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AMENDED AND RESTATED GUARANTY

Guarantee Agreement

AMENDED AND RESTATED GUARANTY | Document Parties: FOREST CITY ENTERPRISES, INC | NATIONAL CITY BANK | LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION You are currently viewing:
This Guarantee Agreement involves

FOREST CITY ENTERPRISES, INC | NATIONAL CITY BANK | LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

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Title: AMENDED AND RESTATED GUARANTY
Governing Law: Ohio     Date: 9/9/2009
Industry: Real Estate Operations     Sector: Services

AMENDED AND RESTATED GUARANTY, Parties: forest city enterprises  inc , national city bank , lasalle bank national association
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EXHIBIT 10.44

AMENDED AND RESTATED GUARANTY OF PAYMENT OF DEBT

OF

FOREST CITY ENTERPRISES, INC.

Dated as of June 6, 2007

 


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page

 

1. DEFINITIONS

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS, CONSIDERATION

 

 

9

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. GUARANTY

 

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. REINSTATEMENT

 

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. WAIVERS

 

 

10

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

 

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

 

12

 

 

 

 

 

 

8. NOTICES

 

 

13

 

 

 

 

 

 

9. COVENANTS

 

 

13

 

 

 

 

 

 

10. DEFAULT; REMEDIES

 

 

30

 

 

 

 

 

 

11. MISCELLANEOUS

 

 

32

 

 

 

 

 

 

12. JURY TRIAL WAIVER

 

 

33

 

 

 

 

 

 

13. NOTICES

 

 

33

 

 

 

 

 

 

14. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION

 

 

33

 

 

 

 

 

 

15. ENTIRE AGREEMENT

 

 

33

 

 

 

 

 

 

16. INDEPENDENCE OF COVENANTS

 

 

34

 

 


 

AMENDED AND RESTATED GUARANTY OF PAYMENT OF DEBT

          THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED GUARANTY OF PAYMENT OF DEBT (this “Guaranty”) is made and issued by FOREST CITY ENTERPRISES, INC., an Ohio corporation (the “Guarantor”), as of this 6th day of June, 2007, in order to induce the Banks (as hereinafter defined), KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as administrative agent for the Banks (the “Administrative Agent”), NATIONAL CITY BANK, as syndication agent for the Banks (the “Syndication Agent” and together with the Administrative Agent, the “Agents”), and BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., and LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as co-documentation agents, (the “Co-Documentation Agents”), to enter into, and lend money pursuant to, a certain Amended and Restated Credit Agreement of even date herewith (said Amended and Restated Credit Agreement as it may be from time to time amended, restated, or modified being herein called the “Agreement”), by and among the Banks, the Agents, the Co-Documentation Agents and FOREST CITY RENTAL PROPERTIES CORPORATION, a subsidiary of the Guarantor (the “Borrower”).

WITNESSETH:

          WHEREAS, the Guarantor previously executed a Guaranty of Payment of Debt, dated as of March 22, 2004, in favor of the Banks (as hereinafter defined)(as amended to the date hereof, the “Original Guaranty”); and

          WHEREAS, Borrower, the Banks, the Agents and the Co-Documentation Agents desire to amend and restate the Original Guaranty in its entirety as hereinafter set forth; and

          WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 13.02 of the Agreement, the Agents, the Co-Documentation Agents and the Banks have consented to the modifications to the Original Guaranty that are contained herein.

          NOW, THEREFORE, the Original Guaranty is hereby amended and restated as follows:

          1. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Guaranty, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

          “Banks” shall mean each of the financing institutions that are party to the Agreement as of the date of this Guaranty, any other bank(s) that may become parties to the Agreement after the date hereof, and all successors and assigns of any such bank; and “Bank” shall mean any one of the foregoing.

          “Capital Stock” of any Person as used herein shall mean any and all shares, interests, participations, or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock or other equity participations or interests including, without limitation, partnership interests,

 


 

whether general or limited, and membership interests, whether of managing or non-managing members, of such Person.

          “Cash Flow Coverage Ratio” shall mean, for any Test Period, the ratio of (i) Consolidated Net Operating Cash Flow to (ii) Consolidated Corporate Debt Service.

          “Collateral” shall mean, collectively, all property, if any, securing the Debt or any part thereof at the time in question.

          “Company” shall mean the Guarantor and/or a Subsidiary of the Guarantor.

          “Completion Guaranty” shall mean any performance guarantee by the Guarantor that construction of a real estate project will be completed in accordance with applicable plans and specifications and that all costs associated with such completion will be paid, provided , that such costs may include an interest reserve only through completion of the project and not through stabilization of such project.

          “Consolidated Corporate Debt Service” shall mean, for any period, the sum of (i) all scheduled payments of principal of (excluding balloon payments) and interest on any Indebtedness owing by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (excluding any non-recourse mortgage Indebtedness owing by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower, (ii) all scheduled payments of principal of (excluding balloon payments) and interest on any Indebtedness owing by the Guarantor and (iii) Dividends paid by the Guarantor.

          “Consolidated GAAP Shareholders’ Equity” shall mean the consolidated shareholders equity of the Guarantor, as calculated in accordance with GAAP.

          “Consolidated Net Operating Cash Flow” shall mean, for any Test Period, Net Operating Income (a) less (i) all scheduled payments of principal of non-recourse mortgage Indebtedness owing by the Guarantor and/or its Subsidiaries (excluding any balloon payments), (ii) all interest payments on such non-recourse Indebtedness, (iii) Twelve Million Dollars ($12,000,000) of normal recurring capital expenditures and (b) plus (i) net income (loss) before taxes and corporate interest expense of the Land Group, (ii) net income (loss) before taxes of the Lumber Trading Group, (iii) net income (loss) before taxes and corporate interest expense (including, but not limited to, interest incurred on Debt, subordinated debt or any other third party debt) of the Corporate Activity Group, (iv) actual cash taxes paid on the Net Operating Income and the income set forth in subsections (b)(i), (b)(ii) and (b)(iii) above, (v) non-cash interest expense accrued but not currently payable up to a maximum of Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000) with respect to Indebtedness owing by the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries other than Indebtedness owing by the Guarantor and/or its Subsidiaries to the government of the United States or any state or municipality thereof or any agencies of any of the foregoing and (vi) non-cash interest expense accrued but not currently payable with respect to Indebtedness by the Guarantor and/or its Subsidiaries owing to the government of the United States or any state or municipality thereof or any agencies of any of the foregoing.

          “Contingent Obligation” shall mean, with respect to any Person at the time of any determination, without duplication, any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such

 


 

Person guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person in any manner, whether directly or otherwise; provided , that the term “Contingent Obligation” shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit, in each case in the ordinary course of business. The amount of any Contingent Obligation shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the Indebtedness in respect of which such Contingent Obligation is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonable anticipated liability in respect thereof (assuming such Person is required to perform thereunder).

          “Controlled Group” shall mean a controlled group of corporations as defined in Section 1563 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as may be amended from time to time, of which Guarantor or any Subsidiary of the Guarantor is a part.

          “Debt” shall mean, collectively, (a) all Indebtedness now owing or hereafter incurred by the Borrower to the Agents and/or the Banks arising under or in connection with the Agreement, whether pursuant to commitment or otherwise, and including, without limitation, the principal amount of all Loans made pursuant to the Agreement, all interest thereon determined as provided in the Agreement, all fees provided to be paid by the Borrower to the Banks and/or the Agents pursuant to the Agreement or any Related Writing and all liabilities in respect of letters of credit issued by the Administrative Agent and/or any of the Banks for the account of the Borrower (but not including Indebtedness held by any Bank arising and outstanding under any transaction or document referred to in Sections 8.04 (other than that referred to in subclause (a) thereof), and/or 8.07 of the Agreement), (b) each renewal, extension, consolidation or refinancing of any such Indebtedness in whole or in part, and (c) all interest from time to time accruing on any of the foregoing Indebtedness.

          “Distributions” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.13(e) hereof.

          “Dividends” shall include all dividends (in cash or otherwise) declared and/or paid, capital returned, and other distributions of any kind made on or in respect of any share of Capital Stock outstanding at any time.

          “EBDT” shall mean net earnings from operations before depreciation, amortization and deferred taxes on income and excludes provision for decline in real estate, gain (loss) on disposition of properties and extraordinary gains.

          “Environmental Laws” means all provisions of law, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, permits, licenses, judgments, writs, injunctions, decrees, orders, awards and standards promulgated by the government of the United States of America or by any state or municipality thereof or by any court, agency, instrumentality, regulatory authority or commission of any of the foregoing, now or hereafter in effect, and in each case, as amended, concerning or relating to health, safety and protection of, or regulation of the discharge of substances into, the environment.

          “ERISA Net Worth” shall mean (a) as to any Subsidiary of the Guarantor, the excess of the net book value of such Subsidiary’s assets (other than patents, treasury stock, goodwill and similar intangibles but including unamortized mortgage and lease costs) over all of its liabilities (other than liabilities to any other Company), such excess being determined in

 


 

accordance with GAAP applied on a basis consistent with the Guarantor’s present accounting procedures, and (b) as to the Guarantor, the excess of the net book value (after deducting all applicable reserves and deducting any value attributable to the re-appraisal or write-up of any asset) of the Guarantor’s assets (other than patents, good will, treasury stock and similar intangibles but including unamortized mortgage and lease costs) over all of its liabilities as determined on an accrued and consolidated and consolidating basis and in accordance with GAAP not inconsistent with the Guarantor’s present accounting principles consistently applied.

          “Event of Default” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10 hereof.

          “Fiscal Quarterly Date” shall mean each of January 31, April 30, July 31 and October 31.

          “GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, in effect from time to time.

          “Hedge Agreement” shall mean any non-fully paid derivative, such as interest rate swaps or collar agreements or other similar agreements or arrangements designed to hedge the position of a Person with respect to interest rates, excluding (a) any such agreements as to which all obligations of such Person are paid or payable within twelve (12) months of the date such agreement is entered into by such Person and (b) Total Rate of Return Swaps.

          “Indebtedness” shall mean, with respect to any Person at the time of any determination, without duplication, all obligations of such Person which in accordance with GAAP should be classified upon the balance sheet of such Person as liabilities, but in any event including: (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, (c) all obligations of such Person upon which interest charges are customarily paid or accrued, (d) all written obligations of such Person to maintain working capital, equity capital or other financial statement condition of another Person so as to enable such other Person to pay its Indebtedness or otherwise to protect the holder of such Indebtedness against loss in respect thereof, (e) all obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services, (f) all obligations of others secured by any Lien on property owned or acquired by such Person, whether or not the obligations secured thereby have been assumed, (g) all capitalized lease obligations of such Person, (h) all obligations of such Person in respect of Hedge Agreements and Total Rate of Return Swaps, (i) all obligations of such Person, actual or contingent, as an account party in respect of letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances, and, without duplication, all drafts drawn thereunder, and (j) all obligations of any partnership or joint venture as to which such Person is or may become personally liable, provided , that, Indebtedness shall not include (i) any obligations incurred as a result of fraud, misappropriation, misapplication and environmental indemnities, as are usual and customary in commercial loan transactions, or (ii) trade payables, deferred revenue, taxes and accrued expenses, in each case arising in the ordinary course of business and that is due and payable less than twelve (12) months after the date such debt was incurred.

          “Indemnification Lien” shall mean a Lien granted by the Guarantor pursuant to an Indemnity Agreement entered into by the Guarantor with respect to one or more

 


 

Performance Surety Bonds; provided , that such Indemnification Lien extends only to the assigned property on which a Surety provides a Performance Surety Bond and not to other property of the Guarantor or any Subsidiary of the Guarantor and provided , further , that such Indemnification Lien shall become effective only in the event that (a) the Guarantor fails to honor its obligations under the related Indemnity Agreement or Performance Surety Bond; (b) the Guarantor abandons or breaches a contract on a bonded project; (c) the Guarantor defaults under any other indebtedness or liability owned to such Surety or (d) the Guarantor makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors.

          “Indemnity Agreement” shall mean any indemnity agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Agents and the Banks, by and between the Guarantor and a Surety, and as each such Indemnity Agreement may be amended, restated or otherwise modified.

          “Indenture” shall mean the indenture dated as of May 19, 2003, between the Guarantor and The Bank of New York, as indenture trustee and relating to the Senior Notes.

          “Measured Credit Risk” shall mean the product of (i) the notional amount of a Hedge Agreement entered into or guaranteed by the Guarantor, the Borrower, FCCC or any other Subsidiary of the Borrower (other than a SPE Subsidiary), in each case with any Person other than a Bank that has a remaining period to maturity of greater than twelve (12) months, times (ii) the number of years remaining to maturity of such Hedge Agreement, times (iii)1.25%.

          “MTA Guaranty” shall mean that certain guaranty dated as of January 23, 2006, by the Guarantor in favor of the Metropolitan Transit Authority for the State of New York (“MTA”), pursuant to which the Guarantor has agreed to guarantee the obligations of Atlantic Rail Yards, LLC (“ARY”) under a temporary entry license agreement between the MTA and ARY and as such MTA Guaranty may, from time to time, be amended, restated or otherwise modified in accordance with the terms of this Guaranty.

          “Net Earnings” shall mean the Guarantor’s net earnings, as determined separately for each fiscal year, after taxes, upon a consolidated basis (after deducting minority interests) and in accordance with GAAP consistently applied.

          “Net Losses” shall mean the Guarantor’s net losses, as determined separately for each fiscal year, after taxes, upon a consolidated basis (after deducting minority interests) in accordance with GAAP consistently applied.

          “Net Operating Income” shall mean for any relevant period, the excess of the Borrower’s revenues over the Borrower’s operating expenses, in each case as determined in accordance with the Pro Rata Consolidation Method. For purposes of this definition, Net Operating Income (i) shall not include any gains or losses from the sale of income producing real properties, other than gains or losses obtained from the sale of net outlot parcels to a maximum aggregate amount of Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000) for the immediately preceding four consecutive quarters and (ii) shall include adjustments for cash flow of properties pursuant to which the Borrower is receiving a preferred return over and above its ownership percentage in such properties.

 


 

          “Non-Affiliate Construction Project” shall mean any real property and all improvements to be constructed thereon (collectively, the “Non-Affiliate Property”) (i) with respect to which the Borrower or a Subsidiary of the Borrower, as the case may be, (a) may make a Permitted Non-Affiliate Loan, and (b) is the developer pursuant to an agreement with a Non-Affiliated Entity as owner of the Non-Affiliate Property; and (ii) with respect to which the Borrower or an Affiliate of the Borrower, as the case may be, holds an irrevocable option from either the Non-Affiliated Entity or the parent of the Non-Affiliated Entity to acquire, respectively, either (a) the Non-Affiliate Property, or (b) all of the equity interests owned by the parent of the Non-Affiliated Entity in and to such Non-Affiliated Entity.

          “Non-Affiliated Entity” shall mean any Person that is not an Affiliate of the Borrower and that is wholly-owned by another Person.

          “Obligor” shall mean any Person or entity who, or any of whose property is or shall be, obligated on the Debt or any part thereof in any manner and includes, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Borrower, the Guarantor and any co-maker, endorser, other guarantor of payment, subordinating creditor, assignor, grantor of a security interest, pledgor, mortgagor or hypothecator of property, if any.

          “Payment Default” shall mean any failure by the Borrower or the Guarantor to make payment of principal of, or interest on, any Note (as defined in the Agreement) or this Guaranty, as applicable, or any other fees or expenses provided hereunder or under the Agreement, when due and payable, whether at maturity or by acceleration.

          “Performance Surety Bonds” shall mean the bonds, undertakings and like obligations executed by a Surety for or on behalf of the Guarantor for one or more of the following purposes:

          (a) to guarantee the performance by the Guarantor or a Subsidiary of the Guarantor, as applicable, that construction of a real estate project will be completed in accordance with applicable plans and specifications and that all costs associated with such completion will be paid;

          (b) to insure that any mechanics’ liens incurred in the normal course of constructing a real estate project are duly paid and discharged;

          (c) as a condition to the issuance of a permit related to a real estate project;

          (d) as a condition to the issuance of state and local licenses required for the construction and development of a real estate project; or

          (e) to support other obligations related to the construction and development of a real estate project, provided that such obligations do not constitute Indebtedness.

          “Permitted Debt” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.10 hereof.

 


 

          “Permitted Distributions” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.13(e) hereof.

          “Permitted Non-Affiliate Loan” shall mean a loan by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower to a Non-Affiliated Entity for the purposes of (a) purchasing or otherwise acquiring a Non-Affiliate Property or (b) paying construction costs, in each case, in connection with a Non-Affiliate Construction Project.

          “Person” shall mean an individual, a corporation, a limited liability company, a partnership, an association, a trust or any other entity or organization, including, without limitation, a governmental or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.

          “Plan” shall mean any employee pension benefit plan subject to Title IV of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, established or maintained by the Guarantor, any Subsidiary of the Guarantor, any member of the Controlled Group, or any such Plan to which the Guarantor, any Subsidiary of the Guarantor or any member of the Controlled Group is required to contribute on behalf of its employees.

          “Possible Default” shall mean any event or condition which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default referred to in Section 10 hereof.

          “Pro Rata Consolidation Method” shall mean the pro rata method of consolidation as opposed to the full consolidation method of accounting.

          “Puttable Notes Hedge and Warrant Transactions” shall mean the purchased call option and warrant transactions that may be entered into from time to time by the Guarantor, with respect to its common stock, in connection with the 2006 Puttable Senior Notes.

          “Receivable” shall mean a claim for moneys due or to become due, whether classified as a contract right, account, chattel paper, instrument, general intangible or otherwise.

          “Related Writing” shall mean any Note, assignment, mortgage, security agreement, guaranty agreement, Subordination Agreement, financial statement, audit report, officer’s certificate or other writing furnished by the Borrower, the Guarantor or any of their respective officers to the Agents or the Banks.

          “Reportable Event” shall mean a reportable event as that term is defined in Title IV of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, with respect to a Plan as to which the thirty (30) day notice requirement has not been waived by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

          “Restatement Effective Date” shall mean the date on which all conditions precedent set forth in Article VI of the Agreement are satisfied or waived by the Administrative Agent and the Required Banks.

 


 

          “Restricted Company” shall mean the Guarantor or a Restricted Subsidiary.

          “Restricted Subsidiary” shall mean any Subsidiary of the Guarantor other than (a) the Borrower, and (b) any Subsidiary of the Borrower.

          “Senior Notes” shall mean the 2003 Senior Notes, the 2004 Senior Notes and the 2005 Senior Notes.

          “Subordination Agreement” shall mean any subordination agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Agents and the Banks entered into by a Surety in favor of the Agents and the Banks, and as each such Subordination Agreement may, from time to time, be amended, restated or otherwise modified.

          “Subsidiary” of any Person shall mean and include (a) any corporation more than fifty percent (50%) of whose stock of any class or classes having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the directors of such corporation is at the time owned by such Person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries, (b) any partnership, limited liability company, association (including business trusts) or other entity in which such Person directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries, has more than a fifty percent (50%) voting or equity interest at the time, and (c) any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or other entity the accounts of which are consolidated with those of its parent in the parent’s consolidated financial statements.

          “Surety” means any surety or insurance company reasonably acceptable to the Agents.

          “Surety Bonds” means the bonds, undertakings and other like obligations executed by a Surety for the Guarantor subject to an Indemnity Agreement and a Subordination Agreement in a maximum aggregate principal amount of $30,000,000 for all Sureties (excluding Performance Surety Bonds).

          “Test Period” shall mean each period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Guarantor or the Borrower, as applicable, in each case taken as one accounting period, ended after the, Restatement Effective Date.

          “Total Rate of Return Swap” shall mean a bilateral financial contract between a total rate of return payer (the legal owner of the reference asset) and a total rate of return receiver where the total rate of return payer pays the total return of a reference asset and receives a specified fixed or floating cash flow from the total rate of return receiver.

          “2003 Senior Notes” shall mean the senior notes of the Guarantor issued on May 19, 2003, pursuant to the Indenture, in an original aggregate principal amount of $300,000,000.

          “2004 Senior Notes” shall mean the senior notes of the Guarantor issued on February 10, 2004, pursuant to the Indenture, in an original aggregate principal amount of up to $100,000,000.

 


 

          “2005 Senior Notes” shall mean the senior notes of the Guarantor issued on or about January 25, 2005, pursuant to the Indenture, in an original aggregate principal amount of up to $150,000,000.

          “2006 Indenture” shall mean the indenture dated as of October 10, 2006, between the Guarantor and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as indenture trustee, relating to the 2006 Puttable Senior Notes.

          “2006 Puttable Senior Notes” shall mean the puttable equity-linked senior notes of the Guarantor issued on or about October 10, 2006, pursuant to the 2006 Indenture, in an original aggregate principal amount of up to $287,500,000.

          All capitalized terms used herein but not herein defined that are defined in the Agreement shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement.

          All financial covenants contained in this Guaranty shall be measured on each Fiscal Quarterly Date.

Accounting Principles

          Any accounting term not specifically defined in this Section 1 or elsewhere in this Guaranty, shall have the meaning ascribed thereto by GAAP not inconsistent with the Guarantor’s present accounting procedures, provided , that, if the Guarantor notifies the Administrative Agent that the Guarantor requests an amendment to any provision hereof to eliminate the effect of any change occurring after the Restatement Effective Date in GAAP or in the application thereof on the operation of such provision (or if the Administrative Agent notifies the Guarantor that the Required Lenders 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.

          Notwithstanding the foregoing, the financial statements furnished to the Banks pursuant hereto shall be made and prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the periods involved (except as set forth in the notes thereto or as otherwise disclosed in writing by the Guarantor to the Banks), provided , that (a) all computations determining compliance with Sections 9.8 and 9.14, including definitions used therein, shall utilize accounting principles based on the Pro Rata Consolidation Method, (b) all computations determining compliance with Sections 9.8, 9.14 and 9.15, including definitions used therein, shall exclude interest income received by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to loans made by the Borrower or such Subsidiary pursuant to Sections 8.06(b) and (d) of the Agreement, unless such loans are funded with the proceeds from Revolving Loans or the Senior Notes and (c) such financial statements must also include a report (in the footnotes thereto or otherwise) of the financial results of the Guarantor using accounting principles based on the Pro Rata Consolidation Method.

          2. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS, CONSIDERATION. The Guarantor desires that the Agents and the Banks grant the Borrower and continue the loan(s), credit and

 


 

financial accommodations provided for under the Agreement. The Agreement provides, on and subject to certain conditions therein set forth, for Revolving Loans by the Banks to the Borrower up to an aggregate maximum principal amount of Seven Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($750,000,000). There exists and will hereafter exist economic and business relationships between the Guarantor and the Borrower which will be of benefit to the Guarantor. The Guarantor finds it to be in the direct business and economic interest of the Guarantor that the Borrower obtain the loans, credit and financial accommodations from the Agents and the Banks provided for in the Agreement. The Guarantor understands that the Agents and the Banks are willing to grant and continue the loans, credit and financial accommodations to the Borrower provided for in the Agreement only upon certain terms and conditions, one of which is that the Guarantor unconditionally guarantee the payment of the Debt and this instrument is being executed and delivered by the Guarantor to satisfy that condition and in consideration of the Agents and the Banks entering into the Agreement.

          3. GUARANTY. The Guarantor hereby absolutely, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees (a) the punctual and full payment of all and every portion of the Debt when due, by acceleration or otherwise, whether now owing or hereafter arising, (b) the prompt observance and performance by the Borrower of each and all of the Borrower’s covenants, undertakings, obligations and agreements set forth in the Agreement, the Notes and/or any other Related Writing evidencing or pertaining thereto, and (c) the prompt payment of all expenses and costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, incurred by or for the account of the Agents and/or the Banks in connection with any action to enforce payment or collection of the Debt from the Borrower and/or the Guarantor or to prepare any amendments, restatements or modifications of the Agreement, the Notes and/or this Guaranty. If the Debt or any part thereof shall not be paid in full punctually when due and payable, the Agents and/or the Banks in each case shall have the right to proceed directly against the Guarantor under this Guaranty regardless of whether or not the Agents and/or the Banks shall have theretofore proceeded or shall then be proceeding against the Borrower or any other Obligor or Collateral, if any, or any of the foregoing, it being understood that the Agents and/or the Banks in their sole discretion may proceed or not proceed against the Borrower, the Obligors and/or any Collateral and may exercise or not exercise each right, power or privilege that the Agents and/or the Banks may at any time have, either simultaneously or separately and, in any event, at such time or times and as often and in such order as the Agents and/or the Banks in their sole discretion, may from time to time deem expedient, all without affecting the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder or the right of the Agents and/or the Banks to demand and/or enforce performance by the Guarantor of the Guarantor’s obligations hereunder.

          4. REINSTATEMENT. This Guaranty shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if any amount paid by or on behalf of the Borrower to the Agents or the Banks on or in respect of the Debt is rescinded, restored or returned in connection with the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Borrower or any other Obligor, or as a result of the appointment of a receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for, the Borrower or any other Obligor or any part of the property of the Borrower or any other Obligor, or otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made.

          5. WAIVERS. The Guarantor waives any and all contractual, legal and/or equitable rights of subrogation, contribution, exoneration, indemnity and/or

 


 

reimbursement from or against the Borrower or any Obligor with respect to the Debt and/or any payments made by the Guarantor on account of this Guaranty.

          6. ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS. Regardless of the duration of time, regardless of whether the Borrower may from time to time cease to be indebted to the Banks and irrespective of any act, omission or course of dealing whatever on the part of the Agents and/or the Banks, the Guarantor’s liabilities and other obligations under this Guaranty shall remain in full force and effect until the full and final payment of all of the Debt. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:

          6.1. The obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall not be released, discharged or in any way affected, nor shall the Guarantor have any rights or recourse against the Agents or the Banks by reason of (a) any action the Agents or the Banks may take or omit to take, or (b) any defense raised or asserted by the Borrower against enforcement of the Agreement or the Notes or any challenge to the sufficiency or enforceability of the Agreement, any of the Notes or this Guaranty, or (c) any act or thing that might otherwise operate as a legal or equitable discharge of a surety, as to which the Guarantor hereby expressly waives any and all defenses available to a surety except irrevocable payment in full of the Debt.

          6.2. The obligations of the Guarantor under this Guaranty shall be satisfied strictly in accordance with the terms of this Guaranty, under all circumstances whatsoever, including, without limitation, the existence of any claim, setoff, defense or right which the Guarantor or the Borrower may have at any time against the Agents or the Banks or any other Person or entity, whether in connection with this Guaranty, the Agreement, the Notes or the transactions contemplated hereby or any unrelated transaction.

          6.3. The Banks shall at no time be under any duty to the Guarantor to grant any loans, credit or financial accommodation to the Borrower, irrespective of any duty or commitment of the Banks to the Borrower, or to follow or direct the application of the proceeds of any such loans, credit or financial accommodation.

          6.4. The Guarantor waives (a) notice of the granting of any loan to the Borrower or the incurring of any other Indebtedness, including, but not limited to the creation of the Debt by the Borrower or the terms and conditions thereof, (b) presentment, notice of nonpayment, demand for payment, protest, notice of protest and notice of dishonor of the Notes or any other Indebtedness incurred by the Borrower to the Banks, (c) notice of any indulgence granted to any Obligor, (d) notice of the Banks’ acceptance of this Guaranty, and (e) any other notice to which the Guarantor might, but for the within waiver, be entitled.

          6.5. The Agents and/or the Banks in their sole discretion may, without prejudice to their rights under this Guaranty, at any time or times (a) grant the Borrower whatever loans, credit or financial accommodations that the Banks, or any thereof, may from time to time deem advisable, even if the Borrower might be in default and even if those loans, credit or financial accommodations might not constitute Debt the payment of which is guaranteed hereunder, (b) assent to any renewal, extension, consolidation or refinancing of the Debt or any part thereof, (c) forbear from demanding security, if the Agents and/or the Banks shall have the right to do so, (d) release any Obligor or Collateral or assent to any exchange of

 


 

Collateral, if any, irrespective of the consideration, if any, received therefor, (e) grant any waiver or consent or forbear from exercising any right, power or privilege that the Agents and/or the Banks may have or acquire, (f) assent to any amendment, deletion, addition, supplement or other modification in, to or of any writing evidencing or securing any Debt or pursuant to which any Debt is created, (g) grant any other indulgence to any Obligor, (h) accept any Collateral for or other Obligors upon the Debt or any part thereof, or (i) fail, neglect or omit in any way to realize upon any Collateral or to protect the Debt or any part thereof or any Collateral therefor.

          6.6. The Guarantor’s liabilities and other obligations under this Guaranty shall survive any merger, consolidation or dissolution of the Guarantor.

          6.7. The Guarantor’s liabilities and other obligations under this Guaranty shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of any lack of validity or enforceability of any agreement, instrument or document evidencing the Debt or related thereto, or any other defense available to the Guarantor in respect of this Guaranty.

          7. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The Guarantor represents and warrants that (a) it is a duly organized and validly existing corporation under the laws of the State of Ohio, (b) the execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, (c) there is no prohibition in either its Articles of Incorporation, Code of Regulations or in any agreement, instrument, judgment, decree or order to which it is a party that in any way restricts or prohibits the execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty in any respect, (d) this Guaranty has been duly executed and delivered by the Guarantor and is a valid and binding obligation of the Guarantor enforceable against the Guarantor in accordance with its terms, and (e) as of January 31, 2007, there are 56,000,000 shares authorized of Class B Common Stock of the Guarantor of which 25,254,210 shares are issued and outstanding.

          The Guarantor further represents and warrants that this Guaranty is made in furtherance of the purposes for which the Guarantor was incorporated and is necessary to promote and further the business of the Guarantor and that the assumption by the Guarantor of its obligations hereunder will result in direct financial benefits to the Guarantor.

          This Guaranty is not made in connection with any consumer loan or consumer transaction.

          The Guarantor further represents and warrants that (a) the Guarantor has received consideration which is the reasonably equivalent value of the obligations and liabilities that the Guarantor has incurred to the Agents and/or the Banks, (b) the Guarantor is not insolvent as defined in any applicable state or federal statute, nor will the Guarantor be rendered insolvent by the execution and delivery of this Guaranty to the Agents and the Banks, (c) the Guarantor is not engaged or about to engage in any business or transaction for which the assets retained by the Guarantor shall be an unreasonably small capital, taking into consideration the obligations to the Agents and the Banks incurred hereunder, and (d) the Guarantor does not intend to, nor does the Guarantor believe, that the Guarantor will incur debts beyond the Guarantor’s ability to pay as they become due.

 


 

          The Guarantor further represents and warrants that the Guarantor has no Indebtedness outstanding from any Subsidiary of the Guarantor to the Guarantor.

          Neither the Guarantor nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to or in violation of any law, regulation, or list of any government agency (including, without limitation, the U.S. Office of Foreign Asset Control list, Executive Order No. 13224 or the USA Patriot Act) that prohibits or limits the conduct of business with or the receiving of funds, goods or services to or for the benefit of any Persons specified therein or that prohibits or limits any Bank or the Agents from making any advances or extensions of credit to the Guarantor or from otherwise conducting business with the Guarantor.

          8. NOTICES. The Agents and/or the Banks shall be deemed to have knowledge or to have received notice of any event, condition or thing only if the Agents and/or the Banks shall have received written notice thereof as provided in the Agreement. A written notice shall be deemed to have been duly given to the Guarantor whenever a writing to that effect shall have been sent by registered or certified mail to the Guarantor at the address set forth opposite the Guarantor’s signature below (or to such other address of the Guarantor as the Guarantor may hereafter furnish to the Banks in writing for such purpose), but no other method of giving notice to or making a request of the Guarantor is hereby precluded.

          9. COVENANTS. The Guarantor hereby agrees to perform and observe and to cause each of its Subsidiaries to perform and observe, all of the following covenants and agreements:

          9.1. INSURANCE. Each Company will:

          (a) insure itself and all of its insurable properties to such extent, by such insurers and against such hazards and liabilities as is generally done by businesses similarly situated, it being understood that the Guarantor has obtained a fidelity bond for such of its employees as handle funds belonging to the Borrower or the Guarantor,

          (b) give the Administrative Agent prompt written notice of any material reduction or adverse change in that Company’s insurance coverage, and

          (c) forthwith upon any Bank’s or the Administrative Agent’s written request, furnish to each Bank and the Administrative Agent such information in writing about that Company’s insurance as any Bank or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, may from time to time reasonably request.

          9.2. MONEY OBLIGATIONS. Each Company will pay in full:

          (a) prior in each case to the date when penalties would attach, all taxes, assessments and governmental charges and levies (except only those so long as and, to the extent that, the same shall be contested in good faith by appropriate and timely proceedings diligently pursued and taxes and assessments on inconsequential parcels of vacant land, the nonpayment of which does not materially

 


 

adversely affect the financial condition of the Guarantor) for which it may be or become liable or to which any or all of its properties may be or become subject,

          (b) all of its wage obligations to its employees in compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (29 U.S.C. Section 206-207) or any comparable provisions, and

          (c) all of its other obligations calling for the payment of money (except only those so long as and to the extent that the same shall be contested in good faith by appropriate and timely proceedings diligently pursued) before such payment becomes overdue; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Guarantor shall not make any payment on account of any of the Senior Notes or the 2006 Puttable Senior Notes in the event of and during the continuance of any Payment Default under the Agreement or this Guaranty.

          9.3. RECORDS. Each Company will:

       


 
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