEFORE A COURT AND NOT BEFORE A JURY.

 

Section 20.     Severability . Wherever possible, each provision of this Guaranty shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Guaranty shall be prohibited by or invalid under such law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Guaranty. In any action or proceeding involving any state organizational law, or any state or federal bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other law affecting the rights of creditors generally, if the obligations of any of the undersigned hereunder would otherwise be held or determined to be void, invalid or unenforceable on account of such undersigned’s liability under this Guaranty, then, notwithstanding any other provision of this Guaranty to the contrary, the amount of such liability shall, without any further action by such undersigned, the Lender or any other Person, be automatically limited and reduced to the highest amount which is valid and enforceable as determined in such action or proceeding.

 

Section 21.    Captions . Section captions used in this Guaranty are for convenience only, and shall not affect the construction of this Guaranty.

 

Section 22.    Certain Representations and Warranties . Each of the undersigned represents and warrants to the Lender that: (a) each of the representations and warranties contained in the Credit Agreement pertaining to such undersigned as a Subsidiary of the Borrower or as a Loan Party or words of like import referring to such undersigned are true and correct; and (b) (i) the Borrower and each of the undersigned make up a related organization of various entities constituting a single economic and business enterprise so that the Borrower and all of the undersigned share an identity of interests such that any benefit received by any one of them benefits the others; (ii) the Borrower and each of the undersigned render services for the benefit of the one another, purchases or sells and supplies goods to or from or for the benefit of one another, makes loans, advances and provides other financial accommodations to or for the benefit of one another; (iii) in some cases, the Borrower and some of the undersigned have centralized accounting and legal service and common officers and directors; and (iv) while the Borrower and all of the undersigned operate as a single economic enterprise, nothing contained in this subsection (b) should be construed or imply that the Borrower and each of the undersigned are not separate legal entities.

 

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Section 23.   Additional Covenants . Each of the undersigned agree(s) to perform and observe the affirmative and negative covenants respectively set forth in ARTICLE 6 and 7 of the Credit Agreement that apply to the undersigned as a Subsidiary of the Borrower or as a Loan Party and that such covenants are incorporated herein by reference as though fully set forth herein.

 

Section 24.    Amendment and Restatement . This Guaranty supersedes and replaces the Existing Guaranty. Delivery and acceptance of this Guaranty shall not evidence release or satisfaction of or a novation with respect to such prior guaranty or any obligations of Guarantor under such prior guaranty, which obligations remain outstanding and shall be evidenced by this Guaranty. The liens, security interests, assignments and other rights evidenced by this Guaranty are hereby renewed and extended to secure payment of the Notes.

 

Section 25.    Acknowledgment . Each Guarantor hereby acknowledges that such Guarantor has received copies of the Credit Agreement, the Notes and the other Loan Documents, and consents to the Borrower’s execution and delivery of the Loan Documents.

 

Section 26.     Counterparts . This Guaranty may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be an original, but all of which shall constitute one and the same instrument. It shall not be necessary in making proof of this Guaranty to produce or account for more than one such counterpart. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Guaranty by fax transmission or other electronic mail transmission (e.g. “pdf” or “tif”) shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Guaranty.

 

 

[SIGNATURE PAGES FOLLOW]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this guaranty has been duly executed by the undersigned as of the date first written above.

 

 

  AIRCO, LLC
   
 

By:                                                                         

Name: Candice L. Otey

Title:    Secretary

   
   
  CSA AIR, INC.
   
 

By:                                                                         

Name: Candice L. Otey

Title:    Secretary

   
   
 

GLOBAL AVIATION SERVICES, LLC

   
 

By:                                                                         

Name: Candice L. Otey

Title:    Secretary

   
   
  GLOBAL GROUND SUPPORT, INC.
   
   
 

By:                                                                         

Name: Candice L. Otey

Title:    Secretary  

   
  JET YARD, LLC
   
   
 

By: Stratus Aero Partners, LLC

Its:  Sole Member

   
 

By:                                                                         

Name: Candice L. Otey

Title:    Secretary

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE:  AMENDED AND RESTATED GUARANTY (PAGE 1 OF 3)

 

 

 

  MOUNTAIN AIR CARGO, INC.
   
 

By:                                                                         

Name: Candice L. Otey

Title:    Secretary

   
   
  STRATUS AERO PARTNERS, LLC
   
 

By:                                                                         

Name: Candice L. Otey

Title:    Secretary

   
   
  AIR T GLOBAL LEASING, LLC
   
 

By:                                                                         

Name: Candice L. Otey

Title:    Secretary

   
   
  AIRCO SERVICES, LLC
   
 

By:                                                                         

Name: Candice L. Otey

Title:    Secretary

   
   
  SPACE AGE INSURANCE COMPANY
   
 

By:                                                                         

Name: Candice L. Otey

Title:    Secretary

   
   
 

Worthington acquisition , LLC , a North

Carolina limited liability company

   
  By:                                                       
  Name:                                                      
  Its:                                                      

 

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE:  AMENDED AND RESTATED GUARANTY (PAGE 2 OF 3)

 

 

 

 

Worthington aviation , LLC , a North

Carolina limited liability company

     
  By:                                                      
  Name:                                                      
  Its:                                                      
     
 

Worthington MRO, LLC , a North Carolina

limited liability company

     
  By:                                                      
  Name:                                                      
  Its:                                                      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED:

 

Minnesota Bank & Trust ,

a Minnesota state banking

corporation

 

By:                                                                         

Name: Eric P. Gundersen

Title:   Senior Vice President

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE:  AMENDED AND RESTATED GUARANTY (PAGE 3 OF 3)