Table of Contents

 

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 10-Q

 

x      QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2010

 

OR

 

o         TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Commission File Number: 0-3295

 

KOSS CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

A DELAWARE CORPORATION

 

39-1168275

(State or other jurisdiction of

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

incorporation or organization)

 

 

 

 

 

4129 North Port Washington Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

 

53212

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (414) 964-5000

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant:  (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes o  No x (See Explanatory Note)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes o  No o

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer o

 

Accelerated filer o

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer o

 

Smaller reporting company x

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes o No x

 

At May 17, 2010, there were 7,382,706 shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock, $0.005 par value per share.

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

KOSS CORPORATION
FORM 10-Q
March 31, 2010

 

INDEX

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

PART I

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1

Financial Statements

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 2

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 3

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 4

Controls and Procedures

 

 

 

 

PART II

OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1

Legal Proceedings

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1A

Risk Factors

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 2

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 3

Defaults upon Senior Securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 4

Other Information

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 5

Exhibits

 

 

2



Table of Contents

 

EXPLANATORY NOTE

 

As discussed in the Explanatory Note to the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2009, Koss Corporation (“Company”) discovered in December 2009 certain unauthorized financial transactions from at least its fiscal year ended June 30, 2005 through December 2009.  As a result of the unauthorized transactions, the Company will restate its previously issued consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2008 and 2009 and for each of the quarterly periods in the fiscal years then ended, and for the quarter ended September 30, 2009.  Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP (“Baker Tilly”), the Company’s independent auditor, has been engaged to audit the Company’s restated consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2008 and 2009.  The Company intends to amend its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009 and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2009, and expects these amendments to be filed no later than June 30, 2010.  Because of these events described above, the Company’s unaudited consolidated financial statements for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 are not yet available and are not included in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.  The Company intends also to amend this Form 10-Q to include the quarterly unaudited consolidated financial statements as soon as practicable after the restatements of the Company’s previously issued consolidated financial statements are completed.

 

The Company is also assisting an independent investigation being conducted by a committee of independent directors and its independent counsel (“Independent Investigation”).  The Company intends to pursue proceeds from the sale of items seized by law enforcement authorities, as well as from insurance coverage, potential claims against third parties and tax refunds.  The Company is also addressing the legal matters described in Part II, Item 1 Legal Proceedings and continues to cooperate with law enforcement and regulatory authorities in their investigations.

 

Because the Company is unable to file its quarterly unaudited consolidated financial statements in this Form 10-Q, the Company may not be considered to be current in its filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”) or in compliance with NASDAQ Listing Rule 5250(c)(1), which requires the timely filing of financial statements in periodic reports.  In connection with  its partial filing of the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2009, which also did not include quarterly unaudited consolidated financial statements, the Company received from NASDAQ a notification of non-compliance with Listing Rule 5250(c)(1).  In the compliance plan submitted by the Company, which has been accepted by NASDAQ, the Company proposed to file the amended Form 10-Q with the required quarterly unaudited financial statements for the period ended December 31, 2009 no later than June 30, 2010.

 

3



Table of Contents

 

PART I

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements.

 

The information required by this Item is not included in this Form 10-Q.  Please see the discussion in the Explanatory Note.

 

Item 2.  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

Because the Company’s unaudited consolidated financial statements for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 are not yet available and are not included in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, the Company is unable to provide comprehensive disclosure and discussion in this section.  The Company intends to file an amendment to this Form 10-Q after the restatements of the Company’s previously issued consolidated financial statements are completed.

 

Results of Operations for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2010

 

As previously reported, the Company announced that preliminary estimates of the Independent Investigation indicated that the amount of unauthorized transactions since fiscal year 2005 exceeded $31 million.  The Company’s results of operations have been affected during these years by the unauthorized transactions.  Although the unauthorized transactions ended in December 2009, the Company incurred investigation and other legal costs associated with the unauthorized transactions during the quarter ended March 31, 2010.  The Company is pursuing reimbursement of these expenses pursuant to its available insurance coverage.  The Company received $1 million of insurance proceeds under its fidelity coverage in the quarter.  Notwithstanding the disruption resulting from the discovery of the unauthorized transactions in December 2009, the Company operated in the normal course of business during the quarter ended March 31, 2010.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

The Company anticipates that its current liquidity and cash flow from operations will meet its cash requirements for operations, including the additional investigation costs related to the unauthorized transactions, and new product development.  The Company’s cash and cash equivalents have increased since discovery of the unauthorized transactions.  Although the Company has incurred certain costs in connection with the investigation of and legal proceedings related to the unauthorized transactions, the Company is pursuing reimbursement of these costs through its available insurance coverage as described above.

 

As of March 31, 2010, the outstanding balance on the Company’s credit facility with Harris, N.A.  was $5.9 million.  This balance did not change during the quarter ended March 31, 2010.  During the quarter, the Company was able to reduce outstanding amounts due to suppliers by $4.9 million without drawing additional amounts on this credit facility.  On May 12, 2010, the Company repaid the entire $5.9 million balance on this credit facility and terminated the loan agreement with Harris, N.A.

 

On May 12, 2010, the Company entered into a new credit facility with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.  As of May 17, 2010, which is the date of this filing, the Company had an outstanding balance of $3.4 million under this credit facility.   See the “Recent Developments” for additional description of the new credit facility.

 

4



Table of Contents

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

The Company has no off-balance sheet arrangements other than the lease for the main plant in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which it leases from its Chairman, John C. Koss.  On August 15, 2007, the lease was renewed for a period of five years, and is being accounted for as an operating lease.  The lease extension maintained the rent at a fixed rate of $380,000 per year.  At anytime during this period the Company has the option to renew the lease for an additional five years for the period commencing July 1, 2013 and ending June 30, 2018 under the same terms and conditions.  The lease is on terms no less favorable to the Company than those that could be obtained from an independent party.  The Company is responsible for all property maintenance, insurance, taxes, and other normal expenses related to ownership.  All facilities are in good repair and, in the opinion of management, are suitable and adequate for the Company’s business purposes.

 

Recent Developments

 

On May 12, 2010, the Company entered into a new secured credit facility with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“Lender”).  The Credit Agreement dated May 12, 2010 between the Company and the Lender (“Credit Agreement”) provides for an $8 million revolving secured credit facility with interest rates either ranging from 0.0% to 0.75% over the Lender’s most recently publicly announced prime rate or 2.0% to 3.0% over LIBOR, depending on the Company’s leverage ratio.  The Credit Agreement expires on July 31, 2013 (“Maturity Date”).  Accrued and unpaid interest on loans under the Credit Agreement is due and payable monthly.  Lender may accelerate repayment of any amounts outstanding if any event of default, as more fully described in the Credit Agreement, shall occur.  In addition to the revolving loans, the Credit Agreement also provides that the Company may, from time to time, request the Lender to issue letters of credit for the benefit of the Company of up to a sublimit of $2 million, and subject to certain other limitations.  The loans may be used only for general corporate purposes of the Company.

 

The Credit Agreement contains certain affirmative, negative and financial covenants customary for financings of this type.  The negative covenants include restrictions on other indebtedness, liens, fundamental changes, certain investments, asset sales, sale and leaseback transactions, and transactions with affiliates, among other restrictions.  The financial covenants include a minimum current ratio, minimum tangible net worth and maximum leverage ratio requirements.

 

The Company and the Lender also entered into the Pledge and Security Agreement dated May 12, 2010 (the “Security Agreement”) under which the Company granted the Lender a security interest in the Company’s personal property and other assets in connection with the Company’s obligations under the Credit Agreement.

 

On May 12, 2010, the Company also terminated its loan agreement with Harris, N.A. and repaid the entire $5.9 million balance outstanding.

 

The descriptions of the Credit Agreement and the Security Agreement are qualified in their entirety by the actual agreements, which have been filed as exhibits to this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.

 

5



Table of Contents

 

Recently Issued Financial Accounting Pronouncements

 

None.

 

Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 4.  Controls and Procedures.

 

(a)                                  Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.  The Company maintains a system of disclosure controls and procedures that were designed to and believed to provide reasonable assurance that information, which is required to be timely disclosed, is accumulated and communicated to management in a timely fashion.  A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met.  It is possible for even the best control system to be circumvented by those with the intent, knowledge and opportunity to do so.

 

The Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, is reevaluating the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act) to identify any enhancements that may provide greater comfort that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and are effective to provide reasonable assurance that such information is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.  In particular, the Company is currently working with outside consultants on its plan to document, assess and test the Company’s internal control over financial reporting in anticipation of complying with Section 404 of Sarbanes-Oxley as required.

 

(b)                                 Changes in Internal Controls.  The Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) was designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud within the Company have been detected.  Numerous actions were taken beginning in late December 2009 following the discovery of the unauthorized transactions, including changes relating to the Company’s banking procedures and certain other internal policies and procedures.  These actions, many of which occurred during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter, enhance, and are expected to improve, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.  Other improvements relating to enhancing the Company’s internal controls relate to increased documentation of the Company’s controls, improved account reconciliations, and additional review and approval processes.  The Company is planning to provide a more detailed description of these actions in the amended Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009, as described in the Explanatory Note.

 

6



Table of Contents

 

PART II

OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.                                                           Legal Proceedings

 

The Company became subject to the following material legal proceedings during the period covered by this quarterly report as a result of the unauthorized transactions:

 

·                  On January 11, 2010, the Company received a letter from a law firm stating that it represented a shareholder and demanding that the Company’s Board of Directors investigate and take legal action against all responsible parties to ensure compensation for the Company’s losses stemming from the unauthorized transactions.  The Company’s legal counsel has responded preliminarily to the letter indicating that the Board of Directors will determine the appropriate course of action after the Independent Investigation is completed.

 

·                  On January 15, 2010, a class action complaint was filed in federal court in Wisconsin against the Company, Michael Koss and Sujata Sachdeva.  The suit alleges violations of Section 10(b), Rule 10b-5 and Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act relating to the unauthorized transactions and requests an award of compensatory damages in an amount to be proven at trial.  See David A. Puskala v. Koss Corporation, et al., United States District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin, Case No. 2:2010cv00041.

 

·                  On January 26, 2010, the SEC’s Division of Enforcement advised the Company that it obtained a formal order of investigation in connection with the unauthorized transactions. The Company voluntarily brought the unauthorized transactions to the SEC staff’s attention when they were discovered in December 2009, and is cooperating fully with the ongoing SEC investigation.

 

·                  On February 16 and 18, 2010, separate shareholder derivative suits were filed in Milwaukee County Circuit Court in connection with the previously disclosed unauthorized transactions. The first suit names as defendants Michael Koss, John Koss Sr., the other Koss directors, Sujata Sachdeva, Grant Thornton LLP, and Koss Corporation (as a nominal defendant); the second suit names the same parties except Grant Thornton LLP. Among other things, both suits allege various breaches of fiduciary and other duties, and seek recovery of unspecified damages and other relief. See Ruiz v. Koss, et al., Circuit Court, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, No. 10CV002422 (February 16, 2010) and Mentkowski v. Koss, et al., Circuit Court, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, No. 10CV002290 (February 18, 2010).  These two shareholder derivative suits have been consolidated under Master File No. 10CV002422.

 

Item 1A.                                                  Risk Factors

 

In addition to the other information set forth in this report and the reports referenced therein, you should also carefully consider the risk factors discussed below, which could materially affect the Company’s business, financial condition or operating results.  These risks are not the only risks facing the Company.  Additional risk and uncertainties not currently known that the Company currently deems to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition or operating results.

 

7



Table of Contents

 

The Company is currently determining the extent to which the unauthorized transactions will affect the Company’s previously issued consolidated financial statements.

 

As described in the Explanatory Note, the Company is restating its previously issued consolidated financial statements since fiscal year 2008 because of the unauthorized transactions during that period.  The restatements could result in materially adverse adjustments to the Company’s previously reported financial results.

 

The Company is currently unable to assess the amounts that may be recovered through the proceeds from the sale of items seized by law enforcement, insurance, potential claims against third parties or tax refunds.

 

The Company has estimated that the amount of the unauthorized transactions exceeds $31 million since fiscal year 2005.  Over 25,000 items have been seized by law enforcement authorities. Although the Company intends to pursue proceeds from the sale of items seized by law enforcement authorities, as well as from insurance coverage, potential claims against third parties and tax refunds, the Company cannot reasonably assess the amounts or timing of such recoveries.  The Company’s inability to recover its losses could have a significant and adverse effect on its future financial condition.

 

The Company’s inability to file its quarterly financial statements on Form 10-Q in a timely manner could result in a loss of liquidity for the Company’s common stock if its shares are delisted by the NASDAQ Stock Exchange.

 

On February 16, 2010, the Company filed a partial 10-Q for the period ended December 31, 2009 that did not include quarterly financial statements.  NASDAQ previously notified the Company of its noncompliance with Listing Rule 5250(c)(1), and accepted the Company’s plan to file by June 30, 2010 its amended quarterly unaudited financial statements for the period ended December 31, 2009.  This partial 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2010 also does not include quarterly financial statements, and likely will result in another notification by NASDAQ of the Company’s noncompliance with Listing Rule 5250(c)(1).  If the Company is unable to provide these quarterly financial statements on a timeline that is acceptable to NASDAQ, then the Company’s shares may be delisted.  Such delisting may cause a loss of liquidity for shares of the Company’s common stock.  The Company is working diligently to complete the restatements of the Company’s previously issued consolidated financial statements since fiscal year 2008 and the Company intends to amend the applicable periodic reports as promptly as it is able to do so.  Although the Company is planning to file the restatements by June 30, 2010, the Company cannot predict with certainty when these financial statements will actually be available or what action NASDAQ will take in response to the partial filing of this Form 10-Q.

 

Legal proceedings related to the unauthorized transactions may adversely affect the Company’s financial condition.

 

As further described in Part II, Item 1, Legal Proceedings, the Company is currently addressing several legal matters related to the unauthorized transactions. The Company is unable at this time to quantify its exposure, if any.  The costs of dealing with these matters and any penalties and awards that may be assessed against the Company could be substantial, and may adversely affect the Company’s financial condition.

 

8



Table of Contents

 

The Company’s stock price may fluctuate as a result of the unauthorized transactions and because of the uncertainties about their effect on the Company’s financial condition.

 

Uncertainties about the effect of the unauthorized transactions and significant developments related to the unauthorized transactions, such as the results of the restatements of the Company’s previously issued consolidated financial statements, the legal matters described above or the results and recommendations of the Independent Investigation, could cause fluctuation in the Company’s stock price.  The Company’s common stock could also be subject to wide fluctuations in response to additional business factors such as the following:

 

·                  the sale or availability for sale of substantial amounts of the Company’s common stock;

 

·                  actual or anticipated fluctuations in the Company’s operating results or its competitors’ operating results;

 

·                  announcements by the Company or its competitors of new products;

 

·                  capacity changes, significant contracts, acquisitions or strategic investments;

 

·                  the Company’s growth rate and its competitors’ growth rates;

 

·                  changes in stock market analyst recommendations regarding the Company, its competitors or the industry generally, or lack of analyst coverage of the Company’s common stock;

 

·                  sales of the Company’s common stock by its executive officers, directors and significant stockholders or sales of substantial amounts of common stock; and

 

·                  changes in accounting principles.

 

Reduction in present levels of cash flow could adversely affect the Company’s business.

 

The Company’s primary source of liquidity over the past 12 months has been operating cash flows.  The Company’s future cash flows from operations (on both a short term and long term basis) are dependent upon, but not limited to:

 

·                       the Company’s ability to attract new customers that will sell the Company’s products and pay for them;

 

·                       the Company’s ability to retain the Company’s existing customers at the level of sales previously produced;

 

·                       the volume of sales for these customers;

 

·                       the loss of business of one or more primary customers;

 

·                       changes in types of products that the customers purchase in their sales mix;

 

·                       poor or deteriorating economic conditions which would directly impact the ability of the Company’s customers to remain in business and pay for their products on a timely basis;

 

·                       management’s ability to hold the line on any requests for increases in material or labor cost increases; and

 

·                       the ability to collect in full and in a timely manner, amounts due to the Company.

 

In addition, as noted above, the Company’s cash flow is also dependent, to some extent, upon the ability to maintain operating margins.  The continuing general downturn in economic conditions or other events that caused the Company’s customers to turn to lower-priced, lower-margin products, the Company’s cash flow and profitability could be materially and adversely affected.

 

9



Table of Contents

 

Failure to attract and retain customers to sell the Company’s products could adversely affect sales volume and future profitability.

 

The Company markets a line of products used by consumers to listen to music.  The Company distributes these products through retail channels in the U.S. and independent distributors throughout the rest of the world.  The Company is dependent upon the Company’s ability to retain an existing base of customers to sell the Company’s line of products.  Loss of customers means loss of product placement.  The Company has broad distribution across many channels including specialty stores, mass merchants, electronics stores and computer retailers.  Since distribution is broadly based, any loss of a customer directly translates into a reduction in sales volume which can only be replaced by replacing a similar number of representative retail outlets.  The inability of the Company’s sales and marketing staff to obtain new distribution outlets translates into a lack of future growth and possibly a setback in sales volumes when loss of current customers occur.  For example, the loss of a customer representing 10% of the Company’s business would translate into a reduction in revenues of up to 10% based upon the point through the fiscal year that the customer was lost.  Attracting a new customer during the course of a fiscal year could have a positive impact or simply replace an account which has been lost.  In addition, a customer can decide to make a change in the models that it decides to offer for sale.  Such changes can take place arbitrarily throughout the course of a year which can cause reductions in sales revenues in proportion to the number of retail outlets that the store represents in the market.  The Company may not be able to maintain customers or model selections and therefore experience a reduction in its sales revenue until a model is restored to the mix or a customer is replaced by a new customer.  A reduction in sales volume would cause a reduction in profitability.  The Company’s failure to retain existing customers, obtain new customers or develop new product lines that customers would choose to offer to consumers could significantly affect the Company’s future profitability.  The loss of business of one or more principal customers or a change in the sales volume from a particular customer could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s sales volume and profitability.

 

Shift in customer specifications to lower priced items can reduce profit margins negatively, impacting profitability.

 

The Company sells a line of products with a suggested retail price ranging from less than $10 up to $1,000.  The gross margin for each of these models is unique in terms of percentages.  The price range of the products also produces a different level of actual dollar contribution per unit.  For example a product with a gross margin contribution of 50% might yield a $5.00 contribution for one item, while another item may feature a 30% gross margin which could yield $50.00.  The Company finds the low priced portion of the market most competitive and therefore most subject to pressure on gross margin percentages, which tends to lower profit contributions.  Retail preference for lower priced items can reduce profit margins and contributions.  The risk is that a shift in retail customer specifications toward lower priced items can lead to lower gross margins and lower profit contributions per unit of sale.  Due to the range of products that the Company sells, the product sales mix can produce a variation in terms of a range of profit margins.  Some customers sell a limited range of products that yield lower profit margins than others.  Most notably, the budget priced headphone segment of the market below $10.00 retail which is distributed through computer stores, office supply stores, and mass market retailers tend to yield the lowest gross margins.  An increase in business with these types of accounts, if coupled with a simultaneous reduction in sales to customers with higher gross margins would reduce profit margins and profitability.

 

Poor economic conditions can restrict or limit product placement, sales and replenishment which could decrease profits.

 

Deteriorating or weak economic conditions, or a forecast for the same, can trigger changes in inventory stocking at retail.  This may in turn lead to a reduction in model offerings and to out of stock situations.  If a retail customer of the Company does not have adequate stocks of the Company’s products to offer for sale in a retail store, consumers may choose another competitive model instead.  Customers operating retail stores anticipate future sales demands and inventory products accordingly.  Whenever a general economic slowdown occurs, at both the domestic or foreign level, sales volume levels and re-orders change.  These changes directly impact the Company’s sales and profitability.  The Company is not in a position to determine how it will be affected by these circumstances, how extensive the effects may be, or for how long the Company may be impacted by these circumstances.  The Company’s customers respond to changes in economic conditions and any adverse changes in economic conditions can therefore restrict product placement, availability, sales, replenishment and ultimately profitability.  These conditions exist domestically and internationally.

 

Management is subject to decisions made outside its control which could directly affect future profitability.

 

Retail customers determine which products they will stock for resale.  The Company competes with other manufacturers to secure shelf space in retail stores for the Company’s products.  During the course of a year, changes in the customers’ management personnel can ultimately lead to changes in the stock assortment offered to consumers.  These changes are often arbitrary.  In addition to changes in personnel within the Company’s customers, it is also possible that a strategic decision can be made by a retail customer to consolidate vendors, or to discontinue certain product categories altogether.  In these instances, the Company’s management team may not able to convince customers to reverse such decisions.  The Company’s management team is also engaged in the effective procurement, assembly, and manufacture of products.  The ability to negotiate with suppliers, maintain productivity, and hold the line on cost increases can be subjected to pressures outside the control of management.  For example, increases in fuel costs can increase rates of freight.  Increases of this nature can seldom be avoided and the Company may not be able to pass such increases along to its customers.  Management’s effective control of the manufacturing processes will have a direct impact on the Company’s future profitability.  The Company regularly makes decisions that affect production schedules, shipping schedules, employee levels, and inventory levels.  The Company’s ability to make effective decisions in managing these areas has a direct effect on future profitability.

 

10



Table of Contents

 

Accounts receivable amounts due from our customers can be lost as a result of customer bankruptcy, operational difficulty, or failure to pay, negatively impacting future profitability.

 

The Company has significant accounts receivable or other amounts due from the Company’s customers.  Terms of payment for customers generally range from cash in advance to net 90 day credit terms.  These credit arrangements are negotiated at unspecified and irregular intervals.  The largest customers generate the largest receivable balances.  If a customer develops operational difficulty it is not uncommon to temporarily suspend payment to vendors.  The Company is subject to this risk in the retail marketplace.  From time to time a customer may develop severe operating losses which can lead to a bankruptcy.  In these cases, the Company may lose most of the outstanding balance due.  Occasionally, the Company has been current with a customer at the time such an event occurs.  The more material risk is that of losing the revenue of the customer which might be more onerous than losing the current outstanding accounts receivable.  In addition, many companies that will insure accounts receivables will not do so for the Company’s largest mass market customers.  The Company derives most of its sales revenue and profits from selling products to retailers for resale to consumers.  The failure of the Company’s customers to pay in full amounts due to the Company could negatively affect future profitability.

 

Company profits can suffer from interruptions in supply chain.

 

The Company uses contract manufacturing facilities in Mainland China, Taiwan, and South Korea.  These independent supplier entities are distant from the Company which means that the Company is at risk of business interruptions due to natural disaster, war, disease, and government intervention through tariffs or trade restrictions that are of less concern domestically.  An additional area of concern for the Company is with the continuing “War on Terror” and the most recent developments in North Korea, Iran, and Lebanon.  Three of our largest distributors outside the U.S. have already experienced a general tightening of the availability of credit in recent months, which we believe to be partly a result of certain of these external concerns.  Therefore, if there are any interruptions in the supply chain for any of these reasons, this could directly impact the Company’s profits in a negative way.  The Company is also at risk if trade restrictions are imposed on the Company’s products based upon country of origin.  In addition, any increase in tariffs and freight charges may not be acceptable to pass along to the Company’s customers and could directly impact the Company’s profits.

 

Fluctuations in currency exchange rates could affect pricing of products and cause customers to purchase lower-priced, less profitable products and could affect overall demand for the Company’s products.

 

The Company receives a material portion of its revenue and profits from business in Canada and Europe.  To the extent that value of the U.S. dollar increases relative to currencies in those jurisdictions, it increases the cost of the Company’s products in those jurisdictions, which could create negative pressure on the overall demand for the Company’s products.  The Company gets paid from its international customers in U.S. dollars.  To the extent that increased prices arising from currency fluctuations decrease the overall demand for the Company’s products and the Company’s sales or motivate customers to purchase lower-priced, lower profit products, the Company’s revenues, profits, and cash flows could be adversely affected.

 

Company profits can suffer from increasing manufacturing costs in China as a result of increased wages and wage taxes.

 

The Company uses contract manufacturing facilities in Mainland China.  An increase in the cost of labor or taxes on wages in China may lead to an increase in the cost of goods manufactured in China.  The cost of labor and wage taxes have increased in China which means that the Company is at risk of higher manufacturing costs associated with goods manufactured in China.  Additionally, in response to inflationary concerns, wages in certain provinces in China have recently increased and may continue to do so in the future.  Significant increases in wages or wage taxes paid by contract manufacturing facilities may increase the cost of goods manufactured in China which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s profit margins and profitability.

 

The Company uses third party carriers to ship its products which may pass on increases in transportation-related fuel cost to the Company which can reduce profit margins, negatively impacting profitability.

 

The Company uses numerous third party carriers to ship product, both domestically and internationally.  If the price of fuel continues to increase and the carriers choose to pass on these increase to the Company, our freight costs may increase.  As a result, the Company’s freight cost is impacted by changes in fuel prices.  Fuel prices affect freight costs to both our customer’s location and our distribution center.  Increase in fuel prices and surcharges and other factors have increased and may continue to increase freight costs in the future.  This inflationary pressure of higher fuel costs and continued increase in transportation-related fuel costs could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s profit margins and profitability.

 

Consistency of the Company’s business with several U.S. retailers.

 

The Company is concerned about the consistency of business with several U.S. retailers for the coming year.  The recent tightening of credit availability worldwide caused all retailers to sharply curtail inventory increases in advance of this year’s holiday season.  The Company has already seen some consolidation in product lines, and item elimination, or reductions at several big box retailers.  The Company also recognizes the struggle that many of the Company’s automobile customers have been reporting in the news, and the potential impact that a reduction in automobile unit sales might have upon our rear seat entertainment products’ for the automotive market in the coming fiscal year.

 

11



Table of Contents

 

We may not be able to enforce or protect our intellectual property rights, which may harm our ability to compete and harm our business.

 

Our ability to enforce our patents, copyrights, licenses, trademarks and other intellectual property rights is subject to general litigation risks, as well as uncertainty as to the enforceability of our intellectual property rights in various countries. When we seek to enforce our rights, we are often subject to claims that the intellectual property right is invalid, is otherwise not enforceable, or is licensed to the party against whom we are asserting a claim. In addition, our assertion of intellectual property rights often results in the other party seeking to assert alleged intellectual property rights of its own or assert other claims against us, which could harm our business.

 

Third parties may assert against us or our customers alleged patent, copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights to technologies that are important to our business. Any claims that our products or processes infringe the intellectual property rights of others, regardless of the merit or resolution of such claims, could cause us to incur significant costs in responding to, defending, and resolving such claims, and may divert the efforts and attention of our management and technical personnel from our business.

 

As a result of such intellectual property claims, we could be required or otherwise decide that it is appropriate to:

 

·                  pay damages related to third-party infringement or other claims;

·                  discontinue manufacturing, using, or selling particular products;

·                  discontinue using certain technology or processes;

·                  develop other technology, which could be time-consuming and costly or may not be possible; and/or

·                  license technology from a third party claiming infringement, which license may not be available on commercially reasonable terms.

 

In addition, governments may adopt regulations, and governments or courts may render decisions, requiring compulsory licensing of intellectual property to others, or governments may require that products meet specified standards that serve to favor local companies.  Our inability to enforce our intellectual property rights under these circumstances may harm our competitive position and our business.

 

The occurrence of any of the foregoing could result in unexpected expenses or require us to recognize an impairment of our assets, which would reduce the value of our assets and increase expenses. In addition, if we alter or discontinue our production of affected items, our revenue could be harmed.

 

Item 2.                                                         Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

In April of 1995, the Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program authorizing the Company to purchase its common stock from time to time for its own account.  No purchases were made by the Company under the stock repurchase program during the quarter ended March 31, 2010.

 

12



Table of Contents

 

Item 3.                                                         Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

None.

 

Item 4.                                                         Other Information

 

None.

 

Item 5.                                                         Exhibits

 

See Exhibit Index attached hereto.

 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of that term in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”) (Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).  Additional written or oral forward-looking statements may be made by the Company from time to time in filings with the Securities Exchange Commission, press releases, or otherwise.  Statements contained in this Form 10-Q that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Act.  Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, projections of revenue, income or loss and capital expenditures, statements regarding future operations, anticipated financing needs, compliance with financial covenants in loan agreements, plans for acquisitions or sales of assets or businesses, plans relating to products or services of the Company, assessments of materiality, predictions of future events, the effects of pending and possible litigation, and assumptions relating to the foregoing.  In addition, when used in this Form 10-Q, the words “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans” and variations thereof and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

 

Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified based on current expectations.  Consequently, future events and actual results could differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking statements contained in this Form 10-Q, or in other Company filings, press releases, or otherwise.  In addition to the factors discussed in this Form 10-Q, other factors that could contribute to or cause such differences include, but are not limited to, developments in any one or more of the following areas:  future fluctuations in economic conditions, the receptivity of consumers to new consumer electronics technologies, the rate and consumer acceptance of new product introductions, competition, pricing, the number and nature of customers and their product orders, production by third party vendors, foreign manufacturing, sourcing and sales (including foreign government regulation, trade and importation concerns), borrowing costs, changes in tax rates, pending or threatened litigation and investigations, fluctuations in currency exchange rates and other risk factors which may be detailed from time to time in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

 

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements contained herein, which speak only as of the date hereof.  The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unexpected events.

 

13



Table of Contents

 

Signatures

 

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

 

 

 

KOSS CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

Date: May 17, 2010

/s/ Michael J. Koss

 

Michael J. Koss

 

Vice Chairman, President and

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 

Date: May 17, 2010

/s/ David D. Smith

 

David D. Smith

 

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer

 

14



Table of Contents

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Exhibit Description

 

 

 

3.1

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Koss Corporation, as in effect on November 19, 2009. Filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended December 31, 2009 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

3.2

 

By-Laws of Koss Corporation, as in effect on September 25, 1996. Filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

10.1

 

Death Benefit Agreement with John C. Koss. Filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

10.2

 

Stock Purchase Agreement with John C. Koss. Filed as Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

10.3

 

Salary Continuation Resolution for John C. Koss. Filed as Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

10.4

 

1983 Incentive Stock Option Plan. Filed as Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

10.5

 

Assignment of Lease to John C. Koss. Filed as Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 1988 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

10.6

 

Addendum to Lease. Filed as Exhibit 10.8 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 1988 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

10.7

 

Amendment to Lease. Filed as Exhibit 10.22 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

10.8

 

Partial Assignment, Termination and Modification of Lease. Filed as Exhibit 10.25 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

10.9

 

Restated Lease. Filed as Exhibit 10.26 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

10.10

 

1990 Flexible Incentive Plan. Filed as Exhibit 25 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 1990 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

10.11

 

Consent of Directors (Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan for Michael J. Koss dated March 7, 1997). Filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

10.12

 

Credit Agreement dated May 12, 2010, between Koss Corporation and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.*

 

 

 

10.13

 

Pledge and Security Agreement dated May 12, 2010, between Koss Corporation and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.*

 


* Filed herewith

 


Exhibit 10.12

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

 

DATED AS OF

 

 

MAY 12, 2010

 

 

BETWEEN

 

 

KOSS CORPORATION

 

 

AND

 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.

 

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

Page

 

 

ARTICLE I

 

 

 

Definitions

 

 

 

SECTION 1.01. Defined Terms

1

SECTION 1.02. Accounting Terms; GAAP

21

 

 

ARTICLE II

 

 

 

The Credits

 

 

 

SECTION 2.01. Commitment

22

SECTION 2.02. Loans and Borrowings

22

SECTION 2.03. Borrowing Procedures; Requests for Revolving Borrowings

22

SECTION 2.04. Protective Advances

23

SECTION 2.05. Letters of Credit

23

SECTION 2.06. Funding of Borrowings

26

SECTION 2.07. Interest Elections

26

SECTION 2.08. Termination of Commitment

27

SECTION 2.09. Repayment and Amortization of Loans; Evidence of Debt

28

SECTION 2.10. Prepayment of Loans

28

SECTION 2.11. Fees

30

SECTION 2.12. Interest.

30

SECTION 2.13. Alternate Rate of Interest

31

SECTION 2.14. Increased Costs

31

SECTION 2.15. Break Funding Payments

32

SECTION 2.16. Taxes

33

SECTION 2.17. Payments Generally; Allocation of Proceeds; Sharing of Set-offs

34

SECTION 2.18. Indemnity for Returned Payments

35

 

 

ARTICLE III

 

 

 

Representations and Warranties

 

 

 

SECTION 3.01. Organization; Powers

35

SECTION 3.02. Authorization; Enforceability

35

SECTION 3.03. Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts

36

SECTION 3.04. Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change

36

SECTION 3.05. Properties

36

SECTION 3.06. Litigation and Environmental Matters

36

SECTION 3.07. Compliance with Laws and Agreements

37

SECTION 3.08. Investment Company Status

37

SECTION 3.09. Taxes

37

 

i



 

SECTION 3.10. ERISA

37

SECTION 3.11. Disclosure

37

SECTION 3.12. Material Agreements

38

SECTION 3.13. Solvency

38

SECTION 3.14. Insurance

38

SECTION 3.15. Capitalization and Subsidiaries

38

SECTION 3.16. Security Interest in Collateral

39

SECTION 3.17. Employment Matters

39

 

 

ARTICLE IV

 

 

 

Conditions

 

 

 

SECTION 4.01. Effective Date

39

SECTION 4.02. Each Credit Event

41

 

 

ARTICLE V

 

 

 

Affirmative Covenants

 

 

 

SECTION 5.01. Financial Statements; Borrowing Base and Other Information

41

SECTION 5.02. Notices of Material Events

43

SECTION 5.03. Existence; Conduct of Business

44

SECTION 5.04. Payment of Obligations

44

SECTION 5.05. Maintenance of Properties

44

SECTION 5.06. Books and Records; Inspection Rights

44

SECTION 5.07. Compliance with Laws

44

SECTION 5.08. Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit

44

SECTION 5.09. Insurance

45

SECTION 5.10. Casualty and Condemnation

45

SECTION 5.11. Collateral Assessments and Appraisals

45

SECTION 5.12. Depository Banks

45

SECTION 5.13. Additional Collateral; Further Assurances

45

SECTION 5.14. Dissolution of Koss Classics Ltd.

46

 

 

ARTICLE VI

 

 

 

Negative Covenants

 

 

 

SECTION 6.01. Indebtedness

46

SECTION 6.02. Liens

47

SECTION 6.03. Fundamental Changes

48

SECTION 6.04. Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions

48

SECTION 6.05. Asset Sales

49

SECTION 6.06. Sale and Leaseback Transactions

50

SECTION 6.07. Swap Agreements

50

SECTION 6.08. Restricted Payments; Certain Payments of Indebtedness

51

 

ii



 

SECTION 6.09. Transactions with Affiliates

51

SECTION 6.10. Restrictive Agreements

51

SECTION 6.11. Amendment of Material Documents

52

SECTION 6.12. Financial Covenants

52

SECTION 6.13. ERISA Plans

52

 

 

ARTICLE VII

 

Events of Default

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

 

 

Miscellaneous

 

 

 

SECTION 8.01. Notices

55

SECTION 8.02. Waivers; Amendments

56

SECTION 8.03. Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver

57

SECTION 8.04. Successors and Assigns

58

SECTION 8.05. Survival

59

SECTION 8.06. Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness

60

SECTION 8.07. Severability

60

SECTION 8.08. Right of Setoff

60

SECTION 8.09. Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process

60

SECTION 8.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

61

SECTION 8.11. Headings

61

SECTION 8.12. Confidentiality

61

SECTION 8.13. Nonreliance; Violation of Law

62

SECTION 8.14. USA PATRIOT Act

62

SECTION 8.15. Disclosure

62

SECTION 8.16. Interest Rate Limitation

62

 

iii



 

This CREDIT AGREEMENT dated as of May 12, 2010 (as it may be amended or modified from time to time, this “Agreement”), is entered into by and between KOSS CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (“Borrower”), and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A (“Lender”).

 

The parties hereto agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

Definitions

 

SECTION 1.01.  Defined Terms.  As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

 

Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

 

Account Debtor” means any Person obligated on an Account.

 

Adjusted LIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/16 of 1%) equal to (a) the LIBO Rate for such Interest Period multiplied by (b) the Statutory Reserve Rate.

 

Adjusted One Month LIBO Rate” means, with respect to a CB Floating Rate Loan for any date, an interest rate equal to the sum of (a) 2.50% per annum plus (b) the rate equal to (i) the interest rate determined by Lender by reference to the Page to be the rate at approximately 11:00 am London time, on such date or, if such date is not a Business Day, on the immediately preceding Business Day for dollar deposits with a maturity equal to one month, multiplied by (ii) the Statutory Reserve Rate applicable to dollar deposits in the London interbank market with a maturity equal to one month.

 

Affiliate” means, with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.

 

Applicable Rate” means, for any day, with respect to any CB Floating Rate Loan or Eurodollar Revolving Loan, or with respect to the commitment fees payable hereunder, as the case may be, the applicable rate per annum set forth below under the caption “CB Floating Rate Spread”, “Eurodollar Spread” or “Commitment Fee Rate”, as the case may be, based upon Borrower’s Leverage Ratio as of the most recent determination date, provided that until the delivery to Lender, pursuant to Section 5.01, of Borrower’s consolidated financial information for Borrower’s fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2010, the “Applicable Rate” shall be the applicable rate per annum set forth below in Category 3:

 



 

Leverage Ratio

 

Revolver
CB Floating Rate
Spread

 

Revolver
Eurodollar
 Spread

 

Commitment Fee
Rate

 

Category 1

 

Less than or equal to 1.00 to 1.00

 

 0.00

%

 2.00

%

 0.30

%

Category 2

 

Greater than 1.00 to 1.00 and less then or equal to 1.50 to 1.00

 

 0.25

%

 2.25

%

 0.35

%

Category 3

 

Greater than 1.50 to 1.00 but less than or equal to 2.00 to 1.00

 

 0.50

%

 2.50

%

 0.40

%

Category 4

 

Greater than 2.00 to 1.00

 

 0.75

%

 3.00

%

 0.45

%

 

For purposes of the foregoing, (a) the Applicable Rate shall be determined as of the end of each fiscal quarter of Borrower based upon Borrower’s annual or quarterly consolidated financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.01 and (b) each change in the Applicable Rate resulting from a change in the Leverage Ratio shall be effective during the period commencing on and including the date of delivery to Lender of such consolidated financial statements indicating such change and ending on the date immediately preceding the effective date of the next such change, provided that the Leverage Ratio shall be deemed to be in Category 4 at the option of Lender if Borrower fails to deliver the annual or quarterly consolidated financial statements required to be delivered by it pursuant to Section 5.01, during the period from the expiration of the time for delivery thereof until such consolidated financial statements are delivered.

 

Approved Fund” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.04(b).

 

Availability” means, at any time, an amount equal to (a) the lesser of the Revolving Commitment and the Borrowing Base minus (b) the Revolving Exposure.

 

Available Revolving Commitment” means, at any time, the Revolving Commitment then in effect minus the Revolving Exposure at such time.

 

Availability Period” means the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the earlier of the Maturity Date and the date of termination of the Revolving Commitment.

 

Banking Services” means each and any of the following bank services provided to Borrower by Lender or any of its Affiliates: (a) commercial credit cards, (b) stored value cards and (c) treasury management services (including, without limitation, controlled disbursement,

 

2



 

automated clearinghouse transactions, return items, overdrafts and interstate depository network services).

 

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

 

Banking Services Reserves” means all Reserves which Lender from time to time establishes in its Permitted Discretion for Banking Services then provided or outstanding.

 

Board” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.

 

Borrower” means Koss Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

 

Borrowing” means (a) Revolving Loans bearing interest by reference to the same rate, made, converted or continued on the same date and, in the case of Eurodollar Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect and (b) a Protective Advance.

 

Borrowing Base” means, at any time, the sum of (a) 80% of Borrower’s Eligible Receivables at such time, plus (b)  60% of Borrower’s Eligible Finished Goods, valued at the lower of cost or market value, determined on a first-in-first-out basis which represent 12 months of supply based on sales from the last 12 months, at such time, plus (c) 80% of the CSV of Eligible Life Insurance Policies, minus (d) Reserves.

 

Borrowing Base Certificate” means a certificate, signed and certified as accurate and complete by a Financial Officer of Borrower, in substantially the form of Exhibit A or another form which is acceptable to Lender in its sole discretion.

 

Borrowing Request” means a request by Borrower for a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03.

 

Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided that, when used in connection with a Eurodollar Loan, the term “Business Day” shall also exclude any day on which banks are not open for dealings in dollar deposits in the London interbank market.

 

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

 

CB Floating Rate” means the Prime Rate; provided that the CB Floating Rate shall, on any day, not be less than the Adjusted One Month LIBO Rate.  The CB Floating Rate is

 

3



 

a variable rate and any change in the CB Floating Rate due to any change in the Prime Rate or the Adjusted One Month LIBO Rate is effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate or the Adjusted One Month LIBO Rate, respectively.

 

Change in Control” means (a) the acquisition of ownership, directly or indirectly, beneficially or of record, by any Person or group (within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder as in effect on the date hereof) other than the Koss Family, of Equity Interests representing more than 25% of the aggregate ordinary voting power represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of Borrower; (b) occupation of a majority of the seats (other than vacant seats) on the board of directors of Borrower by Persons who were neither (i) nominated by the board of directors of Borrower nor (ii) appointed by directors so nominated; or (c) the acquisition of direct or indirect Control of Borrower by any Person or group other than the Koss Family.

 

Change in Law” means (a) the adoption of any law, rule or regulation after the date of this Agreement, (b) any change in any law, rule or regulation or in the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority after the date of this Agreement or (c) compliance by Lender (or, for purposes of Section 2.14(b), by any lending office of Lender or by Lender’s holding company, if any) with any request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority made or issued after the date of this Agreement.

 

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

 

Collateral” has the meaning set forth in the Security Agreement.

 

Collateral Access Agreement” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

 

Collateral Documents” means, collectively, the Security Agreement and any other documents granting a Lien upon the Collateral as security for payment of the Secured Obligations.

 

Control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ability to exercise voting power, by contract or otherwise.  “Controlling” and “Controlled” have meanings correlative thereto.

 

CSV” means, on each date of determination, the sum of the amounts, as determined for each Eligible Life Insurance Policy, equal to (a) the lesser of (i) the cash surrender value of such Eligible Life Insurance Policy or (ii) the maximum principal amount of policy loans which could be obtained with respect to such policy minus (b) in either case, the outstanding principal balance of, and all accrued interest on, all Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower with respect to such Eligible Life Insurance Policy.

 

Current Ratio” means the relationship, expressed as a numerical ratio, between:

 

4



 

(a)                                  the amount of all assets which under GAAP would appear as current assets on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, excluding prepaid expenses which are not refundable on the date the determination is made; and

 

(b)                                 the amount of all liabilities which under GAAP would appear as current liabilities on such balance sheet, including all indebtedness payable on demand or maturing (by reason of specified maturity, fixed prepayments, sinking funds or accruals of any kind, or otherwise) within 12 months of the relevant statement, including all lease and rental obligations due in 12 months or less under leases, whether or not Capital Lease Obligations, including customer’s advances and progress billings on contracts, and including the Revolving Exposure.

 

Default” means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.

 

Disclosed Matters” means the actions, suits and proceedings and the environmental matters disclosed in Schedule 3.06.

 

Document” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

 

dollars” or “$” refers to lawful money of the United States of America.

 

EBITDA” means, for any period, Net Income for such period plus (a) without duplication and to the extent deducted in determining Net Income for such period, the sum of (i) Interest Expense for such period, (ii) income tax expense for such period net of tax refunds, (iii) all amounts attributable to depreciation and amortization expense for such period, (iv) any extraordinary non-cash charges for such period, (v) any other non-cash charges for such period (but excluding any non-cash charge in respect of an item that was included in Net Income in a prior period), and (vi) any losses, costs and expenses, including without limitation attorney’s fees, incurred by the Borrower in connection with the Fraud (provided, however, that for all fiscal years commencing on or after July 1, 2011, the amount of such costs and expenses incurred by the Borrower in connection with the Fraud included in the calculation of EBITDA shall not exceed $250,000) minus (b) without duplication and to the extent included in Net Income, (i) any cash payments made during such period in respect of non-cash charges described in clause (a)(v) taken in a prior period, (ii) any extraordinary gains and any non-cash items of income for such period, all calculated for Borrower and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, and (iii) any amounts recovered by the Borrower in connection with the Fraud.

 

Effective Date” means the date on which the conditions specified in Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 8.02).

 

Eligible Accounts” means, at any time, the Accounts of Borrower which Lender determines in its Permitted Discretion are eligible as the basis for the extension of Revolving Loans and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder.  Without limiting Lender’s discretion provided herein, Eligible Accounts shall not include any Account:

 

5



 

(a)                                  which is not subject to a first priority perfected security interest in favor of Lender;

 

(b)                                 which is subject to any Lien other than (i) a Lien in favor of Lender and (ii) a Permitted Encumbrance which does not have priority over the Lien in favor of Lender (except with respect to inchoate tax liens for taxes which are not yet due);

 

(c)                                  with is unpaid more than 120 days after the date of the original invoice therefor or more than 60 days after the original due date, or which has been written off the books of Borrower or otherwise designated as uncollectible;

 

(d)                                 which is owing by an Account Debtor for which more than 25% of the Accounts owing from such Account Debtor and its Affiliates are ineligible, unless such Accounts are backed by a letter of credit or other credit support acceptable to the Lender in its sole discretion;

 

(e)                                  [intentionally deleted]

 

(f)                                    which (i) does not arise from the sale of goods or performance of services in the ordinary course of business, (ii) is not evidenced by an invoice or other documentation satisfactory to Lender which has been sent to the Account Debtor, (iii) represents a progress billing, (iv) is contingent upon Borrower’s completion of any further performance, (v) represents a sale on a bill-and-hold, guaranteed sale, sale-and-return, sale on approval, consignment, cash-on-delivery or any other repurchase or return basis, or (vi) relates to payments of interest;

 

(g)                                 for which the goods giving rise to such Account have not been shipped to the Account Debtor or for which the services giving rise to such Account have not been performed by Borrower or, if such Account was invoiced more than once, any duplicative amount;

 

(h)                                 with respect to which any check or other instrument of payment has been returned uncollected for any reason;

 

(i)                                     which is owed by an Account Debtor which has (i) applied for, suffered, or consented to the appointment of any receiver, custodian, trustee, or liquidator of its assets, (ii) has had possession of all or a material part of its property taken by any receiver, custodian, trustee or liquidator, (iii) filed, or had filed against it, any request or petition for liquidation, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debts, adjudication as bankrupt, winding-up, or voluntary or involuntary case under any state or federal bankruptcy laws, (iv) has admitted in writing its inability, or is generally unable to, pay its debts as they become due, (v) become insolvent, or (vi) ceased operation of its business;

 

(j)                                     which is owed by any Account Debtor which has sold all or a substantially all of its assets;

 

6



 

(k)                                  which is owed by an Account Debtor which (i) does not maintain its chief executive office in the U.S. or Canada or (ii) is not organized under applicable law of the U.S., any state of the U.S., Canada, or any province of Canada unless, in either case, such Account is backed by a Letter of Credit acceptable to Lender which is in the possession of, and has been assigned to, Lender;

 

(l)                                     which is owed in any currency other than U.S. dollars;

 

(m)                               which is owed by (i) the government (or any department, agency, public corporation, or instrumentality thereof) of any country other than the U.S. unless such Account is backed by a Letter of Credit acceptable to Lender which is in the possession of Lender, or (ii) the government of the U.S., or any department, agency, public corporation, or instrumentality thereof, in excess of $100,000 in the aggregate, unless the Federal Assignment of Claims Act of 1940, as amended (31 U.S.C. § 3727 et seq. and 41 U.S.C. § 15 et seq.), and any other steps necessary to perfect the Lien of Lender in such Account have been complied with to Lender’s satisfaction;

 

(n)                                 which is owed by any Affiliate, employee, officer, director, agent or stockholder of Borrower;

 

(o)                                 which is owed by an Account Debtor or any Affiliate of such Account Debtor to which Borrower is indebted, but only to the extent of such indebtedness or is subject to any security, deposit, progress payment, retainage or other similar advance made by or for the benefit of an Account Debtor, in each case to the extent thereof;

 

(p)                                 which is subject to any counterclaim, deduction, defense, setoff or dispute;

 

(q)                                 which is evidenced by any promissory note, chattel paper, or instrument;

 

(r)                                    which is owed by an Account Debtor located in any jurisdiction which requires filing of a “Notice of Business Activities Report” or other similar report in order to permit Borrower to seek judicial enforcement in such jurisdiction of payment of such Account, unless Borrower has filed such report or qualified to do business in such jurisdiction;

 

(s)                                  with respect to which Borrower has made any agreement with the Account Debtor for any reduction thereof, other than discounts and adjustments given in the ordinary course of business, or any Account which was partially paid and Borrower created a new receivable for the unpaid portion of such Account;

 

(t)                                    which does not comply in all material respects with the requirements of all applicable laws and regulations, whether Federal, state or local, including without limitation the Federal Consumer Credit Protection Act, the Federal Truth in Lending Act and Regulation Z of the Board;

 

7



 

(u)                                 which is for goods that have been sold under a purchase order or pursuant to the terms of a contract or other agreement or understanding (written or oral) that indicates or purports that any Person other than Borrower has or has had an ownership interest in such goods, or which indicates any party other than Borrower as payee or remittance party;

 

(v)                                 which was created on cash on delivery terms; or

 

(w)                               which Lender determines may not be paid by reason of the Account Debtor’s inability to pay.

 

In the event that an Account which was previously an Eligible Account ceases to be an Eligible Account hereunder, Borrower shall notify Lender thereof on and at the time of submission to Lender of the next Borrowing Base Certificate.  In determining the amount of an Eligible Account, the face amount of an Account may, in Lender’s Permitted Discretion, be reduced by, without duplication, to the extent not reflected in such face amount, (i) the amount of all accrued and actual discounts, claims, credits or credits pending, promotional program allowances, price adjustments, finance charges or other allowances (including any amount that Borrower may be obligated to rebate to an Account Debtor pursuant to the terms of any agreement or understanding (written or oral)) and (ii) the aggregate amount of all cash received in respect of such Account but not yet applied by Borrower to reduce the amount of such Account.  Lender, in its Permitted Discretion, may from time to time adjust advance rates or categories of ineligible Accounts, or impose additional reserves, to reflect the results of field audits or other changes in Borrower’s business.

 

Eligible Finished Goods” means, Eligible Inventory constituting finished goods to be sold by Borrower in the ordinary course of business of Borrower.

 

Eligible Inventory” means, at any time, the Inventory of Borrower which Lender determines in its Permitted Discretion is eligible as the basis for the extension of Revolving Loans, and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder.  Without limiting Lender’s discretion provided herein, Eligible Inventory shall not include any Inventory:

 

(a)                                  which is not subject to a first priority perfected Lien in favor of Lender;

 

(b)                                 which is subject to any Lien other than (i) a Lien in favor of Lender and (ii) a Permitted Encumbrance which does not have priority over the Lien in favor of Lender;

 

(c)                                  which is, in Lender’s opinion, slow moving (including inventory in excess of the last 12 months of sales), obsolete, unmerchantable, defective, unfit for sale, not salable at prices approximating at least the cost of such Inventory in the ordinary course of business or unacceptable due to age, type, category and/or quantity;

 

(d)                                 with respect to which any covenant, representation, or warranty contained in this Agreement or the Security Agreement has been breached or is not true and which does not conform to all standards imposed by any Governmental Authority;

 

8



 

(e)                                  in which any Person other than Borrower shall (i) have any direct or indirect ownership, interest or title to such Inventory or (ii) be indicated on any purchase order or invoice with respect to such Inventory as having or purporting to have an interest therein;

 

(f)                                    which is not finished goods or which constitutes work-in-process, raw materials, spare or replacement parts, subassemblies, packaging and shipping material, manufacturing supplies, samples, prototypes, displays or display items, bill-and-hold goods, goods that are returned or marked for return, repossessed goods, defective or damaged goods, goods held on consignment, or goods which are not of a type held for sale in the ordinary course of business;

 

(g)                                 which is not located in the U.S. or is in transit with a common carrier from vendors and suppliers;

 

(h)                                 which is located in any location leased by Borrower unless the lessor has delivered to Lender a Collateral Access Agreement (provided that Borrower shall have a period of 30 days after the date of this Agreement to provide a Collateral Access Agreement for its leased facility located at 4129 North Port Washington Road, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and this clause (h) shall not cause inventory located at such location to be ineligible unless Borrower fails to provide a Collateral Access Agreement for such facility during such 30-day period);

 

(i)                                     which is located in any third party warehouse or is in the possession of a bailee (other than a third party processor) and is not evidenced by a Document;

 

(j)                                     which is being processed offsite at a third party location or outside processor, or is in transit to or from said third party location or outside processor;

 

(k)                                  which is a discontinued product or component thereof which is the subject of a consignment by Borrower as consignor;

 

(l)                                     which is perishable;

 

(m)                               which contains or bears any intellectual property rights licensed to Borrower unless Lender is satisfied that it may sell or otherwise dispose of such Inventory without (i) infringing the rights of such licensor, (ii) violating any contract with such licensor, or (iii) incurring any liability with respect to payment of royalties other than royalties incurred pursuant to sale of such Inventory under the current licensing agreement;

 

(n)                                 which is not reflected in a current perpetual inventory report of Borrower; or

 

(o)                                 for which reclamation rights have been asserted by the seller.

 

9



 

In the event that Inventory which was previously Eligible Inventory ceases to be Eligible Inventory hereunder, Borrower shall notify Lender thereof on and at the time of submission to Lender of the next Borrowing Base Certificate.  Lender, in its Permitted Discretion, may from time to time adjust advance rates or categories of ineligible Inventory, or impose additional reserves, to reflect the results of field audits or other changes in Borrower’s business.

 

Eligible Life Insurance Policy” means any life insurance policy (excluding term life insurance or “split-dollar” life insurance policies) owned by the Borrower (a) which is subject to a first priority perfected Lien in favor of the Lender, (b) which is not subject to a Lien in favor of any other person, (c) with respect to which all premiums due have been paid in full, (d) the existence, cash surrender value and current premium payment status of which have been certified in the most recent Borrowing Base Certificate and (e) which is otherwise acceptable to the Lender in its sole discretion.  Any life insurance policy which ceases to meet any of the foregoing qualifications shall cease to be an Eligible Life Insurance Policy at such time and the Borrower shall notify the Lender thereof on and at the time of submission to the Lender of the next Borrowing Base Certificate.

 

Environmental Laws” means all laws, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, decrees, judgments, injunctions, notices or binding agreements issued, promulgated or entered into by any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the management, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Material or to health and safety matters.

 

Environmental Liability” means any liability, contingent or otherwise (including any liability for damages, costs of environmental remediation, fines, penalties or indemnities), of Borrower or any Subsidiary directly or indirectly resulting from or based upon (a) violation of any Environmental Law, (b) the generation, use, handling, transportation, storage, treatment or disposal of any Hazardous Materials, (c) exposure to any Hazardous Materials, (d) the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials into the environment or (e) any contract, agreement or other consensual arrangement pursuant to which liability is assumed or imposed with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

Equity Interests” means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity ownership interests in a Person, and any warrants, options or other rights entitling the holder thereof to purchase or acquire any such equity interest.

 

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

 

ERISA Affiliate” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with Borrower, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

 

10



 

ERISA Event” means (a) any “reportable event”, as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder with respect to a Plan (other than an event for which the 30-day notice period is waived); (b) the existence with respect to any Plan of an “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA), whether or not waived; (c) the filing pursuant to Section 412(d) of the Code or Section 303(d) of ERISA of an application for a waiver of the minimum funding standard with respect to any Plan; (d) the incurrence by Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan; (e) the receipt by Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate from the PBGC or a plan administrator of any notice relating to an intention to terminate any Plan or Plans or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan; (f) the incurrence by Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates of any liability with respect to the withdrawal or partial withdrawal from any Plan or Multiemployer Plan; or (g) the receipt by Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, or the receipt by any Multiemployer Plan from Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of any notice, concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or a determination that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent or in reorganization, within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.

 

Eurodollar”, when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing, refers to whether such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, are bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

 

Event of Default” has the meaning assigned to such term in Article VII.

 

Excluded Taxes” means, with respect to Lender, or any other recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of Borrower hereunder, (a) income or franchise taxes imposed on (or measured by) its net income by the United States of America, or by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such recipient is organized or in which its principal office is located or, in the case of Lender, in which its applicable lending office is located, (b) any branch profits taxes imposed by the United States of America or any similar tax imposed by any other jurisdiction in which Borrower is located.

 

Federal Funds Effective Rate” means, for any day, the weighted average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, 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 that is a Business Day, the average (rounded upwards, if necessary, to the next 1/100 of 1%) of the quotations for such day for such transactions received by Lender from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

 

Financial Officer” means the chief financial officer or principal accounting officer of Borrower.

 

Fraud” means the unauthorized transactions by Sujata Sachdeva, the Borrower’s former Vice President of Finance, as previously disclosed in Form 8-K Current Reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on December 21 and 24, 2009, and January 4, 7, 11, and 20, 2010, and any actions, proceedings, or investigations, whether criminal, civil, or administrative, arising out of or in connection therewith.

 

11



 

Funding Account” shall mean account number 885127381, maintained by Borrower with Lender.

 

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.

 

Governmental Authority” means the government of the United States of America, any other nation or any political subdivision thereof, whether state or local, and any agency, authority, instrumentality, regulatory body, court, central bank or other entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, taxing, regulatory or administrative powers or functions of or pertaining to government.

 

Guarantee” of or by any Person (the “guarantor”) means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect, (a) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment thereof, (b) to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof, (c) to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation or (d) as an account party in respect of any letter of credit or letter of guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or obligation; provided, that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.

 

Hazardous Materials” means all explosive or radioactive substances or wastes and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or other pollutants, including petroleum or petroleum distillates, asbestos or asbestos containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon gas, infectious or medical wastes and all other substances or wastes of any nature regulated pursuant to any Environmental Law.

 

Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money or with respect to deposits or advances of any kind, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person upon which interest charges are customarily paid, (d) all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person, (e) all obligations of such Person in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services (excluding current accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (f) all Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the Indebtedness secured thereby has been assumed, (g) all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness of others, (h) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person, (i) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and letters of guaranty, (j) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances, (k) obligations under any

 

12



 

liquidated earn-out and (l) obligations of such Person to purchase securities or other property arising out of or in connection with the sale of the same or substantially similar securities or property or any other Off-Balance Sheet Liability.  The Indebtedness of any Person shall include the Indebtedness of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is a general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Person’s ownership interest in or other relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness provide that such Person is not liable therefor.

 

Indemnified Taxes” means Taxes other than Excluded Taxes.

 

Interest Election Request” means a request by Borrower to convert or continue a Revolving Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.07.

 

Interest Expense” means, with reference to any period, the interest expense (including that attributable to Capital Lease Obligations) of Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period with respect to all outstanding Indebtedness of Borrower and its Subsidiaries (including all commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing and net costs under Swap Agreements in respect of interest rates to the extent such net costs are allocable to such period in accordance with GAAP), calculated on a consolidated basis for Borrower and its Subsidiaries for such period in accordance with GAAP.

 

Interest Payment Date” means (a) with respect to any CB Floating Rate Loan, the first Business Day of each calendar month and the Maturity Date, (b) with respect to any Eurodollar Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day prior to the last day of such Interest Period that occurs at intervals of three months’ duration after the first day of such Interest Period, and (c) the Maturity Date.

 

Interest Period” means (a) with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing and ending on the numerically corresponding day in the calendar month that is one, two or three months thereafter, as Borrower may elect; provided, that (i) if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless, in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing only, such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Business Day and (ii) any Interest Period pertaining to a Eurodollar Borrowing that commences on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the last calendar month of such Interest Period) shall end on the last Business Day of the last calendar month of such Interest Period.  For purposes hereof, the date of a Borrowing initially shall be the date on which such Borrowing is made and, in the case of a Revolving Borrowing, thereafter shall be the effective date of the most recent conversion or continuation of such Borrowing.

 

Inventory” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Security Agreement.

 

13



 

Koss Family” means John Koss, Sr., together with his lineal descendants and any trusts for the benefit of, and estates of, any of the foregoing individuals.

 

LC Collateral Account” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(h).

 

LC Disbursement” means a payment made by Lender pursuant to a Letter of Credit.

 

LC Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit at such time plus (b) the aggregate amount of all LC Disbursements that have not yet been reimbursed by or on behalf of Borrower at such time.

 

Lender” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

 

Letter of Credit” means any letter of credit issued pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Letter of Credit Sublimit” means $2,000,000.

 

Leverage Ratio” means, on any date, the ratio of (a) Total Indebtedness on such date to (b) EBITDA for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ended on such date (or, if such date is not the last day of a fiscal quarter, ended on the last day of the fiscal quarter most recently ended prior to such date).

 

LIBO Rate” means, with respect to any Eurodollar Borrowing for any Interest Period, the rate appearing on Page 3750 of the Dow Jones Market Service (the “Service”) (or on any successor or substitute page of such Service, or any successor to or substitute for such Service, providing rate quotations comparable to those currently provided on such page of such Service, as determined by Lender from time to time for purposes of providing quotations of interest rates applicable to dollar deposits in the London interbank market) (the “Page”) at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period, as the rate for dollar deposits with a maturity comparable to such Interest Period.  In the event that such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the “LIBO Rate” with respect to such Eurodollar Borrowing for such Interest Period shall be the rate at which dollar deposits of $5,000,000 and for a maturity comparable to such Interest Period are offered by the principal London office of Lender in immediately available funds in the London interbank market at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period.

 

Lien” means, with respect to any asset, (a) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, charge or security interest in, on or of such asset, (b) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset and (c) in the case of securities, any purchase option, call or similar right of a third party with respect to such securities.

 

Loan Documents” means this Agreement, any promissory notes issued pursuant to the Agreement, any Letter of Credit applications, the Collateral Documents, and all other

 

14



 

agreements, instruments, documents and certificates identified in Section 4.01 executed and delivered to, or in favor of, Lender and including all other pledges, powers of attorney, consents, assignments, contracts, notices, letter of credit agreements and all other written matter whether heretofore, now or hereafter executed by or on behalf of Borrower, and delivered to Lender in connection with the Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby.  Any reference in the Agreement or any other Loan Document to a Loan Document shall include all appendices, exhibits or schedules thereto, and all amendments, restatements, supplements or other modifications thereto, and shall refer to the Agreement or such Loan Document as the same may be in effect at any and all times such reference becomes operative.

 

Loans” means the loans and advances made by Lender pursuant to this Agreement, including Protective Advances.

 

Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (a) the business, assets, operations, prospects or condition, financial or otherwise, of Borrower and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of Borrower to perform any of its obligations under the Loan Documents, (c) the Collateral, or Lender’s Liens on the Collateral or the priority of such Liens, or (d) the rights of or benefits available to Lender thereunder.

 

Material Indebtedness” means Indebtedness (other than the Loans and Letters of Credit), or obligations in respect of one or more Swap Agreements, of any one or more of Borrower and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $250,000.  For purposes of determining Material Indebtedness, the “obligations” of Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of any Swap Agreement at any time shall be the maximum aggregate amount (giving effect to any netting agreements) that Borrower or such Subsidiary would be required to pay if such Swap Agreement were terminated at such time.

 

Maturity Date” means July 31, 2013 or any earlier date on which the Revolving Commitment is reduced to zero or otherwise terminated pursuant to the terms hereof.

 

Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

 

Multiemployer Plan” means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

 

Net Income” means, for any period, the consolidated net income (or loss) of Borrower and its Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided that there shall be excluded (a) the income (or deficit) of any Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Subsidiary or is merged into or consolidated with Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (b) the income (or deficit) of any Person (other than a Subsidiary) in which Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries has an ownership interest, except to the extent that any such income is actually received by Borrower or such Subsidiary in the form of dividends or similar distributions and (c) the undistributed earnings of any Subsidiary to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Subsidiary is not at the time permitted by the terms of any contractual obligation (other than under any Loan Document) or Requirement of Law applicable to such Subsidiary.

 

15



 

Net Proceeds” means, with respect to any event, (a) the cash proceeds received in respect of such event including (i) any cash received in respect of any non-cash proceeds (including any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or purchase price adjustment receivable or otherwise, but excluding any interest payments), but only as and when received, (ii) in the case of a casualty, insurance proceeds payable to the Company or to the Lender for the benefit of the Company and (iii) in the case of a condemnation or similar event, condemnation awards and similar payments payable to the Company or to the Lender for the benefit of the Company, net of (b) the sum of (i) all reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses paid to third parties (other than Affiliates) in connection with such event, (ii) in the case of a sale, transfer or other disposition of an asset (including pursuant to a sale and leaseback transaction or a casualty or a condemnation or similar proceeding), the amount of all payments required to be made as a result of such event to repay Indebtedness (other than Loans) secured by such asset or otherwise subject to mandatory prepayment as a result of such event and (iii) the amount of all taxes paid (or reasonably estimated to be payable) and the amount of any reserves established to fund contingent liabilities reasonably estimated to be payable, in each case during the year that such event occurred or the next succeeding year and that are directly attributable to such event (as determined reasonably and in good faith by a Financial Officer).

 

Obligations” means all unpaid principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on the Loans, all LC Exposure, all accrued and unpaid fees and all expenses, reimbursements, indemnities and other obligations of Borrower or any Subsidiary to Lender or any indemnified party arising under the Loan Documents.  Obligations shall also include (i) all Banking Services Obligations; and (ii) all Swap Obligations owing to Lender or its Affiliates.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Liability” of a Person means (a) any repurchase obligation or liability of such Person with respect to accounts or notes receivable sold by such Person, (b) any indebtedness, liability or obligation under any sale and leaseback transaction which is not a Capital Lease Obligation, or (c) any indebtedness, liability or obligation under any so-called “synthetic lease” transaction entered into by such Person, or (d) any indebtedness, liability or obligation arising with respect to any other transaction which is the functional equivalent of or takes the place of borrowing but which does not constitute a liability on the balance sheets of such Person (other than operating leases).

 

Other Taxes” means any and all present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies arising from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or enforcement of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement.

 

Participant” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.04.

 

PBGC” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA and any successor entity performing similar functions.

 

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

 

16



 

Permitted Encumbrances” means:

 

(a)                                  Liens imposed by law for taxes that are not yet due or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.04;

 

(b)                                 carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s and other like Liens imposed by law, arising in the ordinary course of business and securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 30 days or are being contested in compliance with Section 5.04;

 

(c)                                  pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations;

 

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

 

(e)                                  judgment liens in respect of judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under clause (k) of Article VII; and

 

(f)                                    easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of Borrower or any Subsidiary;

 

provided that the term “Permitted Encumbrances” shall not include any Lien securing Indebtedness.

 

Permitted Investments” means:

 

(a)                                  direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States of America (or by any agency thereof to the extent such obligations are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America), in each case maturing within one year from the date of acquisition thereof;

 

(b)                                 investments in commercial paper maturing within 270 days from the date of acquisition thereof and having, at such date of acquisition, the highest credit rating obtainable from S&P or from Moody’s;

 

(c)                                  investments in certificates of deposit, banker’s acceptances and time deposits maturing within 180 days from the date of acquisition thereof issued or guaranteed by or placed with, and money market deposit accounts issued or offered by, any domestic office of any commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof which has a combined capital and surplus and undivided profits of not less than $500,000,000;

 

17



 

(d)                                 fully collateralized repurchase agreements with a term of not more than 30 days for securities described in clause (a) above and entered into with a financial institution satisfying the criteria described in clause (c) above;

 

(e)                                  money market funds that (i) comply with the criteria set forth in Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, (ii) are rated AAA by S&P and Aaa by Moody’s and (iii) have portfolio assets of at least $5,000,000,000; and

 

(f)                                    any other investment agreed to in writing by the Bank in advance.

 

Person” means any natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, Governmental Authority or other entity.

 

Plan” means any employee pension benefit plan (other than a Multiemployer Plan) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, and in respect of which Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

 

Prepayment Event” means:

 

(a)                                  any sale, transfer or other disposition (including pursuant to a sale and leaseback transaction) of any property or asset of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, other than transfers or dispositions of cash and Permitted Investments and other dispositions described in Sections 6.05(a), (c) or (g); or

 

(b)                                 any casualty or other insured damage to, or any taking under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding of, any property or asset of Borrower or any Subsidiary with a fair value immediately prior to such event equal to or greater than $500,000; or

 

(c)                                  the issuance by Borrower or any Subsidiary of any Equity Interests, or the receipt by Borrower of any capital contribution; or

 

(d)                                 the incurrence by Borrower or any Subsidiary of any Indebtedness, other than Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01.

 

Prime Rate” means the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by Lender as its prime rate; each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced as being effective.

 

Projections” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.01(f).

 

Protective Advance” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.04.

 

18



 

Related Parties” means, with respect to any specified Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents and advisors of such Person and such Person’s Affiliates.

 

Report” means reports prepared by Lender or another Person showing the results of appraisals, field examinations or audits pertaining to Borrower’s assets from information furnished by or on behalf of Borrower, after Lender has exercised its rights of inspection pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Requirement of Law”:  as to any Person, the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws or other organizational or governing documents of such Person, and any law, treaty, rule or regulation or determination of an arbitrator or a court or other Governmental Authority, in each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.

 

Reserves” means any and all reserves which Lender deems necessary, in its Permitted Discretion, to maintain (including, without limitation, an availability reserve, reserves for accrued and unpaid interest on the Secured Obligations, Banking Services Reserves, reserves for rent at locations leased by Borrower or any Subsidiary and for consignee’s, warehousemen’s and bailee’s charges, reserves for dilution of Accounts, reserves for Inventory shrinkage, reserves for customs charges and shipping charges related to any Inventory in transit, reserves for Swap Obligations, reserves for contingent liabilities of Borrower or any Subsidiary, reserves for uninsured losses of Borrower or any Subsidiary, reserves for uninsured, underinsured, un indemnified or under indemnified liabilities or potential liabilities with respect to any litigation and reserves for taxes, fees, assessments, and other governmental charges) with respect to the Collateral, Borrower or any Subsidiary.

 

Restricted Payment” means any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) with respect to any Equity Interests in Borrower or any Subsidiary, 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 in Borrower or any option, warrant or other right to acquire any such Equity Interests in Borrower.

 

Revolving Commitment” means the commitment of Lender to make Revolving Loans and issue Letters of Credit, as such commitment may be reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.08.  The initial amount of Lender’s Revolving Commitment is $8,000,000.

 

Revolving Exposure” means, at any time, the sum of the outstanding principal amount of Revolving Loans and LC Exposure at such time.

 

Revolving Loan” means a Loan made pursuant to Section 2.01.

 

S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw Hill Companies, Inc.

 

Secured Obligations” means all Obligations, together with all (i) Banking Services Obligations and (ii) Swap Obligations owing to Lender or its Affiliates.

 

19



 

Security Agreement” means that certain Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, between Borrower and Lender, and any other pledge or security agreement entered into, after the date of this Agreement by Borrower (as required by this Agreement or any other Loan Document), or any other Person, as the same may be amended, restated or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Statutory Reserve Rate” means a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentages (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Board to which Lender is subject with respect to the Adjusted LIBO Rate, for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency Liabilities” in Regulation D of the Board).  Such reserve percentages shall include those imposed pursuant to such Regulation D.  Eurodollar Loans shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to Lender under such Regulation D or any comparable regulation.  The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

 

subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person (the “parent”) at any date, any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of the parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date, as well as any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity (a) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than 50% of the equity or more than 50% of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership, more than 50% of the general partnership interests are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held, or (b) that is, as of such date, otherwise Controlled, by the parent or one or more subsidiaries of the parent or by the parent and one or more subsidiaries of the parent.

 

Subsidiary” means any direct or indirect subsidiary of Borrower.

 

Swap Agreement” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of Borrower or the Subsidiaries shall be a Swap Agreement.

 

Swap Obligations” of a Person means any and all obligations of such Person, whether absolute or contingent and howsoever and whensoever created, arising, evidenced or acquired (including all renewals, extensions and modifications thereof and substitutions therefor), under (a) any and all Swap Agreements, and (b) any and all cancellations, buy backs, reversals, terminations or assignments of any Swap Agreement transaction.

 

20



 

Tangible Net Worth” means the total of all assets properly appearing on the consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, less the sum of the following:

 

(a)                                  the book amount of all such assets which would be treated as intangibles under GAAP, including, without limitation, all such items as good will, trademarks, trademark rights, trade names, trade-name rights, brands, copyrights, patents, patent rights, licenses, deferred charges and unamortized debt discount and expense;

 

(b)                                 any write-up in the book value of any such assets resulting from a revaluation thereof subsequent to the date of this Agreement;

 

(c)                                  all reserves, including reserves for depreciation, obsolescence, depletion, insurance, and inventory valuation, but excluding contingency reserves not allocated for any particular purpose and not deducted from assets;

 

(d)                                 the amount, if any, at which any shares of stock of the Borrower or any Subsidiary appear on the asset side of such consolidated balance sheet;

 

(e)                                  all other liabilities of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries shown on such balance sheet, other than liabilities subordinated to obligations owed to the Bank by subordination agreements in form and substance satisfactory to the Bank; and

 

(f)                                    all investments in foreign affiliates and nonconsolidated domestic affiliates.

 

Taxes” means any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, charges or withholdings imposed by any Governmental Authority.

 

Total Indebtedness” means, at any date, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness of Borrower and its Subsidiaries at such date, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

 

Transactions” means the execution, delivery and performance by Borrower of this Agreement, the borrowing of Loans and other credit extensions, the use of the proceeds thereof and the issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder.

 

UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time in the State of Wisconsin or any other state the laws of which are required to be applied in connection with the issue of perfection of security interests.

 

Withdrawal Liability” means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

 

SECTION 1.02.  Accounting Terms; GAAP.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature shall be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that, if Borrower notifies Lender that

 

21



 

Borrower requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the date hereof in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if Lender notifies Borrower that Lender request an amendment to any provision hereof for such purpose), regardless of whether any such notice is given before or after such change in GAAP or in the application thereof, then such provision shall be interpreted on the basis of GAAP as in effect and applied immediately before such change shall have become effective until such notice shall have been withdrawn or such provision amended in accordance herewith.

 

ARTICLE II

 

The Credits

 

SECTION 2.01.  Commitment.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, Lender agrees to make Revolving Loans to Borrower from time to time during the Availability Period in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in the Revolving Exposure exceeding the lesser of (a) the Revolving Commitment or (b) the Borrowing Base, subject to Lender’s authority, in its sole discretion, to make Protective Advances pursuant to the terms of Section 2.04, by making immediately available funds available to the account designated by Borrower in writing.  Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, Borrower may borrow, prepay and reborrow Revolving Loans.

 

SECTION 2.02.  Loans and Borrowings.  (a)  Any Protective Advance shall be made in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 2.04.

 

(b)                                 Subject to Section 2.13, each Revolving Borrowing shall be comprised entirely of CB Floating Rate Loans or Eurodollar Loans as Borrower may request in accordance herewith, provided that all Borrowings made on the Effective Date must be made as CB Floating Rate Borrowings.
 
(c)                                  At the commencement of each Interest Period for any Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be in an aggregate amount that is not less than $100,000.  CB Floating Rate Revolving Borrowings may be in any amount.  There shall not at any time be more than a total of 5 Eurodollar Revolving Borrowings outstanding.
 
(d)                                 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Borrower shall not be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Maturity Date.
 

SECTION 2.03.  Borrowing Procedures; Requests for Revolving Borrowings.

 

(a)                                  Notices by Borrower to Lender of requests for Revolving Loans other than pursuant to §2.03(a).  To request a Revolving Borrowing, Borrower shall notify Lender of such request by telephone (a) in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, not later than 10:00 a.m., Milwaukee time, two Business Days before the date of the proposed Borrowing or (b) in the case of an CB Floating Rate Borrowing, not later than noon, Milwaukee time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing; provided that any such notice of an CB Floating Rate Revolving Borrowing to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as contemplated by Section 

 

22



 
2.05(e) may be given not later than 9:00 a.m., Milwaukee time, on the date of the proposed Borrowing.  Each such telephonic Borrowing Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or facsimile to Lender of a written Borrowing Request in a form approved by Lender and signed by Borrower.  Each such telephonic and written Borrowing Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.01:
 
(i)                                     the aggregate amount of the requested Borrowing;
 
(ii)                                  the date of such Borrowing, which shall be a Business Day;
 
(iii)                               whether such Borrowing is to be an CB Floating Rate Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing; and
 
(iv)                              in the case of a Eurodollar Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period.”
 

If no election as to the rate of interest applicable to the Revolving Borrowing is specified, then the requested Revolving Borrowing shall be an CB Floating Rate Borrowing.  If no Interest Period is specified with respect to any requested Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, then Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration.

 

SECTION 2.04.  Protective Advances. Subject to the limitations set forth below, Lender is authorized by Borrower, from time to time in Lender’s sole discretion (but shall have absolutely no obligation to), to make Loans to Borrower, which Lender, in its Permitted Discretion, deems necessary or desirable (i) to preserve or protect the Collateral, or any portion thereof, (ii) to enhance the likelihood of, or maximize the amount of, repayment of the Loans and other Obligations, or (iii) to pay any other amount chargeable to or required to be paid by Borrower pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, including payments of principal, interest, LC Disbursements, fees, premiums, reimbursable expenses (including costs, fees, and expenses as described in Section 8.03) and other sums payable under the Loan Documents (any of such Loans are herein referred to as “Protective Advances”).  Protective Advances may be made even if the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.02 have not been satisfied.  The Protective Advances shall be secured by the Liens in favor of Lender in and to the Collateral and shall constitute Obligations hereunder.  All Protective Advances shall be CB Floating Rate Borrowings.  Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Lender shall provide Borrower with three (3) days prior notice of its intention to make a Protective Advance.

 

SECTION 2.05.  Letters of Credit.  (a) General.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, Borrower may request the issuance of Letters of Credit for its own account, in a form reasonably acceptable to Lender at any time and from time to time during the Availability Period.  In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any form of letter of credit application or other agreement submitted by Borrower to, or entered into by Borrower with, Lender relating to any Letter of Credit, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall control.

 

(b)                                 Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Renewal, Extension; Certain Conditions.  To request the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment, renewal or extension of an

 

23



 

outstanding Letter of Credit), Borrower shall hand deliver or facsimile (or transmit by electronic communication, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by Lender) to Lender (prior to 12:00 p.m., Milwaukee time, at least three Business Days prior to the requested date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension) a notice requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended, renewed or extended, and specifying the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (which shall be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which shall comply with paragraph (c) of this Section), the amount of such Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof and such other information as shall be necessary to prepare, amend, renew or extend such Letter of Credit.  If requested by Lender, Borrower also shall submit a letter of credit application on Lender’s standard form in connection with any request for a Letter of Credit.  A Letter of Credit shall be issued, amended, renewed or extended only if (and upon issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of each Letter of Credit Borrower shall be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment, renewal or extension (i) the LC Exposure shall not exceed the Letter of Credit Sublimit and (ii) the total Revolving Exposure shall not exceed the lesser of the total Revolving Commitment and the Borrowing Base.
 
(c)                                  Expiration Date.  Each Letter of Credit shall expire at or prior to the close of business on the earlier of (i) the date one year after the date of the issuance of such Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any renewal or extension thereof, one year after such renewal or extension) and (ii) the date that is five Business Days prior to the Maturity Date; provided, however, that notwithstanding any term herein to the contrary, prior to the Maturity Date a Letter of Credit may be issued or extended with an expiry date extending beyond the Maturity Date if, and to the extent that, the Borrower provides cash collateral to the Lender not later than ten (10) days prior to the Maturity Date in an amount equal to 105% of the maximum amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit.
 
(d)                                 Reimbursement.  If Lender shall make any LC Disbursement in respect of a Letter of Credit, Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement by paying to Lender an amount equal to such LC Disbursement not later than 11:00 a.m., Milwaukee time, on the date that such LC Disbursement is made, if Borrower shall have received notice of such LC Disbursement prior to 9:00 a.m., Milwaukee time, on such date, or, if such notice has not been received by Borrower prior to such time on such date, then not later than 11:00 a.m., Milwaukee time, on (i) the Business Day that Borrower receives such notice, if such notice is received prior to 9:00 a.m., Milwaukee time, on the day of receipt, or (ii) the Business Day immediately following the day that Borrower receives such notice, if such notice is not received prior to such time on the day of receipt; provided that Borrower may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.03 that such payment be financed with an CB Floating Rate Revolving Borrowing in an equivalent amount and, to the extent so financed, Borrower’s obligation to make such payment shall be discharged and replaced by the resulting CB Floating Rate Revolving Borrowing.
 
(e)                                  Obligations Absolute.  Borrower’s obligation to reimburse LC Disbursements as provided in paragraph (d) of this Section shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, or any term or provision therein, (ii) any draft or other

 

24



 

document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect, (iii) payment by Lender under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit, or (iv) any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against, Borrower’s obligations hereunder.  Neither Lender nor any of its Related Parties, shall have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of Lender; provided that the foregoing shall not be construed to excuse Lender from liability to Borrower to the extent of any direct damages (as opposed to consequential damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by Borrower that are caused by Lender’s failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof.  The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of Lender (as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction), Lender shall be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination.  In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented which appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, Lender may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit.
 
(f)                                    Disbursement Procedures.  Lender shall, promptly following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit.  Lender shall promptly notify Borrower by telephone (confirmed by facsimile) of such demand for payment and whether Lender has made or will make an LC Disbursement thereunder; provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice shall not relieve Borrower of its obligation to reimburse Lender with respect to any such LC Disbursement.
 
(g)                                 Interim Interest.  If Lender shall make any LC Disbursement, then, unless Borrower shall reimburse such LC Disbursement in full on the date such LC Disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof shall bear interest, for each day from and including the date such LC Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that Borrower reimburses such LC Disbursement, at the rate per annum then applicable to CB Floating Rate Revolving Loans; provided that, if Borrower fails to reimburse such LC Disbursement when due pursuant to paragraph (e) of this Section, then Section 2.12(d) shall apply.  Interest accrued pursuant to this paragraph shall be for the account of Lender.
 
(h)                                 Cash Collateralization.  If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, on the Business Day that Borrower receives notice from Lender demanding the deposit of cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph, Borrower shall deposit in an account with

 

25



 

Lender, in the name and for the benefit of Lender (the “LC Collateral Account”), an amount in cash equal to 105% of the LC Exposure as of such date plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon; provided that the obligation to deposit such cash collateral shall become effective immediately, and such deposit shall become immediately due and payable, without demand or other notice of any kind, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default with respect to Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of Article VII.  Such deposit shall be held by Lender as collateral for the payment and performance of the Secured Obligations.  Lender shall have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such account and Borrower hereby grants Lender a security interest in the LC Collateral Account.  Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which investments shall be made at the option and sole discretion of Lender and at Borrower’s risk and expense, such deposits shall not bear interest.  Interest or profits, if any, on such investments shall accumulate in such account.  Moneys in such account shall be applied by Lender for LC Disbursements for which it has not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, shall be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of Borrower for the LC Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated, be applied to satisfy other Secured Obligations.  If Borrower is required to provide an amount of cash collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) shall be returned to Borrower within three Business Days after all such Defaults have been cured or waived.
 

SECTION 2.06.  Funding of Borrowings.  Lender shall make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof available to Borrower by promptly crediting the amounts in immediately available funds, to the Funding Account; provided that CB Floating Rate Revolving Loans made to finance the reimbursement of an LC Disbursement as provided in Section 2.05(e) or a Protective Advance shall be retained by Lender.

 

SECTION 2.07.  Interest Elections.  (a)  Each Revolving Borrowing initially shall bear interest at the rate specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, shall have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request.  Thereafter, Borrower may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different interest rate or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section.  Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, and the Loans comprising each such portion shall be considered a separate Borrowing.  This Section shall not apply to or Protective Advances, which may not be converted or continued.

 

(b)                                 To make an election pursuant to this Section, Borrower shall notify Lender of such election by telephone by the time that a Borrowing Request would be required under Section 2.03 if Borrower were requesting a Revolving Borrowing bearing interest at the rate resulting from such election to be made on the effective date of such election.  Each such telephonic Interest Election Request shall be irrevocable and shall be confirmed promptly by hand delivery or facsimile to Lender of a written Interest Election Request in a form approved by Lender and signed by Borrower.
 
(c)                                  Each telephonic and written Interest Election Request shall specify the following information in compliance with Section 2.02:

 

26



 

(i)                                     the Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (iii) and (iv) below shall be specified for each resulting Borrowing);
 
(ii)                                  the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request, which shall be a Business Day;
 
(iii)                               whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an CB Floating Rate Borrowing or a Eurodollar Borrowing; and
 
(iv)                              if the resulting Borrowing is a Eurodollar Borrowing, the Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which shall be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”.
 

If any such Interest Election Request requests a Eurodollar Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then Borrower shall be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one month’s duration.

 

(d)                                 If Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing shall be converted to an CB Floating Rate Borrowing.  Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and Lender so notifies Borrower, then, so long as an Event of Default is continuing (i) no outstanding Revolving Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Eurodollar Borrowing and (ii) unless repaid, each Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing shall be converted to an CB Floating Rate Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.
 

SECTION 2.08.  Voluntary Reduction or Termination of Commitment.  (a)  Unless previously terminated, the Revolving Commitment shall terminate on the Maturity Date.

 

(b)                                 Borrower may at any time terminate the Revolving Commitment upon (i) the payment in full of all outstanding Loans, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon and on any Letters of Credit, (ii) the cancellation and return of all outstanding Letters of Credit (or alternatively, with respect to each such Letter of Credit, the furnishing to Lender of a cash deposit equal to 105% of the LC Exposure as of such date), (iii) the payment in full of the accrued and unpaid fees, and (iv) the payment in full of all reimbursable expenses and other Obligations together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon.
 
(c)                                  Borrower shall notify Lender of any election to terminate the Revolving Commitment under paragraph (b)  of this Section at least five Business Days prior to the effective date of such termination, specifying such election and the effective date thereof.  Each notice delivered by Borrower pursuant to this Section shall be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination of the Revolving Commitment delivered by Borrower may state that such notice is

 

27



 

conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked by Borrower (by notice to Lender on or prior to the specified effective date) if such condition is not satisfied.  Any termination of the Revolving Commitment shall be permanent.
 
(d)                                 Borrower may permanently reduce the Revolving Commitment, upon at least 5 days’ prior written notice to Lender, which notice shall specify the amount of the reduction and shall be irrevocable once given.  Each reduction shall be in a minimum amount of $500,000, or an increment of $100,000 in excess thereof.  Borrower may not reduce the Revolving Commitment to less than $5,000,000.
 

SECTION 2.09.  Repayment and Amortization of Loans; Evidence of Debt.  (a) Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay (i) to Lender for its account the then unpaid principal amount of each Revolving Loan on the Maturity Date, and (ii) to Lender the then unpaid amount of each Protective Advance on the earlier of the Maturity Date and demand by Lender.

 

(b)                                 Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of Borrower to Lender resulting from each Loan made by Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to Lender from time to time hereunder.
 
(c)                                  Lender shall maintain accounts in which it shall record (i) the amount of each Loan made hereunder, the interest rate applicable thereto and the Interest Period applicable thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from Borrower to Lender hereunder and (iii) the amount of any sum received by Lender hereunder.
 
(d)                                 The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (c) or (d) of this Section shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of Lender to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of Borrower to repay the Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
 
(e)                                  Lender may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by a promissory note.  In such event, Borrower shall prepare, 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 Loans evidenced by such promissory note and interest thereon shall at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 8.04) 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).

 

SECTION 2.10.  Prepayment of Loans.  (a)  Borrower shall have the right at any time and from time to time to prepay any Borrowing in whole or in part, subject to prior notice in accordance with paragraph (e) of this Section.

 

28



 
(b)                                 In the event and on such occasion that the Revolving Exposure exceeds the lesser of (a) the Revolving Commitment or (b) the Borrowing Base, Borrower shall prepay the Revolving Loans and LC Exposure in an aggregate amount equal to such excess.
 
(c)                                  In the event and on each occasion that any Net Proceeds are received by or on behalf of Borrower in respect of any Prepayment Event, Borrower shall, immediately after such Net Proceeds are received by Borrower, prepay the Obligations as set forth in Section 2.10(d) below in an aggregate amount equal to 100% of such Net Proceeds, provided that, in the case of any event described in clause (a) or (b) of the definition of the term “Prepayment Event”, if Borrower shall deliver to Lender a certificate of a Financial Officer to the effect that Borrower intends to apply the Net Proceeds from such event (or a portion thereof specified in such certificate), within 120 days after receipt of such Net Proceeds, to acquire (or replace or rebuild) real property, equipment or other tangible assets (excluding inventory) to be used in the business of Borrower, and certifying that no Default has occurred and is continuing, then no prepayment shall be required pursuant to this paragraph in respect of the Net Proceeds specified in such certificate; provided that to the extent of any such Net Proceeds therefrom that have not been so applied by the end of such 90-day period, at which time a prepayment shall be required in an amount equal to such Net Proceeds that have not been so applied; provided, further that Borrower shall not be permitted to make elections to use Net Proceeds to acquire (or replace or rebuild) real property, equipment or other tangible assets (excluding inventory) with respect to Net Proceeds in any fiscal year in an aggregate amount in excess of $100,000.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any prepayment pursuant to this Section 2.10(c) would cause Borrower to incur liability for breakfunding payments pursuant to Section 2.15, Borrower may defer making such prepayment until the end of the relevant Interest Period provided that the funds equal to the amount required to make such prepayment are held in an account of the Borrower with the Lender until such time.
 
(d)                                 All such amounts pursuant to Section 2.10(c) (as to any insurance or condemnation proceeds, to the extent they arise from casualties or losses to Equipment, Fixtures and real property) shall be applied, first to prepay any Protective Advances that may be outstanding, pro rata and second to prepay the Revolving Loans without a corresponding reduction in the Revolving Commitment and to cash collateralize outstanding LC Exposure.  All such amounts pursuant to Section 2.10(c) (as to any insurance or condemnation proceeds, to the extent they arise from casualties or losses to cash or Inventory) shall be applied, first to prepay any Protective Advances that may be outstanding, pro rata, and second to prepay the Revolving Loans without a corresponding reduction in the Revolving Commitment and to cash collateralize outstanding LC Exposure.  If the precise amount of insurance or condemnation proceeds allocable to Inventory as compared to Equipment, Fixtures and real property is not otherwise determined, the allocation and application of those proceeds shall be determined by Lender, in its Permitted Discretion.
 
(e)                                  Borrower shall notify Lender by telephone (confirmed by facsimile) of any prepayment hereunder (i) in the case of prepayment of a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, not later than 10:00 a.m., Milwaukee time, three Business Days before the date of prepayment, or (ii) in the case of prepayment of an CB Floating Rate Revolving Borrowing, not later than 10:00 a.m., Milwaukee time, one Business Day before the date of prepayment.  Each such notice shall be irrevocable and shall specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing

 

29



 

or portion thereof to be prepaid; provided that, if a notice of prepayment is given in connection with a conditional notice of termination of the Revolving Commitment as contemplated by Section 2.08, then such notice of prepayment may be revoked if such notice of termination is revoked in accordance with Section 2.08.  Each partial prepayment of any Revolving Borrowing shall be in an amount that would be permitted in the case of an advance of a Revolving Borrowing bearing interest at the same rate as provided in Section 2.02.  Prepayments shall be accompanied by accrued interest to the extent required by Section 2.12.
 

SECTION 2.11.  Fees.  (a)  Borrower agrees to pay to Lender an commitment fee, which shall accrue at the Applicable Rate on the average daily amount of the Available Revolving Commitment of Lender during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the date on which Lender’s Revolving Commitment terminates.  Accrued commitment fees shall be payable in arrears on the last day of each calendar month and on the date on which the Revolving Commitment terminates, commencing on the first such date to occur after the date hereof.  All commitment fees shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days and shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed.

 

(b)                                 Borrower agrees to pay to Lender a Letter of Credit fee, which shall accrue at the same Applicable Rate used to determine the interest rate applicable to Eurodollar Revolving Loans on the average daily amount of Lender’s LC Exposure during the period from and including the Effective Date to but excluding the later of the date on which Lender’s Revolving Commitment terminates and the date on which the Revolving Lender ceases to have any LC Exposure, as well as Lender’s standard fees with respect to the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or processing of drawings thereunder.  All such fees shall be payable on the date on which the Revolving Commitment terminates and any such fees accruing after the date on which the Revolving Commitment terminates shall be payable on demand.  Any other fees payable to Lender pursuant to this paragraph shall be payable within 10 days after demand.
 
(c)                                  All fees payable hereunder shall be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to Lender.  Fees paid shall not be refundable under any circumstances.
 

SECTION 2.12.    Interest. (a) The Loans comprising each CB Floating Rate Borrowing shall bear interest at the CB Floating Rate plus the Applicable Rate.

 

(b)                                 The Loans comprising each Eurodollar Borrowing shall bear interest at the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Rate.
 
(c)                                  Each Protective Advance shall bear interest at the CB Floating Rate plus the Applicable Rate for Revolving Loans plus 2%.
 
(d)                                 Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, Lender may, at its option, by notice to Borrower, declare that (i) all Loans shall bear interest at 2% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loans as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section or (ii) in the case of any other amount outstanding

 

30



 

hereunder, such amount shall accrue at 2% plus the rate applicable to such fee or other obligation as provided hereunder.
 
(e)                                  Accrued interest on each Loan (for CB Floating Rate Loans, accrued through the last day of the prior calendar month) shall be payable in arrears on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan and upon termination of the Revolving Commitment; provided that (i) interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (d) of this Section shall be payable on demand, (ii) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Loan (other than a prepayment of an CB Floating Rate Revolving Loan prior to the end of the Availability Period), accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid shall be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (iii) in the event of any conversion of any Eurodollar Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan shall be payable on the effective date of such conversion.
 
(f)                                    All interest hereunder shall be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest computed by reference to the CB Floating Rate at times when the CB Floating Rate is based on the Prime Rate shall be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and in each case shall be payable for the actual number of days elapsed.  The applicable CB Floating Rate, Adjusted LIBO Rate or LIBO Rate shall be determined by Lender, and such determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
 

SECTION 2.13.  Alternate Rate of Interest.  If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Borrowing:

 

(a)                                  Lender determines (which determination shall be conclusive absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for such Interest Period; or
 
(b)                                 Lender determines the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to Lender of making or maintaining their Loans (or its Loan) included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period;
 

then Lender shall give notice thereof to Borrower by telephone or facsimile as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until Lender notifies Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any Revolving Borrowing to, or continuation of any Revolving Borrowing as, a Eurodollar Borrowing shall be ineffective, and (ii) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurodollar Revolving Borrowing, such Borrowing shall be made as an CB Floating Rate Borrowing.

 

SECTION 2.14.  Increased Costs.  (a)  If any Change in Law shall:

 

(i)                                     impose, modify or deem applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate); or

 

31



 

(ii)                                  impose on Lender or the London interbank market any other condition affecting this Agreement or Eurodollar Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein;
 

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

 

(b)                                 If Lender determines that any Change in Law 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, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made by, or Letters of Credit issued by Lender 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 Borrower will pay to Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate Lender or Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.
 
(c)                                  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 paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section shall be delivered to Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  Borrower shall pay Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.
 
(d)                                 Failure or delay on the part of Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section shall not constitute a waiver of Lender’s right to demand such compensation; provided that Borrower shall not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this Section for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than 150 days prior to the date that Lender notifies Borrower of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided further that, if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 150-day period referred to above shall be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.
 

SECTION 2.15.  Break Funding Payments.  In the event of (a) the payment of any principal of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default), (b) the conversion of any Eurodollar Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto or (c) the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Eurodollar Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto (regardless of whether such notice may be revoked under Section 2.08(c) and is revoked in accordance therewith), then, in any such event, Borrower shall compensate Lender for the loss, cost and expense attributable to such event.  In the case of a Eurodollar Loan, such loss, cost or expense to Lender shall be deemed to include an amount determined by Lender to be the excess, if any, of (i) the amount of interest which would have accrued on the principal amount of such Loan had such event not occurred, at the Adjusted LIBO Rate that would have been applicable to such Loan, for the period from the date of such event to the last day of the then

 

32



 

current Interest Period therefor (or, in the case of a failure to borrow, convert or continue, for the period that would have been the Interest Period for such Loan), over (ii) the amount of interest which would accrue on such principal amount for such period at the interest rate which Lender would bid were it to bid, at the commencement of such period, for dollar deposits of a comparable amount and period from other banks in the eurodollar market.  A certificate of Lender setting forth any amount or amounts that Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section shall be delivered to Borrower and shall be conclusive absent manifest error.  Borrower shall pay Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within 10 days after receipt thereof.

 

SECTION 2.16.  Taxes.  (a)  Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of Borrower hereunder shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes; provided that if Borrower shall be required to deduct any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes from such payments, then (i) the sum payable shall be increased as necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section) Lender (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

 

(b)                                 In addition, Borrower shall pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.
 
(c)                                  Borrower shall indemnify Lender within 10 days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes paid by Lender on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of Borrower hereunder (including Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section) and any penalties, interest and reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority.  A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to Borrower by Lender shall be conclusive absent manifest error.
 
(d)                                 As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes by Borrower to a Governmental Authority, Borrower shall deliver to Lender the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to Lender.
 
(e)                                  If Lender determines, in its sole discretion, that it has received a refund of any Taxes or Other Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by Borrower or with respect to which Borrower has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.16, it shall pay over such refund to Borrower (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by Borrower under this Section 2.16 with respect to the Taxes or Other Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of Lender and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided, that Borrower, upon the request of Lender, agrees to repay the amount paid over to Borrower (plus

 

33



 

any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to Lender in the event Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority. This Section shall not be construed to require Lender to make available its tax returns (or any other information relating to its taxes which it deems confidential) to Borrower or any other Person.
 

SECTION 2.17.  Payments Generally; Allocation of Proceeds; Sharing of Set-offs.  (a)  Borrower shall make each payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest, fees or reimbursement of LC Disbursements, or of amounts payable under Section 2.14, 2.15 or 2.16, or otherwise) prior to 2:00 p.m., Milwaukee time, on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without set-off or counterclaim.  Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of Lender, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon.  All such payments shall be made to Lender by wire transfer to its account number 9008104359, or such other account as may be designated by Lender in writing from time to time.  If any payment hereunder shall be due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment shall be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon shall be payable for the period of such extension.  All payments hereunder shall be made in dollars.

 

(b)                                 Any proceeds of Collateral received by Lender (i) not constituting either (a) a specific payment of principal, interest, fees or other sum payable under the Loan Documents (which shall be applied as specified by Borrower), or (b) a mandatory prepayment (which shall be applied in accordance with Section 2.10) or (ii) after an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and Lender so elects such funds shall be applied ratably first, to pay any fees, indemnities, or expense reimbursements including amounts then due to Lender from Borrower, second, to pay interest due in respect of the Protective Advances, third, to pay the principal of the Protective Advances, fourth, to pay interest then due and payable on the Loans (other than the Protective Advances), fifth, to prepay principal on the Loans (other than the Protective Advances) and unreimbursed LC Disbursements, sixth, to pay an amount to Lender equal to one hundred five percent (105%) of the aggregate undrawn face amount of all outstanding Letters of Credit and the aggregate amount of any unpaid LC Disbursements, to be held as cash collateral for such Obligations, seventh, to payment of any amounts owing with respect to Banking Services and Swap Obligations, and eighth, to the payment of any other Secured Obligation due to Lender by Borrower, and ninth, to Borrower or such other party as may be legally entitled thereto. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, unless so directed by Borrower, or unless a Default is in existence, Lender shall not apply any payment which it receives to any Eurodollar Loan, except (a) on the expiration date of the Interest Period applicable to any such Eurodollar Loan or (b) in the event, and only to the extent, that there are no outstanding CB Floating Rate Loans and, in any such event, Borrower shall pay the break funding payment required in accordance with Section 2.15. Lender shall have the continuing and exclusive right to apply and reverse and reapply any and all such proceeds and payments to any portion of the Secured Obligations.
 
(c)                                  At the election of Lender, all payments of principal, interest, LC Disbursements, fees, premiums, reimbursable expenses (including, without limitation, all reimbursement for fees and expenses pursuant to Section 8.03), and other sums payable under

 

34



 

the Loan Documents, may be paid from the proceeds of Borrowings made hereunder whether made following a request by Borrower pursuant to Section 2.03 or a deemed request as provided in this Section or, upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, may be deducted from any deposit account of Borrower maintained with Lender.  Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes (i) Lender to make a Borrowing for the purpose of paying each payment of principal, interest and fees as it becomes due hereunder or any other amount due under the Loan Documents and agrees that all such amounts charged shall constitute Loans (but such a Borrowing may only constitute a Protective Advance if it is to reimburse costs, fees and expenses as described in and in accordance with Section 8.03) and that all such Borrowings shall be deemed to have been requested pursuant to Sections 2.03 or 2.04, as applicable and (ii) upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, Lender to charge any deposit account of Borrower maintained with Lender for each payment of principal, interest and fees as it becomes due hereunder or any other amount due under the Loan Documents.
 

SECTION 2.18.  Indemnity for Returned Payments.  If after receipt of any payment which is applied to the payment of all or any part of the Obligations, Lender is for any reason compelled to surrender such payment or proceeds to any Person because such payment or application of proceeds is invalidated, declared fraudulent, set aside, determined to be void or voidable as a preference, impermissible setoff, or a diversion of trust funds, or for any other reason, then the Obligations or part thereof intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued and this Agreement shall continue in full force as if such payment or proceeds had not been received by Lender and Borrower shall be liable to pay to Lender.  The provisions of this Section 2.18 shall be and remain effective notwithstanding any contrary action which may have been taken by Lender in reliance upon such payment or application of proceeds.  The provisions of this Section 2.18 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE III

 

Representations and Warranties

 

Borrower represents and warrants to Lender that:

 

SECTION 3.01.  Organization; Powers.  Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has all requisite power and authority to carry on its business as now conducted and is qualified to do business in, and is in good standing in, every jurisdiction where such qualification is required.

 

SECTION 3.02.  Authorization; Enforceability.  The Transactions are within Borrower’s corporate powers and have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate and, if required, stockholder action.  The Loan Documents have been duly executed and delivered by Borrower and constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of Borrower, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

 

35



 

SECTION 3.03.  Governmental Approvals; No Conflicts.  The Transactions (a) do not require any consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any other action by, any Governmental Authority, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect and except for filings necessary to perfect Liens created pursuant to the Loan Documents, (b) will not violate any Requirement of Law applicable to Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (c) will not violate or result in a default under any indenture, agreement or other instrument binding upon Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or its assets, or give rise to a right thereunder to require any payment to be made by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and (d) will not result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any asset of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, except Liens created pursuant to the Loan Documents.

 

SECTION 3.04.  Financial Condition; No Material Adverse Change.  (a)  Borrower has heretofore furnished to Lender (i) its restated consolidated balance sheet for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007, (ii) its restated consolidated balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows as of and for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2008 and June 30, 2009, and (iii) its restated consolidated balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows as of and for the fiscal quarter and the portion of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010, certified by its chief financial officer.  Such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations and cash flows of Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of such dates and for such periods in accordance with GAAP, subject to year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes in the case of the statements referred to in clause (ii) above.

 

(b)                                 No event, change or condition has occurred that has had, or could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect, since March 31, 2010.
 

SECTION 3.05.  Properties.  (a)  As of the date of this Agreement, Schedule 3.05 sets forth the address of each parcel of real property that is owned or leased by Borrower.  Each of such leases and subleases is valid and enforceable in accordance with its terms and is in full force and effect, and no material default by any party to any such lease or sublease exists.  Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries has good and indefeasible title to, or valid leasehold interests in, all its real and personal property, free of all Liens other than those permitted by Section 6.02.

 

(b)                                 Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries owns, or is licensed to use, all trademarks, tradenames, copyrights, patents and other intellectual property necessary to its business as currently conducted (except where such a failure to own, or maintain a license to use, could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect), and the use thereof by Borrower and its Subsidiaries does not infringe in any material respect upon the rights of any other Person, and the rights of Borrower and its Subsidiaries thereto are not subject to any licensing agreement or similar arrangement other than licenses granted to distributors in the ordinary course of Borrower’s business.

 

SECTION 3.06.  Litigation and Environmental Matters.  (a) There are no actions, suits or proceedings by or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending against or, to the knowledge of Borrower, threatened against or affecting Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (i) as to which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse determination and that, if adversely

 

36



 

determined, could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect (other than the Disclosed Matters) or (ii) that involve this Agreement or the Transactions, except as listed on Schedule 3.06.

 

(b)                                 Except for the Disclosed Matters (i) neither Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries has received notice of any claim with respect to any Environmental Liability or knows of any basis for any Environmental Liability and (ii) and except with respect to any other matters that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, neither Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries (1) has failed to comply with any Environmental Law or to obtain, maintain or comply with any permit, license or other approval required under any Environmental Law or (2) has become subject to any Environmental Liability.
 
(c)                                  Since the date of this Agreement, there has been no change in the status of the Disclosed Matters that, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted in, or materially increased the likelihood of, a Material Adverse Effect.
 

SECTION 3.07.  Compliance with Laws and Agreements.  Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all Requirements of Law applicable to it or its property and all indentures, agreements and other instruments binding upon it or its property, except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  No Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

SECTION 3.08.  Investment Company Status.  Neither Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries is an “investment company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940.

 

SECTION 3.09.  Taxes.  Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries has timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax returns and reports required to have been filed and has paid or caused to be paid all Taxes required to have been paid by it, except Taxes in an aggregate amount not in excess of $20,000 and Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which Borrower or such Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP.  No tax liens have been filed and no claims are being asserted with respect to any such taxes.

 

SECTION 3.10.  ERISA.  No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events for which liability is reasonably expected to occur, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.11.  Disclosure.  Borrower has disclosed to Lender all agreements, instruments and corporate or other restrictions to which it or any Subsidiary is subject, and all other matters known to it, that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.  None of the reports, financial statements, certificates or other information furnished by or on behalf of Borrower or any Subsidiary to Lender in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or any other Loan Document (as modified or supplemented by other information so furnished) contains any material misstatement of fact or

 

37



 

omits to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that, with respect to projected financial information, Borrower represents only that such information was prepared in good faith based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable at the time delivered and, if such projected financial information was delivered prior to the Effective Date, as of the Effective Date; provided, further, that to the extent any such information is inaccurate or misleading as a result of the Fraud, Borrower has disclosed such inaccuracies or misleading facts to Lender and such inaccuracy does not result in a violation of any other provision of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 3.12.  Material Agreements.  All material agreements and contracts to which Borrower or any Subsidiary is a party or is bound as of the date of this Agreement are listed on Schedule 3.12.  Neither Borrower nor any Subsidiary is in default in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any of the obligations, covenants or conditions contained in (i) any material agreement to which it is a party or (ii) any agreement or instrument evidencing or governing Indebtedness.

 

SECTION 3.13.  Solvency.  (a) Immediately after the consummation of the Transactions to occur on the Effective Date, (i) the fair value of the assets of Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, at a fair valuation, will exceed their debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, (ii) the present fair saleable value of the property of Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, will be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of their debts and other liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured; (iii) Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries will be able to pay its debts and liabilities, subordinated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured, and (iv) Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries will not have unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the business in which it is engaged as such business is now conducted and is proposed to be conducted after the Effective Date.

 

(b)                                 Borrower does not intend to, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, and does not believe that it or any of its Subsidiaries will, incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature, taking into account the timing of and amounts of cash to be received by it or any such Subsidiary and the timing of the amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its Indebtedness or the Indebtedness of any such Subsidiary.

 

SECTION 3.14.  InsuranceSchedule 3.14 sets forth a description of all insurance maintained by or on behalf of Borrower and the Subsidiaries as of the Effective Date.  As of the Effective Date, all premiums in respect of such insurance have been paid.  Borrower believes that the insurance maintained by or on behalf of Borrower and the Subsidiaries is adequate.

 

SECTION 3.15.  Capitalization and SubsidiariesSchedule 3.15 sets forth (a) a correct and complete list of the name and relationship to Borrower of each and all of Borrower’s Subsidiaries, (b) a true and complete listing of each class of each of Borrower’s authorized Equity Interests, of which all of such issued shares are validly issued, outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable, and (c) the type of entity of Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries.  All of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests owned by Borrower have been (to the extent such

 

38



 

concepts are relevant with respect to such ownership interests) duly authorized and issued and is fully paid and non-assessable.

 

SECTION 3.16.  Security Interest in Collateral.  The provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents create legal and valid Liens on all the Collateral in favor of Lender, and such Liens constitute perfected and continuing Liens on the Collateral, securing the Obligations, enforceable against Borrower and all third parties, and having priority over all other Liens on the Collateral except in the case of (a) Permitted Encumbrances, to the extent any such Permitted Encumbrances would have priority over the Liens in favor of Lender pursuant to any applicable law or agreement and (b) Liens perfected only by possession (including possession of any certificate of title) to the extent Lender has not obtained or does not maintain possession of such Collateral and such possession cannot be obtained or restored upon Lender’s request.

 

SECTION 3.17.  Employment Matters.  As of the Effective Date, there are no strikes, lockouts or slowdowns against Borrower or any Subsidiary pending or, to the knowledge of Borrower, threatened.  The hours worked by and payments made to employees of Borrower and the Subsidiaries have not been in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act or any other applicable Federal, state, local or foreign law dealing with such matters.  All payments due from Borrower or any Subsidiary, or for which any claim may be made against Borrower or any Subsidiary, on account of wages and employee health and welfare insurance and other benefits, have been paid or accrued as a liability on the books of Borrower or such Subsidiary.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

Conditions

 

SECTION 4.01.  Effective Date.  The obligations of Lender to make Loans and to issue Letters of Credit hereunder shall not become effective until the date on which each of the following conditions is satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 8.02):

 

(a)                                  Credit Agreement and Loan Documents.  Lender (or its counsel) shall have received (i) from each party hereto a counterpart of this Agreement signed on behalf of such party and (ii) duly executed copies of the Loan Documents and such other certificates, documents, instruments and agreements as Lender shall reasonably request in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including a written opinion of counsel to Borrower, addressed to Lender in form and substance satisfactory to Lender and its counsel.
 
(b)                                 Financial Statements and Projections.  Lender shall have received (i) consolidated financial statements of Borrower for the 2007 through 2009 fiscal years prepared by the Borrower (provided that the Borrower shall be permitted to provide a balance sheet only for its 2007 fiscal year), (ii) unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of Borrower for each fiscal month and quarter ended after the date of the latest applicable financial statements delivered pursuant to clause (i) of this paragraph as to which such financial statements are available, and such financial statements shall not, in the reasonable judgment of Lender, reflect any material adverse change in the consolidated financial condition of Borrower, as reflected in

 

39



 

the financial statements or projections furnished to Lender and (iii) satisfactory projections through June 30, 2010.
 
(c)                                  Closing Certificates; Certified Certificate of Incorporation; Good Standing Certificates.  Lender shall have received (i) a certificate of Borrower, dated the Effective Date and executed by an officer of Borrower, which shall (a) certify the resolutions of its Board of Directors, authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents, (b) identify by name and title and bear the signatures of the Financial Officers and any other officers of Borrower authorized to sign the Loan Documents, and (c) contain appropriate attachments, including the certificate of incorporation of Borrower certified by the Delaware Secretary of State as of a recent date and a true and correct copy of its by-laws, and (ii) good standing certificates for Borrower from the states of Delaware and Wisconsin.
 
(d)                                 No Default Certificate.  Lender shall have received a certificate, signed by the chief financial officer of Borrower, on the initial Borrowing date (i) stating that no Default has occurred and is continuing, (ii) stating that the representations and warranties contained in Article III are true and correct as of such date, and (iii) certifying any other factual matters as may be reasonably requested by Lender.
 
(e)                                  Fees.  Lender shall have received all fees required to be paid, and all expenses for which invoices have been presented (including the reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel), on or before the Effective Date.
 
(f)                                    Lien Searches.  Lender shall have received the results of a recent lien search in each of the jurisdictions where assets of Borrower are located, and such search shall reveal no liens on any of the assets of Borrower except for liens permitted by Section 6.02 or discharged on or prior to the Effective Date pursuant to a pay-off letter or other documentation satisfactory to Lender.
 
(g)                                 Pay-Off Letter.  Lender shall have received satisfactory pay-off letters for all existing Indebtedness to be repaid from the proceeds the initial Borrowing, confirming that all Liens upon any of the property of Borrower 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.
 
(h)                                 Borrowing Base Certificate.  Lender shall have received a Borrowing Base Certificate which calculates the Borrowing Base as of March 31, 2010.
 
(i)                                     Filings, Registrations and Recordings.  Each document (including any Uniform Commercial Code financing statement) required by the Collateral Documents or under law or reasonably requested by Lender to be filed, registered or recorded in order to create in favor of Lender, a perfected Lien on the Collateral described therein, prior and superior in right to any other Person (other than with respect to Liens expressly permitted by Section 6.02), shall be in proper form for filing, registration or recordation.
 
(j)                                     Insurance.  Lender shall have received evidence of insurance coverage in form, scope, and substance reasonably satisfactory to Lender and otherwise in compliance with the terms of Section 5.09.

 

40



 

(k)           Other Documents.  Lender shall have received such other documents as Lender or its counsel may have reasonably requested.
 

SECTION 4.02.  Each Credit Event.  The obligation of Lender to make a Loan on the occasion of any Borrowing, and to issue, amend, renew or extend any Letter of Credit, is subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

 

(a)           The representations and warranties of Borrower set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the date of such Borrowing or the date of issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, except to the extent that any such representation or warranty relates solely to an earlier date, and if they are not true and correct Lender shall have determined not to make any make a Loan or not to issue Letters of Credit as a result of the fact that such representation or warranty is untrue or incorrect.
 
(b)           At the time of and immediately after giving effect to such Borrowing or the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of such Letter of Credit, as applicable, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing and Lender shall have determined not to make such Borrowing or not to issue such Letter of Credit as a result of such Default.

 

(c)           After giving effect to any Borrowing or the issuance of any Letter of Credit, Availability is not less than zero.

 

Each Borrowing and each issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of a Letter of Credit shall be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by Borrower on the date thereof as to the matters specified in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.

 

ARTICLE V

 

Affirmative Covenants

 

Until the Revolving Commitment has expired or been terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees payable hereunder shall have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit shall have expired or terminated and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, Borrower covenants and agrees with Lender that:

 

SECTION 5.01.  Financial Statements; Borrowing Base and Other Information.  Borrower will furnish to Lender:

 

(a)           within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of Borrower, its audited consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year, all reported on by independent public accountants acceptable to Lender (without a “going concern” or like qualification or exception and without any qualification or exception as to the scope of such audit) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, accompanied by any management letter prepared by said accountants;

 

41



 

(b)           within 30 days after the end of each fiscal quarter of Borrower, its consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows as of the end of and for such fiscal quarter and the then elapsed portion of the fiscal year, 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, all certified by one of its Financial Officers as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes;
 
(c)           concurrently with any delivery of financial statements under clause (a) or (b) above, a certificate of a Financial Officer of Borrower in substantially the form of Exhibit B (i) certifying, in the case of the financial statements delivered under clause (b), as presenting fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes, (ii) certifying as to whether a Default has occurred and, if a Default has occurred, specifying the details thereof and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto, (iii) setting forth reasonably detailed calculations demonstrating compliance with Section 6.12 (iv) stating whether any change in GAAP or in the application thereof has occurred since the date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 3.04 and, if any such change has occurred, specifying the effect of such change on the financial statements accompanying such certificate and (v) setting forth any right, title or interest in registered Patents, Trademarks or Copyrights (each as defined in the Security Agreement) acquired by the Borrower during such period;
 
(d)           as soon as available, but in any event by the end of each fiscal year of Borrower, a copy of the plan and forecast (including a projected consolidated and consolidating balance sheet, income statement and funds flow statement) of Borrower for each month of such fiscal year (the “Projections”) in form reasonably satisfactory to Lender;
 
(e)           as soon as available but in any event within 30 days of the end of each calendar month, and at such other times as may be requested by Lender, as of the period then ended, a Borrowing Base Certificate and supporting information in connection therewith, together with any additional reports with respect to the Borrowing Base as Lender may reasonably request, provided, however that Borrowing Base Certificates shall not be required for any calendar month ending after October 31, 2010 provided that (i) the Borrower’s Current Ratio is greater than 1.50 to 1.00 (based on the most recent financial statements delivered by the Company pursuant to clause (c) above and (ii) no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
 
(f)            promptly after the same become publicly available, copies of all periodic and other reports, proxy statements and other materials filed by Borrower or any Subsidiary with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any Governmental Authority succeeding to any or all of the functions of said Commission, or with any national securities exchange, or distributed by Borrower to its shareholders generally, as the case may be;

 

42



 

(g)           promptly following any request therefor, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs and financial condition of Borrower or any Subsidiary, or compliance with the terms of this Agreement, as Lender may reasonably request;
 
(h)           as soon as available, and in any event no later than August 15, 2010, (i) an audited, restated, consolidated balance sheet for the Borrower’s fiscal year ended June 30, 2007 and (ii) audited, consolidated balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders equity and cash flows as of and for the Borrower’s fiscal years ended June 30, 2008 and June 30, 2009, reported on by Baker Tilly LLP, independent public accountants.
 

SECTION 5.02.  Notices of Material Events.  Borrower  will furnish to Lender prompt written notice of the following:

 

(a)           the occurrence of any Event of Default;
 
(b)           receipt of any notice of any governmental investigation or any litigation commenced or threatened against Borrower or any Subsidiary, other than any existing investigation or litigation referenced in Schedule 3.06, that (i) seeks damages in excess of $500,000, (ii) seeks injunctive relief, (iii) is asserted or instituted against any Plan, its fiduciaries or its assets, (iv) alleges criminal misconduct by Borrower or any Subsidiary, (v) alleges the violation of any law regarding, or seeks remedies in connection with, any Environmental Laws; (vi) contests any tax, fee, assessment, or other governmental charge in excess of $500,000, or (vii) involves any product recall;
 
(c)           any Lien (other than Permitted Encumbrances) or claim made or asserted against any of the Collateral;
 
(d)           any loss, damage, or destruction to the Collateral in the amount of $500,000 or more, whether or not covered by insurance;
 
(e)           any and all default notices received under or with respect to any leased location or public warehouse where Collateral is located (which shall be delivered within two Business Days after receipt thereof);
 
(f)            all material amendments to the lease with respect to Borrower’s leased facility at 4129 North Port Washington Road, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, together with a copy of each such amendment;
 
(g)           the fact that Borrower or any Subsidiary has entered into a Swap Agreement or an amendment to a Swap Agreement, together with copies of all agreements evidencing such Swap Agreement or amendments thereto (which shall be delivered within two Business Days); and
 
(h)           any other development that results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.
 

Each notice delivered under this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a Financial Officer or other executive officer of Borrower setting forth the details of the event or

 

43



 

development requiring such notice and any action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto.

 

SECTION 5.03.  Existence; Conduct of Business.  Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, (a) do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence and the rights, qualifications, licenses, permits, franchises, governmental authorizations, intellectual property rights, licenses and permits material to the conduct of its business, and maintain all requisite authority to conduct its business in each jurisdiction in which its business is conducted; provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution permitted under Section 6.03 and (b) carry on and conduct its business in substantially the same manner and in substantially the same fields of enterprise as it is presently conducted.

 

SECTION 5.04.  Payment of Obligations.  Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, pay or discharge all Material Indebtedness and all other material liabilities and obligations, including Taxes, before the same shall become delinquent or in default, except where (a) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (b) Borrower or such Subsidiary has set aside on its books adequate reserves with respect thereto in accordance with GAAP and (c) such liabilities would not result in aggregate liabilities in excess of $50,000 and none of the Collateral becomes subject to forfeiture or loss as a result of the contest.

 

SECTION 5.05.  Maintenance of Properties.  Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, keep and maintain all property material to the conduct of its business in good working order and condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted.

 

SECTION 5.06.  Books and Records; Inspection Rights.  Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, (i) keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries are made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities and (ii) permit any representatives designated by Lender (including employees of Lender, or any consultants, accountants, lawyers and appraisers retained by Lender, upon reasonable prior notice, to visit and inspect its properties, to examine and make extracts from its books and records, and to discuss its affairs, finances and condition with its officers and independent accountants, all at such reasonable times and as often as reasonably requested.  Borrower acknowledge that Lender, after exercising its rights of inspection, may prepare certain Reports pertaining to Borrower’s assets for internal use by Lender. Borrower will permit Lender to conduct field audit examinations of Borrower’s assets, liabilities, books and records at a frequency not more than once in any 180-day period; provided further that Borrower will permit Lender to conduct such examinations at any time and with any reasonable frequency after an Event of Default.

 

SECTION 5.07.  Compliance with Laws.  Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, comply with all Requirements of Law applicable to it or its property.

 

SECTION 5.08.  Use of Proceeds and Letters of Credit. The proceeds of the Loans will be used, and Letters of Credit will be issued, only for general corporate purposes of Borrower.  No part of the proceeds of any Loan and no Letter of Credit will be used, whether

 

44



 

directly or indirectly, for any purpose that entails a violation of any of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulations T, U and X.

 

SECTION 5.09.  Insurance.  Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, maintain with financially sound and reputable carriers having a financial strength rating of at least A+ by A.M. Best Company (a) insurance in such amounts (with no greater risk retention) and against such risks (including (i) loss or damage by fire and loss in transit; (ii) theft, burglary, pilferage, larceny, embezzlement, and other criminal activities; (iii) business interruption; (iv) general liability and (v) 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 Collateral Documents.  Borrower will furnish to Lender, information in reasonable detail as to the insurance so maintained.

 

SECTION 5.10.  Casualty and Condemnation.  Borrower (a) will furnish to Lender prompt written notice of any casualty or other insured damage to any material portion of the Collateral or the commencement of any action or proceeding for the taking of any material portion of the Collateral or interest therein under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding and (b) will ensure that the Net Proceeds of any such event (whether in the form of insurance proceeds, condemnation awards or otherwise) are collected and applied in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement and the Collateral Documents.

 

SECTION 5.11.  Collateral Assessments and Appraisals.  Upon Lender’s request, Borrower, at its sole cost and expense, will provide Lender with appraisals or updates thereof of its Inventory and Equipment from an appraiser selected and engaged by Lender, and prepared on a basis satisfactory to Lender, such appraisals and updates to include, without limitation, information required by applicable law and regulations; provided, however, that unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, Borrower shall not be required to bear the cost and expense of such appraisals more than once in any 180-day period.  At any time the Lender may conduct collateral audits or field examinations at the sole expense of Borrower.  The Lender agrees not to conduct such audits or examinations more than one (1) time per year unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

SECTION 5.12.  Depository Banks. Within 120 days of the Effective Date, Borrower shall have transitioned its principal accounts to Lender and thereafter Borrower will maintain Lender as its principal depository bank, including for the maintenance of operating, administrative, cash management, collection activity, and other deposit accounts for the conduct of its business.

 

SECTION 5.13.  Additional Collateral; Further Assurances.  (a)  At Lender’s request, Borrower shall cause each of its domestic Subsidiaries formed or acquired before or after the date of this Agreement to execute a guaranty of Borrower’s obligations under this Agreement.

 

(b)           Borrower will cause 100% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of each of its domestic Subsidiaries to be subject at all times to a first priority, perfected Lien in favor of Lender pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Loan Documents or other security documents as Lender shall reasonably request.

 

45



 

(c)           Without limiting the foregoing, Borrower will, and will cause each Subsidiary to, execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, to Lender such documents, agreements and instruments, and will take or cause to be taken such further actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements, fixture filings, mortgages, deeds of trust and other documents and such other actions or deliveries of the type required by Section 4.01, as applicable), which may be required by law or which Lender may, from time to time, reasonably request to carry out the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to ensure perfection and priority of the Liens created or intended to be created by the Collateral Documents, all at the expense of Borrower.
 

(d)           If any material assets (including any real property or improvements thereto or any interest therein) are acquired by Borrower or any Subsidiary after the Effective Date (other than assets constituting Collateral under the Security Agreement that become subject to the Lien in favor of the Security Agreement upon acquisition thereof), Borrower will notify Lender, and, if requested by Lender, Borrower will cause such assets to be subjected to a Lien securing the Secured Obligations and will take, and cause its Subsidiary to take, such actions as shall be necessary or reasonably requested by Lender to grant and perfect such Liens, including actions described in paragraph (c) of this Section, all at the expense of Borrower.

 

SECTION 5.14.  Dissolution of Koss Classics Ltd.

 

On or before June 30, 2010, Borrower shall either (a) cause Koss Classics Ltd. to be merged into the Borrower or (b) cause Koss Classics Ltd. to execute and deliver to the Lender a security agreement and guaranty of the Obligations, all on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Lender in its sole discretion.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

Negative Covenants

 

Until the Revolving Commitment has expired or terminated and the principal of and interest on each Loan and all fees, expenses and other amounts payable under any Loan Document have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit have expired or terminated and all LC Disbursements shall have been reimbursed, Borrower covenants and agrees with Lender that:

 

SECTION 6.01.  Indebtedness.  Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, except:

 

(a)           the Secured Obligations;
 
(b)           Indebtedness existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 6.01 and any amendments, restatements, modifications, refinancing, or renewals thereof on substantially similar terms and in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the aggregate principal amount as of the date hereof;

 

46



 

(c)           Indebtedness of Borrower to any Subsidiary and of any Subsidiary to Borrower or any other  Subsidiary, provided that (i) Indebtedness of any Subsidiary to Borrower shall be subject to Section 6.04 and (ii) Indebtedness of Borrower to any Subsidiary shall be subordinated to the Secured Obligations on terms reasonably satisfactory to Lender;
 
(d)           Guarantees by Borrower of Indebtedness of any Subsidiary and by any Subsidiary of Indebtedness of Borrower or any other Subsidiary, provided that (i) the Indebtedness so Guaranteed is permitted by this Section 6.01, and (ii) Guarantees by Borrower of Indebtedness of any Subsidiary shall be subject to Section 6.04;
 
(e)           Indebtedness of Borrower or any Subsidiary incurred to finance the acquisition, construction or improvement of any fixed or capital assets (whether or not constituting purchase money Indebtedness), including Capital Lease Obligations and any Indebtedness assumed in connection with the acquisition of any such assets or secured by a Lien on any such assets prior to the acquisition thereof, and extensions, renewals and replacements of any such Indebtedness; provided that (i) such Indebtedness is incurred prior to or within 90 days after such acquisition or the completion of such construction or improvement and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness permitted by this clause (e) shall not exceed $250,000 at any time outstanding;
 
(f)            Indebtedness owed to any person providing workers’ compensation, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance, pursuant to reimbursement or indemnification obligations to such person, in each case incurred in the ordinary course of business; and
 
(g)           Indebtedness of Borrower or any Subsidiary in respect of performance bonds, bid bonds, appeal bonds, surety bonds and similar obligations, in each case provided in the ordinary course of business.
 

SECTION 6.02.  Liens.  Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien on any property or asset now owned or hereafter acquired by it, or assign or sell any income or revenues (including accounts receivable) or rights in respect of any thereof, except:

 

(a)           Liens created pursuant to any Loan Document;
 
(b)           Permitted Encumbrances;
 
(c)           any Lien on any property or asset of Borrower or any Subsidiary existing on the date hereof and set forth in Schedule 6.02; provided that (i) such Lien shall not apply to any other property or asset of Borrower or Subsidiary and (ii) such Lien shall secure only those obligations which it secures on the date hereof or any renewals thereof in accordance with Section 6.01 above;
 
(d)           Liens on fixed or capital assets acquired, constructed or improved by Borrower or any Subsidiary; provided that (i) such security interests secure Indebtedness permitted by clause (e) of Section 6.01, (ii) such security interests and the Indebtedness secured thereby are incurred prior to or within 90 days after such acquisition or the completion of such

 

47



 

construction or improvement, (iii) the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the cost of acquiring, constructing or improving such fixed or capital assets and (iv) such security interests shall not apply to any other property or assets of Borrower or Subsidiary;
 
(e)           Liens of a collecting bank arising in the ordinary course of business under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the relevant jurisdiction covering only the items being collected upon; and
 
(f)            Liens arising out of sale and leaseback transactions permitted by Section 6.06; and
 
(g)           Liens granted by a Subsidiary in favor of the in respect of Indebtedness owed by such Subsidiary.
 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the Liens permitted pursuant to this Section 6.02 may at any time attach to Borrower’s (1) Accounts, other than those permitted under clause (a) of the definition of Permitted Encumbrance and clause (a) above and (2) Inventory, other than those permitted under clauses (a) and (b) of the definition of Permitted Encumbrance and clause (a) above.

 

SECTION 6.03.  Fundamental Changes.  (a) Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, merge into or consolidate with any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or liquidate or dissolve, except that, if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (i) any Subsidiary of Borrower may merge into Borrower in a transaction in which Borrower is the surviving corporation, and (ii) any  Subsidiary may liquidate or dissolve if Borrower determines in good faith that such liquidation or dissolution is in the best interests of Borrower and is not materially disadvantageous to Lender.

 

(b)           Borrower will not, nor will it permit any of its Subsidiaries to, engage in any business other than businesses of the type conducted by Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the date of execution of this Agreement and businesses reasonably related thereto.
 

SECTION 6.04.  Investments, Loans, Advances, Guarantees and Acquisitions.  Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, purchase, hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger) any capital stock, evidences of indebtedness or other securities (including any option, warrant or other right to acquire any of the foregoing) of, make or permit to exist any loans or advances to, Guarantee any obligations of, or make or permit to exist any investment or any other interest in, any other Person, or purchase or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) any assets of any other Person constituting a business unit (whether through purchase of assets, merger or otherwise), except:

 

(a)           Permitted Investments, subject to control agreements in favor of Lender or otherwise subject to a perfected security interest in favor of Lender;
 
(b)           investments in existence on the date of this Agreement and described in Schedule 6.04 and any amendments, restatements, modifications, reinvestments, or renewals

 

48



 

thereof on substantially similar terms and in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the aggregate principal amount on the date hereof;
 
(c)           investments by Borrower and the Subsidiaries in Equity Interests in their respective Subsidiaries, provided that (a) any such Equity Interests shall be pledged pursuant to the Security Agreement (subject to the limitations applicable to common stock of a Foreign Subsidiary referred to in Section 5.13) and (b) the aggregate amount of investments by Borrower in its Subsidiaries (together with outstanding intercompany loans permitted under clause (b) to the proviso to Section 6.04(d) and outstanding Guarantees permitted under the proviso to Section 6.04(e)) shall not exceed $250,000 at any time outstanding (in each case determined without regard to any write-downs or write-offs);
 
(d)           loans or advances made by Borrower to any Subsidiary and made by any Subsidiary to Borrower or any other Subsidiary, provided that (a) any such loans and advances made by Borrower shall be evidenced by a promissory note pledged pursuant to the Security Agreement and (b) the amount of such loans and advances made by Borrower (together with outstanding investments permitted under clause (b) to the proviso to Section 6.04(c) and outstanding Guarantees permitted under the proviso to Section 6.04(e)) shall not exceed $250,000 at any time outstanding (in each case determined without regard to any write-downs or write-offs);
 
(e)           Guarantees constituting Indebtedness permitted by Section 6.01, provided that the aggregate principal amount of Indebtedness of Subsidiaries that is Guaranteed by Borrower shall (together with outstanding investments permitted under clause (b) to the proviso to Section 6.04(c) and outstanding intercompany loans permitted under clause (b) to the proviso to Section 6.04(d)) shall not exceed $250,000 at any time outstanding (in each case determined without regard to any write-downs or write-offs);
 
(f)            loans or advances made by Borrower to its employees on an arms-length basis in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices for travel and entertainment expenses, relocation costs and similar purposes up to a maximum of $10,000 to any employee and up to a maximum of $100,000 in the aggregate at any one time outstanding;
 
(g)           investments in the form of Swap Agreements permitted by Section 6.07;
 
(h)           investments of any Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary of Borrower or consolidates or merges with Borrower or any of the Subsidiaries  so long as such investments were not made in contemplation of such Person becoming a Subsidiary or of such merger;
 
(i)            investments received in connection with the dispositions of assets permitted by Section 6.05; and
 
(j)            investments constituting deposits described in clauses (c) and (d) of the definition of the term “Permitted Encumbrances.”
 

SECTION 6.05.  Asset Sales.  Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of any asset, including any Equity Interest owned by

 

49



 

it, nor will Borrower permit any Subsidiary to issue any additional Equity Interest in such Subsidiary (other than to Borrower or another Subsidiary in compliance with Section 6.04), except:

 

(a)           sales, transfers and dispositions of (i) inventory in the ordinary course of business and (ii) used, obsolete, worn out or surplus equipment or property in the ordinary course of business;
 
(b)           sales, transfers and dispositions to Borrower or any Subsidiary, provided that any such sales, transfers or dispositions involving a Subsidiary shall be made in compliance with Section 6.09;
 
(c)           sales, transfers and dispositions of accounts receivable in connection with the compromise, settlement or collection thereof;
 
(d)           sales, transfers and dispositions of investments permitted by clauses (i) and (k) of Section 6.04;
 
(e)           sale and leaseback transactions permitted by Section 6.06;
 
(f)            dispositions resulting from any casualty or other insured damage to, or any taking under power of eminent domain or by condemnation or similar proceeding of, any property or asset of Borrower or any Subsidiary; and
 
(g)           sales, transfers and other dispositions of assets (other than Equity Interests in a Subsidiary unless all Equity Interests in such Subsidiary are sold) that are not permitted by any other paragraph of this Section, provided that the aggregate fair market value of all assets sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of in reliance upon this paragraph (g) shall not exceed $100,000 during any fiscal year of Borrower;
 

provided that all sales, transfers, leases and other dispositions permitted hereby (other than those permitted by paragraphs (b) and (f) above) shall be made for fair value.

 

SECTION 6.06.  Sale and Leaseback Transactions.  Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any arrangement, directly or indirectly, whereby it shall sell or transfer any property, real or personal, used or useful in its business, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, and thereafter rent or lease such property or other property that it intends to use for substantially the same purpose or purposes as the property sold or transferred, except for any such sale of any fixed or capital assets by Borrower or any Subsidiary that is made for cash consideration in an amount not less than the fair value of such fixed or capital asset and is consummated within 90 days after Borrower or such Subsidiary acquires or completes the construction of such fixed or capital asset.

 

SECTION 6.07.  Swap Agreements.  Borrower will not, nor will it permit any  Subsidiary to, enter into any Swap Agreement, except (a) Swap Agreements entered into to hedge or mitigate risks to which Borrower or any Subsidiary has actual exposure (other than those in respect of Equity Interests of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries), and (b) Swap Agreements entered into in order to effectively cap, collar or exchange interest rates (from fixed

 

50



 

to floating rates, from one floating rate to another floating rate or otherwise) with respect to any interest-bearing liability or investment of Borrower or any Subsidiary.

 

SECTION 6.08.  Restricted Payments; Certain Payments of Indebtedness.  (a)  Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, declare or make, or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any Restricted Payment, or incur any obligation (contingent or otherwise) to do so, except (i) Borrower may declare and pay dividends with respect to its common stock payable solely in additional shares of its common stock, and, with respect to its preferred stock, payable solely in additional shares of such preferred stock or in shares of its common stock, (ii) Subsidiaries may declare and pay dividends ratably with respect to their Equity Interests,  (iii) Borrower may make Restricted Payments pursuant to and in accordance with stock option plans or other benefit plans for management or employees of Borrower and its Subsidiaries and (iv) Borrower may make Restricted Payments so long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and so long as the making of such Restricted Payment would not cause an Event of Default.

 

(b)           Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, make or agree to pay or make, directly or indirectly, any payment or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property) of or in respect of principal of or interest on any Indebtedness, or any payment or other distribution (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 Indebtedness in excess of $250,000, except (i) payment of Indebtedness created under the Loan Documents; (ii) payment of regularly scheduled interest and principal payments as and when due in respect of any Indebtedness; and (iii) payment of secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness.
 

SECTION 6.09.  Transactions with Affiliates.  Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, sell, lease or otherwise transfer any property or assets to, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transactions with, any of its Affiliates, except (a) transactions that (i) are in the ordinary course of business and (ii) are at prices and on terms and conditions not less favorable to Borrower or such Subsidiary than could be obtained on an arm’s-length basis from unrelated third parties, (b) transactions between Borrower and any other Affiliate, (c) any investment permitted by Sections 6.04(c) or 6.04(d), (d) any Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01(c), (e) any Restricted Payment permitted by Section 6.08, (f) loans or advances to employees permitted under Section 6.04, (g) the payment of reasonable fees to directors of Borrower or any Subsidiary who are not employees of Borrower or any Subsidiary, and compensation and employee benefit arrangements paid to, and indemnities provided for the benefit of, directors, officers or employees of Borrower or its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and (h) any issuances of securities or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment agreements, stock options and stock ownership plans approved by Borrower’s board of directors

 

SECTION 6.10.  Restrictive Agreements.  Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, enter into, incur or permit to exist any agreement or other arrangement with a value or potential liabilities in excess of $100,000 that prohibits,

 

51



 

restricts or imposes any condition upon (a) the ability of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to create, incur or permit to exist any Lien upon any of its property or assets, or (b) the ability of any Subsidiary to pay dividends or other distributions with respect to any shares of its capital stock or to make or repay loans or advances to Borrower or any other Subsidiary or to Guarantee Indebtedness of Borrower or any other Subsidiary; provided that (i) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions imposed by law or by any Loan Document, (ii) the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions and conditions existing on the date hereof identified on Schedule 6.10 (but shall apply to any extension or renewal of, or any amendment or modification expanding the scope of, any such restriction or condition), (iii) the foregoing shall not apply to customary restrictions and conditions contained in agreements relating to the sale of a Subsidiary pending such sale, provided such restrictions and conditions apply only to the Subsidiary that is to be sold and such sale is permitted hereunder, (iv) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to restrictions or conditions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement if such restrictions or conditions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness and (v) clause (a) of the foregoing shall not apply to customary provisions in leases and other contracts restricting the assignment thereof.

 

SECTION 6.11.  Amendment of Material Documents.  Borrower will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, amend, modify or waive any of its rights under its certificate of incorporation, by-laws, operating, management or partnership agreement or other organizational documents, to the extent any such amendment, modification or waiver would be adverse to Lender.

 

SECTION 6.12.  Financial Covenants.

 

(a)           Current Ratio.  Borrower will at all times maintain a Current Ratio of at least 1.20 to 1.00.
 
(b)           Minimum Tangible Net Worth.  Borrower will maintain (a) at all times prior to Lender’s receipt of Borrower’s audited annual financial statements for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010 pursuant to Section 5.01(a) hereof, Tangible Net Worth of at least $9,000,000, and (b) at all times thereafter, Tangible Net Worth of at least 75% of Borrower’s actual Tangible Net Worth calculated as of June 30, 2010, provided, however, that (i) in the event that 75% of Borrower’s Tangible Net Worth as of June 30, 2010 is less than $8,000,000, Borrower shall be required to maintain Tangible Net Worth of at least $8,000,000 at all times thereafter and (ii) in the event that 75% of Borrower’s Tangible Net Worth as of June 30, 2010 is greater than $11,000,000, Borrower shall be required to maintain Tangible Net Worth of at least $11,000,000 at all times thereafter.
 
(c)           Leverage Ratio.  Borrower will not permit the Leverage Ratio, determined for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ending on the last day of each fiscal quarter of Borrower, to be less than 2.50 to 1.00.
 

SECTION 6.13.  ERISA Plans.

 

Borrower will not, without the prior written consent of the Lender, become party to any Plan.

 

52



 

ARTICLE VII

Events of Default

 

If any of the following events (“Events of Default”) shall occur:

 

(a)           Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Loan, any reimbursement obligation in respect of any LC Disbursement, any interest on any loan or any fee or other amount payable under this Agreement when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at the due date thereof or at a date fixed for prepayment thereof or otherwise;
 
(b)           any representation or warranty made or deemed made by or on behalf of Borrower or any Subsidiary in or in connection with this Agreement or any Loan Document or any amendment or modification thereof or waiver thereunder, or in any report, certificate, financial statement or other document furnished pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or any Loan Document or any amendment or modification thereof or waiver thereunder, shall prove to have been materially incorrect when made or deemed made;
 
(c)           Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.02(a), 5.03 (solely with respect to existence) or 5.08 or in Article VI;
 
(d)           Borrower shall fail to observe or perform any covenant, condition or agreement contained in this Agreement (other than those which constitute a default under another Section of this Article), and such failure shall continue unremedied for a period of (i) 5 days after the earlier of knowledge of such breach or notice thereof from Lender if such breach relates to terms or provisions of Section 5.01, 5.02 (other than Section 5.02(a)), 5.03 through 5.07, 5.09, 5.10 or 5.12 of this Agreement or (ii) 15 days after the earlier of knowledge of such breach or notice thereof from Lender if such breach relates to terms or provisions of any other Section of this Agreement;
 
(e)           Borrower or any Subsidiary shall fail to make any payment (whether of principal or interest and regardless of amount) in respect of any Material Indebtedness, when and as the same shall become due and payable, after giving effect to any period of grace applicable to such payment;
 
(f)            any event or condition occurs that results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or that enables or permits (with or without the giving of notice, the lapse of time or both) the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity; provided that this clause (g) shall not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness;
 
(g)           an involuntary proceeding shall be commenced or an involuntary petition shall be filed seeking (i) liquidation, reorganization or other relief in respect of Borrower or any Subsidiary or its debts, or of a substantial part of its assets, under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect or (ii) the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for

 

53



 

Borrower or any Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, and, in any such case, such proceeding or petition shall continue undismissed for 60 days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing shall be entered;
 
(h)           Borrower or any Subsidiary shall (i) voluntarily commence any proceeding or file any petition seeking liquidation, reorganization or other relief under any Federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, (ii) consent to the institution of, or fail to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or petition described in clause (h) of this Article, (iii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for Borrower or any Subsidiary or for a substantial part of its assets, (iv) file an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding, (v) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or (vi) take any action for the purpose of effecting any of the foregoing;
 
(i)            Borrower or any Subsidiary shall become unable, admit in writing its inability or fail generally to pay its debts as they become due;
 
(j)            one or more judgments for the payment of money in connection with the Fraud in an aggregate amount in excess of $1,000,000 or any other one or more judgments for the payment of money in an aggregate amount in excess of $250,000 which are not covered by insurance shall be rendered against Borrower, any Subsidiary or any combination thereof and the same shall remain undischarged for a period of 30 consecutive days during which execution shall not be effectively stayed, or any action shall be legally taken by a judgment creditor to attach or levy upon any assets of Borrower or any Subsidiary to enforce any such judgment or Borrower or any Subsidiary shall fail within 30 days to discharge one or more non-monetary judgments or orders which, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, which judgments or orders, in any such case, are not stayed on appeal or otherwise being appropriately contested in good faith by proper proceedings diligently pursued;
 
(k)           an ERISA Event shall have occurred that, in the opinion of Lender, when taken together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
 
(l)            a Change in Control shall occur;
 
(m)          the occurrence of any “default”, as defined in any Loan Document (other than this Agreement) or the breach of any of the terms or provisions of any Loan Document (other than this Agreement), which default or breach continues beyond any period of grace therein provided;
 
(n)           any Collateral Document shall for any reason fail to create a valid and perfected first priority security interest in any Collateral purported to be covered thereby, except as permitted by the terms of any Collateral Document, or any Collateral Document shall fail to remain in full force or effect or any action shall be taken to discontinue or to assert the invalidity or unenforceability of any Collateral Document, or Borrower shall fail to comply with any of the terms or provisions of any Collateral Document; or

 

54



 

(o)           any material provision of any Loan Document for any reason ceases to be valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms (or Borrower shall challenge the enforceability of any Loan Document or shall assert in writing, or engage in any action or inaction based on any such assertion, that any provision of any of the Loan Documents has ceased to be or otherwise is not valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms); or
 

then, and in every such event (other than an event with respect to Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such event, Lender may, by notice to Borrower, take either or both of the following actions, at the same or different times:  (i) terminate the Revolving Commitment, and thereupon the Revolving Commitment shall terminate immediately, and (ii) declare the Loans then outstanding to be due and payable in whole (or in part, in which case any principal not so declared to be due and payable may thereafter be declared to be due and payable), and thereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of Borrower accrued hereunder, shall become due and payable immediately, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by Borrower; and in case of any event with respect to Borrower described in clause (h) or (i) of this Article, the Revolving Commitment shall automatically terminate and the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and all fees and other obligations of Borrower accrued hereunder, shall automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby waived by Borrower.  Upon the occurrence and the continuance of an Event of Default, Lender may increase the rate of interest applicable to the Loans and other Obligations as set forth in this Agreement and exercise any rights and remedies provided to Lender under the Loan Documents or at law or equity, including all remedies provided under the UCC.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

Miscellaneous

 

SECTION 8.01.  Notices.  (a) Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and subject to paragraph (b) below), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by facsimile, as follows:

 

(i)                                     if to Borrower at:
 

Koss Corporation
4129 North Port Washington Road
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212
Attention:  David D. Smith
Facsimile No.:  (414) 964-8615

 

55



 

(ii)                                  if to Lender, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. at:
 

111 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201
Attention:  Mark P. Bruss
Facsimile No.:  (414) 977-6788

 

All such notices and other communications (i) sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received or (ii) sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent, provided 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.

 

(b)           Notices and other communications to Lender hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communications (including e-mail and internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by Lender; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices pursuant to Article II or to compliance and no Event of Default certificates delivered pursuant to Section 5.01(d) unless otherwise agreed by Lender.  Lender or Borrower may, in its discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications. All such notices and other communications (i) sent to an e-mail address shall be deemed received upon the sender’s receipt of an acknowledgement from the intended recipient (such as by the “return receipt requested” function, as available, return e-mail or other written acknowledgement), provided that if not given during the normal business hours of the recipient, such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient, and (ii) posted to an Internet or intranet website shall be deemed received upon the deemed receipt by the intended recipient at its e-mail address as described in the foregoing clause (b)(i) of notification that such notice or communication is available and identifying the website address therefor.
 
(c)           Any party hereto may change its address or facsimile number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.
 

SECTION 8.02.  Waivers; Amendments.  (a)  No failure or delay by Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power.  The rights and remedies of Lender hereunder and under any other Loan Document are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have.  No waiver of any provision of any Loan Document or consent to any departure by Borrower therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (b) of this Section, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the making of a Loan or issuance of a Letter of Credit shall not be construed as a waiver of any Event of Default, regardless of whether Lender may have had notice or knowledge of such Event of Default at the time.

 

56



 

(b)           Neither this Agreement nor any other Loan Document nor any provision hereof or thereof may be waived, amended or modified except pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by Borrower and Lender.
 

SECTION 8.03.  Expenses; Indemnity; Damage Waiver.  (a)  Borrower shall pay (i) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Lender and its Affiliates, including the reasonable fees, charges and disbursements of counsel for Lender (whether outside counsel or the allocated costs of its internal legal department), in connection with the credit facilities provided for herein, the preparation and administration of the Loan Documents or any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions of the Loan Documents (whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be consummated), (ii) all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Lender in connection with the issuance, amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or any demand for payment thereunder and (iii) all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Lender,  including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for Lender (whether outside counsel or the allocated costs of its internal legal department), in connection with the enforcement, collection or protection of its rights in connection with the Loan Documents, including its rights under this Section, or in connection with the Loans made or Letters of Credit issued hereunder, including all such out-of-pocket expenses incurred during  any workout, restructuring or negotiations in respect of such Loans or Letters of Credit. Expenses being reimbursed by Borrower under this Section include, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, (i) subject to Section 5.11, costs and expenses incurred in connection with appraisals and insurance reviews; (ii) subject to Sections 5.06 and 5.11 (as applicable), field examinations and the preparation of Reports based on the fees charged by a third party retained by Lender or the internally allocated fees for each Person employed by Lender with respect to each field examination; taxes, fees and other charges for lien searches, (iii) filing financing statements and continuations, and other actions to perfect, protect, and continue Lender’s Liens; (iv) and sums paid or incurred to take any action required of Borrower under the Loan Documents that Borrower fails to pay or take.  All of the foregoing costs and expenses may be charged to Borrower as Revolving Loans or to another deposit account, all as described in Section 2.17(c).

 

(b)           Borrower shall indemnify Lender, and each Related Party of Lender (each such Person being called an “Indemnitee”) against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, penalties, liabilities and related expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any counsel for any Indemnitee, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of (i) the execution or delivery of the Loan Documents or any agreement or instrument contemplated thereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions or any other transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds therefrom (including any refusal by Lender to honor a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit if the documents presented in connection with such demand do not strictly comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit), (iii) any actual or alleged presence or release of Hazardous Materials on or from any property owned or operated by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Environmental Liability related in any way to Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) any actual or prospective claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to any of the foregoing, whether based on contract, tort or any other theory and regardless of whether any Indemnitee is a party thereto; provided that such indemnity shall not,

 

57



 

as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, penalties, liabilities or related expenses are determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable judgment to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee.
 
(c)           The relationship between Borrower on the one hand and Lender on the other hand shall be solely that of debtor and creditor.  Lender (i) shall not have any fiduciary responsibilities to Borrower or (ii) does not undertake any responsibility to Borrower to review or inform Borrower of any matter in connection with any phase of Borrower’s business or operations.  To the extent permitted by applicable law, Borrower shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the Transactions, any Loan or Letter of Credit or the use of the proceeds thereof.
 
(d)           All amounts due under this Section shall be payable promptly after written demand therefor.
 

SECTION 8.04.  Successors and Assigns.  (a)  The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that Borrower may not assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by Borrower without such consent shall be null and void).  Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of Lender) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

(b)           Lender may assign to one or more assignees all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Revolving Commitment and the Loans at the time owing to it); provided that, except in the case of an assignment to an Affiliate of Lender or an Approved Fund, Borrower must give its prior written consent to such assignment (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld); and provided further that any consent of Borrower otherwise required under this paragraph shall not be required if an Event of Default under clause (h) or (i) of Article VII has occurred and is continuing.  Subject to notification of an assignment, the assignee shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned, have the rights and obligations of Lender under this Agreement, and Lender shall, to the extent of the interest assigned, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an assignment covering all of Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 and 8.03).  Borrower hereby agrees to execute any amendment and/or any other document that may be necessary to effectuate such an assignment, including an amendment to this Agreement to provide for multiple lenders and an administrative agent to act on behalf of such lenders.  Any assignment or transfer by Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this paragraph shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (c) of this Section.

 

58



 

For the purposes of this Section 8.04(b), the term “Approved Fund” has the following meaning:

 

Approved Fund” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course of its business and that is administered or managed by (a) Lender, (b) an Affiliate of Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages Lender.

 

(c)           Lender may, without the consent of Borrower, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a “Participant”) in all or a portion of Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Revolving Commitment and the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged, (ii) Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations and (iii) Borrower shall continue to deal solely and directly with Lender in connection with Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.   Subject to paragraph (d) of this Section, Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.14, 2.15 and 2.16 to the same extent as if it were Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section.
 
(d)           A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.14 or 2.15 than Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with Borrower’s prior written consent.
 
(e)           Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Lender, and this Section shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or assignee for Lender as a party hereto.
 

SECTION 8.05.  Survival.  All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by Borrower in the Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments  delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the other parties hereto and shall survive the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the making of any Loans and issuance of any Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by any such other party 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 hereunder, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or any fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement is outstanding and unpaid or any Letter of Credit is outstanding and so long as the Revolving Commitment has not expired or terminated.  The provisions of Sections 2.14, 2.15, 2.16 and Article VIII shall survive and remain in full force and effect regardless of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the repayment of the Loans, the expiration or termination of the Letters of Credit and the Revolving Commitment or the termination of this Agreement or any provision hereof.

 

59



 

SECTION 8.06.  Counterparts; Integration; Effectiveness.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (and by different parties hereto on different counterparts), each of which shall constitute an original, but all of which when taken together shall constitute a single contract.  This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to Lender constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof.  Except as provided in Section 4.01, this Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by Lender and when Lender shall have received counterparts hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the other parties hereto, and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.  Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Agreement by facsimile shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 8.07.  Severability.  Any provision of any Loan Document held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability without affecting the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions thereof; and the invalidity of a particular provision in a particular jurisdiction shall not invalidate such provision in any other jurisdiction.

 

SECTION 8.08.  Right of Setoff.  If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, Lender and each of its Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other obligations at any time owing by such Lender or Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of Borrower against any of and all the Secured Obligations held by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under the Loan Documents and although such obligations may be unmatured.  The rights of each Lender under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of setoff) which such Lender may have.

 

SECTION 8.09.  Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process.  (a)  The Loan Documents shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Wisconsin, but giving effect to federal laws applicable to national banks.

 

(b)           Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any U.S. Federal or Wisconsin State court sitting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to any Loan Documents, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such Wisconsin State or, to the extent permitted by law, in such Federal court.  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 Agreement or any other Loan Document shall affect any right that Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document against Borrower or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

 

60



 

(c)           Borrower hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section.  Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.
 
(d)           Each party to this Agreement irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 8.01.  Nothing in this Agreement or any other Loan Document will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.
 

SECTION 8.10.  WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY).  EACH PARTY HERETO (a) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (b) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

 

SECTION 8.11.  Headings.  Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and shall not affect the construction of, or be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

 

SECTION 8.12.  Confidentiality.  Lender agrees to maintain the confidentiality of the Information (as defined below), except that Information may be disclosed (a) to its and its Affiliates’ directors, officers, employees and agents, including accountants, legal counsel and other advisors (it being understood that the Persons to whom such disclosure is made will be informed of the confidential nature of such Information and instructed to keep such Information confidential), (b) to the extent requested by any regulatory authority, (c) to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process, (d) to any other party to this Agreement, (e) in connection with the exercise of any remedies hereunder or any suit, action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or the enforcement of rights hereunder or thereunder, (f) subject to an agreement containing provisions substantially the same as those of this Section, to (i) any assignee of or Participant in, or any prospective assignee of or Participant in, any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any actual or prospective counterparty (or its advisors) to any swap or derivative transaction relating to Borrower and its obligations, (g) with the consent of Borrower or (h) to the extent such Information (i) becomes publicly available other than as a result of a breach of this Section or (ii) becomes available to Lender on a non-confidential basis from a source other than Borrower.  For the purposes of this Section, “Information” means all information received from Borrower or

 

61



 

any third party subject to confidentiality restrictions relating to Borrower or its business, other than any such information that is available to Lender on a non-confidential basis prior to disclosure by Borrower or such third parties; provided that, in the case of information received from Borrower or any such third parties after the date hereof, such information is clearly identified at the time of delivery as confidential.  Any Person required to maintain the confidentiality of Information as provided in this Section shall be considered to have complied with its obligation to do so if such Person has exercised the same degree of care to maintain the confidentiality of such Information as such Person would accord to its own confidential information.

 

SECTION 8.13.  Nonreliance; Violation of Law.  Lender hereby represents that it is not relying on or looking to any margin stock for the repayment of the Borrowings provided for herein.  Anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, Lender shall not be obligated to extend credit to Borrower in violation of any limitation or prohibition provided by any applicable statute or regulation.

 

SECTION 8.14.  USA PATRIOT Act.  Lender is subject to the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (the “Act”) and hereby notifies Borrower that pursuant to the requirements of the Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies Borrower, which information includes the name and address of Borrower and other information that will allow such Lender to identify Borrower in accordance with the Act.

 

SECTION 8.15.  Disclosure.  Borrower hereby acknowledges and agrees that Lender and/or its Affiliates from time to time may hold investments in, make other loans to or have other relationships with Borrower and its Affiliates.

 

SECTION 8.16.  Interest Rate Limitation.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the interest rate applicable to any Loan, together with all fees, charges and other amounts which are treated as interest on such Loan under applicable law (collectively the “Charges”), shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “Maximum Rate”) which may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by Lender holding such Loan in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable in respect of such Loan hereunder, together with all Charges payable in respect thereof, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate and, to the extent lawful, the interest and Charges that would have been payable in respect of such Loan but were not payable as a result of the operation of this Section shall be cumulated and the interest and Charges payable to such Lender in respect of other Loans or periods shall be increased (but not above the Maximum Rate therefor) until such cumulated amount, together with interest thereon at the Federal Funds Effective Rate to the date of repayment, shall have been received by Lender.

 

62



 

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

 

 

KOSS CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

[Signature Page to Credit Agreement]

 


 


 

EXHIBIT A

 

BORROWING BASE CERTIFICATE

 

[Form attached]

 

Exhibit A

 



 

EXHIBIT B

 

COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

To:          JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

 

This Compliance Certificate is furnished pursuant to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of May 12, 2010 (as amended, modified, renewed or extended from time to time, the “Agreement”) between Koss Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Lender.  Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used in this Compliance Certificate have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Agreement.

 

THE UNDERSIGNED HEREBY CERTIFIES THAT:

 

1.             I am the duly elected                                          of Borrower;

 

2.             I have reviewed the terms of the Agreement and I have made, or have caused to be made under my supervision, a detailed review of the transactions and conditions of Borrower and its Subsidiaries during the accounting period covered by the attached financial statements [for quarterly financial statements add: and such financial statements present fairly in all material respects the financial condition and results of operations of Borrower and its consolidated Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes];

 

3.             The examinations described in paragraph 2 did not disclose, except as set forth below, and I have no knowledge of (i) the existence of any condition or event which constitutes a Default during or at the end of the accounting period covered by the attached financial statements or as of the date of this Certificate or (ii) any change in GAAP or in the application thereof that has occurred since the date of the audited financial statements referred to in Section 3.04 of the Agreement;

 

4.             I hereby certify, in my capacity as                             , that the Borrower has not changed (i) its name, (ii) its chief executive office, (iii) principal place of business, (iv) the type of entity it is or (v) its state of incorporation or organization without having given the Lender the notice required by the Security Agreement;

 

5.             Schedule I attached hereto sets forth financial data and computations evidencing Borrower’s compliance with certain covenants of the Agreement, all of which data and computations are true, complete and correct; and

 

6.             Schedule II hereto sets forth the computations necessary to determine the Applicable Rate commencing on the Business Day this certificate is delivered.

 

Described below are the exceptions, if any, to paragraph 3 by listing, in detail, the (i) nature of the condition or event, the period during which it has existed and the action which Borrower has taken, is taking, or proposes to take with respect to each such condition or event or (i) the change in GAAP or the application thereof and the effect of such change on the attached financial statements:

 

1



 

7.             Except as set forth on Schedule III hereto, the Borrower has not acquired any additional right, title or interest in any registered Patents, Trademarks or Copyrights.

 

The foregoing certifications, together with the computations set forth in Schedule I and Schedule II hereto, the information set forth on Schedule III hereto, and the financial statements delivered with this Certificate in support hereof, are made and delivered this                day of                                       .

 

 

KOSS CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

2


 

Exhibit 10.13

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT

 

THIS PLEDGE AND SECURITY AGREEMENT (as it may be amended or modified from time to time, the “Security Agreement”) is entered into as of May 12, 2010 by and between KOSS CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Grantor”), as debtor, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (the “Lender”), as secured party.

 

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT

 

The Grantor and the Lender are entering into a Credit Agreement dated as of the date hereof (as it may be amended or modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”).  The Grantor is entering into this Security Agreement in order to induce the Lender to enter into and extend credit to the Grantor under the Credit Agreement.

 

ACCORDINGLY, the Grantor and the Lender, hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

 

1.1.         Terms Defined in Credit Agreement.  All capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Credit Agreement.

 

1.2.         Terms Defined in UCC.  Terms defined in the UCC which are not otherwise defined in this Security Agreement are used herein as defined in the UCC.

 

1.3.         Definitions of Certain Terms Used Herein.  As used in this Security Agreement, in addition to the terms defined in the Preliminary Statement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Accounts” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

Article” means a numbered article of this Security Agreement, unless another document is specifically referenced.

 

Chattel Paper” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

Collateral” shall have the meaning set forth in Article II.

 

Collateral Access Agreement” means any landlord waiver or other agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender, between the Lender and any third party (including any bailee, consignee, customs broker, or other similar Person) in possession of any Collateral or any landlord of the Grantor for any real property where any Collateral is located, as such landlord waiver or other agreement may be amended, restated, or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Collateral Deposit Account” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1.

 



 

Collateral Report” means any certificate (including any Borrowing Base Certificate), report or other document delivered by the Grantor to the Lender with respect to the Collateral pursuant to any Loan Document.

 

Commercial Tort Claims” means the existing commercial tort claims of the Grantor set forth on Exhibit A.

 

Control” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 8 or, if applicable, in Section 9-104, 9-105, 9-106 or 9-107 of Article 9 of the UCC.

 

Copyrights” means, with respect to any Person, all of such Person’s right, title, and interest in and to the following:  (a) all copyrights, rights and interests in copyrights, works protectable by copyright, copyright registrations, and copyright applications; (b) all renewals of any of the foregoing; (c) all income, royalties, damages, and payments now or hereafter due and/or payable under any of the foregoing, including, without limitation, damages or payments for past or future infringements for any of the foregoing; (d) the right to sue for past, present, and future infringements of any of the foregoing; and (e) all rights corresponding to any of the foregoing throughout the world.

 

Default” means any event or condition which constitutes an Event of Default or which upon notice, lapse of time or both would, unless cured or waived, become an Event of Default.

 

Deposit Account Control Agreement” means an agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender, among Grantor, a banking institution holding Grantor’s funds, and the Lender with respect to collection and control of all deposits and balances held in a deposit account maintained by Grantor with such banking institution.

 

Deposit Accounts” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

Documents” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

Effective Date” shall have the meaning set forth in the Credit Agreement.

 

Equipment” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

Event of Default” means an event described in Section 5.1.

 

Exhibit” refers to a specific exhibit to this Security Agreement, unless another document is specifically referenced.

 

Fixtures” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

General Intangibles” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

Goods” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

Instruments” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

Inventory” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

2



 

Investment Property” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

Letter-of-Credit Rights” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

Licenses” means, with respect to any Person, all of such Person’s right, title, and interest in and to (a) any and all licensing agreements or similar arrangements in and to its Patents, Copyrights, or Trademarks, (b) all income, royalties, damages, claims, and payments now or hereafter due or payable under and with respect thereto, including, without limitation, damages and payments for past and future breaches thereof, and (c) all rights to sue for past, present, and future breaches thereof.

 

Patents” means, with respect to any Person, all of such Person’s right, title, and interest in and to:  (a) any and all patents and patent applications; (b) all inventions and improvements described and claimed therein; (c) all reissues, divisions, continuations, renewals, extensions, and continuations-in-part thereof; (d) all income, royalties, damages, claims, and payments now or hereafter due or payable under and with respect thereto, including, without limitation, damages and payments for past and future infringements thereof; (e) all rights to sue for past, present, and future infringements thereof; and (f) all rights corresponding to any of the foregoing throughout the world.

 

Pledged Collateral” means all Instruments, Securities and other Investment Property of the Grantor, whether or not physically delivered to the Lender pursuant to this Security Agreement.

 

Receivables” means the Accounts, Chattel Paper, Documents, Investment Property, Instruments and any other rights or claims to receive money which are General Intangibles or which are otherwise included as Collateral.

 

Section” means a numbered section of this Security Agreement, unless another document is specifically referenced.

 

Security” has the meaning set forth in Article 8 of the UCC.

 

Stock Rights” means all dividends, instruments or other distributions and any other right or property which the Grantor shall receive or shall become entitled to receive for any reason whatsoever with respect to, in substitution for or in exchange for any Equity Interest constituting Collateral, any right to receive an Equity Interest and any right to receive earnings, in which the Grantor now has or hereafter acquires any right, issued by an issuer of such Equity Interest.

 

Supporting Obligations” shall have the meaning set forth in Article 9 of the UCC.

 

Trademarks” means, with respect to any Person, all of such Person’s right, title, and interest in and to the following:  (a) all trademarks (including service marks), trade names, trade dress, and trade styles and the registrations and applications for registration thereof and the goodwill of the business symbolized by the foregoing; (b) all licenses of the foregoing, whether as licensee or licensor; (c) all renewals of the foregoing; (d) all income, royalties, damages, and payments now or hereafter due or payable with respect thereto, including, without limitation, damages, claims, and payments for past and future infringements thereof; (e) all rights to sue for

 

3



 

past, present, and future infringements of the foregoing, including the right to settle suits involving claims and demands for royalties owing; and (f) all rights corresponding to any of the foregoing throughout the world.

 

UCC” means the Uniform Commercial Code, as in effect from time to time, of the State of Wisconsin or of any other state the laws of which are required as a result thereof to be applied in connection with the attachment, perfection or priority of, or remedies with respect to, Lender’s Lien on any Collateral.

 

The foregoing definitions shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the defined terms.

 

ARTICLE II
GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST

 

The Grantor hereby pledges, assigns and grants to the Lender, a security interest in all of its right, title and interest in, to and under all personal property and other assets, whether now owned by or owing to, or hereafter acquired by or arising in favor of the Grantor (including under any trade name or derivations thereof), and whether owned or consigned by or to, or leased from or to, the Grantor, and regardless of where located (all of which will be collectively referred to as the “Collateral”), including:

 

(i)            all Accounts;

 

(ii)           all Chattel Paper;

 

(iii)          all Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks;

 

(iv)          all Documents;

 

(v)           all Equipment;

 

(vi)          all Fixtures;

 

(vii)         all General Intangibles;

 

(viii)        all Goods;

 

(ix)          all Instruments;

 

(x)           all Inventory;

 

(xi)          all Investment Property;

 

(xii)         all cash or cash equivalents;

 

(xiii)        all letters of credit, Letter-of-Credit Rights and Supporting Obligations;

 

4



 

(xiv)        all Deposit Accounts with any bank or other financial institution;

 

(xv)         all Commercial Tort Claims;

 

(xvi)        and all accessions to, substitutions for and replacements, proceeds (including Stock Rights), insurance proceeds and products of the foregoing, together with all books and records, customer lists, credit files, computer files, programs, printouts and other computer materials and records related thereto and any General Intangibles at any time evidencing or relating to any of the foregoing;

 

to secure the prompt and complete payment and performance of the Secured Obligations.

 

ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

The Grantor represents and warrants to the Lender that:

 

3.1.         Title, Perfection and Priority.  The Grantor has good and valid rights in or the power to transfer the Collateral and title to the Collateral with respect to which it has purported to grant a security interest hereunder, free and clear of all Liens except for Liens permitted under Section 4.1(e), and has full power and authority to grant to the Lender the security interest in such Collateral pursuant hereto.  When financing statements have been filed in the appropriate offices against the Grantor in the locations listed on Exhibit H, the Lender will have a fully perfected first priority security interest in that Collateral in which a security interest may be perfected by filing, subject only to Liens permitted under Section 4.1(e).

 

3.2.         Type and Jurisdiction of Organization, Organizational and Identification Numbers.  The type of entity of the Grantor, its state of organization, the organizational number issued to it by its state of organization and its federal employer identification number are set forth on Exhibit A.

 

3.3.         Principal Location.  The Grantor’s mailing address and the location of its place of business (if it has only one) or its chief executive office (if it has more than one place of business), are disclosed in Exhibit A; the Grantor has no other places of business except those set forth in Exhibit A.

 

3.4.         Collateral Locations.  All of Grantor’s locations where Collateral is located are listed on Exhibit A.  All of said locations are either (i) leased by the Grantor as lessee and designated in Part VII(b) of Exhibit A, or (ii) locations at which Inventory is held in a public warehouse or is otherwise held by a bailee or on consignment as designated in Part VII(c) of Exhibit A.

 

3.5.         Deposit Accounts.  All of the Grantor’s Deposit Accounts are listed on Exhibit B.

 

3.6.         Exact Names.  The Grantor’s name in which it has executed this Security Agreement is the exact name as it appears in the Grantor’s organizational documents, as amended, as filed with the Grantor’s jurisdiction of organization.  The Grantor has not, during

 

5



 

the past five years, been known by or used any other corporate or fictitious name, or been a party to any merger or consolidation, or been a party to any acquisition.

 

3.7.         Letter-of-Credit Rights and Chattel PaperExhibit C lists all Letter-of-Credit Rights and Chattel Paper of the Grantor.  All action by the Grantor necessary or desirable to protect and perfect the Lender’s Lien on each item listed on Exhibit C (including the delivery of all originals and the placement of a legend on all Chattel Paper as required hereunder) has been duly taken. The Lender will have a fully perfected first priority security interest in the Collateral listed on Exhibit C, subject only to Liens permitted under Section 4.1(e).

 

3.8.         Accounts and Chattel Paper.

 

(a)           The names of the obligors, amounts owing, due dates and other information with respect to the Accounts and Chattel Paper are and will be correctly stated in all records of the Grantor relating thereto and in all invoices and Collateral Reports with respect thereto furnished to the Lender by the Grantor from time to time.  As of the time when each Account or each item of Chattel Paper arises, the Grantor shall be deemed to have represented and warranted that such Account or Chattel Paper, as the case may be, and all records relating thereto, are genuine and in all respects what they purport to be.

 

(b)           Intentionally Deleted.

 

(c)           In addition, with respect to all Accounts, (i) the amounts shown on all invoices, statements and Collateral Reports with respect thereto are actually and absolutely owing to the Grantor as indicated thereon and are not in any way contingent; and  (ii) to the Grantor’s knowledge, all Account Debtors have the capacity to contract.

 

3.9.         Inventory.  With respect to any Inventory scheduled or listed on the most recent Collateral Report, (a) such Inventory (other than Inventory in transit) is located at one of the Grantor’s locations set forth on Exhibit A, (b) no Inventory  (other than Inventory in transit) is now, or shall at any time or times hereafter be stored at any other location except as permitted by Section 4.1(g), (c) the Grantor has good, indefeasible and merchantable title to such Inventory and such Inventory is not subject to any Lien or security interest or document whatsoever except for the Lien granted to the Lender, and except for Liens permitted by Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement, (d) except as specifically disclosed in the most recent Collateral Report, such Inventory is Eligible Inventory of good and merchantable quality, free from any defects, (e) such Inventory is not subject to any licensing, patent, royalty, trademark, trade name or copyright agreements with any third parties which would require any consent of any third party upon sale or disposition of that Inventory or the payment of any monies to any third party upon such sale or other disposition, (f) such Inventory has been produced in accordance with the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, and all rules, regulations and orders thereunder and (g) the completion of manufacture, sale or other disposition of such Inventory by the Lender following an Event of Default shall not require the consent of any Person and shall not constitute a breach or default under any contract or agreement to which the Grantor is a party or to which such property is subject.

 

6



 

3.10.       Intellectual Property. This Security Agreement is effective to create a valid and continuing Lien and, upon filing of appropriate financing statements in the offices listed on Exhibit H, fully perfected first priority security interests in favor of the Lender on the Grantor’s Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights, such perfected security interests are enforceable as such as against any and all creditors of and purchasers from the Grantor; and all action necessary or desirable to protect and perfect the Lender’s Lien on the Grantor’s Patents, Trademarks or Copyrights shall have been duly taken.  Without limiting the foregoing, Grantor will take such actions as the Lender may require for the purpose of recording its interest in the Grantor’s Patents and Trademarks with the United States Patent and Trademark Office from time to time upon Lender’s receipt of the initial schedule of Borrower’s Patents and Trademarks, and any updates thereto, each as required pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement.

 

3.11.       Filing Requirements.  None of the Equipment is covered by any certificate of title, except for the vehicles described in Part I of Exhibit E.  None of the Collateral is of a type for which security interests or liens may be perfected by filing under any federal statute or any state statute other than Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the relevant state except for the vehicles described in Part II of Exhibit E.  The legal description, county and street address of each property on which any Fixtures are located is set forth in Exhibit F together with the name and address of the record owner of each such property.

 

3.12.       No Financing Statements, Security Agreements.  No financing statement or security agreement describing all or any portion of the Collateral which has not lapsed or been terminated naming the Grantor as debtor has been filed or is of record in any jurisdiction except (a) for financing statements or security agreements naming the Lender as the secured party and (b) as permitted by Section 4.1(e).

 

3.13.       Pledged Collateral.

 

(a)           Exhibit G sets forth a complete and accurate list of all of the Pledged Collateral.  The Grantor is the direct, sole beneficial owner and sole holder of record of the Pledged Collateral listed on Exhibit G as being owned by it, free and clear of any Liens, except for the security interest granted to the Lender hereunder and as otherwise permitted by Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement.  The Grantor further represents and warrants that (i) all Pledged Collateral constituting an Equity Interest has been (to the extent such concepts are relevant with respect to such Pledged Collateral) duly authorized, validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, (ii) with respect to any certificates delivered to the Lender representing an Equity Interest, either such certificates are Securities as defined in Article 8 of the UCC as a result of actions by the issuer or otherwise, or, if such certificates are not Securities, the Grantor has so informed the Lender so that the Lender may take steps to perfect its security interest therein as a General Intangible, (iii) all Pledged Collateral held by a securities intermediary is covered by a control agreement among the Grantor, the securities intermediary and the Lender pursuant to which the Lender has Control and (iv) all Pledged Collateral which represents Indebtedness owed to the Grantor has been duly authorized, authenticated or issued and delivered by the issuer of such Indebtedness, is the legal, valid and binding obligation of such issuer and such issuer is not in default thereunder.

 

7



 

(b)           In addition, (i) none of the Pledged Collateral has been issued or transferred in violation of the securities registration, securities disclosure or similar laws of any jurisdiction to which such issuance or transfer may be subject, (ii) there are existing no options, warrants, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to the Pledged Collateral or which obligate the issuer of any Equity Interest included in the Pledged Collateral to issue additional Equity Interests, and (iii) no consent, approval, authorization, or other action by, and no giving of notice, filing with, any governmental authority or any other Person is required for the pledge by the Grantor of the Pledged Collateral pursuant to this Security Agreement or for the execution, delivery and performance of this Security Agreement by the Grantor, or for the exercise by the Lender of the voting or other rights provided for in this Security Agreement or for the remedies in respect of the Pledged Collateral pursuant to this Security Agreement, except as may be required in connection with such disposition by laws affecting the offering and sale of securities generally.

 

(c)           Except as set forth in Exhibit G, the Grantor owns 100% of the issued and outstanding  Equity Interests which constitute Pledged Collateral and none of the Pledged Collateral which represents Indebtedness owed to the Grantor is subordinated in right of payment to other Indebtedness or subject to the terms of an indenture.

 

ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS

 

From the date of this Security Agreement, and thereafter until this Security Agreement is terminated, the Grantor agrees that:

 

4.1.         General.

 

(a)           Collateral Records.  The Grantor will maintain complete and accurate books and records with respect to the Collateral, and furnish to the Lender, such reports relating to the Collateral as the Lender shall from time to time request.

 

(b)           Authorization to File Financing Statements; Ratification.  The Grantor hereby authorizes the Lender to file, and if requested will deliver to the Lender, all financing statements and other documents and take such other actions as may from time to time be requested by the Lender in order to maintain a first perfected security interest in and, if applicable, Control of, the Collateral.  Any financing statement filed by the Lender may be filed in any filing office in any UCC jurisdiction and may (i) indicate the Collateral (1) as all assets of the Grantor or words of similar effect, regardless of whether any particular asset comprised in the Collateral falls within the scope of Article 9 of the UCC or such jurisdiction, or (2) by any other description which reasonably approximates the description contained in this Security Agreement, and (ii) contain any other information required by part 5 of Article 9 of the UCC for the sufficiency or filing office acceptance of any financing statement or amendment, including (a) whether the Grantor is an organization, the type of organization and any organization identification number issued to the Grantor, and (b) in the case of a financing statement filed as a fixture filing or indicating Collateral as as-extracted collateral or timber to be cut, a sufficient description of real property to which the Collateral relates.  The Grantor also agrees to furnish any such information to the Lender promptly upon request.  The Grantor also ratifies its

 

8



 

authorization for the Lender to have filed in any UCC jurisdiction any initial financing statements or amendments thereto if filed prior to the date hereof.

 

(c)           Further Assurances.  The Grantor will, if so requested by the Lender, furnish to the Lender, as often as the Lender requests, statements and schedules further identifying and describing the Collateral and such other reports and information in connection with the Collateral as the Lender may reasonably request, all in such detail as the Lender may specify.  The Grantor also agrees to take any and all actions necessary to defend title to the Collateral against all persons and to defend the security interest of the Lender in the Collateral and the priority thereof against any Lien not expressly permitted hereunder.

 

(d)           Disposition of Collateral.  The Grantor will not sell, lease or otherwise dispose of the Collateral except for dispositions specifically permitted pursuant to the Credit Agreement.

 

(e)           Liens.  The Grantor will not create, incur, or suffer to exist any Lien on the Collateral except (i) the security interest created by this Security Agreement, and (ii) other Liens permitted under Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement.

 

(f)            Other Financing Statements.  The Grantor will not authorize the filing of any financing statement naming it as debtor covering all or any portion of the Collateral, except as permitted by Section 4.1(e). The Grantor acknowledges that it is not authorized to file any financing statement or amendment or termination statement with respect to any financing statement naming the Lender as secured party or that is not expressly permitted by Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement without the prior written consent of the Lender, subject to the Grantor’s rights under Section 9-509(d)(2) of the UCC.

 

(g)           Locations. The Grantor will not (i) maintain any Collateral at any location other than those locations listed on Exhibit A, (ii) otherwise change, or add to, such locations without the Lender’s prior written consent as required by the Credit Agreement (and if the Lender gives such consent, the Grantor will concurrently therewith obtain a Collateral Access Agreement for each such location to the extent required by the Credit Agreement), or (iii) change its principal place of business or chief executive office from the location identified on Exhibit A, other than as permitted by the Credit Agreement.

 

(h)           Compliance with Terms.  The Grantor will perform and comply in all material respects with all obligations in respect of the Collateral and all agreements to which it is a party or by which it is bound relating to the Collateral.

 

4.2.         Receivables.

 

(a)           Certain Agreements on Receivables.  The Grantor will not make or agree to make any discount, credit, rebate or other reduction in the original amount owing on a Receivable or accept in satisfaction of a Receivable less than the original amount thereof, except that, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Grantor may reduce the amount of Accounts arising from the sale of Inventory in accordance with its present policies and in the ordinary course of business.

 

9



 

(b)           Collection of Receivables.  Except for write-offs of Receivables deemed unrecoverable in accordance with its present policies and in the ordinary course of business or as otherwise provided in this Security Agreement, the Grantor will collect and enforce, at the Grantor’s sole expense, all amounts due or hereafter due to the Grantor under the Receivables.

 

(c)           Delivery of Invoices.  The Grantor will deliver to the Lender immediately upon its request after the occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default duplicate invoices with respect to each Account bearing such language of assignment as the Lender shall specify.

 

(d)           Intentionally Deleted.

 

(e)           Electronic Chattel Paper.  The Grantor shall take all steps necessary to grant the Lender Control of all electronic chattel paper in accordance with the UCC and all “transferable records” as defined in each of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act and the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act.

 

4.3.         Inventory and Equipment.

 

(a)           Maintenance of Goods.  The Grantor will do all things necessary to maintain, preserve, protect and keep the Inventory and the Equipment in good repair and working and saleable condition, except for damaged or defective goods arising in the ordinary course of the Grantor’s business and except for ordinary wear and tear in respect of the Equipment.

 

(b)           Returned Inventory.  In the event any Account Debtor returns Inventory to the Grantor when an Event of Default exists, the Grantor, upon the request of the Lender, shall: (i) hold the returned Inventory in trust for the Lender; (ii) segregate all returned Inventory from all of its other property; (iii) dispose of the returned Inventory solely according to the Lender’s written instructions; and (iv) not issue any credits or allowances with respect thereto without the Lender’s prior written consent.  All returned Inventory shall be subject to the Lender’s Liens thereon.  Whenever any Inventory is returned, the related Account shall be deemed ineligible to the extent of the amount owing by the Account Debtor with respect to such returned Inventory and such returned Inventory shall not be Eligible Inventory.

 

(c)           Inventory Count.  The Grantor will conduct a physical count of the Inventory at least once per Fiscal Year, and after and during the continuation of an Event of Default, at such other times as the Lender requests. The Grantor, at its own expense, shall deliver to the Lender the results of each physical verification, which the Grantor has made, or has caused any other Person to make on its behalf, of all or any portion of its Inventory.

 

(d)           Equipment.  The Grantor shall promptly inform the Lender of any additions to or deletions from the Equipment which individually exceed $250,000.  The Grantor shall not permit any Equipment to become a fixture with respect to real property or to become an accession with respect to other personal property with respect to which real or personal property the Lender either does not have a Lien or has not otherwise entered into a Collateral Access Agreement.  The Grantor will not, without the Lender’s prior written consent, alter or remove any identifying symbol or number on any of the Grantor’s Equipment constituting Collateral.

 

10



 

(e)           Titled Vehicles.  The Grantor will give the Lender notice of its acquisition of any vehicle covered by a certificate of title with a value in excess of $50,000, and deliver to the Lender, upon request, the original of any vehicle title certificate and provide and/or file all other documents or instruments necessary to have the Lien of the Lender noted on any such certificate or with the appropriate state office.

 

4.4.          Delivery of Instruments, Securities, Chattel Paper and Documents. The Grantor will (a) deliver to the Lender immediately upon execution of this Security Agreement the originals of all Chattel Paper, certificated Securities and Instruments constituting Collateral (if any then exist), (b) hold in trust for the Lender upon receipt and immediately thereafter deliver to the Lender any Chattel Paper, certificated Securities and Instruments constituting Collateral, (c) upon the Lender’s request, deliver to the Lender (and thereafter hold in trust for the Lender upon receipt and immediately deliver to the Lender) any Document evidencing or constituting Collateral and (d) upon the Lender’s request, deliver to the Lender a duly executed amendment to this Security Agreement, in the form of Exhibit I hereto (the “Amendment”), pursuant to which the Grantor will pledge such additional Collateral.  The Grantor hereby authorizes the Lender to attach each Amendment to this Security Agreement and agrees that all additional Collateral set forth in such Amendments shall be considered to be part of the Collateral.

 

4.5.          Uncertificated Pledged Collateral. The Grantor will permit the Lender  from time to time to cause the appropriate issuers (and, if held with a securities intermediary, such securities intermediary) of uncertificated securities or other types of Pledged Collateral not represented by certificates to mark their books and records with the numbers and face amounts of all such uncertificated securities or other types of Pledged Collateral not represented by certificates and all rollovers and replacements therefor to reflect the Lien of the Lender granted pursuant to this Security Agreement.  The Grantor will take any actions necessary to cause (a) the issuers of uncertificated securities which are Pledged Collateral and (b) any securities intermediary which is the holder of any Pledged Collateral, to cause the Lender to have and retain Control over such Pledged Collateral.  Without limiting the foregoing, the Grantor will, with respect to Pledged Collateral held with a securities intermediary, cause such securities intermediary to enter into a control agreement with the Lender, in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender, giving the Lender Control.

 

4.6.          Pledged Collateral.

 

(a)           Changes in Capital Structure of Issuers. Except as expressly permitted or required by the Credit Agreement, the Grantor will not (i) permit or suffer any issuer of an Equity Interest constituting Pledged Collateral to dissolve, merge, liquidate, retire any of its Equity Interests or other Instruments or Securities evidencing ownership, reduce its capital, sell or encumber all or substantially all of its assets (except for Liens permitted under Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement and sales of assets permitted pursuant to Section 4.1(d)) or merge or consolidate with any other entity, or (ii) vote any Pledged Collateral in favor of any of the foregoing.

 

(b)           Issuance of Additional Securities.  The Grantor will not permit or suffer the issuer of an Equity Interest constituting Pledged Collateral to issue additional Equity Interests, any right to receive the same or any right to receive earnings, except to the Grantor.

 

11



 

(c)           Registration of Pledged Collateral.  During the continuation of an Event of Default, Grantor will permit any registerable Pledged Collateral to be registered in the name of the Lender or its nominee at any time at the option of the Lender.

 

(d)           Exercise of Rights in Pledged Collateral.

 

(i)            Without in any way limiting the foregoing and subject to clause (ii) below, the Grantor shall have the right to exercise all voting rights or other rights relating to the Pledged Collateral for all purposes not inconsistent with this Security Agreement, the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document; provided however, that no vote or other right shall be exercised or action taken which would have the effect of impairing the rights of the Lender in respect of the Pledged Collateral.

 

(ii)           The Grantor will permit the Lender or its nominee at any time after the occurrence of an Event of Default, without notice, to exercise all voting rights or other rights relating to Pledged Collateral, including, without limitation, exchange, subscription or any other rights, privileges, or options pertaining to any Equity Interest or Investment Property constituting Pledged Collateral as if it were the absolute owner thereof.

 

(iii)          The Grantor shall be entitled to collect and receive for its own use all cash dividends and interest paid in respect of the Pledged Collateral to the extent not in violation of the Credit Agreement other than any of the following distributions and payments (collectively referred to as the “Excluded Payments”): (a) dividends and interest paid or payable other than in cash in respect of any Pledged Collateral, and instruments and other property received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of, or in exchange for, any Pledged Collateral;  (b) dividends and other distributions paid or payable in cash in respect of any Pledged Collateral in connection with a partial or total liquidation or dissolution or in connection with a reduction of capital, capital surplus or paid-in capital of an issuer; and (c) cash paid, payable or otherwise distributed, in respect of principal of, or in redemption of, or in exchange for, any Pledged Collateral; provided however, that until actually paid, all rights to such distributions shall remain subject to the Lien created by this Security Agreement; and

 

(iv)          All Excluded Payments and all other distributions in respect of any of the Pledged Collateral, whenever paid or made, shall be delivered to the Lender to hold as Pledged Collateral and shall, if received by the Grantor, be received in trust for the benefit of the Lender, be segregated from the other property or funds of the Grantor, and be forthwith delivered to the Lender as Pledged Collateral in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement).

 

4.7.          Intellectual Property.

 

(a)           The Grantor will use its best efforts to secure all consents and approvals necessary or appropriate for the assignment to or benefit of the Lender of any License held by the Grantor and to enforce the security interests granted hereunder.  Within 30 days of the date hereof, the Grantor will deliver to the Lender a schedule of any interest in, or any title to, any

 

12



 

registered Patent, Trademark or Copyright in the form of Exhibit D.  The Grantor further agrees to provide the Lender, within 30 days hereof, such Patent, Trademark, and/or Copyright Security Agreements as the Lender may require to be filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office to evidence the Lien granted herein.

 

(b)           The Grantor shall notify the Lender immediately if it knows or has reason to know that any application or registration relating to any Patent, Trademark or Copyright (now or hereafter existing) that is material to the conduct of Grantor’s business may become abandoned or dedicated, or of any adverse determination or development (including the institution of, or any such determination or development in, any proceeding in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or any court) regarding the Grantor’s ownership of any Patent, Trademark or Copyright, its right to register the same, or to keep and maintain the same.

 

(c)           Upon the filing of an application for the registration of any Patent, Trademark or Copyright with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States Copyright Office or any similar office or agency, the Grantor shall execute and deliver any and all security agreements as the Lender may request to evidence the Lender’s first priority security interest on such Patent, Trademark or Copyright, and the General Intangibles of the Grantor relating thereto or represented thereby.

 

(d)           The Grantor shall take all actions necessary or requested by the Lender to maintain and pursue each application, to obtain the relevant registration and to maintain the registration of each of the Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights (now or hereafter existing), including the filing of applications for renewal, affidavits of use, affidavits of noncontestability and opposition and interference and cancellation proceedings, unless the Grantor shall determine that such Patent, Trademark or Copyright is not material to the conduct of its business.

 

(e)           The Grantor shall, unless it shall reasonably determine that such Patent, Trademark or Copyright is in no way material to the conduct of its business or operations, promptly sue for infringement, misappropriation or dilution and to recover any and all damages for such infringement, misappropriation or dilution, and shall take such other actions as the Lender shall deem appropriate under the circumstances to protect such Patent, Trademark or Copyright.  In the event that the Grantor institutes suit because any of the Patents, Trademarks or Copyrights constituting Collateral is infringed upon, or misappropriated or diluted by a third party, the Grantor shall comply with Section 4.8.

 

4.8.          Commercial Tort Claims.  The Grantor shall promptly, and in any event within two Business Days after the same is acquired by it, notify the Lender of any commercial tort claim (as defined in the UCC) acquired by it and, unless the Lender otherwise consents, the Grantor shall enter into an amendment to this Security Agreement, in the form of Exhibit I hereto, granting to Lender a first priority security interest in such commercial tort claim.

 

4.9.          Letter-of-Credit Rights.  If the Grantor is or becomes the beneficiary of any letters of credit with an aggregate face amount in excess of $50,000, the Grantor shall promptly, and in any event within two Business Days after becoming a beneficiary, notify the Lender thereof and,

 

13



 

upon Lender’s request, cause the issuer and/or confirmation bank to consent to the assignment of any Letter-of-Credit Rights to the Lender.

 

4.10.        Federal, State or Municipal Claims.  The Grantor will promptly notify the Lender of any Collateral which constitutes a claim against the United States government or any state or local government or any instrumentality or agency thereof, the assignment of which claim is restricted by federal, state or municipal law.

 

4.11.        No Interference.  The Grantor agrees that it will not interfere with any right, power and remedy of the Lender provided for in this Security Agreement or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute or otherwise, or the exercise or beginning of the exercise by the Lender of any one or more of such rights, powers or remedies.

 

4.12.        Insurance.

 

(a)           All insurance policies required hereunder or under Section 5.09 of the Credit Agreement shall name the Lender as an additional insured or as loss payee, as applicable, and shall contain loss payable clauses or mortgagee clauses, through endorsements in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender, which provide that: (i) all proceeds thereunder with respect to any Collateral shall be payable to the Lender; (ii) no such insurance shall be affected by any act or neglect of the insured or owner of the property described in such policy; and (iii) that the insurer will endeavor to provide at least thirty days prior written notice to the Lender that any such policy and loss payable or mortgagee clauses may be canceled, amended or terminated; provided, that, in the event that any insurer fails to give such thirty days prior written notice, the Borrower shall be required to give such notice..

 

(b)           All premiums on such insurance shall be paid when due by the Grantor, and copies of the policies delivered to the Lender promptly upon Lender’s request.  If the Grantor fails to obtain any insurance as required by this Section, the Lender may obtain such insurance at the Grantor’s expense.  By purchasing such insurance, the Lender shall not be deemed to have waived any Default arising from the Grantor’s failure to maintain such insurance or pay any premiums therefor.

 

4.13.        Collateral Access Agreements.  The Grantor shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain a Collateral Access Agreement, from the lessor of each leased property, mortgagee of owned property or bailee or consignee with respect to any warehouse, processor or converter facility or other location where Collateral is stored or located, which agreement or letter shall provide access rights, contain a waiver or subordination of all Liens or claims that the landlord, mortgagee, bailee or consignee may assert against the Collateral at that location, and shall otherwise be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Lender. With respect to such locations or warehouse space leased as of the Effective Date and thereafter, if the Lender has not received a Collateral Access Agreement as of the Effective Date (or, if later, as of the date such location is acquired or leased), Grantor’s Eligible Inventory at that location shall be excluded from the Borrowing Base.  After the Effective Date, no real property or warehouse space shall be leased by the Grantor and no Inventory shall be shipped to a processor or converter under arrangements established after the Effective Date,  unless and until a satisfactory Collateral Access Agreement shall first have been obtained with respect to such location and if it

 

14



 

has not been obtained, Grantor’s Eligible Inventory at that location shall be excluded from the Borrowing Base.  The Grantor shall timely and fully pay and perform its obligations under all leases and other agreements with respect to each leased location or third party warehouse where any Collateral is or may be located.

 

4.14.        Deposit Account Control Agreements.  The Grantor will provide to the Lender upon the Lender’s request, a Deposit Account Control Agreement duly executed on behalf of each financial institution holding a deposit account of the Grantor as set forth in the Security Agreement.

 

4.15.        Change of Name or Location; Change of Fiscal Year.  The Grantor shall not (a) change its name as it appears in official filings in the state of its incorporation or organization, (b) change its chief executive office, principal place of business, mailing address, corporate offices or warehouses or locations at which Collateral is held or stored, or the location of its records concerning the Collateral as set forth in the Security Agreement, (c) change the type of entity that it is, (d) change its organization identification number, if any, issued by its state of incorporation or other organization, or (e) change its state of incorporation or organization, in each case, unless the Lender shall have received at least thirty days prior written notice of such change and the Lender shall have acknowledged in writing that either (1) such change will not adversely affect the validity, perfection or priority of the Lender’s security interest in the Collateral, or (2) any reasonable action requested by the Lender in connection therewith has been completed or taken (including any action to continue the perfection of any Liens in favor of the Lender in any Collateral), provided that, any new location shall be in the continental U.S.  The Grantor shall not change its fiscal year which currently ends on June 30.

 

ARTICLE V
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

 

5.1.          Events of Default.  The occurrence of any one or more of the following events shall constitute an Event of Default hereunder:

 

(a)           Any representation or warranty made by or on behalf of the Grantor under or in connection with this Security Agreement shall be materially false as of the date on which made.

 

(b)           The breach by the Grantor of any of the terms or provisions of Article IV or Article VII.

 

(c)           The breach by the Grantor (other than a breach which constitutes an Event of Default under any other Section of this Article V) of any of the terms or provisions of this Security Agreement which is not remedied within ten days after such breach.

 

(d)           The occurrence of any “Event of Default” under, and as defined in, the Credit Agreement.

 

15



 

5.2.          Remedies.

 

(a)           Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Lender may exercise any or all of the following rights and remedies:

 

(i)            those rights and remedies provided in this Security Agreement, the Credit Agreement, or any other Loan Document; provided that, this Section 5.2(a) shall not be understood to limit any rights or remedies available to the Lender prior to an Event of Default;

 

(ii)           those rights and remedies available to a secured party under the UCC (whether or not the UCC applies to the affected Collateral) or under any other applicable law (including, without limitation, any law governing the exercise of a bank’s right of setoff or bankers’ lien) when a debtor is in default under a security agreement;

 

(iii)          give notice of sole control or any other instruction under any Deposit Account Control Agreement or and other control agreement with any securities intermediary and take any action therein with respect to such Collateral;

 

(iv)          without notice (except as specifically provided in Section 8.1 or elsewhere herein), demand or advertisement of any kind to Grantor or any other Person, enter the premises of the Grantor where any Collateral is located (through self-help and without judicial process) to collect, receive, assemble, process, appropriate, sell, lease, assign, grant an option or options to purchase or otherwise dispose of, deliver, or realize upon, the Collateral or any part thereof in one or more parcels at public or private sale or sales (which sales may be adjourned or continued from time to time with or without notice and may take place at the Grantor’s premises or elsewhere), for cash, on credit or for future delivery without assumption of any credit risk, and upon such other terms as the Lender may deem commercially reasonable; and

 

(v)           concurrently with written notice to the Grantor, transfer and register in its name or in the name of its nominee the whole or any part of the Pledged Collateral, to exchange certificates or instruments representing or evidencing Pledged Collateral for certificates or instruments of smaller or larger denominations, to exercise the voting and all other rights as a holder with respect thereto, to collect and receive all cash dividends, interest, principal and other distributions made thereon and to otherwise act with respect to the Pledged Collateral as though the Lender was the outright owner thereof.

 

(b)           The Lender may comply with any applicable state or federal law requirements in connection with a disposition of the Collateral and compliance will not be considered to adversely affect the commercial reasonableness of any sale of the Collateral.

 

(c)           The Lender shall have the right upon any such public sale or sales and, to the extent permitted by law, upon any such private sale or sales, to purchase for the benefit of the Lender, the whole or any part of the Collateral so sold, free of any right of equity redemption, which equity redemption the Grantor hereby expressly releases.

 

16



 

(d)           Until the Lender is able to effect a sale, lease, or other disposition of Collateral, the Lender shall have the right to hold or use Collateral, or any part thereof, to the extent that it deems appropriate for the purpose of preserving Collateral or its value or for any other purpose deemed appropriate by the Lender. The Lender may, if it so elects, seek the appointment of a receiver or keeper to take possession of Collateral and to enforce any of the Lender’s remedies, with respect to such appointment without prior notice or hearing as to such appointment.

 

(e)           If, after the Credit Agreement has terminated by its terms and all of the Obligations have been paid in full, there remain Swap Obligations outstanding, the Lender may exercise the remedies provided in this Section 5.2 upon the occurrence of any event which would allow or require the termination or acceleration of any Swap Obligations pursuant to the terms of the Swap Agreement.

 

(f)            Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Lender shall not be required to (i) make any demand upon, or pursue or exhaust any of their rights or remedies against, the Grantor, any other obligor, guarantor, pledgor or any other Person with respect to the payment of the Secured Obligations or to pursue or exhaust any of their rights or remedies with respect to any Collateral therefor or any direct or indirect guarantee thereof, (ii) marshal the Collateral or any guarantee of the Secured Obligations or to resort to the Collateral or any such guarantee in any particular order, or (iii) effect a public sale of any Collateral.

 

(g)           The Grantor recognizes that the Lender may be unable to effect a public sale of any or all the Pledged Collateral and may be compelled to resort to one or more private sales thereof in accordance with clause (a) above.  The Grantor also acknowledges that any private sale may result in prices and other terms less favorable to the seller than if such sale were a public sale and, notwithstanding such circumstances, agrees that any such private sale shall not be deemed to have been made in a commercially unreasonable manner solely by virtue of such sale being private.  The Lender shall be under no obligation to delay a sale of any of the Pledged Collateral for the period of time necessary to permit the Grantor or the issuer of the Pledged Collateral to register such securities for public sale under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or under applicable state securities laws, even if the Grantor and the issuer would agree to do so.

 

5.3.          Grantor’s Obligations Upon Default.  Upon the request of the Lender after the occurrence of a Default, the Grantor will:

 

(a)           assemble and make available to the Lender the Collateral and all books and records relating thereto at any place or places specified by the Lender, whether at the Grantor’s premises or elsewhere;

 

(b)           permit the Lender, by the Lender’s representatives and agents, to enter, occupy and use  any premises where all or any part of the Collateral, or the books and records relating thereto, or both, are located, to take possession of all or any part of the Collateral or the books and records relating thereto, or both, to remove all or any part of the Collateral or the books and records relating thereto, or both, and to conduct sales of the Collateral, without any obligation to pay the Grantor for such use and occupancy;

 

17



 

(c)           prepare and file, or cause an issuer of Pledged Collateral to prepare and file, with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other applicable government agency, registration statements, a prospectus and such other documentation in connection with the Pledged Collateral as the Lender may request, all in form and substance satisfactory to the Lender, and furnish to the Lender, or cause an issuer of Pledged Collateral to furnish to the Lender, any information regarding the Pledged Collateral in such detail as the Lender may specify;

 

(d)           take, or cause an issuer of Pledged Collateral to take, any and all actions necessary to register or qualify the Pledged Collateral to enable the Lender to consummate a public sale or other disposition of the Pledged Collateral; and

 

(e)           at its own expense, cause the independent certified public accountants then engaged by the Grantor to prepare and deliver to the Lender, at any time, and from time to time, promptly upon the Lender’s request, the following reports with respect to the Grantor: (i) a reconciliation of all Accounts; (ii) an aging of all Accounts; (iii) trial balances; and (iv) a test verification of such Accounts.

 

5.4.          Grant of Intellectual Property License.  For the purpose of enabling the Lender to exercise the rights and remedies under this Article V at such time as the Lender shall be lawfully entitled to exercise such rights and remedies, the Grantor hereby (a) grants to the Lender an irrevocable, nonexclusive license (exercisable without payment of royalty or other compensation to the Grantor) to use, license or sublicense any Intellectual Property Rights now owned or hereafter acquired by the Grantor, and wherever the same may be located, and including in such license access to all media in which any of the licensed items may be recorded or stored and to all computer software and programs used for the compilation or printout thereof and (b) irrevocably agrees that the Lender may sell any of the Grantor’s Inventory directly to any person, including without limitation persons who have previously purchased the Grantor’s Inventory from the Grantor and in connection with any such sale or other enforcement of the Lender’s rights under this Security Agreement, may sell Inventory which bears any Trademark owned by or licensed to the Grantor and any Inventory that is covered by any Copyright owned by or licensed to the Grantor and the Lender may finish any work in process and affix any Trademark owned by or licensed to the Grantor and sell such Inventory as provided herein.

 

ARTICLE VI
ACCOUNT VERIFICATION; ATTORNEY IN FACT; PROXY

 

6.1.          Account Verification.  The Lender may, at any time after an Event of Default, in the Lender’s own name, in the name of a nominee of the Lender, or in the name of the Grantor communicate (by mail, telephone, facsimile or otherwise) with the Account Debtors of such Grantor, parties to contracts with the Grantor and obligors in respect of Instruments of the Grantor to verify with such Persons, to the Lender’s satisfaction, the existence, amount, terms of, and any other matter relating to, Accounts, Instruments, Chattel Paper, payment intangibles and/or other Receivables.

 

18



 

6.2.          Authorization for Secured Party to Take Certain Action.

 

(a)           The Grantor irrevocably authorizes the Lender at any time and from time to time in the sole discretion of the Lender and appoints the Lender as its attorney in fact (i) to execute on behalf of the Grantor as debtor and to file financing statements necessary or desirable in the Lender’s sole discretion to perfect and to maintain the perfection and priority of the Lender’s security interest in the Collateral, (ii) to endorse and collect any cash proceeds of the Collateral, (iii) to file a carbon, photographic or other reproduction of this Security Agreement or any financing statement with respect to the Collateral as a financing statement and to file any other financing statement or amendment of a financing statement (which does not add new collateral or add a debtor) in such offices as the Lender in its sole discretion deems necessary or desirable to perfect and to maintain the perfection and priority of the Lender’s security interest in the Collateral, (iv) to contact and enter into one or more agreements with the issuers of uncertificated securities which are Pledged Collateral or with securities intermediaries holding Pledged Collateral as may be necessary or advisable to give the Lender Control over such Pledged Collateral, (v) to apply the proceeds of any Collateral received by the Lender to the Secured Obligations as provided in Section 7.3, (vi) to discharge past due taxes, assessments, charges, fees or Liens on the Collateral (except for such Liens as are specifically permitted hereunder), (vii) during the continuation of an Event of Default to contact Account Debtors for any reason, (viii) to demand payment or enforce payment of the Receivables in the name of the Lender or the Grantor and to endorse any and all checks, drafts, and other instruments for the payment of money relating to the Receivables, (ix) to sign the Grantor’s name on any invoice or bill of lading relating to the Receivables, drafts against any Account Debtor of the Grantor, assignments and verifications of Receivables, (x) to exercise all of the Grantor’s rights and remedies with respect to the collection of the Receivables and any other Collateral, (xi) to settle, adjust, compromise, extend or renew the Receivables, (xii) to settle, adjust or compromise any legal proceedings brought to collect Receivables, (xiii) to prepare, file and sign the Grantor’s name on a proof of claim in bankruptcy or similar document against any Account Debtor of the Grantor, (xiv) to prepare, file and sign the Grantor’s name on any notice of Lien, assignment or satisfaction of Lien or similar document in connection with the Receivables, (xv) to change the address for delivery of mail addressed to the Grantor to such address as the Lender may designate and to receive, open and dispose of all mail addressed to the Grantor, and (xvi) to do all other acts and things necessary to carry out this Security Agreement; and the Grantor agrees to reimburse the Lender on demand for any payment made or any expense incurred by the Lender in connection with any of the foregoing; provided that, this authorization shall not relieve the Grantor of any of its obligations under this Security Agreement or under the Credit Agreement.

 

(b)           All acts of said attorney or designee made in accordance herewith are hereby ratified and approved. The powers conferred on the Lender, under this Section 6.2 are solely to protect the Lender’s interests in the Collateral and shall not impose any duty upon the Lender to exercise any such powers.  The Lender agrees that, except for the powers granted in Section 6.2(a)(i)-(vi) and Section 6.2(a)(xvi), it shall not exercise any power or authority granted to it unless an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

 

6.3.          Proxy. THE GRANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY CONSTITUTES AND APPOINTS THE LENDER AS THE PROXY AND ATTORNEY-IN-FACT (AS SET FORTH IN SECTION 6.2 ABOVE) OF THE GRANTOR WITH RESPECT TO THE PLEDGED COLLATERAL, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO VOTE SUCH PLEDGED COLLATERAL IN

 

19



 

ACCORDANCE HEREWITH, WITH FULL POWER OF SUBSTITUTION TO DO SO. IN ADDITION TO THE RIGHT TO VOTE ANY SUCH PLEDGED COLLATERAL, THE APPOINTMENT OF THE LENDER AS PROXY AND ATTORNEY-IN-FACT SHALL INCLUDE THE RIGHT TO EXERCISE ALL OTHER RIGHTS, POWERS, PRIVILEGES AND REMEDIES TO WHICH A HOLDER OF SUCH PLEDGED COLLATERAL WOULD BE ENTITLED (INCLUDING GIVING OR WITHHOLDING WRITTEN CONSENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS, CALLING SPECIAL MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS AND VOTING AT SUCH MEETINGS). SUCH PROXY SHALL BE EFFECTIVE, AUTOMATICALLY AND WITHOUT THE NECESSITY OF ANY ACTION (INCLUDING ANY TRANSFER OF ANY SUCH PLEDGED COLLATERAL ON THE RECORD BOOKS OF THE ISSUER THEREOF) BY ANY PERSON (INCLUDING THE ISSUER OF SUCH PLEDGED COLLATERAL OR ANY OFFICER OR AGENT THEREOF), UPON THE OCCURRENCE OF A DEFAULT.

 

6.4.          Nature of Appointment; Limitation of Duty.  THE APPOINTMENT OF THE LENDER AS PROXY AND ATTORNEY-IN-FACT IN THIS ARTICLE VI IS COUPLED WITH AN INTEREST AND SHALL BE IRREVOCABLE UNTIL THE DATE ON WHICH THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT IS TERMINATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8.14. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING CONTAINED HEREIN, NEITHER THE LENDER NOR ANY OF ITS RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS OR REPRESENTATIVES SHALL HAVE ANY DUTY TO EXERCISE ANY RIGHT OR POWER GRANTED HEREUNDER OR OTHERWISE OR TO PRESERVE THE SAME AND SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY FAILURE TO DO SO OR FOR ANY DELAY IN DOING SO, EXCEPT  IN RESPECT OF DAMAGES ATTRIBUTABLE SOLELY TO THEIR OWN GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT AS FINALLY DETERMINED BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION; PROVIDED THAT, IN NO EVENT SHALL THEY BE LIABLE FOR ANY PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES.

 

ARTICLE VII
COLLECTION AND APPLICATION OF COLLATERAL PROCEEDS; DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS

 

7.1.          Collection of Receivables.  If required by Lender after an Event of Default, the Grantor shall execute and deliver to the Lender Deposit Account Control Agreements for each Deposit Account maintained by the Grantor into which all cash, checks or other similar payments relating to or constituting payments made in respect of Receivables will be deposited (a “Collateral Deposit Account”), which Collateral Deposit Accounts are identified as such on Exhibit B.

 

7.2.          Covenant Regarding New Deposit Accounts.  After the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Grantor shall (a) obtain the Lender’s consent in writing before opening or replacing any Collateral Deposit Account or other Deposit Account to the opening of such Deposit Account, and (b) cause each bank or financial institution in which it seeks to open a Deposit Account, to enter into a Deposit Account Control Agreement with the Lender in order to give the Lender Control of such Deposit Account.

 

20



 

7.3.                              Application of Proceeds; Deficiency.  The Lender may require, at any time after the occurrence of an Event of Default, that all cash proceeds of the Collateral which are not required to be applied to the Obligations pursuant to Section 2.10 of the Credit Agreement be deposited in a special non-interest bearing cash collateral account with the Lender and held there as security for the Secured Obligations.  The Grantor shall have no control whatsoever over said cash collateral account.  Any such proceeds of the Collateral shall be applied in the order set forth in Section 2.17 of the Credit Agreement unless a court of competent jurisdiction shall otherwise direct.  The balance, if any, after all of the Secured Obligations have been satisfied, shall be deposited by the Lender into the Grantor’s general operating account with the Lender. The Grantor shall remain liable for any deficiency if the proceeds of any sale or disposition of the Collateral are insufficient to pay all Secured Obligations, including any attorneys’ fees and other expenses incurred by the Lender or any Lender to collect such deficiency.

 

ARTICLE VIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

8.1.                              Waivers.  The Grantor hereby waives notice of the time and place of any public sale or the time after which any private sale or other disposition of all or any part of the Collateral may be made.  To the extent such notice may not be waived under applicable law, any notice made shall be deemed reasonable if sent to the Grantor, addressed as set forth in Article IX, at least ten days prior to (i) the date of any such public sale or (ii) the time after which any such private sale or other disposition may be made.  To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, the Grantor waives all claims, damages, and demands against the Lender arising out of the repossession, retention or sale of the Collateral, except such as arise solely out of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Lender as finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. To the extent it may lawfully do so, the Grantor absolutely and irrevocably waives and relinquishes the benefit and advantage of, and covenants not to assert against the Lender, any valuation, stay, appraisal, extension, moratorium, redemption or similar laws and any and all rights or defenses it may have as a surety now or hereafter existing which, but for this provision, might be applicable to the sale of any Collateral made under the judgment, order or decree of any court, or privately under the power of sale conferred by this Security Agreement, or otherwise.  Except as otherwise specifically provided herein, the Grantor hereby waives presentment, demand, protest or any notice (to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law) of any kind in connection with this Security Agreement or any Collateral.

 

8.2.                              Limitation on the Lender’s Duty with Respect to the Collateral.  The Lender shall have no obligation to clean-up or otherwise prepare the Collateral for sale. The Lender shall use reasonable care with respect to the Collateral in its possession or under its control.  The Lender shall not have any other duty as to any Collateral in its possession or control or in the possession or control of any agent or nominee of the Lender, or any income thereon or as to the preservation of rights against prior parties or any other rights pertaining thereto. To the extent that applicable law imposes duties on the Lender to exercise remedies in a commercially reasonable manner, the Grantor acknowledges and agrees that it is commercially reasonable for the Lender (i) to fail to incur expenses deemed significant by the Lender to prepare Collateral for disposition or otherwise to transform raw material or work in process into finished goods or other finished products for disposition, (ii) to fail to obtain third party consents for access to Collateral to be disposed of, or to obtain or, if not required by other law, to fail to obtain governmental or third

 

21



 

party consents for the collection or disposition of Collateral to be collected or disposed of, (iii) to fail to exercise collection remedies against Account Debtors or other Persons obligated on Collateral or to remove Liens on or any adverse claims against Collateral, (iv) to exercise collection remedies against Account Debtors and other Persons obligated on Collateral directly or through the use of collection agencies and other collection specialists, (v) to advertise dispositions of Collateral through publications or media of general circulation, whether or not the Collateral is of a specialized nature, (vi) to contact other Persons, whether or not in the same business as the Grantor, for expressions of interest in acquiring all or any portion of such Collateral, (vii) to hire one or more professional auctioneers to assist in the disposition of Collateral, whether or not the Collateral is of a specialized nature, (viii) to dispose of Collateral by utilizing internet sites that provide for the auction of assets of the types included in the Collateral or that have the reasonable capacity of doing so, or that match buyers and sellers of assets, (ix) to dispose of assets in wholesale rather than retail markets, (x) to disclaim disposition warranties, such as title, possession or quiet enjoyment, (xi) to purchase insurance or credit enhancements to insure the Lender against risks of loss, collection or disposition of Collateral or to provide to the Lender a guaranteed return from the collection or disposition of Collateral, or (xii) to the extent deemed appropriate by the Lender, to obtain the services of other brokers, investment bankers, consultants and other professionals to assist the Lender in the collection or disposition of any of the Collateral.  The Grantor acknowledges that the purpose of this Section 8.2 is to provide non-exhaustive indications of what actions or omissions by the Lender would  be commercially reasonable in the Lender’s exercise of remedies against the Collateral and that other actions or omissions by the Lender shall not be deemed commercially unreasonable solely on account of not being indicated in this Section 8.2.  Without limitation upon the foregoing, nothing contained in this Section 8.2 shall be construed to grant any rights to the Grantor or to impose any duties on the Lender that would not have been granted or imposed by this Security Agreement or by applicable law in the absence of this Section 8.2.

 

8.3.                              Compromises and Collection of Collateral.  The Grantor and the Lender recognize that setoffs, counterclaims, defenses and other claims may be asserted by obligors with respect to certain of the Receivables, that certain of the Receivables may be or become uncollectible in whole or in part and that the expense and probability of success in litigating a disputed Receivable may exceed the amount that reasonably may be expected to be recovered with respect to a Receivable.  In view of the foregoing, the Grantor agrees that the Lender may at any time and from time to time, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, compromise with the obligor on any Receivable, accept in full payment of any Receivable such amount as the Lender in its sole discretion shall determine or abandon any Receivable, and any such action by the Lender shall be commercially reasonable so long as the Lender acts in good faith based on information known to it at the time it takes any such action.

 

8.4.                              Secured Party Performance of Debtor Obligations.  Without having any obligation to do so, the Lender may perform or pay any obligation which the Grantor has agreed to perform or pay in this Security Agreement and the Grantor shall reimburse the Lender for any amounts paid by the Lender pursuant to this Section 8.4.  The Grantor’s obligation to reimburse the Lender pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be a Secured Obligation payable on demand.

 

8.5.                              Specific Performance of Certain Covenants.  The Grantor acknowledges and agrees that a breach of any of the covenants contained in Sections 4.1(d), 4.1(e), 4.4, 4.6, 4.7,

 

22



 

4.8, 4.9, 4.10, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15, 5.3, or 8.7 or in Article VII will cause irreparable injury to the Lender, that the Lender has no adequate remedy at law in respect of such breaches and therefore agrees, without limiting the right of the Lender to seek and obtain specific performance of other obligations of the Grantor contained in this Security Agreement, that the covenants of the Grantor contained in the Sections referred to in this Section 8.5 shall be specifically enforceable against the Grantor.

 

8.6.                              Dispositions Not Authorized.  The Grantor is not authorized to sell or otherwise dispose of the Collateral except as set forth in Section 4.1(d) and notwithstanding any course of dealing between the Grantor and the Lender or other conduct of the Lender, no authorization to sell or otherwise dispose of the Collateral (except as set forth in Section 4.1(d)) shall be binding upon the Lender unless such authorization is in writing signed by the Lender.

 

8.7.                              No Waiver; Amendments; Cumulative Remedies. No delay or omission of the Lender to exercise any right or remedy granted under this Security Agreement shall impair such right or remedy or be construed to be a waiver of any Default or an acquiescence therein, and any single or partial exercise of any such right or remedy shall not preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or remedy. No waiver, amendment or other variation of the terms, conditions or provisions of this Security Agreement whatsoever shall be valid unless in writing signed by the Lender and then only to the extent in such writing specifically set forth.  All rights and remedies contained in this Security Agreement or by law afforded shall be cumulative and all shall be available to the Lender until the Secured Obligations have been paid in full.

 

8.8.                              Limitation by Law; Severability of Provisions.  All rights, remedies and powers provided in this Security Agreement may be exercised only to the extent that the exercise thereof does not violate any applicable provision of law, and all the provisions of this Security Agreement are intended to be subject to all applicable mandatory provisions of law that may be controlling and to be limited to the extent necessary so that they shall not render this Security Agreement invalid, unenforceable or not entitled to be recorded or registered, in whole or in part.  Any provision in any this Security Agreement that is held to be inoperative, unenforceable, or invalid in any jurisdiction shall, as to that jurisdiction, be inoperative, unenforceable, or invalid without affecting the remaining provisions in that jurisdiction or the operation, enforceability, or validity of that provision in any other jurisdiction, and to this end the provisions of this Security Agreement are declared to be severable.

 

8.9.                              Reinstatement.  This Security Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be effective should any petition be filed by or against the Grantor for liquidation or reorganization, should the Grantor become insolvent or make an assignment for the benefit of any creditor or creditors or should a receiver or trustee be appointed for all or any significant part of the Grantor’s assets, and shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment and performance of the Secured Obligations, or any part thereof, is, pursuant to applicable law, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or returned by any obligee of the Secured Obligations, whether as a “voidable preference,” “fraudulent conveyance,” or otherwise, all as though such payment or performance had not been made.  In the event that any payment, or any part thereof, is rescinded, reduced, restored or

 

23



 

returned, the Secured Obligations shall be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.

 

8.10.                        Benefit of Agreement.  The terms and provisions of this Security Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Grantor, the Lender and their respective successors and assigns (including all persons who become bound as a debtor to this Security Agreement), except that the Grantor shall not have the right to assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Security Agreement or any interest herein, without the prior written consent of the Lender.  No sales of participations, assignments, transfers, or other dispositions of any agreement governing the Secured Obligations or any portion thereof or interest therein shall in any manner impair the Lien granted to the Lender hereunder.

 

8.11.                        Survival of Representations.  All representations and warranties of the Grantor contained in this Security Agreement shall survive the execution and delivery of this Security Agreement.

 

8.12.                        Taxes and Expenses.  Any taxes (including income taxes) payable or ruled payable by Federal or State authority in respect of this Security Agreement shall be paid by the Grantor, together with interest and penalties, if any.  The Grantor shall reimburse the Lender for any and all out-of-pocket expenses and internal charges (including reasonable attorneys’, auditors’ and accountants’ fees and reasonable time charges of attorneys, paralegals, auditors and accountants who may be employees of the Lender) paid or incurred by the Lender in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, collection and enforcement of this Security Agreement and, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement, in the audit, analysis, administration, collection, preservation or sale of the Collateral (including the expenses and charges associated with any periodic or special audit of the Collateral).  Any and all costs and expenses incurred by the Grantor in the performance of actions required pursuant to the terms hereof shall be borne solely by the Grantor.

 

8.13.                        Headings.  The title of and section headings in this Security Agreement are for convenience of reference only, and shall not govern the interpretation of any of the terms and provisions of this Security Agreement.

 

8.14.                        Termination.  This Security Agreement shall continue in effect (notwithstanding the fact that from time to time there may be no Secured Obligations outstanding) until (i) the Credit Agreement has terminated pursuant to its express terms and (ii) all of the Secured Obligations have been indefeasibly paid and performed in full (except with respect to any outstanding Letters of Credit for which a cash deposit or Supporting Letter of Credit has been delivered to the Lender as required by the Credit Agreement or with respect to any other contingent obligations that survive termination of the Credit Agreement) and no commitments of the Lender which would give rise to any Secured Obligations are outstanding.

 

8.15.                        Entire Agreement.  This Security Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the Grantor and the Lender relating to the Collateral and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the Grantor and the Lender relating to the Collateral.

 

24



 

8.16.                        CHOICE OF LAW.  THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS (AND NOT THE LAW OF CONFLICTS) OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN, BUT GIVING EFFECT TO FEDERAL LAWS APPLICABLE TO NATIONAL BANKS.

 

8.17.                        CONSENT TO JURISDICTION.  THE GRANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY U.S. FEDERAL OR WISCONSIN STATE COURT SITTING IN WISCONSIN IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT AND THE GRANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN ANY SUCH COURT AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE AS TO THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT OR THAT SUCH COURT IS AN INCONVENIENT FORUM.  NOTHING HEREIN SHALL LIMIT THE RIGHT OF THE LENDER TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE GRANTOR IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.  ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING BY THE GRANTOR AGAINST THE LENDER OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE LENDER INVOLVING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL BE BROUGHT ONLY IN A COURT IN MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

 

8.18.                        WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THE GRANTOR AND THE LENDER HEREBY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING INVOLVING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER (WHETHER SOUNDING IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH THIS SECURITY AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE RELATIONSHIP ESTABLISHED THEREUNDER.

 

8.19.                        Indemnity.  The Grantor hereby agrees to indemnify the Lender, and its successors, assigns, agents and employees, from and against any and all liabilities, damages, penalties, suits, costs, and expenses of any kind and nature (including, without limitation, all expenses of litigation or preparation therefor whether or not the Lender is a party thereto) imposed on, incurred by or asserted against the Lender, or its successors, assigns, agents and employees, in any way relating to or arising out of this Security Agreement, or the manufacture, purchase, acceptance, rejection, ownership, delivery, lease, possession, use, operation, condition, sale, return or other disposition of any Collateral (including, without limitation, latent and other defects, whether or not discoverable by the Lender or the Grantor, and any claim for Patent, Trademark or Copyright infringement).

 

8.20.                        Counterparts.  This Security Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one agreement, and any of the parties hereto may execute this Security Agreement by signing any such counterpart.

 

25



 

ARTICLE IX
NOTICES

 

9.1.                              Sending Notices.  Any notice required or permitted to be given under this Security Agreement shall be sent in  accordance with Section 8.01 of the Credit Agreement.

 

9.2.                              Change in Address for Notices.  Each of the Grantor and the Lender may change the address for service of notice upon it by a notice in writing to the other parties.

 

 

[Signatures appear on following page]

 

26



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Grantor and the Lender have executed this Security Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

 

GRANTOR:

 

 

 

KOSS CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Lender

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

[Signature Page to Security Agreement]

 



 

EXHIBIT A

(See Sections 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.9 and 9.1 of Security Agreement)

 

GRANTOR’S INFORMATION AND COLLATERAL LOCATIONS

 

I.                                         Name of Grantor:
 
II.                                     State of Incorporation or Organization:
 
III.                                 Type of Entity:
 
IV.                                 Organizational Number assigned by State of Incorporation or Organization:
 
V.                                     Federal Identification Number:
 
VI.                                 Place of Business (if it has only one) or Chief Executive Office (if more than one place of business) and Mailing Address:

 

 

 

 

Attention:

 

VII.                             Locations of Collateral:
 
(a)                                  Properties Owned by the Grantor:
 
None.
 
(b)                                 Properties Leased by the Grantor (Include Landlord’s Name):
 
(c)                                  Public Warehouses or other Locations pursuant to Bailment or Consignment Arrangements (include name of Warehouse Operator or other Bailee or Consignee):
 
VIII.                         Commercial Tort Claims:
 
(a)
 
(b)

 



 

EXHIBIT B

(See Section 3.5 of Security Agreement)

 

DEPOSIT ACCOUNTS

 

Name of Institution

 

Account Number

 

Check here if Deposit
Account is a Collateral
Deposit Account

 

Description of Deposit
Account if not a
Collateral Deposit
Account

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

EXHIBIT C

(See Section 3.7 of Security Agreement)

 

LETTER OF CREDIT RIGHTS

 

 

CHATTEL PAPER

 



 

EXHIBIT D

(See Section 3.10 and 3.11 of Security Agreement)

 

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

 

PATENTS

 

Patent Description

 

Patent Number

 

Issue Date

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PATENT APPLICATIONS

 

Patent Application

 

Application Filing Date

 

Application Serial Number

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRADEMARKS

 

Trademark

 

Registration Date

 

Registration Number

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRADEMARKS APPLICATIONS

 

Trademark Application

 

Application Filing Date

 

Application Serial Number

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COPYRIGHTS

 

Copyright

 

Registration Date

 

Registration Number

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COPYRIGHT APPLICATIONS

 

Copyright Application

 

Application Filing Date

 

Application Serial Number

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LICENSES

 

Name of Agreement

 

Date of Agreement

 

Parties to Agreement

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

EXHIBIT E

(See Section 3.11 of Security Agreement)

 

TITLE DOCUMENTS

I.                                         Vehicles subject to certificates of title:

 

Description

 

Title Number

 

State Where Issued

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

II.                                     Aircraft/engines/parts, ships, railcars and other vehicles governed by federal statute:

 

Description

 

Registration Number

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

EXHIBIT F

(See Section 3.11 of Security Agreement)

 

FIXTURES

 

III.                                 Legal description, county and street address of property on which Fixtures are located:

 

 

 

IV.                                 Name and Address of Record Owner:

 

 

 

 

 



 

EXHIBIT G

(See Section 3.13 of Security Agreement and Definition of “Pledged Collateral”)

 

LIST OF PLEDGED COLLATERAL, SECURITIES AND OTHER INVESTMENT PROPERTY

 

STOCKS

 

Issuer

 

Certificate
Number(s)

 

Number of Shares

 

Class of Stock

 

Percentage of
Outstanding
Shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BONDS

 

Issuer

 

Number

 

Face Amount

 

Coupon Rate

 

Maturity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GOVERNMENT SECURITIES

 

Issuer

 

Number

 

Type

 

Face Amount

 

Coupon Rate

 

Maturity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER SECURITIES OR OTHER INVESTMENT PROPERTY
(CERTIFICATED AND UNCERTIFICATED)

 

Issuer

 

Description of Collateral

 

Percentage Ownership Interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Add description of custody accounts or arrangements with securities intermediary, if applicable]

 



 

EXHIBIT H

(See Section 3.1 of Security Agreement)

 

OFFICES IN WHICH FINANCING STATEMENTS HAVE BEEN FILED

 



 

EXHIBIT I

(See Section 4.4 and 4.8 of Security Agreement)

 

AMENDMENT

 

This Amendment, dated                            ,       is delivered pursuant to Section 4.4 of the Security Agreement referred to below.  All defined terms herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto or incorporated by reference in the Security Agreement.  The undersigned hereby certifies that the representations and warranties in Article III of the Security Agreement are and continue to be true and correct.  The undersigned further agrees that this Amendment may be attached to that certain Pledge and Security Agreement, dated                          ,        , between the undersigned, as the Grantor, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the Lender, (the “Security Agreement”) and that the Collateral listed on Schedule I to this Amendment shall be and become a part of the Collateral referred to in said Security Agreement and shall secure all Secured Obligations referred to in said Security Agreement.

 

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 



 

SCHEDULE I TO AMENDMENT

 

STOCKS

 

Issuer

 

Certificate
Number(s)

 

Number of Shares

 

Class of Stock

 

Percentage of
Outstanding
Shares

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BONDS

 

Issuer

 

Number

 

Face Amount

 

Coupon Rate

 

Maturity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GOVERNMENT SECURITIES

 

Issuer

 

Number

 

Type

 

Face Amount

 

Coupon Rate

 

Maturity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OTHER SECURITIES OR OTHER INVESTMENT PROPERTY
(CERTIFICATED AND UNCERTIFICATED)

 

Issuer

 

Description of Collateral

 

Percentage Ownership Interest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Add description of custody accounts or arrangements with securities intermediary, if applicable]

 

COMMERCIAL TORT CLAIMS

 

Description of Claim

 

Parties

 

Case Number; Name of Court
where Case was Filed