Guaranty Agreement - Credit Suisse First Boston, Micron PC Web Services Inc., NETLimited Inc., d/b/a HostPro, Micron Internet Services Inc. and SpecTek LLC
GUARANTY AGREEMENT
This Guaranty Agreement ("Guaranty") is entered into as of September 30,
1999, by the Persons named on the signature pages hereto (each, a "Guarantor"),
in favor of Credit Suisse First Boston, as Agent for the Lenders under the
Credit Agreement (defined below) (solely in its capacity as Agent, "Agent").
Recitals
A. Pursuant to that certain Credit Agreement dated as of June 10, 1998
(as amended by that Amendment No. 1 to Credit Agreement dated as of November 5,
1998, and that Amendment No. 2 to Credit Agreement dated as of the date hereof,
and as further amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time,
the "Credit Agreement"), by and among Micron Electronics, Inc., a Minnesota
corporation, as the borrower ("Borrower"), the financial institutions from time
to time party thereto and named as Lenders therein ("Lenders"), and Agent,
Lenders have agreed to make certain advances of money and to extend certain
financial accommodations to Borrower in the amounts and manner set forth in the
Credit Agreement (collectively, the "Loans").
B. In consideration of the agreement of Agent and Lenders to enter into
an amendment to the Credit Agreement and to continue to make the Loans
thereunder available to Borrower, Guarantor has agreed to execute and deliver
this Guaranty in favor of Agent, on behalf of Lenders.
C. Agent and Lenders are relying upon the execution and delivery by
Guarantor of this Guaranty.
Agreement
Now, Therefore, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and in order to
induce Agent and Lenders to execute the Credit Agreement and the other Loan
Documents, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound,
Guarantor hereby represents, warrants, covenants and agrees as follows:
1. Definitions.
1.
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All capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the
meanings ascribed to them in the Credit Agreement.
2. Guaranty.
2.1 Unconditional Guaranty.
Guarantor hereby unconditionally, absolutely and irrevocably
guarantees to Agent and Lenders the full, prompt and complete payment and
performance when due (whether by stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise)
of all indebtedness of Borrower to Agent and Lenders (whether created under the
Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents or otherwise) (all such
indebtedness being the "Liabilities"), together with, without limitation, the
prompt payment of all expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable
attorneys' fees and legal expenses, incidental to the collection of the
Liabilities and the enforcement or protection of any security interests in and
to any collateral therefor. The term "indebtedness" is used herein in its most
comprehensive sense and includes any and all advances, debts, obligations and
Liabilities heretofore, now or hereafter made, incurred or created, whether
voluntary or involuntary and whether due or not due, absolute or contingent,
liquidated or unliquidated, determined or undetermined, and whether recovery
upon such indebtedness may be or hereafter becomes unenforceable. (The
Liabilities and all other obligations and covenants to be performed by Guarantor
under this Guaranty shall hereinafter from time to time be collectively referred
to as the "Guaranty Obligations".)
2.2 Joint and Several Liability. If any other Person in addition to
Guarantor shall guarantee the Liabilities, all such guarantors and their
respective successors and assigns shall be jointly and severally liable
therefor, notwithstanding any relationship or contract of co-obligation by or
among such guarantors. Agent's enforcement of the Liabilities is not conditioned
upon Agent's obtaining from any other Person a guaranty of all or any part of
the Liabilities.
2.3 Separate Obligations. The Guaranty Obligations of Guarantor arising
hereunder are independent of and separate from any and all obligations of
Guarantor to Agent arising under the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document
as may have been executed by Guarantor and delivered to Agent in connection
therewith.
3. Payments.
All payments to be made by Guarantor to Agent pursuant to the terms of this
Guaranty shall be made in lawful money of the United States of America, in
immediately available funds, to Agent at such address and account as Agent may
hereafter specify to Guarantor in writing, and shall be accompanied by a notice
from Guarantor stating that such payments are made under this Guaranty.
4. Absolute Guaranty.
Guarantor agrees that the liability hereunder shall be the immediate,
direct and primary obligation of Guarantor and shall not be contingent upon
Agent's exercise or enforcement of any remedy it may have against Borrower or
any other Person. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Guaranty
Obligations shall remain in full force and effect without regard to and
2.
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shall not be impaired or affected by, nor shall Guarantor be exonerated or
discharged by, any of the following events:
(a) Insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment,
composition, assignment for the benefit of creditors, death, liquidation,
winding up or dissolution of Borrower, Guarantor or any other guarantor of the
Liabilities;
(b) Any limitation, discharge or cessation of the liability of Borrower,
Guarantor or any other guarantor for the Liabilities due to any statute,
regulation or rule of law, or any invalidity or unenforceability in whole or in
part of the Loan Documents or any other guaranty of the Liabilities;
(c) Any merger, acquisition, consolidation or change in structure of
Borrower, Guarantor or any other guarantor of the Liabilities; or any sale,
lease, transfer or other disposition of any or all of the assets or shares of
Borrower, Guarantor or any other guarantor of the Liabilities;
(d) Any assignment or other transfer, in whole or in part, of Agent's or
any Lender's interests in and rights under the Credit Agreement and this
Guaranty, including, without limitation, Agent's right to receive payment of the
Liabilities and the Guaranty Obligations; or any assignment or other transfer,
in whole or in part, of Agent's interests in and to any collateral security
securing the Liabilities;
(e) Any claim, defense, counterclaim or setoff, other than that of prior
payment or performance, that Borrower, Guarantor or any other guarantor of the
Liabilities may have or assert, including, but not limited to, any defense of
incapacity or lack of corporate or other authority to execute any documents
relating to the Liabilities, the Guaranty Obligations or any collateral security
for the Liabilities;
(f) Any cancellation, renunciation or surrender of any debt instrument
evidencing the Liabilities, other than due to the complete prior and
indefeasible payment or performance of such instrument;
(g) Agent's amendment, modification, renewal or extension of any documents
or agreements relating to the Credit Agreement, the Liabilities, the Guaranty
Obligations or any other collateral security for the Liabilities, or Agent's
exchange, release or waiver of any collateral security for the Liabilities;
(h) Agent's exercise or non-exercise of any power, right or remedy with
respect to the Liabilities, the Guaranty Obligations or any collateral security
for the Liabilities, including, but not limited to, Agent's compromise, release,
settlement or waiver with or of Borrower, Guarantor or any other Person;
(i) Agent's vote, claim, distribution, election, acceptance, action or
inaction in any bankruptcy case related to the Liabilities, the Guaranty
Obligations or any collateral security for the Liabilities; and
3.
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(j) Any impairment or invalidity of any collateral security for the
Liabilities or any failure to perfect any of Agent's liens thereon or therein.
5. Waivers. Guarantor hereby expressly waives (a) diligence, presentment,
demand for payment, protest, benefit of any statute of limitations affecting
Borrower's liability under the Loan Documents or the enforcement of this
Guaranty; (b) discharge due to any disability of Borrower; (c) any defenses of
Borrower to obligations under the Loan Documents not arising under the express
terms of the Loan Documents or from a material breach thereof by Agent which
under the law has the effect of discharging Borrower from the Liabilities as to
which this Guaranty is sought to be enforced; (d) the benefit of any act or
omission by Agent which directly or indirectly results in or aids the discharge
of Borrower from any of the Liabilities by operation of law or otherwise; (e)
all notices whatsoever, including, without limitation, notice of acceptance of
this Guaranty and the incurring of the Liabilities; and (f) any requirement that
Agent exhaust any right, power or remedy or proceed against Borrower or any
other security for, or any other guarantor of, or any other party liable for,
any of the Liabilities or any portion thereof. Guarantor specifically agrees
that it shall not be necessary or required, and Guarantor shall not be entitled
to require, that Agent or any Lender (i) file suit or proceed to assert or
obtain a claim for personal judgment against Borrower for the Liabilities; (ii)
make any effort at collection or enforcement of the Liabilities from Borrower;
(iii) file suit or proceed to obtain or assert a claim for personal judgment
against Guarantor or any other guarantor or other party liable for the
Liabilities; (iv) make any effort at collection of the Liabilities from any such
party; (v) exercise or assert any other right or remedy to which Agent or any
Lender is or may be entitled in connection with the Liabilities or any security
or guaranty relating thereto; or (vi) file or assert any claim against assets of
Borrower before or as a condition of enforcing the liability of Guarantor under
this Guaranty.
6. Representations and Warranties.
Guarantor hereby represents and warrants to Agent that:
(a) Guarantor (i) is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the State set forth below its name on the
signature pages hereto; and (ii) has all requisite power and authority to
execute and deliver this Guaranty and each Loan Document executed and delivered
by Guarantor pursuant to the Credit Agreement or this Guaranty and to perform
its obligations thereunder and hereunder.
(b) The execution, delivery and performance by Guarantor of this Guaranty
(i) do not contravene Guarantor's charter documents or any law or any
contractual restriction binding on or affecting Guarantor or by which
Guarantor's property may be affected; (ii) do not require any authorization or
approval or other action by, or any notice to or filing with, any governmental
authority or any other Person under any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust,
lease, agreement or other instrument to which Guarantor is a party or by which
Guarantor or any of its property is bound except such as have been obtained or
made; and (iii) do not, except as contemplated by the Credit Agreement or this
Guaranty, result in the imposition or creation of any Lien upon the property of
Guarantor.
4.
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(c) This Guaranty has been duly executed and delivered by Guarantor and
constitutes a legal, valid, and binding obligation of Guarantor enforceable in
accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, or other similar laws affecting the rights of creditors
or by the application of general equity principles;
(d) The incurrence of the Guarantor's obligations under this Guaranty will
not cause the Guarantor to (i) become insolvent; (ii) be left with unreasonably
small capital for any business or transaction in which Guarantor is presently
engaged or plans to be engaged; or (iii) be unable to pay its debts as such
debts mature; and
(e) All representations and warranties contained in this Guaranty shall be
true, accurate and complete at the time of Guarantor's execution of this
Guaranty and shall continue to be true until the Guaranty Obligations have been
paid or otherwise satisfied in full. Any misrepresentation or breach of any
warranty whatsoever contained in this Section 6 shall be deemed material.
7. Consents.
Guarantor hereby consents that any or all of the following actions may be
taken or things done without notice to Guarantor and without affecting the
liability of Guarantor under this Guaranty:
(a) The time for Borrower's performance of or compliance with any of the
Liabilities may be accelerated or extended or such performance or compliance may
be waived by Agent and Lenders (including, without limitation, the renewal,
extension, acceleration or other change in the time of payment, or other terms
of, the Liabilities, such as an increase or decrease in the rate of interest
thereon);
(b) The terms of any of the Liabilities or any term or condition contained
in any of the Loan Documents may be amended as provided for therein by Borrower,
Agent and Lenders for the purpose of adding any provisions thereto or changing
in any manner the rights or obligations of Agent, Lenders or of Borrower
thereunder;
(c) Any collateral for all or any part of the Liabilities may be
exchanged, surrendered or otherwise dealt with, and Agent's interests thereunder
may be released and may or may not be perfected, all as Agent in its sole
discretion may determine; and
(d) Agent may apply any collateral for the Liabilities and direct the
order or manner of sale thereof, including, without limitation, a nonjudicial
sale, as Agent may in its sole discretion determine, all without affecting the
liability of Guarantor hereunder.
8. Information Concerning Borrower.
Guarantor acknowledges that it has, independently of and without reliance
on Agent, made its own credit analysis of Borrower and performed its own legal
review of this Guaranty and the Loan Documents and is not relying on Agent with
respect to any of the aforesaid items. Guarantor agrees to keep adequately
informed from such means of any facts, events or circumstances which might in
any way affect Guarantor's risks hereunder. Agent makes no
5.
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representation of its interest in, or the priority or perfection of Agent's
interest in and to, any collateral security for the Liabilities.
9. Defaults and Remedies.
9.1 Events of Default. It shall be an "Event of Default" hereunder upon
the occurrence of any one or more of the following events:
(a) The occurrence of an Event of Default under or as defined in the
Credit Agreement;
(b) If any representation, warranty or covenant of Guarantor made
under this Guaranty or any statement or certificate at any time given in writing
by Guarantor pursuant hereto or in connection herewith shall be false,
misleading or incomplete in any material respect when made;
(c) The commencement by Guarantor of a voluntary case under the
federal bankruptcy laws, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or any other
applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law; or the
consent by Guarantor to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee,
trustee, custodian, sequestrator, agent or other similar official for Guarantor
for any substantial part of its properties; or the making by Guarantor of any
assignment for the benefit of creditors; or
(d) The filing of a petition with a court having jurisdiction over
Guarantor to commence an involuntary case for Guarantor under the federal
bankruptcy laws, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or any other
applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law; or the
appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, agent,
sequestrator, or other similar official for Guarantor for any substantial part
of its properties; or any substantial part of Guarantor's property is subject to
any levy, execution, attachment, garnishment or temporary protective order and
the failure to obtain the dismissal of such petition within, or appointment or
the continuance of such decree or order is unstayed and in effect for, a period
of sixty (60) days from the date of such filing, appointment or entry of such
order or decree.
9.2 Remedies. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and so long as
the same shall be continuing, all or any portion of the Guaranty Obligations
may, at the option of Agent and without demand, notice or legal process of any
kind, be declared, and immediately shall become, due and payable.
10. Termination.
Immediately following the full, complete and indefeasible payment,
performance or other satisfaction of all the Guaranty Obligations, except as
otherwise provided herein (including Section 11, below), all of Guarantor's
obligations hereunder shall at such time terminate.
11. Reinstatement.
6.
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This Guaranty shall remain in full force and effect and continue to be
effective if at any time payment and performance of Borrower's Liabilities or
the Guaranty Obligations, or any part thereof, is, pursuant to applicable law,
avoided, rescinded or reduced in amount, or must otherwise be restored or
returned by any obligee of Borrower's Liabilities or the Guaranty 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 avoided, rescinded, reduced, restored or
returned, Borrower's Liabilities or the Guaranty Obligations, as the case may
be, shall be reinstated and deemed reduced only by such amount paid and not so
avoided, rescinded, reduced, restored or returned.
7.
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12. Miscellaneous.
12.1 Entire Agreement. This Guaranty constitutes and contains the entire
agreement of the parties and supersede any and all prior and contemporaneous
agreements, negotiations, correspondence, understandings and communications
between the parties, whether written or oral, respecting the subject matter
hereof.
12.2 Assignability. This Guaranty shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of Guarantor and Agent and their respective successors and assigns,
except that Guarantor shall not have the right to assign its rights hereunder or
any interest herein without the prior written consent of Agent.
12.3 Notices. Any notice or other communication hereunder to any party
shall be addressed and delivered (and shall be deemed given) in accordance with
the Credit Agreement to the addresses set forth on the signature pages thereof
and hereof.
12.4 No Waiver; Amendments. No failure on the part of Agent or any Lender
to exercise, no delay in exercising and no course of dealing with respect to,
any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or
partial exercise of any right hereunder preclude any other or further exercise
thereof or the exercise of any other right. The remedies herein provided are
cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law. This Guaranty may
not be amended or modified except by written agreement between Guarantor and
Agent, and no consent or waiver hereunder shall be valid unless in writing and
signed by Agent.
12.5 Counterparts. This Guaranty may be executed in any number of
separate counterparts, each of which, when so executed, shall be deemed an
original, and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to
constitute but one and the same instrument.
12.6 Severability. If any provision of this Guaranty is held to be
unenforceable under applicable law for any reason, it shall be adjusted, if
possible, rather than voided in order to achieve the intent of the parties to
the extent possible. In any event, all other provisions of this Guaranty shall
be deemed valid and enforceable to the fullest extent possible under applicable
law.
12.7 Governing Law. This Guaranty shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of New York as applied to contracts made
and performed entirely within the State of New York by residents of such State
without giving effect to any conflict of laws principle or rule that might
require the application of the laws of another jurisdiction.
12.8 Consent to Jurisdiction. GUARANTOR AND AGENT HEREBY AGREE THAT ANY
LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING WITH RESPECT TO THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OF THE
AGREEMENTS, DOCUMENTS OR INSTRUMENTS DELIVERED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH MAY BE
BROUGHT IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK OR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
LOCATED IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK AS AGENT MAY ELECT, AND, BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY
HEREOF, GUARANTOR AND AGENT EACH ACCEPTS AND CONSENTS TO, FOR ITSELF AND IN
RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, THE
8.
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JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS. GUARANTOR WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT
PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY RIGHT TO STAY OR TO DISMISS ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING
BROUGHT BEFORE SAID COURTS ON THE BASIS OF FORUM NON CONVENIENS.
12.9 Waiver of Jury Trial. GUARANTOR AND AGENT EACH WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO
HAVE A JURY PARTICIPATE IN RESOLVING ANY DISPUTE, WHETHER SOUNDING IN CONTRACT,
TORT OR OTHERWISE, BETWEEN GUARANTOR AND AGENT ARISING OUT OF, CONNECTED WITH,
RELATED TO OR INCIDENTAL TO THE RELATIONSHIP ESTABLISHED BETWEEN THEM IN
CONNECTION WITH THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER INSTRUMENT, DOCUMENT OR AGREEMENT
EXECUTED OR DELIVERED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED HERETO
OR THERETO.
12.10 Waiver of Rights. UNTIL PAYMENT IN FULL OF THE LIABILITIES,
GUARANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES AND RELEASES:
(a) ANY AND ALL RIGHTS IT MAY HAVE AT ANY TIME (WHETHER ARISING
DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, BY OPERATION OF LAW, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) (i) TO
ASSERT ANY CLAIM AGAINST BORROWER OR ANY OTHER PERSON, OR AGAINST ANY DIRECT OR
INDIRECT SECURITY, ON ACCOUNT OF PAYMENTS MADE OR OBLIGATIONS PERFORMED BY
GUARANTOR PURSUANT TO THIS GUARANTY, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY AND ALL
RIGHTS OF SUBROGATION, REIMBURSEMENT, EXONERATION, CONTRIBUTION OR INDEMNITY, OR
(ii) TO REQUIRE THE MARSHALING OF ANY ASSETS OF BORROWER, WHICH RIGHT OF
MARSHALING MIGHT OTHERWISE ARISE FROM ANY SUCH PAYMENTS MADE OR OBLIGATIONS
PERFORMED; AND
(b) ANY AND ALL RIGHTS THAT WOULD RESULT IN GUARANTOR BEING
DEEMED, UNDER THE UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY CODE, A "CREDITOR" OF THE BORROWER OR
ANY OTHER PERSON, ON ACCOUNT OF PAYMENTS MADE OR OBLIGATIONS PERFORMED BY
GUARANTOR.
9.
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In Witness Whereof, Guarantor has caused this Guaranty to be duly executed
as of the date first written above.
Guarantor Micron PC Web Services, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation
By: /s/ Jill D. Smith
-----------------------------
Name: Jill D. Smith
Its: Director
Notices to be sent to:
Micron PC Web Services, Inc.
900 E. Karcher Rd.
Nampa, ID 83687
Attention: Corporate Secretary
Facsimile: 208-898-7411
Telephone: 208-898-5000
Guarantor NETLimited, Inc., d/b/a HostPro,
a California corporation
By: /s/ Jill D. Smith
----------------------------
Name: Jill D. Smith
Its: Director
Notices to be sent to:
NETLimited, Inc., d/b/a HostPro
900 E. Karcher Rd.
Nampa, ID 83687
Attention: Corporate Secretary
Facsimile: 208-898-7411
Telephone: 208-898-5000
10.
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Guarantor Micron Internet Services, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation
By: /s/ Jill D. Smith
--------------------------------
Name: Jill D. Smith
Its: Director
Notices to be sent to:
Micron Internet Services, Inc.
900 E. Karcher Rd.
Nampa, ID 83687
Attention: Corporate Secretary
Facsimile: 208-898-7411
Telephone: 208-898-5000
Guarantor SpecTek, LLC,
a Delaware Limited Liability Company
Signed By: Micron Electronics, Inc.,
its Member
By: /s/ Jill D. Smith
--------------------------------
Name: Jill D. Smith
Its: Senior Vice President and Chief
Operating Officer
Notices to be sent to:
SpecTek, LLC
900 E. Karcher Road
Nampa, ID 83687
Attention: General Counsel
Facsimile: 208-898-7411
Telephone: 208-898-5000
11.
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Approved And Accepted:
Credit Suisse First Boston, as Agent
By: /s/ Chris T Horgan
-----------------------------------
Printed Name: Chris T. Horgan
-------------------------
Title: Vice President
--------------------------------
By: /s/ Todd C. Morgan
-----------------------------------
Printed Name: Todd C. Morgan
-------------------------
Title: Director
--------------------------------
Notices to be sent to:
Credit Suisse First Boston
11 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10010
Attn: Jodi A. Fatto
Facsimile: (212) 325-8304
Telephone: (212) 325-9941
12.