GUARANTY AGREEMENT (as amended, restated,
supplemented or otherwise modified, this “ Guaranty
” or this “ Agreement ”), dated as of
August 31, 2008, is made by GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, INC.,
a Delaware corporation (“ GEM-DE ”), GENERAL
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT OF RANCHO CORDOVA LLC, a California
limited liability company (“ GEMRC ”), GEM
MOBILE TREATMENT SERVICES, INC., a California corporation (“
GEMMTS ”) and GEM 6 ACQUISITIONS CORPORATION, a
Delaware corporation (“ GEM 6 ,” and
collectively with GEM-DE, GEMRC, GEMMTS and any and all Additional
Guarantors from time to time, each a “ Guarantor
” and collectively the “ Guarantors ”), in
favor of CVC California, LLC (the “ Lender
”).
STATEMENT OF
PURPOSE
Pursuant to the terms of the Revolving Credit
and Term Loan Agreement of even date herewith by and between
General Environmental Management, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the
“ Borrower ”), and the Lender (as same may be
amended, modified, supplemented and/or restated from time to time,
the “ Loan Agreement ”), the Lender has agreed
to make one or more Loans to the Borrower in an aggregate principal
amount of up to $13,500,000 at any time outstanding, upon the terms
and subject to the conditions set forth therein.
Each of the Guarantors is a direct or indirect
wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Borrower.
The Borrower and the Guarantors, though separate
legal entities, comprise one integrated financial enterprise, and
the Loans will inure, directly or indirectly, to the benefit of
each of the Guarantors.
It is a condition precedent to the obligation of
the Lender to make the Loans under the Loan Agreement that the
Guarantors shall have executed and delivered this Guaranty to the
Lender.
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged by the parties hereto, and to induce the Lender to
enter into the Loan Agreement and to make the Loans thereunder, the
Guarantors hereby agree with the Lender as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINED TERMS
SECTION 1.1 Definitions
. The following terms when used in this Guaranty shall
have the meanings assigned to them below:
“ Additional Guarantor ”
means each direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Borrower which
hereafter becomes a Guarantor pursuant to Section 4.17
hereof and Section 5.11 of the Loan Agreement.
“ Applicable Insolvency Laws
” means all Applicable Laws (domestic or foreign) governing
bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debts,
relief of debtors, dissolution, insolvency, fraudulent transfers or
conveyances or other similar laws (including, without limitation,
11 U.S.C. Sections 544, 547, 548 and 550 and other
“avoidance” provisions of Title 11 of the United States
Code, as amended or supplemented).
“ Guaranteed Obligations ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 .
“ Guaranty ” means this
Guaranty Agreement, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise
modified from time to time.
SECTION 1.2 Other Definitional Provisions
. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined in
this Guaranty, including the preambles and recitals hereof, shall
have the meanings ascribed to them in the Loan
Agreement. In the event of a conflict between
capitalized terms defined herein and in the Loan Agreement, the
Loan Agreement shall control. The words
“hereof,” “herein”, “hereto”
and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used
in this Guaranty shall refer to this Guaranty as a whole and not to
any particular provision of this Guaranty, and Section references
are to this Guaranty unless otherwise specified. The
meanings given to terms defined herein shall be equally applicable
to both the singular and plural forms of such
terms. Where the context requires, terms relating to the
Collateral or any part thereof, when used in relation to a
Guarantor, shall refer to such Guarantor’s Collateral or the
relevant part thereof. The word “including”
and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall mean
“including, without limitation,” unless otherwise
specified.
ARTICLE II
GUARANTY
SECTION 2.1 Guaranty
. Each Guarantor hereby, jointly and severally with the
other Guarantors, unconditionally guarantees to the Lender and its
successors, endorsees, transferees and assigns, the prompt payment
and performance of all Obligations of the Borrower, whether primary
or secondary (whether by way of endorsement or otherwise), whether
now existing or hereafter arising, whether or not from time to time
reduced or extinguished (except by payment thereof) or hereafter
increased or incurred, whether enforceable or unenforceable as
against the Borrower, whether or not discharged, stayed or
otherwise affected by any Applicable Insolvency Law or proceeding
thereunder, whether matured or unmatured, whether joint or several,
as and when the same become due and payable (whether at maturity or
earlier, by reason of acceleration, mandatory repayment or
otherwise), in accordance with the terms of the agreements and
instruments evidencing such Obligations, including all renewals,
extensions or modifications thereof (all such Obligations of the
Borrower being hereafter collectively referred to as the “
Guaranteed Obligations ”).
SECTION 2.2 Bankruptcy Limitations on
Guarantors . Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in Section 2.1 , it is the intention of
each Guarantor and the Lender that, in any proceeding involving the
bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debts,
relief of debtors, dissolution or insolvency or any similar
proceeding with respect to any Guarantor or its assets, the amount
of such Guarantor’s obligations with respect to the
Guaranteed Obligations shall be equal to, but not in excess of, the
maximum amount thereof not subject to avoidance or recovery by
operation of Applicable Insolvency Laws after giving effect to
Section 2.3 . To that end, but only in the event
and to the extent that after giving effect to Section 2.3
such Guarantor’s obligations with respect to the Guaranteed
Obligations or any payment made pursuant to such Guaranteed
Obligations would, but for the
operation of the first sentence of this
Section 2.2 , be subject to avoidance or recovery in any
such proceeding under Applicable Insolvency Laws after giving
effect to Section 2.3 , the amount of such Guarantor’s
obligations with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations shall be
limited to the largest amount which, after giving effect thereto,
would not, under Applicable Insolvency Laws, render such
Guarantor’s obligations with respect to the Guaranteed
Obligations unenforceable or avoidable or otherwise subject to
recovery under Applicable Insolvency Laws. To the extent
any payment actually made pursuant to the Guaranteed Obligations
exceeds the limitation of the first sentence of this Section
2.2 and is otherwise subject to avoidance and recovery in any
such proceeding under Applicable Insolvency Laws, the amount
subject to avoidance shall in all events be limited to the amount
by which such actual payment exceeds such limitation and the
Guaranteed Obligations as limited by the first sentence of this
Section 2.2 shall in all events remain in full force and
effect and be fully enforceable against such
Guarantor. The first sentence of this Section 2.2
is intended solely to preserve the rights of the Lender hereunder
against such Guarantor in such proceeding to the maximum extent
permitted by Applicable Insolvency Laws and neither such Guarantor,
the Borrower, any other Guarantor nor any other Person shall have
any right or claim under such sentence that would not otherwise be
available under Applicable Insolvency Laws in such
proceeding.
SECTION 2.3 Agreements for Contribution
.
(a) To the extent that any Guarantor is
required, by reason of its obligations hereunder, to pay to the
Lender an amount greater than the amount of value (as determined in
accordance with Applicable Insolvency Laws) actually made available
to or for the benefit of such Guarantor on account of the Loan
Agreement, this Guaranty or any other Loan Document, such Guarantor
shall have an enforceable right of contribution against the
remaining Guarantors, and the remaining Guarantors shall be jointly
and severally liable for repayment of the full amount of such
excess payment. Subject only to the subordination
provided in Section 2.3(d) , such Guarantor further shall be
subrogated to any and all rights of the Lender against the Borrower
and the remaining Guarantors to the extent of such excess
payment.
(b) To the extent that any Guarantor
would, but for the operation of this Section 2.3 and by
reason of its obligations hereunder or its obligations to other
Guarantors under this Section 2.3 , be rendered insolvent
for any purpose under Applicable Insolvency Laws, each of the
Guarantors hereby agrees to indemnify such Guarantor and commits to
make a contribution to such Guarantor’s capital in an amount
at least equal to the amount necessary to prevent such Guarantor
from having been rendered insolvent by reason of the incurrence of
any such obligations.
(c) To the extent that any Guarantor
would, but for the operation of this Section 2.3 , be
rendered insolvent under any Applicable Insolvency Law by reason of
its incurring of obligations to any other Guarantor under the
foregoing Sections 2.3(a) and (b) , such Guarantor shall, in
turn, have rights of contribution to the full extent provided in
the foregoing Sections 2.3(a) and (b) against the remaining
Guarantors, such that all obligations of all of the Guarantors
hereunder and under this Section 2.3 shall be allocated
in a manner such that no Guarantor shall be rendered insolvent for
any purpose under Applicable Insolvency Law by reason of its
incurrence of such obligations.
(d) Notwithstanding any payment or
payments by any of the Guarantors hereunder, or any set-off or
application of funds of any of the Guarantors by the Lender, or the
receipt of any amounts by the Lender with respect to any of the
Guaranteed Obligations, none of the Guarantors shall be entitled to
be subrogated to any of the rights of the Lender against the
Borrower or the other Guarantors or against any collateral security
held by the Lender for the payment of the Guaranteed Obligations,
nor shall any of the Guarantors seek any reimbursement from the
Borrower or any of the other Guarantors in respect of payments made
by such Guarantor in connection with the Guaranteed
Obligations. If any amount shall be paid to any
Guarantor on account of such subrogation rights at any time when
all of the Guaranteed Obligations shall not have been paid in full
or the Revolving Credit Commitment remains outstanding, such amount
shall be held by such Guarantor in trust for the ratable benefit of
the Lender, segregated from other funds of such Guarantor, and
shall, forthwith upon receipt by such Guarantor, be turned over to
the Lender in the exact form received by such Guarantor (duly
endorsed by such Guarantor to the Lender, if required) to be
applied against the Guaranteed Obligations, whether matured or
unmatured, in the order set forth in the Loan Agreement.
SECTION 2.4 Nature of Guaranty
.
(a) Each Guarantor agrees that this Guaranty is
a continuing, unconditional guaranty of payment and performance and
not of collection, and that its obligations under this Guaranty
shall be primary, absolute and unconditional, irrespective of, and
unaffected by:
(i) the validity, enforceability or any
future amendment of, or change in, the Loan Agreement or any other
Loan Document or any other agreement, document or instrument to
which the Borrower or any Subsidiary is or may become a
party;
(ii) the absence of any action to enforce
this Guaranty, the Loan Agreement or any other Loan Document or the
waiver or consent by the Lender with respect to any of the
provisions of this Guaranty, the Loan Agreement or any other Loan
Document;
(iii) the existence, value or condition
of, or failure to perfect any Lien against, any security for or
other guaranty of the Guaranteed Obligations or any action, or the
absence of any action, by the Lender in respect of such security or
guaranty (including, without limitation, the release of any such
security or guaranty); or
(iv) any other action or circumstances
which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or
defense of a surety or guarantor (all of which are, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, hereby waived);
it being agreed
by each Guarantor that, subject to the first sentence of Section
2.2 , its obligations under this Guaranty shall not be
discharged until the final indefeasible payment and performance, in
full, of the Guaranteed Obligations.
(b) Each Guarantor represents, warrants
and agrees that its obligations under this Guaranty are not and
shall not be subject to any counterclaims, offsets or defenses
(except payment in full) of any kind against the Lender or the
Borrower, whether now existing or which may arise in the
future.
(c) Each Guarantor hereby agrees and
acknowledges that the Guaranteed Obligations, and any of them,
shall conclusively be deemed to have been created, contracted or
incurred, or renewed, extended, amended or waived, in reliance upon
this Guaranty, and all dealings between the Borrower and any of the
Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Lender, on the other hand,
likewise shall be conclusively presumed to have been had or
consummated in reliance upon this Guaranty.
SECTION 2.5 Waivers . To the
extent permitted by law, each Guarantor expressly waives all of the
following rights and defenses (and agrees not to take advantage of
or assert any such right or defense):
(a) any rights it may now or in the future
have under any statute, or at law or in equity, or otherwise, to
compel the Lender to proceed in respect of the Obligations against
the Borrower or any other Person or against any security for or
other guaranty of the payment and performance of the Guaranteed
Obligations before proceeding against, or as a condition to
proceeding against, such Guarantor;
(b) any defense based upon the failure of
the Lender to commence an action in respect of the Guaranteed
Obligations against the Borrower, such Guarantor, any other
guarantor or any other Person or any security for the payment and
performance of the Guaranteed Obligations;
(c) any right to insist upon, plead or in
any manner whatever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any
appraisal, valuation, stay, extension, marshalling of assets or
redemption laws, or exemption, whether now or at any time hereafter
in force, which may delay, prevent or otherwise affect the
performance by such Guarantor of its obligations under, or the
enforcement by the Lender of this Guaranty;
(d) any right of diligence, presentment,
demand, protest and notice (except as specifically required herein)
of whatever kind or nature with respect to any of the Guaranteed
Obligations and waives, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law,
the benefit of all provisions of law which are or might be in
conflict with the terms of this Guaranty;
(e) any and all right to notice of the
creation, renewal, extension or accrual of any of the Obligations
and notice of or proof of reliance by the Lender upon, or
acceptance of, this Guaranty;
(f) ALL RIGHTS AND DEFENSES THAT ARE OR
MAY BECOME AVAILABLE TO ANY GUARANTOR BY REASON OF SECTIONS 2787 TO
2855, INCLUSIVE, AND SECTION 3433 OF THE CALIFORNIA CIVIL CODE OR
SIMILAR APPLICABLE LAW;
(g) all rights and benefits under Section
2809 of the California Civil Code and any similar applicable law
purporting to reduce a guarantor’s obligations in proportion
to the obligation of the principal or providing that the obligation
of a surety or guarantor must neither be larger nor in other
respects more burdensome than that of the principal;
(h) WITHOUT LIMITING THE GENERALITY OF THE
FOREGOING, EACH GUARANTOR WAIVES ALL RIGHTS AND DEFENSES THAT IT
MAY HAVE BECAUSE ALL OR ANY PART OF THE OBLIGATIONS ARE NOW, OR MAY
HEREAFTER BE, SECURED BY REAL PROPERTY. THIS MEANS,
AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT: (1) THE LENDER OR ANY OTHER PERSON MAY
COLLECT FROM ANY GUARANTOR WITHOUT FIRST FORECLOSING ON ANY REAL OR
PERSONAL PROPERTY COLLATERAL PLEDGED BY THE BORROWER OR GUARANTOR;
(2) IF THE LENDER OR ANY OTHER PERSON FORECLOSES ON ANY REAL
PROPERTY COLLATERAL PLEDGED BY ANY GUARANTOR (A) THE AMOUNT OF THE
DEBT MAY BE REDUCED ONLY BY THE PRICE FOR WHICH THAT COLLATERAL IS
SOLD AT THE FORECLOSURE SALE, EVEN IF THE COLLATERAL IS WORTH MORE
THAN THE SALE PRICE; (B) THE LENDER OR ANY OTHER PERSON MAY COLLECT
FROM ANY GUARANTOR EVEN IF THE LENDER OR SUCH OTHER PERSON, BY
FORECLOSURE ON THE REAL PROPERTY COLLATERAL, HAS DESTROYED ANY
RIGHT SUCH GUARANTOR MAY HAVE TO COLLECT FROM THE BORROWER OR ANY
OTHER GUARANTOR. THIS IS AN UNCONDITIONAL AND
IRREVOCABLE WAIVER OF ANY RIGHTS AND DEFENSES ANY GUARANTOR MAY
HAVE BECAUSE THE BORROWER'S OR ANY GUARANTOR'S DEBT IS NOW, OR
HEREAFTER MAY BE, SECURED BY REAL PROPERTY. THESE RIGHTS
AND DEFENSES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, ANY RIGHTS OR
DEFENSES BASED UPON SECTIONS 580a, 580b, OR 726 OF THE CALIFORNIA
CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE AND ANY SIMILAR APPLICABLE LAWS;
and
(i) IN ADDITION, EACH GUARANTOR WAIVES ANY
REQUIREMENT OF MARSHALING OR ANY OTHER PRINCIPLE OF ELECTION OF
REMEDIES, AND ALL RIGHTS AND DEFENSES ARISING OUT OF ANY ELECTION
OF REMEDIES BY ANY BENEFICIARY UNDER A DEED OF TRUST, THE LENDER OR
ANY OTHER PERSON, EVEN THOUGH THAT ELECTION OF REMEDIES, SUCH AS A
NON-JUDICIAL FORECLOSURE WITH RESPECT TO SECURITY FOR A GUARANTEED
OBLIGATION, HAS DESTROYED SUCH GUARANTOR’S RIGHTS OF
SUBROGATION AND REIMBURSEMENT AGAINST THE PRINCIPAL BY THE
OPERATION OF SECTION 580d OF THE CALIFORNIA CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE
OR OTHERWISE.
The foregoing waivers are of the essence of the
transaction contemplated by the Loan Agreement and the other Loan
Documents and, but for this Guaranty and such waivers, the Lender
would decline to enter into the Loan Agreement and the other Loan
Documents.
SECTION 2.6 Modification of Loan
Documents, etc . None of the following shall impair
or release this Guaranty or any of the obligations of any Guarantor
under this Guaranty:
(a) any change or extension of the manner,
place or terms of payment of, or renewal or alteration of all or
any portion of, the Guaranteed Obligations;
(b) any action under or in respect of the
Loan Agreement or the other Loan Documents in the exercise of any
remedy, power or privilege contained therein or available to any of
them at law, in equity or otherwise, or waiver or refrain from
exercising any such remedies, powers or privileges;
(c) any amendment or modification, in any
manner whatsoever (including, without limitation, increases in
principal amounts or lending commit
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