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Form 8-K BROADWIND, INC. For: Aug 04

August 8, 2022 7:02 AM EDT
0001120370 False 0001120370 2022-08-04 2022-08-04 iso4217:USD xbrli:shares iso4217:USD xbrli:shares
 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

_________________

FORM 8-K

_________________

CURRENT REPORT

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

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  August 4, 2022

_______________________________

BROADWIND, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

_______________________________

Delaware001-3427888-0409160
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)(Commission File Number)(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

3240 South Central Avenue

Cicero, Illinois 60804

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

(708) 780-4800

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

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

_______________________________

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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

Title of each classTrading Symbol(s)Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.001 par valueBWENThe NASDAQ Capital Market

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

Emerging growth company

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

 
 
Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

Credit Agreement

 

On August 4, 2022, Broadwind, Inc. (the “Company”) and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc., Broadwind Industrial Solutions, LLC and Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. (each individually, a “Subsidiary” and collectively, the “Subsidiaries”) entered into a credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”)  with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as lender (the “Lender”), providing the Company and its Subsidiaries with a $35 million senior secured revolving credit facility (which may be further increased by up to an additional $10 million upon the request of the Company and at the sole discretion of the Lender) and a $7,578,000 senior secured term loan (collectively, the “Credit Facility”). The proceeds of the Credit Facility will be available for general corporate purposes, including strategic growth opportunities. The Credit Facility replaces the Company’s prior credit facility dated February 25, 2019 with CIBC Bank USA, as lender, as amended (the “Prior Credit Facility”). All obligations outstanding under the Prior Credit Facility were refinanced by the Credit Facility on August 5, 2022.

 

The Credit Facility contains customary covenants limiting the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ ability to, among other things, incur liens, make investments, incur indebtedness, merge or consolidate with others or dispose of assets, change the nature of its business, and enter into transactions with affiliates. In addition, the Credit Facility contains financial covenants requiring the Company to have a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) (i) as of the twelve-month period ending July 31, 2023 through and including December 31, 2023 of 1.0 to 1.0; and (ii) as of each twelve-month period thereafter to be greater than 1.1 to 1.0 and minimum EBITDA (as defined in the Credit Agreement) on a month-end basis of $0 for the six month period ending June 30, 2022, $1,500,000 for the nine-month period ending September 30, 2022, $2,500,000 for the twelve-month period ending December 31, 2022, $3,600,000 for the twelve-month period ending March 31, 2023, and $5,100,000 for the twelve-month period ending June 30, 2023. The initial term of the revolving credit facility matures August 4, 2027 and the term loan also matures on August 4, 2027, with monthly payments based on an 84-month amortization.

 

Borrowings under the Credit Facility bear interest at the following rates depending on the classification of the borrowing:

 

• term loan - Daily Simple SOFR (a rate per annum equal to the secured overnight financing rate published by the SOFR administrator on the website of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or any successor source), plus an applicable margin of 2.50%; and

• revolving credit loan - Daily Simple SOFR, plus an applicable margin of 2.00% to 2.50% depending on the excess availability on the revolving loan facility.

 

The Credit Agreement also contains customary events of default including, without limitation, non-payment of obligations, non-performance of covenants and obligations, material judgments, bankruptcy or insolvency, change of control, breaches of representations and warranties, limitation or termination of any guarantee with respect to the Credit Agreement or unenforceability of documentation related to the Credit Agreement.

 

The Company is allowed to prepay in whole or in part advances under the Credit Facility without penalty or premium.

 

The obligations under the Credit Agreement are secured by, subject to certain exclusions, (i) a first priority security interest in all accounts, inventory, equipment, general intangibles, intellectual property, money and investment property, and (ii) a deed of trust, assignment of leases and rents and security agreement and fixture filing on the Abilene, Texas facility.

 

In connection with the Credit Facility, on August 4, 2022, the Company, its Subsidiaries and 5100 Neville Road, LLC (collectively, the “Guarantors”) entered into a guaranty (the “Guaranty”) in favor of the Lender, whereby the Guarantors guaranteed the full payment of all the obligations of the Company and its Subsidiaries under the Credit Facility. Each of the Company’s additional subsidiaries, upon its becoming a direct or indirect subsidiary, will be required to become a party to the Guaranty.

 

The foregoing descriptions of the Credit Agreement and the Guaranty do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of those documents, which are attached hereto as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2, respectively, and are incorporated herein by reference. The Credit Agreement and the Guaranty have been included to provide information regarding their terms and are not intended to provide any other factual information about the Company, its Subsidiaries or the Credit Facility. The Credit Agreement contains representations and warranties that the Company and the Guarantors have made to the Lender, which are qualified by information in confidential disclosure schedules that the Company and its Subsidiaries have provided to the Lender in connection with the Credit  Agreement.

 

On August 8, 2022, the Company issued a press release regarding the matters described above. The press release is incorporated herein by reference and is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

 

Item 1.02. Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

The information provided under Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference into this Item 1.02.

 

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

 

The information provided under Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference into this Item 2.03.

 

 
 

SIGNATURE

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

 BROADWIND, INC.
   
  
Date: August 8, 2022By: /s/ Eric B. Blashford        
  Eric B. Blashford
  President, Chief Executive Officer, and Interim Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer)
  

 

EXHIBIT 10.1

 

 

 

 

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

by and among

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Lender

 

BROADWIND, INC.,
as Administrative Borrower,

 

the other parties named herein as Borrowers

 

and,

 

the parties named herein as Guarantors

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION 1

 

1.1Definitions 1
1.2Accounting Terms 33
1.3UCC Terms 33
1.4Construction 34
1.5Time References 35
1.6Payment in Full 35
1.7Rounding 35
1.8Resolution of Drafting Ambiguities 35

 

2.CREDIT FACILITY 35

 

2.1Revolving Loans; Term Loan. 35
2.2Borrowing Procedures 36
2.3Letter of Credit Facility 37
2.4Payments; Prepayments. 38
2.5Interest and Fees 41
2.6Intent to Limit Charges to Maximum Lawful Rate 42
2.7Illegality; Market Conditions 42
2.8Increased Costs 42
2.9Capital Requirements 43
2.10Certificates for Reimbursement 43
2.11Delay in Requests 43
2.12Incremental Facilities. 43

 

3.CONDITIONS; TERM OF AGREEMENT 44

 

3.1Conditions Precedent to the Initial Revolving Loan and the Term Loan 44
3.2Conditions Precedent to all Revolving Loans and the Term Loan 45
3.3Maturity 45
3.4Effect of Maturity 45
3.5Early Termination by Borrowers 46

 

4.REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES 46

 

4.1Due Organization and Qualification 46
4.2Due Authorization; No Conflict 46
4.3Binding Obligations; Perfected Liens. 46
4.4Title to Assets; No Encumbrances 47
4.5Litigation 47
4.6Compliance with Laws 47
4.7No Material Adverse Effect 47
4.8Solvency 47
4.9Environmental Condition 47
4.10Complete Disclosure; Projections 47
4.11Taxes 48
4.12Margin Stock; Investment Company Act, Etc 48
4.13OFAC; Sanctions; Anti-Corruption Laws; Anti-Money Laundering Laws; Patriot Act 48
4.14Employee and Labor Matters 49
4.15ERISA 49

 

 

 

 

4.16Capitalization and Subsidiaries 49
4.17Brokers 49
4.18Dormant Subsidiaries 49
4.19. Broadwind Services, LLC, is a Dormant Subsidiary. 49

 

5.AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS 49

 

5.1Financial Statements; Borrowing Base Certificate; Other Information 49
5.2Notices of Material Events 49
5.3Existence 50
5.4Maintenance of Properties 50
5.5Taxes 50
5.6Insurance 50
5.7Field Examinations; Appraisals 51
5.8Compliance with Laws; OFAC; Sanctions, Etc 51
5.9Cash Management; Collection of Proceeds of Collateral. 51
5.10Further Assurances 53
5.11End of Fiscal Years; Fiscal Quarters 53
5.12Costs and Expenses 53
5.13Formation of Subsidiaries 54
5.14Permitted Supplier Financing Transaction 54
5.15Post-Closing Obligations 54

 

6.NEGATIVE COVENANTS 54

 

6.1Indebtedness 54
6.2Liens 54
6.3Restrictions on Fundamental Changes 54
6.4Asset Dispositions 55
6.5Nature of Business 55
6.6Prepayments and Amendments 55
6.7Restricted Payments 56
6.8Accounting Methods 56
6.9Investments 56
6.10Transactions with Affiliates 56
6.11Use of Proceeds 56
6.12Dormant Subsidiaries 57
6.13. Borrower will not permit any Dormant Subsidiary to incur liabilities of any material nature, own any material assets or engage itself in any operations or businesses unless the same is joined as a Guarantor and Loan Party and has delivered a guaranty and such additional Loan Documents as Lender may reasonably request. 57

 

 

 

 

6.13New Equipment Lease and Financing Agreements. Not engage in any new or amended lease or financing agreement (each a “New Financing Agreement”) with Liberty Commercial Finance LLC and/or Prime Alliance Bank (collectively, the “Liberty Group”), unless each of the following conditions are satisfied: (i) no New Financing Agreement shall grant a lien or security interest upon any asset of any Loan Party other than specific items of personal property (excluding accounts) which are being leased from, acquired with financing by or the subject of a purchase money security interest financing provided by a member of the Liberty Group and (ii) not later than 10 Business Days (or such longer period as Lender may agree in writing) following the consummation of any such New Financing Agreement, Borrowers have delivered to Lender (a) copies of all such New Financing Agreements and (b) evidence that a new UCC-1 financing statement or a UCC-3 financing statement amendment has been filed by or on behalf of applicable member of the Liberty Group which contains an specific listing of the items of personal property that are the subject of such New Financing Agreement. 57

 

7.FINANCIAL COVENANTS 57

 

7.1Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio 57
7.2Minimum EBITDA 57

 

8.EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES 58

 

8.1Events of Default 58
8.2Remedies. 59

 

9.NOTICES, AMENDMENTS, WAIVERS, INDEMNIFICATION, ETC. 60

 

9.1Demand; Protest; Counterclaims, Etc 60
9.2Indemnification 60
9.3Notices 61
9.4Assignments; Successors 61
9.5Amendments; Waivers 61

 

10.JURY TRIAL WAIVER; OTHER WAIVERS CONSENTS; GOVERNING LAW. 62

 

10.1GOVERNING LAW 62
10.2FORUM NON CONVENIENS 62
10.3WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL 62
10.4SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION 62
10.5WAIVER OF CLAIMS 63

 

11.GENERAL PROVISIONS 63

 

11.1Effectiveness; Section Headings; Severability 63
11.2Counterparts; Electronic Execution 63
11.3Patriot Act 63
11.4Integration 64
11.5Disclosure 64
11.6Broadwind, Inc. as Agent for Borrowers 64

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annexes and Schedules

 

Annex LPA  Lender’s Payment Account
Schedule 1.1(c)  List of Freight Forwarders
Schedule 2.5  Fees
Schedule 2.7  SOFR Replacement
Schedule 3.1  Conditions Precedent to Initial Revolving Loans
Schedule 4.5  Pending Litigation
Schedule 4.9  Environmental Matters
Schedule 4.14  Collective Bargaining Agreements, Etc.
Schedule 4.16  Subsidiaries
Schedule 5.1  Financial and Collateral Reporting
Schedule 5.9  Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts
Schedule 6.1  Existing Indebtedness
Schedule 6.2  Existing Liens
Schedule 6.9  Exiting Investments
Schedule 5.15  Post-Closing Matters

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT is entered into as of August 4, 2022 by and among BROADWIND, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”, BRAD FOOTE GEAR WORKS, INC., an Illinois corporation (“BFGW”), BROADWIND INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS, LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company (“BIS”), BROADWIND HEAVY FABRICATIONS, INC., a Wisconsin corporation (“BHF” and together with the Company, BFGW, BIS and any entity that may hereafter become party hereto as a Borrower, individually, a “Borrower” and collectively, “Borrowers”), 5100 Neville Road, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“5100 Neville Road”, and together with any entity that may hereafter become party hereto as a Guarantor, individually, a “Guarantor” and collectively, “Guarantors”) and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (“Lender”).

 

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:

 

Accounting Changes” means changes in accounting principles required by the promulgation of any rule, regulation, pronouncement or opinion by the Financial Accounting Standards Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (or successor thereto or any agency with similar functions).

 

Administrative Borrower” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.6.

 

Affiliate” means, as applied to any Person, any other Person who controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, of the power to direct the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of Equity Interests, by contract, or otherwise; provided, that, for purposes of the definition of Eligible Accounts and Section 6.10: (a) if any Person owns directly or indirectly 10% or more of the Equity Interests having ordinary voting power for the election of directors or equivalent governing body of a Person, then both such Persons shall be Affiliates of each other, (b) each director (or comparable manager) of a Person shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of such Person, and (c) each partnership in which a Person is a general partner shall be deemed an Affiliate of such Person.

 

Agreement” means this Credit Agreement.

 

Anti-Corruption Laws” means: (a) the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, (b) the U.K. Bribery Act 2010, and (c) any other anti-bribery or anti-corruption laws, regulations or ordinances in any jurisdiction in which any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates is located or doing business.

 

Anti-Money Laundering Laws” means applicable laws or regulations in any jurisdiction in which any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates is located or doing business that relates to money laundering, any predicate crime to money laundering, or any financial record keeping and reporting requirements related thereto.

 

 1 

 

Applicable Concentration Percentage” means (i) 50% for General Electric Company, its Subsidiaries and/or its Permitted Affiliates, (ii) 50% for Siemens AG, its Subsidiaries and/or its Permitted Affiliates and (iii) 25% for any other account debtor and its Subsidiaries (with each such percentage in (i)-(iii), as applied to a particular account debtor, being subject to reduction by Lender in its Permitted Discretion if the creditworthiness of such account debtor deteriorates).

 

Applicable Margin” means (a) in the case of a Base Rate Loan that is a Term Loan, 1.50% (the “Term Loan Base Rate Margin”); (b) in the case of a SOFR Loan that is a Term Loan, 2.50% (the “Term Loan SOFR Rate Margin”); and (c) with respect to Base Rate Loans or SOFR Loans that are Revolving Loans, as applicable, as of any date of determination, the applicable margin set forth in the following table that corresponds to the Average Excess Availability of Borrowers for the most recently completed month; provided, that for the period from the Closing Date through and including the last day of the first full calendar quarter immediately following the Closing Date, the Applicable Margin shall be set at the margin in the row styled “Level II”; provided further, that upon written notice by Lender to Borrowers on and after an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Applicable Margin shall be set at the margin in the row styled “Level III”:

 

Level Average Excess Availability Applicable Margin for Base Rate Loans which are Revolving Loans (the “Revolving Loan Base Rate Margin”) Applicable Margin for SOFR Loans which are Revolving Loans (the “Revolving Loan SOFR Margin”)
I > 2/3rd of the Revolving Loan Limit 1.00 percentage points 2.00 percentage points
II > 1/3rd of the Revolving Loan Limit
but
< 2/3rds of the Revolving Loan Limit
1.25 percentage points 2.25 percentage points
III < 1/3rds of the Revolving Loan Limit 1.50 percentage points 2.50 percentage points

 

The Applicable Margin shall be re-determined as of the first day of each month.

 

Authorized Person” means any one of the individuals identified as an officer of a Loan Party or any other individual identified by Administrative Borrower in writing as an authorized person and authenticated through Lender’s electronic platform or portal in accordance with its procedures for such authentication.

 

Available Increase Amount” means, as of any date of determination, an amount equal to the result of (a) $10,000,000, minus (b) the aggregate principal amount of Increases to the Commitments previously made pursuant to Section 2.12 of this Agreement.

 

 2 

 

Average Excess Availability” means, for any one calendar month period commencing on the first day of the month of such period, the daily average of the Excess Availability for such period.

 

Bank Product” means any one or more of the following financial products or accommodations provided by Lender or its Affiliates to a Loan Party: (a) credit cards (including commercial cards (including so-called “purchase cards”, “procurement cards” or “p-cards”)), (b) payment card processing services, (c) debit cards, (d) stored value cards, (e) any cash management or related services, including treasury, depository, return items, overdraft, controlled disbursement, merchant store value cards, e-payables services, electronic funds transfer, interstate depository network, automatic clearing house transfer (including the Automated Clearing House processing of electronic funds transfers through the direct Federal Reserve Fedline system) and other cash management arrangements, or (f) transactions under Hedge Agreements.

 

Bank Product Obligations” means all obligations, liabilities, reimbursement obligations, fees, or expenses owing by a Loan Party to Lender or any of its Affiliates pursuant to or in connection with a Bank Product and irrespective of whether for the payment of money, and whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising.

 

Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code.

 

Base Rate” means the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Rate plus 1/2%, and (b) the rate of interest announced, from time to time, within Lender at its principal office in San Francisco as its “prime rate”, with the understanding that the “prime rate” is one of Lender’s base rates (not necessarily the lowest of such rates) and serves as the basis upon which effective rates of interest are calculated for those loans making reference thereto and is evidenced by the recording thereof after its announcement in such internal publications as Lender may designate (and, if any such announced rate is less than zero, then the rate determined pursuant to this clause (b) shall be deemed to be zero).

 

Base Rate Loan” means each portion of the Revolving Loans or the Term Loan that bears interest at a rate determined by reference to the Base Rate.

 

Benefit Plan” means a “defined benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(35) of ERISA) for which any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or ERISA Affiliates has been an “employer” (as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA) within the past six years.

 

Borrower” and “Borrowers” have the respective meanings set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Borrowing Base” means, as of any date of determination, the Dollar amount result of:

 

(a)               90% of the amount of Eligible Investment Grade Accounts less the applicable amount, if any, of the Dilution Reserve, plus

 

(b)               85% of the amount of Eligible Accounts, less the applicable amount, if any, of the Dilution Reserve, plus

 

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(c)               the lesser of

 

(i)                $4,000,000 , and

 

(ii)              the sum of

 

(1)               90% of the amount of Eligible GE/Siemens Extended Terms Accounts, less the applicable amount, if any, of the Dilution Reserve, and

 

(2)               85% of the amount of Eligible Other Extended Terms Accounts, less the applicable amount, if any, of the Dilution Reserve, plus

 

(d)               the lesser of (i) the product of 70% multiplied by the Value of Eligible Finished Goods Inventory at such time, and (ii) the product of 85% multiplied by the Net Recovery Percentage identified in the most recent appraisal of Inventory, that is acceptable to Lender in the exercise of its Permitted Discretion, multiplied by the Value of Eligible Finished Goods Inventory at such time, plus

 

(e)               the lesser of (i) the product of 70% multiplied by the Value of Eligible Raw Materials Inventory at such time, and (ii) the product of 85% multiplied by the Net Recovery Percentage identified in the most recent appraisal of such Eligible Inventory that is acceptable to Lender in the exercise of its Permitted Discretion, multiplied by the Value of Eligible Raw Materials Inventory at such time, plus

 

(f)                the lesser of

 

(i)                 $2,500,000, and

 

(ii)              the lesser of (A) the product of 70% multiplied by the value (calculated at the lower of cost or market on a basis consistent with Borrowers’ historical accounting practices) of Eligible Work-In-Process Inventory at such time, and (B) the product of 85% multiplied by the Net Recovery Percentage identified in the most recent appraisal of such Eligible Inventory that is acceptable to Lender in the exercise of its Permitted Discretion, multiplied by the value (calculated at the lower of cost or market on a basis consistent with Borrowers’ historical accounting practices) of Eligible Work-In-Process Inventory at such time, plus

 

(g)               the lesser of

 

(i)                 $3,000,000, and

 

(ii)              the lesser of (A) the product of 70% multiplied by the Value of Eligible In-Transit Inventory at such time, and (B) the product of 85% multiplied by the Net Recovery Percentage identified in the most recent appraisal of such Eligible Inventory that is acceptable to Lender in the exercise of its Permitted Discretion, multiplied by the Value of Eligible In-Transit Inventory at such time, plus

 

 4 

 

(h)               the lesser of

 

(i)                 the Real Property Subline Amount; and

 

(ii)              the product of 60% multiplied by the fair market value of Eligible Real Property as such fair market value is identified in the most recent appraisal of Eligible Real Property that is acceptable to Lender in the exercise of its Permitted Discretion at such time, minus

 

(i)                 the aggregate amount of Reserves, if any, established by Lender from time to time under Section 2.1(b) of this Agreement.

 

Borrowing Base Certificate” means a certificate setting forth the calculation of the Borrowing Base in the form provided by Lender to a Borrower, as such form, subject to the terms hereof, may from time to time be modified by Lender, which is duly completed (including all schedules thereto) and delivered by or on behalf of Borrowers to Lender.

 

Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or other day on which banks are authorized or required to close in the State of Illinois.

 

Capital Expenditures” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the amount of all expenditures by such Person during such period that are capital expenditures as determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Capital Lease” means a lease that is required to be capitalized for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP.

 

Cash Management Bank” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.9.

 

Change in Law” means the occurrence after the date of this Agreement of: (a) the adoption or effectiveness of any law, rule, regulation, judicial ruling, judgment or treaty, (b) any change in any law, rule, regulation, judicial ruling, judgment or treaty or in the administration, interpretation, implementation or application by any Governmental Authority of any law, rule, regulation, guideline or treaty, (c) any new, or adjustment to, requirements prescribed by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) for “Eurocurrency Liabilities” (as defined in Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), requirements imposed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or similar requirements imposed by any domestic or foreign governmental authority or resulting from compliance by Lender with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any central bank or other Governmental Authority and related in any manner to SOFR, or (d) the making or issuance by any Governmental Authority of any request, rule, guideline or directive, whether or not having the force of law; provided, that, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, (i) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives thereunder or issued in connection therewith, and (ii) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives concerning capital adequacy promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States or foreign regulatory authorities shall, in each case, be deemed to be a “Change in Law,” regardless of the date enacted, adopted or issued.

 

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Change of Control” means that: (a) any “person” or “group” (within the meaning of Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) (but excluding any employee benefit plan of such person or its Subsidiaries, and any person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan), becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), directly or indirectly, of 30%, or more, of the Equity Interests of the Company entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote for the election of members of the board of directors or equivalent governing body of the Company, or (c) the Company fails to own and control, directly or indirectly, 100% of the Equity Interests of each other Loan Party.

 

Closing Date” means the earlier of the date of the making of the initial Revolving Loan and the Term Loan or issuance of the initial Letter of Credit under this Agreement.

 

Collateral” means all assets and interests in assets and proceeds thereof now owned or hereafter acquired by any Person in or upon which a Lien is granted, or is purported to be granted, by such Person to Lender under any of the Loan Documents.

 

Collateral Access Agreement” means a landlord waiver, bailee letter, or acknowledgement agreement of any lessor, mortgagee, warehouseman, processor, consignee, or other Person in possession of, having a Lien upon, or having rights or interests in the books, equipment, accounts or inventory of any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case, in favor of Lender with respect to the Collateral at such premises or otherwise in the custody, control or possession of such lessor, mortgagee, warehouseman, processor, consignee or other Person and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender.

 

Collection Account” means each deposit account of a Borrower identified on Schedule 5.9 as a collection account and such other deposit accounts as may be established after the Closing Date in accordance with the terms hereof in each case used exclusively to receive payments on accounts and proceeds of other Collateral.

 

Commitment” means the commitment of Lender to make Revolving Loans or otherwise provide any credit or services to a Borrower under this Agreement.

 

Compliance Certificate” means a certificate in the form provided by Lender to a Borrower, as such form, subject to the terms hereof, may from time to time be modified by Lender, which is duly completed (including all schedules thereto), and delivered by or on behalf of Borrowers to Lender.

 

Control Agreement” means a control agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender, executed and delivered by a Loan Party, Lender, and the applicable securities intermediary (with respect to a securities account) or bank (with respect to a deposit account).

 

Credit Facility” means the Revolving Loans and the Term Loan provided to or for the benefit of each Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1 or other financial accommodations provided for under the Loan Documents.

 

 6 

 

Daily Simple SOFR” means, for any day (a “SOFR Rate Day”), a rate per annum equal to the greater of (a) SOFR for the day (such day, a “SOFR Determination Day”) that is two (2) U.S. Government Securities Business Days prior to (i) if such SOFR Rate Day is a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, such SOFR Rate Day or (ii) if such SOFR Rate Day is not a U.S. Government Securities Business Day, the U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately preceding such SOFR Rate Day, in each case, as such SOFR is published by the SOFR Administrator on the SOFR Administrator’s Website; provided, that, if Daily Simple SOFR determined as provided above would be less than zero, then Daily Simple SOFR shall be deemed to be zero. If by 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the second (2nd) U.S. Government Securities Business Day immediately following any SOFR Determination Day, SOFR in respect of such SOFR Determination Day has not been published on the SOFR Administrator’s Website and a Benchmark Replacement Date with respect to Daily Simple SOFR has not occurred, then SOFR for such SOFR Determination Day will be SOFR as published in respect of the first preceding U.S. Government Securities Business Day for which SOFR was published on the SOFR Administrator’s Website; provided that any SOFR determined pursuant to this sentence shall be utilized for purposes of calculation of Daily Simple SOFR for no more than three (3) consecutive SOFR Rate Days. Any change in Daily Simple SOFR due to a change in SOFR shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in SOFR without notice to the Borrower.

 

Default Rate” means, for any Obligation (including, to the extent permitted by law, interest not paid when due), two percent plus the interest rate otherwise applicable thereto, or in the case of the Letter of Credit fee, two percent above the per annum rate otherwise applicable thereto.

 

Dilution” means (a) with respect to accounts of Borrowers (other than Eligible GE/Siemens Extended Terms Accounts and Eligible Investment Grade Accounts), as of any date of determination, a percentage, based upon the experience of the immediately prior 12 months, that is the result of dividing the Dollar amount of (i) bad debt write-downs, discounts, advertising allowances, credits, or other dilutive items with respect to Borrowers’ accounts (other than Eligible GE/Siemens Extended Terms Accounts and Eligible Investment Grade Accounts) during such period, by (ii) Borrowers’ billings with respect to accounts (other than Eligible GE/Siemens Extended Terms Accounts and Eligible Investment Grade Accounts) during such period, (b) with respect to Eligible GE/Siemens Extended Terms Accounts, Extended GE/Siemens Terms Accounts Dilution, and (c) with respect to Eligible Investment Grade Accounts, Investment Grade Accounts Dilution.

 

Dilution Reserve” means, as of any date of determination, an amount sufficient to reduce the advance rate against (a) Eligible Accounts by the extent to which Dilution for such accounts is in excess of 5%, (b) Eligible GE/Siemens Extended Terms Accounts by 1 percentage point (or fraction thereof, rounding to the nearest one-tenth of 1 percentage point) for each percentage point (or fraction thereof, rounding to the nearest one-tenth of 1 percentage point) by which Extended GE/Siemens Terms Accounts Dilution is in excess of 2.50%, (c) Eligible Other Extended Terms Accounts by 1 percentage point (or fraction thereof, rounding to the nearest one-tenth of 1 percentage point) for each percentage point (or fraction thereof, rounding to the nearest one-tenth of 1 percentage point) by which Extended Other Terms Accounts Dilution is in excess of 5.00%, or (d) Eligible Investment Grade Accounts the extent to which Investment Grade Accounts Dilution for such accounts is in excess of 2.5%.

 

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Dollars” or “$” means United States dollars.

 

Dormant Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary of one or more of the Loan Parties which does not and will not have any liabilities of any material nature, own any material assets or engage itself in any operations or businesses.

 

Earn-Outs” means unsecured liabilities of a Loan Party arising under an agreement to make any deferred payment as a part of the consideration payable in respect of a Permitted Acquisition, including performance bonuses or consulting payments in any related services, employment or similar agreement, in an amount that is subject to or contingent upon the revenues, income, cash flow or profits (or the like) of the target of such Permitted Acquisition.

 

EBITDA” means, with respect to any fiscal period and with respect to Borrowers determined, in each case, on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, (a) the consolidated net income (or loss), for such period, minus (b) without duplication, the sum of the following amounts for such period to the extent included in determining consolidated net income (or loss) for such period: (i) unusual or non-recurring gains, and (ii) interest income, plus (c) without duplication, the sum of the following amounts for such period to the extent deducted in determining consolidated net income (or loss) for such period: (i) non-cash stock compensation and any other non-cash unusual or non-cash non-recurring losses, (ii) Interest Expense, (iii) income taxes, and (iv) depreciation and amortization. For the purposes of calculating EBITDA for any period of twelve consecutive months (each, a “Reference Period”), if at any time during such Reference Period (and after the Closing Date), any Loan Party shall have made a Permitted Acquisition, EBITDA for such Reference Period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto (including pro forma adjustments arising out of events which are directly attributable to such Permitted Acquisition, are factually supportable, and are expected to have a continuing impact, in each case acceptable to Lender as if any such Permitted Acquisition or adjustment occurred on the first day of such Reference Period.

 

Eligible Accounts” means accounts (other than Eligible Investment Grade Accounts, Eligible GE/Siemens Extended Terms Accounts and Eligible Other Extended Terms Accounts) created by a Borrower in the ordinary course of its business that arise out of such Borrower’s sale of goods or rendition of services that in each case at the time of creation and at all times thereafter satisfy the criteria set forth below as determined by Lender in its Permitted Discretion. Except as otherwise agreed by Lender, Eligible Accounts shall not include the following:

 

(a)               accounts that the account debtor has failed to pay within 90 days of original invoice date or 60 days of due date;

 

(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 selling terms of more than 90 days (provided that until any such accounts which otherwise qualify as Eligible GE/Siemens Extended Terms Accounts and/or Eligible Other Extended Terms Accounts remain outstanding for more than 90 days of original invoice date, the terms of this clause (c) shall not be applicable to exclude such accounts as Eligible Accounts);

 

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(d)               accounts with respect to which the account debtor is an Affiliate of any Borrower or an employee or agent of any Borrower or any Affiliate of any Borrower;

 

(e)               accounts (i) arising in a transaction wherein goods are placed on consignment or are sold pursuant to a guaranteed sale, a sale or return, a sale on approval, a bill and hold (other than Permitted bill and Hold Accounts), or any other terms by reason of which the payment by the account debtor may be conditional, or (ii) with respect to which the payment terms are “C.O.D.”, cash on delivery or other similar terms;

 

(f)                accounts that are not payable in Dollars;

 

(g)               except for accounts owing by foreign Subsidiaries of General Electric Company, its Subsidiaries and/or its Permitted Affiliates domiciled in the countries of Hungary, France, Saudi Arabia and/or Japan, accounts with respect to which the account debtor either (i) does not maintain its chief executive office in the United States or Canada, (ii) is not organized under the laws of the United States or Canada or any State or province 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 (A) the account is supported by an irrevocable letter of credit reasonably satisfactory to Lender (as to form, substance, and issuer or domestic confirming bank) that has been delivered to Lender and, if requested by Lender, is directly drawable by Lender, or (B) the account is covered by credit insurance in form, substance, and amount, and by an insurer, reasonably satisfactory to Lender;

 

(h)               except for accounts not exceeding $250,000 in the aggregate at any time, 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 Borrowers have complied, to the reasonable satisfaction of Lender, with the Assignment of Claims Act, 31 USC §3727), or (ii) any State of the United States or any other Governmental Authority;

 

(i)                 accounts with respect to which the account debtor is a creditor of a Borrower, has or has asserted a right of recoupment or setoff, or has disputed its obligation to pay all or any portion of the account, to the extent of such claim, right of recoupment or setoff, or dispute;

 

(j)                 accounts with respect to an account debtor whose Eligible Accounts owing to Borrowers exceed the Applicable Concentration Percentage of all Eligible Accounts, to the extent of the obligations owing by such account debtor in excess of such percentage; provided, that, in each case, the amount of Eligible Accounts that are excluded because they exceed the foregoing percentage shall be determined by Lender based on all of the otherwise Eligible Accounts prior to giving effect to any eliminations based upon the foregoing concentration limit;

 

(k)               accounts with respect to which the account debtor is subject to an Insolvency Proceeding, is not Solvent, has gone out of business, or as to which any Loan Party or Lender has received notice of an imminent Insolvency Proceeding or a material impairment of the financial condition of such account debtor;

 

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(l)                 accounts, the collection of which, Lender, in its Permitted Discretion, believes to be doubtful, including by reason of the account debtor’s financial condition;

 

(m)             accounts that are not subject to a valid and perfected first priority Lender’s Lien;

 

(n)               accounts with respect to which (i) other than Permitted Bill and Hold Accounts, the goods giving rise to such account have not been shipped and billed to the account debtor, or (ii) the services giving rise to such account have not been performed and billed to the account debtor;

 

(o)               accounts with respect to which the account debtor is a Sanctioned Target;

 

(p)               accounts (i) that represent the right to receive progress payments or other advance billings that are due prior to the completion of performance by the applicable Borrower of the subject contract for goods or services, or (ii) that represent credit card sales;

 

(q)               accounts which are sold pursuant to a Permitted Supplier Financing Transaction;

 

(r)                accounts that do not comply with the representations and warranties in the Loan Documents with respect to Eligible Accounts; or

 

(s)                accounts owned by a Person acquired in connection with a Permitted Acquisition that is joined to this Agreement as a Borrower, until the completion of a field examination with respect to such accounts satisfactory to Lender in its Permitted Discretion.

 

In determining the amount to be included, Eligible Accounts shall be calculated net of customer deposits, unapplied cash, taxes, finance charges, service charges, discounts, credits, allowances, and rebates.

 

Eligible Equipment” means equipment of each Borrower designated by Lender as eligible from time to time in its Permitted Discretion, but excluding equipment having any of the following characteristics:

 

(a)               equipment at premises other than those owned or leased and controlled by any Borrower, unless Lender shall have entered into a Collateral Access Agreement with the owner or operator of such premises and shall have received such other documents, instruments and agreements as Lender may request;

 

(b)               equipment that is subject to any Lien other than in favor of Lender;

 

(c)               equipment located outside the United States;

 

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(d)               equipment that is not subject to the first priority, valid and perfected security interest of Lender;

 

(e)               damaged or defective equipment or equipment not used or usable in the ordinary course of Borrowers’ business as presently conducted or equipment which is obsolete or not currently saleable or has been removed from service.

 

(f)                equipment that is not covered by “all risk” hazard insurance for an amount equal to its replacement cost;

 

(g)               equipment that requires proprietary software in order to operate in the manner in which it is intended when such software is not freely assignable to Lender or any potential purchaser of such equipment;

 

(h)               equipment consisting of computer hardware, software, tooling, or molds;

 

(i)                 equipment as to which an appraisal acceptable to Lender has not been completed; or

 

(j)                 equipment otherwise deemed unacceptable by Lender in its Permitted Discretion.

 

Any equipment which is not Eligible Equipment shall nonetheless constitute Collateral.

 

Eligible GE/Siemens Extended Terms Accounts” means those accounts owing by General Electric Company, its Subsidiaries and/or Permitted Affiliates or Siemens AG, its Subsidiaries and/or Permitted Affiliates created by a Borrower in the ordinary course of its business, that arise out of such Borrower’s sale of goods or rendition of services, that comply with each of the representations and warranties respecting Eligible Accounts made in the Loan Documents, and that would be Eligible Accounts but for their being excluded as ineligible by virtue of being an Eligible GE/Siemens Extended Terms Account or the excluding criteria set forth in clauses (a) and (c) of the definition of Eligible Accounts so long as the case of (a) in the case of General Electric Company, its Subsidiaries and/or its Permitted Affiliates such accounts (i) remain unpaid for no more than 180 days past original invoice date and are not more than 60 days past due and (ii) have selling terms of no greater than 180 days and (b) in the case of Siemens AG, its Subsidiaries and/or its Permitted Affiliates, such accounts (i) remain unpaid for no more than 150 days past original invoice date and are not more than 60 days past due and (ii) have selling terms of no greater than 180 days, in each case, as such criteria in (a)-(b) may be modified from time to time by Lender in the exercise of its Permitted Discretion. For purposes of clarity, accounts which may ultimately constitute Eligible GE/Siemens Extended Terms Accounts may initially be included as Eligible Accounts and/or Eligible Investment Grade Accounts until the same cease to satisfy the excluding criteria set forth under clauses (a) and (c) of the definition of Eligible Accounts.

 

Eligible Finished Goods Inventory” means inventory that qualifies as Eligible Inventory and consists of first quality finished goods held for sale in the ordinary course of the Loan Parties’ business.

 

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Eligible In-Transit Inventory” means those items of inventory that do not constitute Eligible Inventory solely because they are not in a location set forth on the schedule of locations to the Security Agreement or in transit among such locations and a Borrower does not have actual and exclusive possession thereof, but as to which,

 

(a)               such inventory currently is in transit in the continental United States by rail or truck to a location set forth on the schedule of locations to the Security Agreement;

 

(b)               title to such inventory has passed to a Borrower and Lender shall have received such evidence thereof as it may from time to time require,

 

(c)               such inventory is insured against types of loss, damage, hazards, and risks, and in amounts, satisfactory to Lender in its Permitted Discretion, and Lender shall have received a copy of the certificate of marine cargo insurance in connection therewith in which it has been named as an additional insured and loss payee in a manner acceptable to Lender,

 

(d)               unless Lender otherwise agrees in writing, such inventory either:

 

(i)                 is the subject of a negotiable bill of lading governed by the laws of a state within the United States (A) that is consigned to Lender or a Freight Forwarder (either directly or by means of endorsements), (B) that was issued by the carrier in possession of the inventory that is subject to such bill of lading, and (C) that either is in the possession of Lender or a Freight Forwarder (in each case in the continental United States), or

 

(ii)              is the subject of a negotiable forwarder’s cargo receipt governed by the laws of a state within the United States and is not the subject of a bill of lading (other than a negotiable bill of lading consigned to, and in the possession of, a consolidator or Lender, or their respective agents) and such negotiable cargo receipt on its face indicates the name of the Freight Forwarder as a carrier or multimodal transport operator and has been signed or otherwise authenticated by it in such capacity or as a named agent for or on behalf of the carrier or multimodal transport operator, in any case respecting such inventory (A) consigned to Lender or one of its Freight Forwarders that is handling the importing, shipping and delivery of such inventory (either directly or by means of endorsements), (B) that was issued by a consolidator respecting the subject inventory, and (C) that is in the possession of Lender or a Freight Forwarder (in each case in the continental United States),

 

(e)               such inventory is in the possession of a common carrier that has issued the bill of lading or other document of title with respect thereto or the Freight Forwarder handling the importing, shipping and delivery of such inventory;

 

(f)                the documents of title related thereto are subject to the valid and perfected first priority Lien of Lender;

 

(g)               Lender determines that such inventory is not subject to (i) any Person’s right of reclamation, repudiation, stoppage in transit or diversion or (ii) any other right or claim of any other Person which is (or is capable of being) senior to, or pari passu with, the Lien of Lender or Lender determines that any Person’s right or claim impairs, or interferes with, directly or indirectly, the ability of Lender to realize on, or reduces the amount that Lender may realize from the sale or other disposition of such inventory;

 

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(h)               a Borrower has provided (i) a certificate to Lender that certifies that, to the best knowledge of such Borrower, such inventory meets all of the representations and warranties in the Loan Documents concerning Eligible In-Transit Inventory, and that the shipment as evidenced by the documents conforms to the related order documents, and (ii) upon Lender’s request, a copy of the invoice, packing slip and manifest with respect thereto, or

 

(i)                 such inventory shall not have been in transit for more than thirty (30) days.

 

Eligible Inventory” means inventory of a Borrower consisting of raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods held for resale in the ordinary course of the business of such Borrower that at all times satisfy the criteria set forth below as determined by Lender in its Permitted Discretion. Except as otherwise agreed by Lender, any inventory shall not be included in Eligible Inventory if:

 

(a)               a Borrower does not have good, valid, and marketable title thereto;

 

(b)               a Borrower does not have exclusive legal possession thereof (either directly or through a bailee or agent of a Borrower);

 

(c)               it is not located at one of the locations in the continental United States set forth on the schedule of locations to the Security Agreement, as supplemented in accordance with the terms thereof;

 

(d)               it is stored at locations holding less than $100,000 of the aggregate value of such Borrower’s inventory;

 

(e)               it is in-transit from a location of a Loan Party set forth on the schedule of locations to the Security Agreement (other than in-transit from one location of a Loan Party set forth on such schedule of locations to another location of a Loan Party set forth on such schedule);

 

(f)                it is located on Real Property leased by a Borrower or in a contract warehouse or with a bailee, in each case, unless either, at Lender’s option, (A) it is subject to a Collateral Access Agreement with the owner and lessor of such Real Property or such warehouseman or bailee, as applicable, or (B) Lender has established a Reserve with respect to amounts payable to the owner and lessor of such premises or warehouse or bailee in an amount not less than three months’ rent, storage charges, fees or other amounts under the lease or other applicable agreement relative to such location;

 

(g)               it is the subject of a bill of lading or other document of title;

 

(h)               it is not subject to a valid and perfected first priority security interest of Lender;

 

(i)                 it consists of goods returned or rejected by a Borrower’s customers;

 

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(j)                 it consists of goods that are obsolete, slow moving (consisting of any type or category of inventory at any time in excess of the amount of such type or category sold in the immediately preceding six month period), spoiled or are otherwise past the stated expiration, “sell-by” or “use by” date applicable thereto, restrictive or custom items or items otherwise manufactured in accordance with customer-specific requirements, work-in-process, raw materials, or goods that constitute spare parts, packaging and shipping materials, supplies used or consumed in the business of a Borrower, bill and hold goods, defective goods, “seconds,” or inventory acquired on consignment;

 

(k)               it is subject to third party intellectual property, licensing or other proprietary rights, unless Lender is satisfied in its Permitted Discretion that such inventory can be freely sold by Lender on and after the occurrence of an Event of Default despite such third party rights;

 

(l)                 it does not comply with the representations and warranties in the Loan Documents with respect to Eligible Inventory; or

 

(m)             it was acquired in connection with a Permitted Acquisition, or such inventory is owned by a Person that is joined to this Agreement as a Borrower, until the completion of an appraisal of such inventory that is acceptable to Lender and the completion of a field examination with respect to such inventory that is satisfactory to Lender in its Permitted Discretion.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Eligible Inventory will be calculated without consideration of any contract liabilities resulting from over time revenue recognition of revenue allowed per GAAP.

 

Eligible Investment Grade Accounts” means those accounts owing by an Investment Grade Account Debtor created by a Borrower in the ordinary course of its business, that (i) arise out of such Borrower’s sale of goods or rendition of services, (ii) comply with each of the representations and warranties respecting Eligible Accounts made in the Loan Documents, and (iii) are not excluded as ineligible by virtue of one or more of the excluding criteria set forth in the definition of Eligible Accounts other than being an Eligible Investment Grade Account. In determining the amount to be included, Eligible Investment Grade Accounts shall be calculated net of customer deposits, unapplied cash, taxes, finance charges, service charges, discounts, credits, allowances, and rebates.

 

Eligible Other Extended Terms Account Debtor” means any of (a) Gardner Denver (Ingersoll Rand Inc.) and/or its Subsidiaries, (b) Metso Outotec USA Inc. and/or its Subsidiaries (including without limitation, Metso Oyj and Metso Minerals Industries, Inc.), and/or (c) US Steel Corporation and/or its Subsidiaries.

 

Eligible Other Extended Terms Accounts” means those accounts owing by an Eligible Other Extended Terms Account Debtor created by a Borrower in the ordinary course of its business, that arise out of such Borrower’s sale of goods or rendition of services, that comply with each of the representations and warranties respecting Eligible Accounts made in the Loan Documents, and that would be Eligible Accounts but for their being excluded as ineligible by virtue of being an Eligible Other Extended Terms Account or the excluding criteria set forth in clauses (a) and (c) of the definition of Eligible Accounts so long as the case of (a) Gardner Denver (Ingersoll Rand Inc.) and/or its Subsidiaries, such accounts (i) remain unpaid for no more than 135 days past original invoice date and are not more than 60 days past due and/or (ii) have selling terms of no greater than 105 days, (b) Metso Outotec USA Inc. and/or its Subsidiaries (including without limitation, Metso Oyj and Metso Minerals Industries, Inc.), such accounts (i) remain unpaid for no more than 120 days past original invoice date and are not more than 60 days past due and/or (ii) have selling terms of no greater than 120 days, and/or (c) US Steel Corporation and/or its Subsidiaries, such accounts remain unpaid for no more than 120 days past original invoice date and are not more than 60 days past due. For purposes of clarity, accounts which may ultimately constitute Eligible Other Extended Terms Accounts may initially be included as Eligible Accounts and/or Eligible Investment Grade Accounts (to the extent applicable) until the same cease to satisfy the excluding criteria set forth under clauses (a) and (c) of the definition of Eligible Accounts in each case, as such criteria in (a)-(c) may be modified from time to time by Lender in the exercise of its Permitted Discretion.

 

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Eligible Raw Material Inventory” means inventory that qualifies as Eligible Inventory and consists of goods that are first quality raw materials.

 

Eligible Real Property” means Real Property subject to a Mortgage located at 1126 North Arnold Blvd., Abilene, TX 79603.

 

Eligible Work-in-Process Inventory” means inventory that qualifies as Eligible Inventory and consists of goods that are first quality work-in-process; provided, that anything to the contrary contained herein notwithstanding, the value of such inventory shall not include the value of any labor or other services rendered to produce such inventory.

 

Equity Interests” means, with respect to a Person, all of the shares, options, warrants, interests, participations, or other equivalents (regardless of how designated) of or in such Person, whether voting or nonvoting, including capital stock or partnership, limited liability company or other equity ownership or profit interests or units, 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 SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).

 

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and any successor statute thereto.

 

ERISA Affiliate” means (a) any Person subject to ERISA whose employees are treated as employed by the same employer as the employees of any Loan Party or its Subsidiaries 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 any Loan Party or its Subsidiaries 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 any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries 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 Person subject to ERISA that is a party to an arrangement with any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries and whose employees are aggregated with the employees of such Loan Party or its Subsidiaries under IRC Section 414(o).

 

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Event of Default” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1.

 

Excess Availability” means, as of any date of determination, the amount, as determined by Lender, equal to: (a) the lesser of: (i) the Borrowing Base and (ii) the Revolving Loan Limit, minus, without duplication, (b) the amount of Revolving Loans and Letter of Credit Usage.

 

Excluded Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Loan Party, any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the guaranty of such Loan Party of, or the grant by such Loan Party of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any guaranty thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), and any successor statute or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) due to such Loan Party’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), and any successor statute and the regulations thereunder at the time the guaranty of such Loan Party or the grant of such security interest becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation. If a Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to swaps for which such guaranty or security interest is or becomes illegal.

 

Extended GE/Siemens Terms Accounts Dilution” means, for any period, the fraction, expressed as a percentage, the numerator of which is the aggregate amount of reductions in the Eligible GE/Siemens Extended Terms Accounts of all Borrowers, as applicable, for such period (including bad debt write-downs, discounts, advertising allowances and credits) other than by reason of dollar for dollar cash payment and the denominator of which is the aggregate dollar amount of the billings of all Borrowers with respect to such Eligible GE/Siemens Extended Terms Accounts for such period.

 

Extended Other Terms Accounts Dilution” means, for any period, the fraction, expressed as a percentage, the numerator of which is the aggregate amount of reductions in the Eligible Other Extended Terms Accounts of all Borrowers, as applicable, for such period (including bad debt write-downs, discounts, advertising allowances and credits) other than by reason of dollar for dollar cash payment and the denominator of which is the aggregate dollar amount of the billings of all Borrowers with respect to such Eligible Other Extended Terms Accounts for such period.

 

Federal Funds Rate” means, for any period, a fluctuating interest rate per annum equal to, for each day during such period, the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System, as published on the next succeeding Business Day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day which is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for such day on such transactions received by Lender from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it (and, if any such rate is below zero, then the rate determined pursuant to this definition shall be deemed to be zero).

 

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio” means, with respect to any fiscal period and with respect to any Person and its Subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, the ratio of (a) EBITDA for such period minus Unfinanced Capital Expenditures made (to the extent not already incurred in a prior period) or incurred during such period, to (b) Fixed Charges for such period. For the purposes of calculating Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for any Reference Period, if at any time during such Reference Period (and after the Closing Date), any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries shall have made a Permitted Acquisition, Fixed Charges and Unfinanced Capital Expenditures for such Reference Period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto or in such other manner acceptable to Lender as if any such Permitted Acquisition occurred on the first day of such Reference Period.

 

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Fixed Charges” means, with respect to any fiscal period and with respect to any Person and its Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, the sum, without duplication, of (a) Interest Expense required to be paid (other than interest paid-in-kind, amortization of financing fees, and other non-cash Interest Expense) during such period, (b) scheduled principal payments in respect of Indebtedness that are required to be paid during such period, (c) all Federal, State, and local income taxes required to be paid during such period, and (d) all Restricted Payments paid (whether in cash or other property, other than common Equity Interests) during such period.

 

Freight Forwarders” shall mean the Persons listed on Schedule 1.1(c) hereto or such other Person or Persons as may be selected by a Borrower after the date hereof and after written notice by a Borrower to Lender who are reasonably acceptable to Lender to handle the receipt of inventory within the United States or to clear inventory through the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection or other domestic or foreign export control authorities or otherwise perform port of entry services to process inventory imported by a Borrower from outside the United States (such Persons sometimes being referred to herein individually as a “Freight Forwarder”), provided, that, as to each such Person, (a) Lender shall have received a Freight Forwarder agreement by such Person in favor of Lender (in form and substance satisfactory to Lender) duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Person, (b) such agreement shall be in full force and effect and (c) such Person shall be in compliance in all material respects with the terms thereof.

 

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from time to time in the United States, consistently applied.

 

Governing Documents” means, with respect to any Person, the certificate or articles of incorporation, certificate of formation, by-laws, limited liability company agreement, operating agreement or other organizational or governing documents of such Person.

 

Governmental Authority” means the government of any nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether at the national, state, territorial, provincial, county, municipal or any other level, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of, or pertaining to, government (including any supra-national bodies such as the European Union or the European Central Bank).

 

Guarantor” means each Person (other than an individual) that at any time guaranties all or any portion of the Obligations.

 

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Guaranty” means the Guaranty, dated of even date herewith, by each Loan Party in favor of Lender and any other guarantee of the Obligations at any time executed and delivered by a Loan Party in favor of Lender.

 

Hedge Agreement” means a “swap agreement” as that term is defined in Section 101(53B)(A) of the Bankruptcy Code.

 

Increase” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.12.

 

Indebtedness” as to any Person means (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, or other similar instruments and all reimbursement or other obligations in respect of letters of credit, bankers acceptances, or other financial products, (c) all obligations of such Person as a lessee under Capital Leases, (d) all obligations or liabilities of others secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person, irrespective of whether such obligation or liability is assumed, (e) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of assets (other than trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business and repayable in accordance with customary trade practices and, other than royalty payments payable in the ordinary course of business in respect of non-exclusive licenses), (f) all monetary obligations of such Person owing under Hedge Agreements (which amount shall be calculated based on the amount that would be payable by such Person if the Hedge Agreement were terminated on the date of determination), and (g) any obligation of such Person guaranteeing or intended to guarantee (whether directly or indirectly guaranteed, endorsed, co-made, discounted, or sold with recourse) any obligation of any other Person that constitutes Indebtedness under any of clauses (a) through (f) above. For purposes of this definition, (i) the amount of any Indebtedness represented by a guaranty or other similar instrument shall be the lesser of the principal amount of the obligations guaranteed and still outstanding and the maximum amount for which the guaranteeing Person may be liable pursuant to the terms of the instrument embodying such Indebtedness, and (ii) the amount of any Indebtedness which is limited or is non-recourse to a Person or for which recourse is limited to an identified asset shall be valued at the lesser of (A) if applicable, the limited amount of such obligations, and (B) if applicable, the fair market value of such assets securing such obligation.

 

Insolvency Proceeding” means any proceeding commenced by or against any Person under any provision of the Bankruptcy Code or under any other Federal or State bankruptcy or insolvency law, assignments for the benefit of creditors, formal or informal moratoria, compositions, extensions generally with creditors, or proceedings seeking reorganization, arrangement, or other similar relief.

 

Interest Expense” means, for any period, the aggregate of the interest expense of a Person and its Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

Investment” means, with respect to any Person, any investment by such Person in any other Person (including Affiliates) in the form of loans, guarantees, advances, capital contributions (excluding (a) commission, travel, and similar advances to officers and employees of such Person made in the ordinary course of business, and (b) bona fide accounts receivable arising in the ordinary course of business), or acquisitions of Indebtedness, Equity Interests, or all or substantially all of the assets of such other Person (or of any division or business line of such other Person), and any other items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP. The amount of any Investment shall be the original cost of such Investment plus the cost of all additions thereto, without any adjustment for increases or decreases in value, or write-ups, write-downs, or write-offs with respect to such Investment.

 

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Investment Grade Account Debtor” means, any account debtor with rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s or BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, or an equivalent rating by any other nationally recognized statistical rating agency selected by Borrowers.

 

Investment Grade Accounts Dilution” means, for any period, the fraction, expressed as a percentage, the numerator of which is the aggregate amount of reductions in the Eligible Investment Grade Accounts of all Borrowers, as applicable, for such period (including bad debt write-downs, discounts, advertising allowances and credits) other than by reason of dollar for dollar cash payment and the denominator of which is the aggregate dollar amount of the billings of all Borrowers with respect to such Eligible Investment Grade Accounts for such period.

 

IRC” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as in effect from time to time.

 

Lender” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Lender Expenses” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.12.

 

Lender Payment Account” means such account of Lender described on Annex LPA hereto or such other account as Lender may from time to time designate in writing to a Borrower as the Lender Payment Account for purposes of the Loan Documents.

 

Letter of Credit” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.

 

Letter of Credit Usage” means, as of any date, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit, and (b) the aggregate amount of outstanding reimbursement obligations with respect to Letters of Credit which remain unreimbursed or which have not been paid through a Revolving Loan.

 

Lien” means any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, charge, deposit arrangement, encumbrance, easement, lien (statutory or other), security interest, or other security arrangement and any other preference, priority, or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever, including any conditional sale contract or other title retention agreement, the interest of a lessor under a Capital Lease and any synthetic or other financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing.

 

Loan Account” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a).

 

Loan Documents” means this Agreement, the Control Agreements, each Borrowing Base Certificate, each Security Agreement, each Guaranty, any note or notes executed by a Borrower in connection with this Agreement and payable to Lender, any subordination agreement, and any other instrument or agreement entered into, now or in the future, by any Loan Party in connection with this Agreement (but specifically excluding agreements for Bank Products).

 

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Loan Manager Service” means Lender’s proprietary automated loan management program that may from time to time be entered into between a Borrower at such time and Lender.

 

Loan Party” means any Borrower or any Guarantor.

 

Margin Stock” as defined in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as in effect from time to time.

 

Material Adverse Effect” means (a) a material adverse effect in the business, operations, results of operations, assets, liabilities or financial condition of the Loan Parties, taken as a whole, (b) a material impairment of the ability of Loan Parties to perform their obligations under the Loan Documents to which they are a party or of Lender’s ability to enforce the Obligations or realize upon the Collateral (other than as a result of an action taken or not taken that is solely in the control of Lender), or (c) a material impairment of the enforceability or priority of the Liens of Lender with respect to all or a material portion of the Collateral.

 

Material Amount” means $500,000.

 

Material Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (other than the Revolving Loans and the Term Loan) of a Loan Party in an aggregate principal amount exceeding the Material Amount. For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “principal amount” of the obligations of a Loan Party in respect of any Hedge Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that a Loan Party would be required to pay if such Hedge Agreement were terminated at such time.

 

Maturity Date” means August 4, 2027.

 

Maximum Credit” means $42,578,000.

 

Mortgages” means, individually and collectively, one or more mortgages, deeds of trust, or deeds to secure debt, executed and delivered by a Loan Party in favor of Lender, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender, that encumber the Collateral consisting of Real Property.

 

Net Orderly Liquidation Value” shall mean, as to Eligible Equipment, at any time, the value of such Eligible Equipment, determined on an orderly liquidation basis, reduced by commissions, fees, costs, and expenses reasonably contemplated in connection with the liquidation thereof, as set forth in the most recent appraisal of the Eligible Equipment delivered, at the sole cost and expense of Borrowers, to Lender in the exercise of its Permitted Discretion.

 

Net Recovery Percentage” means, as of any date of determination, the percentage of the book value of the inventory of a Borrower that is estimated to be recoverable in an orderly liquidation of such inventory net of all associated costs and expenses of such liquidation, such percentage to be determined as to each category of inventory and to be as specified in the most recent appraisal that is received by, and acceptable to, Lender in the exercise of its Permitted Discretion.

 

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Obligations” means (a) all loans (including the Revolving Loans and the Term Loan), debts, principal, interest (including any interest that accrues after the commencement of an Insolvency Proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in whole or in part as a claim in any such Insolvency Proceeding), premiums, liabilities (including all amounts charged to any Loan Account), obligations (including reimbursement and indemnification obligations with respect to Letters of Credit whether or not contingent), fees, expenses (and any fees or expenses that accrue after the commencement of an Insolvency Proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in whole or in part as a claim in any such Insolvency Proceeding), guaranties, and all covenants and duties of any other kind and description owing by any Loan Party arising out of, under, pursuant to, in connection with, or evidenced by any Loan Document and whether or not for the payment of money, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, now existing or hereafter arising, and including all interest not paid when due, and all other expenses or other amounts that any Loan Party is required to pay or reimburse by the Loan Documents or by law or otherwise in connection with the Loan Documents, and (b) all Bank Product Obligations, provided, that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Obligations shall exclude any Excluded Swap Obligation. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Obligations include the obligation to pay (i) the principal of the Revolving Loans and the Term Loan, (ii) interest accrued on the Revolving Loans and the Term Loan, (iii) the amount necessary to reimburse Lender for amounts paid or payable pursuant to Letters of Credit, (iv) Letter of Credit commissions, fees (including fronting fees) and charges, (v) Lender Expenses, (vi) fees payable under any Loan Document, and (vii) indemnities and other amounts payable by any Loan Party under any Loan Document. Any reference in this Agreement or in the Loan Documents to the Obligations shall include all or any portion thereof and any extensions, modifications, renewals, or alterations of the Obligations, both prior and subsequent to any Insolvency Proceeding.

 

OFAC” means The Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

 

Patriot Act” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA Patriot Act of 2001, as amended).

 

Payment Conditions” means, at the time of determination with respect to any specified transaction or payment, the following:

 

(a)               as of the date of any such transaction or payment, and after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default shall exist;

 

(b)               as of the date of any such transaction or payment, and after giving effect thereto, both (A) the Excess Availability for the immediately preceding 30 consecutive day period shall be not less than 17.5% of the Revolving Loan Limit, and after giving effect to the transaction or payment, on a pro forma basis using the most recent calculation of the Borrowing Base immediately prior to any such payment or transaction, the Excess Availability shall be not less than the greater of such amounts, and (B) as of the date of any such transaction or payment, and after giving effect thereto, on a pro forma basis, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the immediately preceding 12 consecutive fiscal month sending on the last day of the applicable fiscal period prior to the date of such payment or transaction for which financial statements are required to have been delivered to Lender (with any such payment treated as a Fixed Charge as of the last day of the applicable 12 month period for purposes of calculating the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio under this clause (b) and as calculated for any subsequent proposed payment) shall be at least 1.10 to 1.00:

 

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(c)               Lender shall have received not less than five Business Days’ prior written notice of the proposed payment or transaction (or such shorter period as determined by Lender) and such information with respect thereto as Lender may reasonably request, including (i) the proposed date and amount of the payment and (ii) a description of the transaction or event giving rise to such payment and the proposed date of the consummation of such payment or transaction; and

 

(d)               Lender shall have received a certificate of an Authorized Person of a Borrower certifying as to compliance with the preceding clauses and demonstrating (in reasonable detail) the calculations required thereby.

 

Permitted Acquisition” means any acquisition by a Person of all or substantially all of the assets of (or of any division or business line of) any other Person, or the acquisition by a Person of all of the Equity Interests of any other Person (whether by means of a merger, consolidation, or otherwise), provided, that, as to any such acquisition, each of the following conditions is satisfied:

 

(a)               as of the date of such acquisition and after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default exists or would exist and the proposed acquisition is consensual;

 

(b)               Lender shall have received from a Borrower a written certificate, in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, showing that the Loan Parties (i) would be in compliance with the financial covenant(s) in Section 7 of this Agreement for the fiscal month ended immediately prior to the proposed date of consummation of such proposed acquisition regardless of whether such financial covenant(s) are required to be tested for such fiscal month, and (ii) are projected to be in compliance with the financial covenant(s) in Section 7 of this Agreement for each of the 12 fiscal months in the period ended one year after the proposed date of consummation of such proposed acquisition assuming that such financial covenant(s) will be required to be tested in each such fiscal month, provided, that, such certificate shall include reasonably detailed calculations with respect to such financial covenant(s) and the calculation of the financial covenant(s) shall be on a pro forma basis (including pro forma adjustments arising out of events which are directly attributable to such proposed acquisition, are factually supportable, and are expected to have a continuing impact, in each case, determined as if the acquisition had been effective at the beginning of the relevant period and as are acceptable to Lender) created by adding the historical financial statements of Borrowers to the historical consolidated financial statements of the Person to be acquired (or the historical financial statements related to the assets to be acquired) pursuant to the proposed acquisition;

 

(c)               Lender shall have received forecasted balance sheets, profit and loss statements, and cash flow statements of the Person or assets to be acquired, all prepared on a basis consistent with such Person’s (or assets’) historical financial statements, together with appropriate supporting details and a statement of underlying assumptions for the one year period following the date of the proposed acquisition, on a quarter by quarter basis), in form and substance (including as to scope and underlying assumptions) reasonably satisfactory to Lender;

 

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(d)               as of the date of any such acquisition, each of the Payment Conditions shall be satisfied;

 

(e)               the assets being acquired or the Person whose Equity Interests are being acquired did not have negative EBITDA during the 12 consecutive month period most recently ended prior to the date of the proposed acquisition for which financial statements are then available;

 

(f)                Lender shall have received written notice from a Borrower of the proposed acquisition at least 15 Business Days prior to the anticipated closing date of the proposed acquisition and, not later than five Business Days prior to the anticipated closing date of the proposed acquisition (or such shorter period of time to which Lender may consent), copies of the acquisition agreement and other material documents relative to the proposed acquisition, which agreement and documents shall be reasonably acceptable to Lender;

 

(g)               the assets being acquired, or the Person whose Equity Interests are being acquired, are useful in or engaged in, as applicable, the business of the Loan Parties or a business reasonably related thereto;

 

(h)               the assets being acquired are located within the United States, or the Person whose Equity Interests are being acquired is organized in a jurisdiction located within the United States; and

 

(i)                 the purchase consideration payable in respect of all Permitted Acquisitions (including the proposed acquisition and including deferred payment obligations) shall not exceed $40,000,000 in the aggregate.

 

Permitted Affiliate” which will mean (i) any Affiliate of General Electric Company and/or Siemens AG as of the Closing Date and (ii) any Affiliate of any of the entities described in clause (i) which has been identified in writing by the Borrower Representative to the Lender for inclusion as a Permitted Affiliate and has been approved in writing by Lender as a Permitted Affiliate in the exercise of its Permitted Discretion.

 

Permitted Bill and Hold Accounts” means accounts owing by General Electric Company, its Subsidiaries and/or its Permitted Affiliates or Siemens AG, its Subsidiaries and/or its Permitted Affiliates which expressly permit any Borrower to bill such account debtor for goods vended by such Borrower which are stored at a location of any Borrower prior to being transported to such account debtor.

 

Permitted Discretion” means a determination made in the exercise of reasonable (from the perspective of a secured asset-based lender) business judgment.

 

Permitted Dispositions” means each of the following:

 

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(a)               sales, abandonment, or other dispositions of equipment that is substantially worn, damaged, or obsolete or no longer used or useful in the ordinary course of business and leases or subleases of Real Property not useful in the conduct of the business of a Loan Party;

 

(b)               sales of inventory to buyers in the ordinary course of business;

 

(c)               the use or transfer of money in a manner that is not prohibited by the terms of any Loan Document;

 

(d)               the licensing, on a non-exclusive basis, of patents, trademarks, copyrights, and other intellectual property rights in the ordinary course of business;

 

(e)               the granting of Permitted Liens;

 

(f)                the sale or discount, in each case without recourse, of accounts receivable (other than Eligible Accounts) arising in the ordinary course of business, but only in connection with the compromise or collection thereof;

 

(g)               any involuntary loss, damage or destruction of property;

 

(h)               any involuntary condemnation, seizure or taking, by exercise of the power of eminent domain or otherwise, or confiscation or requisition of use of property;

 

(i)                 the making of Restricted Payments that are expressly permitted to be made pursuant to this Agreement;

 

(j)                 the making of Permitted Investments;

 

(k)               the lapse, abandonment or other disposition of patents, trademarks, copyrights, and other intellectual property rights that are not material and are no longer used or useful in any material respect in the business of a Loan Party and do not appear on and are not otherwise affixed to or incorporated in any inventory or necessary in connection with the books and records of a Loan Party or do not have any material value;

 

(l)                 sales or other dispositions of assets of a Loan Party not otherwise described in the provisions set forth in this definition, provided, that, as to any such sale or other disposition, each of the following conditions is satisfied: (i) as of the date of such sale or other disposition, and after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default exists, (ii) each such sale is an arms’ length transaction and the applicable Loan Party receives at least the fair market value of the assets disposed of, (iii) the consideration received by the applicable Loan Party consists of at least 75% cash and is paid at the time of the consummation of the transaction, (iv) the aggregate amount of the consideration received from all assets sold or disposed of permitted under this clause (l) shall not exceed the Material Amount in any fiscal year of a Loan Party, (v) such transaction does not involve the sale or other disposition of any accounts, inventory, intellectual property or Equity Interests, and (vi) the cash proceeds from any such sale or other disposition (net only of reasonable and customary direct costs related thereto and amounts required to be applied to any Permitted Indebtedness secured by such assets as a result of such sale or other disposition) shall be paid to Lender for application to the Obligations;

 

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(m)             a sale or other disposition of accounts in connection with a Permitted Supplier Financing Transaction; and

 

(n)               dispositions of assets acquired by a Loan Party pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition consummated within 12 months of the date of the proposed disposition so long as (i) the consideration received for the assets to be so disposed is at least equal to the fair market value of such assets, (ii) the assets to be so disposed are not necessary or economically desirable in connection with the business of Loan Parties, and (iii) the assets to be disposed of are readily identifiable as assets acquired pursuant to the subject Permitted Acquisition.

 

Permitted Indebtedness” means:

 

(a)               the Obligations;

 

(b)               Indebtedness as of the Closing Date set forth on Schedule 6.1;

 

(c)               Indebtedness (including under any Capital Lease) arising after the Closing Date to the extent secured by Liens on equipment or Real Property acquired after the Closing Date in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not to exceed $5,000,000 at any time; provided, that, (i) such Liens do not apply to any property of a Loan Party other than specific items of equipment or Real Property, (ii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost of the applicable equipment or Real Property, as the case may be and (iii) as of the date any such Indebtedness is incurred and after giving effect thereto, no Event of Default shall exist;

 

(d)               Indebtedness arising in connection with the endorsement of instruments or other payment items for deposit and unsecured Indebtedness incurred in respect of netting services, overdraft protection, and other like services, in each case, incurred in the ordinary course of business;

 

(e)               Indebtedness of a Loan Party in respect of bid, payment and performance bonds, workers’ compensation claims, unemployment insurance, health, disability and other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance, or guarantees of the foregoing types of Indebtedness, including guaranties by Company of any Loan Party’s performance under contracts in the ordinary course of business and consistent with current practices as of the Closing Date;

 

(f)                the incurrence by any Loan Party of Indebtedness under Hedge Agreements that is incurred for the bona fide purpose of hedging the interest rate, commodity, or foreign currency risks associated with such Loan Party's operations and not for speculative purposes;

 

(g)               Indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of business in respect of credit cards, credit card processing services, debit cards, stored value cards, commercial cards (including so-called “purchase cards”, “procurement cards” or “p-cards”), or any cash management or related services;

 

(h)               Subordinated Indebtedness; provided, that, the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness shall not exceed $1,500,000outstanding at any time;

 

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(i)                 unsecured Indebtedness incurred after the Closing Date and not otherwise specifically described in this definition so long as the aggregate principal amount of all such Indebtedness outstanding at any time shall not exceed $500,000; and

 

(j)                 contingent liabilities in respect of any indemnification obligation, adjustment of purchase price, non-compete, or similar obligation of any Loan Party incurred in connection with the consummation of one or more Permitted Acquisitions;

 

(k)               unsecured Indebtedness of any Loan Party in respect of Earn-Outs owing to sellers of assets or Equity Interests to such Loan Party that is incurred in connection with the consummation of one or more Permitted Acquisitions so long as such unsecured Indebtedness is on terms and conditions reasonably acceptable to Lender;

 

(l)                 Indebtedness of a Person whose assets or Equity Interests are acquired by a Loan Party in a Permitted Acquisition; provided, that, such Indebtedness (i) is either purchase money Indebtedness or a Capital Lease with respect to Equipment or mortgage financing with respect to Real Property, (ii) was in existence prior to the date of such Permitted Acquisition, and (iii) was not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Permitted Acquisition;

 

(m)             unsecured Indebtedness solely to finance insurance premiums under insurance policies maintained by such Loan Party in the ordinary course of business for insurance required under this Agreement; and

 

(n)               Indebtedness pursuant to extensions, renewals and refinancings of the Indebtedness set forth in clauses (b), (c), (h) and (l) above so long as the principal amount of such Indebtedness is not increased (and any terms with respect to clause (h) above are permitted by the applicable subordination agreement).

 

Permitted Investments” means each of the following:

 

(a)               Investments of a Loan Party consisting of cash at any time no Revolving Loans are outstanding; except that notwithstanding that any Revolving Loans are outstanding at any time, a Loan Party may from time to time in the ordinary course of business consistent with its current practice as of the Closing Date make deposits of cash or other immediately available funds in operating demand deposit accounts used for disbursements to the extent required to provide funds for amounts drawn or anticipated to be drawn shortly on such accounts and such funds may be held in overnight investments until so drawn (so long as such funds and overnight investments are not held more than two Business Days from the date of the initial deposit thereof);

 

(b)               Investments in negotiable instruments deposited or to be deposited for collection in the ordinary course of business;

 

(c)               advances made in connection with purchases of goods or services in the ordinary course of business;

 

(d)               Investments received in settlement of amounts due to any Loan Party effected in the ordinary course of business or owing to any Loan Party as a result of Insolvency Proceedings involving an account debtor or upon the foreclosure or enforcement of any Lien in favor of a Loan Party;

 

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(e)               Investments owned by any Loan Party on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 6.9;

 

(f)                Equity Interests or other securities acquired in connection with the satisfaction or enforcement of Indebtedness or claims due or owing to a Loan Party (in bankruptcy of customers or suppliers or otherwise outside the ordinary course of business) or as security for any such Indebtedness or claims;

 

(g)               deposits of cash made in the ordinary course of business to secure performance of operating leases;

 

(h)               loans and advances to employees and officers of a Loan Party in the ordinary course of business for any business purpose and in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Material Amount outstanding at any one time;

 

(i)                 Investments resulting from Bank Products permitted under clause (f) and clause (g) of the definition of Permitted Indebtedness;

 

(j)                 Investments made with cash after the Closing Date by a Loan Party in or to any Person not otherwise described in the provisions above; provided, that, (i) as of the date of any such Investment and after giving effect thereto, each of the Payment Conditions is satisfied, and (ii) the Investment shall be in or to a Person that engages in a line of business substantially similar to, or ancillary or related to, or used in or useful to, the business that a Loan Party is engaged in on the Closing Date;

 

(k)               Permitted Acquisitions; and

 

(l)                 Investments held by a Person acquired in a Permitted Acquisition to the extent that such Investments were not made in contemplation of or in connection with such Permitted Acquisition and were in existence on the date of such Permitted Acquisition.

 

Permitted Liens” means:

 

(a)               Liens granted to, or for the benefit of, Lender to secure the Obligations;

 

(b)               Liens for unpaid taxes, assessments, or other governmental charges or levies that either (i) are not yet past due, or (ii) do not have priority over the Liens of Lender and the underlying taxes, assessments, or charges or levies are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently pursued and available to a Loan Party, which proceedings (or orders entered in connection with such proceedings) have the effect of preventing the forfeiture or sale of the property subject to any such Lien and with respect to which adequate reserves have been set aside on its books in accordance with GAAP;

 

(c)               judgment Liens in connection with court proceedings that do not constitute an Event of Default; provided, that, (i) such Liens are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently pursued and available to a Loan Party, in each case prior to the commencement of foreclosure or other similar proceedings, which proceedings (or orders entered in connection with such proceeding) have the effect of preventing the forfeiture or sale of the property subject to any such Lien, and (ii) adequate reserves or other appropriate provision, if any, as are required by GAAP have been made therefor;

 

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(d)               Liens set forth on Schedule 6.2;

 

(e)               the interests of lessors under operating leases and non-exclusive licensors under license agreements;

 

(f)                Liens on equipment and Real Property arising after the Closing Date to secure Indebtedness permitted under clause (c) of the definition of Permitted Indebtedness, whether such Indebtedness is assumed or incurred by a Loan Party;

 

(g)               Liens arising by operation of law in favor of warehousemen, landlords, carriers, mechanics, materialmen, laborers, or suppliers, incurred in the ordinary course of business and not in connection with the borrowing of money, and which Liens either (i) are for sums not yet past due, or (ii) are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently pursued and available to a Loan Party, in each case prior to the commencement of foreclosure or other similar proceedings, which proceedings (or orders entered in connection with such proceeding) have the effect of preventing the forfeiture or sale of the property subject to any such Lien and with respect to which adequate reserves or other appropriate provision, if any, as are required by GAAP have been made therefor;

 

(h)               Liens on cash deposited to secure a Loan Party’s obligations in connection with worker's compensation or other unemployment insurance, or to secure obligations in connection with the making or entering into of bids, tenders, contracts or leases in the ordinary course of business and not in connection with the borrowing of money or Liens on cash deposited to secure its reimbursement obligations with respect to surety or appeal bonds obtained in the ordinary course of business;

 

(i)                 with respect to any Real Property, easements, rights of way, and zoning restrictions that do not materially interfere with or impair the use or operation thereof;

 

(j)                 non-exclusive licenses of patents, trademarks, copyrights, and other intellectual property rights in the ordinary course of business;

 

(k)               rights of setoff or bankers’ liens upon deposits of funds in favor of banks or other depository institutions, solely to the extent incurred in connection with the maintenance of such deposit accounts in the ordinary course of business;

 

(l)                 Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods;

 

(m)             Liens upon the accounts of any Permitted Supplier Financing Account Debtor so long as such Liens are subject to an intercreditor agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender with the holder(s) of such Liens;

 

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(n)               Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by a Loan Party in connection with any letter of intent or purchase agreement with respect to a Permitted Acquisition; and

 

(o)               Liens assumed by any Loan Party in connection with a Permitted Acquisition that secure Indebtedness of a Person whose assets or Equity Interests are acquired by a Loan Party in a Permitted Acquisition which Indebtedness is permitted under clause (l) of the definition of Permitted Indebtedness.

 

Permitted Supplier Financing Account Debtor” means any of (i) Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, S.A. and /or Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, A/S and/or any one or more of their permitted affiliates, (ii) General Electric Company, its Subsidiaries and affiliates; (iii) Metso Oyj and Metso Minerals Industries, Inc. and their various subsidiaries and affiliates located in Canada and the United States, (iv) Caterpillar Inc. and its designated Subsidiaries and affiliates, and (v) any other account debtor of any Borrower approved in writing by Lender from time to time in the exercise of its Permitted Discretion at the written request of Administrative Borrower.

 

Permitted Supplier Financing Transaction” means any transaction in which any Borrower may, from time to time, sell to a financial buyer accounts of such Borrower in the ordinary course of business on a non-recourse and true sale basis so long as (i) the account debtor of such accounts is a Permitted Supplier Financing Account Debtor, (ii) such sale is made pursuant to documentation (including, without limitation, intercreditor arrangements) in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender and (iii) each Deposit Account into which proceeds of each such Permitted Supplier Financing Transaction are deposited shall be identified in writing by the Administrative Borrower to Lender and at all times from and after 30 days (or such longer period as Lender may agree in writing) following the Closing Date, shall be subject to a Control Agreement.

 

Permitted Tax Distribution” means that if the Equity Interests of a Loan Party are owned by a Person that is not a Loan Party and such Loan Party has been converted to a pass-through entity for tax purposes, distributions by such Loan Party solely for the payment of income taxes by any Person as a result of its direct or indirect ownership of the Equity Interests of such Loan Party in an amount not to exceed the Federal and State income tax paid or to be paid by the owner of Equity Interests in a Loan Party on taxable income earned by such Loan Party and attributable to such owner as a result of such Loan Party’s “pass-through” tax status, assuming the highest marginal income tax rate for Federal and State (for the State or States in which any equity owner is liable for income taxes with respect to such income) income tax purposes, after taking into account any deduction for State income taxes in calculating the Federal income tax liability and all other deductions, credits, deferrals and other reductions available to such owners from or through such Loan Parties.

 

Person” means 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.

 

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Projections” means forecasted balance sheets, profit and loss statements, and cash flow statements with respect to a Loan Party, all prepared on a basis consistent with its historical financial statements, and projected amounts available under the Borrowing Base, together with appropriate supporting details and a statement of underlying assumptions.

 

Real Property” means any estates or interests in real property now owned or hereafter acquired by any Loan Party and the improvements located thereon and all licenses, easements and appurtenances relating thereto, wherever located.

 

Real Property Subline Amount” means $7,500,000; provided, that such amount shall be permanently reduced by an amount equal to 1/180th of that initial amount on September 1, 2022, and on the first day of each month ending thereafter.

 

Reserves” means, as of any date of determination, the Special Reserve any reserve established pursuant to Section 2.4(d)(iii) and those other reserves that Lender deems necessary or appropriate, in its Permitted Discretion and subject to Section 2.1(b), to establish and maintain (including reserves with respect to (a) sums that any Loan Party is required to pay under any Loan Document (such as taxes, assessments, insurance premiums, or, in the case of leased assets, rents or other amounts payable under such leases) and has failed to pay, (b) amounts owing by any Loan Party to any Person to the extent secured by a Lien on, or trust over, any of the Collateral (other than a Permitted Lien), which Lien or trust, in the Permitted Discretion of Lender likely would be pari passu or have a priority superior to Lender’s Liens (such as Liens or trusts in favor of landlords, warehousemen, carriers, mechanics, materialmen, laborers, or suppliers, or Liens or trusts for ad valorem, excise, sales, or other taxes where given priority under applicable law) in and to such item of the Collateral), (c) estimated costs relating to unpaid freight charges, warehousing or storage charges, taxes, duties, and other similar unpaid costs associated with the acquisition and import of Eligible In-Transit Inventory and estimated reclamation claims of unpaid sellers of Eligible In-Transit Inventory and (d) obligations in respect of Bank Products.

 

Restricted Payment” means any (a) dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interests of a Loan Party, or any payment (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposit, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination of any such Equity Interests or on account of any return of capital to the stockholders, partners or members (or the equivalent Person thereof) of a Loan Party, or payment made to redeem, purchase, repurchase or retire, or to obtain the surrender of, any outstanding warrants, options or other rights to acquire any Equity Interests of a Loan Party, or any setting apart of funds or property for any of the foregoing, or (b) the payment by a Loan Party of any management, advisory or consulting fee to any Person or the payment of any extraordinary salary, bonus or other form of compensation to any Person who is directly or indirectly a significant partner, shareholder, owner or executive officer of any such Person, to the extent such extraordinary salary, bonus or other form of compensation is not included in the corporate overhead of a Loan Party.

 

Revolving Loan Limit” means $35,000,000.

 

Revolving Loans” means the revolving loans made by Lender to a Borrower under this Agreement.

 

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Sanction” or “Sanctions” means any and all economic or financial sanctions, sectoral sanctions, secondary sanctions, trade embargoes and anti-terrorism laws imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by: (a) the United States of America, including those administered by OFAC, the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Department of Commerce, or through any existing or future Executive Order, (b) the United Nations Security Council, (c) the European Union, (d) the United Kingdom, or (e) any other Governmental Authority in any jurisdiction in which (i) any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates is located or conducts business, (ii) in which any of the proceeds of the Credit Facility will be used, or (iii) from which repayment of the Credit Facility will be derived.

 

Sanctioned Target” means (a) Persons on any list of targets identified or designated pursuant to any Sanctions, (b) Persons, countries, or territories that are the target of any territorial or country-based Sanctions program, (c) Persons that are a target of Sanctions due to their ownership or control by any Sanctioned Target(s), or (d) vessels, planes and ships, that are designated under any Sanctions program.

 

Security Agreement” means the Security Agreement, dated of even date herewith, by and among each Loan Party and Lender, and any other agreement or instrument at any time executed by a Loan Party or any other Person in connection with this Agreement that is intended to (or purports to) create, perfect or evidence a Lien to secure the Obligations.

 

SOFR” means a rate per annum equal to the secured overnight financing rate as administered by the SOFR Administrator.

 

SOFR Administrator” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (or a successor administrator of the secured overnight financing rate).

 

SOFR Administrator’s Website” means the website of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, currently at http://www.newyorkfed.org, or any successor source for the secured overnight financing rate identified as such by the SOFR Administrator from time to time.

 

SOFR Loans” means each portion of a Revolving Loan or the Term Loan that bears interest at a rate determined by reference to Daily Simple SOFR.

 

Solvent” means, with respect to any Person as of any date of determination, that (a) at fair valuations, the sum of such Person’s debts (including contingent liabilities) is less than all of such Person’s assets, (b) such Person is not engaged or about to engage in a business or transaction for which the remaining assets of such Person are unreasonably small in relation to the business or transaction or for which the property remaining with such Person is an unreasonably small capital, (c) such Person has not incurred and does not intend to incur, or reasonably believe that it will incur, debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they become due (whether at maturity or otherwise), and (d) such Person is “solvent” or not “insolvent”, as applicable within the meaning given those terms and similar terms under applicable laws relating to voidable transfers, fraudulent transfers and conveyances. For purposes of this definition, the amount of any contingent liability at any time shall be computed as the amount that, in light of all of the facts and circumstances existing at such time, represents the amount that can reasonably be expected to become an actual or matured liability (irrespective of whether such contingent liabilities meet the criteria for accrual under Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 5).

 

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Special Reserve” means, (i) $1,000,000 from and after the Closing Date until the Special Reserve Release Date and (ii) $0 (zero) at all times thereafter.

 

Special Reserve Release Date” means the first date following the end of the monthly period ended July 31, 2023 on which each of the following requirements are met: (i) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, (ii) Borrowers are in compliance with Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio covenant set forth in Section 7 and (iii) Lender has received a Compliance Certificate signed by a Authorized Person in accordance with Section 5.01 and Schedule 5.01 accompanied by all financial statements required by Section 5.01 and Schedule 5.01 for the most recently completed month.

 

Subordinated Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of any Loan Party incurred from time to time that is subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations and is subject to a subordination agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, and is otherwise on terms (including maturity, interest, fees, repayment, covenants and subordination) satisfactory to Lender.

 

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or other entity in which that Person directly or indirectly owns or controls the Equity Interests having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors (or equivalent) of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or other entity.

 

Swap Obligation” means, with respect to any Loan Party, any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

Term Loan” means the term loan made by Lender to Borrowers under this Agreement.

 

Termination Date” means the earliest to occur of (a) the Maturity Date, (b) the date on which the maturity of the Obligations is accelerated (or deemed accelerated) and the Commitment is terminated (or deemed terminated), or (c) the termination of the Commitment in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.5.

 

UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of Illinois and any successor statute, as in effect from time to time (except that terms used herein which are not otherwise defined herein and defined in the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the State of Illinois on the Closing Date shall continue to have the same meaning notwithstanding any replacement or amendment of such statute except as Lender may otherwise determine).

 

Unfinanced Capital Expenditures” means Capital Expenditures (a) not financed with the proceeds of any incurrence of Indebtedness (other than the incurrence of any Revolving Loans), the proceeds of any sale or issuance of Equity Interests or equity contributions, the proceeds of any asset sale (other than the sale of inventory in the ordinary course of business), or any insurance proceeds, and (b) that are not reimbursed by a third Person (excluding any Loan Party or any of its Affiliates) in the period such expenditures are made pursuant to a written agreement.

 

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U.S. Government Securities Business Day” means any day except for (a) a Saturday, (b) a Sunday or (c) a day on which the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recommends that the fixed income departments of its members be closed for the entire day for purposes of trading in United States government securities.

 

Value” means, the lower of (a) cost computed on a first-in first-out basis in accordance with GAAP or (b) market value; provided, that, for purposes of the calculation of the Borrowing Base, (i) the Value of the inventory shall not include: (A) the portion of the value of inventory equal to the profit earned by any Affiliate on the sale thereof to a Borrower or (B) write-ups or write-downs in value with respect to currency exchange rates and (ii) notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the cost of the inventory shall be computed in the same manner and consistent with the most recent appraisal of the inventory that is received by, and acceptable to, Lender prior to the Closing Date, if any.

 

1.2              Accounting Terms . All accounting terms not specifically defined herein shall be construed in accordance with GAAP; provided, that, if a Borrower notifies Lender that Borrowers request an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any Accounting Changes occurring after the Closing Date or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if Lender requests an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such Accounting Change or in the application thereof, then Lender and Borrowers agree that they will negotiate in good faith amendments to the provisions of this Agreement that are directly affected by such Accounting Change with the intent of having the respective positions of Lender and Borrowers after such change conform as nearly as possible to their respective positions immediately before such Accounting Change took effect and, until any such amendments have been agreed upon and agreed to by Lender, the provisions in this Agreement shall be calculated as if no such Accounting Change had occurred. A Loan Party shall deliver to Lender at the same time as the delivery of any financial statements given in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.1, (a) a description in reasonable detail of any material change in the application of accounting principles employed in the preparation of such financial statements from those applied in the most recently preceding monthly, quarterly or annual financial statements and (b) a reasonable estimate of the effect on the financial statements on account of such changes in application. When used herein, the term “financial statements” shall include the notes and schedules thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, (i) all financial statements delivered hereunder shall be prepared, and all financial covenants contained herein shall be calculated, without giving effect to any election under the Statement of Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification Topic 825 (or any similar accounting principle) permitting a Person to value its financial liabilities or Indebtedness at the fair value thereof, and (ii) the term “unqualified opinion” as used herein to refer to opinions or reports provided by accountants shall mean an opinion or report that is (A) unqualified, and (B) does not include any explanation, supplemental comment, or other comment concerning the ability of the applicable Person to continue as a going concern or concerning the scope of the audit.

 

1.3              UCC Terms. 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; provided, that, to the extent that the UCC is used to define any term herein and such term is defined differently in different Articles of the UCC, the definition of such term contained in Article 9 of the UCC shall govern.

 

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1.4              Construction. The definitions of terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and plural forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The word “will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall” and vice-versa Unless the context requires otherwise, (a) any definition of or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document shall be construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document as from time to time amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, restated or replaced (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth in any Loan Document), (b) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include such Person’s successors and assigns, (c) the words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder,” and words of similar import when used in any Loan Document, shall be construed to refer to such Loan Document in its entirety and not to any particular provision thereof, (d) all references in a Loan Document to Sections, Exhibits and Schedules shall be construed to refer to Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, the Loan Document in which such references appear, (e) any reference to any law shall include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, recodifying, supplementing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation shall, unless otherwise specified, refer to such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, and (f) the words “asset” and “property” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect and to refer to any and all tangible and intangible assets and properties, including cash, securities, accounts and contract rights. Section headings in any Loan Document are included for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document. Each schedule and exhibit to this Agreement is incorporated by reference herein and is made a part of this Agreement. Any capitalized term used in any schedule or exhibit to this Agreement shall have the meaning assigned to such term herein, unless otherwise defined in such schedule or exhibit. An Event of Default shall exist or continue until such Event of Default is waived in accordance with Section 9.5 in accordance with the terms hereof. Each Loan Party shall have the burden of establishing any alleged negligence, misconduct or lack of good faith by Lender under any Loan Document. Any reference to an obligation of a Borrower or a Loan Party or to Borrowers or Loan Parties, or to any Borrower or any Loan Party, as the case may be, shall mean that each Borrower or each Loan Party, as the case may be, is jointly and severally liable with each other Borrower or Loan Party in respect of such obligation. In connection with any division or plan of division under Delaware law (or any comparable event under a different jurisdiction’s laws): (i) if any asset, right, obligation or liability of any Person becomes the asset, right, obligation or liability of a different Person, then it shall be deemed to have been transferred from the original Person to the subsequent Person, and (ii) if any new Person comes into existence, such new Person shall be deemed to have been organized on the first date of its existence by the holders of its Equity Interests at such time. Any reference in any Loan Document to a merger, transfer, consolidation, assignment, sale, disposition or transfer, or similar term, shall be deemed to apply to a division of or by a limited liability company, or an allocation of assets to a series of a limited liability company (or the unwinding of such a division or allocation), as if it were a merger, transfer, consolidation, assignment, sale, disposition or transfer, or similar term, as applicable, to, of or with a separate Person. No provision of any Loan Documents shall be construed against any party by reason of such party having, or being deemed to have, drafted the provision. Any reference to an agreement or other matter being “reasonably satisfactory” to Lender shall mean a determination made in the exercise of reasonable judgment from the perspective of a secured asset-based lender. Any reference to expenses of Lender in any Loan Document shall include all Lender Expenses. Reference to a Loan Party’s “knowledge” or similar concept means actual knowledge of an Authorized Person, or knowledge that an Authorized Person would have obtained if he or she had engaged in good faith and diligent performance of his or her duties, including reasonably specific inquiries of employees or agents and a good faith attempt to ascertain the matter.

 

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1.5              Time References. Unless the context of this Agreement or any other Loan Document clearly requires otherwise, all references to time of day refer to Central Time, as in effect in Chicago, Illinois on such day. For purposes of the computation of a period of time from a specified date to a later specified date, unless otherwise expressly provided, the word “from” means “from and including” and the words “to” and “until” each means “to and including”; provided, that, with respect to a computation of fees or interest payable to Lender, such period shall in any event consist of at least one full day.

 

1.6              Payment in Full. Any reference in any Loan Document to the satisfaction, repayment, or payment in full of the Obligations shall mean (a) the payment in full in cash of the principal and accrued and unpaid interest with respect to the Revolving Loans and the Term Loan, (b) the payment in full in cash of all fees, charges and expenses that have accrued and are unpaid regardless of whether payment has been demanded or is otherwise due, (c) the delivery to Lender of cash collateral, or at Lender’s option, a letter of credit payable to Lender issued by a bank acceptable to Lender and in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, in either case in respect of (i) 105% of the then existing Letter of Credit Usage, (ii) contingent Obligations for which a claim or demand for payment has been made at such time or in respect of matters or circumstances known to Lender at the time, and which are reasonably expected to result in any loss, cost, damage or expense (including attorneys’ fees and legal expenses) to Lender for which Lender would be entitled to indemnification by a Loan Party hereunder and (iii) an amount determined by Lender equal to the reasonably estimated credit exposure, operational risk or processing risk with respect to the then existing Bank Product Obligations, and (d) the termination of the Commitment and the financing arrangements provided by Lender to each Borrower hereunder.

 

1.7              Rounding. Any financial ratios required to be maintained by a Loan Party pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).

 

1.8              Resolution of Drafting Ambiguities. Each Loan Party acknowledges and agrees that it was represented by counsel in connection with the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents, that it and its counsel reviewed and participated in the preparation and negotiation of the Loan Documents and that any rule of construction to the effect that ambiguities are to be resolved against Lender as the drafting party shall not be applicable in the interpretation of the Loan Documents.

 

2.                  CREDIT FACILITY

 

2.1              Revolving Loans; Term Loan.

 

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(a)               Revolving Loans and Revolving Loan Limit. Subject to, and upon the terms and conditions contained herein, on and after the Closing Date until the Termination Date, Lender agrees to make Revolving Loans to a Borrower from time to time in amounts requested by or on behalf of such Borrower, provided, that, after giving effect to any such Revolving Loan, the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Loans outstanding plus the Letter of Credit Usage shall not exceed the lesser of the Borrowing Base at such time or the Revolving Loan Limit.

 

(b)               Reserves. Lender shall have the right (but not the obligation) at any time, in its Permitted Discretion, to establish and increase or decrease Reserves, provided, that, the amount of any Reserve established by Lender shall have a reasonable relationship to the event, condition, other circumstance, or fact that is the basis for such Reserve. To the extent that an event, condition or circumstance as to any eligible asset is addressed pursuant to the treatment thereof within the applicable definition of such terms, Lender shall not also establish a Reserve to address the same event, condition or circumstance. Lender shall notify a Borrower of the establishment of any new categories of Reserves, or any change in the methodology for the calculation of an existing Reserve (in each case after the Closing Date except that such notice shall not be required at any time an Event of Default exists or at any time if Lender, in its Permitted Discretion, determines that it is necessary to act sooner to preserve or protect the Collateral or its value or the rights of Lender therein). In such event, Lender shall be available to discuss the change. A Borrower may take such action as may be required so that the event, condition, circumstance, or fact that is the basis for such Reserve no longer exists. If Lender determines in its Permitted Discretion that the event, condition, other circumstance or fact that is the basis for the establishment or change to such Reserve no longer exists or has otherwise been adequately addressed by a Borrower, Lender shall adjust or eliminate the Reserve accordingly. At any time that the Revolving Loan Limit is less than the amount of the Borrowing Base, Reserves in respect of amounts that may be payable to third parties may be deducted from the Revolving Loan Limit.

 

(c)               Term Loan. Subject to, and upon the terms and conditions contained herein, on the Closing Date, Lender agrees to make the Term Loan to Borrowers in the amount of $7,578,000. The principal amount of the Term Loan shall be repaid in 60 consecutive monthly installments (or earlier as provided herein) payable on the first day of each calendar month commencing on September 1, 2022, and each installment (other than the last installment) shall be in the amount of $90,214.29 and the last installment shall be in the amount of the entire unpaid balance of the Term Loan. The outstanding unpaid principal balance and all accrued and unpaid interest on the Term Loan shall be due and payable on the earlier of (i) the Maturity Date, and (ii) the date on which the Term Loan otherwise becomes due and payable pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. Any principal amount of the Term Loan that is repaid or prepaid may not be reborrowed.

 

2.2              Borrowing Procedures.

 

(a)               Each Revolving Loan shall be made by a written request by or on behalf of a Borrower delivered to Lender (which may be delivered through Lender’s electronic platform or portal) and received by Lender no later than 11:00 a.m. on the Business Day that is the requested date that the Revolving Loan be made, specifying (i) the amount of such Revolving Loan, and (ii) the date of such Revolving Loan, which shall be a Business Day; provided, that, Lender may, in its discretion, elect to accept as timely requests that are received later than 11:00 a.m. on the applicable Business Day, subject to Section 2.2(c). All borrowing requests which are not made on-line via Lender’s electronic platform or portal or pursuant to the Loan Manager Service shall be subject to (and unless Lender elects otherwise in its discretion, such Revolving Loans shall not be made until the completion of) Lender’s authentication process (with results satisfactory to Lender) prior to the funding of any such requested Revolving Loan.

 

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(b)               All Revolving Loans shall be conclusively presumed to have been made to, and at the request of and for the benefit of, a Borrower when deposited to the credit of a Borrower or otherwise disbursed or established in accordance with the instructions of a Borrower to the deposit account specified to Lender for such purpose (which shall be at a bank acceptable to Lender) or in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

(c)               If Lender has separately agreed that a Borrower may use the Loan Manager Service, Revolving Loans (i) will be made solely by the Loan Manager Service, and (ii) will be initiated by Lender and credited to a Borrower’s operating account maintained with Lender as Revolving Loans as of the end of each Business Day in an amount sufficient to maintain an agreed upon ledger balance in such Borrower’s operating account maintained with Lender, subject to Excess Availability. Lender may terminate a Borrower’s access to the Loan Manager Service at any time in its discretion. If Lender terminates a Borrower’s access to the Loan Manager Service, each Borrower may continue to request Revolving Loans as provided herein so long as no Event of Default exists. Lender will have no obligation to make a Revolving Loan through the Loan Manager Service in an amount in excess of Excess Availability or if an Event of Default exists or any of the other conditions set forth in Section 3.2 are not satisfied.

 

2.3              Letter of Credit Facility. As a subfacility under the Credit Facility, subject to, and upon the terms and conditions contained herein, on and after the Closing Date until the Termination Date, Lender agrees to issue or cause an Affiliate to issue standby letters of credit or sight commercial letters of credit for the account of a Borrower for purposes acceptable to Lender (each a “Letter of Credit” and collectively, “Letters of Credit”); provided, that, (a) the aggregate Letter of Credit Usage will not at any time exceed $5,000,000 and (b) as of the date of the issuance of any Letter of Credit, and after giving effect thereto, the aggregate amount of the Revolving Loans and the Letter of Credit Usage will not exceed the lesser of the Borrowing Base or the Revolving Loan Limit. The form and substance of each Letter of Credit will be subject to approval by Lender and each Borrower shall execute and deliver such additional letter of credit agreements, applications and other documents required by Lender as a condition to the issuance, amendment, extension or renewal of any Letter of Credit. Each Letter of Credit will be issued for a term not to exceed 365 days, as designated by a Borrower; provided, that, no Letter of Credit will have an expiration date after the Maturity Date. Each Letter of Credit will be issued under, and subject to, the additional terms and conditions of the letter of credit agreements, applications and any related documents required by Lender. Each drawing paid under a Letter of Credit will be deemed a Revolving Loan and will be repaid by Borrowers in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement applicable to Revolving Loans; provided, that, if Revolving Loans are not available for any reason at the time any drawing is paid by Lender, then Borrowers will immediately pay to Lender the full amount drawn, together with interest on such amount from the date such drawing is paid to the date such amount is fully repaid by Borrowers, at the rate of interest then applicable to Revolving Loans. In such event Borrowers agree that Lender may charge the Loan Account or debit any deposit account maintained by any Loan Party for the amount of any such drawing.

 

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2.4              Payments; Prepayments.

 

(a)               Payments by Borrowers. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all payments by a Borrower shall be made to the Lender Payment Account or such other place as Lender may designate in writing to a Borrower from time to time and shall be made in immediately available funds, no later than 1:30 p.m. on the date specified herein. Any payment received by Lender later than 1:30 p.m. shall be deemed to have been received (unless Lender, in its discretion, elects to credit it on the date received) on the following Business Day and any applicable interest or fee shall continue to accrue until such following Business Day. All payments of Obligations shall be made in Dollars, without offset, counterclaim or defense of any kind, free and clear of (and without deduction for) any taxes, levies, imposts, duties, fees, assessments or other charges of whatever nature now or hereafter imposed by any jurisdiction or by any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, and all interest, penalties or similar liabilities with respect thereto. No Loan Party will fund any repayment of the Credit Facility with proceeds, or provide as Collateral any property, that is directly or indirectly derived from any transaction or activity that is prohibited by Sanctions, Anti-Money Laundering Laws or Anti-Corruption Laws, or that could otherwise cause Lender or any other party to any Loan Document to be in breach of Sanctions, Anti-Money Laundering Laws or Anti-Corruption Laws.

 

(b)               Application of Payments. Subject to the other terms and conditions contained herein, Lender shall apply payments received or collected from a Borrower or for the account of a Borrower (including the monetary proceeds of collections or of realization upon any Collateral) as follows, so long as no Event of Default exists: first, to the payment in full of any fees, indemnities, or expense reimbursements then due to Lender; second, to the payment in full of interest then due in respect of any Revolving Loans and the Term Loan; third, to the payment of principal in respect of the Term Loan then due; fourth, to the payment in full of principal in respect of the Revolving Loans, whether or not then due; and fifth, at any time an Event of Default exists (or as otherwise required by Lender), as cash collateral in an amount up to 105% of the Letter of Credit Usage; and sixth, to pay or prepay any other Obligations, whether or not then due, in such order and manner as Lender directs. Such payments shall be applied as Lender determines at any time an Event of Default exists, including to be used as cash collateral in respect of Obligations related to Letters of Credit (in an amount up to 105% of the Letter of Credit Usage) or such other Obligations as Lender may determine, on such terms as Lender may require.

 

(c)               Optional Prepayments.

 

(i)                 Each Borrower may prepay the principal of any Revolving Loan at any time in whole or in part, without premium or penalty.

 

(ii)              Each Borrower may, upon at least 10 Business Days prior written notice to Lender, prepay the principal of the Term Loan, in whole or in part. Each prepayment made pursuant to this Section shall be accompanied by the payment of accrued interest to the date of such payment on the amount prepaid. Each such prepayment shall be applied against the remaining installments of principal due on the Term Loan in the inverse order of maturity (and including for this purpose any amount that is due and payable on the Maturity Date as an installment).

 

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(d)               Mandatory Prepayments.

 

(i)                 If, at any time, the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Loans outstanding plus the Letter of Credit Usage exceeds the lesser of the Borrowing Base or the Revolving Loan Limit, then a Borrower shall promptly, but in any event, within one Business Day prepay the Obligations in an aggregate amount equal to the amount of such excess (or after the prepayment of all Revolving Loans, upon Lender’s demand, immediately provide cash collateral up to 105% of the Letter of Credit Usage as required to address such excess, even if amounts greater than such excess are required as a result of the amount of any Letters of Credit then outstanding).

 

(ii)              Within one Business Day of the date of receipt by any Loan Party of the cash proceeds of any voluntary or involuntary sale or other disposition of assets of any Loan Party permitted under clauses (d), (g), (h) or (l) of the definition of the term Permitted Dispositions, Borrowers shall prepay the outstanding principal amount of the Obligations in an amount equal to 100% of such net cash proceeds received by such Person in connection with such sales or other disposition cash proceeds, net of Indebtedness secured by a Permitted Lien on the asset sold or otherwise disposed of, fees and expenses related to such sale, and taxes paid or payable in connection therewith; provided, that with respect to any net cash proceeds of a disposition arising as a result of any condemnation or casualty loss, so long as (A) no Event of Default shall have occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom, (B) Borrower Representative shall have given Lender prior written notice of Borrowers’ intention to apply such monies to the costs of repair or replacement of the properties or assets that are the subject of such disposition, (C) the monies are held in a deposit account in which Lender has a perfected first-priority security interest, and (D) such Loan Party or its Subsidiary, as applicable, completes such repair, replacement, purchase, or construction within 180 days after the initial receipt of such monies (or such longer period of time as Lender shall agree in writing), then the Loan Party or such Loan Party’s Subsidiary whose assets were the subject of such disposition shall have the option to apply such monies to the costs of repair and/or replacement of the assets that are the subject of such disposition. All such net cash proceeds received in connection with any such sale or disposition (including any unused net cash proceeds remaining after such 180 day period in clause (D) above (or such longer period of time as Lender shall agree in writing) expires without such repair, replacement, purchase, or construction being made or completed) shall be paid to Lender and applied (i) in the case of any such sale or disposition of Eligible Real Property, to the Revolving Loans with a permanent reduction in the Real Property Subline Amount equal to the greater of (x) 60% of the appraised fair market value of the Eligible Real Property so sold or disposed and (y) the net cash proceeds of the Eligible Real Property so sold or disposed until the Real Property Subline Amount is reduced to zero (whereupon any such remaining proceeds will be applied to the Revolving Loans without any further reduction in availability) and (ii) in the case of any such sale or disposition of any other assets, to the Term Loan in the inverse order of maturity (including for this purpose the amount due and payable on the Maturity Date as an installment) until paid in full and thereafter to the Revolving Loans; provided, that no Loan Party nor any of its Subsidiaries shall have the right to use such net cash proceeds of such sale or disposition to make such repairs, replacements, purchases, or construction in excess of $1,000,000 in any given fiscal year without the prior written consent of Lender. Nothing contained in this Section 2.4(d)(ii) shall permit any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries to sell or otherwise dispose of any assets other than in accordance with Section 6.4.

 

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(iii)            If Lender obtains an appraisal of the Eligible Equipment at any time as permitted under this Agreement, and such appraisal shows the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Term Loan to exceed 85% of the Net Orderly Liquidation Value of Eligible Equipment, then Lender may (1) require Borrowers to immediately prepay the unpaid principal of the Term Loan in the amount of such excess or (2) establish and maintain a Reserve in the amount of such excess

 

(iv)             Each of the mandatory prepayments described in this Section 2.4(d) shall be made without premium or penalty and shall not result in a permanent reduction in the Revolving Loan Limit.

 

(e)               Maintenance of Loan Account; Statements of Obligations. Lender shall maintain an account on its books in the name of each Borrower (the “Loan Account”) evidencing the Obligations, including Revolving Loans, Letters of Credit, the Term Loan, interest, fees and Lender Expenses. Any such records shall be presumptively correct, absent manifest error, provided, that, the failure to make any such entry or the existence of any error in such records, shall not affect any of the Obligations. Lender shall make available to a Borrower monthly statements regarding the Loan Account, including the principal amount of the Revolving Loans and the Term Loan, interest, fees and Lender Expenses. Each such statement, absent manifest error, shall be conclusively presumed to be correct and accurate and constitute an account stated between each Borrower and Lender unless, within 30 days after Lender first makes such a statement available to a Borrower, such Borrower shall deliver to Lender written objection thereto describing any error contained in such statement.

 

(f)                Evidence of Debt. Lender may request that Revolving Loans made by it be evidenced by a promissory note. In such event, each Borrower shall execute and deliver to Lender a promissory note payable to the order of Lender (or, if requested by Lender, to Lender and its registered assigns) and in a form approved by Lender. Thereafter, the Revolving Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times be represented by one or more promissory notes in such form payable to the order of the payee named therein (or, if such promissory note is a registered note, to such payee and its registered assigns).

 

(g)               Charges to Loan Account. At the election of Lender, all payments of principal, interest, fees, expenses and other amounts payable under the Loan Documents may be paid from the proceeds of Revolving Loans made hereunder whether made following a request by a Borrower or a deemed request as provided in this Section or may be deducted from any deposit account of any Borrower maintained with Lender. Each Borrower is hereby irrevocably deemed to request that Lender, and Lender is hereby authorized to, (i) make a Revolving Loan for the purpose of paying each payment of principal, interest, fees, expenses and other amounts as it becomes due under any Loan Document and agrees that all such amounts charged shall constitute Revolving Loans, (ii) make a Revolving Loan to preserve or protect the Collateral, or any portion thereof, and (iii) charge any deposit account of any Borrower maintained with Lender for each payment of principal, interest, fees, expenses and other amounts due under any Loan Document.

 

(h)               Repayment on Termination Date. Each Borrower shall make payment in full of the Obligations on the Maturity Date or if earlier, any other Termination Date.

 

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(i)                 Indemnity for Returned Payments. If after any payment, or proceeds of Collateral, are applied to the payment of any of the Obligations, Lender is required to surrender or return such payment or proceeds to any Person for any reason, then the Obligations intended to be satisfied by such payment or proceeds shall be reinstated and continue and this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect as if such payment or proceeds had not been received by Lender. Each Loan Party shall be liable to pay to Lender, and does hereby agree to indemnify and hold Lender harmless for, the amount of any payments or proceeds surrendered or returned. This Section shall remain effective notwithstanding any contrary action which may be taken by Lender in reliance upon such payment or proceeds. This Section shall survive the payment in full of the Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.

 

(j)                 Crediting Payments. The receipt of any payment item by Lender shall not be required to be considered a payment on account unless such payment item is a wire transfer of immediately available funds made to the Lender Payment Account or unless and until such payment item is honored when presented for payment. Should any payment item not be honored when presented for payment, then a Loan Party shall be deemed not to have made such payment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any payment item shall be deemed received by Lender only if it is received into the Lender Payment Account on a Business Day on or before 1:30 p.m. If any payment item is received into the Lender Payment Account on a non-Business Day or after 1:30 p.m. on a Business Day (unless Lender, in its discretion, elects to credit it on the date received), it shall be deemed to have been received by Lender as of the opening of business on the immediately following Business Day.

 

2.5              Interest and Fees.

 

(a)               Rates and Payment of Interest.

 

(i)                 All Obligations (except for the undrawn amount of any issued and outstanding Letters of Credit) shall bear interest at Daily Simple SOFR in effect from time to time, plus the Applicable Margin, except (A) Obligations shall bear interest at the Default Rate (whether before or after any judgment) automatically on and after an Event of Default under Section 8.1(d) and upon written notice by Lender to a Borrower on and after any other Event of Default, and (B) as otherwise provided in Section 2.7.

 

(ii)              Interest shall accrue from the date a Revolving Loan is made or Obligation is incurred or payable, as the case may be, until paid in full by a Borrower. If a Revolving Loan is repaid on the same day made, one day’s interest shall accrue. Interest accrued on Revolving Loans and the Term Loan shall be due and payable in arrears, on the first day of each calendar month, and in each case, in any event on the Termination Date. Interest accrued on any other Obligations shall be due and payable as provided in the Loan Documents and, if no payment date is specified, shall be due and payable on earlier of the first day of the calendar month after incurred or demand or the Termination Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, interest accrued at the Default Rate shall be due and payable on demand.

 

(b)               Computation of Interest and Fees. Interest and fees calculated on a per annum basis shall be calculated on the basis of a 360 day year and actual days elapsed. The interest rate on non-contingent Obligations shall increase or decrease by an amount equal to each increase or decrease in Daily Simple SOFR in the case of SOFR Loans effective on the date of any change in Daily Simple SOFR, and if at any time there are Base Rate Loans, an amount equal to each increase or decrease in the Base Rate effective on the date of any change in the Base Rate. Each determination by Lender of any interest, fees or interest rate hereunder shall be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error. All fees shall be fully earned when due and shall not be subject to rebate, refund or proration.

 

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(c)               Fees; Expenses. Each Borrower shall pay to Lender the fees and Lender Expenses in the amounts and at the time specified in Schedule 2.5.

 

2.6              Intent to Limit Charges to Maximum Lawful Rate. In no event shall the interest rate or rates payable under any Loan Document, 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. If at any time the interest rate set forth in any of the Loan Documents exceeds the maximum interest rate allowable under applicable law, the interest rate will be deemed to be such maximum interest rate allowable under applicable law.

 

2.7              Illegality; Market Conditions. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, subject to the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, as such terms are defined in Schedule 2.7, if (a) any Change in Law has made it unlawful, or any Governmental Authority has asserted that it is unlawful, for Lender to make or maintain a SOFR Loan or to maintain the Commitment with respect to a SOFR Loan, or to determine or charge interest rates based on Daily Simple SOFR or SOFR or (b) Lender determines in good faith (which determination shall, absent manifest error, be final and conclusive and binding upon all parties hereto) that Daily Simple SOFR cannot be determined pursuant to the definition thereof other than as a result of a Benchmark Transition Event, then Lender shall give notice thereof to a Borrower and may (A) declare that SOFR Loans will not thereafter be made by Lender, such that any request for a SOFR Loan from Lender shall be deemed to be a request for a Base Rate Loan unless Lender’s declaration has been withdrawn (and it shall be withdrawn promptly upon the cessation of the circumstances described in clause (a) or (b) above) and (B) require that all outstanding SOFR Loans made by Lender be converted to Base Rate Loans immediately, in which event all outstanding SOFR Loans shall be so converted and all Obligations (except for the undrawn amount of any issued and outstanding Letters of Credit) shall bear interest at the Base Rate in effect from time to time, plus the Applicable Margin.

 

2.8              Increased Costs. If any Change in Law shall: (a) impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit, compulsory loan, insurance charge or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended or participated in by, Lender; (b) subject Lender to any taxes, levies, imposts, duties, fees, assessments or other charges of whatever nature now or hereafter imposed by any jurisdiction or by any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, and all interest, penalties or similar liabilities with respect thereto of any kind whatsoever with respect to any Loan Document or any SOFR Loan made by it, or change the basis of taxation of payments to Lender in respect thereof; or (c) impose on Lender any other condition, cost or expense affecting any Loan Document or SOFR Loans, and the result of any of the foregoing shall be to increase the cost to Lender of making or maintaining any SOFR Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Revolving Loan), or to increase the cost to Lender or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest or any other amount) then, upon request of Lender, each Borrower will pay to Lender, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate Lender, as the case may be, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

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

 

2.10          Certificates for Reimbursement. A certificate of Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate Lender or its holding company, as the case may be, as specified in Sections 2.8 or 2.9 and delivered to any Borrower shall be conclusive absent manifest error. Each Borrower shall pay Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 30 days after receipt thereof.

 

2.11          Delay in Requests. Failure or delay on the part of Lender to demand compensation pursuant to Sections 2.8 or 2.9 shall not constitute a waiver of Lender’s right to demand such compensation, provided that a Borrower shall not be required to compensate Lender pursuant to this Section for any increased costs incurred or reductions occurring more than 180 days prior to the date that Lender becomes aware of the event giving rise to Lender’s claim for compensation therefor (except that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 180 day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof).

 

2.12          Incremental Facilities.

 

(a)               At any time during the period from and after the Closing Date through but excluding the date that is the 4 year anniversary of the Closing Date, at the option of Borrowers (but subject to the conditions set forth in clause (b) below), the Commitments and the Revolving Loan Limit may be increased by an amount in the aggregate for all such increases of the Commitments and the Revolving Loan Limit not to exceed the Available Increase Amount (each such increase, an “Increase”). In response to a request for an Increase, Lender, in its sole and absolute discretion, may choose to increase its Commitments and the Revolving Loan Limit or decline such Increase, in whole or in part (it being understood that the Lender shall not be obligated to increase its Commitments or Revolving Loan Limit) in connection with any such proposed Increase. Any Increase shall be in an amount of at least $4,000,000 and integral multiples of $1,000,000 in excess thereof. In no event may the Commitments and the Revolving Loan Limit be increased pursuant to this Section 2.12 on more than 2 occasions in the aggregate for all such Increases. Additionally, for the avoidance of doubt, it is understood and agreed that in no event shall the aggregate amount of the Increases to the Commitments exceed $10,000,000.

 

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(b)               Each of the following shall be conditions precedent to any Increase of the Commitments and the Revolving Loan Limit in connection therewith:

 

(i)                 Lender shall have agreed in writing to provide the applicable Increase in an amendment to this Agreement,

 

(ii)              each of the conditions precedent set forth in Section 3.2 are satisfied,

 

(iii)            in connection with any Increase, if any Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries owns or will acquire any Margin Stock, Borrowers shall deliver to Lender an updated Form U-1, duly executed and delivered by the Borrowers, together with such other documentation as Lender shall reasonably request, in order to enable Lender to comply with any of the requirements under Regulations T, U or X of the Board of Governors,

 

(iv)             Borrowers have delivered to Lender updated pro forma Projections (after giving effect to the applicable Increase) for the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries evidencing compliance on a pro forma basis with Section 7 for the twelve months (on a month-by-month basis) immediately following the proposed date of the applicable Increase, and

 

(v)               Unless otherwise agreed in writing between the Borrowers and Lender, the interest rate margins with respect to the Revolving Loans to be made pursuant to the increased Commitments shall be the same as the interest rate margin applicable to Revolving Loans hereunder immediately prior to the applicable date of the effectiveness of the increased Commitments and Revolving Loan Limit.

 

(c)               Unless otherwise specifically provided herein, all references in this Agreement and any other Loan Document to Revolving Loans shall be deemed, unless the context otherwise requires, to include Revolving Loans made pursuant to the increased Commitments and Revolving Loan Limit pursuant to this Section 2.12.

 

(d)               The Revolving Loans, Commitments, and Revolving Loan Limit established pursuant to this Section 2.12 shall constitute Revolving Loans, Commitments, and Revolving Loan Limit under, and shall be entitled to all the benefits afforded by, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, and shall, without limiting the foregoing, benefit equally and ratably from any guarantees and the security interests created by the Loan Documents. Borrowers shall take any actions reasonably required by Lender to ensure and demonstrate that the Liens and security interests granted by the Loan Documents continue to be perfected under the UCC or otherwise after giving effect to the establishment of any such new Commitments and Revolving Loan Limit.

 

3.                  CONDITIONS; TERM OF AGREEMENT

 

3.1              Conditions Precedent to the Initial Revolving Loan and the Term Loan. The obligation of Lender to make the initial Revolving Loan or the Term Loan or issue the initial Letter of Credit is subject to the satisfaction of each of the conditions precedent set forth on Schedule 3.1.

 

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3.2              Conditions Precedent to all Revolving Loans and the Term Loan. The obligation of Lender to make any Revolving Loans or the Term Loan or issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit at any time shall be subject to the following conditions precedent:

 

(a)               the representations and warranties of each Loan Party contained in the Loan Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects (except that such materiality qualifier shall not be applicable to any representations and warranties that already are qualified or modified by materiality in the text thereof) on and as of the date of such Revolving Loan, as though made on and as of such date (except to the extent that such representations and warranties relate solely to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such earlier date (except that such materiality qualifier shall not be applicable to any representations and warranties that already are qualified or modified by materiality in the text thereof));

 

(b)               as of the date of any such Revolving Loan or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, or the use of the proceeds thereof, and after giving effect to any of the foregoing, no Event of Default, or event or condition which with notice, or passage of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default, shall exist;

 

(c)               Lender shall have received a request for such Revolving Loan or such Letter of Credit (or for the amendment, renewal or extension thereof) in accordance with the requirements of the Loan Documents; and

 

(d)               as of the date of any such Revolving Loan or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, or the use of the proceeds thereof, and after giving effect to any of the foregoing, the aggregate principal amount of the Revolving Loans and the Letter of Credit Usage shall not exceed the lesser of the Revolving Loan Limit or the Borrowing Base.

 

Each request for a Revolving Loan or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit delivered by a Borrower shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by each Borrower that the conditions specified in Section 3.2 have been satisfied on and as of the date of the applicable Revolving Loan or issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit and after giving effect thereto. The making of any Revolving Loan or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit shall not be deemed a modification or waiver by Lender of any of the terms of any Loan Document or any Event of Default or event or condition which with notice, or passage of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

 

3.3              Maturity. The Commitment shall continue in full force and effect for a term ending on the Maturity Date (unless terminated earlier in accordance with the terms hereof).

 

3.4              Effect of Maturity. On the Maturity Date, the Commitment shall automatically terminate and all of the Obligations shall become due and payable without notice or demand and each Borrower shall be required to pay in full all of the Obligations. No termination of the Commitment shall relieve or discharge any Loan Party of its duties, obligations, or covenants under any Loan Document and the Liens of Lender in the Collateral shall continue to secure the Obligations and shall remain in effect until payment in full of all Obligations.

 

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3.5              Early Termination by Borrowers. A Borrower has the option, at any time upon 10 Business Days prior written notice to Lender, to make payment in full of all of the Obligations. The foregoing notwithstanding, a Borrower may rescind such written notice if it states that the proposed payment in full of the Obligations is to be made with the proceeds of third party Indebtedness and if the closing for such incurrence does not happen on or before the date of the proposed termination set forth in such notice (in which case, a new notice shall be required to be sent in connection with any subsequent termination).

 

4.                  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

Each Loan Party represents and warrants to Lender the following:

 

4.1              Due Organization and Qualification. Each Loan Party (a) is duly organized and existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, (b) is qualified to do business in any State where the failure to be so qualified could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (c) has all requisite power and authority to own and operate its assets, to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted, to enter into the Loan Documents to which it is a party and to carry out the transactions contemplated thereby.

 

4.2              Due Authorization; No Conflict. The execution, delivery, and performance by each Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is a party have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of such Loan Party. The execution, delivery, and performance by each Loan Party of the Loan Documents to which it is a party do not and will not (a) violate any provision of Federal, State, or local law or regulation applicable to any Loan Party, the Governing Documents of any Loan Party, or any order, judgment, or decree of any court or other Governmental Authority binding on any Loan Party, except in each violations which would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (b) result in or require the creation or imposition of any Lien of any nature whatsoever upon any assets of any Loan Party, other than Permitted Liens, or (c) require any approval of any holder of Equity Interests of a Loan Party, other than consents or approvals that have been obtained and that are still in force and effect.

 

4.3              Binding Obligations; Perfected Liens.

 

(a)               Each Loan Document has been duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is a party thereto and is the legally valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party, enforceable against such Loan Party in accordance with its 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.

 

(b)               The Liens of Lender are validly created, perfected and first priority Liens, subject as to priority, only to Permitted Liens which are non-consensual Permitted Liens, permitted purchase money Liens, or the interests of lessors under Capital Leases, except for Liens in respect of (i) motor vehicles that are subject to a certificate of title, (ii) money, (iii) letter-of-credit rights (other than supporting obligations), (iv) commercial tort claims (other than those that, by the terms of any Loan Document, are required to be perfected), and (v) any deposit accounts and securities accounts not subject to a Control Agreement as permitted by any Loan Document, and subject only to the filing of financing statements in the appropriate filing offices.

 

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4.4              Title to Assets; No Encumbrances. Each Loan Party has (a) good, sufficient and legal title to (in the case of fee interests in Real Property), (b) valid leasehold interests in (in the case of leasehold interests in real or personal property), and (c) good and marketable title to (in the case of all other personal property), all of its assets reflected in its most recent financial statements delivered to Lender, in each case except for assets disposed of since the date of such financial statements to the extent permitted by any Loan Document. All of such assets are free and clear of Liens except for Permitted Liens.

 

4.5              Litigation. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.5, there are no actions, suits, proceedings or investigations pending or, to the knowledge of a Loan Party, threatened in writing against a Loan Party, that (a) relate to any Loan Document or transaction contemplated thereby or (b) either individually or in the aggregate has or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

4.6              Compliance with Laws. No Loan Party (a) is in violation of any applicable laws, rules, regulations, executive orders, or codes that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (b) is subject to or in default with respect to any final judgments, writs, injunctions, decrees, rules or regulations of any court or any Governmental Authority that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No inventory has been produced in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938.

 

4.7              No Material Adverse Effect. All historical financial statements relating to each Loan Party that have been delivered by a Loan Party to Lender 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 present fairly in all material respects, the financial condition of such Loan Party as of the date thereof and results of operations for the period then ended. Since April 22, 2022, no event, circumstance, or change has occurred that has or could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

4.8              Solvency. Each Loan Party is Solvent.

 

4.9              Environmental Condition. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.9 and except for any noncompliance which would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, each Loan Party and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable Federal, State and local environmental, hazardous waste, health and safety statutes, and any rules or regulations related to such statutes, which govern or affect the operations or properties of such Loan Party and its Subsidiaries. None of the operations of any Loan Party or its Subsidiaries is the subject of any Federal, State or local investigation evaluating whether any remedial action involving a material expenditure is needed to respond to a release of any toxic or hazardous waste or substance into the environment. No Loan Party has any material contingent liability in connection with any release of any toxic or hazardous waste or substance into the environment.

 

4.10          Complete Disclosure; Projections. All factual information taken as a whole (other than forward-looking information and projections and information of a general economic nature and general information about each Loan Party) furnished by or on behalf of any Loan Party in writing to Lender in connection with any Loan Document, and all other such factual information taken as a whole (other than forward-looking information and projections and information of a general economic nature and general information about any Loan Party) hereafter furnished by or on behalf of a Loan Party in writing to Lender will be true and accurate, in all material respects, on the date as of which such information is dated or certified and not incomplete by omitting to state any fact necessary to make such information (taken as a whole) not misleading in any material respect at such time in light of the circumstances under which such information was provided. Projections delivered to Lender represent the good faith estimate of each Loan Party, on the date such Projections are delivered, of the future performance of such Loan Party for the periods covered thereby based upon assumptions believed by such Loan Party to be reasonable at the time of the delivery thereof to Lender (it being understood that such Projections are subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of a Loan Party, and no assurances can be given that such Projections will be realized).

 

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4.11          Taxes. Except as otherwise permitted under Section 5.5, all tax returns and reports of each Loan Party required to be filed by it have been timely filed, and all taxes shown on such tax returns to be due and payable and all other taxes upon a Loan Party and upon its assets, income, businesses and franchises that are due and payable have been paid when due and payable. Each Loan Party has made adequate provision in accordance with GAAP for all taxes not yet due and payable. To the knowledge of any Loan Party, there is no proposed tax assessment against a Loan Party that is not being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently pursued and available to a Loan Party, in each case prior to the commencement of foreclosure or other similar proceedings, which proceedings (or orders entered in connection with such proceeding), and adequate reserves or other appropriate provision, if any, as are required by GAAP have been made therefor.

 

4.12          Margin Stock; Investment Company Act, Etc. No Loan Party owns any Margin Stock or engages principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any Margin Stock. No Loan Party is subject to regulation under the Federal Power Act or the Investment Company Act of 1940 or under any other Federal or State statute or regulation which may limit its ability to incur Indebtedness or which may otherwise render all or any portion of the Obligations unenforceable. No Loan Party is a “registered investment company” or a company “controlled” by a “registered investment company” or a “principal underwriter” of a “registered investment company” as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

4.13          OFAC; Sanctions; Anti-Corruption Laws; Anti-Money Laundering Laws; Patriot Act. (a) None of Borrower, any of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of any Borrower after due care and inquiry, any director, officer, employee, agent or Affiliate of any Borrower or its Subsidiaries is a Sanctioned Target or is owned 50% or more by, or controlled by, or is acting on behalf of, a Sanctioned Target, (b) Borrowers and their Subsidiaries have instituted and maintain policies and procedures reasonably designed to assure compliance with Sanctions, Anti-Money Laundering Laws and Anti-Corruption Laws, and (c) to the knowledge of any Borrower after due care and inquiry, no Loan Party, any of its Subsidiaries, any director, officer, employee, agent or Affiliate is under investigation by a Governmental Authority for non-compliance with Sanction(s), Anti-Money Laundering Laws or Anti-Corruption Laws. As of the Closing Date, the information included in the certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by 31 C.F.R. §1010.230 received by Lender from any Loan Party that is a “legal entity customer” as defined in such regulation, is true and correct in all respects.

 

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4.14          Employee and Labor Matters. There is (a) no unfair labor practice complaint pending or, to the knowledge of any Loan Party, threatened against any Loan Party before any Governmental Authority and no grievance or arbitration proceeding pending or threatened against any Loan Party which arises out of or under any collective bargaining agreement and that could reasonably be expected to result in a material liability, and (b) no strike, labor dispute, slowdown, stoppage or similar action or grievance pending or threatened in writing against any Loan Party that could reasonably be expected to result in a material liability. Except as described on Schedule 4.14, no Loan Party is party to or bound by any collective bargaining agreement, management agreement or consulting agreement. No Loan Party has incurred any liability or obligation under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act or similar State law, which remains unpaid or unsatisfied.

 

4.15          ERISA. No Loan Party, nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor any of its ERISA Affiliates, maintains or contributes to any Benefit Plan.

 

4.16          Capitalization and Subsidiaries. Schedule 4.16 sets forth (a) a correct and complete list of the name and entity type of each Subsidiary of each Loan Party and each such Subsidiary’s relationship to each Loan Party, and (b) a true and complete list of each class of the authorized Equity Interests of each Loan Party, all of which issued Equity Interests are validly issued, outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable, and owned beneficially and of record by the Persons identified on Schedule 4.16.

 

4.17          Brokers. There are no brokerage commissions, finder’s fees or investment banking fees payable in connection with any transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents.

 

4.18          Dormant Subsidiaries4.19. Broadwind Services, LLC, is a Dormant Subsidiary.

 

5.                  AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

Unless otherwise hereafter agreed in writing by Lender:

 

5.1              Financial Statements; Borrowing Base Certificate; Other Information. Each Loan Party (a) will deliver to Lender each of the financial statements, reports, and other items set forth on Schedule 5.1 no later than the times specified therein, (b) will maintain a system of accounting that enables each Loan Party to produce financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and (c) will (i) keep a reporting system that shows all additions, sales, claims, returns, and allowances with respect to its sales, and (ii) maintain its billing systems and practices substantially as in effect as of the Closing Date and will only make material modifications thereto with notice to, and with the consent of, Lender.

 

5.2              Notices of Material Events. A Loan Party will promptly (but in any event within three Business Days) notify Lender in writing of: (a) any event, condition or circumstance that, with the giving of notice, the passage of time, or both, would be an Event of Default or the occurrence of any Event of Default, (b) any matter that has, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect, (c) any breach of Section 4.13 or Section 6.11, (d) any dispute, litigation, investigation, proceeding or suspension between a Loan Party and any Governmental Authority or the commencement of, or any material development in, any litigation or proceeding affecting a Loan Party stating a claim in excess of the Material Amount, (e) any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices of a Loan Party, (f) any change in the senior executive officers of a Loan Party, (g) the discharge by a Loan Party of its independent accountants or any withdrawal or resignation by such accountants, (h) except as publicly disclosed prior to the Closing Date, any collective bargaining agreement or other labor contract (or material amendment to any of the foregoing) to which a Loan Party becomes a party, or the application for the certification of a collective bargaining agent, (i) the filing of any Lien for unpaid taxes against any Loan Party in excess of 50% of the Material Amount, (j) any termination or cancellation of insurance which a Loan Party is required to maintain under the Loan Documents (other than insurance which is replaced as of the date of termination or cancellation), or any loss, damage, or destruction to, or commencement of any action or proceeding for the taking under eminent domain, condemnation or similar proceeding, of Collateral in the amount of 50% of the Material Amount or more, whether or not covered by insurance, and (k) any dispute or claims by any customers of a Loan Party exceeding the Material Amount individually or in the aggregate during any fiscal year or any inventory returned to or recovered by a Loan Party outside of the ordinary course of business with a fair market value that exceeds 50% of the Material Amount individually or in the aggregate. Each notice pursuant to this Section will be accompanied by a statement of an Authorized Person of a Loan Party setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein and stating what action each Loan Party has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

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5.3              Existence. Each Loan Party will preserve and keep in full force and effect such Person’s valid existence and good standing in its jurisdiction of organization and, except as could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, good standing with respect to all other jurisdictions in which it is qualified to do business and any rights, franchises, permits, licenses, accreditations, authorizations, or other approvals material to their businesses.

 

5.4              Maintenance of Properties. Each Loan Party will maintain and preserve all of its assets that are necessary or useful in the proper conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear, tear, casualty, and condemnation and Permitted Dispositions excepted.

 

5.5              Taxes. Each Loan Party will pay in full before delinquency or before the expiration of any extension period all taxes imposed, levied, or assessed against it, or any of its assets or in respect of any of its income, businesses, or franchises (including taxes, levies, imposts, duties, fees, assessments or other charges of whatever nature now or subsequently imposed by any Governmental Authority and all related interest, penalties or similar liabilities), except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, and (b) such Loan Party has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and none of the Collateral would become subject to forfeiture or loss; provided, that, each Loan Party will make timely payment or deposit of all withholding taxes and other payroll taxes to the appropriate Governmental Authority as and when claimed to be due, notwithstanding the foregoing exceptions, and will, upon request, furnish Lender with proof reasonably satisfactory to Lender indicating that such Loan Party has made such payments or deposits.

 

5.6              Insurance. Each Loan Party will maintain with financially sound and reputable carriers (a) insurance in such amounts (with no greater risk retention) and against such risks and such other hazards, as is customarily maintained by companies of established repute engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations and (b) all insurance required pursuant to the Loan Documents. Each Loan Party will from time to time upon Lender’s request furnish to Lender correct and complete copies of any insurance policies and such other information in reasonable detail as to the insurance so maintained as Lender may request.

 

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5.7              Field Examinations; Appraisals. Upon the request of Lender after reasonable prior notice to any Borrower, each Borrower will permit Lender or a firm engaged by Lender for such purpose to (a) conduct field examinations, including with respect to such Borrower’s practices in the calculation of the Borrowing Base and the assets included in the Borrowing Base and related financial information such as, but not limited to, sales, gross margins, payables, accruals and reserves, provided, that, commencing after the Closing Date, (i) Lender shall not conduct, at the expense of a Borrower, more than 1 field examinations in any 12 month period so long as Excess Availability during such 12 month period is at all times not less than 15% of the Revolving Loan Limit and no Event of Default exists, (ii) Lender may conduct, at the expense of a Borrower, such other field examinations as Lender may request at any time as may be required by law or regulation or when an Event of Default exists or when Excess Availability during any 12 month period is at any time less than 15% of the Revolving Loan Limit or in connection with a Permitted Acquisition and (iii) Lender may conduct additional field examinations at any time at its own expense and (b) conduct appraisals of the Collateral in form, scope and methodology acceptable to Lender, provided, that, (i) Lender shall not conduct, at the expense of a Borrower, more than 1 appraisal of each of the inventory, equipment and real property of Borrowers in any 12 month period so long as Excess Availability during such 12 month period is at all times not less than 15% of the Revolving Loan Limit and no Event of Default exists, (ii) Lender may conduct, at the expense of a Borrower, such other appraisals as Lender may request at any time as required by law or regulation, when an Event of Default exists or when Excess Availability during any 12 month period is at any time less than 15% of the Revolving Loan Limit or in connection with a Permitted Acquisition, and (iii) Lender may conduct additional appraisals at any time at its own expense. Upon the request of Lender, after reasonable prior notice to a Borrower when no Event of Default exists, as part of any field examination or at other reasonable times during normal business hours when no Event of Default exists or such other times as Lender may request otherwise, each Loan Party will permit representatives and other professionals (including investment bankers, consultants, accountants, and lawyers) engaged by Lender for such purpose to visit and inspect any of its properties and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with its directors, officers, and accountants, at the expense of a Borrower.

 

5.8              Compliance with Laws; OFAC; Sanctions, Etc. Each Loan Party will subject to the terms below, comply with the requirements of all applicable laws, rules, regulations, and orders of any Governmental Authority, other than laws, rules, regulations, and orders the non-compliance with which, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each Loan Party will, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries, and their respective directors, officers, employees, agents and Affiliates to, (a) comply with Sanctions and (b) comply with Anti-Money Laundering Laws and Anti-Corruption Laws in all material respects.

 

5.9              Cash Management; Collection of Proceeds of Collateral.

 

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(a)               Each Loan Party will establish and may maintain, at its expense, deposit accounts and cash management services of a type and on terms, and with the banks, set forth on Schedule 5.9 and, subject to Section 5.9(b), such other banks as a Loan Party may hereafter select (such other banks, together with the banks set forth on Schedule 5.9, collectively, the “Cash Management Banks” and individually, a “Cash Management Bank”), provided, that, the Loan Parties shall (i) establish their primary depository and treasury management relationships with Wells Fargo or one or more of its Affiliates on or before the date that is 120 days after the Closing Date (or such longer period as Lender may agree) and will maintain such depository and treasury management relationships at all times during the term of this Agreement, except as Lender may otherwise hereafter specifically agree in writing and (ii) within 60 days after establishing their primary depository and treasury management relationships with Wells Fargo or one or more of its Affiliates (or such longer period as Lender may agree) cause to be closed all deposit accounts at CIBC Bank USA and deliver written confirmation of such closure to Lender. Each Loan Party will deliver, or cause to be delivered to Lender, a Control Agreement with respect to each of its deposit accounts duly authorized, executed and delivered by each Cash Management Bank where a deposit account is maintained, such Loan Party and Lender; provided, that, a Loan Party will not be required to deliver a Control Agreement with a Cash Management Bank as to any deposit account that is specifically and exclusively used for payroll, payroll taxes and other employee wage and benefit payments to or for the benefit of the salaried employees of a Loan Party and shall not be required to provide a Control Agreement over the deposit accounts maintained with CIBC Bank USA unless the same remain open 30 days after the Closing Date. Each Loan Party will direct all account debtors or other obligors in respect of any amounts payable to a Loan Party to make payment of all such amounts to a Collection Account and otherwise take all reasonable actions to cause such payments to be made to a Collection Account. Each Loan Party and its respective employees, agents and Affiliates will, acting as trustee for Lender, receive, as the property of Lender, any monies, checks, notes, drafts or any other payment relating to, or proceeds of, accounts or other Collateral which come into its possession or under its control and promptly upon receipt thereof, will deposit or cause the same to be deposited in a Collection Account, or remit the same or cause the same to be remitted, in kind, to Lender. In no event will the same be commingled with a Loan Party’s own funds or the funds of any other Person. Each Loan Party shall cause all amounts in each Collection Account (including, without limitation, all Collection Accounts at CIBC Bank USA) to be transferred on a daily basis (or with such other frequency as Lender may otherwise specifically agree) to the Lender Payment Account.

 

(b)               So long as no Event of Default exists, upon not less than five Business Days’ prior written notice to Lender, a Loan Party may amend Schedule 5.9 to add or replace a deposit account or Cash Management Bank and will upon such addition or replacement provide to Lender an amended Schedule 5.9; provided, that, (i) such prospective Cash Management Bank shall be satisfactory to Lender in its Permitted Discretion, and (ii) at or prior to the time of the opening of such deposit account a Loan Party and such prospective Cash Management Bank will have executed and delivered to Lender a Control Agreement. A Loan Party will close any of its deposit accounts (and establish replacement deposit accounts in accordance with the foregoing sentence) as promptly as practicable and in any event within 45 days after notice from Lender that the operating performance, funds transfer, or availability procedures or performance of the Cash Management Bank with respect to deposit accounts or Lender’s liability under any Control Agreement with such Cash Management Bank is no longer satisfactory to Lender in its Permitted Discretion.

 

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5.10          Further Assurances. Without limiting the foregoing, each Loan Party will take such actions and execute and deliver to Lender such instruments and documents as Lender may from time to time request in its Permitted Discretion (including obtaining agreements from third parties) to create, maintain, perfect, establish, preserve and protect Lender’s Liens in the Collateral (and the priority thereof) and rights in the Collateral and to carry out the terms and conditions of the Loan Documents. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Lender shall not accept a Lien on Real Property from any Loan Party unless Lender has completed its flood insurance diligence, has received copies of all flood insurance documentation and has confirmed that flood insurance compliance has been completed as required by applicable laws or as otherwise satisfactory to Lender and Lender shall not accept delivery of any joinder to any Loan Document with respect to any Subsidiary of any Loan Party that is not a Loan Party, if such Subsidiary qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under 31 C.F.R. Section 1010.230, unless such Subsidiary has delivered a certification regarding beneficial ownership as required by such regulation in relation to such Subsidiary and Lender has completed its Patriot Act searches, OFAC/PEP searches and customary individual background checks for such Subsidiary, the results of which shall be satisfactory to Lender.

 

5.11          End of Fiscal Years; Fiscal Quarters. Each Loan Party will, for financial reporting purposes, cause its fiscal year to end on December 31 of each year, and fiscal quarters to end on the last day of each of March, June, September and December of each year.

 

5.12          Costs and Expenses. Each Loan Party will pay to Lender at the time specified in Schedule 2.5 all reasonable costs, expenses, filing fees and taxes paid or payable in connection with the preparation, negotiation, execution, delivery, recording, administration, collection, liquidation, enforcement and defense of the Obligations, Lender’s rights in the Collateral, the Loan Documents and all other documents related thereto, including any amendments, supplements or consents which may hereafter be contemplated (whether or not executed) or entered into in respect thereof (all of the foregoing being referred to herein collectively, as “Lender Expenses”), including: (a) all costs and expenses of filing or recording (including UCC financing statement filing taxes and fees, documentary taxes, intangibles taxes and mortgage recording taxes and fees, if applicable), (b) costs and expenses and fees for insurance premiums, environmental audits, title insurance premiums, surveys, assessments, engineering reports and inspections, appraisal fees and search fees, background checks, costs and expenses of remitting loan proceeds, collecting checks and other items of payment, together with Lender’s customary charges and fees with respect thereto, (c) costs and expenses of preserving and protecting the Collateral, (d) costs and expenses paid or incurred in connection with obtaining payment of the Obligations, enforcing the Liens of Lender in the Collateral, selling or otherwise realizing upon the Collateral, and otherwise enforcing the provisions of the Loan Documents or defending any claims made or threatened against Lender arising out of the transactions contemplated thereby (including preparations for and consultations concerning any such matters), (e) subject to the limitations set forth in Section 5.7, all out-of-pocket expenses and costs heretofore and from time to time hereafter incurred by Lender during the course of periodic field examinations, plus a per diem charge at Lender’s then standard rate for Lender’s examiners in the field and office (which rate as of the Closing Date is $1,000 per person per day), and (f) the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel (including legal assistants) to Lender in connection with any of the foregoing.

 

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5.13          Formation of Subsidiaries. In the event that any Loan Party forms or acquires any direct or indirect Subsidiary, after the Closing Date, within thirty days of such event (and in the event of formation of a subsidiary for purposes of any acquisition, thirty days after the target acquisition), such Loan Party will (a) cause such new Subsidiary to (i) be joined as a Borrower hereunder if requested by such Loan Party, and subject to the consent of Lender, pursuant to an agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Lender, and (ii) cause such new Subsidiary to authorize, execute and deliver a joinder to the Guaranty and such Security Agreements as Lender may specify all in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender; (b) authorize, execute and deliver to Lender such Security Agreements (or an addendum to a Security Agreement) in each case as Lender may specify and appropriate certificates and powers or financing statements, granting a security interest in all of the Equity Interests in such new Subsidiary of such Loan Party in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender; and (c) deliver to Lender (and authorize and execute as applicable) all other documentation, including the Governing Documents of such Subsidiary and if requested by Lender, an opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to Lender, which, in its opinion, is appropriate with respect to the execution and delivery of the applicable documentation referred to above. Any document, agreement, or instrument executed or issued pursuant to this Section 5.13 shall constitute a Loan Document.

 

5.14          Permitted Supplier Financing Transaction. At all times from and after 30 days following the Closing Date, each Loan Party shall cause all proceeds of each Permitted Supplier Financing Transaction to be deposited into a Deposit Account of a Borrower which is subject to a Control Agreement.

 

5.15          Post-Closing Obligations. Complete each of the tasks and other items set forth on Schedule 5.15 no later than the times specified therein or such later date as Lender may agree in writing.

 

6.                  NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

6.1              Indebtedness. Each Loan Party will not create, incur, assume, suffer to exist, guarantee, or otherwise become or remain, directly or indirectly, liable with respect to any Indebtedness, except for Permitted Indebtedness.

 

6.2              Liens. Each Loan Party will not create, incur, assume, or suffer to exist, directly or indirectly, any Lien on or with respect to any of its assets, of any kind, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, or any income or profits therefrom, except for Permitted Liens. Without limiting any of the foregoing restrictions on creating or permitting Liens on the assets of any of the Loan Parties other than Permitted Liens, no Loan Party shall permit any deed of trust, mortgage or similar Lien upon the owned Real Property commonly known as 5100 Neville Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15225.

 

6.3              Restrictions on Fundamental Changes. Each Loan Party will not (a) enter into any merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, division or plan of division, or reclassify its Equity Interests, except for (i) any merger between Loan Parties, provided, that, a Borrower must be the surviving entity of any such merger to which it is a party and (ii) in connection with a Permitted Acquisition, (b) directly or indirectly, purchase or otherwise acquire all or substantially all of the assets of (or any division or business line of) any other Person, or 50% or more of any class of Equity Interests of any other Person, except pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition (c) liquidate, wind up, or dissolve itself (or suffer any liquidation or dissolution), (d) suspend or cease operating a substantial portion of its business, or (e) change its classification/status for U.S. Federal income tax purposes.

 

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6.4              Asset Dispositions. Each Loan Party will not convey, sell, lease, license, assign, transfer, or otherwise dispose of any of its assets (including by an allocation of assets among newly divided limited liability companies pursuant to a “plan of division”), except for Permitted Dispositions and transactions permitted under Section 6.3.

 

6.5              Nature of Business. Each Loan Party will not (a) engage in any business other than the business of such Loan Party on the Closing Date and any business reasonably related or ancillary to such business of such Loan Party on the Closing Date or (b) acquire any properties or assets that are not reasonably related or ancillary thereto.

 

6.6              Prepayments and Amendments. Each Loan Party will not:

 

(a)               prepay, redeem, defease, purchase or otherwise acquire any Indebtedness of any Loan Party or make, directly or indirectly, any optional or voluntary payment in respect of any such Indebtedness, except for payments of: (i) the Obligations; (ii) obligations under Hedge Agreements; (iii) secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the assets securing such Indebtedness to the extent such sale or transfer is permitted hereunder; (iv) Indebtedness owing to another Loan Party; and (v) other Permitted Indebtedness in cash, provided, that, as of the date of any such payment under this clause (v) and after giving effect thereto, each of the Payment Conditions is satisfied (and in the case of any Subordinated Indebtedness, in any event only to the extent permitted under the terms of the subordination thereof);

 

(b)               directly or indirectly, amend, modify, or change any of the terms or provisions of:

 

(i)                 any agreement, instrument, document or other writing evidencing or concerning Permitted Indebtedness except (A) the Obligations in accordance with this Agreement, (B) obligations under Hedge Agreements, (C) Indebtedness permitted under clauses (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) of the definition of Permitted Indebtedness, (D) Subordinated Indebtedness to the extent permitted under the subordination agreement with respect thereto, or (E) in the case of any other Material Indebtedness, after prior written notice to Lender, to amend or modify the terms thereof to forgive or cancel any portion of such Indebtedness (other than pursuant to payment thereof) or to reduce the interest rate or any fees in connection therewith, or to make the terms thereof less restrictive or burdensome to such Loan Party or if the effect thereof, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the interests of Lender; or

 

(ii)              the Governing Documents of any Loan Party if the effect thereof, either individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to be materially adverse to the interests of Lender.

 

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6.7              Restricted Payments. Each Loan Party will not declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, except (a) a Loan Party may declare and make dividend payments or other distributions payable solely in the Equity Interests of such Loan Party, (b) a Loan Party may make Restricted Payments pursuant to and in accordance with any management equity subscription agreement, employee agreement or stock option agreement or other agreement with such officer, director or employee or former officer, director or employee; provided, that, the aggregate cash consideration paid for all such payments, repurchases or redemptions shall not in any fiscal year of such Loan Party exceed $1,000,000, (c) a Loan Party may make Permitted Tax Distributions, (d) a Loan Party may make a Restricted Payment to another Loan Party, (e) a Loan Party may make payments with respect to Subordinated Debt to the extent such payments are permitted pursuant to the subordination agreement or other subordination terms applicable thereto; and (f) a Loan Party may make other Restricted Payments not otherwise expressly provided for in this Section, provided, that, as of the date of any such Restricted Payment and after giving effect thereto, each of the Payment Conditions is satisfied.

 

6.8              Accounting Methods. Each Loan Party will not modify or change its fiscal year or its method of accounting (other than as may be required to conform to GAAP).

 

6.9              Investments. Each Loan Party will not, directly or indirectly, make or acquire any Investment or incur any liabilities (including contingent obligations) for or in connection with any Investment except for Permitted Investments.

 

6.10          Transactions with Affiliates. Each Loan Party will not, directly or indirectly, purchase, acquire or lease any property from, or sell, transfer or lease any property to, any officer, director or other Affiliate of a Loan Party, except pursuant to the reasonable requirements of the business of such Loan Party and upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to such Loan Party than such Loan Party would obtain in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person that is not an Affiliate, except for: (a) the payment of reasonable compensation, severance, or employee benefit arrangements to employees, officers, and outside directors of a Loan Party, and any indemnity provided for the benefit of directors (or comparable managers) of a Loan Party, (b) transactions among Loan Parties, and (c) Restricted Payments permitted under Section 6.7.

 

6.11          Use of Proceeds. Each Loan Party will not use the proceeds of any Revolving Loans, Letter of Credit or the Term Loan for any purpose other than (a) on the Closing Date, payments to each of the Persons listed in the disbursement direction letter furnished by a Borrower to Lender on or about the Closing Date and to pay the fees, costs and expenses in connection with the Loan Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby and (b) thereafter, consistent with the terms hereof, for working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes of Borrowers, provided, that, no part of the proceeds of the Revolving Loans or the Term Loan will be used to purchase or carry any such Margin Stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any such Margin Stock or for any purpose that violates the provisions of Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors. Each Loan Party will not directly or, to its knowledge after due care and inquiry, indirectly, use any of the Credit Facility to fund, finance or facilitate any activities, business or transactions that would be prohibited by (i) Sanctions, Anti-Money Laundering Laws or Anti-Corruption Laws or (ii) Sanctions if conducted by Lender, or any other party hereto.

 

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6.12          Dormant Subsidiaries6.13. Borrower will not permit any Dormant Subsidiary to incur liabilities of any material nature, own any material assets or engage itself in any operations or businesses unless the same is joined as a Guarantor and Loan Party and has delivered a guaranty and such additional Loan Documents as Lender may reasonably request.

 

6.13          New Equipment Lease and Financing Agreements. Not engage in any new or amended lease or financing agreement (each a “New Financing Agreement”) with Liberty Commercial Finance LLC and/or Prime Alliance Bank (collectively, the “Liberty Group”), unless each of the following conditions are satisfied: (i) no New Financing Agreement shall grant a lien or security interest upon any asset of any Loan Party other than specific items of personal property (excluding accounts) which are being leased from, acquired with financing by or the subject of a purchase money security interest financing provided by a member of the Liberty Group and (ii) not later than 10 Business Days (or such longer period as Lender may agree in writing) following the consummation of any such New Financing Agreement, Borrowers have delivered to Lender (a) copies of all such New Financing Agreements and (b) evidence that a new UCC-1 financing statement or a UCC-3 financing statement amendment has been filed by or on behalf of applicable member of the Liberty Group which contains an specific listing of the items of personal property that are the subject of such New Financing Agreement.

 

7.                  FINANCIAL COVENANTS

 

7.1              Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. Commencing with the 12 consecutive fiscal month period ending July 31, 2023 and thereafter, Administrative Borrower shall have a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, determined for the most recently ended 12 consecutive fiscal months of Administrative Borrower for which Lender has received financial statements of not less than the ratio set forth in the following table for the applicable period set forth opposite thereto:

 

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio Applicable Period
1.0 to 1.0 For each twelve-month period
ending July 31, 2023 through and including December 31,2023
1.1 to 1.0 For each twelve-month period
ending thereafter

 

7.2              Minimum EBITDA. Borrowers shall achieve EBITDA, measured on a month-end basis, of at least the required amount set forth in the following table for the applicable period set forth opposite thereto:

 

Applicable Amount Applicable Period
$0 For the six-month period
ending June 30, 2022
$1,500,000 For the nine-month period
ending September 30, 2022
$2,500,000 For the twelve-month period
ending December 31, 2022
$3,600,000 For the twelve-month period
ending March 31, 2023
$5,100,000 For the twelve-month period
ending June 30, 2023

 

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8.                  EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

 

8.1              Events of Default. The occurrence of any of the following will constitute an “Event of Default” under any Loan Document:

 

(a)               Payments. A Borrower (i) fails to make any payment of principal or interest hereunder when due or (ii) fails to pay fees, Lender Expenses or any of the other Obligations within three Business Days after the due date thereof.

 

(b)               Covenants. (i) a Loan Party fails to perform any of the covenants contained in Sections 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.6, 5.8, 5.9, 6 and 7, or (ii) a Loan Party fails to perform any of the terms, covenants, conditions or provisions contained in any Loan Document other than those otherwise described in this Article 8 and such failure shall continue for 30 days; provided, that, such 30 day period shall not apply in the case of any failure to observe any such covenant which is not capable of being cured at all or within such 30 day period or which has been the subject of a prior failure within a six month period.

 

(c)               Judgments. One or more judgments, orders, or awards for the payment of money in excess of $1,000,000 in any one case or in the aggregate (except to the extent fully covered (other than to the extent of customary deductibles) by insurance pursuant to which the insurer has not denied or disputed coverage) is entered or filed against a Loan Party, or with respect to any of its assets, and either (a) there is a period of 45 consecutive days at any time after the entry of any such judgment, order, or award during which (i) the same is not discharged, satisfied, vacated, or bonded pending appeal, or (ii) a stay of enforcement thereof is not in effect, or (b) enforcement proceedings are commenced upon such judgment, order, or award or any judgment other than for the payment of money, or injunction, attachment, garnishment or execution is rendered against a Loan Party or any of the Collateral having a value in excess of $1,000,000 in any one case or in the aggregate and a stay of enforcement thereof is not in effect.

 

(d)               Voluntary Bankruptcy, Involuntary Bankruptcy, Etc. (i) An Insolvency Proceeding is commenced by a Loan Party or (ii) an Insolvency Proceeding is commenced against a Loan Party or all or any part of its properties and such petition or application is not dismissed within 60 days after the date of its filing or such Loan Party shall file any answer admitting or not contesting such petition or application or indicates its consent to, acquiescence in or approval of, any such action or proceeding or the relief requested is granted sooner.

 

(e)               Default Under Other Agreements. (i) A default in one or more agreements to which a Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries is a party with one or more third Persons relative to a Loan Party’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ Indebtedness occurs involving an aggregate amount of $1,000,000 or more, and such default (A) occurs at the final maturity of the obligations thereunder, or (B) results in a right by such third Person, irrespective of whether exercised, to accelerate the maturity of such Loan Party’s or its Subsidiary’s obligations thereunder, or (ii) the subordination provisions contained in any agreement related to any Subordinated Indebtedness shall cease to be in full force and effect or to give Lender the rights purported to be created thereby.

 

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(f)                Representations, Etc. Any warranty, representation, certificate or statement made in any Loan Document or delivered in writing to Lender in connection with any Loan Document proves to be untrue in any material respect (except that such materiality qualifier shall not be applicable to any representations and warranties that already are qualified or modified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect) as of the date of issuance or making or deemed making thereof.

 

(g)               Guaranty. If the obligation of any Loan Party under a Guaranty, or other Person under any guaranty of any Obligations, is limited or terminated by operation of law or by such Loan Party or other Person (other than in accordance with the terms of any Loan Document) or any Loan Party or such other Person repudiates or revokes or purports to repudiate or revoke such Guaranty or any such guaranty.

 

(h)               Loan Documents. (i) The validity or enforceability of any Loan Document shall at any time for any reason (other than solely as the result of an action or failure to act on the part of Lender) be declared to be null and void, or a proceeding shall be commenced by a Loan Party, or by any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over a Loan Party, seeking to establish the invalidity or unenforceability of any Loan Document, or a Loan Party shall deny that such Loan Party has any liability or obligation purported to be created under any Loan Document or (ii) any Loan Document that purports to create a Lien shall, for any reason, fail or cease to create a valid and perfected and (except to the extent of Permitted Liens which are non-consensual Permitted Liens, permitted purchase money Liens or the interests of lessors under Capital Leases) first priority Lien on the Collateral covered thereby, except (A) as a result of a disposition of the applicable Collateral in a transaction permitted under any Loan Document, or (B) as the result of an action or failure to act on the part of Lender.

 

(i)                 Change of Control. A Change of Control shall occur, whether directly or indirectly.

 

8.2              Remedies.

 

(a)               At any time an Event of Default exists, Lender shall have any and all rights and remedies provided in any Loan Document, the UCC and other applicable law, all of which rights and remedies may be exercised without notice to or consent by a Loan Party, except as such notice or consent is expressly provided for under any applicable Loan Document or required by applicable law. All rights, remedies and powers granted to Lender under any Loan Document, the UCC or other applicable law are cumulative, are not exclusive and are enforceable, in Lender’s discretion, alternatively, successively, or concurrently on any one or more occasions, and shall include the right to apply to a court of equity for an injunction to restrain a breach or threatened breach by a Loan Party of any Loan Document. Lender may, at any time, an Event of Default exists, proceed directly against one or more Loan Party to collect the Obligations without prior recourse to the Collateral.

 

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(b)               Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, at any time an Event of Default exists, Lender may (i) accelerate the payment of all or any portion of the Obligations and demand immediate payment thereof to Lender (provided, that, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default described in Sections 8.1(d), all Obligations shall automatically become immediately due and payable), (ii) by written notice to a Loan Party, require Loan Parties to provide cash collateral in an amount equal to 105% of the Letter of Credit Usage, (iii) terminate the Commitment (provided, that, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default described in Sections 8.1(d), the Commitment and any other obligation of Lender under any Loan Document shall automatically terminate), (iv) cease making Revolving Loans or providing Letters of Credit or reduce the lending formulas or amounts of Revolving Loans or (v) establish such Reserves as Lender determines, without limitation or restriction, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein.

 

9.                  NOTICES, AMENDMENTS, WAIVERS, INDEMNIFICATION, ETC.

 

9.1              Demand; Protest; Counterclaims, Etc. Each Loan Party waives 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 documents, instruments, chattel paper, and guarantees at any time held by Lender on which any Loan Party may in any way be liable. No notice to or demand on a Loan Party which Lender may elect to give shall entitle a Loan Party to any other or further notice or demand in the same, similar or other circumstances. Each Loan Party waives all rights to interpose any claims, deductions, setoffs or counterclaims of any nature (other than compulsory counterclaims) in any action or proceeding with respect to any Loan Document, the Obligations, the Collateral or any matter arising therefrom or relating hereto or thereto.

 

9.2              Indemnification. Each Loan Party shall pay, indemnify, defend, and hold Lender and its Affiliates, officers, directors, employees, attorneys, and agents (each, an “Indemnified Person”) harmless (to the fullest extent permitted by law) from and against any and all claims, demands, suits, actions, investigations, proceedings, liabilities, fines, costs, penalties, and damages, and all reasonable fees and disbursements of attorneys, experts, or consultants and all other costs and expenses actually incurred in connection therewith or in connection with the enforcement of this indemnification (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 (a) in connection with or as a result of or related to the execution and delivery, enforcement, performance, or administration (including any restructuring or workout with respect hereto) of any Loan Document, or the transactions contemplated thereby, (b) with respect to any actual or prospective investigation, litigation, or proceeding related to any Loan Document, the making of any Revolving Loans or the Term Loan, the issuance of any Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds of any Revolving Loan, the Term Loan or any Letter of Credit (whether or not any Indemnified Person is a party thereto), or any act, omission, event, or circumstance in any manner related thereto, and (c) in connection with or arising out of any presence or release of hazardous materials at, on, under, to or from any assets or properties owned, leased or operated by any Loan Party or otherwise related to compliance with applicable environmental laws (each and all of the foregoing, the “Indemnified Liabilities”). The foregoing to the contrary notwithstanding, no Loan Party shall have any obligation to any Indemnified Person under this Section 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 or its officers, directors, employees, attorneys, or agents. This provision shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the repayment in full of the Obligations. If any Indemnified Person makes any payment to any other Indemnified Person with respect to an Indemnified Liability as to which a Loan Party was required to indemnify the Indemnified Person receiving such payment, the Indemnified Person making such payment is entitled to be indemnified and reimbursed by each Loan Party with respect thereto. THE FOREGOING INDEMNITY SHALL APPLY TO EACH INDEMNIFIED PERSON WITH RESPECT TO INDEMNIFIED LIABILITIES WHICH IN WHOLE OR IN PART ARE CAUSED BY OR ARISE OUT OF ANY NEGLIGENT ACT OR OMISSION OF SUCH INDEMNIFIED PERSON OR OF ANY OTHER PERSON.

 

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9.3              Notices. Unless otherwise provided in this Agreement, all notices or demands relating to any Loan Document shall be in writing and shall be personally delivered or sent by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested), overnight courier, or electronic mail (at such email addresses as a party may designate in accordance herewith). In the case of notices or demands to any Loan Party or Lender, as the case may be, they shall be sent to the address set forth next to its signature hereto. Any party hereto may change the address at which they are to receive notices hereunder, by notice in writing in the foregoing manner given to the other parties. All notices or demands sent in accordance with this Section shall be deemed received on the earlier of the date of actual receipt or three Business Days after the deposit thereof in the mail; provided, that, (a) notices sent by overnight courier service shall be deemed to have been given when received, (b) notices by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient) and (c) notices by electronic mail shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgment from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return email or other written acknowledgment).

 

9.4              Assignments; Successors. This Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of the respective successors and assigns of each of the parties; provided, that, no Loan Party may assign this Agreement or any rights or duties hereunder without Lender’s prior written consent and any prohibited assignment shall be absolutely void ab initio. No consent to assignment by Lender shall release any Loan Party from its Obligations. Lender may assign the Loan Documents in whole or in part and its rights and duties thereunder or grant participations in the Obligations and no consent or approval by any Loan Party is required in connection with any such assignment or participation.

 

9.5              Amendments; Waivers. No amendment or modification of any Loan Document shall be effective unless it has been agreed to by Lender in a writing that specifically states that it is intended to amend or modify such Loan Document. No failure by Lender to exercise any right, remedy, or option under any Loan Document, or delay by Lender in exercising the same, will operate as a waiver thereof. No waiver by Lender will be effective unless it is in writing, and then only to the extent specifically stated. No waiver by Lender on any occasion shall affect or diminish Lender’s rights thereafter to require strict performance by any Loan Party of any provision of any Loan Document. Lender’s rights under the Loan Documents will be cumulative and not exclusive of any other right or remedy that Lender may have.

 

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10.              JURY TRIAL WAIVER; OTHER WAIVERS CONSENTS; GOVERNING LAW.

 

10.1          GOVERNING LAW. THE VALIDITY OF THE LOAN DOCUMENTS (UNLESS EXPRESSLY OTHERWISE PROVIDED THEREIN), THE CONSTRUCTION, INTERPRETATION, AND ENFORCEMENT THEREOF, THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES THERETO WITH RESPECT TO ALL MATTERS ARISING THEREUNDER OR RELATED THERETO, AND ANY CLAIMS, CONTROVERSIES OR DISPUTES ARISING THEREUNDER OR RELATED THERETO SHALL BE DETERMINED UNDER, GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

 

10.2          FORUM NON CONVENIENS. THE PARTIES AGREE THAT ALL ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS ARISING IN CONNECTION WITH THE LOAN DOCUMENTS SHALL BE TRIED AND LITIGATED ONLY IN THE STATE AND, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, FEDERAL COURTS LOCATED IN THE COUNTY OF COOK, STATE OF ILLINOIS; PROVIDED, THAT, ANY SUIT SEEKING ENFORCEMENT AGAINST ANY COLLATERAL OR OTHER PROPERTY MAY BE BROUGHT, AT LENDER’S OPTION, IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION WHERE LENDER ELECTS TO BRING SUCH ACTION OR WHERE SUCH COLLATERAL OR OTHER PROPERTY MAY BE FOUND. EACH LOAN PARTY AND LENDER WAIVE, 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.

 

10.3          WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EACH LOAN PARTY AND LENDER HEREBY WAIVE THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHTS, IF ANY, TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CAUSE OF ACTION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF ANY LOAN DOCUMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED THEREIN, INCLUDING CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS, AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW OR STATUTORY CLAIMS (EACH A “CLAIM”). EACH LOAN PARTY AND LENDER 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.

 

10.4          SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. EACH LOAN PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS LOCATED IN THE COUNTY OF COOK AND THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN ANY LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO ANY LOAN DOCUMENT AGAINST ANY LOAN PARTY OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

 

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10.5          WAIVER OF CLAIMS. NO CLAIM MAY BE MADE BY ANY LOAN PARTY AGAINST LENDER OR ANY AFFILIATE, DIRECTOR, OFFICER, EMPLOYEE, COUNSEL, REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT, OR ATTORNEY-IN-FACT OF ANY OF THEM FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES OR LOSSES IN RESPECT OF ANY CLAIM FOR BREACH OF CONTRACT OR ANY OTHER THEORY OF LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY ANY LOAN DOCUMENT, OR ANY ACT, OMISSION, OR EVENT OCCURRING IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, AND EACH LOAN PARTY HEREBY WAIVES, RELEASES, AND AGREES NOT TO SUE UPON ANY CLAIM FOR SUCH DAMAGES, WHETHER OR NOT ACCRUED AND WHETHER OR NOT KNOWN OR SUSPECTED TO EXIST IN ITS FAVOR.

 

11.              GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

11.1          Effectiveness; Section Headings; Severability. This Agreement shall be binding and deemed effective when executed by each Loan Party and Lender whose signature is provided for on the signature pages hereof. 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. 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.

 

11.2          Counterparts; Electronic 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. Execution of any such counterpart may be by means of (a) an electronic signature that complies with the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, state enactments of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, or any other relevant and applicable electronic signatures law; (b) an original manual signature; or (c) a faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature. Each electronic signature or faxed, scanned, or photocopied manual signature shall for all purposes have the same validity, legal effect, and admissibility in evidence as an original manual signature. Lender reserves the right, in its discretion, to accept, deny, or condition acceptance of any electronic signature on this Agreement. Any party delivering an executed counterpart of this Agreement by faxed, scanned or photocopied manual signature shall also deliver an original manually executed counterpart, but the failure to deliver an original manually executed counterpart shall not affect the validity, enforceability and binding effect of this Agreement. The foregoing shall apply to each other Loan Document, and any notice delivered hereunder or thereunder, mutatis mutandis.

 

11.3          Patriot Act. Lender hereby notifies each Loan Party that pursuant to the requirements of the Patriot Act it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Person or corporation who opens an account or enters into a business relationship with it, which information includes the name and address of such Loan Party and other information that will allow Lender to identify such Person in accordance with the Patriot Act and any other applicable law. Each Loan Party is hereby advised that any Revolving Loans or Letters of Credit are subject to satisfactory results of such verification. Lender shall have the right to periodically conduct due diligence on each Loan Party, its senior management and key principals and legal and beneficial owners. Each Loan Party agrees to cooperate in respect of the conduct of such due diligence and further agrees that the reasonable costs and charges for any such due diligence by Lender shall constitute Lender Expenses for which Lender is entitled to reimbursement as provided herein and be for the account of Borrowers.

 

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11.4          Integration. The Loan Documents reflect 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 Closing Date. The foregoing to the contrary notwithstanding, all agreements for Bank Products, if any, are independent agreements governed by the written provisions of the agreements for them, which will remain in full force and effect, unaffected by any repayment, prepayments, acceleration, reduction, increase, or change in the terms of any credit extended hereunder, except as otherwise expressly provided in such agreement.

 

11.5          Disclosure. Lender may disclose information concerning the terms and conditions of the Loan Documents in its marketing or promotional materials, with such information to consist of deal terms and other information customarily found in such marketing or promotional materials and may otherwise use the name, logos, and other insignia of any Loan Party and the Commitment provided hereunder in any “tombstone” or other advertisements, on its website or in other marketing materials of Lender, the content and timing of publication of which has been approved by Administrative Borrower in its reasonable discretion.

 

11.6          Broadwind, Inc. as Agent for Borrowers. Each Loan Party hereby irrevocably appoints Broadwind, Inc. as the borrowing agent and attorney-in-fact for all Loan Parties (the “Administrative Borrower”) which appointment shall remain in full force and effect unless and until Lender shall have received prior written notice signed by each Loan Party that such appointment has been revoked and that another Loan Party has been appointed Administrative Borrower. Each Loan Party hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes Administrative Borrower (a) to provide Lender with all notices with respect to Revolving Loans, Letters of Credit and all other notices and instructions under the Loan Documents (and any notice or instruction provided by Administrative Borrower shall be deemed to be given by Loan Parties hereunder and shall bind each Loan Party), (b) to receive all notices, instructions and other information from Lender (and any notice, instructions or other information provided by Lender to Administrative Borrower shall be deemed to have been given to each Loan Party), and (c) to take such action as Administrative Borrower deems appropriate on its behalf to obtain Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit and to exercise such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto to carry out the purposes of this Agreement. Each Loan Party agrees that the handling of the Credit Facility, with Loan Parties and Collateral in a combined fashion, as more fully set forth herein, is done solely as an accommodation to Loan Parties in order to utilize the collective borrowing powers of Borrowers in the most efficient and economical manner and at their request, and that Lender shall not incur liability to any Loan Party as a result hereof. Each Loan Party expects to derive benefit, directly or indirectly, from the handling of the Credit Facility, with Loan Parties and Collateral in a combined fashion, since the successful operation of each Loan Party is dependent on the continued successful performance of the integrated group. Each Loan Party hereby agrees to indemnify Lender and hold Lender harmless against any and all liability, expense, loss or claim of damage or injury, made against Lender by any Loan Party or by any third party whosoever, arising from or incurred by reason of (i) the handling of the Credit Facility as herein provided, or (ii) Lender relying on any instructions of Administrative Borrower. This Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment in full of the Obligations.

 

 

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The parties have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date set forth above.

 

LENDER:

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

 

 

By /s/ Anwar Young

Name: Anwar Young

Title: Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

 

Address:

Wells Fargo Bank, National Association

10 S. Wacker Drive, 26th Floor

Chicago, Illinois 60606

Attention: Loan Portfolio Manager (Broadwind)
Fax No.: 312-332-0424

Email: [email protected]

 

 

LOAN PARTIES

 

BROADWIND, INC.,

as Administrative Borrower and a Borrower

 

By /s/ Thomas Ciccone

Name: Thomas Ciccone

Title: Vice President

 

 

BRAD FOOTE GEAR WORKS, INC.,

as a Borrower

 

By /s/ Thomas Ciccone

Name: Thomas Ciccone

Title: Treasurer

 

 

BROADWIND HEAVY FABRICATIONS, INC.,

as a Borrower

 

 

By /s/ Thomas Ciccone

Name: Thomas Ciccone

Title: Treasurer

 

 

BROADWIND INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS, LLC., as a Borrower

 

 

By /s/ Thomas Ciccone

Name: Thomas Ciccone

Title: Treasurer

 

 

5100 NEVILLE ROAD, LLC.,

as a Guarantor

 

By: BRAD FOOTE GEAR WORKS, INC.

Its: Manager

 

By /s/ Thomas Ciccone

Name: Thomas Ciccone

Title: Treasurer

 

 

 

 

 

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Address for Notices to any Loan Party:

 

Broadwind, Inc.

3450 South Central Ave

Cicero, IL 60804

Attention: Arlene McKenzie

Email: [email protected]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Annex LPA

 

 

Lender’s Payment Account

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule 1.1(c)
List of Freight Forwarders

 

 

·CH Robinson

 

·DSV Air & Sea Inc

 

·Rohlig Logistics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 2.5
TO
CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

Fees and Expenses

 

1.       Unused Line Fee. Borrowers shall pay to Lender monthly an unused line fee equal to 0.375% (on a per annum basis) multiplied by the amount by which the Revolving Loan Limit as then in effect exceeds the daily average of the principal balance of the outstanding Revolving Loans and the Letters of Credit during the immediately preceding month (or part thereof) until payment in full of the Obligations. Such fees shall be payable on the first day of each calendar month in arrears and on the Termination Date.

 

2.       Servicing Fee. Borrowers shall pay to Lender a monthly servicing fee in the amount of $1,000 in respect of Lender’s services for each month (or part thereof) which servicing fee shall be payable monthly in advance beginning on the Closing Date and on the first day of each month thereafter until payment in full of the Obligations.

 

3.       Closing Fee. Borrowers shall pay to Lender a closing fee in an amount equal to 0.25% of the Maximum Credit. The entire closing fee shall be deemed fully earned by Lender and shall be due and payable in full on the Closing Date.

 

4.       Letter of Credit Related Fees. Borrowers shall pay to Lender a Letter of Credit fee at a rate equal to the Applicable Margin for SOFR Loans that are Revolving Loans per annum times the daily balance of the undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit (calculated on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed), payable monthly in arrears on the first Business Day of each month and on the Termination Date and continuing until all undrawn Letters of Credit have expired or have been returned for cancellation in a manner satisfactory to Lender; provided that upon the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, the Letter of Credit fee shall be increased to two percentage points above the per annum rate otherwise applicable hereunder.

 

Borrowers shall also pay to Lender (i) a fronting fee equal to .125% per annum times the daily balance of the undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit during the immediately preceding month (or portion thereof), plus (ii) any and all other customary commissions, fees and charges then in effect imposed by, and any and all expenses incurred by, Lender, or by any adviser, confirming institution or entity or other nominated person, relating to Letters of Credit, at the time of issuance of any Letter of Credit and upon the occurrence of any other activity with respect to any Letter of Credit (including transfers, assignments of proceeds, amendments, drawings, extensions or cancellations).

 

5.       Lender Expenses. Borrowers shall pay to Lender the Lender Expenses on the earlier of (a) the first day of the month following the date on which the applicable Lender Expenses were first incurred, or (b) the date on which demand therefor is made by Lender (it being acknowledged and agreed that any charging of such costs, expenses or Lender Expenses to the Loan Account shall be deemed to constitute a demand for payment thereof for the purposes hereof). Borrowers agree that their obligations contained in this Section shall survive payment in full of all other Obligations.

 

Schedule 2.5

 

SCHEDULE 2.7
TO
CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

SOFR Replacement

 

Defined terms used in this Schedule 2.7 that are not otherwise defined in this Agreement are set forth at the end of this Schedule 2.7.

 

1.       Benchmark Replacement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, upon the occurrence of a Benchmark Transition Event, Lender may amend this Agreement to replace the then-current Benchmark with a Benchmark Replacement. Any such amendment will become effective at 5:00 p.m. on the fifth Business Day after Lender has provided such amendment to Administrative Borrower without any further action or consent of any Loan Party.

 

2.       Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. In connection with the implementation of a Benchmark Replacement, Lender will have the right to make Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes from time to time and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in any other Loan Document, any amendments implementing such Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes will become effective without any further action or consent of any Loan Party.

 

3.       Notices; Standards for Decisions and Determinations. Lender will promptly notify Administrative Borrower of (a) the implementation of any Benchmark Replacement and (b) the effectiveness of any Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes. Any determination, decision or election that may be made by Lender pursuant to this Schedule 2.7, including any determination with respect to a tenor, rate or adjustment or of the occurrence or non-occurrence of an event, circumstance or date and any decision to take or refrain from taking any action, will be conclusive and binding absent manifest error and may be made in Lender’s sole discretion and without consent from any Loan Party, except, in each case, as expressly required pursuant to this Schedule 2.7.

 

4.       Benchmark Unavailability Period. Upon Administrative Borrower’s receipt of notice of the commencement of a Benchmark Unavailability Period, Lender may (a) declare that SOFR Loans will not thereafter be made by Lender, such that any request for a SOFR Loan from Lender shall be deemed to be a request for a Base Rate Loan and (b) require that all outstanding SOFR Loans made by Lender be converted to Base Rate Loans immediately, in which event all outstanding SOFR Loans shall be so converted and shall bear interest at the Base Rate in effect from time to time, plus the Applicable Margin. The Base Rate in effect from time to time plus the Applicable Margin shall replace the then-current Benchmark for any determination of interest hereunder or under any other Loan Document during a Benchmark Unavailability Period.

 

5.       Certain Defined Terms. As used in this Schedule 2.7:

 

Benchmark” means, initially, Daily Simple SOFR, provided, that, if a Benchmark Transition Event, has occurred with respect to Daily Simple SOFR or the then-current Benchmark, then “Benchmark” means the applicable Benchmark Replacement to the extent that such Benchmark Replacement has become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Schedule 2.7.

 

Schedule 2.7-1

 

Benchmark Administrator” means, initially, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or any successor administrator of the then-current Benchmark or any insolvency or resolution official with authority over such administrator.

 

Benchmark Replacement” means the sum of: (a) the alternate rate of interest that has been selected by Lender as the replacement for the then-current Benchmark; and (b) the spread adjustment or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, (which may be a positive or negative value or zero) that has been selected by Lender, in each case, giving due consideration to (i) any selection or recommendation by the Relevant Governmental Body at such time for a replacement rate, the mechanism for determining such a rate, the methodology or conventions applicable to such rate, or the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for such rate, or (ii) any evolving or then-prevailing market convention for determining a rate of interest as a replacement to the then-current Benchmark, the methodology or conventions applicable to such rate, or the spread adjustment, or method for calculating or determining such spread adjustment, for such alternate rate for U.S. dollar-denominated syndicated or bilateral credit facilities at such time; provided, that, if the Benchmark Replacement as determined as provided above would be less than zero, then the Benchmark Replacement shall be deemed to be zero.

 

Benchmark Replacement Conforming Changes” means, with respect to any Benchmark Replacement, any technical, administrative or operational changes (including changes to the timing and frequency of determining rates and making payments of interest, prepayment provisions, and other technical, administrative or operational matters) that Lender decides may be appropriate to reflect the adoption and implementation of such Benchmark Replacement and to permit the administration thereof by Lender in a manner substantially consistent with market practice (or, if Lender decides that adoption of any portion of such market practice is not administratively feasible or if Lender determines that no market practice for the administration of the Benchmark Replacement exists, in such other manner of administration as Lender decides is reasonably necessary in connection with the administration of this Agreement).

 

Benchmark Replacement Date” means the earlier to occur of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark:

 

(a)               in the case of clause (a) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event,” the later of (i) the date of the public statement or publication of information referenced therein and (ii) the date on which the Benchmark Administrator permanently or indefinitely ceases to provide the Benchmark; or

 

(b)               in the case of clause (b) of the definition of “Benchmark Transition Event”, the first date on which the Benchmark has been determined and announced by the regulatory supervisor for the Benchmark Administrator to be no longer representative of underlying markets; provided, that such non-representativeness will be determined by reference to the most recent statement or publication referenced in such clause (b) and even if the Benchmark continues to be provided on such date.

 

Benchmark Transition Event” means the occurrence of one or more of the following events with respect to the then-current Benchmark: a public statement or publication of information by or on behalf of the Benchmark Administrator or a regulatory supervisor for the Benchmark Administrator announcing that (a) the Benchmark Administrator has ceased or will cease to provide the Benchmark permanently or indefinitely or (b) the Benchmark is no longer representative.

 

Schedule 2.7-2

 

Benchmark Unavailability Period” means, if a Benchmark Transition Event and its related Benchmark Replacement Date have occurred with respect to the then-current Benchmark and solely to the extent that the Benchmark has not been replaced with a Benchmark Replacement, the period (a) beginning at the time that such Benchmark Replacement Date has occurred if, at such time, no Benchmark Replacement has replaced the Benchmark for all purposes hereunder in accordance with this Schedule 2.7 and (b) ending at the time that a Benchmark Replacement has replaced the Benchmark for all purposes hereunder pursuant to this Schedule 2.7.

 

Relevant Governmental Body” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or a committee officially endorsed or convened by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and/or the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or any successor thereto.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule 2.7-3

 

SCHEDULE 3.1
TO
CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

Conditions Precedent to Initial Revolving Loans, the Term Loan and Letter of Credit

 

The obligation of Lender to make its initial Revolving Loans (or issue any Letter of Credit) or to make the Term Loan on the Closing Date is subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent to all Revolving Loans, the Term Loan and all Letters of Credit provided for in Section 3.2 and each of the following conditions precedent (except as Lender may otherwise agree in writing):

 

1.       Closing Excess Availability. The amount equal to (a) the Excess Availability as of the Closing Date plus unrestricted cash on the balance sheet of the Borrowers minus (b) the aggregate amount of all then outstanding and unpaid trade payables and other obligations of each Borrower which are outstanding more than 30 days past due as of the end of the immediately preceding month (other than trade payables or other obligations being contested or disputed by a Borrower in good faith) and without duplication, all book overdrafts of Borrowers, shall be not less than $10,000,000 after giving effect to the Term Loan, the initial Revolving Loans and Letters of Credit made in connection with the initial transactions hereunder and after payment of all fees and expenses payable on the Closing Date (or any Reserves in respect thereof).

 

2.       Field Examination. Lender shall have conducted, or received the final report of a firm engaged by Lender to conduct, a field examination of the Collateral, the books and records and other matters relating to the operation of the business of Borrowers the results of which are reasonably satisfactory to Lender, and Lender (or a firm engaged by Lender for such purpose) shall have completed an updated field review of the books and records of Borrowers and such other updated information with respect to the accounts and inventory as Lender may require to determine the amount of Revolving Loans available to Borrowers (including roll-forwards of accounts), with results as of a date not more than five Business Days prior to the Closing Date (or such earlier date as may be acceptable to Lender), the results of which shall be reasonably satisfactory to Lender.

 

3.       Appraisals. Lender shall have received the final report of third party appraisals with respect to inventory, equipment and real property of Borrowers, in form and containing assumptions and appraisal methods reasonably satisfactory to Lender by an appraiser acceptable to Lender, addressed to Lender and on which Lender is expressly permitted to rely, with results as of a date not more than 60 days prior to the Closing Date (or such earlier date as may be acceptable to Lender).

 

4.       Know Your Customer; Patriot Act. Lender shall have received at least 10 Business Days prior to the Closing Date (a) all documentation and information as is requested by Lender in connection with applicable “know your customer” and anti-money-laundering rules and regulations, (b) customary individual background searches for each Loan Party’s senior management and key principals, and (c) for each Loan Party that qualifies as a “legal entity customer” under 31 C.F.R. §1010.230, a certification in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender regarding beneficial ownership as required by such regulation and in the case of (a), (b) and (c),which certification shall be complete and accurate in all respects, and the results of which are reasonably satisfactory to Lender.

 

Schedule 3.1-1

 

5.       Financial Statements. Lender shall have received at least Ten (10) Business Days prior to the Closing Date: (a) audited financial statements of Borrowers for each of the three fiscal years immediately preceding the Closing Date, and (b) interim unaudited financial statements of Borrowers as of the most recent month end that is 30 days prior to the Closing Date for the fiscal year to date since the last audited financial statements received by Lender.

 

6.       Projections. Lender shall have received Projections, certified by an Authorized Person of a Borrower as complying with the requirements of this Agreement, set forth on a monthly basis for the period through the end of the 2022 and through June of 2023 and on an annual basis thereafter through the end of 2025, in each case with the results and assumptions in such projections in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender, which Projections are as of a date not more than 30 Business Days prior to the Closing Date.

 

7.       Payment of Fees and Expenses. Lender shall have received payment of all fees due and payable by Borrowers on the Closing Date and reimbursement for all Lender Expenses incurred in connection with the transactions evidenced by any Loan Document invoiced or demanded on or before the Closing Date.

 

8.       Legal Due Diligence. Lender and its counsel shall have completed all legal due diligence, the results of which shall be reasonably satisfactory to Lender.

 

9.       Borrowing Base Certificate and Request. Lender shall have received a borrowing request and a Borrowing Base Certificate which calculates the Borrowing Base as of the end of the month immediately preceding the Closing Date completed in a manner reasonably satisfactory to Lender and duly authorized and delivered by or on behalf of a Borrower to Lender (in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 5.2).

 

10.       Good Standing Certificates. Lender shall have received a certificate of status with respect to each Loan Party, dated within 30 days of the Closing Date (or such earlier date as is acceptable to Lender), issued by the appropriate officer of the jurisdiction of organization of such Loan Party and each other jurisdiction where the failure to be duly qualified or licensed would constitute a Material Adverse Effect, in each case which certificate shall indicate that such Loan Party is in good standing in such jurisdiction.

 

11.       Certificate of Directors’ Resolutions, Incumbency, Etc. Lender shall have received a certificate of an Authorized Person of a Borrower, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to it, certifying (a) that attached copies of the Governing Documents of each Loan Party are true and complete, and in full force and effect, without amendment except as shown; (b) that an attached copy of resolutions authorizing execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents is true and complete, and that such resolutions are in full force and effect, were duly adopted, have not been amended, modified or revoked, and constitute all resolutions adopted with respect to this Credit Facility; and (c) to the title, name and signature of each Person authorized to sign the Loan Documents.

 

Schedule 3.1-2

 

12.       Lien Searches. Lender shall have received the results of a recent Lien search in each jurisdiction where each Loan Party is organized and to the extent requested by Lender, where the assets of such Loan Party are located, and such search shall reveal no Liens on any of the assets of a Loan Party except for Permitted Liens or Liens to be discharged on or prior to the Closing Date pursuant to a pay-off letter or other documentation reasonably satisfactory to Lender.

 

13.       Pay-Off Letter. Lender shall have received pay-off letters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender, for all existing Indebtedness to be repaid from the proceeds of the initial Revolving Loans confirming that all Liens upon any of the assets of each Loan Party constituting Collateral will be terminated concurrently with such payment and all letters of credit issued or guaranteed as part of such Indebtedness shall have been cash collateralized or supported by a letter of credit.

 

14.       Pledged Equity Interests; Stock Powers; Pledged Notes. Lender shall have received (a) the original certificates representing Equity Interests pledged pursuant to any Loan Document, together with an undated stock power for each such certificate executed in blank by a duly authorized officer of the pledgor thereof and (b) each original promissory note (if any) pledged to Lender pursuant to any Loan Document endorsed (without recourse) in blank (or accompanied by an executed transfer form in blank) by the pledgor thereof.

 

15.       Insurance. Lender shall have received certificates of insurance policies and such other evidence of insurance coverage in form, scope and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender, and all lender’s loss payee and any other endorsements required under the Loan Documents, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender.

 

16.       Tax Withholding. Lender shall have received a properly completed and signed IRS Form W-8 or W-9, as applicable, for each Loan Party.

 

17.       Perfected Security Interest. Lender shall have received (a) a letter duly executed by each Loan Party authorizing Lender to file appropriate financing statements in such office or offices as may be necessary or, in the opinion of Lender, desirable to perfect the security interests to be created by the Loan Documents and (b) evidence that appropriate financing statements have been duly filed in such office or offices.

 

18.       No Material Adverse Change. No material adverse change in the business, operations, profits, assets or prospects of a Loan Party shall have occurred since April 22, 2022.

 

19.       Loan Documents. Lender shall have received the following documents, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender, duly executed and delivered, and each such document shall be in full force and effect and each Loan Party shall be in compliance with the terms thereof:

 

(a)               this Agreement,

 

(b)               the Security Agreement,

 

(c)               the Guaranty,

 

Schedule 3.1-3

 

(d)               Subject to Section 5.15, the Control Agreements,

 

(e)               the Mortgage;

 

(f)                a disbursement letter executed and delivered by Borrowers to Lender regarding the extensions of credit to be made on the Closing Date,

 

(g)               Subject to Section 5.15, Collateral Access Agreement from any lessor, warehouseman, processor, consignee, or other Person in possession of, having a Lien upon, or having rights or interests in the location of the books and records or inventory or equipment, in each case, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender, duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto, with respect to each of the following locations: (i) 3250 South Central Avenue, Cicero, IL 60804, (ii) 1824 Boone Trail Road, Sanford, NC 27330, (iii) 101 South 16th Street, P.O. Box 1957, Manitowoc, WI 54221, and

 

(h)               opinion letters of counsel to Borrowers with respect to the Loan Documents and such other matters as Lender may reasonably request.

 

20.       The Closing Date shall have occurred on or before September 30, 2022.

 

21.       Real Estate Matters. Subject to Section 5.15, Lender shall have received the following, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender:

 

(a)               commitment for mortgagee title insurance policies issued by a title insurance company reasonably satisfactory to Lender in amounts reasonably satisfactory to Lender (but in no event less than the fair market value thereof) assuring Lender that the Mortgages on such Real Property are valid and enforceable first priority mortgage Liens on such Real Property free and clear of all defects and encumbrances except Permitted Liens, and otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender,

 

(b)               ALTA surveys in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender,

 

(c)               phase-I environmental reports with respect to each parcel of Real Property subject to a Mortgage by environmental consultants reasonably satisfactory to Lender, the scope and results of which shall be reasonably satisfactory to Lender, and

 

(d)               flood certifications (and, if applicable, acceptable flood insurance and FEMA form acknowledgements of insurance).

 

 

 

 

Schedule 3.1-4

 

Schedule 4.5
Pending Litigation

 

 

Parties Matter Exposure Judgement

William Dugan v. Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc.

 

Filed: 3-02-2022 (TX)

Wrongful Termination – Retaliation Claim $250,000 Pending

Broadwind Heavy Fabrications v. First National Bank

(arbitration)

 

Filed: 6-29-2022

Equipment Financing - Dispute over fair market value purchase option $750,000 Pending

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule 4.9
Environmental Matters

 

 

-United States of America v. Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc. filed November 13, 2013 in the Northern District of Illinois – Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc. pleaded guilty to violation of Clean Water Act and paid off $1,500,000 fine in 2017 in full resolution of this matter and is deemed finally resolved.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule 4.14
Collective Bargaining Agreements, Etc.

 

 

-Agreement between Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc. and United Steel Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union on behalf of local union 5032-12 November 1, 2017 through October 31, 2022.

 

-Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc. and United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International on behalf of Local #9777-35 February 5, 2022 through February 4, 2026.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule 4.16
Subsidiaries

 

 

Subsidiary Name Type of Entity Relationship Authorized Equity Interests Issued
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. C Corp 100% owned by Broadwind, Inc. 550 Shares
Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc. C Corp 100% owned by Broadwind, Inc. 1,000 Shares
Broadwind Industrial Solutions, LLC LLC 100% owned by Broadwind, Inc. Uncertificated
5100 Neville Road, LLC LLC 100% owned by Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc. Uncertificated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 5.1
TO
CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

Financial and Collateral Reporting

 

Each Loan Party will deliver, or cause to be delivered, to Lender each of the following:

 

1.       Annual Financial Statement. As soon as available, but in any event within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of Loan Parties, audited consolidated and consolidating balance sheet, income statement, statement of cash flow and statement of equity of Loan Parties as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, and the accompanying notes thereto, all in reasonable detail, fairly presenting in all material respects the financial position and results of operations of such Loan Parties, together with a management discussion and analysis of such financial statements.

 

2.       Monthly Financial Statements. As soon as available, but in any event within 30 days after the end of each fiscal month of Loan Parties, its consolidated and consolidating balance sheet, income statement, statement of cash flow and statement of equity as of the end of and for such fiscal month, all in reasonable detail, fairly presenting in all material respects the financial position and the results of the operations of Loan Parties as of the end of and through such fiscal month, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the corresponding period or periods of (or, in the case of the balance sheet, as of the end of) the previous fiscal year, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

 

3.       Accountant’s Certificate. Concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section 1 above, the unqualified opinion of independent certified public accountants with respect to the audited consolidated financial statements, which independent accounting firm will be selected by a Borrower and reasonably acceptable to Lender and Lender hereby acknowledges that Company’s current independent accounting firm is acceptable, that such audited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, and present fairly in all material respects the results of operations and financial condition of Loan Parties as of the end of and for the fiscal year then ended and stating that in making the examination necessary therefor no knowledge was obtained of any Event of Default, or if any such Event of Default shall exist, stating the nature and status of such event.

 

4.       Compliance Certificate. Concurrently with the delivery of the financial statements referred to in Section 1 and Section 2 above, a Compliance Certificate by or on behalf of a Borrower, along with a schedule in form reasonably satisfactory to Lender of the calculations used in determining, as of the end of such month, the ratio and amounts set forth in Section 7 of this Agreement for such month and a written summary of material changes in GAAP and in the consistent application thereof that materially affected the financial covenant calculations for the applicable period.

 

5.       Annual Projections. As soon as available, but in any event no later than the end of, and no earlier than 30 days prior to the end of, each fiscal year of Loan Parties, Projections on a monthly basis for each month of the upcoming fiscal year in form reasonably satisfactory to Lender.

 

Schedule 5.1-1

 

6.       Borrowing Base Certificate. As soon as possible after the end of each calendar month (but in any event within 30 calendar days after the end thereof), or more frequently as Lender may require at any time an Event of Default exists or Excess Availability shall be less than 25% of the Revolving Loan Limit and thereafter (until such time as such Event of Default shall not exist for a period of 60 consecutive days or Excess Availability shall be greater than such amount for a period of 60 consecutive days), a Borrowing Base Certificate setting forth the calculation of the Borrowing Base as of the last Business Day of the immediately preceding period, duly completed and delivered by or on behalf of a Borrower (and nothing contained in any Borrowing Base Certificate shall be deemed to limit, impair or otherwise affect the rights of Lender contained herein and in the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the calculation of the Borrowing Base as set forth in any Borrowing Base Certificate and as determined by Lender in its Permitted Discretion, the determination of Lender shall govern and, absent manifest error, be conclusive and binding upon Borrowers).

 

7.       Collateral Reports.

 

(a)               As soon as possible after the end of each calendar month (but in any event within 30 calendar days after the end thereof), or more frequently as Lender may require at any time an Event of Default exists or the Excess Availability shall be less than 25% of the Revolving Loan Limit and thereafter (until such time as such Event of Default shall not exist for a period of 60 consecutive days or Excess Availability shall be greater than such amount for a period of 60 consecutive days):

 

(i)                 a detailed aging of accounts receivable (together with a reconciliation to the previous period’s aging and the general ledger) including all invoices aged by invoice date and due date (with an explanation of the terms offered), prepared in a manner reasonably acceptable to Lender, together with a summary specifying the name, address, and balance due for each account debtor (and including a list of all claims, offsets, or disputes asserted by account debtors with respect to each Borrower's accounts), and a monthly (or such other applicable period) accounts receivable roll-forward in a format acceptable to Lender tied to the beginning and ending accounts receivable balances of each Borrower’s general ledger;

 

(ii)              a schedule or perpetual reports detailing the inventory, in form satisfactory to Lender, by location (and including the amounts of inventory and the value thereof that is in-transit and at any leased locations and premises of warehouses, processors or other third parties or consignees) by category (raw material, work-in-process, finished goods), by product type, and by volume on hand, specifying the cost and the wholesale market value thereof, with additional detail showing additions to and deletions therefrom, together with a reconciliation to each Borrower’s general ledger; and

 

(iii)            agings of outstanding accounts payable by vendor (and including information indicating the amounts owing to owners and lessors of leased premises, warehouses, processors, and other third parties from time to time in possession of any Collateral) and any book overdraft and held checks.

 

Schedule 5.1-2

 

(b)               Concurrently with the delivery of the monthly financial statements under Section 2 above, a reconciliation of accounts payable, accounts receivable and inventory between (i) the amounts shown in a Borrower’s general ledger and financial statements and the reports delivered pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) of Section 7(a) above, and (ii) the amounts and dates shown in the reports delivered pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) of Section 7(a) above and the Borrowing Base Certificate delivered as of such date.

 

8.       Additional Collateral Items. Promptly upon Lender’s request:

 

(a)               copies of invoices issued by a Borrower in connection with any accounts receivable, credit memos, shipping and delivery documents, and other information related thereto;

 

(b)               copies of purchase orders, invoices, and shipping and delivery documents in connection with any inventory or equipment purchased by a Borrower; and

 

(c)               commencing upon such request, weekly or at such other times as may be requested by Lender, as soon as available but in any event within five (5) days of the end of each calendar week and at such other times, as of the period then ended, each Borrower’s sales journal, cash receipts journal (identifying trade and non-trade cash receipts) and debit memo/credit memo journal.

 

9.       Tax Returns. As soon as possible and in any event within 10 Business Days of filing thereof, copies of all tax returns filed by each Loan Party with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

 

10.       Management Letters, Etc. Promptly (but in any event within 10 Business Days after receipt by any Loan Party), copies of any detailed audit reports, management letters or recommendations submitted to the board of directors or equivalent governing body (or the audit committee of the board of directors or such equivalent governing body) of a Loan Party by independent accountants in connection with the accounts or books of each Loan Party, or any audit of any of them.

 

11.       Insurance. As soon as possible after the annual renewal, replacement or modification by each Loan Party of its insurance (and in any event within 10 Business Days thereafter), a certificate by an Authorized Person of a Borrower attaching the insurance binder or other evidence of insurance for any insurance coverage of each Loan Party that was renewed, replaced or modified.

 

12.       Additional Information.

 

(a)               as soon as possible after the end of each calendar month (but in any event within 10 Business Days after the end thereof), on a monthly basis or more frequently as Lender may request, a certificate by an Authorized Person of a Borrower consisting of: (i) the addresses of all locations of each Loan Party acquired or opened since the date of the most recent certificate delivered to Lender containing the information required under this clause, (ii) a report of any new deposit account or securities account established or used by each Loan Party with any bank or other financial institution and any existing deposit account or securities account currently established or used by each Loan Party with any bank or other financial institution that is at any time identified after the Closing Date and was not set forth in Schedule 5.9 or in the schedules to the Security Agreement, including in each case, the account number, the name and address of the financial institution at which such account is maintained, the purpose of such account and, if any, the amount held in such account on or about the date of such report, and (iii) a list of (A) all applications, if any, for intellectual property made since the date of the prior certificate (or, in the case of the first such certificate, the Closing Date), and (B) all issuances of registrations or letters on existing applications for Intellectual Property received since the date of the prior certificate (or, in the case of the first such certificate, the Closing Date);

 

Schedule 5.1-3

 

(b)               as soon as possible after the end of each calendar quarter (but in any event within 10 Business Days after the end thereof), on a quarterly basis or more frequently as Lender may request a detailed list of the customers of each Loan Party with address and contact information (provided, that, in any event such list shall be provided to Lender annually at the same time as the delivery of the annual financial statements as set forth in Section 1 above);

 

(c)               upon Lender’s request, (i) reports of sales for each category of inventory, (ii) summary reports on sales and use tax collections, deposits and payments, including monthly sales and use tax accruals, and (iii) true, correct and complete copies of all agreements, documents or instruments evidencing or otherwise related to Indebtedness that Lender has not otherwise received; and

 

(d)               promptly following any request therefor, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs, financial condition and Collateral of a Loan Party or compliance with the terms of the Agreement.

 

Any documents, schedules, invoices or other papers delivered to Lender may be destroyed or otherwise disposed of by Lender one year after the same are delivered to Lender.

 

Each Loan Party and Lender agree that the delivery of a Borrowing Base Certificate through Lender’s electronic platform or portal, subject to Lender’s authentication process, or by such other electronic method as may be directed by Lender from time to time, or by such other electronic input of information necessary to calculate the Borrowing Base as may be directed by Lender from time to time, shall in each case be used for purposes of the obligations of Borrowers to deliver Borrowing Base Certificates hereunder, with the same legal effect as if such Borrowing Base Certificate had been manually executed by a Borrower and delivered to Lender.

 

13.       Public Reporting

 

Promptly upon the filing thereof, Borrower shall deliver to Lender copies of all registration statements and annual, quarterly, monthly or other regular reports which Company or any of its Subsidiaries files with the SEC, as well as promptly providing to each Lender copies of any reports and proxy statements delivered to its shareholders.

 

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 1, 2, 3, 12 or 13 (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (i) on which Company posts such documents, or provides a link thereto on Company’s website; provided that Company shall notify Lender (by facsimile or electronic mail) of the posting of any such documents.

 

Schedule 5.1-4

 

Schedule 5.9
Deposit Accounts and Securities Accounts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule 5.9-1

 

SCHEDULE 5.15

 

Post-Closing Matters

 

Complete each of the tasks and other items set forth below at the following times (or such later date as Lender may agree in writing) in a manner satisfactory to Lender:

 

No later than 5 days after the Closing Date

 

 

 

a)     Cause to be delivered to Lender (i) the original certificates representing Equity Interests pledged pursuant to any Loan Document, together with an undated stock power for each such certificate executed in blank by a duly authorized officer of the pledgor thereof and (ii) each original promissory note (if any) pledged to Lender pursuant to any Loan Document endorsed (without recourse) in blank (or accompanied by an executed transfer form in blank) by the pledgor thereof, in each case, which Borrowers did not deliver to Lender on or before the Closing Date.

No later than 10 Business Days after the Closing Date

 

 

 

b)     Cause to be delivered to Lender (i) a lenders loss payee endorsement with respect to all property, casualty and business interruption insurance policies with a standard non-contributory “lender” or “secured party” clause maintained by the Loan Parties and their Subsidiaries and (ii) an additional insured endorsement in favor of Lender with respect to general liability insurance, in each case in form and substance satisfactory to Lender.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule 5.15-1

 

 

No later than 30 days after the Closing Date

 

a)     Unless such Deposit Accounts have been closed, cause to be delivered to Lender a Control Agreement for each Deposit Account (other than those excluded from such requirement pursuant to Section 5.9(a) of the Agreement) on terms and conditions satisfactory to Lender.

 

b)     Cause to be delivered to Lender final mortgagee title insurance policies issued by a title insurance company reasonably satisfactory to Lender in amounts reasonably satisfactory to Lender (but in no event less than the fair market value thereof) assuring Lender that the Mortgage on such Real Property are valid and enforceable first priority mortgage Liens on such Real Property free and clear of all defects and encumbrances except Permitted Liens, and otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender.

 

c)     Cause to be delivered to Lender intercreditor letters in favor of Lender with providers of Permitted Supplier Financing Transactions for each of the following:

 

i.      Accounts of Broadwind, Inc. owing by Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy et al. sold to Orbian Financial Services XXV Limited,

ii.     Accounts of Broadwind Industrial Solutions owing by General Electric Company et al. sold to MUFG Union Bank, N.A.,

iii.    Accounts of Broadwind Heavy Fabrications owing by General Electric Company et al. sold to MUFG Union Bank, N.A.,

iv.    Accounts of Broadwind, Inc. owing by Caterpillar Inc. et al. sold to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., and

v.     Accounts of Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc. owing by Metso Oyj et al. sold to CitiBank Europe PLC.

 

 

 

 

Schedule 5.15-2

 

 

 

No later than 60 days after the Closing Date d)     Use commercially reasonable efforts to deliver to Lender a Collateral Access Agreement for each leased location of Borrowers identified below for which Borrowers did not deliver to Lender a Collateral Access Agreement on or before the Closing Date:  (i) 3250 South Central Avenue, Cicero, IL 60804, (ii) 1824 Boone Trail Road, Sanford, NC 27330, (iii) 101 South 16th Street, P.O. Box 1957, Manitowoc, WI 54221.
No later than 120 days after the Closing Date

e)     Establish the Loan Parties’ primary depository and treasury-management relationship with Wells Fargo or one of its Affiliates.

 

 

No later than 365 days after the Closing Date f)     Use commercially reasonable efforts to deliver to Lender evidence that Broadwind Services, LLC has been dissolved and wound up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule 5.15-3

 

Schedule 6.1
Existing Indebtedness

 

 

 

 

Loan Party Obligor/
Guarantor
Creditor/
Beneficiary
Amount of Debt Amortization Maturity Date Collateral Intercreditor Agreement (Y/N)
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Manitou Finance by Bank of the West  $27,473 $981 11/01/24 2019 GEHL MI30G Masted Forklift N
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Manitou Finance by Bank of the West $54,900 $1,961 04/09/25 Manitou 10k lb Mi50 Lift Truck N
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Toyota Commercial Finance  $17,150 $613 04/29/23 2015 Toyota LP Lift Truck Model 8FGU25-78783 N
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Toyota Commercial Finance  $17,150 $613 04/29/23 2015 Toyota LP Lift Truck Model 8FGU25-78810 N
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Toyota Commercial Finance  $17,150 $613 04/29/23 2015 Toyota LP Lift Truck Model 8FGU25-78812 N
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Toyota Commercial Finance  $23,380 $835 05/25/23 2015 Toyota LP Lift Truck Model 8FGC45U-12614 N
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Toyota Commercial Finance  $17,400 $621 06/30/23 2016 Toyota Lift Truck Model 8FDU25-61112 N

 

 

 

 

Loan Party Obligor/
Guarantor
Creditor/
Beneficiary
Amount of Debt Amortization Maturity Date Collateral Intercreditor Agreement (Y/N)
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Toyota Commercial Finance  $17,400 $621 06/30/23 2016 Toyota Lift Truck Model 8FDU25-61113 N
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Toyota Commercial Finance  $17,400 $621 07/20/23 2016 Toyota Lift Truck Model 8FDU25-61114 N
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Toyota Commercial Finance  $15,900 $568 06/30/23 2016 Genie Articulating Boom Model Z33/18-Z331816M-609 N
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. First National Capital  $1,893,523 $47,338 08/31/21 Refurbished Gantry Cranes N
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Balboa  $55,112 $3,563 04/29/23 Abilene Paint Rings N
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Liberty Commercial Finance $156,546 $8,559 04/30/23 Misc Abilene - Lifting, Welding Equipment, Paint Ring Drive Motors, etc. N
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Liberty Commercial Finance  $1,426,975 $35,898 04/30/23 Fives G&L Horizontal Boring Mill and Soft Costs N
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Liberty Commercial Finance  $270,345 $6,759 08/31/23 West Blast Crane N

 

 

 

 

Loan Party Obligor/
Guarantor
Creditor/
Beneficiary
Amount of Debt Amortization Maturity Date Collateral Intercreditor Agreement (Y/N)
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Liberty Commercial Finance  $97,500 $2,438 08/31/23 30T Crane N
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Ailco Equipment Finance Group  $278,395  $6,960 09/30/25 East Blast Crane N
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. HPEFS  $27,814 $2,781 05/31/23 Abilene Switching Equipment N
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. HPEFS  $82,493 $7,407 09/30/23 Manitowoc Switching Equipment N
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Liberty Commercial Finance  $386,119 $12,330 11/30/23 Paint Storage Building & Beveling Machines N
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Complete Capital Services  $135,179 $4,828 12/31/25 Faro Laser Tracker N
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Pawnee Leasing Corporation  $409,711 $10,243 03/31/26 2005 Kalmar Reach Stacker UE4096 N
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Liberty Commercial Finance  $365,033 $13,401 05/31/24 2015 JLG, Paint Rings, Kalmar Engine Trans, Hyperfill Welding Units N

 

 

 

 

Loan Party Obligor/
Guarantor
Creditor/
Beneficiary
Amount of Debt Amortization Maturity Date Collateral Intercreditor Agreement (Y/N)
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Liberty Commercial Finance  $317,060 $10,886 05/31/24 Rotators, Welders, 2018 Bobcat N
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Liberty Commercial Finance  $93,080 $4,150 05/31/24 Welders, Induction Heat Treat Oven N
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Liberty Commercial Finance  $650,305 $21,802 08/31/24 60T Turning Rolls, Kalmar, and Mobile Equipment N
Broadwind Industrial Solutions, LLC Balboa  $127,744                  $5,562 05/31/23 Balboa lease N
Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc. Ailco Equipment Finance Group  $267,000                  $6,675 05/31/26 Mitsubishi Wire EDM System N
Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc. First National Capital  $75,029                  $1,876 05/01/22 Toshiba HMC Mill 110R16 - 19-004 N
Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc. First National Capital  $250,099                  $6,252 05/31/22 Youji 130 HBM Mill N
Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc. Ailco Equipment Finance Group  $262,332                  $6,558 12/15/22 DMC 60 FD Duoblock small 5 axis - 19005 N
Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc. Complete Capital Services  $230,865                  $8,245 11/01/26 Gas Gen. AC Holcroft N
Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc. DMG Finance, Sumimoto  $1,824,774 -    03/25/29 DMG Mori Finance DMC 125 FD duoBlock N

 

 

 

 

Loan Party Obligor/
Guarantor
Creditor/
Beneficiary
Amount of Debt Amortization Maturity Date Collateral Intercreditor Agreement (Y/N)
Broadwind, Inc. HPEFS  $89,831                  $5,614 12/01/23 60 laptops N
Broadwind, Inc. HPEFS  $109,894                  $6,868 05/01/24 2020 laptops N
Broadwind, Inc. HPEFS  $76,095                  $6,341 07/31/23 Pure Storage N
Broadwind, Inc. HPEFS  $18,967                  $1,581 02/01/24 Stock Laptops N
Broadwind, Inc. HPEFS  $88,516                  $5,532 02/01/25 ISS Server Hardware N
Broadwind, Inc. HPEFS  $20,009                  $1,251 02/01/25 Cisco Hardware N
Broadwind, Inc. HPEFS  $79,864                  $6,655 05/01/24 VoIP N
Broadwind, Inc. HPEFS  $90,191                  $7,516 10/01/24 Cisco Meraki N
Broadwind, Inc. HPEFS  $92,082                  $3,837 01/01/26 2022 laptops N

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule 6.2
Existing Liens

 

 

Debtor

Secured Party

 

Jurisdiction

Date

Filed

File

Number

 

Description

Broadwind Energy, Inc. Hewlett-Packard Financial Services Company Secretary of State, Delaware 11/11/2020 2020 7888516 All equipment and software leased to or financed for Debtor
Broadwind Energy, Inc. Hewlett-Packard Financial Services Company Secretary of State, Illinois 6/5/2020 25655834 All equipment and software leased to or financed for Debtor
Broadwind Energy, Inc. Hewlett-Packard Financial Services Company Secretary of State, Illinois 8/31/2020 26424984 All equipment and software leased to or financed for Debtor
Broadwind Energy, Inc. Hewlett-Packard Financial Services Company Secretary of State, Illinois 4/8/2021 27141153 All equipment and software leased to or financed for Debtor
Broadwind Energy, Inc. Hewlett-Packard Financial Services Company Secretary of State, Illinois 7/22/2021 27492606 All equipment and software leased to or financed for Debtor
Broadwind Energy, Inc. Hewlett-Packard Financial Services Company Secretary of State, Illinois 9/30/2021 27729541 All equipment and software leased to or financed for Debtor
Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc. Citibank Europe PLC Secretary of State, Illinois 7/11/2017 22539302 All accounts owing to Supplier by METSO OYJ under that certain Accounts Receivable Purchase Agreement
Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc. Citibank Europe PLC Secretary of State, Illinois 4/18/2022 9801516 Continuation of 22539302
Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. Secretary of State, Illinois 3/26/2018 23224585 6 Komatsu FG25ST-16 Forklifts, s/n A452841, A452840, A452842, A452874, A452873, A452872
Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc. Corporation Service Company, as Representative Secretary of State, Illinois 3/29/2019 24265773 All equipment pursuant to a  Master Equipment Lease Agreement

 

 

 

 

 

Debtor

Secured Party

 

Jurisdiction

Date

Filed

File

Number

 

Description

Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc. Corporation Service Company, as Representative and Dedicated Funding, LLC Secretary of State, Illinois 6/28/2019 09618632 Amendment to 24265773, Assignment of partial interest to: Dedicated Funding, LLC
Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc. Corporation Service Company, as Representative, Dedicated Funding, LLC, and Midland States Bank Secretary of State, Illinois 7/31/2019 09623499 Amendment to 24265773, Assignment of partial interest to: Midland States Bank
Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc. Alico Equipment Finance Group, Inc. Secretary of State, Illinois 12/13/2019 25029801 2013 DMG MORI DMC FD duoBLOCK, s/n 11840000443
Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc. Alico Equipment Finance Group, Inc. Secretary of State, Illinois 6/25/2021 27409946 Mitsubishi MV4800-S Wire EDM System, s/n 50CS4039
Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc. Complete Capital Services, Inc. Secretary of State, Illinois 9/20/2021 27691064 1 EZ-9000 Series Modular Endothermic Gas Generator
Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc. LEAF Capital Funding, LLC Secretary of State, Illinois 9/20/2021 09761901 Amendment to 27691064, Assignment to LEAF Capital Funding, LLC
Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc. Deutsche Leasing USA, Inc. Secretary of State, Illinois 9/21/2021 27694330 Equipment pursuant to a Master Lease Agreement dated as of September 20, 2021, and the related Lease Schedule #001 dated as of September 20, 2021
Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc. Corporation Service Company, as Representative Secretary of State, Illinois 11/15/2021 27886280 All equipment, software and personal property pursuant to a lease between Lessor and Lessee. TRUE LEASE.
Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc. Sumitomo Mitsui Finance & Leasing Co., Ltd. Secretary of State, Illinois 1/31/2022 28123582 2021 DMG MORI CTXgamma3000TC Turning Machine, s/n 00870000721
Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc. Sumitomo Mitsui Finance & Leasing Co., Ltd. Secretary of State, Illinois 3/28/2022 28296738 2021 DMG MORI DMC 125 FD dueBLOCK 5-Axis, s/n 12490001573
Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc. DMG Mori USA Inc. Secretary of State, Illinois 4/15/2022 28375557 1 CTX 3000 machine, s/n 00870000721
Broadwind Towers, Inc. Corporation Service Company, as representative Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 6/19/2018 180008507222 All equipment … Master Equipment Lease Agreement …

 

 

 

 

 

Debtor

Secured Party

 

Jurisdiction

Date

Filed

File

Number

 

Description

Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc. Corporation Service Company, as representative Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 3/21/2019 190003522012 Amendment to 180008507222, Amendment to Debtor name: Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc.
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Corporation Service Company, as representative Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 9/9/2020 2020090900748-3 Amendment to 180008507222, Amendment to Debtor name: Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc.
Broadwind Towers, Inc. Corporation Service Company, as representative Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 9/11/2019 20190912000474-9 All equipment, machinery, furniture, fixtures, software, inventory and/or other personal property subject to a term note, loan and security agreement, lease, or other financing agreement between Secured Party and Debtor
Broadwind Towers, Inc. Corporation Service Company, as representative Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 10/9/2019 20191009000417-6

Amendment to 20190912000474-9, Amendment to add collateral:

 

Equipment Schedule No. 1 to Master Equipment Lease Agreement dated as of September 12, 2019

 

Broadwind Towers, Inc. Prime Alliance Bank, Inc. Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 10/11/2019 20191011000319-0 Amendment to 20190912000474-9, Assignment to: Prime Alliance Bank, Inc.
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Prime Alliance Bank, Inc. Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 3/16/2020 20200316000636-5 Amendment to 20190912000474-9,  Amendment to Debtor name: Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc.
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Prime Alliance Bank, Inc. Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 3/23/2020 20200325000228-8 Amendment to 20190912000474-9, Amendment to add collateral:

 

 

 

 

 

Debtor

Secured Party

 

Jurisdiction

Date

Filed

File

Number

 

Description

Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Prime Alliance Bank, Inc. Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 3/26/2020 20200327000177-3 Amendment to 20190912000474-9, Assignment to: Prime Alliance Bank, Inc.
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Prime Alliance Bank, Inc. Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 4/3/2020 20200406000185-8 Amendment to 20190912000474-9, Amendment to add collateral:
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Prime Alliance Bank, Inc. Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 4/13/2020 20200413000420-8 Amendment to 20190912000474-9, Assignment to: Prime Alliance Bank, Inc.
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Prime Alliance Bank, Inc. Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 4/29/2020 20200430000206-7 Amendment to 20190912000474-9, Amendment to add collateral.
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Prime Alliance Bank, Inc. Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 5/8/2020 20200511000105-3 Amendment to 20190912000474-9, Assignment to: Prime Alliance Bank, Inc.
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Prime Alliance Bank, Inc. Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 9/1/2020 20200902000081-2 Amendment to 20190912000474-9, Amendment to add collateral.
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Prime Alliance Bank, Inc. Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 9/1/2020 20200902000084-9 Amendment to 20190912000474-9, Amendment to add collateral.
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Prime Alliance Bank, Inc. Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 9/9/2020 20200910000457-0 Amendment to 20190912000474-9, Assignment to: Prime Alliance Bank, Inc.
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Prime Alliance Bank, Inc. Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 7/15/2021 20210715000682-0 Amendment to 20190912000474-9, Amendment to add collateral.
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Prime Alliance Bank, Inc. Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 9/13/2021 20210913000461-9 Amendment to 20190912000474-9, Assignment to: Prime Alliance Bank, Inc.
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Bank of the West Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 3/10/2020 20200310000759-1 MANITOU MI50 Lift Truck, s/n MAN00000P00876938

 

 

 

 

 

Debtor

Secured Party

 

Jurisdiction

Date

Filed

File

Number

 

Description

Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Alico Equipment Finance Group, Inc. Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 3/30/2020 20200330000075-0 Konecranes CXTD 45-Ton 74Ft Double Girder Crane, s/n US72002020 and US72002120
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Alico Equipment Finance Group, Inc. Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 8/19/2020 20200819000228-2

Amendment to 20200330000075-0, Amendment to restate collateral.

 

Konecrane CXTD 45-Ton 74Ft Double Girder Crane, s/n US72002120

 

Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Toyota Industries Commercial Finance, Inc. Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 5/28/2020 20200528000185-9 1 Toyota Forklift Model #8FGU25, s/n 78783
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Toyota Industries Commercial Finance, Inc. Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 5/29/2020 20200529000180-3 1 Toyota Forklift Model #9FGU25, s/n 78810, 78812
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Toyota Industries Commercial Finance, Inc. Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 6/12/2020 20200612000722-2 ONE (1) TOYOTA FORKLIFT MODEL #8FGC45U SERIAL #12614.
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Toyota Industries Commercial Finance, Inc. Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 8/24/2020 20200824000104-5 ONE (1) TOYOTA FORKLIFT MODEL #8FGC45U SERIAL #12614
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Toyota Industries Commercial Finance, Inc. Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 8/25/2020 20200825000620-7 TWO(2) TOYOTA FORKLIFT MODEL # 8FDU25 SERIAL # 61112, 61113
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Toyota Industries Commercial Finance, Inc. Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 8/26/2020 20200826000318-4 ONE (1) TOYOTA FORKLIFT MODEL #8FDU25 SERIAL #61114

 

 

 

 

 

Debtor

Secured Party

 

Jurisdiction

Date

Filed

File

Number

 

Description

Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. MUFG Union Bank, N.A. Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 8/27/2020 20200827000640-5 All now existing or hereafter arising Receivables, an interest in which is transferred at any time, in the past, present or future, by the Debtor to MUFG Union Bank, N.A. "Receivable" means any right to payment of a monetary obligation, whether or not earned by performance, whether owed to the Debtor by General Electric Company ("GE") or a current or future subsidiary or affiliate of GE ….
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. MUFG Union Bank, N.A. Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 2/14/2022 20220214000754-1 Amendment to 20200827000640-5, Amendment to restate collateral.
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Corporation Service Company, as representative Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 12/11/2020 20201214000110-2 Specific equipment subject to an Equipment Schedule 04 to Master Equipment Lease Agreement dated Sept 2, 2019 … together with all proceeds ….
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Complete Capital Services, Inc. Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 1/5/2021 20210105000082-5 One (1) Tracker Vantage S Laser Tracker including Complete Care-LT Vantage One (1) Arm with Bluetook and WLAN
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. LEAF Capital Funding, LLC Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 1/5/2021 20210105000086-1 Amendment to 20210105000082-5, Assignment of partial interest to: LEAF Capital Funding, LLC
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. LEAF Capital Funding, LLC Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 2/9/2021 20210209000246-6 Amendment to 20210105000082-5, Amendment to restate collateral.

 

 

 

 

 

Debtor

Secured Party

 

Jurisdiction

Date

Filed

File

Number

 

Description

Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. CT Corporation System, as representative Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 3/29/2021 20210330000334-9 Specific equipment including a Hoist Model HRS-45-40, serial # 29373.
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. VFI KR SPE I LLC Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 6/1/2021 20210601000261-9 Specific leased equipment referenced on Schedule No. 01.
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. CT Corporation System, as representative Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 5/27/2022 20220527000627-9 equipment, goods, assets, hardware, personal property, vehicles, inventory, software, collateral, and other tangible and intangible items Equipment Finance Agreement No. 002  
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. CT Corporation System, as representative Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 5/27/2022 20220527000680-8 equipment, goods, assets, hardware, personal property, vehicles, inventory, software, collateral, and other tangible and intangible items Equipment Finance Agreement No. 001  
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Corporation Service Company, as representative Manitowoc County, Wisconsin 9/3/2020 1224317, Vol 3331, Pg 218 Fixture Filing, equipment … 500 S. 16th Street, Building #143, Manitowoc, WI
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Prime Alliance Bank, Inc. Manitowoc County, Wisconsin 2/1/2021 1231083, Vol 3374, Pg 190 Amendment to 1224317, Vol 3331, Pg 218, Amendment to add Secured Party: Prime Alliance Bank, Inc.
Broadwind Towers, Inc. Corporation Service Company, as representative Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 3/8/2016 160003103512 Equipment leases or financed pursuant to Master Equipment Lease Agreement between Lessor and Lessee
Broadwind Towers, Inc. Harbor Capital, LLC Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 4/28/2016 160005653625 Amendment to 160003103512, Assignment to: Harbor Capital, LLC

 

 

 

 

 

Debtor

Secured Party

 

Jurisdiction

Date

Filed

File

Number

 

Description

Broadwind Towers, Inc. Harbor Capital, LLC Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 4/28/2016 160005654020

Amendment to 160003103512, Amendment to add collateral.

 

Equipment located at 1126 N. Arnold Blvd, Abilene, TX and 300 Wall St, Abilene, TX

 

Broadwind Towers, Inc. Harbor Capital, LLC Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 1/7/2021 20210107000747-3 Continuation of 160003103512
Broadwind Towers, Inc. Orbian Financial Services II, LLC Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 10/6/2016 160013203716 Trade account receivables owing by Siemens Corp.
Broadwind Towers, Inc. Orbian Financial Services II, LLC Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 9/28/2021 2021092800679-8 Continuation of 160013203716
Broadwind Towers, Inc. Radius Bank Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 12/20/2017 170017032922 1978 Ingersoll 8” CNC Floor Type Horizontal Boring Mill, s/n 24162, Equipment Security Note 2 pursuant to Master Loan Agreement dated May 19, 2017
Broadwind Towers, Inc. Radius Bank Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 12/21/2017 170017095022 1978 Ingersoll 8” CNC Floor Type Horizontal Boring Mill, s/n 24162
Broadwind Towers, Inc. Radius Bank Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 3/1/2018 180002723923 Equipment Security Note 3 pursuant to Master Loan Agreement dated May 19, 2017, BlaaHolm AS Roller Baggies for robots. Hybrid Blasts and Rotator Sets (3 sets), BlaaHolm AS Roller Baggies for robots. Hybrid Blasts and Rotator Sets (4 sets). Faccin Control Upgrade to Plate, s/n 04052690-2679, Plasma Oxy PG30 cutting machine, s/n 6720

 

 

 

 

 

Debtor

Secured Party

 

Jurisdiction

Date

Filed

File

Number

 

Description

Broadwind Towers, Inc. Corporation Service Company, as representative Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 6/19/2018 180008507222 equipment leased or financed pursuant to Master Equipment Lease Agreement between Lessor and Lessee
Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc. Corporation Service Company, as representative Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 3/21/2019 190003522012 Amendment to 180008507222,  Amendment to Debtor name: Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc.
Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc. Corporation Service Company, as representative Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 9/9/2020 2020090900748-3 Amendment to 180008507222,  Amendment to Debtor name: Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc.
Broadwind Towers, Inc. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 11/6/2018 180014883428 All accounts receivables to Caterpillar, Inc. pursuant to a Receivables Purchase Agreement
Broadwind Towers, Inc. Toyota Industries Commercial Finance, Inc. Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 3/21/2019 190003496729 1 Toyota Forklift model #8FGU30, s/n 65571
Broadwind Towers, Inc. Orbian Financial Services XXV, Limited Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 7/24/2019 20190724000314-5 All trade account receivables owing by Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, S.A.
Broadwind Towers, Inc. Bank of the West Department of Financial Institutions, Wisconsin 10/24/2019 20191024000531-4 2019 GEHL MI30G Masted Forklift, s/n MAN00000P00876924
Broadwind Towers, Inc. Radius Bank Manitowoc County, Wisconsin 2/13/2018 1191015, Vol 3134, Pg 170 Fixture Filing 500 S. 16th Street, Building #143, Manitowoc, WI
Broadwind Towers, Inc. Red-D-Arc Inc. Secretary of State, Texas 2/22/2021 21-0006776655 Specific Equipment, Lease Agreement

 

 

 

 

 

Debtor

Secured Party

 

Jurisdiction

Date

Filed

File

Number

 

Description

Broadwind Industrial Solutions, LLC MUFG Union Bank, N.A. Secretary of State, North Carolina 10/16/2020 20200157945G

All now existing or hereafter arising Receivables, an interest in which is transferred at any time, in the past, present or future, by the

Debtor to MUFG Union Bank, N.A. "Receivable" means any right to payment of a monetary obligation, whether or not earned by performance, whether owed to the Debtor by General Electric Company ("GE") or a current or future subsidiary or affiliate of GE.

 

Broadwind Industrial Solutions, LLC MUFG Union Bank, N.A. Secretary of State, North Carolina 2/15/2022 20220020521H Amendment to 20200157945G, Amendment to restate collateral.
Broadwind Industrial Solutions, LLC MUFG Bank (Europe) N.V. Secretary of State, North Carolina 4/14/2021 20210047280H

All now existing or hereafter arising Receivables, an interest in which is transferred at any time, in the past, present or future, by the

Debtor to MUFG Bank (Europe), N.V. "Receivable" means any right to payment of a monetary obligation, whether or not earned by performance, whether owed to the Debtor by General Electric Company ("GE") or a current or future subsidiary or affiliate of GE.

 

Broadwind Industrial Solutions, LLC Bank of the West Secretary of State, North Carolina 10/7/2021 20210135977J All Machine tools and related equipment leased or financed

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule 6.9
Existing Investments

 

Equity Interests

 

Loan Party Issuer of Equity Interests Owned by Loan Party Type of Organization Percentage Ownership by Loan Party Certificate No. (if uncertificated please indicate)
Broadwind, Inc. Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc Corporation 100% 21
Broadwind, Inc.. Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc.. Corporation 100% 9
Broadwind, Inc.. Broadwind Industrial Solutions, LLC Limited Liability Company 100% N/A
Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc. 5100 Neville Road, LLC Limited Liability Company 100% N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 10.2

 

GUARANTY

 

This GUARANTY (this “Guaranty”), is entered into as of August 4, 2022 by the Persons listed on the signature pages hereof as “Guarantors” (together with any other entity that may hereafter become party hereto as a Guarantor, individually, a “Guarantor” and collectively, “Guarantors”) in favor of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (“Lender”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS Broadwind, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc., an Illinois corporation, Broadwind Industrial Solutions, LLC a North Carolina limited liability company, Broadwind Heavy Fabrications, Inc., a Wisconsin corporation (each, individually, a “Borrower” and collectively, the “Borrowers”) and Lender are party to a certain Credit Agreement dated of even date herewith (the “Credit Agreement”) pursuant to which Lender has extended certain financial accommodations to the Borrowers; and

 

WHEREAS, in order to induce Lender to enter into the Loan Documents, and to provide financial accommodations to the Borrowers as set forth in the Loan Documents, , each Guarantor has agreed to guaranty the Obligations of Borrowers (or in the case of a Borrower, the Obligations of the other Borrowers); and

 

WHEREAS, as a result of its relationship with the Borrowers and the other Guarantors, each Guarantor will receive substantial benefits from the financial accommodations provided by Lender to the Borrowers.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the recitals made above and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt, sufficiency and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1.       Definitions and Construction

 

1.1.      Definitions. As used in this Guaranty, the following terms shall have the following definitions:

 

Borrower” and “Borrowers” have the respective meanings set forth in the preamble to this Guaranty.

 

Credit Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Guaranty.

 

Guarantor” means each Guarantor, and in the case of any additional Guarantor that is a Borrower, such Borrower with respect to the Guarantied Obligations of the other Borrowers.

 

Guarantied Obligations” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.

 

Guaranty” means this Guaranty.

 

Lender” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, individually, and whether as Lender, Issuing Bank, provider of Bank Products or otherwise and in its capacity as agent for any Affiliate of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association that is at any time owed any Bank Product Obligations, which Affiliates shall be deemed hereby to have appointed Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as agent for purposes of this Guaranty.

 

 

 

Qualified ECP Guarantor” means, in respect of any Swap Obligation, each Guarantor that has total assets exceeding $10,000,000 at the time the relevant guaranty, keepwell, or grant of the relevant security interest becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation or such other person as constitutes an “eligible contract participant” under the Commodity Exchange Act or any regulations promulgated thereunder and can cause another person to qualify as an “eligible contract participant” at such time by entering into a keepwell under Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

1.2.      Construction. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein (including in the preamble and recitals hereof) that are defined in the Credit Agreement shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement. Unless otherwise defined herein or in the Credit Agreement, capitalized terms used herein that are defined in the UCC shall have the meanings assigned to them in the UCC. The rules of interpretation specified in the Credit Agreement (including Sections 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 and 1.6 thereof) shall be applicable to this Guaranty. All references to “payment in full of Guarantied Obligations” or words of similar import shall have the same meaning as “payment in full of Obligations” as provided in Section 1.6 of the Credit Agreement. All references in this Guaranty to Sections are references to Sections of this Guaranty unless otherwise specified. Each reference herein to any right granted to, benefit conferred upon or power exercisable by the “Lender” shall be a reference to Lender, for the benefit of itself, as Lender, Issuing Bank, provider of Bank Products and each Affiliate of Lender that is owed any Bank Product Obligations.

 

2.       Agreement to Guaranty Obligations

 

2.1.      Guaranty.

 

(a)    In recognition of the direct and indirect benefits to be received by each Guarantor in connection with the financial accommodations provided by Lender to the Borrowers, each Guarantor, jointly and severally, hereby unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, the full and prompt payment when due, whether upon maturity, acceleration, or otherwise, of each and all of the following (collectively, the “Guarantied Obligations”): (i) the Obligations (including any Bank Product Obligations) now or hereafter existing, whether for principal, interest (including any interest that accrues after the commencement of an Insolvency Proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in whole or in part as a claim in any such Insolvency Proceeding), fees, Lender Group Expenses (including any fees or expenses that accrue after the commencement of an Insolvency Proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in whole or in part as a claim in any such Insolvency Proceeding), or otherwise, and (ii) any and all expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) incurred by Lender in enforcing any rights under any Loan Document. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Guarantied Obligations shall include all amounts that constitute part of the Guarantied Obligations and would be owed by any Loan Party to Lender but for the fact that they are unenforceable or not allowable, including due to the existence of a bankruptcy, reorganization, other Insolvency Proceeding or similar proceeding involving any Loan Party or any other Person; provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Guarantied Obligations shall exclude any Excluded Swap Obligation.

 

(b)    If any or all of the Guarantied Obligations becomes due and payable, each Guarantor, unconditionally and irrevocably, and without the need for demand, protest, or any other notice or formality, promises to pay such indebtedness to Lender, together with any and all expenses (including Lender Expenses) that may be incurred by Lender in demanding, enforcing, or collecting any Guarantied Obligations. If claim is ever made upon Lender for repayment or recovery of any amount or amounts received in payment of or on account of any or all of the Guarantied Obligations and Lender repays all or part of said amount by reason of (i) any judgment, decree, or order of any court or administrative body having jurisdiction over such payee or any of its property, or (ii) any settlement or compromise of any such claim effected by such payee with any such claimant (including any Borrower or any Guarantor), then and in each such event, each Guarantor agrees that any such judgment, decree, order, settlement, or compromise shall be binding upon each Guarantor, notwithstanding any revocation (or purported revocation) of this Guaranty or other instrument evidencing any liability of any Guarantor and each Guarantor shall be and remain liable to such payees hereunder for the amount so repaid or recovered to the same extent as if such amount had never originally been received by any such payee.

 

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(c)    Each Guarantor unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees the payment of any and all of the Guarantied Obligations to Lender, whether or not due or payable by any Loan Party upon the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 8.1(d) of the Credit Agreement, and irrevocably and unconditionally promises to pay such indebtedness to Lender, without the requirement of demand, protest, or any other notice or other formality, in lawful money of the United States.

 

2.2.      Absolute and Unconditional Guaranty.

 

(a)    The liability of each Guarantor hereunder is primary, absolute, and unconditional, and is independent of any security for or other guaranty of the Guarantied Obligations, whether executed by any other Guarantor or by any other Person, and the liability of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be affected or impaired by (i) any payment on, or in reduction of, any such other guaranty or undertaking, (ii) any dissolution, termination, or increase, decrease, or change in personnel by any Borrower, any other Guarantor, or any other Person, (iii) any payment made to Lender on account of the Guarantied Obligations which Lender repays to any Borrower, any other Guarantor or any other Person pursuant to any court order in any Insolvency Proceeding (or any settlement or compromise of any claim made in such a proceeding relating to such payment), and each Guarantor waives any right to the deferral or modification of its obligations hereunder by reason of any such proceeding, (iv) any action or inaction by Lender, or (v) any invalidity, irregularity, avoidability, or unenforceability of all or any part of the Guarantied Obligations or of any security therefor.

 

(b)    This Guaranty includes all present and future Guarantied Obligations including any under transactions continuing, compromising, extending, increasing, modifying, releasing, or renewing any Guarantied Obligations, changing the interest rate, payment terms, or other terms and conditions thereof, or creating new or additional Guarantied Obligations after prior Guarantied Obligations have been satisfied in whole or in part.

 

2.3.      Guaranty of Payment; Independent Obligations. The guaranty by each Guarantor hereunder is a guaranty of payment and not of collection. The obligations of each Guarantor under this Guaranty are independent of the Guarantied Obligations of any other Guarantor, and a separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against one or more Guarantors to enforce such obligations, whether or not any action is brought against any other Guarantor or any other Person and whether or not any other Guarantor or any other Person is joined in any such action or actions. Each Guarantor waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the benefit of any statute of limitations affecting its liability hereunder or the enforcement hereof.

 

2.4.      Keepwell. Each Qualified ECP Guarantor hereby absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably undertakes to provide such funds or other support as may be needed from time to time by each other Guarantor to guaranty and otherwise honor all Guarantied Obligations in respect of Swap Obligations (provided, that, each Qualified ECP Guarantor shall only be liable under this Section for the maximum amount of such liability that can be incurred hereunder without rendering its obligations under this Section2.4, or otherwise under the Loan Documents, voidable under applicable law relating to voidable transfers, fraudulent conveyances or fraudulent transfers, and not for any greater amount). The obligations of each Qualified ECP Guarantor under this Section shall remain in full force and effect until payment in full of the Guarantied Obligations. Each Qualified ECP Guarantor intends that this Section constitute, and this Section shall be deemed to constitute, a “keepwell, support, or other agreement” for the benefit of each other Guarantor for all purposes of Section 1a(18)(A)(v)(II) of the Commodity Exchange Act.3.Waivers, Authorizations and Acknowledgements

 

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3.1.      Waivers.

 

(a)    Each Guarantor waives any right (except as shall be required by applicable statute and cannot be waived) to require Lender to (i) proceed against any other Guarantor or any other Person, (ii) proceed against or exhaust any security held from any other Guarantor or any other Person, (iii) protect, secure, perfect, or insure any Lien on any property subject thereto or exhaust any right to take any action against any other Guarantor, any other Person, or any property subject to a Lien, or (iv) pursue any other remedy in Lender’s power. Each Guarantor waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of such Guarantor, any other Guarantor or any other Person, other than payment of the Guarantied Obligations to the extent of such payment, based on or arising out of the disability of any Guarantor or any other Person, or the validity, legality, or unenforceability of any Guarantied Obligations or any part thereof from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of any Guarantor other than payment of the Guarantied Obligations to the extent of such payment. Lender may foreclose upon any Collateral held by Lender by one or more judicial or nonjudicial sales or other dispositions, whether or not every aspect of any such sale is commercially reasonable or otherwise fails to comply with applicable law or may exercise any other right or remedy Lender may have against any Guarantor or any other Person, or any security, in each case, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of any Guarantor hereunder except to the extent the Guarantied Obligations have been paid.

 

(b)    Each Guarantor waives all presentments, demands for performance, protests and notices, including notices of nonperformance, notices of protest, notices of dishonor, notices of acceptance of this Guaranty, and notices of the existence, creation, or incurring of new or additional Guarantied Obligations or other financial accommodations. Each Guarantor waives notice of any Event of Default under any Loan Document. Each Guarantor assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of each Borrower and other Guarantor’s financial condition and assets and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Guarantied Obligations and the nature, scope, and extent of the risks which each Guarantor assumes and incurs hereunder, and agrees that Lender shall not have any duty to advise any Guarantor of information known to it regarding such circumstances or risks.

 

(c)    To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor hereby waives: (i) any right to assert against Lender any defense (legal or equitable), set-off, counterclaim, or claim which such Guarantor may now or at any time hereafter have against any Borrower, other Guarantor or any other Person liable to Lender, (ii) any defense (legal or equitable), set-off, counterclaim, or claim, of any kind or nature, arising directly or indirectly from the present or future lack of perfection, sufficiency, validity, or enforceability of the Guarantied Obligations or any security therefor, (iii) any right or defense arising by reason of any claim or defense based upon an election of remedies by Lender, including any defense based upon an impairment or elimination of such Guarantor’s rights of subrogation, reimbursement, contribution, or indemnity against any Borrower or other Guarantor or surety, and (iv) the benefit of any statute of limitations affecting such Guarantor’s liability hereunder or the enforcement thereof. Any payment or other act or circumstance which shall defer or delay, or otherwise toll, the operation of any statute of limitations applicable to any Guarantied Obligations or as to any Guarantor shall similarly operate to defer or delay, or otherwise toll, the operation of such statute of limitations applicable to such Guarantor’s liability hereunder.

 

3.2.      Waivers of Defenses. Each Guarantor jointly and severally guarantees that the Guarantied Obligations will be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of the Loan Documents (or any agreement relating to Bank Products, as applicable), regardless of any law, regulation, or order now or hereafter in effect in any jurisdiction affecting any of such terms or the rights of Lender with respect thereto. The liability of each Guarantor under this Guaranty shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of, and each Guarantor hereby irrevocably waives any defense it may now or hereafter have in any way relating to, any or all of the following:

 

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(a)    any lack of validity or enforceability of any Loan Document or any agreement or instrument relating thereto;

 

(b)    any change in the time, manner, or place of payment of, or in any other term of, all or any Guarantied Obligations, or any other amendment or waiver of or any consent to departure from any Loan Document, including any increase in the Guarantied Obligations resulting from the extension of additional credit;

 

(c)    any taking, exchange, release, or non-perfection of any Lien on any Collateral, or any taking, release, amendment, waiver of, or consent to departure from any other guaranty, for any Guarantied Obligations;

 

(d)    the existence of any claim, set-off, defense, or other right that any Guarantor may have at any time against any Person, including Lender;

 

(e)    any defense, set-off, counterclaim, or claim, of any kind or nature, arising directly or indirectly from the present or future lack of perfection, sufficiency, validity, or enforceability of the Guarantied Obligations or any security therefor;

 

(f)     any right or defense arising by reason of any claim or defense based upon an election of remedies by Lender including any defense based upon an impairment or elimination of such Guarantor’s rights of subrogation, reimbursement, contribution, or indemnity of such Guarantor against any Borrower or any other Guarantor or any guarantors or sureties;

 

(g)    any change, restructuring, or termination of the corporate, limited liability company, or partnership structure or existence of any other Guarantor; or

 

(h)    any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a discharge of, any other Guarantor or any other guarantor or surety.

 

3.3.      Consents to Amendments, Etc.

 

(a)    Each Guarantor authorizes Lender, without notice or demand, and without affecting or impairing its liability hereunder, from time to time to:

 

(i)            change the manner, place, or terms of payment of, or change or extend the time of payment of, renew, increase, accelerate, or alter: (A) any Guarantied Obligations (including any increase or decrease in the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest or fees thereon); or (B) any security therefor or any liability incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof, and this Guaranty shall apply to the Guarantied Obligations as so changed, extended, renewed, or altered;

 

(ii)          take and hold security for the payment of the Guarantied Obligations and sell, exchange, release, impair, surrender, realize upon, collect, settle, or otherwise deal with in any manner and in any order any property at any time pledged or mortgaged to secure any Guarantied Obligations (including any of the obligations of any Guarantor under this Guaranty) incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof or hereof, or any offset on account thereof;

 

(iii)        exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against any Borrower or any other Guarantor;

 

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(iv)         release or substitute any one or more endorsers, guarantors, Borrowers, other Guarantors, or other obligors;

 

(v)           settle or compromise any Guarantied Obligations, any security therefor, or any liability (including any of those of any Guarantor under this Guaranty) incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof or hereof, or subordinate the payment of all or any part thereof to the payment of any liability (whether due or not) of any Guarantor to any other Person;

 

(vi)         apply any sums by whomever paid or however realized to any liability or liabilities of any Guarantor to Lender regardless of what liability or liabilities of such Guarantor remain unpaid;

 

(vii)       consent to or waive any breach of, or any act, omission, or default under, any Loan Document or any agreement relating to Bank Products, or any of the instruments or agreements referred to herein or therein, or otherwise amend, modify, or supplement any Loan Document, any agreement relating to Bank Products, or any of such other instruments or agreements; or

 

(viii)     take any other action that could, under otherwise applicable principles of law, give rise to a legal or equitable discharge of any Guarantor from all or part of its liabilities under this Guaranty.

 

(b)    It is not necessary for Lender to inquire into the capacity or powers of any Guarantor or the officers, directors, partners or agents acting or purporting to act on its behalf, and any Guarantied Obligations made or created in reliance upon the professed exercise of such powers shall be guarantied hereunder.

 

3.4.      Subrogation; Subordination. No Guarantor will exercise any rights that it may now or hereafter acquire against any Borrower or other Guarantor or any other guarantor that arise from the existence, payment, performance or enforcement of such Guarantor’s obligations under this Guaranty, including any right of subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution or indemnification and any right to participate in any claim or remedy of Lender against any Borrower or Guarantor or any other guarantor or any Collateral, whether or not such claim, remedy or right arises in equity or under contract, statute or common law, including the right to take or receive from any Borrower or Guarantor or any other guarantor, directly or indirectly, in cash or other property or by set-off or in any other manner, payment or security solely on account of such claim, remedy or right, unless and until payment in full of the Guarantied Obligations. If any amount shall be paid to any Guarantor in violation of the immediately preceding sentence, such amount shall be held in trust for the benefit of Lender, and shall promptly be paid to Lender to be credited and applied to the Guarantied Obligations and all other amounts payable under this Guaranty, whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement, or to be held as Collateral for any Guarantied Obligations or other amounts payable under this Guaranty thereafter arising. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Guaranty, no Guarantor may exercise any rights of subrogation, contribution, indemnity, reimbursement or other similar rights against, and may not proceed or seek recourse against or with respect to any property or asset of, any other Guarantor, including after payment in full of the Guarantied Obligations, if all or any portion of the Guarantied Obligations have been satisfied in connection with an exercise of remedies in respect of the Equity Interests of such other Guarantor whether pursuant to this Guaranty or otherwise.

 

3.5.      Revocation. To the maximum extent permitted by law, each Guarantor hereby waives any right to revoke this Guaranty as to future Guarantied Obligations. If such a revocation is effective notwithstanding the foregoing waiver, each Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that no such revocation shall (a) be effective until written notice thereof has been received by Lender, (b) apply to any Guarantied Obligations in existence on the date of receipt by Lender of such written notice (including any subsequent continuation, extension, or renewal thereof, or change in the interest rate, payment terms, or other terms and conditions thereof), and (c) apply to any Guarantied Obligations made or created after such date to the extent made or created pursuant to a legally binding commitment of Lender in existence on the date of such revocation. No payment by any Guarantor or from any other source prior to the date of Lender’s receipt of written notice of such revocation shall reduce the maximum obligation of such Guarantor hereunder, and any payment by any Guarantor or from any source other than such Guarantor subsequent to the date of such revocation shall first be applied to that portion of the Guarantied Obligations as to which the revocation is effective and which are not, therefore, guarantied hereunder, and to the extent so applied shall not reduce the maximum obligation of such Guarantor hereunder. This Guaranty shall be binding upon each Guarantor, its successors and assigns and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by Lender and its successors, transferees, or assigns.

 

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4.       CHOICE OF LAW AND VENUE; JURY TRIAL WAIVER, ETC.

 

4.1.      GOVERNING LAW. THE VALIDITY OF THIS GUARANTY, THE CONSTRUCTION, INTERPRETATION, AND ENFORCEMENT HEREOF, THE RIGHTS OF THE PARTIES HERETO WITH RESPECT TO ALL MATTERS ARISING HEREUNDER OR RELATED HERETO, AND ANY CLAIMS, CONTROVERSIES OR DISPUTES ARISING HEREUNDER OR RELATED HERETO SHALL BE DETERMINED UNDER, GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

 

4.2.      FORUM NON CONVENIENS. THE PARTIES AGREE THAT ALL ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS ARISING IN CONNECTION WITH THIS GUARANTY SHALL BE TRIED AND LITIGATED ONLY IN THE STATE AND, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, FEDERAL COURTS LOCATED IN THE COUNTY OF COOK STATE OF ILLINOIS; PROVIDED, THAT ANY SUIT SEEKING ENFORCEMENT AGAINST ANY COLLATERAL OR OTHER PROPERTY MAY BE BROUGHT, AT LENDER'S OPTION, IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION WHERE LENDER ELECTS TO BRING SUCH ACTION OR WHERE SUCH COLLATERAL OR OTHER PROPERTY MAY BE FOUND. EACH GUARANTOR AND LENDER WAIVE, 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.

 

4.3.      WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EACH GUARANTOR AND LENDER HEREBY WAIVE THEIR RESPECTIVE RIGHTS, IF ANY, TO A JURY TRIAL OF ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CAUSE OF ACTION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREIN, INCLUDING CONTRACT CLAIMS, TORT CLAIMS, BREACH OF DUTY CLAIMS, AND ALL OTHER COMMON LAW OR STATUTORY CLAIMS (EACH A "CLAIM"). EACH GUARANTOR AND LENDER REPRESENT THAT EACH 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 GUARANTY MAY BE FILED AS A WRITTEN CONSENT TO A TRIAL BY THE COURT.

 

4.4.      SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. EACH GUARANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS LOCATED IN THE COUNTY OF COOK AND THE STATE OF ILLINOIS IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY, OR FOR RECOGNITION OR ENFORCEMENT OF ANY JUDGMENT. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW. NOTHING IN THIS GUARANTY SHALL AFFECT ANY RIGHT THAT LENDER MAY OTHERWISE HAVE TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY AGAINST ANY GUARANTOR OR ITS PROPERTIES IN THE COURTS OF ANY JURISDICTION.

 

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4.5.      WAIVER OF CLAIMS. NO CLAIM MAY BE MADE BY ANY GUARANTOR AGAINST LENDER OR ANY AFFILIATE, DIRECTOR, OFFICER, EMPLOYEE, COUNSEL, REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT, OR ATTORNEY-IN-FACT OF ANY OF THEM FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES IN RESPECT OF ANY CLAIM FOR BREACH OF CONTRACT OR ANY OTHER THEORY OF LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS GUARANTY, OR ANY ACT, OMISSION, OR EVENT OCCURRING IN CONNECTION HEREWITH, AND EACH GUARANTOR HEREBY WAIVES, RELEASES, AND AGREES NOT TO SUE UPON ANY CLAIM FOR SUCH DAMAGES, WHETHER OR NOT ACCRUED AND WHETHER OR NOT KNOWN OR SUSPECTED TO EXIST IN ITS FAVOR.

 

5.       Miscellaneous

 

5.1.      Survival. All representations and warranties made by any Guarantor in this Guaranty and in the certificates or other instruments delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Guaranty shall be considered to have been relied upon by Lender and shall survive the execution and delivery of this Guaranty and the making of any loans or other extension of credit, regardless of any investigation made by Lender or on its behalf and notwithstanding that Lender, may have had notice or knowledge of any Event of Default or incorrect representation or warranty at the time any credit is extended, and shall continue in full force and effect until the payment in full of the Guarantied Obligations.

 

5.2.      Merger, Amendments; Etc. THIS GUARANTY, TOGETHER WITH THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, REPRESENTS THE FINAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS OR ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES. No waiver of any provision of this Guaranty, and no consent to any departure by any Guarantor from the terms hereof, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by Lender, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given. No amendment of any provision of this Guaranty shall be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by Lender and each Guarantor to which such amendment applies. This Guaranty is a Loan Document.

 

5.3.      Addresses for Notices. All notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be given in the form and manner and delivered to Lender at its address specified in the Credit Agreement, and to any Guarantor at its addresses specified in the Credit Agreement, or, as to any party, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the other parties.

 

5.4.      Counterparts. This Guaranty 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 Guaranty by telefacsimile or other electronic method of transmission shall be equally as effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Guaranty. Any party delivering an executed counterpart of this Guaranty by telefacsimile or other electronic method of transmission also shall deliver an original executed counterpart of this Guaranty but the failure to deliver an original executed counterpart shall not affect the validity, enforceability, and binding effect of this Guaranty.

 

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5.5.      Effectiveness; Severability; Section Headings. This Guaranty shall be binding and deemed effective when executed by any Guarantor as to such Guarantor (whether or not executed by any other Guarantor) whose signature is provided for on the signature pages hereof and Lender. 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 Guaranty. Any provision of this Guaranty which is prohibited or unenforceable shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof in that jurisdiction or affecting the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction. Each provision of this Guaranty shall be severable from every other provision of this Guaranty for the purpose of determining the legal enforceability of any specific provision.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned parties hereto have caused this Guaranty to be executed and delivered as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

 

GUARANTOR:

BROADWIND, INC.

 

 

By: /s/ Thomas Ciccone

Name: Thomas Ciccone

Title: Vice President

 

   
 

BRAD FOOTE GEAR WORKS, INC.

 

 

By: /s/ Thomas Ciccone

Name: Thomas Ciccone

Title: Treasurer

 

   
 

BROADWIND HEAVY FABRICATIONS, INC.

 

 

By: /s/ Thomas Ciccone

Name: Thomas Ciccone

Title: Treasurer

 

   
 

BROADWIND INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS, LLC

 

 

By: /s/ Thomas Ciccone

Name: Thomas Ciccone

Title: Treasurer

 

   
 

5100 NEVILLE ROAD, LLC

By: Brad Foote Gear Works, Inc., as Manager

 

By: /s/ Thomas Ciccone

Name: Thomas Ciccone

Title: Treasurer

 

 

 

 

signature page to Broadwind Guaranty

 

 

 

LENDER:

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association

 

 

 

By: /s/ Anwar Young

Name: Anwar Young

Title: Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

signature page to Broadwind Guaranty

 

EXHIBIT 99.1

Broadwind Announces New $35 Million Credit Facility

CICERO, Ill., Aug. 08, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Broadwind (NASDAQ: BWEN), announced today that it has completed a $35 million senior secured asset-based revolving loan facility and a $7.578 million senior secured term loan facility with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association as lender. The five year facilities mature on August 4, 2027 and replace the Company’s existing credit facility. The proceeds of the facilities will be used for general corporate purposes, including strategic growth opportunities.

Additional information regarding the new credit facilities is available in the Company’s current report on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on August 8, 2022.

ABOUT BROADWIND

Broadwind (NASDAQ: BWEN) is a precision manufacturer of structures, equipment and components for clean tech and other specialized applications. With facilities throughout the U.S., our talented team is committed to helping customers maximize performance of their investments—quicker, easier and smarter. Find out more at www.bwen.com

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains “forward looking statements”—that is, statements related to future, not past, events—as defined in Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that reflect our current expectations regarding our future growth, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows, performance, business prospects and opportunities, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, our management. Forward looking statements include any statement that does not directly relate to a current or historical fact. We have tried to identify forward looking statements by using words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “will,” “should,” “may,” “plan” and similar expressions, but these words are not the exclusive means of identifying forward looking statements.

Our forward-looking statements may include or relate to our beliefs, expectations, plans and/or assumptions with respect to the following, many of which are, and will be, amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic: (i) the impact of global health concerns, including the impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic on the economies and financial markets and the demand for our products; (ii) state, local and federal regulatory frameworks affecting the industries in which we compete, including the wind energy industry, and the related extension, continuation or renewal of federal tax incentives and grants and state renewable portfolio standards as well as new or continuing tariffs on steel or other products imported into the United States; (iii) our customer relationships and our substantial dependency on a few significant customers and our efforts to diversify our customer base and sector focus and leverage relationships across business units; (iv) the economic and operational stability of our significant customers and suppliers, including their respective supply chains, and the ability to source alternative suppliers as necessary, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic; (v) our ability to continue to grow our business organically and through acquisitions, and the impairment thereto by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; (vi) the production, sales, collections, customer deposits and revenues generated by new customer orders and our ability to realize the resulting cash flows; (vii) information technology failures, network disruptions, cybersecurity attacks or breaches in data security, including with respect to any remote work arrangements implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; (viii) the sufficiency of our liquidity and alternate sources of funding, if necessary; (ix) our ability to realize revenue from customer orders and backlog; (x) our ability to operate our business efficiently, comply with our debt obligations, manage capital expenditures and costs effectively, and generate cash flow; (xi) the economy, including its stability in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the potential impact it may have on our business, including our customers; (xii) the state of the wind energy market and other energy and industrial markets generally and the impact of competition and economic volatility in those markets; (xiii) the effects of market disruptions and regular market volatility, including fluctuations in the price of oil, gas and other commodities; (xiv) competition from new or existing industry participants including, in particular, increased competition from foreign tower manufacturers; (xv) the effects of the change of administrations in the U.S. federal government; (xvi) our ability to successfully integrate and operate acquired companies and to identify, negotiate and execute future acquisitions; (xvii) the potential loss of tax benefits if we experience an “ownership change” under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; (xviii) our ability to utilize various relief options enabled by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act); (xix) the limited trading market for our securities and the volatility of market price for our securities; and (xx) the impact of future sales of our common stock or securities convertible into our common stock on our stock price. These statements are based on information currently available to us and are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual growth, results of operations, financial condition, cash flows, performance, business prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these statements including, but not limited to, those set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of our most recently filed Form 10-K and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We are under no duty to update any of these statements. You should not consider any list of such factors to be an exhaustive statement of all of the risks, uncertainties or other factors that could cause our current beliefs, expectations, plans and/or assumptions to change. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a predictor of actual results.

CORPORATE CONTACT

Noel Ryan, IRC
[email protected]



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