SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY AGREEMENT, dated
as of November 2, 2004, made by certain Domestic Subsidiaries
(collectively, the “ Subsidiary Guarantors ”,
each, a “ Subsidiary Guarantor ”) of SCP POOL
CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “ US Borrower
”), in favor of WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as
Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the “
Administrative Agent ”) for the ratable benefit of
itself, and the financial institutions (the “ Lenders
”) from time to time parties to the Credit Agreement, dated
of even date herewith (as amended, restated, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit
Agreement ”), by and among the US Borrower, SCP
DISTRIBUTORS INC., a company organized under the laws of Ontario
(the “ Canadian Borrower ” and together with the
US Borrower, the “ Borrowers ”), the Lenders,
and the Administrative Agent.
STATEMENT OF
PURPOSE
Pursuant to the terms of the Credit
Agreement, the Lenders have agreed to make Extensions of Credit to
the Borrowers upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth therein.
The Borrowers and the Subsidiary
Guarantors, though separate legal entities, comprise one integrated
financial enterprise, and all Extensions of Credit to the Borrowers
will inure, directly or indirectly, to the benefit of each of the
Subsidiary Guarantors.
It is a condition precedent to the
obligation of the Lenders to make their respective Extensions of
Credit to the Borrowers under the Credit Agreement that the
Subsidiary Guarantors shall have executed and delivered this
Guaranty to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of
itself and the Lenders.
NOW, THEREFORE, for good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are
hereby acknowledged by the parties hereto, and to induce the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders to enter into the Credit
Agreement and to induce the Lenders to make their respective
Extensions of Credit to the Borrowers thereunder, each Subsidiary
Guarantor hereby agrees with the Administrative Agent, for the
ratable benefit of itself and the Lenders, 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:
“ Applicable Insolvency
Laws ” means all Applicable Laws 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).
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“ Guaranteed
Obligations ” has the meaning set forth in Section
2.1 .
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“ Guaranty ”
means this Subsidiary 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 Credit Agreement. In the
event of a conflict between capitalized terms defined herein and in
the Credit Agreement, the Credit 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.
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ARTICLE II
GUARANTY
SECTION 2.1 Guaranty . Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby, jointly and
severally with the other Subsidiary Guarantors, unconditionally
guarantees to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of
itself and the Lenders, and their respective permitted successors,
endorsees, transferees and assigns, the prompt payment and
performance of all Obligations of the Borrowers, 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 or not recovery may be or hereafter
becomes barred by the statute of limitations, whether enforceable
or unenforceable as against such Borrower, whether or not
discharged, stayed or otherwise affected by any Applicable
Insolvency Law or proceeding thereunder, whether created directly
with the Administrative Agent or any Lender or acquired by the
Administrative Agent or any Lender through assignment, endorsement
or otherwise, 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 any such instruments
evidencing any such obligations, including all renewals, extensions
or modifications thereof (all Obligations of the Borrowers,
including all of the foregoing being hereafter collectively
referred to as the “ Guaranteed Obligations
”).
SECTION 2.2 Bankruptcy Limitations on each Guarantor
. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section
2.1 , it is the intention of each Subsidiary Guarantor, the
Administrative Agent and the Lenders 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 Subsidiary Guarantor or its
assets, the amount of such Subsidiary 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 Subsidiary 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 each Subsidiary 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 Subsidiary
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 each Subsidiary Guarantor.
The first sentence of this Section 2.2 is intended solely to
preserve the rights of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
hereunder against each Subsidiary Guarantor in such proceeding to
the maximum extent permitted by Applicable Insolvency Laws and
neither such Subsidiary Guarantor, any Borrower, any other
Subsidiary 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.
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SECTION 2.3
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Agreements for
Contribution .
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(a)To the extent any Subsidiary
Guarantor is required, by reason of its obligations hereunder, to
pay to the Administrative Agent or any 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 Subsidiary Guarantor on account of the Credit
Agreement, this Guaranty or any other Loan Document, such
Subsidiary Guarantor shall have an enforceable right of
contribution against the Borrowers and the remaining Subsidiary
Guarantors, and the Borrowers and the remaining Subsidiary
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 Subsidiary
Guarantor further shall be subrogated to any and all rights of the
Lenders against the Borrowers and the remaining Subsidiary
Guarantors to the extent of such excess payment.
(b)To the extent that any Subsidiary
Guarantor would, but for the operation of this Section 2.3
and by reason of its obligations hereunder or its obligations to
other Subsidiary Guarantors under this Section 2.3 , be
rendered insolvent for any purpose under Applicable Insolvency
Laws, each of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agrees to indemnify
such Subsidiary Guarantor and commits to make a contribution to
such Subsidiary Guarantor’s capital in
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an amount at least equal to the
amount necessary to prevent such Subsidiary Guarantor from having
been rendered insolvent by reason of the incurrence of any such
obligations.
(c)To the extent that any Subsidiary
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 Subsidiary Guarantor
under the foregoing Sections 2.3(a) and (b), such
Subsidiary Guarantor shall, in turn, have rights of contribution
and indemnity, to the full extent provided in the foregoing
Sections 2.3(a) and (b), against the Borrowers and
the remaining Subsidiary Guarantors, such that all obligations of
all of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereunder and under this
Section 2.3 shall be allocated in a manner such that no
Subsidiary 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 Subsidiary Guarantors hereunder, or any
set-off or application of funds of any of the Subsidiary Guarantors
by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or the receipt of any
amounts by the Administrative Agent or any Lender with respect to
any of the Guaranteed Obligations, none of the Subsidiary
Guarantors shall be entitled to be subrogated to any of the rights
of the Administrative Agent or any Lender against the Borrowers or
the other Subsidiary Guarantors or against any collateral security
held by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for the payment of
the Guaranteed Obligations nor shall any of the Subsidiary
Guarantors seek any reimbursement from the Borrowers or any of the
other Subsidiary Guarantors in respect of payments made by such
Subsidiary Guarantor in connection with the Guaranteed Obligations,
until all amounts owing to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders
on account of the Guaranteed Obligations are paid in full and the
Commitments are terminated. If any amount shall be paid to any
Subsidiary 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 Commitments shall not have been terminated,
such amount shall be held by such Subsidiary Guarantor in trust for
the Administrative Agent, segregated from other funds of such
Subsidiary Guarantor, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such
Subsidiary Guarantor, be turned over to the Administrative Agent in
the exact form received by such Subsidiary Guarantor (duly endorsed
by such Subsidiary Guarantor to the Administrative Agent, if
required) to be applied against the Guaranteed Obligations, whether
matured or unmatured, in such order as set forth in the Credit
Agreement.
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SECTION 2.4
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Nature of Guaranty
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(a)Each Subsidiary 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:
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(i)
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the genuineness, validity, regularity,
enforceability or any future amendment of, or change in, the Credit
Agreement or any other Loan Document or any other agreement,
document or instrument to which any Borrower, any Subsidiary
Guarantor or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates is
or may become a party;
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(ii)
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the absence of any action to enforce this
Guaranty, the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document or the
waiver or consent by the Administrative Agent or any Lender with
respect to any of the provisions of this Guaranty, the Credit
Agreement or any other Loan Document;
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(iii)
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the existence, value or condition of, or failure
to perfect its Lien against, any security for or other guaranty of
the Guaranteed Obligations or any action, or the absence of any
action, by the Administrative Agent or any Lender in respect of
such security or guaranty (including, without limitation, the
release of any such security or guaranty);
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(iv)
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any structural change in, restructuring of or
similar change of any Borrower, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any of
their respective Subsidiaries; or
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(v)
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any other action or circumstances which might
otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a
surety or guarantor;
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it being agreed by each Subsidiary
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 and the termination of the Commitments;
provided that a Subsidiary Guarantor may be released from
the Guaranteed Obligations pursuant to Section 4.16 of this
Guaranty.
(b)Each Subsidiary Guarantor
represents, warrants and agrees that its obligations under this
Guaranty are not and shall not be subject to any counterclaims,
offsets or defenses of any kind against the Administrative Agent
the Lenders or the Borrowers whether now existing or which may
arise in the future.
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(c)Each Subsidiary 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 any Borrower and any
Subsidiary Guarantor, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent
and the Lenders, 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
Subsidiary 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 (including, without limitation, North
Carolina General Statutes Section 26-7, et seq. or similar law), or
at law or in equity, or otherwise, to compel the Administrative
Agent or any Lender to proceed in respect of the Obligations
against any 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 Subsidiary Guarantor;
(b)any defense based upon the
failure of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to commence an
action in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations against any
Borrower, any Subsidiary 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 Subsidiary Guarantor of its obligations
under, or the enforcement by the Administrative Agent or the
Lenders 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;
and
(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
Administrative Agent or any Lender upon, or acceptance of, this
Guaranty.
Each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees
that any notice or directive given at any time to the
Administrative Agent or any Lender which is inconsistent with any
of the foregoing waivers shall be null and void and may be ignored
by the Administrative Agent or such Lender, and, in addition, may
not be pleaded or introduced as evidence in any litigation relating
to this Guaranty for the reason that such pleading or introduction
would be at variance with the written terms of this Guaranty,
unless the Administrative Agent and the Required Lenders have
specifically agreed otherwise in writing. The foregoing waivers are
of the essence of the transaction contemplated by the Credit
Agreement and the other Loan Documents and, but for this Guaranty
and such waivers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders would
decline to enter into the Credit Agreement and the other Loan
Documents.
SECTION 2.6 Modification of Loan Documents, etc .
Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall incur any
liability to any Subsidiary Guarantor as a result of any of the
following, and none of the following shall impair or release this
Guaranty or any of the obligations of any Subsidiary 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 Credit 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, of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan
Document;
(d)any extension or waiver of the
time for performance by any Borrower, any Subsidiary Guarantor or
any other Person of, or compliance with, any term, covenant or
agreement on its part to be performed or observed under the Credit
Agreement or any other Loan Document, or waive such performance or
compliance or consent to a failure of, or departure from, such
performance or compliance;
(e)any taking and holding of
security or collateral for the payment of the Obligations or the
sale, exchange, release, disposal of, or other dealing with, any
property pledged, mortgaged or conveyed, or in which the
Administrative Agent or the Lenders have been granted a Lien, to
secure any Indebtedness of any Borrower, any Subsidiary Guarantor
or any other Person to the Administrative Agent or the
Lenders;
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(f)any release of anyone who may be
liable in any manner for the payment of any amounts owed by any
Borrower, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Person to the
Administrative Agent or any Lender;
(g)any modification or termination
of the terms of any intercreditor or subordination agreement
pursuant to which claims of other creditors of any Borrower, any
Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Person are subordinated to the
claims of the Administrative Agent or any Lender; or
(h)any application of any sums by
whomever paid or however realized to any Obligations owing by any
Borrower, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Person to the
Administrative Agent or any Lender in such m