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Exhibit 10.3
UNCONDITIONAL
GUARANTY
THIS UNCONDITIONAL GUARANTY
(the “Guaranty”), dated as of June 4, 2008 between
ASBURY AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation
(“Guarantor”), and WACHOVIA FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC., a
North Carolina corporation (together with its successors and
assigns, “Lender”).
To induce Lender to make,
extend or renew loans, advances, credit, or other financial
accommodations to or for the benefit of each of Asbury Atlanta
Jaguar, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, Asbury
Atlanta LEX L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, CN
Motors, Ltd., a Florida limited partnership, C&O Properties,
Ltd., a Florida limited partnership, CFP Motors, Ltd., a Florida
limited partnership, Avenues Motors, Ltd., a Florida limited
partnership, AF Motors, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability
company, ALM Motors, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company,
Asbury-Deland Imports, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability
company, Coggin Chevrolet L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability
company, Coggin Cars L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company,
CH Motors, Ltd., a Florida limited partnership, HFP Motors L.L.C.,
a Delaware limited liability company, Crown GPG L.L.C., a Delaware
limited liability company, Crown CHV L.L.C., a Delaware limited
liability company, Crown GHO L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability
company, Crown GDO L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company,
Crown RIB L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company, Crown
Motorcar Company L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company,
Asbury Automotive Atlanta L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability
company, McDavid Irving-Hon, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability
company, McDavid Plano-Acra, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability
company, McDavid Austin-Acra, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability
company, McDavid Houston-Hon, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability
company, McDavid Houston-Niss, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability
company and Asbury Automotive Texas Real Estate Holdings L.L.C., a
Delaware limited liability company (each referred to herein
individually and collectively as “Borrower”), all as
more particularly described in the Loan Agreement (as hereinafter
defined), which are and will be to the direct interest and
advantage of Guarantor, and in consideration of loans, advances,
credit, or other financial accommodations made, extended or renewed
to or for the benefit of Borrower, which are and will be to the
direct interest and advantage of Guarantor, Guarantor hereby
absolutely, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees to Lender
and its successors, assigns the timely payment and performance of
all liabilities and obligations of Borrower to Lender with respect
to the Obligations evidenced by the Loan Documents and all
obligations of Guarantor to Lender or any of its Affiliates under
any Swap Agreement executed in connection with or related to the
Obligations, however and whenever incurred or evidenced, whether
primary, secondary, direct, indirect, absolute, contingent, due or
to become due, now existing or hereafter contracted or acquired,
and all modifications, extensions and renewals thereof
(collectively, the “Guaranteed
Obligations”).
Guarantor further covenants
and agrees:
1. Loan Agreement
. This Guaranty is subject to the provisions of that
certain
Master Loan Agreement between Lender,
Wachovia Bank, National Association and Borrower of even date
herewith, as modified from time to time (the “Loan
Agreement”). Capitalized terms used herein and not defined
herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Loan
Agreement. This Guaranty is entitled to the benefits of, and
evidences Obligations incurred under, the Loan Agreement, to which
reference is made for a description of the security for the
Guaranteed Obligations and for a statement of the additional terms
and conditions on which Borrower is permitted and required to make
prepayments and repayments of principal of the Obligations and on
which such Obligations may be declared to be immediately due and
payable.
2. Guarantor’s
Liability . This Guaranty is a continuing and unconditional
guaranty of payment and performance and not of collection. The
parties to this Guaranty are jointly and severally obligated
together with all other parties obligated for the Guaranteed
Obligations. This Guaranty does not impose any obligation on Lender
to extend or continue to extend credit or otherwise deal with
Borrower at any subsequent time. This Guaranty shall continue to be
effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any
payment of the Guaranteed Obligations is rescinded, avoided or for
any other reason must be returned by Lender, and the returned
payment shall remain payable as part of the Guaranteed Obligations,
all as though such payment had not been made. Except to the extent
the provisions of this Guaranty give Lender additional rights, this
Guaranty shall not be deemed to supersede or replace any other
guaranties given to Lender by Guarantor; and the obligations
guaranteed hereby shall be in addition to any other obligations
guaranteed by Guarantor pursuant to any other agreement of guaranty
given to Lender and other guaranties of the Guaranteed
Obligations.
3. Representations and
Warranties . In order to induce Lender to make the Loans or
otherwise extend credit to the Borrower as provided in the Loan
Agreement, Guarantor makes the following representations and
warranties, all of which shall survive the execution and delivery
of the Loan Documents. Unless otherwise specified, such
representations and warranties shall be deemed made as of the date
hereof and as of the date of each extension of credit under the
Loan Documents:
3.1 Valid Existence
and Power . Guarantor is duly organized, validly existing and
in good standing under the laws of Delaware and is duly qualified
or licensed to transact business in all places where the failure to
be so qualified would have a Material Adverse Effect on it.
Guarantor has the power to make and perform this Guaranty and the
other Loan Documents executed by it, as applicable, and all such
instruments will constitute the legal, valid and binding
obligations of Guarantor, enforceable in accordance with their
respective terms, subject only to bankruptcy and similar laws
affecting creditors’ rights generally.
3.2 Authority .
The execution, delivery and performance thereof by Guarantor have
been duly authorized by all necessary actions of Guarantor, and do
not and will not violate any provision of law or regulation, or any
writ, order or decree of any court or governmental or regulatory
authority or agency or any provision of the governing instruments
of Guarantor, and do not and will not, with the passage of time or
the giving of notice, result in a breach of, or constitute a
default or require any consent under, or result in the creation of
any Lien upon any property or assets of Guarantor pursuant to, any
law, regulation, instrument or agreement to which Guarantor is a
party or by which Guarantor or its properties may be subject, bound
or affected.
3.3 Financial
Condition . Other than (a) as disclosed in financial
statements delivered on or prior to the date hereof to Lender, or
(b) as disclosed on Exhibit 3.3 hereof, Guarantor does not
have any direct or contingent obligations or liabilities (including
any guarantees or leases) or any material unrealized or anticipated
losses from any commitments. All consolidated or consolidating
financial statements (including eliminations and adjustments)
delivered by Guarantor to Lender have been prepared in accordance
with GAAP and fairly present the financial condition of Guarantor
as of the date thereof. Guarantor is not aware of any material
adverse fact (other than facts which are generally available to the
public and not particular to Guarantor, such as general economic
trends) concerning the conditions or future prospects of Guarantor
which has not been fully disclosed to Lender, including any adverse
change in the operations or financial condition of Guarantor since
the date of the most recent financial statements delivered to
Lender. Guarantor is Solvent, and after consummation of the
transactions set forth in this Guaranty and the other Loan
Documents, Guarantor will be Solvent.
3.4 Litigation
. Except as set forth on Exhibit 3.4 hereof, there are no suits or
proceedings pending, or to the Knowledge of Guarantor, overtly
threatened, before any court or by or before any governmental or
regulatory authority, commission, bureau or agency or public
regulatory body against or affecting Guarantor, or its assets,
which if adversely determined would have a Material Adverse
Effect.
3.5 Agreements,
Etc . Guarantor is not a party to any agreement or instrument
or subject to any court order, governmental decree or any charter
or other corporate restriction, which would have a Material Adverse
Effect, nor is Guarantor in default in the performance, observance
or fulfillment of any of the material obligations, covenants or
conditions contained in any agreement or instrument to which it is
a party, or any law, regulation, decree, order or the
like.
3.6
Authorizations . All authorizations, consents, approvals and
licenses required under applicable law or regulation for the
ownership or operation of the property owned or operated by
Guarantor, or for the conduct of any business in which it is
engaged have been duly issued and are in full force and effect, and
it is not in default, nor has any event occurred which with the
passage of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute
a default, under any of the terms or provisions of any part
thereof, or under any order, decree, ruling, regulation, closing
agreement or other decision or instrument of any governmental
commission, bureau or other administrative agency or public
regulatory body having jurisdiction over Guarantor, which default
would have a Material Adverse Effect on Guarantor. Except as noted
herein, no approval, consent or authorization of, or filing or
registration with, any governmental commission, bureau or other
regulatory authority or agency is required with respect to the
execution, delivery or performance of any Loan Document by
Guarantor.
3.7 Taxes .
Except to the extent Properly Contested, Guarantor has filed all
federal and state income and other tax returns which are required
to be filed, and have paid all taxes as shown on said returns and
all taxes, including withholding, FICA and ad valorem taxes, shown
on all assessments received by it to the extent that such taxes
have become due. Except to the extent Properly Contested, Guarantor
is not subject to any federal, state or local tax Liens nor has
Guarantor received any notice of deficiency or other official
notice to pay any taxes. Except to the extent Properly Contested,
Guarantor has paid all sales and excise taxes payable by
it.
3.8 Labor Law
Matters . No goods or services have been or will be produced by
Guarantor in violation of any applicable labor laws or regulations
or any collective bargaining agreement or other labor agreements or
in violation of any minimum wage, wage-and-hour or other similar
laws or regulations.
3.9 Judgment
Liens . Neither Guarantor nor any of its assets are subject to
any unpaid judgments (whether or not stayed) or any judgment liens
in any jurisdiction.
3.10 ERISA .
Guarantor has furnished to Lender true and complete copies of the
latest annual report required to be filed pursuant to
Section 104 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended (“ERISA”), with respect to each
employee benefit plan or other plan maintained for employees of
Guarantor or any Subsidiary and covered by Title IV of ERISA (a
“Plan”), and no Termination Event (as hereinafter
defined) with respect to any Plan has occurred and is continuing.
For the purposes of this Guaranty, a “Termination
Event” shall mean a “reportable event” as defined
in Section 4043(b) of ERISA, or the filing of a notice of
intent to terminate under Section 4041 of ERISA. Neither
Guarantor nor any Subsidiary has any unfunded liability with
respect to any such Plan.
3.11 Investment
Company Act . Guarantor is not an “investment
company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended.
3.12 Sanctioned
Persons; Sanctioned Countries . Guarantor (a) is not a
Sanctioned Person and (b) does not do business in a Sanctioned
Country or with a Sanctioned Person in violation of the economic
sanctions of the United States administered by OFAC.
3.13 Compliance
with Covenants; No Default . Guarantor is, and upon funding of
the Loans on the Closing Date will be, in compliance with all of
the covenants hereof. No Event of Default has occurred, and the
execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which
it is a party will not cause an Event of Default.
3.14 Full
Disclosure . There is no material fact of which Guarantor has
Knowledge that Guarantor has not disclosed to Lender which could
have a Material Adverse Effect. No Loan Document, nor any
agreement, document, certificate or statement delivered by
Guarantor to Lender, contains any untrue statement of a material
fact or omits to state any material fact which Guarantor has
Knowledge of necessary to keep the other statements from being
misleading.
3.15
Brokerage/Developer Fees . There are no brokerage
commissions or developers fees or agreements pursuant to which a
third party is entitled to payment from Guarantor relating to the
acquisition of the Collateral.
4. Affirmative
Covenants of Guarantor . Guarantor covenants and agrees
that from the date hereof and until payment in full of the
Guaranteed Obligations and final indefeasible payment of the
Guaranteed Obligations:
4.1 Access to Books
and Records . Guarantor will allow Lender, or its agents,
during normal business hours, access to the books, records and such
other documents of Guarantor as Lender shall reasonably require,
and allow Lender, at Guarantor’s expense, to inspect, audit
and examine the same and to make extracts therefrom and to make
copies thereof. At any time other than during a Default Period,
Lender shall not conduct such inspection and/or audit more than two
(2) times in any twelve (12) month period.
4.2 Business
Continuity . Guarantor will conduct its business in
substantially the same manner as such business is now and has
previously been conducted.
4.3 Certificate of
Full Compliance . Guarantor will deliver to Lender, with the
financial statements required herein, a certification by an
executive officer of Guarantor that Guarantor is in full compliance
with any financial covenants imposed on Guarantor under the Loan
Documents and such certification shall incorporate by reference
Guarantor’s filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, which have been reviewed and approved by
Guarantor’s independent certified public
accountant.
4.4 Compliance with
Other Agreements . Guarantor will comply with all terms and
conditions imposed upon it and contained in this Guaranty, and any
other Loan Documents, and Swap Agreements, as applicable, to which
it is a party as in effect from time to time.
4.5 Estoppel
Certificate . Guarantor will furnish, within fifteen
(15) Business Days after request by Lender, a written
statement duly acknowledged of the amount due under the Loan and
whether offsets or defenses exist against the Guaranteed
Obligations.
4.6 Insurance .
Guarantor will maintain adequate insurance coverage with respect to
its properties and business against loss or damage of the kinds and
in the amounts customarily insured against by companies of
established reputation engaged in the same or similar businesses
including, without limitation, commercial general liability
insurance, workers compensation insurance, and business
interruption insurance; all acquired in such amounts and from such
companies as Lender may reasonably require.
4.7 Maintain
Properties . Guarantor will maintain, preserve and keep its
property in good repair, working order and condition, making all
replacements, additions and improvements thereto necessary for the
proper conduct of its business, unless prohibited by the Loan
Documents.
4.8 Non-Default
Certificate From Guarantor . Guarantor will deliver to Lender,
with the Financial Statements required below, a certificate signed
by Guarantor, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 4.8, by a
principal financial officer of Guarantor warranting that
no “Event of Default” as
specified in the Loan Documents nor any event which, upon the
giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such an
Event of Default, has occurred and demonstrating Guarantor’s
compliance with the financial covenants contained
herein.
4.9 Notice of
Default and Other Notices . Guarantor shall provide to Lender
immediate notice of (a) the occurrence of any Event of Default
and what action (if any) Guarantor is taking to correct the same;
(b) the entry of any final, non-appealable judgment or decree
against it or its assets if the aggregate amount of such judgment
or decree exceeds $1,000,000 (after deducting the amount with
respect to which Guarantor is insured and with respect to which the
insurer has assumed responsibility in writing), (c) any
rejection, return, offset, dispute, loss or other circumstance
which could be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on
Guarantor or on any Collateral, (d) the cancellation or
termination of, or any default under, any Material Agreement to
which Guarantor is a party or by which any of its properties are
bound; and (e) any loss or threatened loss of material
licenses or permits. Guarantor also shall provide to Lender a
written report within thirty (30) days after the end of each
quarter describing (a) each action, suit, proceeding,
governmental investigation or arbitration that affects Guarantor or
its assets, which action, suit, proceeding, governmental
investigation or arbitration, or in the case of multiple actions,
suits, proceedings, governmental investigations or arbitrations
arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, is
likely, in Guarantor’s reasonable judgment, to result in the
incurrence by Guarantor of liability in an amount aggregating
$500,000 or more; (b) any notice from taxing authorities as to
claimed deficiencies in an amount aggregating $500,000 or more or
any tax lien or any notice relating to alleged ERISA violations
involving an amount at issue of $500,000 or more, (d) any
Reportable Event, as defined in ERISA. Such quarterly report will
include the status of any unresolved item covered by any previous
reports and provide such other information as may be reasonably
requested by Lender.
4.10 Financial
Information . Guarantor shall maintain consolidated books and
records in accordance with GAAP and shall furnish or cause to be
furnished to Lender the following periodic financial
information:
4.10.1 Interim
Consolidated Statements . Within forty-five (45) days
after the end of each quarter of each fiscal year of Guarantor, a
copy of the Form 10-Q of Guarantor, for such quarter, prepared in
accordance with the rules, regulations and guidelines of the
Securities and Exchange Commission and including therein the
consolidated financial statements of Guarantor, subject to normal
year end audit adjustments.
4.10.2 Interim
Consolidating Statements . Within forty-five (45) days
after the end of each quarter of each fiscal year of Guarantor,
unaudited management-prepared quarterly financial statements
including, without limitation, a balance sheet and profit and loss
statement, with supporting schedules; all on a consolidating basis
with respect to Guarantor and its Subsidiaries, Affiliates and
Parent or holding company, as applicable, all in reasonable detail
and prepared in conformity with GAAP (when all eliminations and
adjustments are considered), applied on a basis consistent with
that of the preceding year. Such statements shall reflect the same
balances and tie out to the consolidated statements required under
Section 4.10.1 hereof. Such statements also shall be certified
as to their correctness by a principal financial or accounting
officer of Guarantor and in each case, if audited statements are
required, subject to audit and year-end adjustments.
4.10.3 Annual
Statements . Within ninety (90) days after the end of each
fiscal year of Guarantor, a copy of the Form 10-K of Guarantor, for
such year, prepared in accordance with the rules, regulations and
guidelines of the Securities and Exchange Commission and including
therein the consolidated financial statements of
Guarantor.
4.10.3 Other Financial
Information . Such other information regarding the operation,
business affairs, and financial condition of Guarantor which Lender
may reasonably request.
4.11 Payment of
Debts . Guarantor will pay and discharge when due, and before
subject to penalty or further charge, and otherwise satisfy before
maturity or delinquency, all obligations, debts, taxes, and
liabilities of whatever nature or amount, except those which
Guarantor in good faith disputes.
4.12 Maintenance of
Existence and Rights . Guarantor shall preserve and maintain
its corporate existence, authorities to transact business, rights
and franchises, trade names, patents, trademarks and permits
necessary to the conduct of its business.
4.13 Payment of
Taxes . Guarantor shall pay before delinquent all of its Debts
and taxes, except and to the extent only that such taxes are being
Properly Contested.
4.14 Reports and
Proxies . Upon the request of Lender, Guarantor will deliver to
Lender, promptly, a copy of all financial statements, reports,
notices, and all regular or periodic reports required to be filed
by Guarantor with any governmental agency or authority.
4.15 Further
Assurances . Guarantor shall take such further action and
provide to Lender such further assurances as may be reasonably
requested to ensure compliance with the intent of this Guaranty and
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