Exhibit 10.24
FOURTH AMENDMENT TO
LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
THIS FOURTH AMENDMENT TO LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT ("this
Amendment") is made and entered into as of the 14th day of August, 1997, to be
effective for all purposes as of April 1, 1997 (the "Effective Date"), by and
among FLEET CAPITAL CORPORATION, a Rhode Island corporation, successor in
interest by merger to FLEET CAPITAL CORPORATION, a Connecticut corporation,
formerly known as SHAWMUT CAPITAL CORPORATION, successor in interest by
assignment to BARCLAYS BUSINESS CREDIT, INC. ("Lender"), LOWRANCE ELECTRONICS,
INC., a Delaware corporation ("Lowrance"), LEI EXTRAS, INC., a Delaware
corporation ("LEI"), LOWRANCE CONTRACTS, INC., a Delaware corporation ("Lowrance
Contracts"), and SEA ELECTRONICS, INC., an Oklahoma corporation ("Sea
Electronics") (Lowrance, LEI, Lowrance Contracts and Sea Electronics are herein
individually and collectively called "Borrower").
RECITALS
A. Borrower, Lowrance Australia Pty Limited ("Lowrance Australia") and
Lender have entered into that certain Loan and Security Agreement, dated
December 15, 1993, as amended by (i) that certain First Amendment to Loan and
Security Agreement, dated October 16, 1995, by and among Lender, Borrower and
Lowrance Australia, (ii) that certain Second Amendment to Loan and Security
Agreement, dated November 1, 1996 by and among Lender and Borrower and (iii)
that certain Third Amendment to Loan and Security Agreement, dated December 31,
1996 by and among Lender and Borrower (as amended, the "Loan Agreement").
B. Borrower and Lender desire to amend the Loan Agreement as hereinafter
set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises herein contained and other
good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions
1.01 Capitalized terms used in this Amendment are defined in the Loan
Agreement, as amended hereby, unless otherwise stated.
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ARTICLE II
Amendments
2.01 Amendment to Section 1.1; Amendment of Certain Definitions. Effective
as of the Effective Date, the definition of "Eligible Inventory" contained in
Section 1.1 of the Loan Agreement is hereby amended by deleting clause
(f)thereof in its entirety and substituting the following in lieu thereof:
"(f) is situated at a location in compliance with Section 4.6 hereof, is
not in-transit and is not located in Mexico or Australia, and"
2.02 Amendment to Section 1.1; Deletion of Certain Definitions. Effective
as of the Effective Date, Section 1.1 of the Loan Agreement is hereby amended
deleting therefrom the definition for "Rate Reduction Event".
2.03 Amendment to Section 3.1(A). Effective as of the Effective Date,
Section 3.1(A) of the Loan Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and the
following substituted in lieu thereof:
"Outstanding principal on the Loans shall bear interest, calculated
daily, at the following rates per annum (individually called, as
applicable, an "Applicable Annual Rate"): (i) the Term Loan shall bear
interest at a fluctuating rate per annum equal to 1.50% above the Base
Rate, (ii) the Equipment Loans shall bear interest at a fluctuating rate
per annum equal to 1.50% above the Base Rate and (iii) the Revolving Credit
Loans shall bear interest at a fluctuating rate per annum equal to 1.00%
above the Base Rate. Each Applicable Annual Rate shall be increased or
decreased, as the case may be, by an amount equal to any increase or
decrease in the Base Rate, with such adjustments to be effective as of the
opening of business on the day that any such change in the Base Rate
becomes effective. Interest on the Loans shall be calculated daily, based
on the actual days elapsed over a 360 day year. Further, for the purpose of
computing interest, all items of payment received by Lender shall be
applied by Lender (subject to final payment of all drafts and other items
received in form other than immediately available funds) against the
Obligations on the first Business Day after receipt. The determination of
when a payment is received by Lender will be made in accordance with
Section 3.6.
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, Lender and
Borrower agree that the Applicable Annual Rate relating to Revolving Credit
Loans shall be reduced from 1.00% above the Base Rate to 0.75% above the
Base Rate if (i) Borrower achieves a requisite percentage of its budgeted
net income for its 1998 fiscal year, as evidenced by Borrower's audited
financial statements which are to be delivered by Borrower to Lender
pursuant to Section 9.1(J)(i) hereof (such requisite percentage of net
income to-be-determined by Lender following receipt by Lender of
Borrower's Projections for its 1998 fiscal year) and (ii) as of the date
Lender determines that Borrower has achieved such requisite percentage of
its budgeted net income, no Default or Event of Default exists hereunder."
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2.04 Amendment to Section 9.3(B). Effective as of the Effective Date,
Section 9.2(B) of the Loan Agreement is hereby deleted in its entirety and the
following substituted in lieu thereof:
"(B) Maximum Leverage Ratio. Maintain, on a Consolidated basis, a ratio of
(i) total Indebtedness to (ii) Tangible Net Worth of not more than the ratio
shown below for each month during the periods corresponding thereto:
Period Ratio
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April 1, 1997 through April 30, 1997 4.75 to 1
May 1, 1997 through May 31, 1997 4.50 to 1
June 1, 1997 through June 30, 1997 4.25 to 1
July 1, 1997 through July 31, 1997 4.00 to 1
August 1, 1997 to June 30, 1998 4.00 to 1
July 1, 1998 through July 31, 1998 3.00 to 1
August 1, 1998 and thereafter 4.00 to 1"
ARTICLE III
Conditions Precedent and Post-Closing Covenants
3.01 Conditions Precedent. The effectiveness of this Amendment is subject
to the satisfaction of the following conditions precedent, unless specifically
waived in writing by Lender:
(a) Lender shall have received this Amendment, duly executed by
Borrower;
(b) The representations and warranties contained herein, in the Loan
Agreement and in the Other Agreements, as each is amended hereby, shall be true
and correct as of the date hereof, as if made on the date hereof;
(c) After giving effect to this Amendment, no Default or Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing, unless such Default or Event of
Default has been specifically waived in writing by Lender; and
(d) All corporate proceedings taken in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Amendment and all documents, instruments and
other legal matters incident thereto shall be satisfactory to Lender and its
legal counsel.
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ARTICLE IV
No Waiver
Nothing contained in this Amendment shall be construed as a waiver by
Lender of any covenant or provision of the Loan Agreement, the Other Agreements,
this Amendment, or of any other contract or instrument between Borrower and
Lender, and the failure of Lender at any time or times hereafter to require
strict performance by Borrower of any provision thereof shall not waive, affect
or diminish any right of Lender to thereafter demand strict compliance
therewith. Lender hereby reserves all rights granted under the Loan Agreement,
the Other Agreements, this Amendment and any other contract or instrument
between Borrower and Lender.
ARTICLE V
Ratifications, Representations and Warranties
5.01 Ratifications. The terms and provisions set forth in this Amendment
shall modify and supersede all inconsistent terms and provisions set forth in
the Loan Agreement and the Other Agreements, and, except as expressly modified
and superseded by this Amendment, the terms and provisions of the Loan Agreement
and the Other Agreements are ratified and confirmed and shall continue in full
force and effect. Borrower and Lender agree that the Loan Agreement and the
Other Agreements, as amended hereby, shall continue to be legal, valid, binding
and enforceable in accordance with their respective terms.
5.02 Representations and Warranties. Borrower hereby represents and
warrants to Lender that (a) the execution, delivery and performance of this
Amendment and any and all Other Agreements executed and/or delivered in
connection herewith have been authorized by all requisite corporate action on
the part of Borrower and will not violate the Certificate/Articles of
Incorporation or Bylaws of Borrower; (b) the representations and warranties
contained in the Loan Agreement, as amended hereby, and any Other Agreement are
true and correct on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the date of
execution hereof as though made on and as of each such date; (c) no Default or
Event of Default under the Loan Agreement, as amended hereby, has occurred and
is continuing; (d) Borrower is in full compliance with all covenants and
agreements contained in the Loan Agreement and the Other Agreements, as amended
hereby; (e) the Borrower's Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws are in full
force and effect on and as of the date hereof without modification or amendment
in any respect since November 1, 1996; (f) as of the date hereof, (i) Borrower
is in existence and in corporate and tax good standing in the State of its
organization, (ii) the Borrower is qualified to do business as a foreign
corporation and is in corporate and tax good standing in each jurisdiction where
Borrower is doing business and is required to be so qualified, (iii) Borrower
does not owe franchise taxes or other taxes required to maintain its corporate
existence and no franchise tax reports are due, and (iv) no proceedings are
pending for forfeiture of the Company's charter or for its dissolution either
voluntarily or involuntarily; and (g) the officer of Borrower executing this
Amendment has been duly elected and is, at present, qualified and acting in the
office indicated below such officer's name and is duly authorized to execute
this Amendment on behalf of Borrower.
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ARTICLE VI
Miscellaneous Provisions
6.01 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations and
warranties made in the Loan Agreement or any Other Agreement, including, without
limitation, any document furnished in connection with this Amendment, shall
survive the execution and delivery of this Amendment and the Other Agreements,
and no investigation by Lender or any closing shall affect the representations
and warranties or the right of Lender to rely upon them.
6.02 Reference to Loan Agreement. Each of the Loan Agreement and the Other
Agreements, and any and all other agreements, documents or instruments now or
hereafter executed and delivered pursuant to the terms hereof or pursuant to the
terms of the Loan Agreement, as amended hereby, are hereby amended so that any
reference in the Loan Agreement and such Other Agreements to the Loan Agreement
shall mean a reference to the Loan Agreement as amended hereby.
6.03 Expenses of Lender. As provided in the Loan Agreement, Borrower agrees
to pay on demand all costs and expenses incurred by Lender in connection with
the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Amendment and the Other
Agreements executed pursuant hereto and any and all amendments, modifications,
and supplements thereto, including, without limitation, the costs and fees of
Lender's legal counsel, and all costs and expenses incurred by Lender in
connection with the enforcement or preservation of any rights under the Loan
Agreement, as amended hereby, or any Other Agreements, including, without,
limitation, the costs and fees of Lender's legal counsel.
6.04 Severability. Any provision of this Amendment held by a court of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable shall not impair or
invalidate the remainder of this Amendment and the effect thereof shall be
confined to the provision so held to be invalid or unenforceable.
6.05 Successors and Assigns. This Amendment is binding upon and shall inure
to the benefit of Lender and Borrower and their respective successors and
assigns, except that Borrower may not assign or transfer any of its rights or
obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of Lender.
6.06 Counterparts. This Amendment may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original,
but all of which when taken together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
6.07 Effect of Waiver. No consent or waiver, express or implied, by Lender
to or for any breach of or deviation from any covenant or condition by Borrower
shall be deemed a consent to or waiver of any other breach of the same or any
other covenant, condition or duty.
6.08 Headings. The headings, captions, and arrangements used in this
Amendment are for convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation of
this Amendment.
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6.09 Applicable Law. THIS AMENDMENT AND ALL OTHER AGREEMENTS EXECUTED
PURSUANT HERETO SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN MADE AND TO BE PERFORMABLE IN AND
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
TEXAS.
6.10 Final Agreement. THE LOAN AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER AGREEMENTS, EACH AS
AMENDED HEREBY, REPRESENT THE ENTIRE EXPRESSION OF THE PARTIES WITH RESPECT TO
THE SUBJECT MATTER HEREOF ON THE DATE THIS AMENDMENT IS EXECUTED. THE LOAN
AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER AGREEMENTS, AS AMENDED HEREBY, MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED
BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE
PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES. NO
MODIFICATION, RESCISSION, WAIVER, RELEASE OR AMENDMENT OF ANY PROVISION OF THIS
AMENDMENT SHALL BE MADE, EXCEPT BY A WRITTEN AGREEMENT SIGNED BY BORROWER AND
LENDER.
6.11 Release. BORROWER HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT HAS NO DEFENSE,
COUNTERCLAIM, OFFSET, CROSS-COMPLAINT, CLAIM OR DEMAND OF ANY KIND OR NATURE
WHATSOEVER THAT CAN BE ASSERTED TO REDUCE OR ELIMINATE ALL OR ANY PART OF ITS
LIABILITY TO REPAY THE "OBLIGATIONS" OR TO SEEK AFFIRMATIVE RELIEF OR DAMAGES OF
ANY KIND OR NATURE FROM LENDER. BORROWER HEREBY VOLUNTARILY AND KNOWINGLY
RELEASES AND FOREVER DISCHARGES LENDER, ITS PREDECESSORS, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS,
AGENTS, EMPLOYEES, SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS, FROM ALL POSSIBLE CLAIMS, DEMANDS,
ACTIONS, CAUSES OF ACTION, DAMAGES, COSTS, EXPENSES, AND LIABILITIES WHATSOEVER,
KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, ANTICIPATED OR UNANTICIPATED, SUSPECTED OR UNSUSPECTED, FIXED,
CONTINGENT, OR CONDITIONAL, AT LAW OR IN EQUITY, ORIGINATING IN WHOLE OR IN PART
ON OR BEFORE THE DATE THIS AMENDMENT IS EXECUTED, WHICH THE BORROWER MAY NOW OR
HEREAFTER HAVE AGAINST LENDER, ITS PREDECESSORS, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, AGENTS,
EMPLOYEES, SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS, IF ANY, AND IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER ANY SUCH
CLAIMS ARISE OUT OF CONTRACT, TORT, VIOLATION OF LAW OR REGULATIONS, OR
OTHERWISE, AND ARISING FROM ANY "LOANS", INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY
CONTRACTING FOR, CHARGING, TAKING, RESERVING, COLLECTING OR RECEIVING INTEREST
IN EXCESS OF THE HIGHEST LAWFUL RATE APPLICABLE, THE EXERCISE OF ANY RIGHTS AND
REMEDIES UNDER THE LOAN AGREEMENT OR OTHER AGREEMENTS, AND THE NEGOTIATION OF
AND EXECUTION OF THIS AMENDMENT.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amendment has been executed and is effective as of
the date first above-written.
"LENDER"
FLEET CAPITAL CORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxxx XxxXxxxx
------------------------------------
Xxxxx XxxXxxxx, Vice President
"BORROWER"
LOWRANCE ELECTRONICS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
------------------------------------
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, President
LEI EXTRAS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
------------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, President
LOWRANCE CONTRACTS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
------------------------------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx, Vice President
SEA ELECTRONICS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
------------------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, President
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