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EXHIBIT 10.17
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LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
BY AND BETWEEN
STORMEDIA INCORPORATED AND
AKASHIC MEMORIES CORPORATION
AS BORROWER
AND
THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS NAMED HEREIN
AS THE LENDERS,
AND
FOOTHILL CAPITAL CORPORATION
AS FOOTHILL GROUP AGENT
DATED AS OF MAY 29, 1998
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page(s)
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1. DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION.................................................... 1
1.1 Definitions............................................................. 1
1.2 Accounting Terms........................................................ 30
1.3 UCC..................................................................... 30
1.4 Construction............................................................ 30
1.5 Schedules and Exhibits.................................................. 31
1.6 Obligors................................................................ 31
2. LOAN AND TERMS OF PAYMENT....................................................... 31
2.1 Revolving Advances...................................................... 31
2.2 Bridge Term Loan........................................................ 38
2.3 [intentionally omitted]................................................. 40
2.4 Payments................................................................ 40
2.5 Overadvances............................................................ 42
2.6 Interest: Rates, Payments, and Calculations............................ 42
2.7 Collection of Accounts.................................................. 43
2.8 Crediting Payments; Application of Collections.......................... 44
2.9 Designated Account...................................................... 44
2.10 Maintenance of Loan Account; Statements of Obligations.................. 45
2.11 Fees.................................................................... 45
3. CONDITIONS; TERM OF AGREEMENT................................................... 46
3.1 Conditions Precedent to the Initial Advance and Bridge Term
Loan.................................................................... 46
3.2 Conditions Precedent to all Advances.................................... 50
3.3 Condition Subsequent.................................................... 50
3.4 Term; Automatic Renewal................................................. 51
3.5 Effect of Termination................................................... 51
3.6 Early Termination by Borrower........................................... 51
3.7 Termination Upon Event of Default....................................... 51
4. CREATION OF SECURITY INTEREST................................................... 52
4.1 Grant of Security Interest.............................................. 52
4.2 Negotiable Collateral................................................... 53
4.3 Collection of Accounts, General Intangibles, and Negotiable
Collateral.............................................................. 53
4.4 Delivery of Additional Documentation Required........................... 53
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4.5 Power of Attorney....................................................... 54
4.6 Right to Inspect........................................................ 54
4.7 Control Agreements...................................................... 54
5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.................................................. 55
5.1 No Encumbrances......................................................... 55
5.2 Eligible Accounts....................................................... 55
5.3 [intentionally omitted]................................................. 55
5.4 Equipment............................................................... 55
5.5 Location of Inventory and Equipment..................................... 56
5.6 Inventory Records....................................................... 56
5.7 Location of Chief Executive Office; FEIN................................ 56
5.8 Due Organization and Qualification; Subsidiaries........................ 56
5.9 Due Authorization; No Conflict.......................................... 57
5.10 Litigation.............................................................. 58
5.11 No Material Adverse Change. ............................................ 59
5.12 Solvency................................................................ 59
5.13 Employee Benefits....................................................... 59
5.14 Environmental Condition................................................. 59
5.15 Brokerage Fees.......................................................... 60
5.16 Intellectual Property................................................... 60
6. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS........................................................... 61
6.1 Accounting System....................................................... 61
6.2 Collateral Reporting.................................................... 61
6.3 Financial Statements, Reports, Certificates............................. 62
6.4 Tax Returns............................................................. 63
6.5 Guarantor Reports....................................................... 63
6.6 Returns................................................................. 63
6.7 Title to Worldwide Collateral........................................... 64
6.8 Maintenance of Equipment................................................ 64
6.9 Taxes................................................................... 64
6.10 Insurance............................................................... 64
6.11 No Setoffs or Counterclaims............................................. 66
6.12 Location of Inventory and Equipment..................................... 67
6.13 Compliance With Laws.................................................... 67
6.14 Employee Benefits....................................................... 67
6.15 Leases.................................................................. 68
6.16 Brokerage Commissions. ................................................. 68
7. NEGATIVE COVENANTS.............................................................. 68
7.1 Indebtedness............................................................ 69
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7.2 Liens................................................................... 69
7.3 Restrictions on Fundamental Changes..................................... 69
7.4 Disposition of Assets................................................... 70
7.5 Change Name............................................................. 76
7.6 Guarantee............................................................... 76
7.7 Nature of Business...................................................... 76
7.8 Prepayments and Amendments.............................................. 76
7.9 Change of Control....................................................... 77
7.10 Consignments............................................................ 77
7.11 Distributions........................................................... 77
7.12 Accounting Methods...................................................... 77
7.13 Investments............................................................. 77
7.14 Transactions with Affiliates............................................ 77
7.15 Suspension.............................................................. 78
7.16 Compensation............................................................ 78
7.17 Use of Proceeds......................................................... 78
7.18 Change in Location of Chief Executive Office; Inventory and
Equipment with Bailees.................................................. 78
7.19 No Prohibited Transactions Under ERISA.................................. 78
7.20 Financial Covenant...................................................... 79
7.21 Capital Expenditures.................................................... 79
7.22 Securities Accounts..................................................... 79
7.23 Inactive Subsidiary..................................................... 80
8. EVENTS OF DEFAULT............................................................... 80
9. FOOTHILL'S RIGHTS AND REMEDIES.................................................. 82
9.1 Rights and Remedies..................................................... 82
9.2 Remedies Cumulative..................................................... 85
10. TAXES AND EXPENSES.............................................................. 85
11. WAIVERS; INDEMNIFICATION........................................................ 85
11.1 Demand; Protest; etc.................................................... 85
11.2 The Foothill Group's Liability for Worldwide Collateral................. 86
11.3 Indemnification......................................................... 86
12. NOTICES......................................................................... 86
13. CHOICE OF LAW AND VENUE; JURY TRIAL WAIVER...................................... 88
14. DESTRUCTION OF OBLIGORS' DOCUMENTS.............................................. 88
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15. ASSIGNMENTS AND PARTICIPATIONS; SUCCESSORS...................................... 89
15.1 Assignments and Participations.......................................... 89
15.2 Successors.............................................................. 92
16. AMENDMENTS; WAIVERS............................................................. 92
16.1 Amendments and Waivers.................................................. 92
16.2 No Waivers; Cumulative Remedies......................................... 93
17. FOOTHILL GROUP AGENT; THE FOOTHILL GROUP........................................ 94
17.1 Appointment and Authorization of Foothill Group Agent................... 94
17.2 Delegation of Duties.................................................... 95
17.3 Liability of Foothill Group Agent....................................... 95
17.4 Reliance by Foothill Group Agent........................................ 95
17.5 Notice of Default or Event of Default................................... 96
17.6 Credit Decision......................................................... 96
17.7 Costs and Expenses; Indemnification..................................... 97
17.8 Foothill Group Agent in Individual Capacity............................. 98
17.9 Successor Foothill Group Agent.......................................... 98
17.10 Withholding Tax......................................................... 99
17.11 Worldwide Collateral Matters............................................100
17.12 Restrictions on Actions by Lenders; Sharing of Payments.................101
17.13 Agency for Perfection...................................................102
17.14 Payments by Foothill Group Agent to the Lenders.........................102
17.15 Concerning the Worldwide Collateral and Related Loan
Documents...............................................................103
17.16 Field Audits and Examination Reports; Confidentiality;
Disclaimers by Lenders; Other Reports and Information...................103
17.17 Several Obligations; No Liability.......................................104
18. GENERAL PROVISIONS..............................................................105
18.1 Effectiveness...........................................................105
18.2 Section Headings........................................................105
18.3 Interpretation..........................................................105
18.4 Severability of Provisions..............................................105
18.5 Amendments in Writing...................................................105
18.6 Counterparts; Telefacsimile Execution...................................105
18.7 Revival and Reinstatement of Obligations................................106
18.8 Integration.............................................................106
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SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS
Schedule P-1 Permitted Liens
Schedule 5.8 Subsidiaries
Schedule 5.10 Litigation
Schedule 5.13 ERISA Benefit Plans
Schedule 5.14 Environmental Matters
Schedule 5.16 Intellectual Property Matters
Schedule 6.12 Location of Inventory and Equipment
Schedule 7.1 Permitted Indebtedness
Exhibit C-1 Form of Compliance Certificate
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LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT
THIS LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), is entered into as
of May 29, 1998, among the financial institutions listed on the signature pages
hereof (such financial institutions, together with their respective successors
and assigns, are referred to hereinafter each individually as a "Lender" and
collectively as the "Lenders"), FOOTHILL CAPITAL CORPORATION, a California
corporation ("Foothill"), as agent for the Lenders ("Foothill Group Agent"),
with a place of business located at 00000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000,
Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000 and STORMEDIA INCORPORATED, a Delaware
corporation ("StorMedia"), with its chief executive office located at 000 Xxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000 and AKASHIC MEMORIES CORPORATION, a
California corporation ("Akashic"), with its chief executive office located at
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000.
The parties agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION.
1.1 DEFINITIONS. As used in this Agreement, the following terms
shall have the following definitions:
"Above OLV Sale" means any Sale of Worldwide Collateral by
Debtor as to which the Net Sale Consideration received is equal to or greater
than 90% of the OLV of the assets subject to such Sale.
"Account Debtor" means any Person who is or who may become
obligated under, with respect to, or on account of, an Account.
"Accounts" means all currently existing and hereafter
arising accounts, contract rights, and all other forms of obligations owing to
one or more of the Obligors arising out of the sale, license, or lease of goods
or the rendition of services by one or more of the Obligors, irrespective of
whether earned by performance, and any and all credit insurance, guaranties, or
security therefor.
"Adjusted Net Worth" means, as of any date of determination,
the sum of (a) the consolidated net worth (determined in accordance with GAAP)
of StorMedia and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, (b) the outstanding
principal balance of Subordinated Indebtedness, and (c) without duplication, the
outstanding liquidation preference (excluding rights with respect to dividends)
of any preferred stock of StorMedia that is recharacterized as a liability and
not equity under GAAP.
"Advances" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).
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"Affiliate" means, as applied to any Person, any other
Person who, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, is under common
control with, or is a director or officer of such Person. For purposes of this
definition, "control" means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power
to vote 10% or more of the Stock having ordinary voting power for the election
of directors (or comparable managers) or the direct or indirect power to direct
the management and policies of a Person.
"Agreement" has the meaning set forth in the preamble
hereto.
"Akashic" means Akashic Memories Corporation, a California
corporation.
"Akashic Collateral" means any Worldwide Collateral owned by
any Akashic Entity.
"Akashic Domestic Collateral" means any Akashic Collateral
that is Domestic Collateral.
"Akashic Entities" means Akashic and Strates Malaysia,
collectively and individually.
"Akashic Foreign Collateral" means any Akashic Collateral
that is Foreign Collateral.
"Alternative Minimum Availability Condition" means, with
respect to any mandatory prepayment due the Bank Group under Sections
2.03(c)(ii) or (iii) of the Bank Group Agreement, that, after giving effect
thereto, and provided that the trade payables of Borrower have not increased
from the most recent field survey completed by Foothill Group Agent (or, to the
extent of any such increase, after reserving for same), there will exist at
least $12,000,000 of combined Availability and unrestricted cash and cash
equivalents of Borrower (including, in the case of a mandatory prepayment due
the Bank Group under Section 2.03(c)(iii) of the Bank Group Agreement, any such
unrestricted cash or cash equivalents that Borrower is entitled to receive and
retain in connection with the related "Equity Issuance" (as defined in the Bank
Group Agreement), giving effect to such Equity Issuance and the related required
mandatory prepayment).
"Applicable Percentage" means, from and after the Closing
Date and through November 30, 1998, 75%; and, thereafter, declining one percent
during each successive calendar month (e.g., 74% during December, 1998, 73%
during January, 1998, etc.).
"Assignee" has the meaning set forth in Section 15.1(a).
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"Assignment and Acceptance" has the meaning set forth in
Section 15.1(a).
"Authorized Person" means any officer or other employee of
Borrower.
"Availability" means the amount that Borrower is entitled to
borrow as Advances under Section 2.1, such amount being the difference derived
when (a) the sum of the principal amount of Advances (including Foothill Group
Agent Advances and Foothill Loans) then outstanding (including any amounts that
the Foothill Group may have paid for the account of Borrower pursuant to any of
the Loan Documents and that have not been reimbursed by Borrower) is subtracted
from (b) the least of (i) the Maximum Revolving Amount, (ii) the Borrowing Base,
and (iii) the Revolving Advance Cap.
"Bank" means any individual member of the Bank Group.
"Bank Group" means the Bank Group Agent, CIBC [Asia] Ltd.,
Banque Nationale de Paris, San Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, as Co-Agent, Banque National de
Paris, Singapore Branch, Fleet National Bank, Sanwa Bank California, Union Bank
of California, N.A., and any other Person holding any Bank Group Claim, and each
of them, collectively and individually.
"Bank Group Agent" means Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce,
New York Agency, acting as agent for the Banks pursuant to the Bank Group
Financing Documents, and any successor agent thereunder. Unless Foothill Group
Agent shall have been notified otherwise in accordance with Section 21 of the
Intercreditor Agreement, Foothill Group Agent may presume that Canadian Imperial
Bank of Commerce continues to be Bank Group Agent.
"Bank Group Agreement" means that certain Amended and
Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of May 29, 1998, among International and
Strates, as borrowers, StorMedia, as parent guarantor, and the Bank Group, as
the same may from time to time be amended, restated, supplemented, modified,
renewed, extended, replaced, or refinanced.
"Bank Group Claims" means all present and future claims of
the Bank Group against Debtor for the payment of money arising under or related
to the Bank Group Financing Documents, including all claims for principal and
interest (including interest accruing after the commencement of a bankruptcy
proceeding by or against Debtor irrespective of whether a claim for such
interest is allowed in such proceeding), or for reimbursement in connection with
amounts paid under letters of credit or for cash collateralization of amounts
available to be drawn under letters of credit, or for reimbursement of late
charges, fees, costs or expenses, or otherwise, whether fixed or
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contingent, matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, and whether
arising under contract, in tort or otherwise; provided that "Bank Group Claims"
shall not refer to such claims to the extent the aggregate principal amount
thereof exceeds $38,400,000.
"Bank Group Enforcement Notice" means a written notice from
the Bank Group Agent to the Foothill Group Agent, given in accordance with
Section 21 of the Intercreditor Agreement, stating that (a) a Bank Group Event
of Default has occurred and is continuing, and (b) the Bank Group desires and
intends (subject to any applicable waiting periods or other restrictions
provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement) to take Enforcement Action(s)
against the Foothill Group Priority Collateral or the Equal Priority Collateral.
"Bank Group Event of Default" means an "Event of Default" as
defined under the Bank Group Financing Documents.
"Bank Group Financing Documents" means the Bank Group
Agreement and all present and future notes, guaranties, reimbursement
agreements, security documents or other documents or agreements in any way
related to, evidencing, or documenting the Bank Group Claims, as the same may
from time to time be amended, restated, supplemented, modified, renewed,
extended, replaced, or refinanced.
"Bank Group Priority Collateral" means (a) all Fixed Assets
of any StorMedia Entity, irrespective of whether they constitute StorMedia
Domestic Collateral or StorMedia Foreign Collateral, and (b) all Fixed Assets of
any Akashic Entity that constitute Akashic Foreign Collateral, (c) all Stock of
any Bank Group Priority Subsidiary, (d) all Identifiable Proceeds of any Bank
Group Priority Collateral, and (e) all Purchaser Notes delivered to or pledged
to the Bank Group Agent pursuant to Section 17(a) of the Intercreditor
Agreement.
"Bank Group Priority Subsidiaries" means the StorMedia
Subsidiaries other than the Foothill Group Priority Subsidiaries.
"Below OLV Sale" means any Sale of Worldwide Collateral by
Debtor as to which the Net Sale Consideration received for such Sale is less
than 90% of the OLV of the assets subject to such Sale.
"Books" means all of books and records of any Obligor,
including: ledgers; records indicating, summarizing, or evidencing the Obligors'
properties or assets (including any of the Worldwide Collateral) or liabilities;
all information relating to any Obligors' business operations or financial
condition; and all computer programs, disk or tape files, printouts, runs, or
other computer prepared information.
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"Borrower" means, individually and collectively, and jointly
and severally, StorMedia and Akashic.
"Borrower Patent Security Agreement" means that certain
Patent Security Agreement, dated as of even date herewith, between Borrower and
Foothill Group Agent, in form and content satisfactory to Foothill Group Agent.
"Borrower Stock Pledge Agreement" means that certain Stock
Pledge Agreement, dated as of even date herewith, between Borrower and Foothill
Group Agent, in form and content satisfactory to Foothill Group Agent.
"Borrower Supplemental Security Documents" means,
individually and collectively: (a) the Borrower Patent Security Agreement; (b)
the Borrower Stock Pledge Agreement; and (c) the Borrower Trademark Security
Agreement.
"Borrower Trademark Security Agreement" means that certain
Trademark Security Agreement, dated as of even date herewith, between Borrower
and Foothill Group Agent, in form and content satisfactory to Foothill Group
Agent.
"Borrowing" means a borrowing hereunder consisting of
Advances made on the same day by the Lenders to Borrower, or by Foothill in the
case of a Foothill Loan, or by Foothill Group Agent in the case of an Foothill
Group Agent Advance.
"Borrowing Base" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.1(a).
"Bridge Term Loan" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.
"Bridge Term Loan Facility Fee" has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.11(c)(ii). . "Bridge Term Loan Funding Date" means the date the Bridge
Term Loan is funded by the Foothill Group.
"Bridge Term Loan Obligations" means any Obligations with
respect to the Bridge Term Loan (including, without limitation, the principal
thereof, interest thereon (including payment in kind interest), and fees or
expenses specifically related thereto).
"Business Day" means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday,
or other day on which national banks are authorized or required to close.
"Carryforward Reduction Amount" means, with respect to any
Below OLV Sale, an amount equal to (a) the Minimum Prepayment Amount applicable
to such
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Sale, minus (b) the amount of the prepayment paid to the Bank Group with respect
to such Sale.
"Change of Control" shall be deemed to have occurred at such
time as: (a) a "Change of Control" (as such term is defined in the Bank Group
Agreement) occurs; (b) a "person" or "group" (within the meaning of Sections
13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) becomes the
"beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934), directly or indirectly, of more than 10% of the total voting power of
all classes of Stock then outstanding of StorMedia entitled to vote in the
election of directors; (c) a majority of members of the board of directors of
StorMedia shall not be Continuing Directors; (d) StorMedia shall cease to own
and control, directly and of record, 100% of the issued and outstanding capital
Stock of Akashic; or (e) Borrower shall cease to own and control, directly and
of record, 100% of the issued and outstanding capital Stock of each Guarantor
unless disposed of in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement. The foregoing
notwithstanding, there shall not be a Change of Control as the result of any
increase in Stock ownership by any shareholder of StorMedia that is a
shareholder of StorMedia on the Closing Date, or as the result of the exercise
of any warrants to acquire Stock of StorMedia outstanding on the Closing Date.
"Claims" means the Foothill Group Claims and the Bank Group
Claims.
"Closing Date" means (b) the earlier of (i) the date of the
satisfaction by Borrower and/or waiver by Foothill Group Agent of the conditions
set forth in Section 3.1 (other than subsection 3.1(r)) and (ii) the date of
funding of the Bridge Term Loan, or (b) such other date as may be mutually
agreed upon in writing among Borrower and the Foothill Group.
"Collateral" means all right, title, and interest of
Borrower in or to each of the following:
(a) the Accounts,
(b) the Books,
(c) the Equipment,
(d) the General Intangibles,
(e) the Inventory,
(f) the Negotiable Collateral,
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(h) any money, or other assets of Borrower that now or
hereafter come into the possession, custody, or control of any member of the
Foothill Group, and
(i) the proceeds and products, whether tangible or
intangible, of any of the foregoing, including proceeds of insurance covering
any or all of the Collateral, and any and all Accounts, Books, Equipment,
General Intangibles, Inventory, Negotiable Collateral, real property, money,
deposit accounts, or other tangible or intangible property resulting from the
sale, exchange, collection, or other disposition of any of the foregoing, or any
portion thereof or interest therein, and the proceeds thereof.
"Collateral Access Agreement" means a landlord waiver,
mortgagee waiver, bailee letter, or acknowledgement agreement of any
warehouseman, processor, lessor, consignee, or other Person in possession of,
having a Lien upon, or having rights or interests in the Inventory, in each
case, in form and substance satisfactory to Foothill Group Agent.
"Collections" means all cash, checks, notes, instruments,
and other items of payment (including, insurance proceeds, proceeds of cash
sales, rental proceeds, and tax refunds).
"Commitment" means, at any time with respect to a Lender,
the principal amount set forth beside such Lender's name under the heading
"Commitment" on Schedule C-1 attached hereto or on the signature page of the
Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender became a Lender
hereunder in accordance with the provisions of Section 15.1, as such Commitment
may be adjusted from time to time in accordance with the provisions of Section
15.1, and "Commitments" means, collectively, the aggregate amount of the
commitments of all of the Lenders.
"Compliance Certificate" means a certificate substantially
in the form of Exhibit C-1 and delivered by the chief accounting officer of
Borrower to Foothill Group Agent.
"Continuing Director" means, as of any date of
determination, a member of the board of directors of StorMedia who (a) was a
member of the board of directors of StorMedia on the Closing Date, or (b) was
nominated to be a member of the board of directors of StorMedia by a majority of
the Continuing Directors then in office to fill a vacancy left by the death,
expiration of term, permanent disability, or resignation of a Continuing
Director.
"Control Agreement" means a control agreement, in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to Foothill Group Agent, between Borrower,
Foothill Group Agent, and the applicable securities intermediary with respect to
the applicable Securities Account and related Investment Property.
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"Creditor Event of Default" means a Bank Group Event of
Default or a Foothill Group Event of Default, as the context requires.
"Creditors" means the Foothill Group, represented by
Foothill Group Agent, and the Bank Group, represented by Bank Group Agent.
"Cumulative Blockage" means, as of any date of
determination, the sum of Individual Blockages to date with respect to all
instances where the Foothill Group Agent received proceeds of Sales of Inventory
or Fixed Assets in which the Foothill Group Agent had a first priority Lien
pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement (or proceeds of sales of Stock on
account thereof).
"Debtor" means StorMedia and each and every one of its
present and future direct and indirect Subsidiaries, collectively and
individually, including each and every such Subsidiary that now is, or at any
time hereafter becomes, a party to any one or more of the Financing Documents
(including International, Strates, StorMedia Foreign Sales, and the Akashic
Entities).
"deems itself insecure" means that the Person deems itself
insecure in accordance with the provisions of Section 1208 of the UCC.
"Default" means an event, condition, or default that, with
the giving of notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of
Default.
"Defaulting Lender" means any Lender that fails to make any
Advance that it is required to make hereunder on any Funding Date and that has
not cured such failure by making such Advance within 1 Business Day after
written demand upon it by Foothill Group Agent to do so.
"Defaulting Lenders Rate" means the Reference Rate for the
first 3 days from and after the date the relevant payment is due and,
thereafter, at the interest rate then applicable to Advances.
"Designated Account" means account number 1233421230 of
Borrower maintained with Borrower's Designated Account Bank, or such other
deposit account of Borrower (located within the United States) that has been
designated, in writing and from time to time, by Borrower to Foothill Group
Agent.
"Designated Account Bank" means Bank of America N.T. & S.A.,
whose relevant office is located at 0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx., Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, and
whose ABA number is 121 000 358.
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"Dilution" means, with respect to any Person and in each
case based upon the experience of the immediately prior 3 months, the result of
dividing the Dollar amount of (a) bad debt write-downs, discounts, advertising,
returns, promotions, credits, or other dilutive items with respect to the
Accounts, by (b) such Person's Collections (excluding extraordinary items) plus
the Dollar amount of clause (a).
"Dilution Reserve" means, as of any date of determination,
an amount sufficient to reduce the advance rate against Eligible Accounts by one
percentage point for each percentage point by which Dilution with respect to
Eligible Accounts is in excess of 7%.
"Disbursement Letter" means an instructional letter executed
and delivered by Borrower to Foothill Group Agent regarding any extensions of
credit to be made on the Closing Date, the form and substance of which shall be
satisfactory to Foothill Group Agent.
"Dollars or $" means United States dollars.
"Domestic Collateral" means (a) in the case of tangible
Worldwide Collateral, any such Worldwide Collateral located within the United
States of America or its possessions, dependencies, or territories, and (b) in
the case of intangible Worldwide Collateral, any such Worldwide Collateral of an
entity composing Debtor that is organized under the laws of, or maintains its
principal place of business in, the United States of America, its possessions,
dependencies, or territories, or any of the States composing the United States
of America. The Stock of International, Strates, and Strates Malaysia shall be
deemed Foreign Collateral and not Domestic Collateral. The Stock of StorMedia
Foreign Sales and Akashic shall be deemed Domestic Collateral and not Foreign
Collateral.
"Early Termination Premium" has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.6.
"Eligible Accounts" means Eligible Domestic Accounts and
Eligible Foreign Accounts.
"Eligible Domestic Accounts" means those Accounts (net of
unapplied cash and variances between the general ledger and the accounts
receivable aging report) created by Borrower (or by Strates or Strates Malaysia,
provided that the only Accounts of those Subsidiaries that may be eligible are
ones with respect to which the Account Debtor is a Specified Account Debtor and
with respect to which all amounts are billed in Dollars and collected in the
U.S. through the Lockboxes) in the ordinary course of business, that arise out
of Borrower's (or Strates or Strates Malaysia's, as applicable) sale of goods or
rendition of services, that strictly comply with each and all of the
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representations and warranties respecting Accounts made by Borrower (or Strates
or Strates Malaysia, as applicable) to Foothill Group Agent in the Loan
Documents, and that are and at all times continue to be acceptable to Foothill
Group Agent in all respects; provided, however, that standards of eligibility
may be fixed and revised from time to time by Foothill Group Agent in Foothill
Group Agent's reasonable credit judgment. Eligible Accounts shall not include
the following:
(a) Accounts that the Account Debtor has failed to pay
within 90 days of invoice date or Accounts with selling terms of more than 45
days;
(b) Accounts owed by an Account Debtor or its Affiliates
where 50% or more of all Accounts owed by that Account Debtor (or its
Affiliates) are deemed ineligible under clause (a) above;
(c) Accounts with respect to which the Account Debtor is an
employee, Affiliate, or agent of any Obligor;
(d) Accounts with respect to which goods are placed on
consignment, guaranteed sale, sale or return, sale on approval, xxxx and hold,
or other terms by reason of which the payment by the Account Debtor may be
conditional;
(e) Accounts with respect to which the Account Debtor: (i)
does not maintain its chief executive office in the United States, or (ii) is
not organized under the laws of the United States or any State thereof, or (iii)
is the government of any foreign country or sovereign state, or of any state,
province, municipality, or other political subdivision thereof, or of any
department, agency, public corporation, or other instrumentality thereof, unless
(y) the Account is supported by an irrevocable letter of credit satisfactory to
Foothill Group Agent (as to form, substance, and issuer or domestic confirming
bank) that has been delivered to Foothill Group Agent and is directly drawable
by Foothill Group Agent, or (z) the Account is covered by credit insurance in
form and amount, and by an insurer, satisfactory to Foothill;
(f) Accounts that are not billed and collected in U.S.
Dollars;
(g) Accounts with respect to which the Account Debtor is
either (i) the United States or any department, agency, or instrumentality of
the United States (exclusive, however, of Accounts with respect to which
Borrower has complied, to the satisfaction of Foothill Group Agent, with the
Assignment of Claims Act, 31 U.S.C. Section 3727), or (ii) any State of the
United States (exclusive, however, of Accounts owed by any State that does not
have a statutory counterpart to the Assignment of Claims Act);
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(h) Accounts with respect to which the Account Debtor is a
creditor of an Obligor (except for Seagate Technology, Inc.), has or has
asserted a right of setoff, has disputed its liability, or has made any claim
with respect to the Account;
(i) (i) with respect to Account Debtors other than Specified
Account Debtors, Accounts with respect to an Account Debtor (including its
Affiliates) whose total obligations owing to the Obligors exceed 10% of all
Eligible Accounts, to the extent of the obligations owing by such Account Debtor
(or its Affiliates) in excess of such percentage, (ii) Accounts with respect to
a Specified Account Debtor (including its Affiliates) whose total obligations
owing to the Obligors exceed 60% of all Eligible Accounts, to the extent of the
obligations owing by such Specified Account Debtor (or its Affiliates) in excess
of such percentage, and (iii) Accounts with respect to any 2 Specified Account
Debtors (including their Affiliates) whose total obligations owing to the
Obligors exceed 80% of all Eligible Accounts, to the extent of the obligations
owing by such Specified Account Debtors (or their Affiliates) in excess of such
percentage; provided that the percentages stated in clauses (ii) and (iii) above
may be decreased by Foothill Group Agent in the good faith exercise of its
discretion if Foothill Group Agent in good faith determines that the
creditworthiness of one or more Specified Account Debtors has deteriorated
sufficiently to justify such decrease;
(j) Accounts with respect to which the Account Debtor is
subject to any Insolvency Proceeding, or becomes insolvent, or goes out of
business;
(k) Accounts the collection of which Foothill Group Agent,
in its reasonable credit judgment, believes to be doubtful by reason of the
Account Debtor's financial condition;
(l) Accounts with respect to which the goods giving rise to
such Account have not been shipped and billed to the Account Debtor, the
services giving rise to such Account have not been performed and accepted by the
Account Debtor, or the Account otherwise does not represent a final sale;
(m) Accounts with respect to which the Account Debtor is
located in the states of New Jersey, Minnesota, Indiana, or West Virginia (or
any other state that requires a creditor to file a Business Activity Report or
similar document in order to bring suit or otherwise enforce its remedies
against such Account Debtor in the courts or through any judicial process of
such state), unless Borrower has qualified to do business in New Jersey,
Minnesota, Indiana, West Virginia, or such other states, or has filed a Notice
of Business Activities Report with the applicable division of taxation, the
department of revenue, or with such other state offices, as appropriate, for the
then-current year, or is exempt from such filing requirement;
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(n) Accounts that represent progress payments or other
advance xxxxxxxx that are due prior to the completion of performance by Borrower
(or Strates or Strates Malaysia, as applicable) of the subject contract for
goods or services; and
(o) Accounts that result from Sales of Fixed Assets.
The foregoing notwithstanding, Accounts of Strates shall not be
eligible until the Singapore Security Documents are registered in Singapore, and
Accounts of Strates Malaysia shall not be Eligible Accounts until the Malaysian
Security Documents are registered in Malaysia.
"Eligible Foreign Account" means any Account of Borrower (or
Strates or Strates Malaysia to the extent covered in the definition of "Eligible
Accounts") billed from within the U.S., and that by its terms is to be collected
in the U.S. in U.S. Dollars: (a) that does not qualify as an Eligible Domestic
Account solely because such Account is excluded from "Eligible Domestic
Accounts" by virtue of the exclusion contained in clause (e) of such definition;
and (b) with respect to which the Account Debtor is a wholly-owned Subsidiary of
a large, multinational corporation that is located in the United States of
America or in other jurisdictions acceptable to Foothill Group Agent (or, in the
case of Strates and Strates Malaysia, a Specified Account Debtor), or an Account
Debtor that is a Subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. The foregoing
notwithstanding, Accounts of Strates shall not be eligible until the Singapore
Security Documents are registered in Singapore, and Accounts of Strates Malaysia
shall not be Eligible Accounts until the Malaysian Security Documents are
registered in Malaysia.
"Eligible Transferee" means: (a) a commercial bank organized
under the laws of the United States, or any state thereof, and having total
assets in excess of $100,000,000; (b) a commercial bank organized under the laws
of any other country which is a member of the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development or a political subdivision of any such country, and
having total assets in excess of $100,000,000; provided that such bank is acting
through a branch or agency located in the United States; (c) a finance company,
insurance company or other financial institution or fund that is engaged in
making, purchasing or otherwise investing in commercial loans in the ordinary
course of its business and having total assets in excess of $50,000,000; (d) any
Affiliate (other than individuals) of a pre-existing Lender; (e) so long as no
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any other Person approved by
Foothill Group Agent and Borrower; and (f) during the continuation of an Event
of Default, any other Person approved by Foothill Group Agent.
"Enforcement Action" means, with respect to any Creditor and
with respect to any item of Worldwide Collateral (a) repossessing, selling,
leasing, or otherwise disposing of all or any part of such Worldwide Collateral,
or exercising notification or collection rights with respect to all or any
portion thereof, or attempting to do so, (b)
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commencing the enforcement with respect to such Worldwide Collateral of any of
the default remedies under any of such Creditor's Financing Documents, the UCC,
or other applicable laws, including the commencement of any lawsuit or
proceeding against Debtor to collect or enforce such Creditor's Claim, (c)
appropriating, setting off, or applying any part or all of such Worldwide
Collateral in the possession of, or coming into the possession of, such Creditor
or its agent or bailee, to such Creditor's Claim, or (d) filing by such Creditor
of, or the joining in the filing by such Creditor of, an involuntary bankruptcy
or insolvency proceeding against Debtor; provided, however, that, with respect
to any filing by any Person other than a Creditor of a proceeding, motion, or
suit described in clause (d), the filing by any Creditor of any claim in or the
taking of any other action (not inconsistent with the express provisions of the
Intercreditor Agreement) permitted or required by applicable law with respect to
any such proceeding, motion, or suit shall not be deemed to be an Enforcement
Action.
"Enforcement Period" means, with respect to the Claims of
any Creditor, any period of time commencing upon the earliest to occur of (a)
the actual taking by such Creditor of any Enforcement Action (other than an
insignificant or immaterial Enforcement Action) under circumstances where such
Creditor is entitled to do so under the terms of its Financing Documents, (b)
the acceleration by such Creditor of the maturity of its Claims, (c) the
maturation of such Creditor's Claims in accordance with their terms if such
Claims are not paid or satisfied on such date of maturation, (d) the
commencement of an Insolvency Proceeding with respect to Debtor, (e) the
permanent termination (as opposed to temporary suspension) by such Creditor of
its obligations to Debtor under its Financing Documents based on the existence
of an Event of Default, (f) the giving of a Bank Group Enforcement Notice, (g)
the giving of a Foothill Group Enforcement Notice, or (h) the giving or a
Foothill Group Equal Priority Collateral Enforcement Notice, and continuing
until the earlier to occur of (y) the final payment or satisfaction in full of
such Creditor's Claims, or (z) the waiver in writing by such Creditor of such
Creditor Event of Default.
"Equal Priority Collateral" means all General Intangibles
(other than and excluding deposit accounts) of Debtor other than Identifiable
Proceeds described in clause (d) of the definition of Bank Group Priority
Collateral. For purposes of clarity, Equal Priority Collateral does not include
Stock, Investment Property, Accounts, Inventory, or Fixed Assets.
"Equipment" means all of each Obligor's present and
hereafter acquired machinery, machine tools, motors, equipment, furniture,
furnishings, fixtures, vehicles (including motor vehicles and trailers), tools,
parts, goods (other than consumer goods, farm products, or Inventory), wherever
located, including, any interest of any Obligor in any of the foregoing, and all
attachments, accessories, accessions, replacements, substitutions, additions,
and improvements to any of the foregoing.
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"Equity Contribution" means a Dollar contribution to the
equity capital of StorMedia either in the form of common stock or in the form of
preferred stock the rights, preferences, and privileges of which are
satisfactory in form and substance to Foothill Group Agent.
"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, 29 U.S.C. Sections 1000 et seq., amendments thereto, successor
statutes, and regulations or guidance promulgated thereunder.
"ERISA Affiliate" means (a) any corporation subject to ERISA
whose employees are treated as employed by the same employer as the employees of
Borrower under IRC Section 414(b), (b) any trade or business subject to ERISA
whose employees are treated as employed by the same employer as the employees of
Borrower under IRC Section 414(c), (c) solely for purposes of Section 302 of
ERISA and Section 412 of the IRC, any organization subject to ERISA that is a
member of an affiliated service group of which Borrower is a member under IRC
Section 414(m), or (d) solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section
412 of the IRC, any party subject to ERISA that is a party to an arrangement
with Borrower and whose employees are aggregated with the employees of Borrower
under IRC Section 414(o).
"ERISA Event" means (a) a Reportable Event with respect to
any Benefit Plan or Multiemployer Plan, (b) the withdrawal of Borrower, any of
its Subsidiaries or ERISA Affiliates from a Benefit Plan during a plan year in
which it was a "substantial employer" (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of
ERISA), (c) the providing of notice of intent to terminate a Benefit Plan in a
distress termination (as described in Section 4041(c) of ERISA), (d) the
institution by the PBGC of proceedings to terminate a Benefit Plan or
Multiemployer Plan, (e) any event or condition (i) that provides a basis under
Section 4042(a)(1), (2), or (3) of ERISA for the termination of, or the
appointment of a trustee to administer, any Benefit Plan or Multiemployer Plan,
or (ii) that may result in termination of a Multiemployer Plan pursuant to
Section 4041A of ERISA, (f) the partial or complete withdrawal within the
meaning of Sections 4203 and 4205 of ERISA, of Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries
or ERISA Affiliates from a Multiemployer Plan, or (g) providing any security to
any Plan under Section 401(a)(29) of the IRC by Borrower or its Subsidiaries or
any of their ERISA Affiliates.
"Event of Default" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.
"Excess Prepayment Amount" means an amount equal to 50% of
the Net Sale Consideration in excess of the Minimum Prepayment Amount.
"Existing Lenders" means the Bank Group.
"FEIN" means Federal Employer Identification Number.
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"Financing Documents" means the Foothill Group Financing
Documents and the Bank Group Financing Documents.
"Fixed Assets" means all real property, plant, and Equipment
(including fixtures) of Debtor.
"Foothill" has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this
Agreement.
"Foothill Account" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.7.
"Foothill Group" means, individually and collectively, each
of the individual Lenders and Foothill Group Agent.
"Foothill Group Agent" means Foothill Capital Corporation, a
California corporation, acting as agent for the members of the Foothill Group
pursuant to the Foothill Group Financing Documents, and any successor agent
thereunder. Unless Bank Group Agent shall have been notified otherwise in
accordance with Section 21 of the Intercreditor Agreement, Bank Group Agent may
presume that Foothill Capital Corporation continues to be Foothill Group Agent.
"Foothill Group Agent Account" has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.7(a).
"Foothill Group Agent Advances" has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.1(h)(i).
"Foothill Group Agent's Bridge Term Loan Liens" has the
meaning set forth in Section 4.1(A).
"Foothill Group Agent's Liens" has the meaning set forth in
Section 4.1.
"Foothill Group Agent-Related Persons" means Foothill Group
Agent and any successor agent, together with their respective Affiliates, and
the officers, directors, employees, counsel, agents, and attorneys-in-fact of
such Persons and their Affiliates.
"Foothill Group Agreement" means this Agreement, as the same
may from time to time be amended, modified, renewed, extended or restated.
"Foothill Group Claims" means all present and future claims
of Foothill Group against Debtor for the payment of money arising under or
related to the
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Foothill Group Financing Documents, including all claims for principal and
interest (including interest accruing after the commencement of a bankruptcy
proceeding by or against Debtor irrespective of whether a claim for such
interest is allowed in such proceeding), or for reimbursement in connection with
amounts paid under letters of credit (or guaranties in respect thereof) or for
cash collateralization of amounts available to be drawn under letters of credit
(or guaranties in respect thereof), or for reimbursement of late charges, fees,
costs or expenses, or otherwise, whether fixed or contingent, matured or
unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, and whether arising under contract, in
tort or otherwise; provided that "Foothill Group Claims" shall not refer to such
claims to the extent the aggregate principal amount thereof exceeds, as of any
date of determination, $30,000,000 minus (b) the aggregate amount of principal
repayments made with respect to the Bridge Term Loan.
"Foothill Group Enforcement Notice" means a written notice
from the Foothill Group Agent to the Bank Group Agent, given in accordance with
Section 21 of the Intercreditor Agreement, stating that (a) a Foothill Group
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and (b) the Foothill Group
desires and intends (subject to any applicable waiting periods or other
restrictions provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement) to take Enforcement
Action(s) against the Bank Group Priority Collateral.
"Foothill Group Equal Priority Collateral Enforcement
Notice" means a written notice from the Foothill Group Agent to the Bank Group
Agent, given in accordance with Section 21 of the Intercreditor Agreement,
stating that (a) a Foothill Group Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, and (b) the Foothill Group desires and intends (subject to any
applicable provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement) to take Enforcement
Action(s) against the Equal Priority Collateral.
"Foothill Group Event of Default" means an "Event of
Default" as defined in the Foothill Group Agreement.
"Foothill Group Expenses" means all: costs or expenses
(including taxes, and insurance premiums) required to be paid by any Obligor
under any of the Loan Documents that are actually paid or incurred by the
Foothill Group; reasonable fees or charges paid or incurred by the Foothill
Group in connection with the Foothill Group's transactions with the Obligor's,
including, actual out-of-pocket fees or charges for photocopying, notarization,
couriers and messengers, telecommunication, public record searches (including
tax lien, litigation, and UCC (or equivalent) searches and including searches
with the patent and trademark office, the copyright office, or the department of
motor vehicles), filing, recording, publication, appraisal (including periodic
Worldwide Collateral appraisals); real estate surveys, real estate title
policies and endorsement, and environmental audits; actual out-of-pocket costs
and expenses incurred by Foothill Group Agent in the disbursement of funds to
Borrower (by wire transfer or otherwise); actual out-of-pocket charges paid or
incurred by Foothill Group Agent resulting from the dishonor of
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checks; reasonable costs and expenses paid or incurred by the Foothill Group to
correct any default or enforce any provision of the Loan Documents, or in
gaining possession of, maintaining, handling, preserving, storing, shipping,
selling, preparing for sale, or advertising to sell the Worldwide Collateral, or
any portion thereof, irrespective of whether a sale is consummated; reasonable
costs and expenses paid or incurred by the Foothill Group in examining the
Books; reasonable costs and expenses of third party claims or any other suit
paid or incurred by the Foothill Group in enforcing or defending the Loan
Documents or in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Loan
Documents or the Foothill Group's relationship with Borrower or any Guarantor,
and the Foothill Group's reasonable attorneys fees and expenses incurred in
advising, structuring, drafting, reviewing, administering, amending,
terminating, enforcing (including reasonable attorneys fees and expenses
incurred in connection with a "workout," a "restructuring," or an Insolvency
Proceeding concerning Borrower or any Guarantor of the Obligations), defending,
or concerning the Loan Documents, irrespective of whether suit is brought;
provided, however, that the term "Foothill Group Expenses" shall not include any
costs and expenses paid or incurred by the Foothill Group solely with respect to
disputes that (i) arise between two or more members of the Foothill Group and
(ii) are not in connection with third party claims or the Foothill Group's
relationship with Borrower or any Guarantor of the Obligations.
"Foothill Group Financing Documents" means the Foothill
Group Agreement and all present and future notes, guaranties, reimbursement
agreements, security documents or other documents or agreements in any way
related to, evidencing, or documenting the Foothill Group Claims, as the same
may from time to time be amended, restated, supplemented, modified, renewed,
extended, replaced, or refinanced.
"Foothill Group Priority Collateral" means all Worldwide
Collateral other than the Bank Group Priority Collateral and the Equal Priority
Collateral.
"Foothill Group Priority Subsidiaries" means StorMedia
Foreign Sales and Akashic.
"Foothill Loan" has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section
2.1(g)(i).
"Foreign Collateral" means any Worldwide Collateral that is
not Domestic Collateral. The Stock of International, Strates, and Strates
Malaysia shall be deemed Foreign Collateral and not Domestic Collateral. The
Stock of StorMedia Foreign Sales and Akashic shall be deemed Domestic Collateral
and not Foreign Collateral.
"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles as in
effect from time to time in the United States, consistently applied.
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"General Intangibles" means all of any Obligor's present and
future general intangibles and other personal property (including contract
rights, rights arising under common law, statutes, or regulations, choses or
things in action, goodwill, patents, trade names, trademarks, servicemarks,
copyrights, blueprints, drawings, purchase orders, customer lists, monies due or
recoverable from pension funds, route lists, rights to payment and other rights
under any royalty or licensing agreements, infringement claims, computer
programs, information contained on computer disks or tapes, literature, reports,
catalogs, deposit accounts, insurance premium rebates, tax refunds, and tax
refund claims), other than goods, Accounts, and Negotiable Collateral.
"Governing Documents" means the certificate or articles of
incorporation, by-laws, or other organizational or governing documents of any
Person.
"Guarantees" means, individually and collectively, one or
more general continuing guaranties executed and delivered by the Guarantors.
"Guarantor" means, individually and collectively, any one or
more of International, Strates, StorMedia Foreign Sales, and Strates Malaysia.
"Guarantor Collateral" means any and all right, title, and
interest of any Guarantor in or to any and all property (whether real or
personal, tangible or intangible) in which a Lien is granted to Foothill Group
Agent in any of the Guarantor Security Documents.
"Guarantor Patent Security Agreement" means that certain
Patent Security Agreement, dated as of even date herewith, between each
Guarantor and Foothill Group Agent, in form and content satisfactory to Foothill
Group Agent.
"Guarantor Security Agreement" means that certain Security
Agreement, dated as of even date herewith, between each Guarantor and Foothill
Group Agent, in form and content satisfactory to Foothill Group Agent.
"Guarantor Security Documents" means, individually and
collectively: (a) the Guarantor Patent Security Agreement; (b) the Guarantor
Security Agreement; (c) the Guarantor Stock Pledge Agreement; (d) the Guarantor
Trademark Security Agreement; (e) the Singapore Security Documents; and (f) the
Malaysian Security Documents.
"Guarantor Stock Pledge Agreement" means that certain Stock
Pledge Agreement, dated as of even date herewith, between each Guarantor and
Foothill Group Agent, in form and content satisfactory to Foothill Group Agent.
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"Guarantor Trademark Security Agreement" means that certain
Trademark Security Agreement, dated as of even date herewith, between each
Guarantor and Foothill Group Agent, in form and content satisfactory to Foothill
Group Agent.
"Hazardous Materials" means (a) substances that are defined
or listed in, or otherwise classified pursuant to, any applicable laws or
regulations as "hazardous substances," "hazardous materials," "hazardous
wastes," "toxic substances," or any other formulation intended to define, list,
or classify substances by reason of deleterious properties such as ignitability,
corrosivity, reactivity, carcinogenicity, reproductive toxicity, or "EP
toxicity", (b) oil, petroleum, or petroleum derived substances, natural gas,
natural gas liquids, synthetic gas, drilling fluids, produced waters, and other
wastes associated with the exploration, development, or production of crude oil,
natural gas, or geothermal resources, (c) any flammable substances or explosives
or any radioactive materials, and (d) asbestos in any form or electrical
equipment that contains any oil or dielectric fluid containing levels of
polychlorinated biphenyls in excess of 50 parts per million.
"Identifiable Proceeds" means, with respect to any
Collateral, any "proceeds" (as defined in the UCC) or other sums received in
respect of such Collateral that are identifiable and traceable under the
identification and tracing rules and principles that exist under California
state law (including the UCC), without regard to where such Collateral or
proceeds are located, provided that Identifiable Proceeds included within clause
(d) of the definition of "Bank Group Priority Collateral" shall not include (a)
Inventory of any Obligor, (b) any Accounts of any Obligor arising from the sale,
transfer, lease, license, or other disposition of Inventory by any Obligor, or
(c) Fixed Assets that are Akashic Domestic Collateral.
"Indebtedness" means: (a) all obligations of any Obligor for
borrowed money, (b) all obligations of any Obligor evidenced by bonds,
debentures, notes, or other similar instruments (except for and excluding notes
given to trade creditors with respect to trade payables of any Obligor as to
which such Obligor has been granted extended payment terms) and all
reimbursement or other obligations of any Obligor in respect of letters of
credit, bankers acceptances, interest rate swaps, or other financial products,
(c) all obligations of any Obligor under capital leases, (d) all obligations or
liabilities of others secured by a Lien on any property or asset of any Obligor,
irrespective of whether such obligation or liability is assumed, and (e) any
obligation of any Obligor guaranteeing or intended to guarantee (whether
guaranteed, endorsed, co-made, discounted, or sold with recourse to such
Obligor) any indebtedness, lease, dividend, letter of credit, or other
obligation of any other Person.
"Individual Blockage" means, with respect to each instance
where the Foothill Group Agent receives proceeds of Sales of Inventory or Fixed
Assets in which the Foothill Group Agent has a first priority Lien pursuant to
the Intercreditor Agreement (or
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proceeds of sales of Stock on account thereof), as of the date of such receipt
an amount equal to (a) the amount of such proceeds minus (b) the amount of the
Related Bridge Term Loan Reduction Amount.
"Insolvency Proceeding" means any proceeding commenced by or
against any Person under any provision of the United States Bankruptcy Code or
under any other bankruptcy or insolvency law, assignments for the benefit of
creditors, or proceedings seeking reorganization, arrangement, or other similar
relief.
"Intangible Assets" means, with respect to any Person, that
portion of the book value of all of such Person's assets that would be treated
as intangibles under GAAP.
"Intercreditor Agreement" means an intercreditor agreement,
dated as of even date herewith, between Foothill Group Agent and Bank Group
Agent on behalf of the Existing Lenders, in form and substance satisfactory to
Foothill Group Agent.
"International" means StorMedia International Ltd., a
company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands.
"Inventory" means all present and future inventory in which
any Obligor has any interest, including goods held for sale or lease or to be
furnished under a contract of service and all of each Obligor's present and
future raw materials, work in process, finished goods, and packing and shipping
materials, wherever located.
"Investment Property" means "investment property" as that
term is defined in Section 9115 of the UCC.
"IRC" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
and the regulations thereunder.
"Lender" and "Lenders" have the respective meanings set
forth in the preamble to this Agreement, and shall include any other Person made
a party to this Agreement in accordance with the provisions of Section 15.1
hereof.
"Lender-Related Persons" means, with respect to any Lender,
such Lender, together with such Lender's Affiliates, and the officers,
directors, employees, counsel, agents, and attorneys-in-fact of such Lender and
such Lender's Affiliates.
"Lien" means any interest in property securing an obligation
owed to, or a claim by, any Person other than the owner of the property, whether
such interest shall be based on the common law, statute, or contract, whether
such interest shall be recorded or perfected, and whether such interest shall be
contingent upon the occurrence of some
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future event or events or the existence of some future circumstance or
circumstances, including the lien or security interest arising from a mortgage,
deed of trust, encumbrance, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit
arrangement, security agreement, adverse claim or charge, conditional sale or
trust receipt, or from a lease, consignment, or bailment for security purposes
and also including reservations, exceptions, encroachments, easements,
rights-of-way, covenants, conditions, restrictions, leases, and other title
exceptions and encumbrances affecting real property.
"Loan Account" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.13.
"Loan Documents" means this Agreement, the Borrower
Supplemental Security Documents, the Disbursement Letter, the Lockbox
Agreements, the Guarantees, the Guarantor Security Documents, the Suretyship
Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement, the Control Agreements, any note or
notes executed by Borrower and payable to the Foothill Group, and any other
agreement entered into, now or in the future, in connection with this Agreement.
"Lockbox Account" shall mean a depositary account
established pursuant to one of the Lockbox Agreements.
"Lockbox Agreements" means those certain Lockbox Operating
Procedural Agreements and those certain Depository Account Agreements, in form
and substance satisfactory to Foothill Group Agent, each of which is among
Borrower, Foothill Group Agent, and one of the Lockbox Banks.
"Lockbox Banks" means Xxxxx Fargo Bank, N.A.
"Lockboxes" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10.
"Malaysian Security Documents" means that certain Debenture,
dated of even date herewith, by Strates Malaysia in favor of Foothill Group
Agent, in form and substance satisfactory to Foothill Group Agent, and such
other instruments, guaranties, agreements, and documents governed by the laws of
Malaysia, or any political subdivision thereof, as Foothill or its Malaysian
foreign counsel may reasonably require to now or at any time hereafter secure
the whole or any part of the Obligations or of the obligations of Strates
Malaysia in respect of the Obligations, and in each case in form and substance
satisfactory to Foothill Group Agent.
"Material Adverse Change" means (a) a material adverse
change in the business, prospects, operations, results of operations, assets,
liabilities or condition (financial or otherwise) of any Obligor, (b) the
material impairment of any Obligor's ability to perform its obligations under
the Loan Documents to which it is a party or of the Foothill Group to enforce
the Obligations or realize upon the Collateral, (c) a material
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adverse effect on the value of the Collateral or the amount that the Foothill
Group would be likely to receive (after giving consideration to delays in
payment and costs of enforcement) in the liquidation of the Collateral, or (d) a
material impairment of the priority of Foothill Group Agent's Liens or Foothill
Group Agent's Bridge Term Loan Liens with respect to the Collateral.
"Maturity Date" means the last day of the original term of
this Agreement if the term is not renewed, and the last day of any applicable
renewal term, if the term hereof is renewed, in each case in accordance with
Section 3.4.
"Maximum Amount" means the sum of (a) the Maximum Revolving
Amount, plus (b) the Maximum Bridge Term Loan Amount.
"Maximum Bridge Term Loan Amount" means $8,000,000.
"Maximum Foothill Amount" means that portion of the Maximum
Amount for which Foothill shall be responsible, exclusive of any participations
with Participants.
"Maximum Revolving Amount" means, as of any date of
determination, $20,000,000 minus the Syquest Availability Amount.
"Minimum Availability Condition" means, with respect to any
Sale governed by Section 7.4(b) (other than Section 7.4(b)(ii)), that, after
giving effect thereto, and provided that the trade payables of Borrower have not
increased from the most recent field survey completed by Foothill Group Agent
(or, to the extent of any such increase, after reserving for same), there will
exist at least $7,500,000 of combined Availability and unrestricted cash and
cash equivalents of Borrower (including any such unrestricted cash or cash
equivalents that Borrower is entitled to receive and retain in connection with
such Sale at the time of giving effect to such Sale).
"Minimum Prepayment Amount" means, as to any Sale of
Worldwide Collateral, an amount equal to 90% of the OLV of the assets subject to
such Sale.
"Multiemployer Plan" means a "multiemployer plan" (as
defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA) to which Borrower, any of its
Subsidiaries, or any ERISA Affiliate has contributed, or was obligated to
contribute, within the past six years.
"Negotiable Collateral" means all of a Person's present and
future letters of credit, notes, drafts, instruments, Investment Property,
documents, personal property leases (wherein such Person is the lessor), chattel
paper, and Books relating to any of the foregoing.
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"Net Sale Consideration" means the (a) total purchase
consideration received by Debtor in any Sale of Worldwide Collateral, less (b)
the amount of any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including taxes) incurred
by Debtor in connection with such Sale.
"Obligations" means all loans (including the Bridge Term
Loan), Advances, debts, principal, interest (including any interest that, but
for the provisions of the United States Bankruptcy Code, would have accrued),
premiums (including Early Termination Premiums), liabilities (including all
amounts charged to Borrower's Loan Account pursuant hereto), obligations, fees,
charges, costs, or Foothill Group Expenses (including any fees or expenses that,
but for the provisions of the United States Bankruptcy Code, would have
accrued), guaranties, covenants, and duties owing by Borrower to the Foothill
Group of any kind and description arising under, in connection with, related to,
or incidental to or evidenced by the Loan Documents, and irrespective of whether
for the payment of money, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent,
due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising, further including all
interest not paid when due and all the Foothill Group Expenses that Borrower is
required to pay or reimburse by the Loan Documents, by law, or otherwise, as any
of the same may from time to time be amended, modified, extended, renewed,
restated, or increased by agreement.
"Obligors" means any one or more of the Borrowers or the
Guarantors.
"OLV" means, as to any item of Worldwide Collateral, an
amount equal to the orderly liquidation value for such item of Worldwide
Collateral, as determined from time to time by Dovetech, Inc. or another
appraiser satisfactory to Foothill Group Agent, updated to exclude any sold
assets.
"Other Obligations" means any Obligations other than the
Bridge Term Loan Obligations.
"Overadvance" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5.
"Participant" has the meaning set forth in Section 15.1(e).
"PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation as
defined in Title IV of ERISA, or any successor thereto.
"Permitted Investments" means (a) direct obligations of the
United States of America, or any agency thereof if backed by the full faith and
credit of the United States of America, or obligations fully guaranteed by the
United States of America, or any agency thereof if backed by the full faith and
credit of the United States of America, in each case denominated in Dollars and
maturing within one (1) year from the
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date of creation thereof, (b) commercial paper, denominated in Dollars, issued
by a corporation (other than Obligors or any Affiliate of any Obligor) organized
under the laws of any State of the United States of America or the District of
Columbia maturing within one (1) year from the date of creation thereof rated in
the highest grade by a nationally recognized credit rating agency, (c) time
deposits denominated in Dollars and maturing within one (1) year from the date
of creation thereof with, including certificates of deposit issued by, any
office located in the United States of America of any bank or trust company
which is organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state
thereof and has capital, surplus, and undivided profits aggregating at least
$500,000,000, or (d) shares of any money market mutual fund holding only
obligations denominated in Dollars rated at least AAAm or the equivalent
thereof by Standard & Poor's Corporation or at least Aaa or the equivalent
thereof by Xxxxx'x Investors Service, Inc.; provided that, to the extent any
such investment is made with Collateral, such investment shall not be a
Permitted Investment unless the security interest of Foothill Group Agent
therein is perfected.
"Permitted Liens" means (a) Liens held by Foothill Group
Agent for the benefit of the Foothill Group, (b) Liens for unpaid taxes that
either (i) are not yet due and payable or (ii) are the subject of Permitted
Protests, (c) Liens set forth on Schedule P-1, (d) (i) the interests of lessors
under operating leases, and (ii) purchase money Liens and the interests of
lessors under capital leases to the extent that the acquisition or lease of the
underlying asset is permitted under Section 7.21 and so long as the Lien only
attaches to the asset purchased or acquired and proceeds thereof and only
secures the purchase price of the asset, (e) Liens arising by operation of law
in favor of warehousemen, landlords, carriers, mechanics, materialmen, laborers,
or suppliers, incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Obligors and
not in connection with the borrowing of money, and which Liens either (i) are
for sums not yet due and payable, or (ii) are the subject of Permitted Protests,
(f) Liens arising from deposits made in connection with the procurement of
utilities, the securing in ordinary course of business of guaranties of
repatriation of workers expatriated from the People's Republic of China to
Singapore or Malaysia, or the obtaining of worker's compensation or other
unemployment insurance, (g) Liens or deposits to secure performance of bids,
tenders, or leases (to the extent permitted under this Agreement), incurred in
the ordinary course of business of the Obligors and not in connection with the
borrowing of money, (h) Liens arising by reason of security for surety or appeal
bonds in the ordinary course of business of the Obligors, (i) Liens of or
resulting from any judgment or award that reasonably could not be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Change and as to which the time for the appeal or
petition for rehearing of which has not yet expired, or in respect of which the
applicable Obligor is in good faith prosecuting an appeal or proceeding for a
review and in respect of which a stay of execution pending such appeal or
proceeding for review has been secured, (j) easements, rights of way, zoning and
similar covenants and restrictions, and similar encumbrances that customarily
exist on real property of Persons engaged in similar activities and similarly
situated and that in any event do not materially interfere with or impair the
use or operation of the Collateral by the applicable Obligor or the value of any
of Foothill Group
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Agent's Liens or Foothill Group Agent's Bridge Term Loan Liens thereon or
therein, for the benefit of the Foothill Group, or materially interfere with the
ordinary conduct of the business of Borrower, (k) subject to the terms and
conditions of the Intercreditor Agreement, Liens on the properties and assets of
the Obligors in favor of Bank Group Agent for the benefit of the Existing
Lenders, and (l) subject to the terms and conditions of the Subordination
Agreement with respect to the Seagate Subordinated Indebtedness, the Lien of
Seagate on the Accounts of StorMedia owed to StorMedia by Seagate.
"Permitted Protest" means the right of the Obligors to
protest any Lien (other than any such Lien that secures the Obligations), tax
(other than payroll taxes or taxes that are the subject of a United States
federal tax lien), or rental payment, provided that (a) a reserve with respect
to such obligation is established on the books of the applicable Obligor in an
amount that is reasonably satisfactory to Foothill Group Agent, (b) any such
protest is instituted and diligently prosecuted by the applicable Obligor in
good faith, and (c) Foothill Group Agent is satisfied that, while any such
protest is pending, there will be no impairment of the enforceability, validity,
or priority of any of Foothill Group Agent's Liens or Foothill Group Agent's
Bridge Term Loan Liens in and to the Collateral.
"Person" means and includes natural persons, corporations,
limited liability companies, limited partnerships, general partnerships, limited
liability partnerships, joint ventures, trusts, land trusts, business trusts, or
other organizations, irrespective of whether they are legal entities, and
governments and agencies and political subdivisions thereof.
"Plan" means any employee benefit plan, program, or
arrangement maintained or contributed to by Borrower or with respect to which it
may incur liability.
"Prepayment Carryforward" means, as of any date of
determination, an amount equal to (a) the aggregate of the Excess Prepayment
Amount (or portions thereof) paid to the Bank Group with respect to each Above
OLV Sale consummated prior to such date, if any, minus (b) the aggregate
Carryforward Reduction Amount with respect to each Below OLV Sale consummated
prior to such date, if any.
"Pro Rata Share" means, with respect to a Lender, a fraction
(expressed as a percentage), the numerator of which is the amount of such
Lender's Commitment and the denominator of which is the aggregate amount of the
Commitments. If and to the extent that, pursuant to Section 15.1 hereof, an
assignor Lender makes in favor of an Assignee a non-ratable assignment of 100%
of the Commitments and the Bridge Term Loan Obligations, then, anything in the
Loan Agreement or the other Loan Documents to the contrary notwithstanding, for
purposes of determining "ratability" among the Lenders under the Loan Agreement
and the other Loan Document: (a) when used solely in the context of a Lender's
obligation or Commitment to make the Bridge Term
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Loan or a Lender's right to receive payments in respect of the Bridge Term Loan
Obligations, the term "Pro Rata Share" shall mean (i) 100% with respect to such
Assignee and (ii) -0-% with respect to such assignor Lender; (b) when used in
the context of a Lender's obligation or Commitment to make Advances (including
Foothill Loans and Foothill Group Agent Advances) or a Lender's right to receive
payment in respect of Other Obligations, the term "Pro Rata Share" shall mean
(i) 100% with respect to the assignor Lender and (ii) -0-% with respect to the
Assignee; (c) from and after the Closing Date, the then outstanding principal
amount of the Bridge Term Loan shall be deemed to be the amount of the total
Commitments in respect of the Bridge Term Loan; and (d) in all other cases, the
term "Pro Rata Share" shall have the meaning set forth in the first sentence of
this definition.
"Purchaser Note" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
7.4(b)(1) of this Agreement.
"Reference Rate" means the variable rate of interest, per
annum, most recently announced by Norwest Bank Minnesota, National Association,
or any successor thereto, as its "base rate," irrespective of whether such
announced rate is the best rate available from such financial institution.
"Related Bridge Term Loan Reduction Amount" means, with
respect to each instance where the Foothill Group Agent receives proceeds of
Sales of Inventory or Fixed Assets in which the Foothill Group Agent has a first
priority Lien pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement (or proceeds of sales of
Stock on account thereof), as of the date of such receipt, an amount equal to
the lesser of: (a) the amount of such proceeds; and (b) the greater of (i) zero
Dollars; and (ii) the amount of Availability as of such date minus $5,000,000.
"Renewal Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4.
"Reportable Event" means any of the events described in
Section 4043(c) of ERISA or the regulations thereunder other than a Reportable
Event as to which the provision of 30 days notice to the PBGC is waived under
applicable regulations.
"Required Lenders" means, at any time, Lenders whose Pro
Rata Shares aggregate 51% or more of the Commitments, or, if the Commitments
have been terminated irrevocably, 51% or more of the Obligations then
outstanding.
"Retiree Health Plan" means an "employee welfare benefit
plan" within the meaning of Section 3(1) of ERISA that provides benefits to
individuals after termination of their employment, other than as required by
Section 601 of ERISA.
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"Revolving Advance Cap" means, as of any date of
determination, an amount equal to (a) the Applicable Percentage of the net
orderly liquidation value of Akashic's machinery and equipment located in the
continental U.S., as determined from time to time by Dovetech, Inc. or another
appraiser satisfactory to Foothill Group Agent, updated to exclude any sold
assets, minus (b) the Syquest Availability Amount.
"Revolving Facility Usage" means, as of any date of
determination, without duplication, the sum of outstanding Advances, Foothill
Loans, and Foothill Group Agent Advances.
"Revolving Loan Facility Fee" has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.11(c)(i).
"Sale" means the sale, lease, or other disposition by Debtor
of any item of the Worldwide Collateral (other than the Stock of any direct or
indirect Subsidiary of StorMedia, whether or not made or entered into in the
ordinary course of business).
"Seagate" means Seagate Technology, Inc., a Delaware
corporation.
"Seagate Non-Offset Agreement" means a written agreement of
Seagate, in form and substance satisfactory to Foothill Group Agent, pursuant to
which Seagate waives and relinquishes any right to offset all or any part of the
Seagate Subordinated Indebtedness against any obligations of Seagate to any
Obligor with respect to any Account.
"Seagate Settlement Documents" means the written
documentation entered into or to be entered into between StorMedia and Seagate
relating to the termination of existing supply arrangements between those
parties, the exchange of releases, and the incurrence of the Seagate
Subordinated Indebtedness, the form and substance of the documentation of which
shall be acceptable to Foothill Group Agent.
"Seagate Subordinated Indebtedness" means $8,000,000 in the
aggregate of Subordinated Indebtedness of StorMedia to Seagate, in the form of a
$5,000,000 convertible note, and a $3,000,000 note, the form and substance of
the documentation of which shall be acceptable to Foothill Group Agent.
"Securities Account" means a "securities account" as that
term is defined in Section 8501 of the UCC.
"Singapore Security Documents" means those certain
Debentures, dated of even date herewith, by Strates and International in favor
of Foothill Group Agent, in form and substance satisfactory to Foothill Group
Agent, and such other instruments, guaranties, agreements, and documents
governed by the laws of Singapore, or any political
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subdivision thereof, as Foothill or its Singapore foreign counsel may reasonably
require to now or at any time hereafter secure the whole or any part of the
Obligations or of the obligations of Strates or International in respect of the
Obligations, and in each case in form and substance satisfactory to Foothill
Group Agent.
"Solvent" means, with respect to any Person on a particular
date, that on such date (a) at fair valuations, all of the properties and assets
of such Person are greater than the sum of the debts, including contingent
liabilities, of such Person, (b) the present fair salable value of the
properties and assets of such Person (sold location by location to Persons
intending to use those facilities for the purposes for which they were designed
and constructed) is not less than the amount that will be required to pay the
probable liability of such Person on its debts as they become absolute and
matured, (c) such Person does not intend to, and does not believe that it will,
incur debts beyond such Person's ability to pay as such debts mature, and (d)
such Person is not engaged in business or a transaction, and is not about to
engage in business or a transaction, for which such Person's properties and
assets would constitute unreasonably small capital after giving due
consideration to the prevailing practices in the industry in which such Person
is engaged. In computing the amount of contingent liabilities at any time, it is
intended that such liabilities will be computed at the amount that, in light of
all the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount
that reasonably can be expected to become an actual or matured liability.
"Specified Account Debtors" means Quantum Corporation,
Seagate Technology, Inc., Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Western Digital, and
Syquest, Inc.
"Stock" means all shares, options, warrants, interests,
participations, or other equivalents (regardless of how designated) of or in a
corporation or equivalent entity, whether voting or nonvoting, including common
stock, preferred stock, or any other "equity security" (as such term is defined
in Rule 3a11-1 of the General Rules and Regulations promulgated by the
Securities Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).
"Stock Sale" means any sale or transfer of the Stock of any
StorMedia Subsidiary, whether by the Obligor owning same with any necessary
Creditor consents (in accordance with the provisions of Section 17(c) of the
Intercreditor Agreement), or by a Creditor in realization of its security
interest therein in accordance with the provisions of the Intercreditor
Agreement.
"StorMedia" means StorMedia Incorporated, a Delaware
corporation.
"StorMedia Domestic Collateral" means any StorMedia
Collateral that is Domestic Collateral.
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"StorMedia Foreign Collateral" means any StorMedia
Collateral that is Foreign Collateral.
"StorMedia Foreign Sales" means StorMedia Foreign Sales
Corporation, a U.S. Virgin Islands corporation.
"StorMedia Subsidiaries" means the Subsidiaries of
StorMedia, including International, Strates, StorMedia Foreign Sales, Akashic,
and Strates Malaysia.
"Strates" means Strates Pte. Ltd., a company organized under
the laws of Singapore.
"Strates Malaysia" means Strates Sdn. Bhd., formerly known
as Akashic Kubota Technologies, Sdn. Bhd., a company organized under the laws of
Malaysia, which as of the Closing Date is a first-tier Subsidiary of Akashic.
"Subordinated Indebtedness" means Indebtedness of an Obligor
that is the subject of a Subordination Agreement.
"Subordination Agreement" means a written subordination of
indebtedness agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Foothill Group
Agent whereby indebtedness to a third Person is subordinated in right of payment
to the Obligations.
"Subsidiary" of a Person means a corporation, partnership,
limited liability company, or other entity in which that Person directly or
\indirectly owns or controls the shares of Stock having ordinary voting power to
elect a majority of the board of directors (or appoint other comparable
managers) of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or other
entity.
"Suretyship Agreement" means a suretyship agreement, in form
and substance satisfactory to Foothill Group Agent, between each Borrower and
Foothill Group Agent.
"Syndicated Amount" means that portion of the Maximum Amount
equal to the aggregate financing commitments (to the extent not breached or
terminated) of all Participants.
"Syquest Availability Amount" means, as of any date of
determination, the amount of Section 2.1 borrowing availability created by
Accounts with respect to which Syquest, Inc. is the Account Debtor.
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"Tasman Facility" means Akashic Domestic Collateral
consisting of the Fixed Assets located on the Closing Date at 305 and/or 0000
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx.
"Total Obligations Cap" means, as of any date of
determination, the lesser of: (a) an amount equal to Borrower's Collections with
respect to Accounts for the immediately preceding 90 day period; and (b) an
amount equal to 66.67% of the sum of (i) the least of the Maximum Revolving
Amount, the Borrowing Base, and the Revolving Advance Cap, plus (ii) the net
orderly liquidation value of Akashic's machinery and equipment located in the
continental U.S., as determined from time to time by Dovetech, Inc. or another
appraiser satisfactory to Foothill Group Agent, updated to exclude any sold
assets.
"UCC" means the California Uniform Commercial Code, as in
effect from time to time.
"Voidable Transfer" has the meaning set forth in Section
15.8.
"Worldwide Collateral" means the Collateral and the
Guarantor Collateral.
"Year 2000 Compliant" means, with regard to any Person, that
all software in goods produced or sold by, or utilized by and material to the
business operations or financial condition of, such entity are able to interpret
and manipulate data on and involving all calendar dates correctly and without
causing any abnormal ending scenario, including in relation to dates in and
after the Year 2000.
1.2 ACCOUNTING TERMS. All accounting terms not specifically
defined herein shall be construed in accordance with GAAP. When used herein, the
term "financial statements" shall include the notes and schedules thereto.
Whenever the term "Borrower" is used in respect of a financial covenant or a
related definition, it shall be understood to mean Borrower on a consolidated
basis unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
1.3 UCC. Any terms used in this Agreement that are defined in
the UCC shall be construed and defined as set forth in the UCC unless otherwise
defined herein.
1.4 CONSTRUCTION. Unless the context of this Agreement clearly
requires otherwise, references to the plural include the singular, references to
the singular include the plural, the term "including" is not limiting, and the
term "or" has, except where otherwise indicated, the inclusive meaning
represented by the phrase "and/or." The words "hereof," "herein," "hereby,"
"hereunder," and similar terms in this Agreement refer to this Agreement as a
whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. An
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Event of Default shall "continue" or be "continuing" until such Event of Default
has been waived in writing by Foothill Group Agent. Section, subsection, clause,
schedule, and exhibit references are to this Agreement unless otherwise
specified. All references to statutes or regulations shall be construed as
including all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, or
replacing the statute or regulation referred to. Any reference in this Agreement
or in the Loan Documents to this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents shall
include all alterations, amendments, changes, extensions, modifications,
renewals, replacements, substitutions, and supplements, thereto and thereof, as
applicable.
1.5 SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS. All of the schedules and exhibits
attached to this Agreement shall be deemed incorporated herein by reference.
1.6 OBLIGORS. By its execution and delivery of its Guaranty or
any Guarantor Security Document, or any joinder thereto, any Obligor that is not
a party to this Agreement nevertheless shall be deemed to have agreed to be
bound by each provision herein relating to the Obligors or their assets with the
same force and effect as though such Obligor were party to this Agreement,
mutatis mutandis.
2. LOAN AND TERMS OF PAYMENT.
2.1 REVOLVING ADVANCES.
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
and during the term of this Agreement, each Lender agrees to make advances
("Advances") to Borrower in an amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed
such Lender's Pro Rata Share of an amount equal to the least of (i) the Maximum
Revolving Amount, (ii) the Borrowing Base, and (iii) the Revolving Advance Cap.
For purposes of this Agreement, "Borrowing Base", as of any date of
determination, shall mean the result of:
(y) the lesser of: (i) 80% of Eligible Accounts, less
the amount, if any, of the Dilution Reserve; and (ii) an amount
equal to Borrower's Collections with respect to Accounts for the
immediately preceding 60 day period; minus
(z) the sum of (i) the aggregate amount of reserves, if
any, established by Foothill Group Agent under Section 2.1(b),
and (ii) the Cumulative Blockage.
(b) Anything to the contrary in Section 2.1(a) above
notwithstanding, Foothill Group Agent may create reserves against the
Borrowing Base or reduce its advance rates based upon Eligible Accounts without
declaring an Event of Default if it determines, acting in good faith, that there
has occurred a Material Adverse Change.
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(c) Foothill Group Agent shall have no obligation to make
Advances hereunder to the extent they would cause the outstanding Obligations
(exclusive of any amount of the Revolving Loan Facility Fee that was not yet due
and payable, and exclusive of payment in kind interest that is not currently due
and payable) to exceed the lesser of (i) the Maximum Foothill Amount plus the
Syndicated Amount, and (ii) the Total Obligations Cap. Amounts borrowed pursuant
to this Section 2.1 may be repaid and, subject to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, reborrowed at any time during the term of this Agreement.
(d) Procedure for Borrowing. Each Borrowing shall be made
upon Borrower's irrevocable request therefor delivered to Foothill Group Agent
(which notice must be received by Foothill Group Agent no later than 10:00 a.m.
(California time) on the Business Day that is the requested Funding Date)
specifying (i) the amount of the Borrowing; and (ii) the requested Funding Date,
which shall be a Business Day.
(e) Foothill Group Agent's Election. Promptly after receipt
of a request for a Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.1(d), Foothill Group Agent
shall elect, in its discretion, (i) to have the terms of Section 2.1(f) apply to
such requested Borrowing, or (ii) to request Foothill to make a Foothill Loan
pursuant to the terms of Section 2.1(g) in the amount of the requested
Borrowing; provided, however, that if Foothill declines in its sole discretion
to make a Foothill Loan pursuant to Section 2.1(g), Foothill Group Agent shall
elect to have the terms of Section 2.1(f) apply to such requested Borrowing.
(f) Making of Advances.
(i) In the event that Foothill Group Agent shall elect
to have the terms of this Section 2.1(f) apply to a requested Borrowing as
described in Section 2.1(e), then promptly after receipt of a request for a
Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.1(d), Foothill Group Agent shall notify the
Lenders, not later than 11:00 a.m. (California time) on the Business Day that is
the requested Funding Date applicable thereto, by telecopy, telephone, or other
similar form of transmission, of the requested Borrowing. Each Lender shall make
the amount of such Lender's Pro Rata Share of the requested Borrowing available
to Foothill Group Agent in immediately available funds, to such account of
Foothill Group Agent as Foothill Group Agent may designate, not later than 12:00
p.m. (California time) on the Funding Date applicable thereto. After Foothill
Group Agent's receipt of the proceeds of such Advances, upon satisfaction of the
applicable conditions precedent set forth in Section 3 hereof, Foothill Group
Agent shall make the proceeds of such Advances available to Borrower on the
applicable Funding Date by transferring same day funds equal to the proceeds of
such Advances received by Foothill Group Agent to Borrower's Designated Account;
provided, however, that, subject to the provisions of Section 2.1(l), Foothill
Group Agent shall not request any Lender to make, and no Lender shall have the
obligation to make, any Advance if Foothill Group Agent shall have received
written notice from any Lender, or otherwise has actual knowledge, that (1) one
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or more of the applicable conditions precedent set forth in Section 3 will not
be satisfied on the requested Funding Date for the applicable Borrowing unless
such condition has been waived, or (2) the requested Borrowing would exceed the
Availability of Borrower on such Funding Date.
(ii) Unless Foothill Group Agent receives notice from a
Lender on or prior to the Closing Date or, with respect to any Borrowing after
the Closing Date, at least 1 Business Day prior to the date of such Borrowing,
that such Lender will not make available as and when required hereunder to
Foothill Group Agent for the account of Borrower the amount of that Lender's Pro
Rata Share of the Borrowing, Foothill Group Agent may assume that each Lender
has made or will make such amount available to Foothill Group Agent in
immediately available funds on the Funding Date and Foothill Group Agent may
(but shall not be so required), in reliance upon such assumption, make available
to Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If and to the extent any Lender
shall not have made its full amount available to Foothill Group Agent in
immediately available funds and Foothill Group Agent in such circumstances has
made available to Borrower such amount, that Lender shall on the Business Day
following such Funding Date make such amount available to Foothill Group Agent,
together with interest at the Defaulting Lenders Rate for each day during such
period. A notice submitted by Foothill Group Agent to any Lender with respect to
amounts owing under this subsection shall be conclusive, absent manifest error.
If such amount is so made available, such payment to Foothill Group Agent shall
constitute such Lender's Advance on the date of Borrowing for all purposes of
this Agreement. If such amount is not made available to Foothill Group Agent on
the Business Day following the Funding Date, Foothill Group Agent will notify
Borrower of such failure to fund and, upon demand by Foothill Group Agent,
Borrower shall pay such amount to Foothill Group Agent for Foothill Group
Agent's account, together with interest thereon for each day elapsed since the
date of such Borrowing, at a rate per annum equal to the interest rate
applicable at the time to the Advances composing such Borrowing. The failure of
any Lender to make any Advance on any Funding Date shall not relieve any other
Lender of any obligation hereunder to make an Advance on such Funding Date, but
no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the
Advance to be made by such other Lender on any Funding Date.
(iii) Foothill Group Agent shall not be obligated to
transfer to a Defaulting Lender any payments made by Borrower to Foothill Group
Agent for the Defaulting Lender's benefit; nor shall a Defaulting Lender be
entitled to the sharing of any payments hereunder. Amounts payable to a
Defaulting Lender shall instead be paid to or retained by Foothill Group Agent.
Foothill Group Agent may hold and, in its discretion, re-lend to Borrower the
amount of all such payments received or retained by it for the account of such
Defaulting Lender. Solely for the purposes of voting or consenting to matters
with respect to the Loan Documents and determining Pro Rata Shares, such
Defaulting Lender shall be deemed not to be a "Lender" and such Lender's
Commitment
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shall be deemed to be zero (-0-). This section shall remain effective with
respect to such Lender until (x) the Obligations under this Agreement shall have
been declared or shall have become immediately due and payable or (y) the
requisite non- Defaulting Lenders and Foothill Group Agent shall have waived
such Lender's default in writing. The operation of this section shall not be
construed to increase or otherwise affect the Commitment of any Lender, or
relieve or excuse the performance by Borrower of its duties and obligations
hereunder.
(g) Making of Foothill Loans.
(i) In the event Foothill Group Agent shall elect, with
the consent of Foothill as a Lender, to have the terms of this Section 2.1(g)
apply to a requested Borrowing as described in Section 2.1(e), Foothill as a
Lender shall make an Advance in the amount of such Borrowing (any such Advance
made solely by Foothill as a Lender pursuant to this Section 2.1(g) being
referred to as a "Foothill Loan" and such Advances being referred to
collectively as "Foothill Loans") available to Borrower on the Funding Date
applicable thereto by transferring same day funds to Borrower's Designated
Account. Each Foothill Loan is an Advance hereunder and shall be subject to all
the terms and conditions applicable to other Advances, except that all payments
thereon shall be payable to Foothill as a Lender solely for its own account (and
for the account of the holder of any participation interest with respect to such
Advance). Subject to the provisions of Section 2.1(l), Foothill Group Agent
shall not request Foothill as a Lender to make, and Foothill as a Lender shall
not make, any Foothill Loan if Foothill Group Agent shall have received written
notice from any Lender, or otherwise has actual knowledge, that (i) one or more
of the applicable conditions precedent set forth in Section 3 will not be
satisfied on the requested Funding Date for the applicable Borrowing unless such
condition has been waived, or (ii) the requested Borrowing would exceed the
Availability of Borrower on such Funding Date. Foothill as a Lender shall not
otherwise be required to determine whether the applicable conditions precedent
set forth in Section 3 have been satisfied on the Funding Date applicable
thereto prior to making, in its sole discretion, any Foothill Loan.
(ii) The Foothill Loans shall be secured by the
Worldwide Collateral and shall constitute Advances and Obligations hereunder,
and shall bear interest at the rate applicable from time to time to Advances
pursuant to Section 2.6 hereof.
(h) Foothill Group Agent Advances.
(i) Subject to the limitations set forth in the proviso
contained in this Section 2.1(h), Foothill Group Agent hereby is authorized by
Borrower and the Lenders, from time to time in Foothill Group Agent's sole
discretion, (1) after the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default or
an Event of Default, or (2) at any time that any of the other applicable
conditions precedent set forth in Section 3 have not
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been satisfied, to make Advances to Borrower on behalf of the Lenders that
Foothill Group Agent, in its reasonable business judgment, deems necessary or
desirable (A) to preserve or protect the Worldwide Collateral, or any portion
thereof, (B) to enhance the likelihood of repayment of the Obligations, or (C)
to pay any other amount chargeable to Borrower pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement, including Foothill Group Expenses and the costs, fees, and expenses
described in Section 10 (any of the Advances described in this Section 2.1(h)
being hereinafter referred to as "Foothill Group Agent Advances"); provided,
that the Required Lenders may at any time revoke Foothill Group Agent's
authorization contained in this Section 2.1(h) to make Foothill Group Agent
Advances, any such revocation to be in writing and to become effective upon
Foothill Group Agent's receipt thereof.
(ii) Foothill Group Agent Advances shall be repayable on
demand and secured by the Worldwide Collateral, shall constitute Advances and
Obligations hereunder, and shall bear interest at the rate applicable from time
to time to the Advances pursuant to Section 2.6 hereof.
(i) Settlement. It is agreed that the funded portion of the
Advances of each Lender with a Commitment to make Advances is intended by such
Lenders to equal, at all times, such Lender's Pro Rata Share of the outstanding
Advances. Such agreement notwithstanding, Foothill Group Agent, Foothill, and
such other Lenders agree (which agreement shall not be for the benefit of or
enforceable by Borrower) that in order to facilitate the administration of this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents, settlement among them as to the
Advances, the Foothill Loans, and the Foothill Group Agent Advances shall take
place on a periodic basis in accordance with the following provisions:
(i) Foothill Group Agent shall request settlement
("Settlement") with the Lenders with a Commitment to make Advances on a weekly
basis, or on a more frequent basis if so determined by Foothill Group Agent, (1)
on behalf of Foothill, with respect to each outstanding Foothill Loan, (2) for
itself, with respect to each Foothill Group Agent Advance, and (3) with respect
to Collections received, as to each by notifying the Lenders by telecopy,
telephone, or other similar form of transmission, of such requested Settlement,
no later than 2:00 p.m. (California time) on the Business Day immediately prior
to the date of such requested Settlement (the date of such requested Settlement
being the "Settlement Date"). Such notice of a Settlement Date shall include a
summary statement of the amount of outstanding Advances, Foothill Loans, and
Foothill Group Agent Advances for the period since the prior Settlement Date,
the amount of repayments received in such period, and the amounts allocated to
each Lender of the interest, fees, and other charges for such period. Subject to
the terms and conditions contained herein (including Section 2.1(f)(iii)): (y)
if any such Lender's balance of the Advances, Foothill Loans, and Foothill Group
Agent Advances exceeds such Lender's Pro Rata Share of the Advances, Foothill
Loans, and Foothill Group Agent Advances as of a
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Settlement Date, then Foothill Group Agent shall by no later than 12:00 p.m
(California time) on the Settlement Date transfer in immediately available funds
to the account of such Lender as such Lender may designate, an amount such that
each such Lender shall, upon receipt of such amount, have as of the Settlement
Date, its Pro Rata Share of the Advances, Foothill Loans, and Foothill Group
Agent Advances; and (z) if any such Lender's balance of the Advances, Foothill
Loans, and Foothill Group Agent Advances is less than such Lender's Pro Rata
Share of the Advances, Foothill Loans, and Foothill Group Agent Advances as of a
Settlement Date, such Lender shall no later than 12:00 p.m. (California time) on
the Settlement Date transfer in immediately available funds to such account of
Foothill Group Agent as Foothill Group Agent may designate, an amount such that
each such Lender shall, upon transfer of such amount, have as of the Settlement
Date, its Pro Rata Share of the Advances, Foothill Loans, and Foothill Group
Agent Advances. Such amounts made available to Foothill Group Agent under clause
(z) of the immediately preceding sentence shall be applied against the amounts
of the applicable Foothill Loan or Foothill Group Agent Advance and, together
with the portion of such Foothill Loan or Foothill Group Agent Advance
representing Foothill's Pro Rata Share thereof, shall constitute Advances of
such Lenders. If any such amount is not made available to Foothill Group Agent
by any Lender on the Settlement Date applicable thereto to the extent required
by the terms hereof, Foothill Group Agent shall be entitled to recover for its
account such amount on demand from such Lender together with interest thereon at
the Defaulting Lenders Rate.
(ii) In determining whether any such Lender's balance of
the Advances, Foothill Loans, and Foothill Group Agent Advances is less than,
equal to, or greater than such Lender's Pro Rata Share of the Advances, Foothill
Loans, and Foothill Group Agent Advances as of a Settlement Date, Foothill Group
Agent shall, as part of the relevant Settlement, apply to such balance the
portion of payments actually received in good funds by Foothill Group Agent or
Foothill with respect to principal, interest, fees payable by Borrower and
allocable to the Lenders hereunder, and proceeds of Worldwide Collateral. To the
extent that a net amount is owed to any such Lender after such application, such
net amount shall be distributed by Foothill Group Agent or Foothill to that
Lender as part of such next Settlement.
(iii) Between Settlement Dates, Foothill Group Agent, to
the extent no Foothill Group Agent Advances or Foothill Loans are outstanding,
may pay over to Foothill any payments received by Foothill Group Agent, that in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement would be applied to the reduction of
the Advances, for application to Foothill's Pro Rata Share of the Advances. If,
as of any Settlement Date, Collections received since the then immediately
preceding Settlement Date have been applied to Foothill's Pro Rata Share of the
Advances other than to Foothill Loans or Foothill Group Agent Advances, as
provided for in the previous sentence, Foothill shall pay to Foothill Group
Agent for the accounts of the Lenders with a Commitment to make Advances, and
Foothill Group Agent shall pay to such Lenders, to be applied to the outstanding
Advances
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of such Lenders, an amount such that each such Lender shall, upon receipt of
such amount, have, as of such Settlement Date, its Pro Rata Share of the
Advances. During the period between Settlement Dates, Foothill with respect to
Foothill Loans, Foothill Group Agent with respect to Foothill Group Agent
Advances, and each such Lender with respect to the Advances other than Foothill
Loans and Foothill Group Agent Advances, shall be entitled to interest at the
applicable rate or rates payable under this Agreement on the daily amount of
funds employed by Foothill, Foothill Group Agent, or the Lenders, as applicable.
(j) Notation. Foothill Group Agent shall record on its books
the principal amount of the Advances owing to each Lender with a Commitment to
make Advances, including the Foothill Loans owing to Foothill, and Foothill
Group Agent Advances owing to Foothill Group Agent, and the interests therein of
each such Lender, from time to time. In addition, each Lender is authorized, at
such Lender's option, to note the date and amount of each payment or prepayment
of principal of such Lender's Advances in its books and records, including
computer records, such books and records constituting rebuttably presumptive
evidence, absent manifest error, of the accuracy of the information contained
therein.
(k) Lenders' Failure to Perform. All Advances (other than
Foothill Loans and Foothill Group Agent Advances) shall be made by the Lenders
with a Commitment to make Advances simultaneously and in accordance with their
Pro Rata Shares. It is understood that (i) no such Lender shall be responsible
for any failure by any other Lender to perform its obligation to make any
Advances hereunder, nor shall any Commitment of any such Lender be increased or
decreased as a result of any failure by any other Lender to perform its
obligation to make any Advances hereunder, and (ii) no failure by any such
Lender to perform its obligation to make any Advances hereunder shall excuse any
other such Lender from its obligation to make any Advances hereunder.
(l) Optional Overadvances. Any contrary provision of this
Agreement notwithstanding, if the conditions for borrowing under Section 3.2
cannot be fulfilled, the Lenders nonetheless hereby authorize Foothill Group
Agent or Foothill, as applicable, and Foothill Group Agent or Foothill, as
applicable, may, but is not obligated to, knowingly and intentionally continue
to make Advances (including Foothill Loans) to Borrower such failure of
condition notwithstanding, so long as, at any time, (i) the outstanding
Revolving Facility Usage does not exceed the Borrowing Base by more than ten
percent (10%) and (ii) the outstanding Revolving Facility Usage (except for and
excluding amounts charged to the Loan Account for interest, fees, or Foothill
Group Expenses) does not exceed the Maximum Revolving Amount. The foregoing
provisions are for the sole and exclusive benefit of Foothill Group Agent,
Foothill, and the Lenders with a Commitment to make Advances and are not
intended to benefit Borrower in any way. The Advances and Foothill Loans, as
applicable, that are made pursuant to this Section 2.1(l) shall be subject to
the same terms and conditions as any other Advance or Foothill Loan, as
applicable, except that the rate of interest applicable thereto shall be the
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rates set forth in Section 2.6(b) hereof without regard to the presence or
absence of a Default or Event of Default; provided, that the Required Lenders
may, at any time during the continuance of an Event of Default or if Borrower
fails to satisfy any other material lending condition, revoke Foothill Group
Agent's authorization contained in this Section 2.1(l) to make Overadvances
(except for and excluding amounts charged to the Loan Account for interest,
fees, or Foothill Group Expenses), any such revocation to be in writing and to
become effective upon Foothill Group Agent's receipt thereof.
In the event Foothill Group Agent obtains actual knowledge
that Revolving Facility Usage exceeds the amount permitted by the preceding
paragraph, regardless of the amount of or reason for such excess, Foothill Group
Agent shall notify the Lenders as soon as practicable (and prior to making any
(or any further) intentional Overadvances (except for and excluding amounts
charged to the Loan Account for interest, fees, or Foothill Group Expenses)
unless Foothill Group Agent determines that prior notice would result in
imminent harm to the Worldwide Collateral or its value), and the Lenders
thereupon shall, together with Foothill Group Agent, jointly determine the terms
of arrangements that shall be implemented with Borrower intended to reduce,
within a reasonable time, the outstanding principal amount of the Advances to
Borrower to an amount permitted by the preceding paragraph. In the event any
Lender disagrees over the terms of reduction and/or repayment of any
Overadvance, the terms of reduction and/or repayment thereof shall be
implemented according to the determination of the Required Lenders.
Each Lender with a Commitment to make Advances shall be
obligated to settle with Foothill Group Agent as provided in Section 2.1(i) for
the amount of such Lender's Pro Rata Share of any unintentional Overadvances by
Foothill Group Agent reported to such Lender, any intentional Overadvances made
as permitted under this Section 2.1(l), and any Overadvances resulting from the
charging to the Loan Account of interest, fees, or Foothill Group Expenses.
2.2 BRIDGE TERM LOAN.
(a) Bridge Term Loan. Subject to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, each Lender agrees to make a one-time advance on the Bridge Term
Loan Funding Date (which advance is referred to herein as the "Bridge Term
Loan") to Borrower in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed such Lender's
Pro Rata Share of the Maximum Bridge Term Loan Amount. If the Bridge Term Loan
Funding Date is to be a date after the Closing Date, Borrower shall provide
Foothill Group Agent at least five (5) Business Days advance prior notice of the
proposed Bridge Term Loan Funding Date. The outstanding principal balance and
all accrued and unpaid interest under the Bridge Term Loan shall be due and
payable on the earlier of (i) May 29, 2000, or (ii) the termination of this
Agreement, whether by its terms, by prepayment, by acceleration, or otherwise.
So long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time of the
proposed
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prepayment thereof, the unpaid principal balance of the Bridge Term Loan may be
prepaid, in whole or in part, at any time during the term of this Agreement upon
10 days prior written notice by Borrower to Foothill Group Agent, and such
prepayment shall be without penalty or premium. All amounts outstanding under
the Bridge Term Loan shall constitute Obligations. On each occasion that the
Foothill Group Agent receives proceeds of Sales of Inventory or Fixed Assets in
which the Foothill Group Agent has a first priority Lien pursuant to the
Intercreditor Agreement (or proceeds of sales of Stock on account thereof), a
mandatory prepayment of the Bridge Term Loan in the amount equal to the Related
Bridge Term Loan Reduction Amount shall be due at the time such proceeds are
received, to be applied as set forth in Section 2.4(b)(ii) as if Borrower
specified in writing that such amount was to be applied to the repayment of the
Bridge Term Loan.
(b) Making the Bridge Term Loan.
(i) Unless Foothill Group Agent receives notice from a
Lender on or prior to the Bridge Term Loan Funding Date that such Lender will
not make available as and when required hereunder to Foothill Group Agent for
the account of Borrower the amount of that Lender's Pro Rata Share of the
Borrowing, Foothill Group Agent may assume that each Lender has made or will
make such amount available to Foothill Group Agent in immediately available
funds on the Bridge Term Loan Funding Date and Foothill Group Agent may (but
shall not be so required), in reliance upon such assumption, make available to
Borrower on the Bridge Term Loan Funding Date a corresponding amount. If and to
the extent any Lender shall not have made its full amount available to Foothill
Group Agent in immediately available funds and Foothill Group Agent in such
circumstances has made available to Borrower such amount, that Lender shall on
the Business Day following the Bridge Term Loan Funding Date make such amount
available to Foothill Group Agent, together with interest at the Defaulting
Lenders Rate for each day during such period. A notice submitted by Foothill
Group Agent to any Lender with respect to amounts owing under this subsection
shall be conclusive, absent manifest error. If such amount is so made available,
such payment to Foothill Group Agent shall constitute such Lender's Bridge Term
Loan on the date of Borrowing for all purposes of this Agreement. If such amount
is not made available to Foothill Group Agent on the Business Day following the
Bridge Term Loan Funding Date, Foothill Group Agent will notify Borrower of such
failure to fund and, upon demand by Foothill Group Agent, Borrower shall pay
such amount to Foothill Group Agent for Foothill Group Agent's account, together
with interest thereon for each day elapsed since the date of such Borrowing, at
a rate per annum equal to the interest rate applicable at the time to the Bridge
Term Loan. The failure of any Lender to make the Bridge Term Loan on the Bridge
Term Loan Funding Date shall not relieve any other Lender of any obligation
hereunder to make the Bridge Term Loan on the Bridge Term Loan Funding Date, but
no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the
Bridge Term Loan to be made by such other Lender on the Bridge Term Loan Funding
Date.
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(ii) Foothill Group Agent shall not be obligated to
transfer to a Defaulting Lender any payments made by Borrower to Foothill Group
Agent for the Defaulting Lender's benefit; nor shall a Defaulting Lender be
entitled to the sharing of any payments hereunder. Amounts payable to a
Defaulting Lender shall instead be paid to or retained by Foothill Group Agent.
Foothill Group Agent may hold and, in its discretion, re-lend to Borrower the
amount of all such payments received or retained by it for the account of such
Defaulting Lender (except that payments with respect to the Bridge Term Loan
shall not be re-lent). Solely for the purposes of voting or consenting to
matters with respect to the Loan Documents and determining Pro Rata Shares, such
Defaulting Lender shall be deemed not to be a "Lender" and such Lender's
Commitment shall be deemed to be zero (-0-). This section shall remain effective
with respect to such Lender until (x) the Obligations under this Agreement shall
have been declared or shall have become immediately due and payable or (y) the
requisite non- Defaulting Lenders, Foothill Group Agent, and Borrower shall have
waived such Lender's default in writing. The operation of this section shall not
be construed to increase or otherwise affect the Commitment of any Lender, or
relieve or excuse the performance by Borrower of its duties and obligations
hereunder.
(c) Lenders' Failure to Perform. The Bridge Term Loan shall
be made by the Lenders simultaneously and in accordance with their Pro Rata
Shares. It is understood that (i) no Lender shall be responsible for any failure
by any other Lender to perform its obligation to make the Bridge Term Loan
hereunder, nor shall any Commitment of any Lender be increased or decreased as a
result of any failure by any other Lender to perform its obligation to make the
Bridge Term Loan hereunder, and (ii) no failure by any Lender to perform its
obligation to make the Bridge Term Loan hereunder shall excuse any other Lender
from its obligation to make the Bridge Term Loan hereunder.
2.3 [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED].
2.4 PAYMENTS.
(a) Payments by Borrower.
(i) All payments to be made by Borrower shall be made
without set-off, recoupment, deduction, or counterclaim, except as otherwise
required by law. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by
Borrower shall be made to Foothill Group Agent for the account of the Lenders at
Foothill Group Agent's address set forth in Section 12, and shall be made in
immediately available funds, no later than 11:00 a.m. (California time) on the
date specified herein. Any payment received by Foothill Group Agent later than
11:00 a.m. (California time), at the option of Foothill Group Agent, shall be
deemed to have been received on the following Business Day and any applicable
interest or fee shall continue to accrue until such following Business Day.
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(ii) Whenever any payment is due on a day other than a
Business Day, such payment shall be made on the following Business Day, and such
extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of interest
or fees, as the case may be.
(iii) Unless Foothill Group Agent receives notice from
Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Lenders that
Borrower will not make such payment in full as and when required, Foothill Group
Agent may assume that Borrower has made such payment in full to Foothill Group
Agent on such date in immediately available funds and Foothill Group Agent may
(but shall not be so required), in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to
each Lender on such due date an amount equal to the amount then due such Lender.
If and to the extent Borrower has not made such payment in full to Foothill
Group Agent, each Lender shall repay to Foothill Group Agent on demand such
amount distributed to such Lender, together with interest thereon at the
Reference Rate for each day from the date such amount is distributed to such
Lender until the date repaid.
(b) Apportionment, Application, and Reversal of Payments.
(i) All Collections (including all proceeds of
Accounts or other Worldwide Collateral received by Foothill Group Agent) shall
be applied:
first, to pay any fees or other Foothill Group Expenses then due to
Foothill Group Agent from Borrower until paid in full;
second, to pay any fees or other Foothill Group Expenses then due to the
Lenders from Borrower;
third, to pay interest due in respect of all Foothill Loans and Foothill
Group Agent Advances until paid in full;
fourth, to pay interest due in respect of all other Advances until paid
in full;
fifth, so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or,
if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and Foothill Group Agent
agrees in Foothill Group Agent's sole discretion, to pay interest due in respect
of the Bridge Term Loan until paid in full (if an Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing and Foothill Group Agent has not so agreed, the priority of
such amounts is deferred to item "eighth");
sixth, to pay or prepay principal of Foothill Loans and Foothill Group
Agent Advances until paid in full;
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seventh, to pay principal of the Advances (other than Foothill Loans and
Foothill Group Agent Advances) until paid in full;
eighth, upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of
Default, to pay interest due in respect of the Bridge Term Loan until paid in
full;
ninth, when due and payable, to pay in cash the Bridge Term Loan until
paid in full.
(ii) In each instance so long as no Event of Default
has occurred and is continuing, Section 2.4(b)(i) shall not be deemed to apply
to any payment by Borrower specified by Borrower to Foothill Group Agent to be
for the payment of Bridge Term Loan Obligations when due and payable under any
provision of this Agreement or the prepayment of all or part of the principal of
the Bridge Term Loan pursuant to Section 2.2(a).
(iii) For purposes of the foregoing, "payment in full"
with respect to interest shall include interest accrued after the commencement
of any Insolvency Proceeding irrespective of whether a claim for such interest
is allowable in such Insolvency Proceeding.
2.5 OVERADVANCES. If, at any time or for any reason, the amount
of Obligations pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.2 is greater than either the
Dollar or percentage limitations set forth in Sections 2.1 or 2.2 (an
"Overadvance"), Borrower immediately shall pay to Foothill Group Agent, in cash,
the amount of such excess, which amount shall be used by Foothill Group Agent to
reduce the Obligations in accordance with the priorities set forth in Section
2.4(b).
2.6 INTEREST: RATES, PAYMENTS, AND CALCULATIONS.
(a) Interest Rate. All Obligations owed in connection with
the Revolving Advances shall bear interest at a per annum rate of 1 percentage
point above the Reference Rate. All Bridge Term Loan Obligations shall bear
interest at a per annum rate of fourteen and one-half percent (14.50%), of which
ten percent (10%) per annum shall be payable in cash and four and one-half
percent (4.50%) per annum shall be payable "in kind" and therewith added to the
then-outstanding principal balance of the Bridge Term Loan.
(b) [intentionally omitted].
(c) Default Rate. Upon the occurrence and during the
continuation of an Event of Default, all Obligations shall bear interest at a
per annum rate equal to 4 percentage points above the rate that otherwise would
be applicable hereunder.
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(d) Minimum Interest. In no event shall the rate of interest
chargeable hereunder for any day be less than 7% per annum. To the extent that
interest accrued hereunder at the rate set forth herein would be less than the
foregoing minimum daily rate, the interest rate chargeable hereunder for such
day automatically shall be deemed increased to the minimum rate.
(e) Payments. Interest fees payable hereunder shall be due
and payable, in arrears, on the first day of each month during the term hereof.
Borrower hereby authorizes Foothill, at its option, without prior notice to
Borrower, to charge such interest, all Foothill Expenses (as and when incurred),
the fees and charges provided for in Section 2.11 (as and when payable), and all
other payments due under the Loan Documents to Borrower's Loan Account, which
amounts thereafter shall accrue interest at the rate then applicable to Advances
hereunder. Any interest not paid when due shall be compounded and shall
thereafter accrue interest at the rate then applicable to Advances hereunder.
(f) Computation. The Reference Rate as of the date of this
Agreement is 8.5% per annum. In the event the Reference Rate is changed from
time to time hereafter, the applicable rate of interest hereunder automatically
and immediately shall be increased or decreased by an amount equal to such
change in the Reference Rate. All interest and fees chargeable under the Loan
Documents shall be computed on the basis of a 360 day year for the actual number
of days elapsed.
(g) Intent to Limit Charges to Maximum Lawful Rate. In no
event shall the interest rate or rates payable under this Agreement, plus any
other amounts paid in connection herewith, exceed the highest rate permissible
under any law that a court of competent jurisdiction shall, in a final
determination, deem applicable. Borrower and Foothill, in executing and
delivering this Agreement, intend legally to agree upon the rate or rates of
interest and manner of payment stated within it; provided, however, that,
anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding, if said rate or rates
of interest or manner of payment exceeds the maximum allowable under applicable
law, then, ipso facto as of the date of this Agreement, Borrower is and shall be
liable only for the payment of such maximum as allowed by law, and payment
received from Borrower in excess of such legal maximum, whenever received, shall
be applied to reduce the principal balance of the Obligations to the extent of
such excess.
2.7 COLLECTION OF ACCOUNTS. (a) Borrower shall at all times
maintain lockboxes (the "Lockboxes") and, immediately after the Closing Date,
shall instruct all Account Debtors with respect to the Accounts, General
Intangibles, and Negotiable Collateral of Borrower to remit all Collections in
respect thereof to such Lockboxes. Borrower, Foothill, and the Lockbox Banks
shall enter into the Lockbox Agreements, which among other things shall provide
for the opening of a Lockbox Account for the deposit of Collections at a Lockbox
Bank. Borrower agrees that all Collections and other amounts received by
Borrower from any Account Debtor or any other source immediately
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upon receipt shall be deposited into a Lockbox Account. No Lockbox Agreement or
arrangement contemplated thereby shall be modified by Borrower without the prior
written consent of Foothill Group Agent. Upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in the Lockbox Agreements, all amounts received in each
Lockbox Account shall be wired each Business Day into an account (the "Foothill
Group Agent Account") maintained by Foothill Group Agent at a depositary
selected by Foothill Group Agent.
(b) Borrower shall, immediately after the Closing Date, cause
each of the Guarantors to instruct all of their account debtors with respect to
their Accounts to remit all Collections in respect thereof to the Lockboxes.
2.8 CREDITING PAYMENTS; APPLICATION OF COLLECTIONS. The receipt
of any Collections by Foothill Group Agent (whether from transfers to Foothill
Group Agent by the Lockbox Banks pursuant to the Lockbox Agreements or
otherwise) immediately shall be applied provisionally to reduce the Obligations
outstanding under Section 2.1, but shall not be considered a payment on account
unless such Collection item is a wire transfer of immediately available federal
funds and is made to the Foothill Group Agent Account or unless and until such
Collection item is honored when presented for payment. From and after the
Closing Date, Foothill Group Agent shall be entitled to charge Borrower for 1
Business Day of `clearance' or `float' at the rate set forth in Section 2.6(a)
or Section 2.6(c), as applicable, on all Collections that are received by
Foothill (regardless of whether forwarded by the Lockbox Banks to Foothill,
whether provisionally applied to reduce the Obligations under Section 2.1, or
otherwise). This across-the-board 1 Business Day clearance or float charge on
all Collections is acknowledged by the parties to constitute an integral aspect
of the pricing of the Foothill Group's financing of Borrower, and shall apply
irrespective of the characterization of whether receipts are owned by Borrower
or Foothill Group Agent, and whether or not there are any outstanding Advances,
the effect of such clearance or float charge being the equivalent of charging 1
Business Day of interest on such Collections. Should any Collection item not be
honored when presented for payment, then Borrower shall be deemed not to have
made such payment, and interest shall be recalculated accordingly. Anything to
the contrary contained herein notwithstanding, any Collection item shall be
deemed received by Foothill Group Agent only if it is received into the Agent
Account on a Business Day on or before 11:00 a.m. California time. If any
Collection item is received into the Foothill Group Agent Account on a
non-Business Day or after 11:00 a.m. California time on a Business Day, it shall
be deemed to have been received by Foothill as of the opening of business on the
immediately following Business Day.
2.9 DESIGNATED ACCOUNT. Foothill is authorized to make the
Advances and the Bridge Term Loan under this Agreement based upon telephonic or
other instructions received from anyone purporting to be an Authorized Person,
or without instructions if pursuant to Section 2.6(e). Borrower agrees to
establish and maintain the Designated Account with the Designated Account Bank
for the purpose of receiving the
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proceeds of the Advances and the Bridge Term Loan requested by Borrower and made
by Foothill Group Agent hereunder. Unless otherwise agreed by Foothill Group
Agent and Borrower, any Advance or the Bridge Term Loan requested by Borrower
and made hereunder shall be made to the Designated Account.
2.10 MAINTENANCE OF LOAN ACCOUNT; STATEMENTS OF OBLIGATIONS.
Foothill Group Agent shall maintain an account on its books in the name of
Borrower (the "Loan Account") on which Borrower will be charged with all
Advances Loans and the Bridge Term Loan made by Foothill Group Agent or the
Lenders to Borrower or for Borrower's account, including, accrued interest,
Foothill Group Expenses, and any other payment Obligations of Borrower. In
accordance with Section 2.8, the Loan Account will be credited with all payments
received by Foothill Group Agent from Borrower or for Borrower's account,
including all amounts received in the Foothill Account from any Lockbox Bank.
Foothill shall render statements regarding the Loan Account to Borrower,
including principal, interest, fees, and including an itemization of all charges
and expenses constituting Foothill Group Expenses owing, and such statements
shall be conclusively presumed to be correct and accurate and constitute an
account stated between Borrower and the Foothill Group unless, within 30 days
after receipt thereof by Borrower, Borrower shall deliver to Foothill Group
Agent written objection thereto describing the error or errors contained in any
such statements.
2.11 FEES. Borrower shall pay to Foothill Group Agent for the
ratable benefit of the Foothill Group (except as otherwise indicated or as
otherwise agreed among the Lenders) the following fees:
(a) Origination Fee. An origination fee of $460,000, earned
in full and non-refundable on the Closing Date,
(b) [Intentionally omitted].
(c) Facility Fees.
(i) Revolving Loan Facility Fee. On the Closing Date, a
facility fee (the "Revolving Loan Facility Fee") of $300,000 which fee would be
earned in full and would constitute an Obligation as of the Closing Date, but
which would be payable in equal monthly installments of $12,500 per month which
installments would be payable on the first day of each month; provided, however,
that the entire unpaid balance of the Facility Fee would be due and payable in
full on the earlier of the date on which the other Obligations are prepaid in
full or are due in full, whether at maturity or as a result of acceleration;
provided further, however, that, until a portion of the Facility Fee is due and
payable, it shall not accrue interest hereunder and shall not reduce
Availability; and
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(ii) Bridge Term Loan Facility Fee. Commencing on the
date that is three months after the Bridge Term Loan Funding Date and continuing
thereafter on the first day of every third month until the Bridge Term Loan is
paid in full, a facility fee (the "Bridge Term Loan Facility Fee") payable in
the following amounts:
# Months After % of Initial Bridge
Closing Term Loan Amount
-------------- -------------------
3 0.25%
6 0.50%
9 0.75%
12 1.00%
15 1.25%
18 1.50%
21 1.75%
24 2.00%
(d) Financial Examination, Documentation, and Appraisal
Fees. For the sole and separate account of Foothill Group Agent: (i) Foothill
Group Agent's customary fee of $650 per day per examiner; plus (ii) Foothill
Group Agent's out-of-pocket expenses for each financial analysis and examination
(i.e., audits) of Borrower performed by personnel employed by Foothill Group
Agent; plus (iii) Foothill Group Agent's customary appraisal fee of $1,500 per
day per appraiser; plus (iv) Foothill Group Agent's out-of-pocket expenses for
each appraisal of the Worldwide Collateral performed by personnel employed by
Foothill Group Agent and, the actual charges paid or incurred by Foothill Group
Agent if it elects to employ the services of one or more third Persons to
perform such financial analyses and examinations (i.e., audits) of Borrower or
to appraise the Worldwide Collateral.
3. CONDITIONS; TERM OF AGREEMENT.
3.1 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE INITIAL ADVANCE AND BRIDGE
TERM LOAN. The obligation of the Foothill Group (or any member thereof) to make
the initial Advance and the Bridge Term Loan, is subject to the fulfillment, to
the satisfaction of Foothill Group Agent and its counsel, of each of the
following conditions on or before the Closing Date:
(a) the Closing Date shall occur on or before May 31,
1998;
(b) Foothill Group Agent shall have received all
financing statements and fixture filings required by Foothill Group Agent, duly
executed by the
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Obligors, Foothill Group Agent shall have received searches reflecting the
filing of all such financing statements and fixture filings, Foothill Group
Agent shall have had an opportunity to reconcile the searches with the Permitted
Liens provided for herein and with the information in the Foothill Group Agent's
possession concerning the Fixed Assets and known Liens thereon, and Foothill
Group Agent shall have received any releases or terminations of Liens necessary
to ensure that no Liens exist on the Closing Date other than Permitted Liens;
(c) Foothill Group Agent shall have received each of the
following documents, in form and substance satisfactory to Foothill Group Agent,
duly executed, and each such document shall be in full force and effect:
i. the Borrower Supplemental Security Documents;
ii. the Lockbox Agreements;
iii. the Disbursement Letter;
iv. the Suretyship Agreement;
v. the Guarantees;
vi. the Guarantor Security Documents;
vii. the Seagate Non-Offset Agreement;
viii. an Assignment and Acceptance, in form and
substance and with an Assignee satisfactory to
Foothill Group Agent, relative to the Bridge Term
Loan; and
ix. the Intercreditor Agreement;
(d) Foothill Group Agent shall have received a
certificate from the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of each Obligor attesting
to the resolutions of such Obligor's Board of Directors authorizing its
execution, delivery, and performance of the Loan Documents to which such Obligor
is a party and authorizing specific officers of such Obligor to execute the
same;
(e) Foothill Group Agent shall have received copies of
each Obligor's Governing Documents, as amended, modified, or supplemented to the
Closing Date, certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the
applicable Obligor;
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(f) Foothill Group Agent shall have received a
certificate of status with respect to each Obligor, dated within 10 days of the
Closing Date, such certificate to be issued by the appropriate officer of the
jurisdiction of organization of each applicable Obligor, which certificate shall
indicate that such Obligor is in good standing in such jurisdiction;
(g) Foothill Group Agent shall have received
certificates of status with respect to each Obligor, each dated within 15 days
of the Closing Date, such certificates to be issued by the appropriate officer
of the jurisdictions in which its failure to be duly qualified or licensed would
constitute a Material Adverse Change, which certificates shall indicate that
each Obligor is in good standing in such jurisdictions;
(h) Foothill Group Agent shall have received a copy of
the fully executed and delivered Seagate Settlement Documents and satisfactory
evidence that the transactions contemplated thereby are being consummated prior
to or concurrently with the initial extension of credit hereunder;
(i) Foothill Group Agent shall have received
satisfactory evidence that not less than $16,000,000 in the aggregate of new
Subordinated Indebtedness and/or Equity Contributions have been received by
Borrower (including the Seagate Subordinated Indebtedness) immediately prior to
or concurrently with the initial extension of credit hereunder;
(j) Foothill Group Agent shall have received a
certificate of insurance, together with the endorsements thereto, as are
required by Section 6.10, the form and substance of which shall be satisfactory
to Foothill Group Agent and its counsel;
(k) Foothill Group Agent shall have received such
Collateral Access Agreements from lessors, warehousemen, bailees, and other
third persons as Foothill Group Agent may require;
(l) Foothill Group Agent shall have received opinions of
the Obligors' counsel in form and substance satisfactory to Foothill Group Agent
in its sole discretion;
(m) Foothill Group Agent shall have received a copy of
the fully executed and delivered Bank Group Agreement and related Bank Group
Financing Documents providing for, among other things, a release or waiver by
the Bank Group (or the equivalent) of any Bank Group Events of Default that
occurred prior to the Closing Date, and a resetting of various covenants,
warranties, and other terms and provisions of the Bank Group Agreement and
related Bank Group Financing Documents, and such Bank Group Agreement and
related Bank Group Financing Documents shall be in form and substance
satisfactory to Foothill and Borrower;
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(n) Foothill Group Agent shall have received the results
of reference checks on key management personnel of Borrower, which results shall
be satisfactory to Foothill in its sole discretion;
(o) Foothill Group Agent shall have completed audits and
"field surveys" in respect of the Obligors' properties and assets and the
results of them shall be satisfactory to Foothill;
(p) Foothill Group Agent shall have determined to its
satisfaction that immediately after giving effect to the making of the initial
Advances contemplated hereby (including those referenced in Section 7.17), and
paid all closing costs, fees, and expenses incurred in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby (including any costs, fees, and expenses in
connection with related Equity Contributions or issuances of Subordinated
Indebtedness, or in connection with the restructuring of the Bank Group
Financing Documents), the sum of Borrower's Availability plus its unrestricted
cash and cash equivalents (after reserving for any increase in the trade
payables of Borrower since the date of completion of the most recent field
survey of Borrower completed by Foothill Group Agent) is not less than
$15,000,000;
(q) Foothill Group Agent shall have received
satisfactory evidence that all tax returns required to be filed by Borrower have
been timely filed and all taxes upon Borrower or its properties, assets, income,
and franchises (including real property taxes and payroll taxes) have been paid
prior to delinquency, except such taxes that are the subject of a Permitted
Protest;
(r) prior to or concurrent with the funding of any
Advance under Section 2.1, the Bridge Term Loan shall have been fully funded;
(s) all original certificates evidencing any Stock
pledged under the Loan Documents to the Foothill Group Agent, together with
related signed, undated, blank stock powers, shall have been delivered to
Foothill Group Agent, or to Bank Group Agent as bailee of Foothill Group Agent,
in accordance with the requirements of the Intercreditor Agreement;
(t) except to the extent, if any, that the receipt of
same may be deferred by the Foothill Group to a post-closing condition
subsequent, Foothill Group Agent shall have received any executed and delivered
Control Agreements from any brokers or securities intermediaries with which
Borrower maintains any securities accounts in compliance with Sections 4.1 and
4.7 hereof; and
(u) all other documents and legal matters in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been delivered,
executed, or recorded and shall be in form and substance satisfactory to
Foothill and its counsel.
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Execution and delivery to Foothill Group Agent by a Lender of a counterpart of
this Agreement shall be deemed confirmation by such Lender that (i) all
conditions precedent in this Section 3.1 have been fulfilled to the satisfaction
of such Lender and (ii) the decision of such Lender to execute and deliver to
Foothill Group Agent an executed counterpart of this Agreement was made by such
Lender independently and without reliance on Foothill Group Agent or any other
Lender as to the satisfaction of any condition precedent set forth in this
Section 3.1.
3.2 CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO ALL ADVANCES. The following
shall be conditions precedent to all Advances hereunder:
(a) the representations and warranties contained in this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all respects
on and as of the date of such extension of credit, as though made on and as of
such date (except to the extent that such representations and warranties relate
solely to an earlier date);
(b) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred
and be continuing on the date of such extension of credit, nor shall either
result from the making thereof; and
(c) no injunction, writ, restraining order, or other
order of any nature prohibiting, directly or indirectly, the extending of such
credit shall have been issued and remain in force by any governmental authority
against Borrower, Foothill Group Agent, the Foothill Group, or any of their
Affiliates.
The foregoing conditions precedent are not conditions to each Lender
participating in or reimbursing Foothill or Foothill Group Agent for such
Lenders' Pro Rata Share of any Foothill Loan or Foothill Group Agent Advance as
provided herein.
3.3 CONDITION SUBSEQUENT. As a condition subsequent to
initial closing hereunder, Borrower shall perform or cause to be performed the
following (the failure by Borrower to so perform or cause to be performed
constituting an Event of Default):
(a) within 30 days of the Closing Date, deliver to
Foothill Group Agent the certified copies of the policies of insurance, together
with the endorsements thereto, as are required by Section 6.10, the form and
substance of which shall be satisfactory to Foothill Group Agent and its
counsel.
3.4 TERM; AUTOMATIC RENEWAL. This Agreement shall become
effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by Borrower and the Foothill
Group and shall continue in full force and effect for a term ending on the date
(the "Renewal Date") that is two years from the Closing Date and automatically
shall be renewed for successive
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one year periods thereafter, unless sooner terminated pursuant to the terms
hereof. Either party may terminate this Agreement effective on the Renewal Date
or on any one year anniversary of the Renewal Date by giving the other party at
least 90 days prior written notice. The foregoing notwithstanding, the Foothill
Group shall have the right to terminate its obligations under this Agreement
immediately and without notice upon the occurrence and during the continuation
of an Event of Default.
3.5 EFFECT OF TERMINATION. On the date of termination of
this Agreement, all Obligations immediately shall become due and payable without
notice or demand. No termination of this Agreement, however, shall relieve or
discharge Borrower of Borrower's duties, Obligations, or covenants hereunder or
under the other Loan Documents, and Foothill Group Agent's continuing security
interests in the Worldwide Collateral, for the benefit of the Foothill Group,
shall remain in effect until all Obligations have been fully and finally
discharged and the Foothill Group's obligations to provide additional credit
hereunder have been terminated.
3.6 EARLY TERMINATION BY BORROWER. Borrower has the option,
at any time upon 90 days prior written notice to Foothill Group Agent, to
terminate this Agreement by paying to Foothill Group Agent, for the ratable
benefit of the Lender Group, in cash, the Obligations, in full, together with a
premium (the "Early Termination Premium") equal to the greater of (a) the total
interest for the immediately preceding 3 months, and (b) $400,000. The Early
Termination Fee shall be solely for the benefit of the Lenders holding the Other
Obligations. The Early Termination Premium does not apply to any prepayment of
the Bridge Term Loan so long as this Agreement remains in effect and the
revolving facility provided for in Section 2.1 hereof remains in place.
3.7 TERMINATION UPON EVENT OF DEFAULT. If the Foothill Group
terminates this Agreement upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, in view of
the impracticability and extreme difficulty of ascertaining actual damages and
by mutual agreement of the parties as to a reasonable calculation of the
Foothill Group's lost profits as a result thereof, Borrower shall pay to
Foothill Group Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Foothill Group, upon the
effective date of such termination, a premium in an amount equal to the Early
Termination Premium. The Early Termination Premium shall be presumed to be the
amount of damages sustained by the Foothill Group as the result of the early
termination and Borrower agrees that it is reasonable under the circumstances
currently existing. The Early Termination Premium provided for in this Section
3.7 shall be deemed included in the Obligations.
4. CREATION OF SECURITY INTEREST.
4.1 GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST. (a) Each Borrower hereby
grants to Foothill Group Agent, for the benefit of the Foothill Group,
continuing Liens on and security interests in all right, title, and interest of
Borrower in and to all currently existing
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and hereafter acquired or arising Collateral in order to secure prompt repayment
of any and all Obligations (other than the Bridge Term Loan) and in order to
secure prompt performance by Borrower of each of Borrower's covenants and duties
with respect to the Obligations other than the Bridge Term Loan, under the Loan
Documents (the "Foothill Group Agent's Liens"). Foothill Group Agent's Liens in
and to the Collateral shall attach to all Collateral without further act on the
part of the Foothill Group or Borrower. Anything contained in this Agreement or
any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding, except for the sale of
Inventory to buyers, the license of General Intangibles to licensees, the use by
Borrower of Collateral constituting cash or cash equivalents in compliance with
the Loan Documents, or the making of Permitted Investments, in each case, in the
ordinary course of business, and except for the making of dispositions permitted
by Section 7.4(b), and the making of Stock Sales to the extent expressly
permitted by and subject to the terms and provisions of the Intercreditor
Agreement, including, without limitation, Section 17(c) thereof, Borrower has no
authority, express or implied, to dispose of any item or portion of the
Collateral. Subject to Section 2.4(b), the secured claims of the Foothill Group
with respect to the Obligations other than the Bridge Term Loan, secured by the
Collateral shall be of equal priority, and ratable according to the respective
Obligations (other than the Bridge Term Loan) due each member of the Foothill
Group.
(b) Borrower hereby grants to Foothill Group Agent, for
the benefit of the Foothill Group, continuing Liens on and security interests in
all right, title, and interest of Borrower in and to all currently existing and
hereafter acquired or arising Collateral in order to secure prompt repayment of
the Bridge Term Loan and in order to secure prompt performance by Borrower of
each of its covenants and duties under the Loan Documents with respect to the
Bridge Term Loan (the "Foothill Group Agent's Bridge Term Loan Liens"). Foothill
Group Agent's Bridge Term Loan Liens in and to the Collateral shall attach to
all Collateral without further act on the part of the Foothill Group or
Borrower. Anything contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the
contrary notwithstanding, except for the sale of Inventory to buyers, the
license of General Intangibles to licensees, the use by Borrower of Collateral
constituting cash or cash equivalents in compliance with the Loan Documents, or
the making of Permitted Investments, in each case, in the ordinary course of
business, and except for the making of dispositions permitted by Section 7.4(b),
and the making of Stock Sales to the extent expressly permitted by and subject
to the terms and provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, including, without
limitation, Section 17(c) thereof, Borrower has no authority, express or
implied, to dispose of any item or portion of the Collateral. Subject to Section
2.4(b), the secured claims of the Foothill Group with respect to the Bridge Term
Loan, secured by the Collateral shall be of equal priority, and ratable
according to the respective Bridge Term Loan due each member of the Foothill
Group.
4.2 NEGOTIABLE COLLATERAL. In the event that any Worldwide
Collateral, including proceeds, is evidenced by or consists of Negotiable
Collateral,
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immediately upon the request of Foothill Group Agent, Borrower shall, and shall
cause each Guarantor to, endorse and deliver physical possession of such
Negotiable Collateral to Foothill.
4.3 COLLECTION OF ACCOUNTS, GENERAL INTANGIBLES, AND
NEGOTIABLE COLLATERAL. Borrower agrees, and shall cause each Guarantor to agree,
that, after the occurrence and during the continuance of a Default or an Event
of Default, or if the Foothill Group deems itself insecure, Foothill Group Agent
or Foothill Group Agent's designee may (a) notify customers or Account Debtors
of the Obligors that the Accounts, General Intangibles, or Negotiable Collateral
have been assigned to Foothill Group Agent for the benefit of the Foothill
Group, or that Foothill Group Agent, for the benefit of the Foothill Group, has
a security interest therein, and (b) collect the Accounts, General Intangibles,
and Negotiable Collateral directly and charge the collection costs and expenses
to the Loan Account. Borrower shall, and shall cause each Guarantor to, agree
that they will hold in trust for the Foothill Group, as the Foothill Group's
trustee, any Collections that they receive and immediately will deliver said
Collections to Foothill Group Agent in their original form as received by such
Obligor.
4.4 DELIVERY OF ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED. At any
time upon the request of Foothill Group Agent, Borrower shall, and shall cause
each Guarantor to, execute and deliver to Foothill Group Agent all financing
statements, continuation financing statements, fixture filings, security
agreements, pledges, assignments, endorsements of certificates of title,
applications for title, affidavits, reports, notices, schedules of accounts,
letters of authority, and all other documents that Foothill Group Agent
reasonably may request, in form satisfactory to Foothill Group Agent, to perfect
and continue perfected the Foothill Group Agent's Liens and the Foothill Group
Agent's Bridge Term Loan Liens on the Worldwide Collateral (whether now owned or
hereafter arising or acquired), and in order to consummate fully all of the
transactions contemplated hereby and under the other the Loan Documents. Without
limiting the foregoing, Borrower agrees to, and shall cause each Guarantor to,
execute and deliver any Control Agreements, security agreements, financing
statements, or other documents reasonably required by Foothill Group Agent to
create, perfect, or maintain the perfection or priority of, Foothill Group
Agent's Liens on the Obligors' Securities Accounts and related Investment
Property. If at any time the Borrowing Base is a negative number as the result
of the Cumulative Blockage, Foothill Group Agent may require Borrower to pledge
to Foothill Group Agent cash collateral in an amount equal to the absolute value
of such negative number.
4.5 POWER OF ATTORNEY. Borrower hereby irrevocably makes,
constitutes, and appoints, and shall cause each Guarantor to irrevocably make,
constitute, and appoint, Foothill Group Agent (and any of Foothill's officers,
employees, or agents designated by Foothill Group Agent) as Obligor's true and
lawful attorney, with power to (a) if such Obligor refuses to, or fails timely
to execute and deliver any of the documents
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described in Section 4.4, sign the name of such Obligor on any of the documents
described in Section 4.4, (b) at any time that an Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing or Foothill Group Agent deems itself insecure, sign such
Obligor's name on any invoice or xxxx of lading relating to any Account, drafts
against Account Debtors, schedules and assignments of Accounts, verifications of
Accounts, and notices to Account Debtors, (c) send requests for verification of
Accounts, (d) endorse such Obligor's name on any Collection item that may come
into the Foothill Group's possession, (e) at any time that an Event of Default
has occurred and is continuing or the Foothill Group deems itself insecure,
notify the post office authorities to change the address for delivery of such
Obligor's mail to an address designated by Foothill Group Agent, to receive and
open all mail addressed to such Obligor, and to retain all mail relating to the
Collateral and forward all other mail to such Obligor, (f) at any time that an
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or Foothill Group Agent deems
itself insecure, make, settle, and adjust all claims under such Obligor's
policies of insurance and make all determinations and decisions with respect to
such policies of insurance, and (g) at any time that an Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing or Foothill Group Agent deems itself insecure, settle
and adjust disputes and claims respecting the Accounts directly with Account
Debtors, for amounts and upon terms that Foothill Group Agent determines to be
reasonable, and Foothill Group Agent may cause to be executed and delivered any
documents and releases that Foothill determines to be necessary. Borrower
agrees, and shall cause each Guarantor to agree, that the appointment of
Foothill Group Agent's attorney, and each and every one of Foothill Group
Agent's rights and powers, being coupled with an interest, is irrevocable until
all of the Obligations have been fully and finally repaid and performed and the
Foothill Group's obligations to extend credit hereunder are terminated.
4.6 Right to Inspect. Borrower hereby agrees, and shall
cause each Guarantor to agree, that Foothill Group Agent (through any of its
officers, employees, or agents) shall have the right, from time to time
hereafter to inspect the Books of the Obligors and to check, test, and appraise
the Worldwide Collateral in order to verify the Obligors' financial condition or
the amount, quality, value, condition of, or any other matter relating to, the
Worldwide Collateral. Without limitation of the generality of the foregoing,
Foothill Group Agent shall have the right to obtain semi-annual appraisals of
the Fixed Assets, the first of which shall be completed no later than the end of
October, 1998.
4.7 CONTROL AGREEMENTS. Borrower agrees to, and shall cause
each Guarantor to, not transfer assets out of any Securities Accounts other than
as permitted under Section 7.22 and, if to another securities intermediary,
unless each of the applicable Obligors, Foothill Group Agent, and the substitute
securities intermediary have entered into a Control Agreement. No arrangement
contemplated hereby or by any Control Agreement in respect of any Securities
Accounts or other Investment Property shall be modified by any Obligor without
the prior written consent of Foothill Group
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Agent. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default or
if Foothill Group Agent deems the Foothill Group insecure, Foothill Group Agent
may notify any securities intermediary to liquidate or transfer the applicable
Securities Account or any Investment Property maintained or held thereby and
remit the proceeds thereof to the Foothill Group Agent Account.
5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.
In order to induce the Foothill Group to enter into this
Agreement, Borrower makes the following representations and warranties to the
Foothill Group which shall be true, correct, and complete in all respects as of
the date hereof, and shall be true, correct, and complete in all respects as of
the Closing Date, and at and as of the date of the making of each Advance made
thereafter, as though made on and as of the date of such Advance (except to the
extent that such representations and warranties relate solely to an earlier
date) and such representations and warranties shall survive the execution and
delivery of this Agreement:
5.1 NO ENCUMBRANCES. Borrower has good and indefeasible
title to the Collateral, free and clear of Liens except for Permitted Liens.
Each Guarantor has good and indefeasible title to the Guarantor Collateral
pledged or hypothecated by it, free and clear of Liens except for Permitted
Liens.
5.2 ELIGIBLE ACCOUNTS. The Eligible Accounts are bona fide
existing obligations created by the sale, license, or lease and delivery of
Inventory or the rendition of services to Account Debtors in the ordinary course
of the applicable Obligors' business, unconditionally owed to such Obligor
without defenses, disputes, offsets, counterclaims, or rights of return or
cancellation. The property giving rise to such Eligible Accounts has been
delivered to the Account Debtor, or to the Account Debtor's agent for immediate
shipment to and unconditional acceptance by the Account Debtor. No Obligor has
received any notice of actual or imminent bankruptcy, insolvency, or material
impairment of the financial condition of any Account Debtor regarding any
Eligible Account.
5.3 [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED].
5.4 EQUIPMENT. Except for Nextar thickness sorters whose
suitability is in dispute, all of the Equipment is used or held for use in
Borrower's business and is fit for such purposes. Akashic does not own more than
a de minimis amount of Fixed Assets that are Foreign Collateral.
5.5 LOCATION OF INVENTORY AND EQUIPMENT. The Inventory and
Equipment are not stored with a bailee, warehouseman, or similar party (without
Agent's
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prior written consent) and are located only at the locations identified on
Schedule 6.12 or otherwise permitted by Section 6.12.
5.6 INVENTORY RECORDS. Borrower keeps correct and accurate
records itemizing and describing the kind, type, quality, and quantity of the
Inventory, and Borrower's cost therefor.
5.7 LOCATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICE; FEIN. The chief
executive office of each Borrower is located at the address indicated in the
preamble to this Agreement. StorMedia's FEIN is 00-0000000. Akashic's FEIN is
00-0000000.
5.8 DUE ORGANIZATION AND QUALIFICATION; SUBSIDIARIES.
(a) Each Obligor is duly organized and existing and in
good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and
qualified and licensed to do business in, and in good standing in, any state
where the failure to be so licensed or qualified reasonably could be expected to
constitute a Material Adverse Change.
(b) Set forth on Schedule 5.8, is a complete and
accurate list of Borrower's direct and indirect Subsidiaries, showing: (i) the
jurisdiction of their incorporation; (ii) the number of shares of each class of
common and preferred Stock authorized for each of such Subsidiaries; and (iii)
the number and the percentage of the outstanding shares of each such class owned
directly or indirectly by Borrower. All of the outstanding Stock of each such
Subsidiary has been validly issued and is fully paid and non-assessable.
(c) Except as set forth on Schedule 5.8, no Stock (or
any securities, instruments, warrants, options, purchase rights, conversion or
exchange rights, calls, commitments or claims of any character convertible into
or exercisable for Stock) of any direct or indirect Subsidiary of Borrower is
subject to the issuance of any security, instrument, warrant, option, purchase
right, conversion or exchange right, call, commitment or claim of any right,
title, or interest therein or thereto.
(d) StorMedia Foreign Sales is merely a inactive holding
company for certain Subsidiaries of StorMedia and has no operations of its own
nor any significant assets except for cash of not more than $500,000 and the
Stock of certain Subsidiaries of StorMedia.
5.9 DUE AUTHORIZATION; NO CONFLICT.
(a) The execution, delivery, and performance by Borrower
of this Agreement and the Loan Documents to which it is a party have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action.
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(b) The execution, delivery, and performance by each
Guarantor of the Loan Documents to which it is a party have been duly authorized
by all necessary corporate action.
(c) The execution, delivery, and performance by Borrower
of this Agreement and the Loan Documents to which it is a party do not and will
not (i) violate any provision of federal, state, or local law or regulation
(including Regulations T, U, and X of the Federal Reserve Board) applicable to
Borrower, the Governing Documents of Borrower, or any order, judgment, or decree
of any court or other Governmental Authority binding on Borrower, (ii) conflict
with, result in a breach of, or constitute (with due notice or lapse of time or
both) a default under any material contractual obligation or material lease of
Borrower, (iii) result in or require the creation or imposition of any Lien of
any nature whatsoever upon any properties or assets of Borrower, other than
Permitted Liens, or (iv) require any approval of stockholders or any approval or
consent of any Person under any material contractual obligation of Borrower,
except for ones that have been obtained.
(d) The execution, delivery, and performance by each
Guarantor of the Loan Documents to which it is a party do not and will not (i)
violate any provision of the laws and regulations applicable to such Guarantor,
the Governing Documents of such Guarantor, or any order, judgment, or decree of
any court or other Governmental Authority binding on such Guarantor, (ii)
conflict with, result in a breach of, or constitute (with due notice or lapse of
time or both) a default under any material contractual obligation or material
lease of such Guarantor, (iii) result in or require the creation or imposition
of any Lien of any nature whatsoever upon any properties or assets of such
Guarantor, other than Permitted Liens, or (iv) require any approval of
stockholders or any approval or consent of any Person under any material
contractual obligation of such Guarantor, except for ones that have been
obtained.
(e) Other than the filing of appropriate financing
statements, the execution, delivery, and performance by Borrower of this
Agreement and the Loan Documents to which Borrower is a party do not and will
not require any registration with, consent, or approval of, or notice to, or
other action with or by, any federal, state, foreign, or other Governmental
Authority or other Person.
(f) Other than the filing of appropriate financing
statements and the applicable Guarantor Security Documents, the execution,
delivery, and performance by any Guarantor of the Loan Documents to which such
Guarantor is a party do not and will not require any registration with, consent,
or approval of, or notice to, or other action with or by, any federal, state,
foreign, or other Governmental Authority or other Person.
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(g) This Agreement and the Loan Documents to which
Borrower is a party, and all other documents contemplated hereby and thereby,
when executed and delivered by Borrower will be the legally valid and binding
obligations of Borrower, enforceable against Borrower in accordance with their
respective terms, except as enforcement may be limited by equitable principles
or by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws
relating to or limiting creditors' rights generally.
(h) As to each Guarantor, the Loan Documents to which
such Guarantor is a party, and all other documents contemplated hereby and
thereby, when executed and delivered by such Guarantor will be the legally valid
and binding obligations of such Guarantor, enforceable against such Guarantor in
accordance with their respective terms, except as enforcement may be limited by
equitable principles or by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium,
or similar laws relating to or limiting creditors' rights generally.
(i) The Liens granted by Borrower to Foothill in and to
its properties and assets pursuant to this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents are validly created, perfected, and (subject to the Intercreditor
Agreement) first priority Liens, subject only to Permitted Liens.
(j) The Foothill Group Agent's Liens and the Foothill
Group Agent's Bridge Term Loan Liens granted by Borrower to Foothill Group
Agent, for the benefit of the Foothill Group, in and to its properties and
assets pursuant to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are validly
created, perfected, and (subject to the Intercreditor Agreement) first priority
Liens, subject only to Permitted Liens.
(k) As to each Guarantor, the Liens granted by such
Guarantor to Foothill Group Agent, for the benefit of Foothill Group in and to
its properties and assets pursuant to the Loan Documents to which it is a party
are validly created, perfected, and (subject to the Intercreditor Agreement)
first priority Liens, subject only to Permitted Liens.
5.10 LITIGATION. There are no actions or proceedings pending
by or against any Obligor before any court or administrative agency and no
Obligor has any knowledge or belief of any pending, threatened, or imminent
litigation, governmental investigations, or claims, complaints, actions, or
prosecutions involving any Obligor, except for: (a) ongoing collection matters
in which an Obligor is the plaintiff; (b) matters disclosed on Schedule 5.10;
and (c) matters arising after the date hereof that, if decided adversely to any
Obligor, reasonably could not be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Change.
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5.11 NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE. All financial statements
relating to the Obligors that have been delivered by Borrower to the Foothill
Group have been prepared in accordance with GAAP (except, in the case of
unaudited financial statements, for the lack of footnotes and being subject to
year-end audit adjustments) and fairly present the Obligors' financial condition
as of the date thereof and the Obligors' results of operations for the period
then ended. There has not been a Material Adverse Change with respect to the
Obligors since the date of the latest financial statements submitted to the
Foothill Group on or before the Closing Date.
5.12 SOLVENCY.
(a) Borrower is Solvent. No transfer of property is
being made by Borrower and no obligation is being incurred by Borrower in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the other
Loan Documents with the intent to hinder, delay, or defraud either present or
future creditors of Borrower.
(b) Each Guarantor is Solvent. No transfer of property
is being made by such Guarantor and no obligation is being incurred by such
Guarantor in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or
the other Loan Documents with the intent to hinder, delay, or defraud either
present or future creditors of such Guarantor.
5.13 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS. None of Borrower, any of its
Subsidiaries, or any of their ERISA Affiliates maintains or contributes to any
Benefit Plan, other than those listed on Schedule 5.13. Borrower, each of its
Subsidiaries and each ERISA Affiliate have satisfied the minimum funding
standards of ERISA and the IRC with respect to each Benefit Plan to which it is
obligated to contribute. No ERISA Event has occurred nor has any other event
occurred that may result in an ERISA Event that reasonably could be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Change. None of Borrower or its Subsidiaries, any
ERISA Affiliate, or any fiduciary of any Plan is subject to any direct or
indirect liability with respect to any Plan under any applicable law, treaty,
rule, regulation, or agreement. None of Borrower or its Subsidiaries or any
ERISA Affiliate is required to provide security to any Plan under Section
401(a)(29) of the IRC.
5.14 ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION. Except as disclosed on
Schedule 5.14, none of Borrower's properties or assets has ever been used by
Borrower or, to the best of Borrower's knowledge, by previous owners or
operators in the disposal of, or to produce, store, handle, treat, release, or
transport, any Hazardous Materials. Except as disclosed on Schedule 5.14, none
of Borrower's properties or assets has ever been designated or identified in any
manner pursuant to any environmental protection statute as a Hazardous Materials
disposal site, or a candidate for closure pursuant to any environmental
protection statute. No Lien arising under any environmental protection statute
has attached to any revenues or to any real or personal property owned or
operated by Borrower. Except as disclosed on Schedule 5.14, Borrower has not
received a summons, citation, notice, or directive from the Environmental
Protection Agency or any
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other federal or state governmental agency concerning any action or omission by
Borrower resulting in the releasing or disposing of Hazardous Materials into the
environment.
5.15 BROKERAGE FEES. No brokerage commission or finders fees
has or shall be incurred or payable in connection with or as a result of
Borrower's obtaining financing from the Foothill Group under this Agreement, and
Borrower has not utilized the services of any broker or finder in connection
with Borrower's obtaining financing from the Foothill Group under this
Agreement.
5.16 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. Each Obligor owns or possesses
adequate licenses or other rights to use all patents, patent applications,
trademarks, trademark applications, service marks, service xxxx applications,
trade names, copyrights, source code, mask-works, trade secrets and know-how
(collectively, the "Intellectual Property") that are necessary for the operation
of the Obligors' business as currently conducted. Except as disclosed on
Schedule 5.16, no claim is pending or threatened in writing to the effect that
an Obligor infringes upon, or conflicts with, the asserted rights of any other
Person under any Intellectual Property, and there is no basis for any such claim
(whether pending or threatened, and which, if determined adversely to an
Obligor, reasonably could be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change).
No claim is pending or threatened in writing to the effect that any such
Intellectual Property owned or licensed by any Obligor or in which any Obligor
otherwise has the right to use is invalid or unenforceable by such Obligor, and
there is no basis for any such claim (whether or not pending or threatened, and
which, if determined adversely to any Obligor, reasonably could be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Change). No Obligor has any registered copyrights.
No Obligor owns any works of authorship that are registrable as copyrights,
except for works of insignificant value that are not necessary to their
business.
5.17 YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE.
(a) On the basis of a comprehensive inventory, review
and assessment currently being undertaken by Borrower of Borrower's computer
applications utilized by Borrower or contained in products produced or sold by
Borrower, and upon inquiry made of Borrower's material suppliers and vendors,
Borrower's management is of the considered view that Borrower, its products, and
all such suppliers and vendors will be Year 2000 Compliant before October 1,
1999.
(b) Borrower (i) has undertaken a detailed inventory,
review and assessment of all areas within its business and operations that could
be adversely affected by the failure of Borrower or its products to be Year 2000
Compliant on a timely basis, (ii) is developing a detail plan and timeline for
becoming Year 2000 Compliant on a timely basis, and (iii) to date, is
implementing that plan in accordance with that timetable in all material
respects. Borrower reasonably anticipates that it will be Year 2000 Compliant on
a timely basis.
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6. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.
Borrower covenants and agrees that, so long as any credit
hereunder shall be available and until full and final payment of the
Obligations, and unless the Foothill Group shall otherwise consent in writing,
Borrower shall do (and, where specified, shall cause the applicable other
Obligors to do) all of the following:
6.1 ACCOUNTING SYSTEM. The Obligors shall maintain a
standard and modern system of accounting that enables Borrower to produce
financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and maintain records pertaining to
the Worldwide Collateral that contain information as from time to time may be
requested by Foothill Group Agent. Borrower shall keep a modern inventory
reporting system that shows all additions, sales, claims, returns, and
allowances with respect to the Inventory.
6.2 COLLATERAL REPORTING. Provide Foothill Group Agent with
the following documents at the following times in form satisfactory to Foothill
Group Agent: (a) on each Business Day (or less frequently, as agreed to by
Foothill Group Agent), a sales journal, collection journal, and credit register
since the last such schedule and a calculation of the Borrowing Base as of such
date, (b) on a monthly basis and, in any event, by no later than the 10th day of
each month during the term of this Agreement, (i) a detailed calculation of the
Borrowing Base, and (ii) a detailed aging, by total, of the Accounts, together
with a reconciliation to the detailed calculation of the Borrowing Base
previously provided to Foothill Group Agent, (c) on a monthly basis and, in any
event, by no later than the 10th day of each month during the term of this
Agreement, a summary aging, by vendor, of each Obligor's accounts payable and
any book overdraft, (d) [intentionally omitted], (e) on each Business Day,
notice of all returns, disputes, or claims, (f) upon request, copies of invoices
in connection with the Accounts, customer statements, credit memos, remittance
advices and reports, deposit slips, shipping and delivery documents in
connection with the Accounts and for Inventory and Equipment acquired by
Borrower, purchase orders and invoices, (g) on a quarterly basis, a detailed
list of the customers of the Obligors, (h) on a monthly basis, a calculation of
the Dilution for the prior month; and (i) such other reports as to the Worldwide
Collateral or the financial condition of Borrower as Foothill Group Agent may
request from time to time. Original sales invoices evidencing daily sales shall
be mailed by the Obligors to each of their respective Account Debtors and, at
Foothill Group Agent's direction, the invoices shall indicate on their face that
the Account has been assigned to Foothill Group Agent and that all payments are
to be made directly to Foothill Group Agent.
6.3 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, REPORTS, CERTIFICATES. Deliver to
Foothill Group Agent, with copies to each Lender: (a) as soon as available, but
in any event within 30 days after the end of each month during each of
Borrower's fiscal years, a company prepared balance sheet, income statement, and
statement of cash flow covering Borrower's operations during such period; and
(b) as soon as available, but in any event
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within 90 days after the end of each of Borrower's fiscal years, financial
statements of Borrower for each such fiscal year, audited by independent
certified public accountants reasonably acceptable to Foothill Group Agent and
certified, without any qualifications, by such accountants to have been prepared
in accordance with GAAP, together with a certificate of such accountants
addressed to Foothill Group Agent stating that such accountants do not have
knowledge of the existence of any Default or Event of Default. Such audited
financial statements shall include a balance sheet, profit and loss statement,
and statement of cash flow and, if prepared, such accountants' letter to
management. Inasmuch as Borrower is a parent company of one or more
Subsidiaries, or Affiliates, or is a Subsidiary or Affiliate of another company,
then, in addition to the financial statements referred to above, Borrower agrees
to deliver financial statements prepared on a consolidating basis so as to
present Borrower and each such related entity separately, and on a consolidated
basis.
Together with the above, Borrower also shall deliver to
Foothill Group Agent, with copies to each Lender, Borrower's Form 10-Q Quarterly
Reports, Form 10-K Annual Reports, and Form 8-K Current Reports, and any other
filings made by Borrower with the Securities and Exchange Commission, if any, as
soon as the same are filed, or any other information that is provided by
Borrower to its shareholders, and any other report reasonably requested by the
Foothill Group relating to the financial condition of Borrower.
Each month, together with the financial statements provided
pursuant to Section 6.3(a), Borrower shall deliver to Foothill Group Agent, with
copies to each Lender, a certificate signed by its chief financial officer to
the effect that: (i) all financial statements delivered or caused to be
delivered to any one or more members of the Foothill Group hereunder have been
prepared in accordance with GAAP (except, in the case of unaudited financial
statements, for the lack of footnotes and being subject to year-end audit
adjustments) and fairly present the financial condition of Borrower, (ii) the
representations and warranties of Borrower contained in this Agreement and the
other Loan Documents are true and correct in all material respects on and as of
the date of such certificate, as though made on and as of such date (except to
the extent that such representations and warranties relate solely to an earlier
date), (iii) for each month that also is the date on which a financial covenant
in Section 7.20 is to be tested, a Compliance Certificate demonstrating in
reasonable detail compliance at the end of such period with the applicable
financial covenants contained in Section 7.20, and (iv) on the date of delivery
of such certificate to Foothill Group Agent there does not exist any condition
or event that constitutes a Default or Event of Default (or, in the case of
clauses (i), (ii), or (iii), to the extent of any non-compliance, describing
such non- compliance as to which he or she may have knowledge and what action
Borrower has taken, is taking, or proposes to take with respect thereto).
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Borrower shall issue, and shall cause each of the
Guarantors to issue, written instructions to their independent certified public
accountants authorizing them to communicate with Foothill Group Agent and to
release to Foothill Group Agent whatever financial information concerning the
Obligors that Foothill Group Agent may request. Borrower hereby irrevocably
authorizes and directs, and shall cause each Guarantor to irrevocably authorize
and direct, all auditors, accountants, or other third parties to deliver to
Foothill Group Agent, at Borrower's expense, copies of the Obligors' financial
statements, papers related thereto, and other accounting records of any nature
in their possession, and to disclose to Foothill Group Agent any information
they may have regarding the Obligors' business affairs and financial conditions.
Prior to making any mandatory prepayment to the Bank
Group under Section 2.03(c) of the Bank Group Agreement, Borrower shall provide
Foothill Group Agent with documentation that is reasonably satisfactory to
Foothill Group Agent establishing that no Event of Default would result from the
making of such mandatory prepayment and that the Minimum Availability Condition
or Alternative Minimum Availability Condition, as applicable, will be satisfied
with respect thereto after giving effect to such mandatory prepayment.
6.4 TAX RETURNS. Deliver to Foothill Group Agent copies of
each of Borrower's future federal income tax returns, and any amendments
thereto, within 30 days of the filing thereof with the Internal Revenue Service.
6.5 GUARANTOR REPORTS. Cause any guarantor of any of the
Obligations to deliver its annual financial statements at the time when Borrower
provides its audited financial statements to Foothill Group Agent and copies of
all federal income tax returns as soon as the same are available and in any
event no later than 30 days after the same are required to be filed by law.
6.6 RETURNS. Borrower hereby agrees, and shall cause each
Guarantor, to cause all returns and allowances, if any, as between such Obligor
and its Account Debtors, to be on the same basis and in accordance with the
usual customary practices of such Obligor, as they exist at the time of the
execution and delivery of this Agreement. If, at a time when no Event of Default
has occurred and is continuing, any Account Debtor returns any Inventory to
Borrower, Borrower promptly shall determine the reason for such return and, if
Borrower accepts such return, issue a credit memorandum (with a copy to be sent
to Foothill Group Agent) in the appropriate amount to such Account Debtor. If,
at a time when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any Account
Debtor returns any Inventory to Borrower, Borrower promptly shall determine the
reason for such return and, if Foothill Group Agent consents (which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld), issue a credit memorandum (with a copy to
be sent to Foothill Group Agent) in the appropriate amount to such Account
Debtor.
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6.7 TITLE TO WORLDWIDE COLLATERAL. Upon Foothill Group
Agent's request, Borrower shall, and shall cause each Guarantor to, immediately
deliver to Foothill Group Agent's properly endorsed, any and all evidences of
ownership of, certificates of title, or applications for title to any items of
Worldwide Collateral.
6.8 MAINTENANCE OF EQUIPMENT. Maintain the Equipment in
good operating condition and repair (ordinary wear and tear excepted), and make
all necessary replacements thereto so that the value and operating efficiency
thereof shall at all times be maintained and preserved. Other than those items
of Equipment that constitute fixtures on the Closing Date, Borrower shall not
permit any item of Equipment to become a fixture to real estate or an accession
to other property, and such Equipment shall at all times remain personal
property.
6.9 TAXES. Borrower shall, and shall cause each Guarantor
to: (a) cause all assessments and taxes, whether real, personal, or otherwise,
due or payable by, or imposed, levied, or assessed against any Obligor any of
its property to be paid in full, before delinquency or before the expiration of
any extension period, except to the extent that the validity of such assessment
or tax shall be the subject of a Permitted Protest; (b) make due and timely
payment or deposit of all such federal, state, foreign, and local taxes,
assessments, or contributions required of it by law, except to the extent that
the validity of such assessment or tax shall be the subject of a Permitted
Protest, and will execute and deliver to Foothill, on demand, appropriate
certificates attesting to the payment thereof or deposit with respect thereto;
and (c) make timely payment or deposit of all tax payments and withholding taxes
required of it by those laws concerning F.I.C.A. (or its foreign equivalent)
and, F.U.T.A. (or its foreign equivalent), state disability (or its foreign
equivalent), and, upon request, furnish Foothill with proof satisfactory to
Foothill indicating that such Obligor has made such payments or deposits.
6.10 INSURANCE.
(a) Borrower shall cause the Obligors, at their
expense, to keep the Worldwide Collateral insured against loss or damage by
fire, theft, explosion, sprinklers, and all other hazards and risks, and in such
amounts, as are ordinarily insured against by other owners in similar
businesses. Borrower also shall cause the Obligors to maintain business
interruption, public liability, product liability, and property damage insurance
relating to the Obligors' ownership and use of the Worldwide Collateral, as well
as insurance against larceny, embezzlement, and criminal misappropriation.
(b) Borrower, at its expense, shall obtain and maintain
(i) insurance of the type necessary to insure any real property, for the full
replacement cost thereof, against any loss by fire, lightning, windstorm, hail,
explosion, aircraft, smoke damage, vehicle damage, elevator collision, and other
risks from time to time included under "extended coverage" policies, in such
amounts as Foothill Group Agent may require,
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but in any event in amounts sufficient to prevent Borrower from becoming a
co-insurer under such policies, (ii) combined single limit bodily injury and
property damages insurance against any loss, liability, or damages on, about, or
relating to each parcel of real property, in an amount of not less than
$10,000,000 per location; and (iii) insurance for such other risks as Foothill
Group Agent may require. Replacement costs, at Foothill Group Agent's option,
may be redetermined by an insurance appraiser, satisfactory to Foothill Group
Agent, not more frequently than once every 12 months at Borrower's cost.
(c) At its expense, maintain key man life insurance
policies with respect to the following individuals and in the following amounts:
Name
Amount
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx $3,000,000
Borrower shall furnish Foothill Group Agent with an
"Absolute Assignment" of each such life insurance policy, shall record each such
"Absolute Assignment" with the issuer of the respective policy, and shall
furnish proof of such issuer's acceptance of such assignment. Except as
otherwise required by the Intercreditor Agreement, all proceeds payable under
such life insurance policies shall be payable to Foothill Group Agent to be
applied on account of the Obligations.
(d) All such policies of insurance shall be in such
form, with such companies, and in such amounts as may be reasonably satisfactory
to Foothill Group Agent. All insurance required herein shall be written by
companies which are authorized to do insurance business in the state or other
jurisdiction where the relevant Obligor or property is located. All hazard
insurance and such other insurance as Foothill Group Agent shall specify, shall
contain a Form 000XXX (XX) lender's loss payable endorsement, or an equivalent
endorsement satisfactory to Foothill Group Agent, showing Foothill Group Agent
as loss payee thereof as its interests may appear, and shall contain a waiver of
warranties. Every policy of insurance referred to in this Section 6.10 shall
contain an agreement by the insurer that it will not cancel such policy except
after 30 days prior written notice to Foothill Group Agent and that any loss
payable thereunder shall be payable notwithstanding any act or negligence of any
Obligor which might, absent such agreement, result in a forfeiture of all or a
part of such insurance payment and notwithstanding (i) occupancy or use of any
real property for purposes more hazardous than permitted by the terms of such
policy, (ii) any foreclosure or other action or proceeding taken by Foothill
Group Agent pursuant to the Loan Documents upon the happening of an Event of
Default, or (iii) any change in title or ownership of any real property.
Borrower shall cause the Obligors to deliver to Foothill Group Agent certified
copies of such policies of insurance and evidence of the payment of all premiums
therefor.
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(e) Original policies or certificates thereof
satisfactory to Foothill Group Agent evidencing such insurance shall be
delivered to Foothill Group Agent at least 30 days prior to the expiration of
the existing or preceding policies. Borrower shall cause the Obligors to give
Foothill Group Agent prompt notice of any loss covered by such insurance. If an
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or in the case of any claim in
excess of $5,000,000, Foothill Group Agent shall have the right to adjust any
loss. In other circumstances, Borrower shall have the right to adjust the loss,
but, if the claim is in excess of $50,000, Borrower shall not enter into any
binding agreement with respect to any such adjustment without the prior written
consent of Foothill Group Agent, which shall not be unreasonably delayed,
conditioned, or withheld. Under circumstances where Foothill Group Agent has the
right to adjust a loss, so long as Foothill Group Agent acts in good faith it
shall have no liability whatsoever to the Obligors in respect of such
adjustments. Any monies received as payment for any loss under any insurance
policy, including the insurance policies mentioned above, shall be paid over to
Foothill Group Agent to be applied at the option of the Required Lenders either
to the prepayment of the Obligations without premium, in such order or manner as
Foothill Group Agent may elect, or shall be disbursed to the relevant Obligor
under staged payment terms satisfactory to Foothill for application to the cost
of repairs, replacements, or restorations, subject, however, to the provisions
of the Intercreditor Agreement. All repairs, replacements, or restorations shall
be effected with reasonable promptness and shall be of a value at least equal to
the value of the items or property destroyed prior to such damage or
destruction. Borrower agrees, and shall cause each Guarantor to agree, that upon
the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Foothill Group shall have the right
to apply all prepaid premiums to the payment of the Obligations in such order or
form as Foothill Group Agent shall determine, subject, however, to the
provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement.
(f) Borrower shall cause the Obligors not to take out
separate insurance concurrent in form or contributing in the event of loss with
that required to be maintained under this Section 6.10, unless Foothill Group
Agent is included thereon as named insured with the loss payable to Foothill
Group Agent under a standard 000XXX (XX) lender's loss payable endorsement, or
its local equivalent. Borrower shall cause the Obligors to immediately notify
Foothill Group Agent whenever such separate insurance is taken out, specifying
the insurer thereunder and full particulars as to the policies evidencing the
same, and provide originals of such policies immediately shall be provided to
Foothill Group Agent.
6.11 NO SETOFFS OR COUNTERCLAIMS. Borrower agrees, and shall
cause each of the Guarantors to agree, that the Obligors shall make payments
hereunder and under the other Loan Documents by or on behalf of the Obligors
without setoff or counterclaim and free and clear of, and without deduction or
withholding for or on account of, any federal, state, local, or foreign taxes.
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6.12 LOCATION OF INVENTORY AND EQUIPMENT. Keep the Inventory
and Equipment only at the locations identified on Schedule 6.12; provided,
however, that Borrower may amend Schedule 6.12 so long as such amendment occurs
by written notice to Foothill Group Agent not less than 30 days prior to the
date on which the Inventory or Equipment is moved to such new location, so long
as such new location is within the continental United States, and so long as, at
the time of such written notification, Borrower provides any financing
statements or fixture filings necessary to perfect and continue perfected the
Foothill Group Agent's Liens and the Foothill Group Agent's Bridge Term Loan
Liens on such assets and also provides to Foothill Group Agent a Collateral
Access Agreement.
6.13 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. Borrower shall, and shall cause
each of the Guarantors to, comply with the requirements of all applicable laws,
rules, regulations, and orders of any Governmental Authority, including the Fair
Labor Standards Act (or its foreign equivalent) and the Americans With
Disabilities Act (or its foreign equivalent), other than laws, rules,
regulations, and orders the non-compliance with which, individually or in the
aggregate, would not result in and reasonably could not be expected to result in
a Material Adverse Change.
6.14 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.
(a) Cause to be delivered to Foothill Group Agent each
of the following: (i) promptly, and in any event within 10 Business Days after
any Obligor knows or has reason to know that an ERISA Event has occurred that
reasonably could be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change, a written
statement of the chief financial officer or chief executive officer of such
Obligor describing such ERISA Event and any action that is being taking with
respect thereto by such Obligor or ERISA Affiliate, and any action taken or
threatened by the IRS, Department of Labor, or PBGC. Such Obligor, as
applicable, shall be deemed to know all facts known by the administrator of any
Benefit Plan of which it is the plan sponsor, (ii) promptly, and in any event
within 3 Business Days after the filing thereof with the IRS, a copy of each
funding waiver request filed with respect to any Benefit Plan and all
communications received by such Obligor or, to the knowledge of the Obligors,
any ERISA Affiliate with respect to such request, and (iii) promptly, and in any
event within 3 Business Days after receipt by the Obligors or, to the knowledge
of the Obligors, any ERISA Affiliate, of the PBGC's intention to terminate a
Benefit Plan or to have a trustee appointed to administer a Benefit Plan, copies
of each such notice.
(b) Cause to be delivered to Foothill Group Agent, upon
Foothill Group Agent's request, each of the following: (i) a copy of each Plan
(or, where any such plan is not in writing, complete description thereof) (and
if applicable, related trust agreements or other funding instruments) and all
amendments thereto, all written interpretations thereof and written descriptions
thereof that have been distributed to
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employees or former employees of Borrower or its Subsidiaries; (ii) the most
recent determination letter issued by the IRS with respect to each Benefit Plan;
(iii) for the three most recent plan years, annual reports on Form 5500 Series
required to be filed with any governmental agency for each Benefit Plan; (iv)
all actuarial reports prepared for the last three plan years for each Benefit
Plan; (v) a listing of all Multiemployer Plans, with the aggregate amount of the
most recent annual contributions required to be made by Borrower or any ERISA
Affiliate to each such plan and copies of the collective bargaining agreements
requiring such contributions; (vi) any information that has been provided to
Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate regarding withdrawal liability under any
Multiemployer Plan; and (vii) the aggregate amount of the most recent annual
payments made to former employees of Borrower or its Subsidiaries under any
Retiree Health Plan.
6.15 LEASES. Borrower agrees, and shall cause each Guarantor
to agree, as follows: (a) The Obligors shall pay when due all rents and other
amounts payable under any leases to which any Obligor is a party or by which any
Obligor's properties and assets are bound, unless such payments are the subject
of a Permitted Protest and except for rents and other amounts payable under
leases of closed facilities at which no Worldwide Collateral is located not to
exceed $1,000,000 in the aggregate; and (b) to the extent that any Obligor fails
timely to make payment of such rents and other amounts payable when due under
its leases or licenses, Foothill Group Agent shall be entitled, in its
discretion, to reserve an amount equal to such unpaid amounts against the
Borrowing Base.
6.16 BROKERAGE COMMISSIONS. Pay any and all brokerage
commission or finders fees incurred by in connection with or as a result of
Borrower's obtaining financing from the Foothill Group under this Agreement.
6.17 YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE. Borrower will be Year 2000
Compliant by October 1, 1999.
7. NEGATIVE COVENANTS.
Borrower covenants and agrees that, so long as any credit
hereunder shall be available and until full and final payment of the
Obligations, Borrower shall not (and, where specified, shall not cause, suffer,
or permit the applicable other Obligors to) do any of the following without the
Foothill Group's prior written consent:
7.1 INDEBTEDNESS. The Obligors shall not create, incur,
assume, permit, guarantee, or otherwise become or remain, directly or
indirectly, liable with respect to any Indebtedness, except:
(a) Indebtedness evidenced by this Agreement;
(b) Indebtedness set forth in Schedule 7.1;
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(c) Indebtedness under the Bank Group Agreement;
(d) Subordinated Indebtedness approved by Foothill Group
Agent;
(e) Indebtedness secured by Permitted Liens; and
(f) refinancings, renewals, or extensions of
Indebtedness permitted under clauses (b), (c), (d), and (e) of this Section 7.1
(and continuance or renewal of any Permitted Liens associated therewith) so long
as: (i) the terms and conditions of such refinancings, renewals, or extensions
do not materially impair the prospects of repayment of the Obligations by
Borrower or Guarantor, as the case may be, (ii) the net cash proceeds of such
refinancings, renewals, or extensions do not result in an increase in the
aggregate principal amount of the Indebtedness so refinanced, renewed, or
extended, (iii) such refinancings, renewals, refundings, or extensions do not
result in a shortening of the average weighted maturity of the Indebtedness so
refinanced, renewed, or extended, and (iv) to the extent that Indebtedness that
is refinanced was subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, then the
subordination terms and conditions of the refinancing Indebtedness must be at
least as favorable to the Foothill Group as those applicable to the refinanced
Indebtedness.
7.2 LIENS. The Obligors shall not create, incur, assume, or
permit to exist, directly or indirectly, any Lien on or with respect to any of
its property or assets, of any kind, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or
any income or profits therefrom, except for Permitted Liens (including Liens
that are replacements of Permitted Liens to the extent that the original
Indebtedness is refinanced under Section 7.1(e) and so long as the replacement
Liens only encumber those assets or property that secured the original
Indebtedness).
7.3 RESTRICTIONS ON FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES. Except as permitted
by Section 7.4(b), the Obligors shall not enter into any merger, consolidation,
reorganization, or recapitalization, or reclassify its Stock, or liquidate, wind
up, or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution), or convey,
sell, assign, lease, transfer, or otherwise dispose of, in one transaction or a
series of transactions, all or any substantial part of its property or assets;
provided that nothing herein prohibits StorMedia from permitting the conversion
of all or part of its preferred Stock to common Stock.
7.4 DISPOSITION OF ASSETS.
(a) Unauthorized Dispositions of Worldwide Collateral.
Except as to authorized dispositions of Worldwide Collateral set forth in
Section 7.4(b) below or Section 4.1 above, the Obligors shall not sell, lease,
assign, transfer, or
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otherwise dispose of any of their properties or assets other than sales of
Inventory to buyers in the ordinary course of the Obligors' businesses as
currently conducted.
(b) Authorized Dispositions of Worldwide Collateral. So
long as no Creditor Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would
result from giving effect to such Sale, and so long as the Minimum Availability
Condition is satisfied (provided that the Minimum Availability Condition shall
not be applicable to Sales by Debtor pursuant to Section 7.4(b)(2) of this
Agreement), Debtor shall be entitled to make Sales of the Fixed Assets composing
the Worldwide Collateral subject to the following terms and conditions and so
long as the Net Sale Consideration from such Sales of Fixed Assets is
distributed as follows:
(1) The consideration for each such Sale shall be
all cash; provided, however, in the event that the Net
Sales Consideration received in any such Sale is in excess
of $15,000,000, the consideration for such Sale may
consist of (y) cash, and (z) promissory notes (each such
note a "Purchaser Note") in an aggregate principal amount
not to exceed the lesser of:
i. 50% of the aggregate proceeds received in such
Sale; or
ii. the aggregate Net Sale Consideration received in
connection with such Sale minus the aggregate
OLV of the assets subject to such Sale;
provided, further, that (x) subject to subsection 17(a)(v)
of the Intercreditor Agreement, each such Purchaser Note
shall be pledged to the Bank Group Agent for the benefit
of the Bank Group and the Foothill Group Agent for the
benefit of the Foothill Group, (y) if more than one Person
is purchasing assets in any Sale in which one or more
Purchaser Notes are issued, each such Person shall be
jointly and severally liable on each such Purchaser Note,
and (z) the creditworthiness of the issuer(s) of any such
Purchaser Notes and the terms of any such Purchaser Notes
shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Creditor(s), as
applicable, entitled to receive the pledge of such
Purchaser Note(s).
(2) With respect to any Sale of Fixed Assets that
compose Akashic Foreign Collateral, StorMedia Foreign
Collateral, or StorMedia Domestic Collateral, Debtor shall
apply the proceeds of any such Sale to the prepayment of
the Bank Group Claims in the following amounts:
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i. in the case of any Above OLV Sale, the
prepayment shall be in an amount equal to the
lesser of (1) the Net Sale Consideration for
such Sale, and (2) the sum of (a) the Minimum
Prepayment Amount, plus (b) the Excess
Prepayment Amount, plus (c) if the
Prepayment Carryforward is then a negative
number, an amount equal to the absolute value
of the Prepayment Carryforward; and
ii. in the case of any Below OLV Sale, the
prepayment shall be in an amount equal to the
greater of (1) the Minimum Prepayment Amount
minus the aggregate amount of the
Prepayment Carryforward (if a positive number)
at the time of the Sale, and (2) the Net Sale
Consideration for such Sale. Unless the Bank
Group Agent and each of the members of the Bank
Group have otherwise consented thereto, Debtor
may not commit to enter into, or consummate, a
Below OLV Sale if, after giving effect to such
Below OLV Sale and any prepayment made to the
Bank Group Agent for the benefit of the Bank
Group in connection therewith, the Prepayment
Carryforward would be a negative number.
iii. If the consideration for any such Sale is
permitted to consist of Purchaser Notes
pursuant to clause (i) of subsection 17(a) of
the Intercreditor Agreement, then up to 50% of
the amount payable to the Bank Group pursuant
to clause (ii) of subsection 17(a) of the
Intercreditor Agreement may consist of
Purchaser Notes; provided, however, that:
a. the issuer(s) of Purchaser Notes shall issue
two such Purchaser Notes each equal to
one-half of the amount to be evidenced by
Purchaser Notes;
b. Debtor shall irrevocably instruct the
issuer(s) of Purchaser Notes in such Sale
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to make payments on one such note directly
to the Bank Group Agent for the benefit of
the Bank Group;
c. so long as there is no Bank Group Event of
Default, payments under the other Purchaser
Note issued in such Sale may be made
directly to the Lockbox Account for the
account of Debtor;
d. anything contained in Section 3 of the
Intercreditor Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, after the occurrence of a
Bank Group Event of Default, upon notice
from the Bank Group Agent, the issuer(s) of
such other Purchaser Note(s) shall be
irrevocably instructed to make payments on
all such other Purchaser Note(s) directly to
the Bank Group Agent for the benefit of the
Bank Group;
e. any such payments made to the Bank Group
Agent shall be applied to the prepayment of
the Bank Group Claims in accordance with the
provisions of the Bank Group Agreement; and
f. the principal amount of any Purchaser Note
shall not be included in the calculation of
the Prepayment Carryforward or the
Carryforward Reduction Amount.
(3) With respect to any Sale of Fixed Assets that
compose Akashic Domestic Collateral (other than the Tasman
Facility), Debtor shall retain or apply the proceeds of
any such Sale to the prepayment of the Bank Group Claims
and the Foothill Group Claims in the following amounts:
i. Debtor may retain the first $7,000,000 in net
cash proceeds from any such Sale and use the
same, consistent with the terms and provisions
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of the Loan Documents, for any lawful general
corporate purpose; and
ii. to the extent that the net cash proceeds of all
such Sales of Akashic Domestic Collateral are
in excess of $7,000,000, Debtor shall make a
mandatory prepayment of the Bank Group Claims
in accordance with the provisions of the Bank
Group Agreement in an amount equal to 50% of
such excess. The remaining 50% shall be paid to
Foothill Group Agent for application to the
Foothill Group Claims.
(4) With respect to any Sale of Fixed Assets that
compose the Tasman Facility portion of the Akashic
Domestic Collateral, Debtor shall apply the proceeds of
any such Sale to the prepayment of the Bank Group Claims
and the Foothill Group Claims in accordance with the
provisions of the Bank Group Agreement and the Foothill
Group Agreement in the following order:
i. Unless Foothill Group Agent agrees otherwise in
its sole discretion, Debtor shall make a
mandatory prepayment of the Foothill Group
Claims in the amount of 100% of such proceeds
to be applied in accordance with the provisions
of Section 2.2 and/or Section 2.4 of this
Agreement, as applicable;
ii. Debtor shall make a mandatory prepayment of the
Bank Group Claims in accordance with the
provisions of the Bank Group Agreement in an
amount equal to 50% of the Net Sale
Consideration of any such Sale, if any,
remaining after making any prepayment required
by the immediately preceding paragraph of this
Agreement; and
iii. Debtor may retain the remainder of any such
proceeds from any such Sale, if any, and use
the same, consistent with the terms and
provisions of the Loan Documents, for any
general corporate purpose.
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(5) To the extent that the consideration for any
Permitted Sale is paid in the form of Purchaser Notes in
accordance with subsection 17(a)(i) of the Intercreditor
Agreement, such Purchaser Notes shall be issued as
follows;
i. with respect to Purchaser Notes that are
proceeds of Foothill Group Priority Collateral:
a. to the extent such proceeds would have been
payable to the Bank Group if received in
cash, a Purchaser Note for such amount shall
be payable directly to the Bank Group Agent
for the benefit of the Bank Group and such
Purchaser Note shall be pledged to the Bank
Group Agent; and
b. to the extent such proceeds would have been
payable to the Foothill Group or to Debtor,
a Purchaser Note for such amount shall be
payable to the Debtor and pledged to the
Foothill Group Agent, with any payments or
collections thereon to be applied in
accordance with the terms of the Foothill
Group Financing Documents; and
ii. with respect to Purchaser Notes that are
proceeds of Bank Group Priority Collateral:
a. to the extent such proceeds would have been
payable to the Bank Group if received in
cash, a Purchaser Note for such amount shall
be payable directly to the Bank Group Agent
for the benefit of the Bank Group and such
Purchaser Note shall be pledged to the Bank
Group Agent; and
b. to the extent such proceeds would have been
payable to the Debtor, a Purchaser Note for
such amount shall be payable to Debtor and
pledged to the Bank Group
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Agent, with any payments or collections
thereon to be applied in accordance with the
terms of the Bank Group Financing Documents,
provided that, until the Bank Group Agent
notifies the obligor under such Purchaser
Note that a Bank Group Event of Default has
occurred, any payments with respect thereto
shall be treated as Collections and shall be
directed into and through the Lockboxes.
(6) The principal amount of any Purchaser Note shall
not be included in the calculation of the Prepayment
Carryforward or the Carryforward Reduction Amount.
(7) To the extent of any disposition of Worldwide
Collateral made in compliance with this Section 7.4(b),
Foothill Group Agent agrees to release its security
interest in the Worldwide Collateral being sold
concurrent with the sale thereof.
(8) Prior to conducting any Sale of Fixed Assets of
Akashic that are Domestic Assets, Borrower shall provide
Foothill Group Agent with documentation that is
reasonably satisfactory to Foothill Group Agent
establishing that no Event of Default would result from
the consummation of such Sale and that the Minimum
Availability Condition will be satisfied with respect
thereto after giving effect thereto.
(9) Anything to the contrary in Section 7.4(b)(3) or
(4) notwithstanding, Debtor must obtain the prior
consent of the Foothill Group to effect a Sale of
Domestic Collateral consisting of Fixed Assets of
Akashic, except that such consent shall not be required
for Sales: (A) not to exceed $2,000,000 of OLV in the
aggregate of Fixed Assets with individual OLV of less
than or equal to $250,000; or (B) with Net Sale
Consideration of at least 70% of the OLV of the Fixed
Assets being sold.
7.5 CHANGE NAME. No Obligor shall change its name, FEIN
(or any foreign equivalent), corporate structure (within the meaning of Section
9402(7) of the UCC), or identity, or add any new fictitious name.
7.6 GUARANTEE. Except as permitted by Section 7.1, The
Obligors shall not guarantee or otherwise become in any way liable with respect
to the obligations of
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any third Person (other than the obligations of another Obligor upon prior or
concurrent written notice to Foothill Group Agent) except by endorsement of
instruments or items of payment for deposit to the account of Borrower or which
are transmitted or turned over to Foothill Group Agent.
7.7 NATURE OF BUSINESS. No Obligor shall make any change in
the principal nature of its business. Akashic shall not acquire more than a de
minimis amount of Fixed Assets that are Foreign Collateral.
7.8 PREPAYMENTS AND AMENDMENTS.
(a) Except in connection with a refinancing permitted by
Section 7.1(e), the Obligors shall not prepay (except for mandatory prepayments
required by Section 2.03(c)(i) of the Bank Group Agreement, if no Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing, or would result from such prepayment,
and if the Minimum Availability Condition, to the extent applicable, is
satisfied after giving effect thereto, and except for mandatory prepayments
required by Section 2.03(c)(ii) and (iii) of the Bank Group Agreement, if no
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or would result from such
prepayment, and if the Alternative Minimum Availability Condition is satisfied
after giving effect thereto), redeem, retire, defease, purchase, or otherwise
acquire any Indebtedness owing to any third Person, other than in respect of the
Obligations in accordance with this Agreement.
(b) The Obligors shall not, directly or indirectly,
amend, modify, alter, increase, or change any of the terms or conditions of any
agreement, instrument, document, indenture, or other writing evidencing or
concerning Indebtedness permitted under Sections 7.1(b), (c), (d), (e) or (f),
except that (i) the Obligors may enter into amendments that would be permitted
if effected by a refinancing permitted under Section 7.1(f), and (ii) with
respect to the Bank Group Financing Documents, the Obligors may enter into
amendments, modifications, extensions, renewals, restatements, alterations,
supplements, or changes thereof that do not, individually or in the aggregate,
(A) increase the rate of interest on obligations thereunder or increase fees
payable with respect thereto, (B) change the dates upon which payments of
principal or interest are due other than to extend such dates, (C) change any
events constituting a Bank Group Event of Default (or any events that, with the
giving of notice or the passage of time, or both, would give rise to a Bank
Group Event of Default) other than to delete or make less restrictive any
default provision therein, (D) add any covenants with respect thereto, (E)
change any redemption or prepayment provisions thereof other than to extend the
dates therefor or reduce the premiums payable in connection therewith, (F) add
any collateral or security for the obligations of the Obligors thereunder, or
(G) change or amend any other term if such change or amendment would materially
increase the obligations of any Obligor with respect thereto or confer
additional material rights to the Bank Group in a manner adverse to any Obligor
or the Foothill Group.
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7.9 CHANGE OF CONTROL. Cause, permit, or suffer, directly
or indirectly, any Change of Control.
7.10 CONSIGNMENTS. The Obligors shall not consign any
Inventory or sell any Inventory on xxxx and hold, sale or return, sale on
approval, or other conditional terms of sale.
7.11 DISTRIBUTIONS. The Obligors shall not make any
distribution or declare or pay any dividends (in cash or other property, other
than Stock) on, or purchase, acquire, redeem, or retire any of Borrower's Stock,
of any class, whether now or hereafter outstanding.
7.12 ACCOUNTING METHODS. The Obligors shall not modify or
change its method of accounting or enter into, modify, or terminate any
agreement currently existing, or at any time hereafter entered into with any
third party accounting firm or service bureau for the preparation or storage of
the Obligors' accounting records without said accounting firm or service bureau
agreeing to provide Foothill Group Agent information regarding the Worldwide
Collateral or the Obligors' financial condition. Borrower hereby waives, and
hereby causes each Guarantor to hereby waives in favor of the Foothill Group
Agent for the benefit of the Lenders, the right to assert a confidential
relationship, if any, it may have with any accounting firm or service bureau in
connection with any information requested by Foothill Group Agent pursuant to or
in accordance with this Agreement, and agrees that Foothill Group Agent may
contact directly any such accounting firm or service bureau in order to obtain
such information.
7.13 INVESTMENTS. Except for Permitted Investments, the
Obligors shall not, directly or indirectly make, acquire, or incur any
liabilities (including contingent obligations) for or in connection with (a) the
acquisition of the securities (whether debt or equity) of, or other interests
in, a Person, (b) loans, advances, capital contributions, or transfers of
property to a Person, or (c) the acquisition of all or substantially all of the
properties or assets of a Person.
7.14 TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES. No Obligor shall,
directly or indirectly, enter into or permit to exist any material transaction
with any Affiliate of any Obligor except for transactions that are in the
ordinary course of such Obligor's business, upon fair and reasonable terms, that
are fully disclosed to Foothill Group Agent, and that are no less favorable to
such Obligor than would be obtained in an arm's length transaction with a
non-Affiliate.
7.15 SUSPENSION. The Obligors in the aggregate shall not
suspend or go out of a substantial portion of their business.
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7.16 COMPENSATION. No Obligor other than StorMedia shall
increase the annual fee or per-meeting fees paid to directors during any year by
more than 15% over the prior year; and, no Obligor shall pay or accrue total
cash compensation, during any year, to officers and senior management employees
in an aggregate amount in excess of 125% of that paid or accrued in the prior
year.
7.17 USE OF PROCEEDS. Use (a) the proceeds of the Advances
made hereunder for any purpose other than (i) on the Closing Date, to pay
transactional costs, fees, and expenses incurred in connection with this
Agreement, and (ii) thereafter, consistent with the terms and conditions hereof,
for its lawful and permitted corporate purposes.
7.18 CHANGE IN LOCATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICE; INVENTORY
AND EQUIPMENT WITH BAILEES. No Obligor shall relocate its chief executive office
to a new location without providing 30 days prior written notification thereof
to Foothill Group Agent and so long as, at the time of such written
notification, the relevant Obligor provides any financing statements or fixture
filings (or foreign equivalents) necessary to perfect and continue perfected the
Foothill Group Agent's Liens and the Foothill Group Agent's Bridge Term Loan
Liens and also provides to Foothill Group Agent a Collateral Access Agreement
with respect to such new location. The Inventory and Equipment shall not at any
time now or hereafter be stored with a bailee, warehouseman, or similar party
without Foothill Group Agent's prior written consent.
7.19 NO PROHIBITED TRANSACTIONS UNDER ERISA. Directly or
indirectly:
(a) engage, or permit any Subsidiary of Borrower to
engage, in any prohibited transaction which is reasonably likely to result in a
civil penalty or excise tax described in Sections 406 of ERISA or 4975 of the
IRC for which a statutory or class exemption is not available or a private
exemption has not been previously obtained from the Department of Labor;
(b) permit to exist with respect to any Benefit Plan
any accumulated funding deficiency (as defined in Sections 302 of ERISA and 412
of the IRC), whether or not waived;
(c) fail, or permit any Subsidiary of Borrower to fail,
to pay timely required contributions or annual installments due with respect to
any waived funding deficiency to any Benefit Plan;
(d) terminate, or permit any Subsidiary of Borrower to
terminate, any Benefit Plan where such event would result in any liability of
Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate under Title IV of
ERISA;
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(e) fail, or permit any Subsidiary of Borrower to fail,
to make any required contribution or payment to any Multiemployer Plan;
(f) fail, or permit any Subsidiary of Borrower to fail,
to pay any required installment or any other payment required under Section 412
of the IRC on or before the due date for such installment or other payment;
(g) amend, or permit any Subsidiary of Borrower to
amend, a Plan resulting in an increase in current liability for the plan year
such that either of Borrower, any Subsidiary of Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate
is required to provide security to such Plan under Section 401(a)(29) of the
IRC; or
(h) withdraw, or permit any Subsidiary of Borrower to
withdraw, from any Multiemployer Plan where such withdrawal is reasonably likely
to result in any liability of any such entity under Title IV of ERISA;
which, individually or in the aggregate, results in or reasonably would be
expected to result in a claim against or liability of Borrower, any of its
Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate in excess of $100,000.
7.20 FINANCIAL COVENANT. Fail to maintain Adjusted Net Worth
of at least the amounts specified below for the relevant periods, measured on a
fiscal quarter-end basis: (a) For the fiscal quarter of Borrower ending on June
30, 1998, $32,000,000; (b) for the fiscal quarter of Borrower ending on
September 30, 1998, $26,000,000; and (c) for each fiscal quarter of Borrower
ending thereafter, $32,000,000.
7.21 CAPITAL EXPENDITURES. The Obligors shall not make
capital expenditures in any fiscal year in excess of $20,000,000.
7.22 SECURITIES ACCOUNTS. (a) The Obligors shall not
establish or maintain any Securities Account unless Foothill Group Agent shall
have received a Control Agreement, duly executed and in full force and effect,
in respect of such Securities Account;
(b) The Obligors shall not transfer assets out of any
Securities Accounts; provided, however, that, so long as no Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, the relevant Obligors may
use such assets to the extent not prohibited by this Agreement or the other Loan
Documents.
7.23 INACTIVE SUBSIDIARY. StorMedia shall not permit
StorMedia Foreign Sales to become an active operating company, and shall cause
it to continue to be an inactive holding company whose only significant assets
are cash of not more than $500,000 and the Stock of various Subsidiaries of
StorMedia.
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8. EVENTS OF DEFAULT.
Any one or more of the following events shall constitute an
event of default (each, an "Event of Default") under this Agreement:
8.1 If Borrower fails to pay when due and payable or when
declared due and payable, any portion of the Obligations (whether of principal,
interest (including any interest which, but for the provisions of the United
States Bankruptcy Code, would have accrued on such amounts), fees and charges
due the Foothill Group, reimbursement of the Foothill Group Expenses, or other
amounts constituting Obligations);
8.2 If any Obligor fails to perform, keep, or observe any
term, provision, condition, covenant, or agreement contained in Sections 6.1,
6.2 (but only up to three times during any 12-month period, and only in relation
to Defaults caused by the failure of third Persons to provide required
information or reporting, and not in relation to Defaults caused by an Obligor),
6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.7, 6.8, 6.12, 6.13, 6.14, 6.15, and 6.16 of this Agreement, or
comparable provisions of the other Loan Documents, within 10 days of the date
when required (or within 5 days of the date when required in the case of Section
6.2 or Section 6.3), or if any Obligor otherwise fails to perform, keep, or
observe any other term, provision, condition, covenant, or agreement contained
in this Agreement, in any of the other Loan Documents, or in any other present
or future agreement between any Obligor and any member of the Foothill Group;
8.3 If there is a Material Adverse Change;
8.4 If any material portion of the properties or assets of
any Obligor is attached, seized, subjected to a writ or distress warrant, or is
levied upon, or comes into the possession of any third Person;
8.5 If an Insolvency Proceeding is commenced by any Obligor;
8.6 If an Insolvency Proceeding is commenced against any
Obligor and any of the following events occur: (a) such Obligor consents to the
institution of the Insolvency Proceeding against it; (b) the petition commencing
the Insolvency Proceeding is not timely controverted; (c) the petition
commencing the Insolvency Proceeding is not dismissed within 45 calendar days of
the date of the filing thereof; provided, however, that, during the pendency of
such period, Foothill Group Agent and any other member of the Foothill Group
shall be relieved of its obligation to extend credit hereunder; (d) an interim
trustee is appointed to take possession of all or a substantial portion of the
properties or assets of, or to operate all or any substantial portion of the
business of, any Obligor; or (e) an order for relief shall have been issued or
entered therein;
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8.7 If any Obligor is enjoined, restrained, or in any way
prevented by court order from continuing to conduct all or any material part of
its business affairs;
8.8 If a notices of Lien, levy, or assessments aggregating
more than $100,000 are filed of record with respect to any of the properties or
assets of any Obligor by the United States Government, or any department,
agency, or instrumentality thereof, or by any state, county, municipal, or
governmental agency, or by any foreign governmental authority, or if any taxes
or debts aggregating more than $100,000 owing at any time hereafter to any one
or more of such entities become a Lien, whether xxxxxx or otherwise, upon any of
the properties or assets of any Obligor and the same is not paid on the payment
date thereof; provided that Foothill Group Agent may create reserves against
Availability for all such Liens (whether aggregating less than or equal to or
more than $100,000).
8.9 If a judgment or other claim in excess of $100,000
becomes a Lien or encumbrance upon any material portion of Borrower's properties
or assets and is not fully satisfied, bonded, or stayed within 20 days;
8.10 If there is a default in any material agreement to
which any Obligor is a party with one or more third Persons and such default (a)
occurs at the final maturity of the obligations thereunder, or (b) results in a
right by such third Person(s), irrespective of whether exercised, to accelerate
the maturity of such Obligor's obligations thereunder; the foregoing
notwithstanding, (x) Obligors' dispute with Nextar regarding thickness sorters,
(y) defaults by Obligors under the approximately $2,700,000 unsecured trade note
payable to Xxxxx, and (z) defaults under leases of closed facilities of Obligors
where no Worldwide Collateral is located involving aggregate claims not in
excess of $1,000,000, shall not constitute Events of Default under this Section
8.10;
8.11 If any Obligor makes any payment on account of
Indebtedness of any Obligor that has been contractually subordinated in right of
payment to the payment of the Obligations, except to the extent such payment is
permitted by the terms of the subordination provisions applicable to such
Indebtedness;
8.12 If any misstatement or misrepresentation exists now or
hereafter in any warranty, representation, statement, or report made to the
Foothill Group by any Obligor or any officer, employee, agent, or director
thereof, or if any such warranty or representation is withdrawn; or
8.13 If an event of default shall occur and be continuing
under any other Loan Document; or
8.14 If the obligation of any Guarantor under or other third
Person under any Loan Document to which it is a party is limited or terminated
by operation of
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law or by the Guarantor or other third Person thereunder, or any such Guarantor
or other third Person becomes the subject of an Insolvency Proceeding.
9. FOOTHILL'S RIGHTS AND REMEDIES.
9.1 RIGHTS AND REMEDIES. Upon the occurrence, and during the
continuation, of an Event of Default, the Required Lenders (at their election
but without notice of their election and without demand) may, except to the
extent otherwise expressly provided or required below, authorize and instruct
Foothill Group Agent to do any one or more of the following on behalf of the
Foothill Group (and Foothill Group Agent, acting upon the instructions of the
Required Lenders, shall do the same on behalf of the Foothill Group), all of
which are authorized by Borrower:
(a) Declare all Obligations, whether evidenced by this
Agreement, by any of the other Loan Documents, or otherwise, immediately due and
payable;
(b) Cease advancing money or extending credit to or for
the benefit of Borrower under this Agreement, under any of the Loan Documents,
or under any other agreement between Borrower and the Foothill Group;
(c) Terminate this Agreement and any of the other Loan
Documents as to any future liability or obligation of the Foothill Group, but
without affecting Foothill Group Agent's rights and security interests, for the
benefit of the Foothill Group, in the Worldwide Collateral, and without
affecting the Obligations or the obligations of the Guarantors with respect to
the Obligations;
(d) Settle or adjust disputes and claims directly with
Account Debtors for amounts and upon terms which Foothill Group Agent considers
advisable, and in such cases, Foothill Group Agent will credit Borrower's Loan
Account with only the net amounts received by Foothill Group Agent in payment of
such disputed Accounts after deducting all Foothill Group Expenses incurred or
expended in connection therewith;
(e) Cause any Obligor to hold all returned inventory in
trust for the Foothill Group, segregate all returned inventory from all other
property of any Obligor's or in any Obligor's possession and conspicuously label
said returned inventory as the property of the Foothill Group;
(f) Without notice to or demand upon Borrower or any
Guarantor, make such payments and do such acts as Foothill Group Agent considers
necessary or reasonable to protect its security interests in the Worldwide
Collateral. Borrower agrees, and shall cause each Guarantor to agree, to
assemble the Worldwide
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Collateral if Foothill Group Agent so requires, and to make the Collateral
available to Foothill as Foothill Group Agent, Foothill Group Agent as Foothill
Group Agent may designate. Borrower authorizes, and shall cause each Guarantor
to authorize, Foothill Group Agent to enter the premises where any Worldwide
Collateral is located, to take and maintain possession of any Worldwide
Collateral, or any part of it, and to pay, purchase, contest, or compromise any
encumbrance, charge, or Lien that in Foothill Group Agent's determination
appears to conflict with the Foothill Group Agent's Liens or the Foothill Group
Agent's Bridge Term Loan Liens and to pay all expenses incurred in connection
therewith. Subject to the Intercreditor Agreement, with respect to any of the
owned or leased premises of any Obligor, Borrower hereby grants, and shall cause
each Guarantor to grant, Foothill Group Agent a license to enter into possession
of such premises and to occupy the same, without charge by any Obligor, for up
to 120 days in order to exercise any of the Foothill Group's rights or remedies
provided herein, at law, in equity, or otherwise;
(g) Without notice to any Obligor (such notice being
expressly waived), and without constituting a retention of any collateral in
satisfaction of an obligation (within the meaning of Section 9505 of the UCC),
set off and apply to the Obligations any and all (i) balances and deposits of
the Obligors held by the Foothill Group (including any amounts received in the
Lockbox Accounts), or (ii) indebtedness at any time owing to or for the credit
or the account of Borrower held by the Foothill Group;
(h) Hold, as cash collateral, any and all balances and
deposits of Borrower or any Guarantor held by the Foothill Group, and any
amounts received in the Lockbox Accounts, to secure the full and final repayment
of all of the Obligations;
(i) Ship, reclaim, recover, store, finish, maintain,
repair, prepare for sale, advertise for sale, and sell (in the manner provided
for herein) the Worldwide Collateral. Obligors hereby grants to Foothill Group
Agent a license or other right to use, without charge, Borrower's labels,
patents, copyrights, rights of use of any name, trade secrets, trade names,
trademarks, service marks, and advertising matter, or any property of a similar
nature, as it pertains to any Worldwide Collateral, in completing production of,
advertising for sale, and selling any Worldwide Collateral and the Obligors'
rights under all licenses and all franchise agreements shall inure to the
Foothill Group's benefit;
(j) Sell the Worldwide Collateral at either a public or
private sale, or both, by way of one or more contracts or transactions, for cash
or on terms, in such manner and at such places (including Borrower's premises)
as Foothill Group Agent determines is commercially reasonable. It is not
necessary that the Worldwide Collateral be present at any such sale;
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(k) Foothill Group Agent shall give notice of the
disposition of the Worldwide Collateral as follows:
(1) Foothill Group Agent shall give the relevant
Obligor and each holder of a security interest in such Worldwide Collateral who
has filed with Foothill Group Agent a written request for notice, a notice in
writing of the time and place of public sale, or, if the sale is a private sale
or some other disposition other than a public sale is to be made of the
Worldwide Collateral, then the time on or after which the private sale or other
disposition is to be made;
(2) The notice shall be personally delivered or
mailed, postage prepaid, to the relevant Obligor as provided in Section 12, at
least 5 days before the date fixed for the sale, or at least 5 days before the
date on or after which the private sale or other disposition is to be made; no
notice needs to be given prior to the disposition of any portion of the
Worldwide Collateral that is perishable or threatens to decline speedily in
value or that is of a type customarily sold on a recognized market. Notice to
Persons other than an Obligor claiming an interest in the Worldwide Collateral
shall be sent to such addresses as they have furnished to Foothill Group Agent;
(3) If the sale is to be a public sale, Foothill
Group Agent also shall give notice of the time and place by publishing a notice
one time at least 5 days before the date of the sale in a newspaper of general
circulation in the county (or equivalent jurisdiction) in which the sale is to
be held;
(l) The Foothill Group may credit bid and purchase at
any public sale;
(m) The Foothill Group shall have all other rights and
remedies available to it at law or in equity pursuant to any other Loan
Documents; and
(n) Any deficiency that exists after disposition of the
Worldwide Collateral as provided above will be paid immediately by Borrower or
the relevant other Guarantor. Any excess will be returned, without interest and
subject to the rights of third Persons, by Foothill Group Agent to Borrower or
the relevant other Guarantor.
9.2 REMEDIES CUMULATIVE. The rights and remedies of the
Foothill Group under this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, and all other
agreements shall be cumulative. The Foothill Group shall have all other rights
and remedies not inconsistent herewith as provided under the UCC, by law, or in
equity. No exercise by the Foothill Group of one right or remedy shall be deemed
an election, and no waiver by the Foothill Group of any Event of Default shall
be deemed a continuing waiver. No delay by the Foothill Group shall constitute a
waiver, election, or acquiescence by it.
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10. TAXES AND EXPENSES.
If any Obligor fails to pay any monies (whether taxes,
assessments, insurance premiums, or, in the case of leased properties or assets,
rents or other amounts payable under such leases) due to third Persons, or fails
to make any deposits or furnish any required proof of payment or deposit, all as
required under the terms of this Agreement, then, to the extent that Foothill
Group Agent determines that such failure by such Obligor could result in a
Material Adverse Change, in its discretion and without prior notice to such
Borrower, Foothill Group Agent may do any or all of the following: (a) make
payment of the same or any part thereof; (b) set up such reserves in such
Obligor's Loan Account as Foothill Group Agent deems necessary to protect the
Foothill Group from the exposure created by such failure; or (c) obtain and
maintain insurance policies of the type described in Section 6.10, and take any
action with respect to such policies as Foothill Group Agent deems prudent. Any
such amounts paid by Foothill Group Agent shall constitute Foothill Group
Expenses. Any such payments made by Foothill Group Agent shall not constitute an
agreement by the Foothill Group to make similar payments in the future or a
waiver by the Foothill Group of any Event of Default under this Agreement.
Foothill Group Agent need not inquire as to, or contest the validity of, any
such expense, tax, or Lien and the receipt of the usual official notice for the
payment thereof shall be conclusive evidence that the same was validly due and
owing.
11. WAIVERS; INDEMNIFICATION.
11.1 DEMAND; PROTEST; ETC. Borrower hereby waives, shall
cause each Guarantor to waive, demand, protest, notice of protest, notice of
default or dishonor, notice of payment and nonpayment, nonpayment at maturity,
release, compromise, settlement, extension, or renewal of accounts, documents,
instruments, chattel paper, and guarantees at any time held by the Foothill
Group on which any Obligor may in any way be liable.
11.2 THE FOOTHILL GROUP'S LIABILITY FOR WORLDWIDE
COLLATERAL. Borrower agrees, and shall cause each Guarantor to agree, that, so
long as the Foothill Group complies with its obligations, if any, under Section
9207 of the UCC, the Foothill Group shall not in any way or manner be liable or
responsible for: (i) the safekeeping of the Worldwide Collateral; (ii) any loss
or damage thereto occurring or arising in any manner or fashion from any cause;
(iii) any diminution in the value thereof; (iv) any act or default of any
carrier, warehouseman, bailee, forwarding agency, or other Person; and (v) all
risk of loss, damage, or destruction of the Worldwide Collateral shall be borne
by the Obligors.
11.3 INDEMNIFICATION. Borrower shall pay, indemnify, defend,
and hold the Foothill Group Agent-Related Persons (when acting in such
capacity), the Lender-Related Persons (when acting in such capacity) with
respect to each Lender, each
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Participant, and each of their respective officers, directors, employees,
counsel, agents, and attorneys-in-fact (each, when acting in such capacity, an
"Indemnified Person") harmless (to the fullest extent permitted by law) from and
against any and all claims, demands, suits, actions, investigations,
proceedings, and damages, and all reasonable attorneys fees and disbursements
and other costs and expenses actually incurred in connection therewith (as and
when they are incurred and irrespective of whether suit is brought), at any time
asserted against, imposed upon, or incurred by any of them in connection with or
as a result of or related to the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance,
and administration of this Agreement and any other Loan Documents, and with
respect to any investigation, litigation, or proceeding related to this
Agreement, any other Loan Document, or the use of the proceeds of the credit
provided hereunder (irrespective of whether any Indemnified Person is a party
thereto), or any act, omission, event or circumstance in any manner related
thereto (all the foregoing, collectively, the "Indemnified Liabilities").
Borrower shall have no obligation to any Indemnified Person under this Section
11.3 with respect to any Indemnified Liability that a court of competent
jurisdiction finally determines to have resulted from the gross negligence or
willful misconduct of such Indemnified Person. This provision shall survive the
termination of this Agreement and the repayment of the Obligations.
12. NOTICES.
Unless otherwise provided in this Agreement, all notices or
demands by any party relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall
be in writing and (except for financial statements and other informational
documents which may be sent by first-class mail, postage prepaid) shall be
personally delivered or sent by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid,
return receipt requested), overnight courier, or telefacsimile to the relevant
party at its address set forth below:
IF TO ANY OBLIGOR: C/O STORMEDIA INCORPORATED
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xx. Xxxxx Xx
Fax No. 000.000.0000
WITH COPIES TO: XXXXXXXX XXXXXX & XXXXXXX
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
Fax No. 000.000.0000
WITH COPIES TO: XXXXXX XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX &
XXXXXX, P.C.
650 Page Mill Road
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Palo Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxx X'Xxxxx, Esq.
Fax No. 000.000.0000
IF TO FOOTHILL GROUP FOOTHILL CAPITAL
AGENT OR THE CORPORATION
FOOTHILL GROUP IN CARE 00000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
XX XXXXXXXX GROUP AGENT: Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Attn: Business Finance Division
Manager
Fax No. 000.000.0000
WITH COPIES TO: XXXXXXX, PHLEGER &
XXXXXXXX LLP
000 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
Fax No. 000.000.0000
The parties hereto may change the address at which they are
to receive notices hereunder, by notice in writing in the foregoing manner given
to the all other parties. All notices or demands sent in accordance with this
Section 12, other than notices by the Foothill Group in connection with Sections
9504 or 9505 of the UCC, shall be deemed received on the earlier of the date of
actual receipt or 3 days after the deposit thereof in the mail. Borrower
acknowledges and agrees, and shall cause each Guarantor to acknowledge and
agree, that notices sent by the Foothill Group in connection with Sections 9504
or 9505 of the UCC shall be deemed sent when deposited in the mail or personally
delivered, or, where permitted by law, transmitted telefacsimile or other
similar method set forth above.
13. CHOICE OF LAW AND VENUE; JURY TRIAL WAIVER. Borrower agrees,
and shall cause each Guarantor to agree, that:
THE VALIDITY OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS
(UNLESS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED TO THE CONTRARY IN SUCH OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT), THE
CONSTRUCTION, INTERPRETATION, AND ENFORCEMENT HEREOF AND THEREOF, AND THE RIGHTS
OF THE PARTIES HERETO AND THERETO WITH RESPECT TO ALL
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MATTERS ARISING HEREUNDER OR THEREUNDER OR RELATED HERETO OR THERETO SHALL BE
DETERMINED UNDER, GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE
STATE OF CALIFORNIA. THE PARTIES AGREE THAT ALL ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS ARISING
IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS SHALL BE TRIED
AND LITIGATED ONLY IN THE STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS LOCATED IN THE COUNTY OF LOS
ANGELES, STATE OF CALIFORNIA OR, AT THE SOLE OPTION OF FOOTHILL, IN ANY OTHER
COURT IN WHICH FOOTHILL SHALL INITIATE LEGAL OR EQUITABLE PROCEEDINGS AND WHICH
HAS SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION OVER THE MATTER IN CONTROVERSY. EACH OF THE
OBLIGORS AND FOOTHILL WAIVES, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, ANY
RIGHT EACH MAY HAVE TO ASSERT THE DOCTRINE OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS OR TO OBJECT
TO VENUE TO THE EXTENT ANY PROCEEDING IS BROUGHT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION
13. THE OBLIGORS AND THE FOOTHILL GROUP HEREBY WAIVE THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHTS TO
A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM OR CAUSE OF ACTION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF ANY OF
THE LOAN DOCUMENTS OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREIN, INCLUDING
CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS, AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW OR
STATUTORY CLAIMS. EACH OF THE OBLIGORS AND FOOTHILL REPRESENTS THAT IT HAS
REVIEWED THIS WAIVER AND EACH KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVES ITS JURY TRIAL
RIGHTS FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL. IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, A
COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE FILED AS A WRITTEN CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE
COURT.
14. DESTRUCTION OF OBLIGORS' DOCUMENTS.
All documents, schedules, invoices, agings, or other papers
delivered to any one or more members of the Foothill Group may be destroyed or
otherwise disposed of by such member of the Foothill Group 4 months after they
are delivered to or received by such member of the Foothill Group, unless
Obligor Borrower requests, in writing, the return of said documents, schedules,
or other papers and makes arrangements, at the Obligors' expense, for their
return.
15. ASSIGNMENTS AND PARTICIPATIONS; SUCCESSORS.
15.1 ASSIGNMENTS AND PARTICIPATIONS.
(a) Any Lender may, with the written consent of
Foothill Group Agent, assign and delegate to one or more assignees (provided
that no written consent of Foothill Group Agent shall be required in connection
with any assignment and
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delegation by a Lender to an Eligible Transferee) (each an "Assignee") all, or
any ratable (or, if otherwise agreed among the Foothill Group, any non-ratable)
part of all, of the Obligations, the Commitments and the other rights and
obligations of such Lender hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, in a
minimum amount of $5,000,000; provided, however, that the foregoing Dollar
restriction shall not apply to any such assignment by an existing Lender to any
Affiliate of such Lender; provided further that Borrower and Foothill Group
Agent may continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection
with the interest so assigned to an Assignee until (i) written notice of such
assignment, together with payment instructions, addresses and related
information with respect to the Assignee, shall have been given to Borrower and
Foothill Group Agent by such Lender and the Assignee; (ii) such Lender and its
Assignee shall have delivered to Borrower and Foothill Group Agent an Assignment
and Acceptance in form and substance satisfactory to Foothill Group Agent
("Assignment and Acceptance"); and (iii) other than with respect to the
Assignment and Acceptance to be executed and delivered pursuant to Section
3.1(c)(ix) and other than with respect to an assignment by an existing Lender to
any Affiliate of such Lender, the assignor Lender or Assignee has paid to
Foothill Group Agent for Foothill Group Agent's sole and separate account a
processing fee in the amount of $2,500. Anything contained herein to the
contrary notwithstanding, the consent of Foothill Group Agent shall not be
required (and payment of any fees shall not be required) if such assignment is
in connection with any merger, consolidation, sale, transfer, or other
disposition of all or any substantial portion of the business or loan portfolio
of such Lender.
(b) From and after the date that Foothill Group Agent
notifies the assignor Lender that it has received an executed Assignment and
Acceptance and payment of the above-referenced processing fee, (i) the Assignee
thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent that rights and
obligations hereunder have been assigned to it pursuant to such Assignment and
Acceptance, shall have the rights and obligations of a Lender under the Loan
Documents, and (ii) the assignor Lender shall, to the extent that rights and
obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents have been assigned by
it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish its rights (except
with respect to Section 11.3 hereof) and be released from its obligations under
this Agreement (and in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all or
the remaining portion of an assigning Lender's rights and obligations under this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents, such Lender shall cease to be a party
hereto and thereto), and such assignment shall effect a novation between
Borrower and the Assignee.
(c) By executing and delivering an Assignment and
Acceptance, the assigning Lender thereunder and the Assignee thereunder confirm
to and agree with each other and the other parties hereto as follows: (1) other
than as provided in such Assignment and Acceptance, such assigning Lender makes
no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any
statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with this
Agreement or the execution, legality,
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validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement or
any other Loan Document furnished pursuant hereto; (2) such assigning Lender
makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect
to the financial condition of Borrower or the performance or observance by
Borrower of any of its obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan
Document furnished pursuant hereto; (3) such Assignee confirms that it has
received a copy of this Agreement, together with such other documents and
information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and
decision to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance; (4) such Assignee will,
independently and without reliance upon Foothill Group Agent, such assigning
Lender or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it
shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in
taking or not taking action under this Agreement; (5) such Assignee appoints and
authorizes Foothill Group Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and
to exercise such powers under this Agreement as are delegated to Foothill Group
Agent by the terms hereof, together with such powers as are reasonably
incidental thereto; and (6) such Assignee agrees that it will perform in
accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of this
Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender.
(d) Immediately upon the relevant assigning Lender and
Assignee's execution and delivery of the related Assignment and Acceptance and
Foothill Group Agent's acceptance thereof, and the making of any required
processing fee payment under the Assignment and Acceptance, if any, this
Agreement shall be deemed to be amended to the extent, but only to the extent,
necessary to reflect the addition of the Assignee and the resulting adjustment
of the Commitments arising therefrom. The Commitment allocated to each Assignee
shall reduce such Commitments of the assigning Lender pro tanto.
(e) Any Lender may at any time, with the written consent
of Foothill Group Agent, sell to one or more commercial banks, financial
institutions, or other Persons not Affiliates of such Lender (a "Participant")
participating interests in the Obligations, the Commitment, and the other rights
and interests of that Lender (the "originating Lender") hereunder and under the
other Loan Documents (provided that no written consent of Foothill Group Agent
shall be required in connection with any sale of any such participating
interests by a Lender to an Eligible Transferee or an Affiliate of such Lender);
provided, however, that (i) the originating Lender's obligations under this
Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) the originating Lender shall remain
solely responsible for the performance of such obligations, (iii) Borrower and
Foothill Group Agent shall continue to deal solely and directly with the
originating Lender in connection with the originating Lender's rights and
obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, (iv) no Lender
shall transfer or grant any participating interest under which the Participant
has the sole and exclusive right to approve any amendment to, or any consent or
waiver with respect to, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, except to the
extent such amendment to, or consent or waiver with respect to this Agreement or
of
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any other Loan Document would (A) extend the final maturity date of the
Obligations hereunder in which such Participant is participating; (B) reduce the
interest rate applicable to the Obligations hereunder in which such Participant
is participating; (C) release all or a material portion of the Collateral or
guaranties (except to the extent expressly provided herein or in any of the Loan
Documents) supporting the Obligations hereunder in which such Participant is
participating; (D) postpone the payment of, or reduce the amount of, the
interest or fees payable to such Participant through such Lender; or (E) change
the amount or due dates of scheduled principal repayments or prepayments or
premiums; and (v) all amounts payable by Borrower hereunder shall be determined
as if such Lender had not sold such participation; except that, if amounts
outstanding under this Agreement are due and unpaid, or shall have been declared
or shall have become due and payable upon the occurrence of an Event of Default,
each Participant shall be deemed to have the right of set-off in respect of its
participating interest in amounts owing under this Agreement to the same extent
as if the amount of its participating interest were owing directly to it as a
Lender under this Agreement. The rights of any Participant only shall be
derivative through the originating Lender with whom such Participant
participates and no Participant shall have any direct rights as to the other
Lenders, Foothill Group Agent, Borrower, the Collections, the Collateral, or
otherwise in respect of the Obligations. No Participant shall have the right to
participate directly in the making of decisions by the Lenders among themselves.
(f) In connection with any such assignment or
participation or proposed assignment or participation, a Lender may disclose all
documents and information which it now or hereafter may have relating to
Borrower or Borrower's business, subject to the confidentiality provisions of
this Agreement.
(g) Any other provision in this Agreement
notwithstanding, any Lender may at any time create a security interest in, or
pledge, all or any portion of its rights under and interest in this Agreement in
favor of any Federal Reserve Bank in accordance with Regulation A of the Federal
Reserve Bank or U.S. Treasury Regulation 31 CFR Section 203.14, and such Federal
Reserve Bank may enforce such pledge or security interest in any manner
permitted under applicable law.
(h) Foothill, in its capacity as a Lender, and an
Assignee have executed and delivered the Assignment and Acceptance specified in
Section 3.1(c)(ix) as of the Closing Date and the rights and duties of Foothill
as a Lender, and of any other Assignee of Foothill as a Lender, are subject to
such Assignment and Acceptance.
15.2 SUCCESSORS. This Agreement shall bind and inure to the
benefit of the respective successors and assigns of each of the parties;
provided, however, that Borrower may not assign this Agreement or any rights or
duties hereunder without the Lenders' prior written consent and any prohibited
assignment shall be absolutely void ab initio. No consent to assignment by the
Lenders shall release Borrower from its
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Obligations. A Lender may assign this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and
its rights and duties hereunder and thereunder pursuant to Section 15.1 hereof
and, except as expressly required pursuant to Section 15.1 hereof, no consent or
approval by Borrower is required in connection with any such assignment.
16. AMENDMENTS; WAIVERS.
16.1 AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. No amendment or waiver of any
provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, and no consent with
respect to any departure by Borrower therefrom, shall be effective unless the
same shall be in writing and signed by the Required Lenders (or by Foothill
Group Agent at the written request of the Required Lenders) and Borrower and
then any such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance
and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no such
waiver, amendment, or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by all the
Lenders and Borrower and acknowledged by Foothill Group Agent, do any of the
following:
(a) increase or extend the Commitment of any Lender;
(b) postpone or delay any date fixed by this Agreement
or any other Loan Document for any payment of principal, interest, fees or other
amounts due to the Lenders (or any of them) hereunder or under any other Loan
Document;
(c) reduce the principal of, or the rate of interest
specified herein on any Loan, or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder or
under any other Loan Document;
(d) change the percentage of the Commitments that is
required for the Lenders or any of them to take any action hereunder;
(f) amend this Section or any provision of the Agreement
providing for consent or other action by all Lenders;
(g) release Worldwide Collateral other than as permitted
by Section 17.11;
(h) change the definitions of "Pro Rata Share",
"Required Lenders", or "Total Obligations Cap";
(i) amend Section 2.1(l);
(j) subordinate any of the Obligations in favor of any
obligations owing by Borrower to any Person other than the Foothill Group;
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(k) release Borrower from any Obligation for the payment
of money; or
(l) amend any of the provisions of Article 17.
and, provided further, however, that no amendment, waiver or consent shall,
unless in writing and signed by Foothill Group Agent, affect the rights or
duties of Foothill Group Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document;
and, provided further, however, that no amendment, waiver or consent shall,
unless in writing and signed by Foothill in its individual capacity as a Lender,
affect the specific rights or duties of Foothill in its individual capacity as a
Lender (as contrasted with rights or duties of Foothill as a member of the
Foothill Group) under this Agreement or any other Loan Document. The foregoing
notwithstanding, any amendment, modification, waiver, consent, termination, or
release of or with respect to any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan
Document that relates only to the relationship of the Foothill Group among
themselves, and that does not affect the rights or obligations of Borrower,
shall not require consent by or the agreement of Borrower.
16.2 NO WAIVERS; CUMULATIVE REMEDIES. No failure by Foothill
Group Agent or any Lender to exercise any right, remedy, or option under this
Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any present or future supplement hereto
or thereto, or in any other agreement between or among Borrower and Foothill
Group Agent or any Lender, or delay by Foothill Group Agent or any Lender in
exercising the same, will operate as a waiver thereof. No waiver by Foothill
Group Agent or any Lender will be effective unless it is in writing, and then
only to the extent specifically stated. No waiver by Foothill Group Agent or the
Lenders on any occasion shall affect or diminish Foothill Group Agent's and each
Lender's rights thereafter to require strict performance by Borrower of any
provision of this Agreement. Foothill Group Agent's and each Lender's rights
under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents will be cumulative and not
exclusive of any other right or remedy which Foothill Group Agent or any Lender
may have.
17. FOOTHILL GROUP AGENT; THE FOOTHILL GROUP.
17.1 APPOINTMENT AND AUTHORIZATION OF FOOTHILL GROUP AGENT.
Each Lender hereby designates and appoints Foothill as its agent under this
Agreement and the other Loan Documents and each Lender hereby irrevocably
authorizes Foothill Group Agent to take such action on its behalf under the
provisions of this Agreement and each other Loan Document and to exercise such
powers and perform such duties as are expressly delegated to it by the terms of
this Agreement or any other Loan Document, together with such powers as are
reasonably incidental thereto. Foothill Group Agent agrees to act as such on the
express conditions contained in this Article 17. The provisions of this Article
17 are solely for the benefit of Foothill Group Agent and the Lenders, and
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no Obligor shall have no rights as a third party beneficiary of any of the
provisions contained herein; provided, however, that certain of the provisions
of Section 17.10 hereof and the confidentiality provisions of Section 7.16(d)
hereof also shall be for the benefit of Borrower. Any provision to the contrary
contained elsewhere in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document
notwithstanding, Foothill Group Agent shall not have any duties or
responsibilities, except those expressly set forth herein, nor shall Foothill
Group Agent have or be deemed to have any fiduciary relationship with any
Lender, and no implied covenants, functions, responsibilities, duties,
obligations or liabilities shall be read into this Agreement or any other Loan
Document or otherwise exist against Foothill Group Agent; it being expressly
understood and agreed that the use of the word "Foothill Group Agent" is for
convenience only, that Foothill is merely the representative of the Lenders, and
has only the contractual duties set forth herein. Except as expressly otherwise
provided in this Agreement, Foothill Group Agent shall have and may use its sole
discretion with respect to exercising or refraining from exercising any
discretionary rights or taking or refraining from taking any actions which
Foothill Group Agent is expressly entitled to take or assert under or pursuant
to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, or of any other provision of the Loan Documents that provides
rights or powers to Foothill Group Agent, Lenders agree that Foothill Group
Agent shall have the right to exercise the following powers as long as this
Agreement remains in effect: (a) maintain, in accordance with its customary
business practices, ledgers and records reflecting the status of the Advances,
the Letters of Credit, the Bridge Term Loan, the Worldwide Collateral, the
Collections, and related matters; (b) execute or file any and all financing or
similar statements or notices, amendments, renewals, supplements, documents,
instruments, proofs of claim, notices and other written agreements with respect
to the Loan Documents; (c) make Advances and the Bridge Term Loan, for itself or
on behalf of Lenders as provided in the Loan Documents; (d) exclusively receive,
apply, and distribute the Collections as provided in the Loan Documents; (e)
open and maintain such bank accounts and lock boxes as Foothill Group Agent
deems necessary and appropriate in accordance with the Loan Documents for the
foregoing purposes with respect to the Worldwide Collateral and the Collections;
(f) perform, exercise, and enforce any and all other rights and remedies of the
Foothill Group with respect to any Obligor, the Obligations, the Worldwide
Collateral, the Collections, or otherwise related to any of same as provided in
the Loan Documents; and (g) incur and pay such Foothill Group Expenses as
Foothill Group Agent may deem necessary or appropriate for the performance and
fulfillment of its functions and powers pursuant to the Loan Documents.
17.2 DELEGATION OF DUTIES. Except as otherwise provided in
this section, Foothill Group Agent may execute any of its duties under this
Agreement or any other Loan Document by or through agents, employees or
attorneys-in-fact and shall be entitled to advice of counsel concerning all
matters pertaining to such duties. Foothill Group Agent shall not be responsible
for the negligence or misconduct of any agent or attorney-in-fact that it
selects as long as such selection was made in compliance with this section and
without gross negligence or willful misconduct.
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17.3 LIABILITY OF FOOTHILL GROUP AGENT. None of the Foothill
Group Agent-Related Persons shall (i) be liable for any action taken or omitted
to be taken by any of them under or in connection with this Agreement or any
other Loan Document or the transactions contemplated hereby (except for its own
gross negligence or willful misconduct), or (ii) be responsible in any manner to
any of the Lenders for any recital, statement, representation or warranty made
by any Obligor or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of any Obligor, or any officer or
director thereof, contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document, or
in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided
for in, or received by Foothill Group Agent under or in connection with, this
Agreement or any other Loan Document, or the validity, effectiveness,
genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan
Document, or for any failure of any Obligor or any other party to any Loan
Document to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder. No Foothill Group
Agent-Related Person shall be under any obligation to any Lender to ascertain or
to inquire as to the observance or performance of any of the agreements
contained in, or conditions of, this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or to
inspect the properties, books or records of any Obligor or any of any Obligor's
Subsidiaries or Affiliates.
17.4 RELIANCE BY FOOTHILL GROUP AGENT. Foothill Group Agent
shall be entitled to rely, and shall be fully protected in relying, upon any
writing, resolution, notice, consent, certificate, affidavit, letter, telegram,
facsimile, telex or telephone message, statement or other document or
conversation believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed,
sent, or made by the proper Person or Persons, and upon advice and statements of
legal counsel (including counsel to any Obligor or counsel to any Lender),
independent accountants and other experts selected by Foothill Group Agent.
Foothill Group Agent shall be fully justified in failing or refusing to take any
action under this Agreement or any other Loan Document unless it shall first
receive such advice or concurrence of the Lenders as it deems appropriate and
until such instructions are received, Foothill Group Agent shall act, or refrain
from acting, as it deems advisable. If Foothill Group Agent so requests, it
shall first be indemnified to its reasonable satisfaction by Lenders against any
and all liability and expense that may be incurred by it by reason of taking or
continuing to take any such action. Foothill Group Agent shall in all cases be
fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, under this Agreement or
any other Loan Document in accordance with a request or consent of the Lenders
and such request and any action taken or failure to act pursuant thereto shall
be binding upon all of the Lenders.
17.5 NOTICE OF DEFAULT OR EVENT OF DEFAULT. Foothill Group
Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of the occurrence of any
Default or Event of Default, except with respect to defaults in the payment of
principal, interest, fees, and expenses required to be paid to Foothill Group
Agent for the account of the Lenders, except with respect to Events of Default
of which Foothill Group Agent has actual knowledge, unless Foothill Group Agent
shall have received written notice from a Lender
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or Borrower referring to this Agreement, describing such Default or Event of
Default, and stating that such notice is a "notice of default." Foothill Group
Agent promptly will notify the Lenders of its receipt of any such notice or of
any Event of Default of which Foothill Group Agent has actual knowledge. If any
Lender obtains actual knowledge of any Event of Default, such Lender promptly
shall notify the other Lenders and Foothill Group Agent of such Event of
Default. Each Lender shall be solely responsible for giving any notices to its
Participants, if any. Subject to Section 17.4, Foothill Group Agent shall take
such action with respect to such Default or Event of Default as may be requested
by the Required Lenders in accordance with Section 9; provided, however, that
unless and until Foothill Group Agent has received any such request, Foothill
Group Agent may (but shall not be obligated to) take such action, or refrain
from taking such action, with respect to such Default or Event of Default as it
shall deem advisable.
17.6 CREDIT DECISION. Each Lender acknowledges that none of
the Foothill Group Agent-Related Persons has made any representation or warranty
to it, and that no act by Foothill Group Agent hereinafter taken, including any
review of the affairs of any Obligor and its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, shall
be deemed to constitute any representation or warranty by any Foothill Group
Agent-Related Person to any Lender. Each Lender represents to Foothill Group
Agent that it has, independently and without reliance upon any Foothill Group
Agent-Related Person and based on such documents and information as it has
deemed appropriate, made its own appraisal of and investigation into the
business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other condition and
creditworthiness of any Obligor and any other Person (other than the Foothill
Group) party to a Loan Document, and all applicable bank regulatory laws
relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, and made its own decision to
enter into this Agreement and to extend credit to any Obligor. Each Lender also
represents that it will, independently and without reliance upon any Foothill
Group Agent-Related Person and based on such documents and information as it
shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit analysis,
appraisals and decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement and
the other Loan Documents, and to make such investigations as it deems necessary
to inform itself as to the business, prospects, operations, property, financial
and other condition and creditworthiness of any Obligor and any other Person
(other than the Foothill Group) party to a Loan Document. Except for notices,
reports and other documents expressly herein required to be furnished to the
Lenders by Foothill Group Agent, Foothill Group Agent shall not have any duty or
responsibility to provide any Lender with any credit or other information
concerning the business, prospects, operations, property, financial and other
condition or creditworthiness of any Obligor and any other Person party to a
Loan Document that may come into the possession of any of the Foothill Group
Agent-Related Persons.
17.7 COSTS AND EXPENSES; INDEMNIFICATION. Foothill Group
Agent may incur and pay Foothill Group Expenses to the extent Foothill Group
Agent deems reasonably necessary or appropriate for the performance and
fulfillment of its functions,
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powers, and obligations pursuant to the Loan Documents, including without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, court costs, reasonable attorneys fees
and expenses, costs of collection by outside collection agencies and auctioneer
fees and costs of security guards or insurance premiums paid to maintain the
Worldwide Collateral, whether or not any Obligor is obligated to reimburse
Foothill Group Agent or Lenders for such expenses pursuant to the Loan Agreement
or otherwise. Foothill Group Agent is authorized and directed to deduct and
retain sufficient amounts from Collections to reimburse Foothill Group Agent for
such out-of-pocket costs and expenses prior to the distribution of any amounts
to Lenders. In the event Foothill Group Agent is not reimbursed for such costs
and expenses from Collections, each Lender hereby agrees that it is and shall be
obligated to pay to or reimburse Foothill Group Agent for the amount of such
Lender's Pro Rata Share thereof. Whether or not the transactions contemplated
hereby are consummated, the Lenders shall indemnify upon demand the Foothill
Group Agent-Related Persons (to the extent not reimbursed by or on behalf of any
Obligor and without limiting the obligation of any Obligor to do so), according
to their Pro Rata Shares, from and against any and all Indemnified Liabilities;
provided, however, that no Lender shall be liable for the payment to the
Foothill Group Agent-Related Persons of any portion of such Indemnified
Liabilities resulting solely from such Person's gross negligence or willful
misconduct. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender shall reimburse
Foothill Group Agent upon demand for its ratable share of any costs or
out-of-pocket expenses (including attorneys fees and expenses) incurred by
Foothill Group Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery,
administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through
negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of
rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or
any document contemplated by or referred to herein, to the extent that Foothill
Group Agent is not reimbursed for such expenses by or on behalf of any Obligor.
The undertaking in this section shall survive the payment of all Obligations
hereunder and the resignation or replacement of Foothill Group Agent.
17.8 FOOTHILL GROUP AGENT IN INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY. Foothill
and its Affiliates may make loans to, issue letters of credit for the account
of, accept deposits from, acquire equity interests in and generally engage in
any kind of banking, trust, financial advisory, underwriting or other business
with any Obligor and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates and any other Person (other
than the Foothill Group) party to any Loan Documents as though Foothill were not
Foothill Group Agent hereunder and without notice to or consent of the Lenders.
The Lenders acknowledge that, pursuant to such activities, Foothill or its
Affiliates may receive information regarding Obligors or their Affiliates and
any other Person (other than the Foothill Group) party to any Loan Documents
that is subject to confidentiality obligations in favor of Obligors or such
other Person and that prohibit the disclosure of such information to the
Lenders, and the Lenders acknowledge that, in such circumstances (and in the
absence of a waiver of such confidentiality obligations, which waiver Foothill
Group Agent will use its reasonable best efforts to obtain), Foothill Group
Agent shall be under no obligation to provide such information to
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them. With respect to the Foothill Loans and Foothill Group Agent Advances,
Foothill shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other
Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not Foothill Group Agent, and
the terms "Lender" and "Lenders" include Foothill in its individual capacity.
17.9 SUCCESSOR FOOTHILL GROUP AGENT. Foothill Group Agent
may resign as Foothill Group Agent upon 45 days notice to the Lenders. If
Foothill Group Agent resigns under this Agreement, the Required Lenders shall
appoint a successor Foothill Group Agent for the Lenders. If no successor
Foothill Group Agent is appointed prior to the effective date of the resignation
of Foothill Group Agent, Foothill Group Agent may appoint, after consulting with
the Lenders, a successor Foothill Group Agent. If Foothill Group Agent has
materially breached or failed to perform any material provision of this
Agreement or of applicable law, the Required Lenders may agree in writing to
remove and replace Foothill Group Agent with a successor Foothill Group Agent
from among the Lenders. In any such event, upon the acceptance of its
appointment as successor Foothill Group Agent hereunder, such successor Foothill
Group Agent shall succeed to all the rights, powers and duties of the retiring
Foothill Group Agent and the term "Foothill Group Agent" shall mean such
successor Foothill Group Agent and the retiring Foothill Group Agent's
appointment, powers and duties as Foothill Group Agent shall be terminated.
After any retiring Foothill Group Agent's resignation hereunder as Foothill
Group Agent, the provisions of this Section 17 shall inure to its benefit as to
any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Foothill Group Agent
under this Agreement. If no successor Foothill Group Agent has accepted
appointment as Foothill Group Agent by the date which is 45 days following a
retiring Foothill Group Agent's notice of resignation, the retiring Foothill
Group Agent's resignation shall nevertheless thereupon become effective and the
Lenders shall perform all of the duties of Foothill Group Agent hereunder until
such time, if any, as the Lenders appoint a successor Foothill Group Agent as
provided for above.
17.10 WITHHOLDING TAX. (a) If any Lender is a "foreign
corporation, partnership or trust" within the meaning of the IRC and such Lender
claims exemption from, or a reduction of, U.S. withholding tax under Sections
1441 or 1442 of the IRC, such Lender agrees with and in favor of Foothill Group
Agent and Borrower, to deliver to Foothill Group Agent and Borrower:
(i) if such Lender claims an exemption from, or a
reduction of, withholding tax under a United States tax treaty, properly
completed IRS Forms 1001 and W-8 before the payment of any interest in the first
calendar year and before the payment of any interest in each third succeeding
calendar year during which interest may be paid under this Agreement;
(ii) if such Lender claims that interest paid under
this Agreement is exempt from United States withholding tax because it is
effectively
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connected with a United States trade or business of such Lender, two properly
completed and executed copies of IRS Form 4224 before the payment of any
interest is due in the first taxable year of such Lender and in each succeeding
taxable year of such Lender during which interest may be paid under this
Agreement, and IRS Form W-9; and
(iii) such other form or forms as may be required under
the IRC or other laws of the United States as a condition to exemption from, or
reduction of, United States withholding tax.
Such Lender agrees promptly to notify Foothill Group Agent and Borrower of any
change in circumstances which would modify or render invalid any claimed
exemption or reduction.
(b) If any Lender claims exemption from, or reduction of,
withholding tax under a United States tax treaty by providing IRS Form 1001 and
such Lender sells, assigns, grants a participation in, or otherwise transfers
all or part of the Obligations of Borrower to another such Lender, such
transferor Lender agrees to notify Foothill Group Agent of the percentage amount
in which it is no longer the beneficial owner of Obligations of Borrower to such
Lender. To the extent of such percentage amount, Foothill Group Agent will treat
such transferor Lender's IRS Form 1001 as no longer valid.
(c) If any Lender claiming exemption from United States
withholding tax by filing IRS Form 4224 with Foothill Group Agent sells,
assigns, grants a participation in, or otherwise transfers all or part of the
Obligations of Borrower to another such Lender, such transferee Lender agrees to
undertake sole responsibility for complying with the withholding tax
requirements imposed by Sections 1441 and 1442 of the IRC.
(d) If any Lender is entitled to a reduction in the
applicable withholding tax, Foothill Group Agent may withhold from any interest
payment to such Lender an amount equivalent to the applicable withholding tax
after taking into account such reduction. If the forms or other documentation
required by subsection (a) of this Section are not delivered to Foothill Group
Agent, then Foothill Group Agent may withhold from any interest payment to such
Lender not providing such forms or other documentation an amount equivalent to
the applicable withholding tax.
(e) If the IRS or any other Governmental Authority of the
United States or other jurisdiction asserts a claim that Foothill Group Agent
did not properly withhold tax from amounts paid to or for the account of any
Lender (because the appropriate form was not delivered, was not properly
executed, or because such Lender failed to notify Foothill Group Agent of a
change in circumstances which rendered the exemption from, or reduction of,
withholding tax ineffective, or for any other reason) such Lender shall
indemnify Foothill Group Agent fully for all amounts paid, directly or
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indirectly, by Foothill Group Agent as tax or otherwise, including penalties and
interest, and including any taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on the amounts
payable to Foothill Group Agent under this Section, together with all costs and
expenses (including attorneys fees and expenses). The obligation of the Lenders
under this subsection shall survive the payment of all Obligations and the
resignation or replacement of Foothill Group Agent.
17.11 WORLDWIDE COLLATERAL MATTERS.
(a) The Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize Foothill
Group Agent, at its option and in its sole discretion, to release any Lien on
any Worldwide Collateral (i) upon the termination of the Commitments and payment
and satisfaction in full by Borrower of all Obligations; (ii) constituting
property being sold or disposed of if a release is required or desirable in
connection therewith and if Borrower certifies to Foothill Group Agent that the
sale or disposition is permitted under Section 7.4 of this Agreement or the
other Loan Documents (and Foothill Group Agent may rely conclusively on any such
certificate, without further inquiry); (iii) constituting property in which no
Obligor owned any interest at the time the security interest was granted or at
any time thereafter; or (iv) constituting property leased to an Obligor under a
lease that has expired or is terminated in a transaction permitted under this
Agreement. Except as provided above, Foothill Group Agent will not execute and
deliver a release of any Lien on any Worldwide Collateral without the prior
written authorization of (y) if the release is of all or any material portion of
the Worldwide Collateral, of all of the Lenders, or (z) otherwise, of the
Required Lenders. Upon request by Foothill Group Agent or Borrower at any time,
the Lenders will confirm in writing Foothill Group Agent's authority to release
any such Liens on particular types or items of Worldwide Collateral pursuant to
this Section 17.11; provided, however, that (1) Foothill Group Agent shall not
be required to execute any document necessary to evidence such release on terms
that, in Foothill Group Agent's opinion, would expose Foothill Group Agent to
liability or create any obligation or entail any consequence other than the
release of such Lien without recourse, representation, or warranty, and (2)
except as required by the Intercreditor Agreement, such release shall not in any
manner discharge, affect, or impair the Obligations or any Liens (other than
those expressly being released) upon (or obligations of any Obligor in respect
of) all interests retained by any Obligor, including, the proceeds of any sale,
all of which shall continue to constitute part of the Worldwide Collateral.
(b) Foothill Group Agent shall have no obligation
whatsoever to any of the Lenders to assure that the Worldwide Collateral exists
or is owned by any Obligor or is cared for, protected, or insured or has been
encumbered, or that the Foothill Group Agent's Liens or the Foothill Group
Agent's Bridge Term Loan Liens have been properly or sufficiently or lawfully
created, perfected, protected, or enforced or are entitled to any particular
priority, or to exercise at all or in any particular manner or under any duty of
care, disclosure or fidelity, or to continue exercising, any of the rights,
authorities and powers granted or available to Foothill Group Agent pursuant to
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any of the Loan Documents, it being understood and agreed that in respect of the
Worldwide Collateral, or any act, omission or event related thereto, subject to
the terms and conditions contained herein, Foothill Group Agent may act in any
manner it may deem appropriate, in its sole discretion given Foothill Group
Agent's own interest in the Worldwide Collateral in its capacity as one of the
Lenders and that Foothill Group Agent shall have no other duty or liability
whatsoever to any Lender as to any of the foregoing, except as otherwise
provided herein.
17.12 RESTRICTIONS ON ACTIONS BY LENDERS; SHARING OF
PAYMENTS. (a) Each of the Lenders agrees that it shall not, without the express
consent of Foothill Group Agent, and that it shall, to the extent it is lawfully
entitled to do so, upon the request of Foothill Group Agent, set off against the
Obligations, any amounts owing by such Lender to any Obligor or any accounts of
any Obligor now or hereafter maintained with such Lender. Each of the Lenders
further agrees that it shall not, unless specifically requested to do so by
Foothill Group Agent, take or cause to be taken any action, including, the
commencement of any legal or equitable proceedings, to foreclose any Lien on, or
otherwise enforce any security interest in, any of the Worldwide Collateral the
purpose of which is, or could be, to give such Lender any preference or priority
against the other Lenders with respect to the Worldwide Collateral.
(b) Subject to Section 17.8, if, at any time or times any
Lender shall receive (i) by payment, foreclosure, setoff or otherwise, any
proceeds of Worldwide Collateral or any payments with respect to the Obligations
arising under, or relating to, this Agreement or the other Loan Documents,
except for any such proceeds or payments received by such Lender from Foothill
Group Agent pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, or (ii) payments from
Foothill Group Agent in excess of such Lender's ratable portion of all such
distributions by Foothill Group Agent, such Lender promptly shall (1) turn the
same over to Foothill Group Agent, in kind, and with such endorsements as may be
required to negotiate the same to Foothill Group Agent, or in same day funds, as
applicable, for the account of all of the Lenders and for application to the
Obligations in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement, or
(2) purchase, without recourse or warranty, an undivided interest and
participation in the Obligations owed to the other Lenders so that such excess
payment received shall be applied ratably as among the Lenders in accordance
with their Pro Rata Shares; provided, however, that if all or part of such
excess payment received by the purchasing party is thereafter recovered from it,
those purchases of participations shall be rescinded in whole or in part, as
applicable, and the applicable portion of the purchase price paid therefor shall
be returned to such purchasing party, but without interest except to the extent
that such purchasing party is required to pay interest in connection with the
recovery of the excess payment.
17.13 AGENCY FOR PERFECTION. Foothill Group Agent and each
Lender hereby appoints each other Lender as agent for the purpose of perfecting
the Foothill Group Agent's Liens or the Foothill Group Agent's Bridge Term Loan
Liens in
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assets which, in accordance with Article 9 of the UCC can be perfected
only by possession. Should any Lender obtain possession of any such Worldwide
Collateral, such Lender shall notify Foothill Group Agent thereof, and, promptly
upon Foothill Group Agent's request therefor shall deliver such Worldwide
Collateral to Foothill Group Agent or in accordance with Foothill Group Agent's
instructions.
17.14 PAYMENTS BY FOOTHILL GROUP AGENT TO THE LENDERS. All
payments to be made by Foothill Group Agent to the Lenders shall be made by bank
wire transfer or internal transfer of immediately available funds to:
If to Foothill: The Chase Manhattan Bank
New York, NY
ABA 021 000 021
Account 323-266193
Credit: Foothill Capital Corporation
Reference: StorMedia
If to a Lender
other than Foothill: As specified in the
Assignment and Acceptance entered into
by such Lender with Foothill Group
Agent
or pursuant to such other wire transfer instructions as each party may designate
for itself by written notice to Foothill Group Agent. Concurrently with each
such payment, Foothill Group Agent shall identify whether such payment (or any
portion thereof) represents principal, premium or interest on revolving advances
or otherwise.
17.15 CONCERNING THE WORLDWIDE COLLATERAL AND RELATED LOAN
DOCUMENTS. Each member of the Foothill Group authorizes and directs Foothill
Group Agent to enter into this Agreement and the other Loan Documents relating
to the Worldwide Collateral, for the benefit of the Foothill Group. Each member
of the Foothill Group agrees that any action taken by Foothill Group Agent or
all Lenders, as applicable, in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or
the other Loan Documents relating to the Worldwide Collateral and the exercise
by Foothill Group Agent or all Lenders, as applicable, of their respective
powers set forth therein or herein, together with such other powers that are
reasonably incidental thereto, shall be binding upon all of the Lenders.
17.16 FIELD AUDITS AND EXAMINATION REPORTS; CONFIDENTIALITY;
DISCLAIMERS BY LENDERS; OTHER REPORTS AND INFORMATION. By signing this
Agreement, each Lender:
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(a) is deemed to have requested that Foothill Group
Agent furnish such Lender, promptly after it becomes available, a copy of each
field audit or examination report (each a "Report" and collectively, "Reports")
prepared by Foothill Group Agent, and Foothill Group Agent shall so furnish each
Lender with such Reports;
(b) expressly agrees and acknowledges that neither
Foothill nor Foothill Group Agent (i) makes any representation or warranty as to
the accuracy of any Report, or (ii) shall be liable for any information
contained in any Report;
(c) expressly agrees and acknowledges that the Reports
are not comprehensive audits or examinations, that Foothill Group Agent or other
party performing any audit or examination will inspect only specific information
regarding the Obligors and will rely significantly upon the Obligors' books and
records, as well as on representations of the Obligors' personnel;
(d) agrees to keep all Reports and other material,
non-public information regarding the Obligors and their Subsidiaries and their
operations, assets, and existing and contemplated business plans in a
confidential manner; it being understood and agreed by the Obligors that in any
event such Lender may make disclosures (a) to counsel for and other advisors,
accountants, and auditors to such Lender, (b) reasonably required by any bona
fide potential or actual Assignee, transferee, or Participant in connection with
any contemplated or actual assignment or transfer by such Lender of an interest
herein or any participation interest in such Lender's rights hereunder, if such
recipient agrees to be bound by the confidentiality provisions hereof, (c) of
information that has become public by disclosures made by Persons other than
such Lender, its Affiliates, assignees, transferees, or participants, or (d) as
required or requested by any court, governmental or administrative agency,
pursuant to any subpoena or other legal process, or by any law, statute,
regulation, or court order; provided, however, that, unless prohibited by
applicable law, statute, regulation, or court order, such Lender shall notify
Borrower of any request by any court, governmental or administrative agency, or
pursuant to any subpoena or other legal process for disclosure of any such
non-public material information concurrent with, or where practicable, prior to
the disclosure thereof; and
(e) without limiting the generality of any other
indemnification provision contained in this Agreement, agrees: (i) to hold
Foothill Group Agent and any such other Lender preparing a Report harmless from
any action the indemnifying Lender may take or conclusion the indemnifying
Lender may reach or draw from any Report in connection with any loans or other
credit accommodations that the indemnifying Lender has made or may make to any
Obligor, or the indemnifying Lender's participation in, or the indemnifying
Lender's purchase of, a loan or loans of Borrower; and (ii) to pay and protect,
and indemnify, defend and hold Foothill Group Agent and any such other Lender
preparing a Report harmless from and against, the claims, actions,
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proceedings, damages, costs, expenses and other amounts (including, attorney
costs) incurred by Foothill Group Agent and any such other Lender preparing a
Report as the direct or indirect result of any third parties who might obtain
all or part of any Report through the indemnifying Lender.
In addition to the foregoing: (x) Any Lender may from time to time request of
Foothill Group Agent in writing that Foothill Group Agent provide to such Lender
a copy of any report or document provided by any Obligor to Foothill Group Agent
that has not been contemporaneously provided by such Obligor to such Lender,
and, upon receipt of such request, Foothill Group Agent shall provide a copy of
same to such Lender promptly upon receipt thereof from any Obligor; (y) To the
extent that Foothill Group Agent is entitled, under any provision of the Loan
Documents, to request additional reports or information from the Obligors, any
Lender may, from time to time, reasonably request Foothill Group Agent to
exercise such right as specified in such Lender's notice to Foothill Group
Agent, whereupon Foothill Group Agent promptly shall request of the applicable
Obligor(s) the additional reports or information specified by such Lender, and,
upon receipt thereof from any Obligor, Foothill Group Agent promptly shall
provide a copy of same to such Lender; and (z) Any time that Foothill Group
Agent renders to Borrower a statement regarding the Loan Account, Foothill Group
Agent shall send a copy of such statement to each Lender.
17.17 SEVERAL OBLIGATIONS; NO LIABILITY. Notwithstanding
that certain of the Loan Documents now or hereafter may have been or will be
executed only by or in favor of Foothill Group Agent in its capacity as such,
and not by or in favor of the Lenders, any and all obligations on the part of
Foothill Group Agent (if any) to make any credit available hereunder shall
constitute the several (and not joint) obligations of the respective Lenders on
a ratable basis (in accordance with their Pro Rata Shares), according to their
respective Commitments, to make an amount of such credit not to exceed, in
principal amount, at any one time outstanding, the amount of their respective
Commitments. Nothing contained herein shall confer upon any Lender any interest
in, or subject any Lender to any liability for, or in respect of, the business,
assets, profits, losses, or liabilities of any other Lender. Each Lender shall
be solely responsible for notifying its Participants of any matters relating to
the Loan Documents to the extent any such notice may be required, and no Lender
shall have any obligation, duty, or liability to any Participant of any other
Lender. Except as provided in Section 17.7, no member of the Foothill Group
shall have any liability for the acts or any other member of the Foothill Group.
No Lender shall be responsible to Borrower or any other Person for any failure
by any other Lender to fulfill its obligations to make credit available
hereunder, nor to advance for it or on its behalf in connection with its
Commitment, nor to take any other action on its behalf hereunder or in
connection with the financing contemplated herein.
18. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
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18.1 EFFECTIVENESS. This Agreement shall be binding and
deemed effective when executed by Borrower and each member of the Foothill Group
whose signature is provided for on the signature pages hereof.
18.2 SECTION HEADINGS. Headings and numbers have been set
forth herein for convenience only. Unless the contrary is compelled by the
context, everything contained in each section applies equally to this entire
Agreement.
18.3 INTERPRETATION. Neither this Agreement nor any
uncertainty or ambiguity herein shall be construed or resolved against the
Foothill Group or Borrower, whether under any rule of construction or otherwise.
On the contrary, this Agreement has been reviewed by all parties and shall be
construed and interpreted according to the ordinary meaning of the words used so
as to fairly accomplish the purposes and intentions of all parties hereto.
18.4 SEVERABILITY OF PROVISIONS. Each provision of this
Agreement shall be severable from every other provision of this Agreement for
the purpose of determining the legal enforceability of any specific provision.
18.5 AMENDMENTS IN WRITING. This Agreement can only be
amended by a writing signed by Foothill Group Agent, the requisite Lenders, and
Borrower.
18.6 COUNTERPARTS; TELEFACSIMILE EXECUTION. This Agreement
may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties on
separate counterparts, each of which, when executed and delivered, shall be
deemed to be an original, and all of which, when taken together, shall
constitute but one and the same Agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart
of this Agreement by telefacsimile shall be equally as effective as delivery of
an original executed counterpart of this Agreement. Any party delivering an
executed counterpart of this Agreement by telefacsimile also shall deliver an
original executed counterpart of this Agreement but the failure to deliver an
original executed counterpart shall not affect the validity, enforceability, and
binding effect of this Agreement. The forgoing shall apply to each other Loan
Document mutatis mutandis.
18.7 REVIVAL AND REINSTATEMENT OF OBLIGATIONS. If the
incurrence or payment of the Obligations by Borrower or any guarantor of the
Obligations or the transfer by either or both of such parties to the Foothill
Group of any property of either or both of such parties should for any reason
subsequently be declared to be void or voidable under any state or federal law
relating to creditors' rights, including provisions of the United States
Bankruptcy Code relating to fraudulent conveyances, preferences, and other
voidable or recoverable payments of money or transfers of property
(collectively, a "Voidable Transfer"), and if the Foothill Group is required to
repay or restore, in whole or
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in part, any such Voidable Transfer, or elects to do so upon the reasonable
advice of its counsel, then, as to any such Voidable Transfer, or the amount
thereof that the Foothill Group is required or elects to repay or restore, and
as to all reasonable costs, expenses, and attorneys fees of the Foothill Group
related thereto, the liability of Borrower or such guarantor automatically shall
be revived, reinstated, and restored and shall exist as though such Voidable
Transfer had never been made.
18.8 INTEGRATION. This Agreement, together with the other
Loan Documents, reflects the entire understanding of the parties with respect to
the transactions contemplated hereby and shall not be contradicted or qualified
by any other agreement, oral or written, before the date hereof.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Agreement to be executed.
STORMEDIA INCORPORATED, a
Delaware corporation
By /s/
--------------------------------------
Title:
---------------------------
AKASHIC MEMORIES CORPORATION, a
California corporation
By /s/
--------------------------------------
Title:
---------------------------
FOOTHILL CAPITAL CORPORATION, a
California corporation, as Foothill Group
Agent and a Lender
By /s/
--------------------------------------
Title:
---------------------------
S-1
