DVB BANK NV,
as Security Trustee
THIS
GUARANTY (this “Guaranty”), dated as of July 1,
2008, is made by GULFMARK OFFSHORE, INC., a corporation organized
and existing under the laws of Delaware (the
“Guarantor”), in favor of DVB BANK NV, a bank
incorporated under the laws of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
(“DVB”), as security trustee (the “Security
Trustee”) for and on behalf of the Lenders (as such term is
defined herein).
(A) Pursuant
to that certain that Senior Secured Credit Facility Agreement dated
as of December 28, 2005, as amended by Amendment No. 1
thereto dated as of February 28, 2006, by Amendment No. 2
thereto dated as of May 9, 2007 and by Amendment No. 3
(“Amendment No. 3”) thereto dated July 1,
2008 (as so amended, the “Facility Agreement”), made by
and among, inter alios , (i) Rigdon Marine
Corporation, as borrower (the “Borrower”),
(ii) the banks and financial institutions listed on
Schedule 1 of the Facility Agreement, as lenders (together
with any bank or financial institution which becomes a Lender
pursuant to Article 10 of the Facility Agreement (the
“Lenders”)), and (iii) DVB, as security trustee
and as facility agent, the Lenders have agreed to provide the
Borrower a loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to
US$224,000,000 (the “Facility”) in three tranches,
Tranche A, Tranche B and Tranche C, for the purposes described in
Section 3.1 thereof.
(B) The
Borrower is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Guarantor;
and
(C) It
is a condition precedent to the effectiveness of Amendment
No. 3 that the Guarantor enter into this Guaranty and
otherwise agree to be bound by the terms of this
Guaranty.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other valuable
consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which the Guarantor
hereby acknowledges, the Guarantor hereby agrees as
follows:
SECTION
1. Defined Terms . Except as otherwise defined herein, terms
defined in the Facility Agreement shall have the same meaning when
used herein. The words and expressions specified below shall,
except where the context otherwise requires, have the meanings
attributed to them below:
(a)
“ Compliance Certificate ” means a certificate
of the Chief Financial Officer of the Guarantor to be delivered to
the Facility Agent substantially in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit 1;
(b)
“ Determination Date ” means:
(i) the
last day of each calendar quarter;
(ii) after
the occurrence of an Event of Default which is continuing, any date
designated by the Facility Agent upon at least three
(3) Banking Days’ prior written notice to the Guarantor;
and
(iii) each
Drawdown Date.
(c)
“ EBITDA ” means, for any twelve month period
ending on a Determination Date, the consolidated profit on ordinary
activities of the Group before Taxes:
(i) adjusted
to exclude interest received or receivable and other similar income
to the extent not already excluded;
(ii) before
the depreciation of fixed assets but after excluding any loss or
gain arising on the disposal of fixed assets or shares;
(iii) before
the deduction of Interest Expense for such period;
(iv) before
any charge for the amortization of goodwill, merger differences,
acquisition costs or any other intangible asset; and
(v) before
adding or deducting extraordinary or exceptional items (to include,
for the avoidance of doubt, any redundancy costs and foreign
exchange profits and losses in relation to the funding of the
business) in each case for such period;
(d)
“ Group ” means the Guarantor and each of its
Subsidiaries;
(e)
“ Interest Expense ” means the interest paid by
any member of the Group on the Total Debt in the twelve month
period ending on a Determination Date;
(f)
“ Taxes ” means all taxes (including, without
limitation, property, sales, use, consumption, franchise, capital,
occupational, license, value added, excise, stamp, levies and
imposts taxes and customs and other duties), assessments, fees
(including, without limitation, documentation, license, filing and
registration fees) and charges, of any kind or nature whatsoever,
together with any penalties, fines, additions to tax or interest
thereon, however imposed, withheld, levied, or assessed by any
country or governmental subdivision thereof or therein, any
international authority or any other taxing authority other than
taxes on the overall net income of a Creditor or branch
thereof;
(g)
“ Total Assets ” means the amount which is equal
to the total consolidated assets of the Guarantor as shown in the
Guarantor’s latest audited consolidated balance sheet less
the goodwill (if any) of the Guarantor as shown in the
Guarantor’s latest audited balance sheet;
(h)
“ Total Debt ” means the aggregate
of:
(i) the
amount calculated in accordance with GAAP shown as each of
“long term debt”, “short term debt” and
“current portion of long term debt” on the latest
consolidated balance sheet of the Guarantor; and
2
(ii) the
amount of any liability in respect of any lease or hire purchase
contract entered into by the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries
which would, in accordance with GAAP, be treated as a finance or
capital lease; and
(i)
“ Total Shareholder Equity ” means the aggregate
of the amount paid up on the issued share capital of the Guarantor
and the amount standing to the credit of its capital and revenue
reserves (including any share premium account or capital redemption
reserve but excluding any revaluation reserve) plus or minus the
amount standing to the credit or debit (as the case may be) of its
profit and loss account.
2.1
Guaranty of Payment and Performance . The Guarantor, as
primary obligor and not merely as surety, hereby irrevocably,
unconditionally and absolutely guarantees to the Security Trustee,
for the benefit of the Creditors, on first demand (a) the full
and prompt payment, when due, whether by acceleration or otherwise,
of all amounts owing by the Borrower to the Creditors under the
Facility Agreement, the Note and the Security Documents
(collectively, the “Transaction Documents”), together
with any costs and expenses (including, without limitation,
attorneys’ fees) incurred in connection therewith by the
Creditors and the performance by the Borrower of its obligations
and, in case of extension of time of payment or renewal in whole or
in part of the said obligations of the Borrower, the prompt payment
when due of all said amounts according to such extension or
extensions or renewal or renewals, whether by acceleration or
otherwise and (b) the punctual and full performance and
compliance by the Borrower of each and every duty, covenant,
agreement and obligation thereof under the Transaction Documents
(all obligations referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above
are herein referred to as the
“Obligations”).
2.2
Nature of Guaranty . This Guaranty is a guaranty of payment,
performance and compliance and not of collection and the Guarantor
expressly agrees that it shall not be necessary or required that
the Creditors exercise any right, assert any claim or demand or
enforce any remedy whatsoever against the Borrower or any other
Person before or as a condition to the obligations of the Guarantor
hereunder. This Guaranty is a primary obligation of the Guarantor
and shall be an absolute, unconditional, present, and continuing
obligation and shall not be subject to any counterclaim, setoff,
deduction, diminution, abatement, recoupment, suspension,
deferment, reduction, or defense based on any claim the Guarantor
or any other Person may have against the Borrower, the Creditors or
any other Person. This Guaranty shall only be discharged by the
complete and indefeasible satisfaction of all of the Obligations
and shall not be released, discharged or affected by any
circumstance whatsoever, including without limitation:
(a) the
unenforceability, invalidity, irregularity or lack of genuineness
of the Transaction Document or any of the obligations under the
Transaction Documents;
(b) any
amendment, modification, termination, or removal of, or addition or
supplement to, the Transaction Documents, or any change in time,
manner, or place of payment or performance of any
Obligation;
3
(c) any
assignment, mortgage, release, exchange, addition, or transfer of
any Collateral;
(d) any
failure, refusal, omission or delay on the part of the Borrower,
any Creditor or any other Person to conform or comply with any term
of the Transaction Documents or any other agreement;
(e) any
waiver, consent, extension, indulgence, surrender, settlement,
subordination, release, compromise, or other agreement, or the
exercise or non-exercise of any right or remedy thereunder, with or
without consideration;
(f) the
occurrence and/or continuance of any bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, liquidation, arrangement, adjustment of debt,
relief of debtors, dissolution, or similar proceeding with respect
to the Borrower, any Creditor, or any other Person, including
without limitation any modification of the Borrower’s
obligations under any Transaction Document in connection with any
such proceeding;
(g) any
defect in the title, condition, compliance with specifications,
design, operation, or fitness for use of, or any damage to or loss
of, or governmental prohibition or restriction, condemnation,
requisition, or seizure of, any Collateral for any
reason;
(h) any
merger, consolidation, restructuring, termination of existence,
sale of assets, or change in the ownership of any membership
interests, shares of capital stock or other equity interest of the
Borrower or the Guarantor;
(i) any
present or future law, regulation, or order in any jurisdiction
(whether of right or in fact) or any agency thereof affecting any
term of any Obligation or any rights of any Creditor with respect
thereto, including, without limitation, any law, regulation or
order purporting to vary the terms of payment or to restrict the
right or power of the Borrower or of the Guarantor or either of
them to make payment of any of their respective Obligations to the
Creditors; or
(j) any
other circumstances whatsoever which might otherwise constitute a
defense available to, or a discharge of, either the Borrower or the
Guarantor.
SECTION
3. Representations and Warranties . The Guarantor hereby
represents and warrants to the Security Trustee, for the benefit of
the Creditors, (which representations and warranties shall survive
the execution and delivery of this Guaranty) as follows:
3.1
Due Organization and Power . The Guarantor is duly formed
and is validly existing in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of incorporation or formation, has full power to carry
on its business as now being conducted and to enter into and
perform its obligations under this Guaranty, and has complied with
all statutory, regulatory and other requirements relative to such
business and such agreements;
3.2
Authorization and Consents . All necessary corporate action
has been taken to authorize, and all necessary consents and
authorities have been obtained and remain in full force and effect
to permit, the Guarantor to enter into and perform its obligations
under this Guaranty;
3.3
Binding Obligations . This Guaranty constitutes the legal,
valid and binding obligations of the Guarantor enforceable against
the Guarantor in accordance with its terms, except to the extent
that such enforcement may be limited by equitable
principles,
4
principles of
public policy or applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or other laws affecting generally the enforcement of
creditors’ rights;
3.4
No Violation . The execution and delivery of, and the
performance of the provisions of, this Guaranty do not contravene
any applicable law or regulation existing at the date hereof or any
contractual restriction binding on the Guarantor or the certificate
of incorporation or by-laws thereof.
4.1
Affirmative Covenants . The Guarantor hereby covenants and
undertakes with the Security Trustee, for the benefit of the
Creditors, that from the date hereof and so long as any Obligation
remains unsatisfied, it shall:
(a) duly
perform and observe the terms of this Guaranty;
(b) immediately
upon obtaining knowledge thereof, inform the Security Trustee of
the occurrence of (i) any Event of Default or of any event
which, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both, would
constitute an Event of Default, (ii) any litigation or
governmental proceeding pending or threatened against it which
could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on
its or the Borrower’s business, assets, operations, property
or financial condition and (iii) any event or condition which
is reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on its
ability to perform its obligations under this Guaranty;
and
(c) obtain
every consent and do all other acts and things which may from time
to time be necessary or advisable for the continued due performance
of all its obligations under this Guaranty.
4.2
Financial Covenants . The Guarantor hereby covenants and
undertakes with the Security Trustee, for the benefit of the
Creditors, that from the date hereof and so long as any Obligation
remains unsatisfied, it shall:
(a) maintain
a ratio of Total Shareholder Equity to Total Assets of at least
thirty-five percent (35%);
(b) maintain
a ratio of EBITDA to Interest Expense of no less than 2.25:1.00;
and
(c) deliver
a completed and executed Compliance Certificate to the Facility
Agent on such dates as the Borrower is required to deliver its
financial statements in accordance with Sections 9.1(d)(i) and
9.1(d)(ii) of the Facility Agreement.
5.1
Payment . (a) All payments by the Guarantor under this
Guaranty shall be made in the same manner as the Borrower is
required to make payments under the Facility Agreement as
specifically set forth therein.
(b) On
any amount or amounts for which the Guarantor is liable hereunder
interest shall be due at the Default Rate specified in
Section 6.2 in the Facility Agreement from
5
the due date
thereof under the Facility Agreement until the date of payment of
such amount by the Guarantor or the Borrower.
5.2
Currency of Account . (a) If for the purpose of
obtaining or enforcing a judgment in any court in any country, it
becomes necessary to convert into any other currency (the
“Judgment Currency”) an amount due in Dollars under
this Guaranty then the conversion shall be made, in the discretion
of the Security Trustee, at the rate of exchange prevailing either
on the date of default or on the day before the day on which the
judgment is given or the order for enforcement is made, as the case
may be (the “Conversion Date”) provided that the
Security Trustee shall not be entitled to recover under this clause
any amount in the Judgment Currency which exceeds at the Conversion
Date the amount in Dollars due under this Guaranty.
(b) If
there is a change in the rate of exchang
|