Exhibit 10.35A
AVALON PHARMACEUTICALS,
INC.,
as Borrower
and
MANUFACTURERS AND TRADERS
TRUST COMPANY,
as Bank
LETTER OF CREDIT
AGREEMENT
$12,000,000 Maryland
Industrial Development Financing Authority
Taxable Variable Rate Demand Revenue Bonds
(Avalon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Facility), Series 2003
Dated as of April 1,
2003
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
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Section 1.1.
Definitions
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Section 1.2.
Accounting Terms
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Section 1.3.
Rules of Construction
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ARTICLE II.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF LETTER OF CREDIT AGREEMENT; DURATION OF
TERM
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Section 2.1.
Effective Date of Letter of Credit Agreement; Duration of
Term
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ARTICLE III.
ISSUANCE OF LETTER OF CREDIT; SECURITY
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Section 3.1.
Issuance of Letter of Credit
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Section 3.2.
Security
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Section 3.3.
Loss to Security
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Section 3.4.
Borrower’s Covenants Pertaining to Security
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Section 3.5.
Conditions Precedent to Issuance of Letter of Credit
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ARTICLE IV.
AGREEMENTS WITH RESPECT TO LETTER OF CREDIT
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Section 4.1.
Letter of Credit Fee; Negotiation Fee; Monitoring Fee
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Section 4.2.
Transfer of Letter of Credit
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Section 4.3.
Payment of Certificates Under the Letter of Credit
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Section 4.4.
Amendment of Letter of Credit
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Section 4.5.
Liability of the Bank for Use of the Letter of Credit
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Section 4.6.
Expenses
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Section 4.7.
Bank’s Right to Cure or Avoid Defaults Under Documents
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Section 4.8.
Bank’s Obligation
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Section 4.9.
Annual Reduction of Stated Amount
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ARTICLE V. PAYMENT
PROVISIONS
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Section 5.1.
Reimbursement and Other Payments
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Section 5.2.
Payments Due Upon Expiration of Letter of Credit
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Section 5.3.
Late Payments
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Section 5.4.
Increased Costs Due to Change in Law
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Section 5.5.
Computation
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Section 5.6.
Payment Procedure
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Section 5.7.
Business Days
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Section 5.8.
Termination of Swap Agreement
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ARTICLE VI.
UNCONDITIONAL OBLIGATIONS
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Section 6.1.
Obligations Absolute
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ARTICLE VII.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BORROWER
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Section 7.1.
Representations, Warranties and Undertakings
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ARTICLE VIII.
REPRESENTATIONS AND COVENANTS OF BORROWER WITH RESPECT TO FACILITY;
RELATED MATTERS
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Section 8.1.
Completion of Facility
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Section 8.2.
Covenants by Borrower with Respect to Completion of Facility
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Section 8.3.
Enforcement of Remedies Against Contractor and Subcontractors
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| SECTION |
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and Their
Sureties
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Section 8.4.
Application of Proceeds of the Bonds
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Section 8.5.
Conditions Precedent to the Bank’s Approval of Requisitions
for Disbursements from Facility Fund
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Section 8.6.
Financing Sign on Facility; Publicity
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ARTICLE IX.
COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS WITH RESPECT TO PROPERTY
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Section 9.1.
Use of Facility
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Section 9. 2.
Compliance with Laws
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Section 9.3.
Approvals and Inspections
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Section 9.4.
Possession of the Facility
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Section 9.5.
Insurance
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Section 9.6
Condemnation
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Section 9.7.
Damage and Destruction; Condemnation; Application of Net
Proceeds
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Section 9.8.
Maintenance and Repair of the Facility
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Section 9.9.
Alterations, Additions and Improvements
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Section 9.10
Other Liens
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ARTICLE X.
AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS OF BORROWER
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Section 10.1.
Affirmative Covenants of Borrower
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ARTICLE XI.
NEGATIVE COVENANTS OF BORROWER
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Section 11.1.
Negative Covenants of Borrower
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ARTICLE XII.
INDEMNIFICATION
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Section 12.1.
Special Indemnity
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Section 12.2.
Indemnification of Bank
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Section 12.3.
Indemnification Under Letter of Credit and Letter of Credit
Documents
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ARTICLE XIII.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
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Section 13.1.
Events of Default Defined
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Section 13.2.
Remedies on Default
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Section 13.3.
No Remedy Exclusive
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Section 13.4.
Agreement to Pay Attorneys’ Fees and Expenses
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Section 13.5.
Waiver of Event of Default; No Additional Waiver Implied by One
Waiver
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Section 13.6.
MIDFA Insurance
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ARTICLE XIV.
MISCELLANEOUS
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Section 14.1.
Notices
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Section 14.2.
Prior Agreements Cancelled
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Section 14.3.
Filing
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Section 14.4.
Binding Effect
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Section 14.5.
Illegality; Severability
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Section 14.6.
Assignment
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Section 14.7.
Consent to Jurisdiction; Service of Process; Waiver of Jury
Trial
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Section 14.8.
Further Assurances and Corrective Instruments
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Section 14.9.
Right to Perform; Advances by Bank
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Section 14.10. Amendments, Changes and Modifications
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Section 14.11. Execution of Counterparts
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Section 14.12. Law Governing Construction of Agreement
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Section 14.13. Effective Date
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Section 14.14. Conflicting
Agreements
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Section 14.15. Specialty
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| Exhibits |
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Exhibit A |
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Form of Letter of Credit |
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Exhibit B |
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Required Post Closing Documents |
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Exhibit C |
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Architect Certificate |
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Exhibit D |
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Contractor Certificate |
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| Schedules |
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Schedule 7.1 (z) |
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Redemptions |
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Schedule 8.2(a) |
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Exceptions to Title |
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Schedule 11.1 (e) |
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Borrowings |
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Schedule A |
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Annual Reduction of Stated
Amount |
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LETTER OF CREDIT
AGREEMENT
THIS LETTER OF CREDIT AGREEMENT is
dated as of April 1, 2003 and is made by and between AVALON
PHARMACEUTICALS, INC., a Delaware corporation qualified to do
business in the State of Maryland (the “ Borrower
”), and Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company, a New York
banking corporation (the “ Bank ”).
RECITALS
Certain of the terms and words used
in these Recitals, and in the following Agreements, are defined in
Section 1.1 of this Letter of Credit Agreement.
Pursuant to, and in accordance with,
the Acts, the Maryland Industrial Development Financing Authority,
a body politic and corporate and a public instrumentality of the
State of Maryland (the “ Issuer ”), has
determined to issue and sell the Bonds in the aggregate principal
amount of $12,000,000 and to lend the proceeds thereof to the
Borrower, upon the terms and conditions of the Loan Agreement, for
the sole and exclusive purpose of financing the acquisition by the
Borrower of the Facility.
The Bonds are being issued pursuant
to the Indenture.
In order to enhance the marketability
of the Bonds, the Borrower has requested the Bank to issue to the
Trustee the Bank’s irrevocable transferable letter of credit
to provide payment for and secure the payment of the principal of
and interest on, and the purchase price of, the Bonds. The Bank, in
consideration for, among other things, the execution and delivery
by the Borrower of this Letter of Credit Agreement, will issue the
Letter of Credit concurrently with the issuance and delivery of the
Bonds.
Pursuant to and in accordance with
the MIDFA Act and subject to the terms and conditions of the
Insurance Agreement, MIDFA, in its capacity as insurer, is
providing financial assistance by insuring, through its Industrial
Development Fund, thirty percent (30%) of the outstanding balance
of the Letter of Credit subject to a reduction in the amount
insured by MIDFA to twenty-five percent (25%) of the outstanding
balance of the Letter of Credit if a certain event fails to occur
as further described in the Insurance Agreement.
AGREEMENTS
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of
the premises, the respective representations, covenants and
agreements hereinafter contained, and other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties
hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1. Definitions.
Certain terms used in this Letter of Credit Agreement are defined
in this Section or are defined by reference to one of the Bond
Documents or one of the
other Letter of Credit
Documents; and, when and if used herein, such terms shall have the
meanings given to them by the language employed in this Section
defining such terms or by the language employed in such Bond
Document or other Letter of Credit Document defining such terms,
unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
“ Acceleration Drawing
” has the meaning given to that term in the Letter of
Credit.
“ Act of Bankruptcy
” means the filing of a petition in bankruptcy under the
Bankruptcy Code, or the commencement of a proceeding under any
other applicable law concerning insolvency, reorganization or
bankruptcy, by or against the Borrower, as debtor.
“ Acts ” has the
meaning given to that term in the Indenture.
“ Additions ”
means any and all alterations, additions, accessions, extensions,
betterments and improvements to the Facility (or any portion
thereof), substitutions therefor, and renewals and replacements
thereof.
“ Adjusted Market Value
” has the meaning given to that term in the
Collateral/Control Agreement.
“ Adjustment Date
” has the meaning given to that term by the Indenture.
“ Administration
Expenses ” means compensation, indemnities and
reimbursement of fees, expenses and advances payable to the Issuer,
the Trustee, the Remarketing Agent, the Paying Agent and the
Registrar, all as described in Article VII of the Loan
Agreement.
“ Affiliates ”
means any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by
or under common control with, another Person. For purposes of this
definition, the term “ control ” (including the
correlative meanings of the terms “ controlling
,” “ controlled by ” and “ under
common control with ”), as used with respect to any
Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power
to direct or cause the direction of the management policies of such
Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by
contract or otherwise, provided (but without limiting the
foregoing) that no pledge of voting securities of any Person
without the current right to exercise voting rights with respect
thereto shall by itself be deemed to constitute control over such
Person.
“ Architect Certificate
” means the certificate of the Person providing architectural
and engineering services pertaining to the construction of the
Facility in the form of Exhibit C hereof.
“ Architect’s
Contract ” means the contract or contracts for
architectural and/or engineering services pertaining to the
construction of the Facility.
“ Asset Disposition
” means the sale, lease or other disposition of any property
or asset (including the capital stock of an Affiliate) by a Person;
but for purposes hereof shall not include, in any event,
(a) the sale of inventory in the ordinary course of business,
or (b) the sale or disposition of machinery and equipment no
longer used or useful in the conduct of business.
“ Authorized
Denomination ” has the meaning given to that term by the
Indenture.
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“ Authorized Borrower
Representative ” means the President, Chief Financial
Officer and General Counsel of the Borrower, or such other persons
at the time designated to act on behalf of the Borrower by written
certificate furnished to the Trustee and the Bank containing the
specimen signature of such persons and signed on behalf of the
Borrower by the President of the Borrower. Such certificate may
designate an alternate or alternates.
“ Available Moneys
” has the meaning given to that term by the Indenture.
“ Bank ” means
Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company, a New York banking
corporation, its successors and assigns.
“ Bankruptcy Code
” means the United States Bankruptcy Code, 11 U.S.C.
§§ 101 et seq., and all future acts supplemental
thereto or amendatory thereof.
“ Bond Counsel ”
has the meaning given to that term by the Indenture.
“ Bond Documents ”
means and includes (without limitation) the Bonds, the Indenture,
the Loan Agreement, the Placement and Remarketing Agreement and any
and all other documents which the Borrower or any other party or
parties or their representatives, have executed and delivered, or
may hereafter execute and deliver, to evidence or secure the
Borrower’s Bond Obligations or any part thereof, or in
connection therewith, together with any and all Supplements
thereto; provided, however, that the term “Bond
Documents” with the exception of the Pledge and Security
Agreement and the Pledged Bonds Custody Agreement, does not include
the Letter of Credit Documents.
“ Bond Fund ”
means the Bond Fund created in Section 5.1 of the
Indenture.
“ Bond Payment Date
” means any Interest Payment Date and any other date on which
the principal of, premium (if any) on or interest on the Bonds is
to be paid to the Owners thereof (whether at maturity thereof, or
by acceleration of maturity or after notice of redemption or
prepayment or otherwise).
“ Bond Purchase Drawing
” means a Bond Purchase Interest Drawing or a Bond Purchase
Principal Drawing.
“ Bond Purchase Interest
Drawing ” and “ Bond Purchase Principal
Drawing ” each has the meaning given to that term by the
Letter of Credit.
“ Bonds ” (or
singularly, a “ Bond ”) means the Issuer’s
$12,000,000 Taxable Variable Rate Demand Revenue Bonds (Avalon
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Facility), Series 2003, issued pursuant
to the Indenture.
“ Bonds Tendered or Deemed
Tendered for Purchase ” has the meaning given to that
term in the Indenture.
“ Borrower ” means
Avalon Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation qualified to
do business in the State of Maryland.
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“ Borrower’s Bond
Obligations ” has the meaning given to that term in the
Indenture.
“ Borrower’s Letter of
Credit Obligations ” means the obligations of the
Borrower under the Letter of Credit Documents to pay all payments
required by the Letter of Credit Documents, when and as the same
become due and payable, and timely perform, observe and comply with
all terms, covenants, conditions, stipulations and agreements,
express or implied, which the Borrower is required by the Letter of
Credit Documents to observe or perform. The “Borrower’s
Letter of Credit Obligations” constitute
“Borrower’s Credit Facility Obligations” (as
defined in the Indenture).
“ Business Day ”
or “ business day ” means a day on which
(a) banks located in any of the cities in which the Principal
Office of the Trustee, the Bank, the Paying Agent and the
Remarketing Agent is located are not required or authorized by law
or executive order to close for business, or (b) the New York Stock
Exchange is closed.
“ Capital Lease
Obligations ” means all obligations of a Person to pay
rent or other amounts under a lease of (or other agreement
conveying the right to use) property (real, personal or mixed) to
the extent such obligations are required to be classified and
accounted for as a capital lease on such Person’s balance
sheet under GAAP.
“ Change in Control
” means the occurrence of any of the following: (a) the
sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than
by way of merger or consolidation) in one or a series of related
transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Borrower taken as a whole to any “person” (as such term
is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934), (b) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation
or dissolution of the Borrower, or (c) any Person or group of
Persons (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act,
as amended) shall obtain ownership or control, either directly,
indirectly, through voting agreements or otherwise, in one or more
series of transactions of more than twenty-five percent (25%) of
the voting stock of the Borrower entitled to vote in the election
of members of the board of directors of the Borrower.
“ Closing Date ”
means April 8, 2003, the date of the issuance and initial
delivery of fully executed and authenticated Bonds.
“ Code ” means the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor
statute, and any applicable statutory provision. Each reference to
a section of the Code herein shall be deemed to include the United
States Treasury Regulations in effect or proposed from time to time
with respect thereto and applicable to the Bonds or the use of the
proceeds thereof.
“ Collateral/Control
Agreement ” means that certain Collateral Pledge and
Security Agreement and Control Agreement, dated as of even date
herewith, entered into by and among the Bank, the Borrower and the
Securities Intermediary.
“ Completion Certificate
” means a Completion Certificate, substantially in the form
attached to the Loan Agreement as Exhibit A , signed by
an Authorized Borrower Representative, furnished by the Borrower
pursuant to Section 3.5(b) of this Letter of Credit Agreement
and Section 6.3 of the Loan Agreement.
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“ Completion Date
” means March 6, 2003.
“ Condemnation Award
” has the meaning given to that term in the Security
Agreement.
“ Contractor ”
means Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, its successors and
assigns.
“ Contractor Certificate
” means the certificate of the Contractor in the form of
Exhibit D hereof.
“ Construction Contract
” means the construction contract by and between the Borrower
and the Contractor, pertaining to the construction of the
Facility.
“ Costs of Issuance
” means all fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection
with the issuance of the Bonds.
“ Current Assets ”
means the assets treated as current assets in accordance with GAAP,
including but not limited to, cash, deposits, marketable securities
and accounts receivable.
“ Current Liabilities
” means all liabilities treated as current liabilities in
accordance with GAAP including without limitation (a) all
obligations payable on demand or within one year after the date on
which the determination is made, and (b) final maturities and
sinking fund payments required to be made within one year after the
date on which the determination is made, but excluding all such
liabilities or obligations that are renewable or extendable at the
option of the Borrower to a date more than one year from the date
of determination.
“ Debt ” of any
Person means, without duplication:
(a) all obligations of such
Person for borrowed money and all obligations of such Person
evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar
instruments;
(b) all obligations, contingent
or otherwise, relative to the face amount of all letters of credit,
whether or not drawn, and banker’s acceptances issued for the
account of such Person other than letters of credit or
banker’s acceptances that support obligations of such Person
in respect of accounts payable, trade payments and other short-term
trade related obligations;
(c) all obligations of such
Person as lessee under leases which have been or should be, in
accordance with GAAP, recorded as capitalized lease obligations;
and
(d) all contingent liabilities
of such Person recorded in the financial statements (including the
notes thereto) of such Person and its consolidated subsidiaries in
respect of any of the foregoing.
For all purposes of this Letter of
Credit Agreement, the Debt of any Person shall include the Debt of
any partnership or joint venture characterized as a partnership for
commercial law purposes in which such Person is a general partner
or a joint venture. The amount of Debt of any Person at any date
shall be the outstanding balance at such date of all unconditional
obligations as described above and the maximum liability of any
such contingent liabilities at such date.
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“ Deposits ” has
the meaning given to that term in Section 10.1(h)(i) of this
Letter of Credit Agreement.
“ Direct Costs of
Construction ” means the direct costs of constructing the
Facility as set forth in the Construction Contract and in the trade
form cost breakdown furnished by the Borrower and approved by the
Bank.
“ Downgrade ”
means a withdrawal or a downgrading by one or more Rating Agencies
of one full grade from the long-term debt ratings of the Bank as of
the Closing Date.
“ Encumbrance ”
means any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, lien, security interest,
encumbrance, easement, servitude, claim or charge of any kind.
“ Environmental
Requirement ” means any law, regulation, order or other
agreement or restriction, whether public or private (including but
not limited to any condition or requirement imposed by any insurer
or surety company), now existing or hereafter created, issued or
enacted and all amendments thereto, modifications thereof and
substitutions therefor, which in any way pertains to human health,
safety or welfare, Hazardous Materials, Hazardous Materials
Contamination or the environment (including but not limited to
structures, ground, air, water, natural resources or noise
pollution or contamination, and underground or above ground tanks)
and shall include without limitation, the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act (the Solid Waste Disposal Act), 42 U.S.C. § 6901
et seq.; the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, 42 U.S.C. § 9601 et
seq. (“ CERCLA ”), as amended by the
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (“
SARA ”); the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act,
49 U.S.C. § 1801 et seq.; the Federal Water Pollution
Control Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq.; the Clean Air
Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7401 et seq.; the Toxic Substances
Control Act, 15 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq.; and the Safe
Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300f et seq; and all
similar state or local requirements.
“ Equipment Collateral
” means any and all “Equipment” as that term is
defined in the Security Agreement.
“ ERISA ” means
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended,
and any successor statute thereto.
“ Event of Default
” and “ Events of Default ” shall have the
meanings given to such terms in Section 13.1 hereof.
“ Expiration Date
” shall have the meaning given to such term in the Letter of
Credit.
“ Facility ” means
the “2003 Facility” as that term is defined in the
Indenture.
“ Facility Costs ”
has the meaning given that term in the Indenture.
“ Facility Fund ”
means the Facility Fund created in Section 5.1 of the
Indenture.
“ Government Acts
” shall have the meaning given to such term in
Section 12.3 hereof.
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“ Government Obligations
” has the meaning given that term in
Section 6.1(a) of the Indenture.
“ Governmental Authority
” means any government or any state or other political
subdivision thereof and any entity exercising any executive,
legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of,
or pertaining to, government.
“ Hazardous Materials
” means any and all hazardous or toxic substances, wastes or
materials which, because of their quantity, concentration, or
physical, chemical or infectious characteristics, may cause or pose
a present or potential hazard or nuisance to human health, safety
or welfare or to the environment when used, treated, stored,
disposed of, generated, manufactured, transported or otherwise
handled, including without limitation, any substance, waste or
material which is or contains asbestos, radon, polychlorinated
biphenyls, urea formaldehyde, explosives, radioactive materials or
petroleum products and their constituents.
“ Hazardous Materials
Contamination ” means the contamination of or impact at
(whether presently existing or occurring after the Closing Date)
the Facility, by Hazardous Materials, or the contamination of the
buildings, facilities, soil, water, air, natural resources, or
other elements on, in or about or constituting a part of, the
Facility or adjacent properties as a result of Hazardous Materials
at any time (whether before or after the Closing Date) emanating
from the Facility.
“ Indebtedness ”
with respect to a specified Person as of any date, means all
liabilities, obligations and reserves, contingent or otherwise,
which, in accordance with GAAP, are required to be classified as
liabilities on a balance sheet of such Person as of the date as of
which Indebtedness is to be determined (except items of capital
stock, capital or paid-in surplus or retained earnings and
excluding trade accounts payable and accrued expenses arising in
the ordinary course of business and payable in accordance with
customary practices for businesses comparable to such
Person’s business), but in any event including (without
duplication) (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed
money (whether recourse or non-recourse) or with respect to
deposits or advances of any kind, including, without limitation,
principal, interest, fees and premiums; (b) indebtedness of
such Person evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or similar
instruments; (c) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person;
(d) all liabilities of others secured by any Encumbrance
(whether existing or contingent) on property owned or acquired by
such Person, whether or not the liability secured thereby shall
have been assumed; (e) all obligations of such Person issued
or assumed as the deferred purchase price of assets, services or
securities, including related noncompetition, consulting and stock
repurchase obligations; and (g) all reimbursement obligations,
whether contingent or matured, of such Person with respect to
letters of credit, bankers acceptances, surety bonds and other
financial guarantees (without duplication of other Indebtedness
supported or guaranteed thereby).
“ Indenture ”
means the Trust Indenture of even date herewith between the Issuer
and the Trustee, together with any and all Supplements thereto.
“ Independent Accountant
” means an Independent Person engaged in the accounting
profession, either entitled to practice, or having members or
officers entitled to practice, as a certified public accountant
under the laws of the State and in fact independent, designated
in
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writing by the Borrower and
acceptable to the Bank and qualified to pass upon those matters
required by the Bond Documents or the Letter of Credit Documents to
be passed upon by an Independent Accountant.
“ Independent Architect
” means an Independent Person registered and qualified to
practice the profession of architecture under the laws of the State
and acceptable to the Bank.
“ Independent Counsel
” means an Independent Person duly admitted to practice law
before the highest court of the State.
“ Independent Engineer
” means an Independent Person registered and qualified to
practice the profession of engineering under the laws of the
State.
“ Independent Person
” means a person designated by the Borrower and approved by
the Bank, and not an employee of the Borrower.
“ Initial Disbursement
” has the meaning given that term in Section 8.4(a) of
this Letter of Credit Agreement.
“ Insurance Agreement
” means the Insurance Agreement, dated as of even date
herewith, by and among the Borrower, MIDFA and the Bank pursuant to
which MIDFA, through the Industrial Development Fund, has provided
financial assistance in connection with the Facility by insuring
the payment of a portion of the Borrower’s Letter of Credit
Obligations, together with any and all Supplements thereto.
“ Interest Account
” means the Interest Account created within the Bond Fund
pursuant to Section 5.1 of the Indenture.
“ Interest Drawing
” has the meaning given to that term by the Letter of
Credit.
“ Interest Payment Date
” has the meaning given to that term by the Indenture.
“ Interest Portion
” has the meaning given to that term by the Letter of
Credit.
“ Investments ” in
any Person shall mean any loan or advance to such Person, any
purchase or other acquisition of any capital stock, warrants,
rights, options, obligations or other securities of, or equity
interest in, such Person, any capital contribution to such Person
or any other investment in such Person, including, without
limitation, any guaranty obligation incurred for the benefit of
such Person.
“ Issuer ” means
the Maryland Industrial Development Financing Authority, a body
politic and corporate and a public instrumentality of the State of
Maryland, in its role as issuer of the Bonds.
“ Landlord ” means
Westphalia Center II Limited Partnership, a Maryland limited
partnership, and its successors and assigns.
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“ Landlord Consent
” means that certain Landlord’s Consent and Waiver,
dated as of April 1, 2003, between the Landlord, the Borrower
and the Bank.
“ Lease ” means
that certain Lease, dated as of July 15, 2002, between the
Borrower and Landlord for the premises known as Building
No. 1, Seneca Meadows Corporate Center, 20358, 20360, 20362,
20382, 20384 and 20386 Seneca Meadows Parkway, Germantown, Maryland
20876.
“ Leased Premises
” means a portion of the two (2) story building,
containing approximately 55,000 rentable square feet, located at
20358 Seneca Meadows Parkway, Germantown, Maryland 20876, also know
as Building No. 1 in Seneca Meadows Corporate Center in the
City of Germantown, Montgomery County, Maryland, together with all
rights of the Borrower to such building, the land upon which such
building is located, and all fixtures, equipment and other
improvements in or upon such building and/or land, including
sidewalks, areaways, parking areas, loading areas, gardens and
lawns arising under the Lease.
“ Letter of Credit
” means the Bank’s Irrevocable Transferable Letter of
Credit No. SB-904507-0101 dated the Closing Date, together with any
extension, amendment or renewal thereof or substitution therefor
made in accordance with this Letter of Credit Agreement. The
“Letter of Credit” is a “Credit Facility”
(as defined in the Indenture).
“ Letter of Credit
Agreement ” means this Letter of Credit Agreement,
together with any and all Supplements hereto.
“ Letter of Credit
Documents ” means the Letter of Credit, this Letter of
Credit Agreement, the Collateral/Control Agreement, the Security
Agreement, the Landlord’s Consent, the Insurance Agreement,
the Swap Agreement, the Pledged Bonds Custody Agreement, the Pledge
and Security Agreement and any and all other documents which the
Borrower or any other party or parties or their representatives,
have executed and delivered, or may hereafter execute and deliver,
to evidence or secure the Borrower’s Letter of Credit
Obligations, or any part thereof, or in connection therewith,
together with any and all Supplements thereto. The “Letter of
Credit Documents” constitute “Credit Facility
Documents” (as defined in the Indenture).
“ Letter of Credit Fee
” shall have the meaning given to that term in
Section 4.1(a) of this Letter of Credit Agreement.
“ LIBOR Rate ”
means the fluctuating annual rate of interest which shall at all
times equal the interest rate which the Bank announces and declares
from time to time to be its one (1) month London Interbank
Offered Rate, adjusted for any Federal Reserve Board requirements
imposed on the Bank from time to time. All interest at the LIBOR
Rate or computed thereon shall be calculated on the basis of a
360 day-year factor applied to actual days elapsed and shall
be adjusted on any date on which a change occurs in the LIBOR
Rate.
“ Loan Agreement ”
has the meaning given to that term by the Indenture.
“ Mail ” has the
meaning given to that term by the Indenture.
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“ Mandatory Tender Date
” and “ Mandatory Tender Notice ” each has
the meaning given to that term by the Indenture.
“ Maximum Rate ”
has the meaning given to that term by the Indenture.
“ MIDFA ” means
Maryland Industrial Development Financing Authority, a body politic
and corporate and a public instrumentality of the State of
Maryland, in its role as insurer of the Bonds.
“ MIDFA Act ” has
the meaning given to that term by the Indenture.
“ MIDFA’s Subrogation
Rights ” means all of MIDFA’s rights of
subrogation, as set forth in the Insurance Agreement and any of the
other Letter of Credit Documents or the Bond Documents and as may
otherwise be available under law.
“ Moody’s ”
means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, its
successors and assigns, and, if such corporation shall for any
reason no longer perform the functions of a securities rating
agency, “Moody’s” shall be deemed to refer to any
other nationally recognized rating agency designated by the
Borrower with the approval of the Issuer.
“ Net Proceeds ”
means, when used with respect to any Condemnation Award or
insurance proceeds allocable to the Facility (including, without
limitation, title insurance), the gross proceeds from a
Condemnation Award or insurance proceeds (including, without
limitation, the proceeds of title insurance) so allocable, with
respect to which that term is used, remaining after payment of all
expenses (including attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred in
the collection of such gross proceeds.
“ Net Proceeds Escrow
Fund ” means the Net Proceeds Escrow Fund created in
Section 5.1 of the Indenture.
“ Other Bank Obligations
” means any and all obligations of any nature whatsoever owed
by the Borrower to the Bank (other than the Letter of Credit
Obligations under this Letter of Credit Agreement) including
without limitation any letter of credit issued after the Closing
Date by the Bank for the benefit of the Landlord.
“ Optional Tender Date
” and “ Optional Tender Notice ” each has
the meaning given to that term by the Indenture.
“ Outstanding ”,
“ outstanding ” or “ Bonds
Outstanding ” has the meaning given to that term by the
Indenture.
“ Owner ” or
“ Owners ” or “ Owner of Bonds
” or “ Owners of Bonds ” means the person
or persons in whose name any Bond is registered on the books of the
Issuer maintained by the Registrar.
“ Paying Agent ”
means the Trustee, or any successor Paying Agent appointed under
the Indenture.
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“ Penalty Rate ”
means the fluctuating rate per annum which, unless the Bank
determines in its sole discretion to set a lower rate, is equal to
the Reimbursement Rate plus one and one-half percent (1
1/2%) per annum.
“ Permitted Encumbrances
” has the meaning given to that term in the Security
Agreement.
“ Permitted Investments
” has the meanings given to that term in Section 6.1 of
the Indenture and the Collateral/Control Agreement.
“ Person ” or
“ person ” means any natural person, firm,
association, corporation, company, trust, partnership, public body
or other entity.
“ Placement and Remarketing
Agreement ” means (a) the Placement and Remarketing
Agreement of even date herewith by and among the Remarketing Agent,
the Issuer and the Borrower, together with any and all Supplements
thereto, and (b) any other Remarketing Agreement or similar
agreement by and among the Remarketing Agent, the Issuer and the
Borrower, pursuant to which the Remarketing Agent agrees to use its
best efforts to remarket and sell Bonds Tendered or Deemed Tendered
for Purchase, together with any and all Supplements thereto.
“ Plan ” means any
pension, profit sharing, savings or stock bonus plan established or
maintained by the Borrower or any commonly controlled entity of the
Borrower that is intended to satisfy the qualification requirements
under Code §401 and is subject to the requirements of ERISA,
together with any related trusts.
“ Plans and
Specifications ” means, as applicable, the plans and
specifications and any amendments thereto from time to time
approved by the Bank with respect to the Facility.
“ Pledge and Security
Agreement ” means (a) the Pledge and Security
Agreement of even date herewith, by and between the Borrower and
the Bank, together with any and all Supplements thereto, and
(b) any other pledge and security agreement or similar
agreement between the Borrower and the Credit Facility Provider
pursuant to which Pledged Bonds are pledged as security for the
Borrower’s Credit Facility Obligations, together with any and
all Supplements thereto.
“ Pledged Bonds ”
means Bonds that, subsequent to a Bond Purchase Principal Drawing,
are delivered to and held by the Pledged Bonds Custodian as
security for the Borrower’s Letter of Credit Obligations and
registered as directed by the Bank.
“ Pledged Bonds
Custodian ” means Allfirst Trust Company, National
Association, as agent for the Bank under the Pledged Bonds Custody
Agreement, or any successor custodian of the Pledged Bonds acting
as the Bank’s agent.
“ Pledged Bonds Custody
Agreement ” means the Pledged Bonds Custody Agreement of
even date herewith by and among the Bank, the Borrower and the
Pledged Bonds Custodian, together with any and all Supplements
thereto.
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“ Prime Rate ”
means (a) with respect to the interest rate on any moneys owed
to the Bank or the Trustee (so long as Allfirst Trust Company,
National Association serves as the Trustee) bearing interest at or
based on the Prime Rate pursuant to the Letter of Credit Documents
or the Bond Documents, the greater of: (i) the floating and
fluctuating per annum prime rate of interest of the Bank,
established and declared by the Bank from time to time, which rate
of interest may or may not constitute the lowest rate of interest
charged by the Bank to borrowers, and (ii) the average rate,
rounded to the nearest one-tenth of one percent (.1%), for ninety
(90) day maturity dealer placed commercial paper for the week most
recently reported in the Federal Reserve Statistical Release
No. H.15 (519), entitled “Selected Interest Rates”
(or any succeeding publication); provided , however ,
that if such rates shall cease to be published, the Bank may
select, in its sole and absolute discretion, a comparable index as
a successor source for such rates, (b) with respect to the
interest rate on any moneys owed to any person other than the Bank
bearing interest at or based on the Prime Rate pursuant to the
Letter of Credit Documents or the Bond Documents, the prime rate of
interest established and declared by the Bank from time to time,
and (c) with respect to the interest rate on any moneys owed
to the Trustee (other than Allfirst Trust Company, National
Association) bearing interest at or based on the Prime Rate, the
rate of interest as established and declared by the Trustee or a
commercial lending affiliate of the Trustee as its prime lending
rate for loans in the city in which the Principal Office of the
Trustee is located, or if no such rate is available, the prime rate
of interest as described in clause (b) above. All interest at
the Prime Rate or computed thereon shall be calculated on the basis
of a 360-day year factor applied to the actual number of days
elapsed and shall be adjusted on any date on which a change occurs
in the Prime Rate.
“ Principal Account
” means the Principal Account created within the Bond Fund
pursuant to Section 5.1 of the Indenture.
“ Principal Drawing
” has the meaning given to that term by the Letter of
Credit.
“ Principal Office
” means, with respect to the Trustee, the Registrar, the
Paying Agent, the Remarketing Agent or the Bank, the office
designated as such, from time to time, by the respective party in
writing to the Issuer, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the
Registrar, the Remarketing Agent, and the Bank.
“ Principal Portion
” has the meaning given to that term by the Letter of
Credit.
“ Properly Margined
” has the meaning given to that term by the
Collateral/Control Agreement.
“ Purchase Account
” means the Purchase Account created within the Bond Fund
pursuant to Section 5.1 of the Indenture.
“ Rating Agencies
” means Moody’s and S&P.
“ Record Date ”
has the meaning given to that term by the Indenture.
“ Registrar ” or
“ Bond Registrar ” means the Trustee, or any
successor Registrar appointed under the Indenture.
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“ Reimbursement Rate
” means the fluctuating rate of interest which is at all
times equal to the Prime Rate, plus two percent (2%) per annum.
“ Remarketing Agent
” means Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company, a New York
banking corporation, or any successor Remarketing Agent appointed
under the Indenture.
“ Required Post Closing
Documents ” means all of the documents listed on
Exhibit B attached hereto and made a part hereof.
“ Resolution ” has
the meaning given to that term by the Indenture.
“ Securities
Intermediary ” means Allfirst Trust Company, National
Association, a national banking association, having its Principal
Office in Baltimore, Maryland, and its successor or successors in
the trust created by the Indenture.
“ Security Agreement
” means that certain Security Agreement of even date herewith
by and between the Borrower and the Bank.
“ S&P ” means
Standard & Poor’s Corporation, a corporation organized
and existing under the laws of the State of New York, its
successors and their assigns, and, if such corporation shall for
any reason no longer perform the functions of a securities rating
agency, “S&P” shall be deemed to refer to any other
nationally recognized securities rating agency designated by the
Borrower with the approval of the Issuer.
“ State ” means
the State of Maryland.
“ Stated Amount ”
has the meaning given to that term by the Letter of Credit.
“ Subsidiary ” and
“ Subsidiaries ” means any present or future
corporation(s) at least a majority of whose outstanding voting
stock shall at the time be owned by the Borrower or by one or more
Subsidiaries of the Borrower or by the Borrower and one or more of
its Subsidiaries.
“ Supplement ” or
“ Supplements ” means any and all extensions,
renewals, modifications, amendments, supplements and
substitutions.
“ Swap Agreement ”
means, collectively, any ISDA Master Agreement and attached
Schedules executed and delivered at any time and from time to time
whether before or on or after the Closing Date by the Borrower and
the Bank, and any and all other documents relating to such Master
Agreement, and any and all replacements of or substitutions for
such Master Agreement or such other documents, as any such Master
Agreement and other documents with attached Schedules or any such
replacement or substitution thereof may at any time or from time to
time be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified.
“ Swap Obligations
” means and includes all present and future indebtedness,
obligations and liabilities of the Borrower to the Bank of any
nature whatsoever under or in connection with the Swap Agreement,
whether such indebtedness, obligations and liabilities are direct
or indirect, secured or unsecured, joint or several, absolute or
contingent, due or to become due, or now
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existing or hereafter
arising. The Swap Obligations constitute part of the
Borrower’s Letter of Credit Obligations.
“ Taxes ” means
all taxes, water rents, sewer rents, assessments and other
governmental or municipal or public or private dues, charges and
levies and any prior liens (including federal tax liens) for the
Taxes which are or may be levied, imposed or assessed upon the
Facility or any part thereof, or any leases pertaining thereto, or
upon the rents, issues, income or profits thereof, whether any or
all of the aforementioned be levied directly or indirectly or as
excise taxes or as income taxes.
“ Tender Date ”
has the meaning given to that term by the Indenture.
“ Termination Date
” has the meaning given to that term by the Indenture.
“ Trust Estate ”
has the meaning given to that term by the Indenture.
“ Trustee ” means
Allfirst Trust Company, National Association, a national banking
association, having its Principal Office in Baltimore, Maryland,
and its successor or successors in the trust created by the
Indenture.
“ Uniform Commercial
Code ” or “ UCC ” means the Uniform
Commercial Code of Maryland and the Uniform Commercial Code of any
other applicable jurisdiction.
“ Variable Rate ”
has the meaning given to that term by the Indenture.
SECTION 1.2. Accounting Terms.
Unless specifically provided otherwise, all accounting terms have
the definitions given them in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles (“ GAAP ”) as applied to
the applicable person on a consistent basis by its accountants in
the preparation of its previous annual financial statements.
SECTION 1.3. Rules of
Construction . The words “hereof”,
“herein”, “hereunder”,
“hereto”, and other words of similar import refer to
this Letter of Credit Agreement in its entirety.
The terms “agree” and
“agreements” contained herein are intended to include
and mean “covenant” and “covenants”.
References to Articles, Sections, and
other subdivisions of this Letter of Credit Agreement are to the
designated Articles, Sections, and other subdivisions of this
Letter of Credit Agreement as originally executed.
The headings of this Letter of Credit
Agreement are for convenience only and shall not define or limit
the provisions hereof.
All references made (a) in the
neuter, masculine or feminine gender shall be deemed to have been
made in all such genders, and (b) in the singular or plural
number shall be deemed to have been made, respectively, in the
plural or singular number as well.
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ARTICLE II.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF LETTER
OF CREDIT AGREEMENT;
DURATION OF TERM
SECTION 2.1. Effective Date of
Letter of Credit Agreement; Duration of Term . This Letter of
Credit Agreement shall become effective on the Closing Date and
shall continue in full force and effect until (a) the Letter
of Credit has expired as therein provided, and (b) all of
the Borrower’s Letter of Credit Obligations have been fully
performed and satisfied.
In the event that an Act of
Bankruptcy has occurred, then this Letter of Credit Agreement shall
continue in full force and effect, and shall not expire, until
(a) the Letter of Credit has expired in accordance with its
terms, (b) all of the Borrower’s Letter of Credit
Obligations have been fully performed and satisfied, and
(c) either (i) a final order has been issued, holding
that the Bank is not required to return any funds it has received
from the Borrower, or (ii) all statutes of limitation relating
to Section 547 of the Bankruptcy Code have expired.
ARTICLE III.
ISSUANCE OF LETTER OF CREDIT; SECURITY
SECTION 3.1. Issuance of Letter of
Credit . The Bank agrees, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions contained in this Letter of Credit Agreement, to issue
the Letter of Credit for the account of the Borrower and in favor
of the Trustee and its transferees, in the initial Stated Amount of
$12,197,260.00, consisting of $12,000,000 of principal and $197,260
in interest, computed at 50 days’ at an assumed maximum
rate of interest of 12% per annum. The Letter of Credit shall be
issued and become effective on the Closing Date and shall expire in
accordance with its terms. The Letter of Credit shall be in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit A and made a part
hereof.
The Stated Amount may be reduced,
reinstated or increased to any amount not exceeding $12,197,260.00
from time to time, all as set forth in the Letter of Credit. The
Stated Amount shall be reduced annually by an amount equal to the
actual aggregate Sinking Fund Installments which have occurred
during the twelve month period ending on each anniversary date of
the issuance of the Letter of Credit.
The Bank shall have no obligation
whatsoever to extend the effectiveness of the Letter of Credit
beyond its stated Expiration Date. Any extension of the Expiration
Date of the Letter of Credit shall be made by the Bank in its sole
and absolute discretion.
SECTION 3.2. Security . The
Borrower’s Letter of Credit Obligations are secured by the
Letter of Credit Documents. As additional security for the
Borrower’s Letter of Credit Obligations, the Borrower hereby
assigns and pledges to the Bank, its successors and assigns, and
grants to the Bank, its successors and assigns, a continuing
security interest in and lien on the following:
(a) The interest of the Borrower
in the Facility Fund and in the Net Proceeds Escrow Fund and in all
sub-accounts created and maintained under any of such funds;
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(b) All right, title and
interest of the Borrower in and to (but not the Borrower’s
obligations under) the Swap Agreement;
(c) All right, title and
interest of the Borrower in and to the Pledged Bonds; and
(d) All the assets of the
Borrower in which the Borrower granted to the Bank a security
interest under the Security Agreement and the Collateral/Control
Agreement.
The Borrower agrees, that with
respect to the security described in this Section, the Bank, its
successors and assigns, shall have all of the rights and remedies
of a secured party under the Uniform Commercial Code.
With respect only to the security
described in subsection (a) above, the security interest
granted to the Bank hereunder to secure the Borrower’s Letter
of Credit Obligations is subordinate to the security interest
granted to the Trustee and the Owners under the Indenture to secure
the Issuer’s Bond Obligations.
SECTION 3.3. Loss to Security
. The Bank shall not be liable for any loss to any security in its
possession other than due to the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of the Bank, nor shall such loss diminish the
Borrower’s Letter of Credit Obligations.
SECTION 3.4. Borrower’s
Covenants Pertaining to Security . The Borrower agrees that,
with respect to the security described in Section 3.2 and in
the other Letter of Credit Documents, the Borrower will not
transfer, sell, assign, or otherwise dispose of its interest in any
of such security, nor permit any other security interest to be
created therein, without the prior written consent of the Bank,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
SECTION 3.5. Conditions Precedent
to Issuance of Letter of Credit . The Bank’s obligation
to issue and deliver the Letter of Credit shall be subject to the
fulfillment of the following conditions precedent:
(a) Insurance . The Bank
shall have received certificates of insurance reflecting the
insurance coverages required to be provided by the Borrower under
the Letter of Credit Documents and the Bond Documents, with the
Bank named as an additional insured, as their interests may appear,
and where appropriate, loss payee/mortgagee, and such insurance
shall be satisfactory to the Bank in all respects.
(b) Certain Documents and
Closing Conditions . The Bank shall have received a fully
executed counterpart of each of the following agreements to which
the applicable entity is a party, or evidence of satisfaction of
the following closing conditions, as the case may be:
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(i) |
this Letter of Credit Agreement; |
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| |
(ii) |
the Collateral/Control Agreement; |
| |
| |
(iii) |
the Landlord’s Consent; |
| |
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(iv) |
the Security Agreement; |
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(v) |
the Financing Statements; |
| |
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(vi) |
a copy of the Lease, which provides for a minimum initial term
of at least ten (10) years; |
| |
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(vii) |
the Insurance Agreement; |
| |
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(viii) |
the Swap Agreement; |
| |
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(ix) |
the Completion Certificate; |
| |
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(x) |
the Contractor Certificate;
|
| |
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(xi) |
the Architect Certificate; |
| |
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(xii) |
copies of the fully executed Bond Documents; and |
| |
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(xiii) |
fully executed copies of any contracts (including, but not
limited to the Construction Contract, the Architect’s
Contract and the contract with the project manager), the public
works agreements or other agreements executed by the Borrower in
connection with the acquisition or construction of the Facility, in
form and substance approved by the Bank. |
Each of the aforementioned documents,
to the extent the same constitutes an agreement or undertaking,
shall have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of
the parties thereto and shall be in full force and effect.
(c) Filings and
Recordation . All filings and recordings required hereunder or
under the Collateral/Control Agreement, and/or the Security
Agreement shall have been made, or shall have been arranged to be
made promptly thereafter, in the appropriate places or offices,
including any recordings and filings necessary to create, preserve
and protect the Bank’s valid and binding security interests
described herein and in the Collateral/Control Agreement and the
Security Agreement. All recording and filing fees and taxes with
respect to any recordings or filings made pursuant to this section
or otherwise payable in respect of the Letter of Credit Documents
shall have been paid in full by the Borrower, and satisfactory
evidence thereof shall have been delivered to the Bank, or
arrangements for such payment shall have been made to the
satisfaction of the Bank.
(d) Consents and
Approvals . All approvals and consents required to be taken,
given or obtained, as the case may be, by or from any governmental
authority or pursuant to the Borrower’s Certificate of
Incorporation and/or Bylaws, that are necessary or, in the
reasonable opinion of the Bank, advisable in connection with the
execution, delivery and performance of the Letter of Credit
Documents by the Borrower, shall have been taken, given or obtained
as the case may be, shall be in full force and effect and the time
for appeal with respect thereto shall have expired (or, if an
appeal shall have been taken, the same shall have been dismissed)
and shall not be subject to any pending proceedings or appeals
(administrative, judicial or otherwise).
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(e) Opinion of Counsel .
The Bank shall have received:
| |
(i) |
the opinion of Schmeltzer, Aptaker & Shepard, P.C., counsel
to the Borrower, covering such matters and in the form as the Bank
shall request; |
| |
| |
(ii) |
the opinion of counsel to MIDFA covering such matters and in
the form as the Bank shall request; and |
| |
| |
(iii) |
the opinion of Bond Counsel addressed to, among others, the
Bank. |
(f) Corporate Status and
Proceedings of Borrower . The Bank shall have received copies
of:
| |
(i) |
certificates of existence and good standing with respect to the
Borrower, from the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and
a certificate of qualification to do business and good standing
from the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation,
dated as of a recent date; |
| |
| |
(ii) |
a certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
Borrower, in each case attaching and certifying as to (1) the
resolutions of its Board of Directors or similar body and/or other
authorized persons duly authorizing the execution, delivery and
performance by it of each Letter of Credit Document and the Bond
Documents to which it is or will be a party, (2) its certificate of
incorporation, as the case may be, certified as of a recent date by
the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, (3) its
by-laws and (4) the incumbency and signature of persons
authorized to execute and deliver on its behalf the Letter of
Credit Documents and the Bond Documents to which it is a
party. |
(g) Litigation . No
action or proceeding shall have been instituted or threatened nor
shall any government action be instituted or threatened against the
Borrower before any governmental authority, nor shall any order,
judgment or decree have been issued or proposed to be issued by any
governmental authority, to set aside, restrain, enjoin or prevent
the performance of this Letter of Credit Agreement or any other
Letter of Credit Documents or the Bond Documents or any transaction
contemplated hereby or thereby.
(h) No Event of Loss .
No casualty or loss shall have occurred in respect of the Facility.
No action shall be pending or threatened by a governmental
authority to initiate a condemnation or a taking by such
governmental authority in respect of the Facility.
(i) Payment of Certain
Fees .
| |
(i) |
Certain Fees . The Borrower shall have paid to the Bank,
on or before the Closing Date, the following fees: (1) the
Letter of Credit Fee in the approximate amount of $231,747.94 as
required under Section 4.1(a) hereof; (2) the remaining
balance of the Commitment Fee in the approximate amount of $42,000;
(3) the remaining balance of the |
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| |
|
Placement Fee in the approximate amount of $91,000;
(4) the letter of credit issuance fee in the approximate
amount of $2,000; and (5) the Negotiation Fee in the amount of
$1,200 as required under Section 4.1(b) hereof. |
| |
| |
(ii) |
Payment of Certain Construction Review Fees . The
Borrower shall have paid the following amounts to the Bank, on or
before the Closing Date, in connection with the tenant improvements
to the Facility: (1) $2,100 for review of the project budget and
the Plans and Specifications and (2) $2,500 for construction
inspection of the Facility. |
| |
| |
(iii) |
Filing and Recordation Fees . The Borrower shall have
paid to the Bank, or to such parties as designated by the Bank, on
or before the Closing Date, all fees or costs paid or incurred, or
to be paid or incurred, by the Bank in connection with the filing
or recordation of any of the Letter of Credit Documents. |
| |
| |
(iv) |
MIDFA’s Insurance Premium . The Borrower shall
have paid to MIDFA on or before the Closing Date the
Authority’s Insurance Premium (as defined in the Insurance
Agreement) as required under the Insurance Agreement. |
| |
| |
(v) |
Attorneys Fees and Other Fees . The Borrower shall have
paid on or before the Closing Date, to the parties identified by
the Bank, the legal fees and costs incurred by the Bank in
connection with the preparation of the Letter of Credit
Documents. |
(j) Other Deliveries .
The Borrower shall also deliver the following items, each to the
reasonable satisfaction of the Bank:
| |
(i) |
Evidence of compliance with all zoning and building laws and
regulations and ordinances applicable to the Facility; |
| |
| |
(ii) |
A copy of the Plans and Specifications; |
| |
| |
(iii) |
A draw schedule; |
| |
| |
(iv) |
Copies of necessary building permits for the Facility and the
Certificate of Occupancy; |
| |
| |
(v) |
Evidence of availability of all utilities necessary for the
operation of the Facility, including telephone, electric, water and
sewer capacity; |
| |
| |
(vi) |
Lien releases from each subcontractor, materialman and mechanic
which has been paid in full as of the Closing Date; |
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| |
(vii) |
Invoices detailing those amounts of the Facility Costs paid by
the Borrower as of the Closing Date for which the Borrower is
requesting an Initial Disbursement; |
| |
| |
(viii) |
Such other evidence of performance of all of the covenants and
satisfaction of all of the conditions required by the Borrower by
this Letter of Credit Agreement or as the Bank’s counsel may
require at or before the Closing. |
ARTICLE IV.
AGREEMENTS WITH RESPECT
TO LETTER OF CREDIT
SECTION 4.1. Letter of Credit Fee;
Negotiation Fee; Monitoring Fee .
(a) Letter of Credit Fee
. The Borrower agrees to pay to the Bank an annual Letter of Credit
fee (the “ Letter of Credit Fee ”) of 1.90% of
the outstanding Stated Amount of the Letter of Credit in cash
(without regard for the amount of any reduction in the Principal
Portion or the Interest Portion as a result of a Bond Purchase
Drawing or an Interest Drawing which amount is to be automatically
reinstated in accordance with the provisions of the Letter of
Credit) over each one-year period from and including the Closing
Date until the Letter of Credit expires, which Letter of Credit Fee
shall be payable annually in advance with the first payment to be
made on the Closing Date, and to cover the period from the Closing
Date through the date immediately preceding the first anniversary
date of the Closing Date and subsequent payments to be made on the
anniversary date of the Closing Date in each and every year,
continuing until the Letter of Credit expires. If, prior to the end
of any year for which the Letter of Credit Fee has been paid, the
Letter of Credit expires or is otherwise terminated, the Bank will
refund to the Borrower a pro-rata portion of the Letter of Credit
Fee.
(b) Negotiation Fee .
The Borrower also agrees to pay to the Bank an annual negotiation
fee (the “ Negotiation Fee ”) in the amount of
$1,200 for each one-year period from and including the Closing Date
until the Letter of Credit expires, which Negotiation Fee shall be
payable annually in advance with the first payment to be made on
the Closing Date and to cover the period from the Closing Date
through the date immediately preceding the first anniversary date
of the Closing Date and subsequent payments to be made on the
anniversary date of the Closing Date in each and every year,
continuing until the Letter of Credit expires. Payment of the
amount of $1,200 by the Borrower shall be deemed to be payment in
full of the Negotiation Fee for each one-year period for which such
amount represents payment therefor, and the Borrower shall have no
further liability therefor, regardless of the actual number of
sight drafts which are presented for payment by the Bank under the
Letter of Credit during each such one-year period. If, prior to the
end of any year for which the Negotiation Fee has been paid, the
Letter of Credit expires or the Stated Amount is reduced, the Bank
will not refund any portion of the Negotiation Fee.
(c) Amendment to Letter of
Credit Fee . Upon any amendment to the Letter of Credit
subsequent to the Closing Date, the Borrower shall pay to the Bank
an amendment fee of $500.
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(d) Inspection Fee . The
Borrower shall pay to the Bank a fee for the monthly inspections to
be performed by the Bank’s Commercial Real Estate Department
or its assignee under this Letter of Credit Agreement in the amount
of $500.00 per visit.
(e) Monitoring Fee . The
Borrower shall pay to the Bank a fee in the amount of $250.00 per
month for the Bank’s monthly covenant compliance review of
the Borrower to be performed by the Bank’s Commercial Real
Estate Department or its assignee.
SECTION 4.2. Transfer of Letter of
Credit . The Letter of Credit may be transferred and assigned
in accordance with the terms of the Letter of Credit. The Borrower
shall pay to the Bank the transfer charge payable to the Bank
pursuant to the Letter of Credit, plus interest thereon as provided
in Section 5.1 hereof.
SECTION 4.3. Payment of
Certificates Under the Letter of Credit . The Borrower hereby
instructs the Bank to pay any certificate complying with the terms
of the Letter of Credit. The Borrower authorizes the Bank to
receive or pay as complying with the terms of the Letter of Credit
any certificate or other documents under or purported to be under
the Letter of Credit which are otherwise in order but are signed
by, or issued to, any administrator, executor, assignee for the
benefit of creditors, trustee in bankruptcy or receiver for any
property of the beneficiary or any other party in whose name it is
provided in the Letter of Credit that any certificate or other
documents thereunder should be drawn. The Bank and its branches,
affiliates or correspondents shall not be responsible for, and the
Borrower shall indemnify and hold the Bank and its branches,
affiliates or correspondents harmless from and against, any and all
liability, loss and expense (including reasonable attorney’s
fees and costs) incurred by the Bank or its branches, affiliates or
correspondents relative to or as a consequence of any of the
following (other than due to the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of the Bank): (a) any failure by the Borrower to
perform the Borrower’s agreements hereunder, (b) this
Letter of Credit Agreement, the Letter of Credit and any
certificate(s) under or purported to be under the Letter of Credit,
(c) any action taken or omitted by the Bank or its branches,
affiliates or correspondents at the request of the Borrower, or (d)
any consequences arising from causes beyond the control of the Bank
or its branches, affiliates or correspondents. Any and all of the
following provisions may be waived by the Bank in its sole
discretion, and the Bank and its branches, affiliates or
correspondents shall not be liable or responsible in any respect
for any noncompliance therewith or waiver thereof: (a) any
requirement for certificates under or purported to be under the
Letter of Credit to bear a reference to or otherwise identify, the
Letter of Credit, (b) any requirement that the amount of any
certificates under or purported to be under the Letter of Credit be
noted on the Letter of Credit, (c) any requirement that
documents physically accompany any certificate at negotiation,
(d) any requirement that any party send documents physically
apart from any certificate or acceptance, or (e) any
requirement that the Trustee or any other beneficiary of the Letter
of Credit surrender the Letter of Credit for any reason whatsoever.
The Bank and its branches or affiliates shall not be liable or
responsible in any respect for any error, neglect, default or
breach by any of its correspondents in connection with the Letter
of Credit (other than due to the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of the Bank). None of the above shall affect, impair or
prevent the vesting of any of the Bank’s rights or powers
hereunder or constitute a defense to the enforceability of any
right, power or remedy of the Bank hereunder.
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All certificates paid under the
Letter of Credit shall be paid solely from the funds of the Bank
and not from any funds of the Borrower.
The provisions of this Section shall
survive the expiration of the Letter of Credit and the termination
of the Letter of Credit Documents.
SECTION 4.4. Amendment of Letter
of Credit . The Letter of Credit may be amended, modified or
revoked only upon the receipt by the Bank from the Borrower and the
Trustee or other beneficiary of the Letter of Credit (including any
transferee(s) of the original beneficiary of the Letter of Credit)
of a written consent and request therefor, and then only upon such
terms and conditions as the Bank may prescribe. In the event of
(a) the extension of the Expiration Date of the Letter of
Credit, (b) the extension of the time for the drawing,
negotiation, presentation or of the maturity of any drafts or other
documents under or purported to be under the Letter of Credit,
(c) an increase in the amount of the Letter of Credit, or
(d) any other modification of the terms of the Letter of
Credit of any nature whatsoever, this Letter of Credit Agreement
shall be binding upon the Borrower with regard to the Letter of
Credit so extended, increased or otherwise modified and without
regard to any and all actions, inaction and omissions of the Bank,
its branches, affiliates and correspondents in connection
therewith. The Stated Amount may be reduced, reinstated or
increased from time to time, all as provided in this Letter of
Credit Agreement or the Letter of Credit and subject to
Section 4.1(c) hereof.
SECTION 4.5. Liability of the Bank
for Use of the Letter of Credit . The Borrower assumes all
risks of the acts or omissions of the Borrower, the Issuer, the
Trustee, and any beneficiary or transferee of the Letter of Credit
with respect to the use of the Letter of Credit. Neither the Bank
nor any of its officers or directors shall be liable or responsible
for (other than due to the gross negligence or willful misconduct
of the Bank): (a) the use which may be made of the Letter of
Credit or for any acts or omissions of the Borrower, the Issuer,
the Trustee, and any beneficiary or transferee in connection
therewith, (b) the form, validity, sufficiency, accuracy,
genuineness or legal effect of any document submitted by any party
in connection with the application for and issuance of the Letter
of Credit, or of any endorsement(s) thereon, even if such document
should in fact prove to be in any or all respects invalid,
insufficient, inaccurate, fraudulent or forged, (c) payment by
the Bank against presentation of documents which substantially
comply with the terms of the Letter of Credit, including failure of
any documents to bear any reference or adequate reference to the
Letter of Credit, (d) the validity or sufficiency of any
instrument transferring or assigning or purporting to transfer or
assign the Letter of Credit, or the rights or benefits thereunder
or proceeds thereof, in whole or in part, which may prove to be
invalid or ineffective for any reason, (e) the failure of the
Trustee or any transferee of the Letter of Credit to comply fully
with conditions required in order to draw upon the Letter of
Credit, (f) errors, omissions, interruptions or delays in
transmission or delivery of any messages, by Mail, cable,
telegraph, telex or otherwise, whether or not they be in cipher,
(g) any loss or delay in the transmission or otherwise of any
document required in order to make a drawing under the Letter of
Credit or of the proceeds thereof, or (h) any other
circumstances whatsoever in making or failing to make payment under
the Letter of Credit. In connection with the foregoing, the Bank
may accept in good faith documents that appear on their face to be
in order, without responsibility for further investigation,
regardless of any notice or information to the contrary. None of
the above shall affect, impair or prevent the vesting of any of the
Bank’s rights or
- 22
powers hereunder or
constitute a defense to the enforceability of any right, power or
remedy of the Bank hereunder.
In furtherance and extension and not
in limitation of the specific provisions hereinabove set forth, any
action taken or omitted by the Bank, under or in connection with
the Letter of Credit or the related drafts or document(s), if taken
or omitted in good faith, shall be binding on the Borrower and
shall not put the Bank under any resulting liability to the
Borrower.
The provisions of this Section and of
Sections 4.3 and 4.6 and of Article XII hereof shall
survive the expiration of the Letter of Credit and the termination
of the Letter of Credit Documents.
SECTION 4.6. Expenses . The
Borrower shall pay, or provide for the payment of, all fees,
commissions, costs, charges, taxes and other expenses incurred by
the Bank and by any of its agents, employees and representatives in
connection with (i) the issuance of the Letter of Credit,
(ii) the documentation and consummation of the transactions
contemplated by the Bond Documents, and the Letter of Credit
Documents, including (without limitation), in all such cases, fees
and expenses of the Bank’s legal counsel, Bond Counsel, fees
and charges, if any, for surveys, title reports and title
insurance, hazard, liability and other insurance, bond premiums,
brokerage fees and commissions, mortgage taxes, transfer taxes and
all filing and recording fees, charges, costs and taxes and
appraisal fees, and (iii) the administration of the Letter of
Credit Documents and the enforcement of all rights and remedies of
the Bank thereunder, in all cases whether now payable or hereafter
arising or becoming payable. In no event, however, shall any income
taxes or franchise taxes of the Bank, measured by income, or taxes
in lieu of such income taxes or franchise taxes be required to be
paid by the Borrower.
SECTION 4.7. Bank’s Right to
Cure or Avoid Defaults Under Documents . Solely for the purpose
of protecting the Bank’s security interest under the Letter
of Credit Documents, the Bank, in its sole and absolute discretion,
without any request therefor from the Borrower and without waiving
any of its rights hereunder, may (but shall have no obligation to
do so) elect to cure or avoid any default by the Borrower under the
Bond Documents, the Lease or the Letter of Credit Documents by
advancing or paying to any person any amount then due and owing by
the Issuer or the Borrower, as the case may be, to such person, for
the account of the Borrower. The Bank shall provide the Borrower
with notice prior to making any advance to cure or avoid a default
by the Borrower under the Bond Documents or under the Letter of
Credit Documents; provided, however, that (a) no such prior
notice shall be required if, in the judgment of the Bank exercised
in good faith, the delay attendant thereto could result in the
impairment of any of the security for the Borrower’s Letter
of Credit Obligations, (b) the Bank shall provide notice to
the Borrower promptly following the making of any such advance if
prior notice had not been given, and (c) any failure to
provide any notice described in this sentence shall not result in
the Bank suffering or incurring any liability or penalty, except
that if and for so long as no Event of Default shall have occurred,
the Bank shall accrue interest on the amount of such advance at the
Reimbursement Rate (and not the Penalty Rate). Any such advances
made by the Bank to cure or avoid a default under the Bond
Documents or under the Letter of Credit Documents shall be deemed
to be advances made by the Bank to the Borrower and shall be part
of the Borrower’s Letter of Credit Obligations secured by the
Letter of Credit Documents. The Borrower hereby irrevocably and
unconditionally authorizes the making of such advances, and
promises and
- 23
agrees to repay such
advances in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.1 of
this Letter of Credit Agreement.
SECTION 4.8. Bank’s
Obligation . The Bank shall exercise good faith and observe
general and customary banking practices in the performance of its
obligations under the Letter of Credit Documents.
SECTION 4.9. Annual Reduction of
Stated Amount . The Principal Portion of the Letter of Credit
shall be reduced on each anniversary of the Closing Date in
accordance with the amortization schedule set forth on
Schedule A hereto. The Borrower agrees to give notice
to the Trustee, in accordance with the terms of the Bond Documents,
prior to such anniversary date, instructing the Trustee to redeem a
portion of the Bonds as of such anniversary date, in an amount
equal to such reduction in the Principal Portion. In addition, the
Borrower agrees to deposit with the Bank within forty-eight
(48) hours of delivering such notice to the Trustee, funds in
an amount equal to such Principal Portion reduction, plus the
amount of the Interest Drawing to be paid in connection therewith,
which funds will be used by the Bank to reimburse the Bank for the
amount of any Principal Drawing and Interest Drawing made by the
Trustee in connection with such Principal Portion reduction.
ARTICLE V.
PAYMENT PROVISIONS
SECTION 5.1. Reimbursement and
Other Payments . The Borrower hereby unconditionally promises
to pay to the Bank:
(a) immediately on demand by the
Bank, a sum equal to (i) any amount drawn under, or paid by
the Bank in good faith under, the Letter of Credit pursuant to a
Bond Purchase Principal Drawing plus (ii) interest on
such amount as provided in subsection (j) below;
(b) immediately and no later
than 2:00 p.m. (without the necessity of any demand by or notice
from the Bank) on each date that the Bank pays any amount drawn
under, or paid by the Bank in good faith under, the Letter of
Credit pursuant to a Principal Drawing or an Interest Drawing or an
Acceleration Drawing, a sum equal to (i) such amount so drawn
under, or paid by the Bank in good faith under, the Letter of
Credit pursuant to a Principal Drawing or an Interest Drawing or an
Acceleration Drawing, plus (ii) interest on such amount
as provided in subsection (j) below;
(c) immediately on demand by the
Bank, any amount drawn under, or paid by the Bank in good faith
under, the Letter of Credit pursuant to a Bond Purchase Interest
Drawing, a sum equal to (i) such amount so drawn under, or
paid by the Bank in good faith under, the Letter of Credit pursuant
to a Bond Purchase Interest Drawing, plus (ii) interest
on such amount as provided in subsection (j) below;
(d) immediately on demand by the
Bank, a sum equal to (i) any and all reasonable charges and
expenses (excluding the Bank’s internal overhead) which the
Bank may pay or incur relative to the payment of any draft drawn
under, or paid by the Bank in good faith under, the
- 24
Letter of Credit or in
connection with any amendment or extension of or substitution for
or renewal of the Letter of Credit, plus (ii) interest
thereon as provided in subsection (j) below;
(e) immediately on demand by the
Bank, a sum equal to (i) the amount advanced or paid by the
Bank pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.7 or
Section 14.9 hereof, plus (ii) interest on such
amount as provided in subsection (j) below, plus
(iii) any and all reasonable charges and expenses which the
Bank may pay or incur relative to such payment;
(f) immediately (without the
necessity of any demand by or notice from the Bank) as and when due
and payable, the Letter of Credit Fee and the Negotiation Fee and
such other fees as set forth in Section 4.1 of this Letter of
Credit Agreement (including any additional amounts required by
Section 5.4 hereof), plus interest thereon as provided
in subsection (j) below;
(g) immediately on demand by the
Bank, any and all expenses incurred by the Bank in enforcing any
rights under this Letter of Credit Agreement plus interest
thereon as provided in subsection (j) below;
(h) immediately on demand by the
Bank, all other costs and expenses of the Bank, as set forth in
this Letter of Credit Agreement (including, without limitation, all
costs and expenses payable pursuant to Section 4.6 of this
Letter of Credit Agreement) plus interest thereon as
provided in subsection (j) below;
(i) immediately on demand by the
Bank upon any transfer of the Letter of Credit, the transfer charge
payable to the Bank pursuant to the Letter of Credit ($2,500)
plus interest thereon as provided in subsection
(j) below (a “transfer” of the Letter of Credit
means the designation of a new beneficiary thereunder as a
substitute Trustee under the Indenture); and
(j) immediately on demand by the
Bank, interest on any and all amounts and sums payable by the
Borrower under this Letter of Credit Agreement at any time
(including, without limitation, any and all amounts or sums
described or referred to in subsections (a) through
(i) above), such interest being payable from the date such
amounts and sums become due until the Bank actually receives
payment thereof in full, at the Reimbursement Rate. Interest on any
amounts advanced or paid by the Bank or any costs, charges and
expenses incurred by the Bank shall be due and payable from the
date such amounts are advanced or costs are incurred or paid by the
Bank until the Bank actually receives payment thereof in full at
the Reimbursement Rate.
The Borrower shall not, however, be
relieved of liability for repaying any such amounts (plus interest
thereon, at the Reimbursement Rate, from the date such amounts are
paid by the Bank under the Letter of Credit) to the Bank by reason
of any action or inaction on the part of the Trustee or any other
person which results in a failure by the Bank to actually receive
such amounts from the Trustee pursuant to the Indenture or results
in any delay in the receipt by the Bank of such amount from the
Trustee pursuant to the Indenture.
All amounts paid by the Bank under
the Letter of Credit shall bear interest from the date such amounts
are paid by the Bank until such time as such amounts are actually
repaid to the Bank in the absence of an Event of Default hereunder,
at the Reimbursement Rate, and from and after the occurrence of an
Event of Default hereunder, at the Penalty Rate.
- 25
The Borrower shall apply any and all
amounts which it receives in respect of the principal of and
interest on Pledged Bonds to the repayment of amounts from time to
time owing to the Bank pursuant to subsection (a) above.
Any amounts from time to time owing
to the Bank pursuant to subsection (a) above may be paid at
any time by the Borrower, prior to demand therefor by the Bank, on
written notice to the Bank (to be received by the Bank no later
than 10:00 a.m., prevailing Baltimore, Maryland time, on the
date of the proposed payment) stating the amount to be paid (which
amount shall be $100,000 or integral multiples of $5,000 in excess
thereof with respect to payments made pursuant to subsection (a)(i)
above). Upon payment to the Bank of the amount to be paid pursuant
to subsection (a)(i) above, together with accrued interest to the
date of such payment on the amount to be paid as required pursuant
to subsection (a)(ii) above, the outstanding obligations of the
Borrower under subsection (a) above shall be reduced by the
amount of such payment and interest shall cease to accrue on the
amount so paid; and, if no Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, the Bank, upon the Borrower’s request, will, as
provided in Section 6(a) of the Pledge and Security Agreement,
release from the lien of the Pledge and Security Agreement and the
Pledged Bonds Custody Agreement Pledged Bonds in an aggregate
principal amount which is equal to the amount paid to the Bank as
required pursuant to subsection (a)(i) above.
Notwithstanding any other terms and
provisions of any of the Letter of Credit Documents, the amounts
described in the foregoing subsections (a) through
(j) shall be due and payable in full at the time indicated,
regardless of whether or not the Bank (or the Pledged Bonds
Custodian, for the account of the Bank) is then holding any Pledged
Bonds as a result of any Bond Purchase Principal Drawing and
regardless of whether or not the Bank (in its sole discretion) has
theretofore extended the time for payment of any amounts payable
hereunder; provided, however, that during any period that the Bank
holds any Pledged Bonds (or the Pledged Bonds Custodian holds any
Pledged Bonds for the account of the Bank), the Bank shall apply
the amount of any interest payable on the Bonds which is actually
received by the Bank as a “pledgee” of Bonds to the
amount of interest payable on the Borrower’s Letter of Credit
Obligations as provided in subsection (j) above, and the
Borrower’s obligation for the payment of interest as provided
in subsection (j) above will be adjusted accordingly.
Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary set forth in this Section, following the date on which the
Bank honors a Bond Purchase Principal Drawing, the Bank will not
make demand for the payment of the amounts payable under subsection
(a) above in connection with such Bond Purchase Principal
Drawing, so long as (1) within 48 hours after the Bank honors
such Bond Purchase Principal Drawing (or such longer period of time
not to exceed five (5) Business Days if the Trustee advises
the Bank that the delay is caused by administrative difficulties),
the Pledged Bonds Custodian receives an aggregate principal amount
of Bonds equal to the amount of such Bond Purchase Principal
Drawing, registered by the Trustee in the Borrower’s name, as
owner, and in the Bank’s name, as pledgee, (2) the Bank
actually receives all payments of the principal of and interest on
such Bonds, when due, (3) no Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, and (4) the Letter of Credit shall
not have expired. On the date of the expiration of the Letter of
Credit, all amounts payable under subsection (a) above in
connection with such Bond Purchase Principal Drawing which shall
not have been repaid, together with all accrued and unpaid interest
thereon, shall become immediately due and payable, without the
- 26
necessity of any demand by
or notice from the Bank; provided , however , if such
Bond Purchase Principal Drawing is the result of a Downgrade, all
amounts payable in connection with such Bond Purchase Principal
Drawing which shall not have been repaid, together with all accrued
and unpaid interest thereon, shall become immediately due and
payable, without demand or notice from the Bank, on the day which
is ninety (90) days following the date on which the Bank
honors such Bond Purchase Principal Drawing.
SECTION 5.2. Payments Due Upon
Expiration of Letter of Credit . On the date on which the
Letter of Credit expires, all amounts described in Section 5.1
(a) through (j) above, and all other amounts owed to the
Bank hereunder, together with all accrued and unpaid interest
thereon, shall become immediately due and payable, without the
necessity of any demand or notice from the Bank.
SECTION 5.3. Late Payments .
In the event any payment required to be made by the Borrower in
accordance with the provisions of Section 5.1 or
Section 5.2 hereof or in accordance with any other provision
of this Letter of Credit Agreement is not paid within three
(3) days from the date on which the same is due and payable,
such payment in default shall continue as an obligation of the
Borrower, and such payment in default and the entire unpaid balance
of all amounts owing hereunder shall bear interest, from the date
on which the payment was due until such payment in default is paid
in full, at the fluctuating rate which is at all times equal to the
Penalty Rate. In addition, the Borrower shall pay (a) a late
charge in an amount equal to 5% of the amount of any payment which
is made more than three (3) days after the date on which the
same is due and payable (except for any payment with respect to a
Bond Purchase Principal Drawing), and (b) all costs of
collection, including reasonable attorneys’ fees (based on
hourly rates), if this Letter of Credit Agreement is referred to an
attorney for collection after default by the Borrower.
SECTION 5.4. Increased Costs Due
to Change in Law . If any change in any law, regulation or
official directive of any international, federal, state or local
governmental authority (whether or not having the force of law) or
in the interpretation thereof by any court or administrative agency
or compliance by the Bank with any lawful request, law, regulation
or directive from any applicable fiscal or monetary authority
(whether or not having the force of law) shall either:
(a) impose, modify or render
applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement
against letters of credit issued by the Bank or require the
inclusion of such letters of credit in any analysis of minimum
capital requirements or capital adequacy; or
(b) subject the Bank to any tax
with respect to such letters of credit or any amount payable under
this Letter of Credit Agreement (other than a tax on the overall
net income of the Bank) imposed by the United States of America or
the State; or
(c) impose on the Bank any other
condition regarding this Letter of Credit Agreement or the Letter
of Credit, and the result of any such event shall be:
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(i) |
to increase the cost to the Bank of issuing or maintaining the
Letter of Credit or any renewal thereof or of making, funding or
maintaining the |
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whole or any part of any unpaid drawing under the Letter of
Credit (which increase in cost shall be determined by the
Bank’s reasonable allocation of the aggregate of such cost
increases resulting from such events); or |
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(ii) |
to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by the
Bank under this Letter of Credit Agreement or to require the Bank
to make any payment or forego any interest; or |
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(iii) |
to reduce the rate of return on the Bank’s capital as a
result of issuing or maintaining the Letter of Credit and/or any
renewals thereof (which reduction shall be determined by the Bank
in accordance with the Bank’s policies concerning capital
adequacy), then and in each such case, upon demand by the Bank, the
Borrower shall pay to the Bank, from time to time as specified by
the Bank, additional amounts which shall be sufficient to
compensate the Bank for such increased cost, reduction, payment or
foregone interest, together with interest on each such amount from
the date demanded until payment in full thereof at the
Reimbursement Rate. A certificate as to such increased cost,
reduction, payment or foregone interest as a result of any such
event, submitted in good faith by the Bank to the Borrower, shall
be conclusive evidence of such additional amounts to be paid by the
Borrower and the basis therefor, absent manifest error as to the
amount thereof. |
SECTION 5.5. Computation . All
payments of interest, Letter of Credit Fee and any other fees and
charges under this Letter of Credit Agreement shall be computed on
the basis of a 360-day year factor applied to the actual number of
days elapsed. The rate of interest shall be adjusted on any day on
which a change occurs in the LIBOR Rate.
SECTION 5.6. Payment Procedure
. Except as may otherwise be specifically provided herein, all
payments made by the Borrower under this Letter of Credit Agreement
shall be made to the Bank in lawful money of the United States of
America at the time of payment and in immediately available funds
at the Bank’s offices at 25 South Charles Street, Baltimore,
Maryland 21201, before 12:00 noon, prevailing Baltimore, Maryland
time on the date when due.
SECTION 5.7. Business Days .
If the date for any payment hereunder is a day which is not a
Business Day, then for all purposes of this Letter of Credit
Agreement, the payment then due shall be made on the next following
Business Day, and such extension of time shall in each case be
included in any computation of payments of interest.
SECTION 5.8. Termination of Swap
Agreement . Any Swap Agreement shall terminate or be assigned
by the Bank to a new counterparty at the option of the Borrower if
the Letter of Credit is replaced, expires or is otherwise
terminated.
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ARTICLE VI.
UNCONDITIONAL
OBLIGATIONS
SECTION 6.1. Obligations
Absolute . The obligations of the Borrower under this Letter of
Credit Agreement shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable,
and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this
Letter of Credit Agreement, under any and all circumstances
whatsoever; including, without limitation, the following
circumstances: (a) any invalidity or unenforceability of the
Letter of Credit, the Bonds, the other Bond Documents or any other
agreement or instrument related thereto; (b) any amendment or
waiver of, or any consent to or departure from, the terms of the
Letter of Credit, the Bonds, the other Bond Documents or any other
agreement or instrument related thereto; (c) the existence of
any claim, set-off, defense or other right which the Borrower may
have at any time against any beneficiary or any transferee of the
Letter of Credit (or any person for whom the Borrower, any such
beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the Bank or any
other Person, whether in connection with this Letter of Credit
Agreement, the Letter of Credit, the Bond Documents, the Facility
or any unrelated transaction; (d) any statement or any other
document presented under the Letter of Credit proving to be forged,
fraudulent, invalid, unenforceable or insufficient in any respect,
or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect
whatsoever; (e) payment by the Bank under the Letter of Credit
against presentation of a sight draft or certificate which
substantially complies with the terms of the Letter of Credit;
(f) the surrender or impairment of any security for the
performance or observance of any of the agreements or terms of this
Letter of Credit Agreement; or (g) the use to which the Letter
of Credit may be put or any acts or omissions of the Trustee in
connection therewith; or (h) any other circumstance, happening
or omission whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the
foregoing. The Borrower understands and agrees that no payment
under any other agreement will release it from liability hereunder
unless the Bank has been indefeasibly paid in full; and the Bank
understands and agrees that nothing contained in this
Section 6.1 shall affect its obligations under
Section 4.8 hereof.
ARTICLE VII.
REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES OF BORROWER
SECTION 7.1. Representations,
Warranties and Undertakings . The Borrower makes the following
representations and warranties to induce the Bank to enter into
this Letter of Credit Agreement and to issue the Letter of Credit
and to induce MIDFA to insure a portion of the Borrower’s
Letter of Credit Obligations pursuant to the Insurance
Agreement:
(a) Authority . The
Borrower is a corporation duly organized and validly existing and
in good standing under the laws of Delaware and is qualified and in
good standing in the State of Maryland. The Borrower has the power
to enter into, deliver and perform this Letter of Credit Agreement
and the other Letter of Credit Documents and Bond Documents entered
into by it and the transactions contemplated hereunder and
thereunder and to carry out its obligations hereunder and
thereunder. By proper action, the Borrower has duly authorized the
execution, delivery and performance of this Letter of Credit
Agreement and each of the other Letter of Credit Documents and Bond
Documents executed and delivered by it. The Borrower is not in
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default under any of the provisions of the laws of the State of
Delaware or the State which would affect its existence or its
powers referred to in this subsection (a).
(b) Binding Agreements .
This Letter of Credit Agreement and the other Letter of Credit
Documents and Bond Documents to which the Borrower is a party have
been duly and properly authorized, executed, sealed and delivered
by the Borrower, constitute valid and legally binding limited
obligations of the Borrower, and are fully enforceable against the
Borrower in accordance with their respective terms; provided,
however, that the enforceability and binding nature of this Letter
of Credit Agreement and the other Letter of Credit Documents and
Bond Documents are subject to bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization and other state and federal laws affecting the
enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and, to the
extent that certain remedies under such instruments require, or may
require, enforcement by a court of equity, such principles of
equity as the court having jurisdiction may impose.
(c) No Violation . The
transactions contemplated in this Letter of Credit Agreement and
any other Letter of Credit Documents and the Bond Documents do not
and will not (i) conflict with, contravene or violate any provision
of any law, rule, regulation, order, writ, judgment, injunction,
decree, determination or award presently in effect having
applicability to the Borrower, or the certificate of incorporation
or the bylaws of the Borrower, including all amendments thereto, or
(ii) result in a breach of or constitute a default under any
existing mortgage, indenture, contract, loan or credit agreement or
any other agreement, lease or instrument to which the Borrower, or
by which its properties, may be bound or affected.
(d) Litigation . There
is no action, suit or proceeding or any governmental investigation
or any arbitration, in each case pending or, to the knowledge of
the Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or its
properties before any court or arbitrator or governmental
department, commission board, bureau, agency or instrumentality
which would, upon final judgment, in the aggregate, exceed $250,000
(unless covered by insurance).
(e) Marketability; Liens or
Security Interests . The Borrower has good marketable title to
all the collateral in which the Borrower has granted to the Bank a
security interest under the Letter of Credit Documents and, except
for liens being granted to the Bank under the Letter of Credit
Documents, and except as may be provided in the Bond Documents,
there exist no Encumbrance on or with respect to any collateral
referred to in any of the Letter of Credit Documents, including the
security for the Borrower’s Letter of Credit Obligations as
set forth in Section 3.2 of this Letter of Credit
Agreement.
(f) Full Disclosure .
All information heretofore furnished by the Borrower to the Bank
for purposes of, or in connection with this Letter of Credit
Agreement and the other Letter of Credit Documents and the Bond
Documents, or any transaction contemplated hereby or thereby is,
and all such information hereafter furnished by the Borrower to the
Bank will be, true and accurate in all material respects on the
date as of which such information is stated or certified and has
not and will not omit to state any material fact necessary in order
to make the statements contained herein or therein not misleading
in light of the circumstances under which such information was
provided.
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(g) Places of Business of
Borrower . The Borrower has its principal place of business and
maintains or keeps its records in Montgomery County, Maryland, and
in no other county in the State and at no location outside the
State.
(h) Utilities . All
utility services necessary for the operation of the Facility for
their intended purposes are available at the Facility, including
water supply of sufficient quantity and pressure, storm and
sanitary sewer facilities of adequate capacities, gas, electric and
telephone facilities. The Borrower has procured from the
appropriate State, subdivision, municipal, and other authorities
and corporations, connection and discharge arrangements for the
supply of water, gas, electricity and other utilities and sewage
and industrial waste disposal for the operation of the
Facility.
(i) Roads . All roads
necessary for the full utilization of the Facility for its intended
purposes have either been completed or the necessary rights of way
therefor have either been acquired by the Borrower or the Landlord
or the appropriate governmental authority or have been dedicated to
public use and accepted by such governmental authority or will be
so acquired or dedicated within a period of time required for the
operation of the Facility by the Borrower and all necessary steps
have been taken by the Borrower and such governmental authority to
assure the complete construction and installation thereof in
accordance with law and all applicable governmental or
quasi-governmental requirements.
(j) Zoning, etc . The
Facility, and the use of the Facility for its intended use, do not
violate any zoning or other ordinance, regulation or law,
restrictive covenant or agreement of the Borrower (either now in
existence or known by the Borrower to be proposed, including, but
not limited to the Lease) applicable to the Facility or its use,
and all requirements for such use have been satisfied.
(k) Licenses . All
necessary permits and licenses for the construction and operation
of the Facility for its intended purposes have been obtained and
are in full force and effect. The Borrower is in compliance with
all such permits and licenses. There has been no threatened
suspension or revocation of such permits or licenses and nor does
there exist any facts or circumstances which would provide grounds
for any such suspension or revocation.
(l) Name of Borrower .
The Borrower has never done business under any name other than
“Avalon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.” and “Therapeutic
Genomics, Inc.”
(m) Condemnation . No
condemnation, eminent domain or similar proceeding is pending, or
to the best knowledge of the Borrower, threatened, with respect to
the Facility or any portion thereof.
(n) Hazardous Materials
. To the Borrower’s knowledge, (i) no Hazardous
Materials are currently located at the Facility (except for
Hazardous Materials stored and handled in strict compliance with
all Environmental Requirements and only to the extent necessary in
the Borrower’s ordinary course of business), nor is the
Facility affected by any Hazardous Materials Contamination,
(ii) the Facility has never been used as a manufacturing,
storage, treatment, processing, recycling or disposal site for
Hazardous Materials, and (iii) no property within a one-half
(1/2) mile radius of the Facility has ever been used as a
manufacturing, storage, treatment,
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processing, recycling or disposal site for Hazardous Materials, nor
is any such property affected by Hazardous Materials Contamination.
The present condition and uses of, and activities on, the Facility
do not, to the Borrower’s knowledge, violate any
Environmental Requirement and the uses of the Facility which the
Borrower and each tenant and subtenant, if any, intend in the
future to make of the Facility, to the Borrower’s knowledge,
comply and will comply with all applicable Environmental
Requirements. The Borrower has received no notice, and is not
aware, of any Claim involving a violation of any Environmental
Requirement with respect to the Facility or any parcel in the
vicinity of the Facility or any operation conducted on the Facility
or on any parcel in the vicinity of the Facility. To the
Borrower’s knowledge, there is no Environmental Requirement
nor is there any Hazardous Material Contamination which requires
any investigation, assessment, work, repair, construction, capital
expenditure, or other remedial work of any nature whatsoever at,
on, in, under or adjacent to the Facility.
(o) Subsidiaries . The
Borrower has no Subsidiaries.
(p) Insurance . The
Borrower maintains and has in full force and effect, with
financially sound and reputable insurers, insurance with respect to
its properties and business, and covering such risks, liabilities,
casualties and contingencies and in such types and amounts as to
comply with the Letter of Credit Documents and the Bond
Documents.
(q) Material Contracts .
The Borrower is in compliance with all material provisions of all
material contracts to which it is a party, and there exists no
material default under any material contract by the Borrower or, to
the best knowledge of the Borrower, by any other party thereto.
(r) Tax Returns . The
Borrower has filed all required federal, state and local tax or
information returns and has paid all Taxes as shown on such returns
as they have become due. No claims have been assessed and are
unpaid with respect to such Taxes, and the Borrower has established
reserves which it believes to be adequate for the payment of
additional Taxes for years which have not been audited by the
respective tax authorities.
(s) ERISA . (i) Any
Plan established and maintained by the Borrower or any
“Commonly Controlled Entity” is a qualifying plan under
the applicable requirements of ERISA, and there is no current
matter which would materially adversely affect the qualified
tax-exempt status of any Plan; (ii) neither the Borrower nor
any “Commonly Controlled Entity” has engaged in or is
engaging in any “Prohibited Transaction” or has
incurred any “Accumulated Funding Deficiency” in
connection with any such Plan, whether or not waived, and no
“Reportable Event” has occurred with respect to any
Plan subject to the minimum funding requirements of
Section 412 of the Code; (iii) no “Multiemployer
Plan” has “terminated”, as that term is defined
in ERISA; (iv) neither the Borrower nor any “Commonly
Controlled Entity” has “withdrawn” or
“partially withdrawn” from any “Multiemployer
Plan”; (v) no “Multiemployer Plan” provides
that any such Plan will be placed in “reorganization”.
Neither the consummation of this Letter of Credit Agreement, nor
any transaction contemplated hereunder, will constitute a
Prohibited Transaction with regard to any Plan. All capitalized
terms used in this section and not otherwise defined in this Letter
of Credit Agreement shall have the meanings given them in
ERISA.
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(t) Margin Stock . The
Borrower is not engaged principally or as one of its important
activities in the business of extending credit for the purpose of
purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of
Regulations X, T or U of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System). The execution, delivery and performance of this
Letter of Credit Agreement and the use of the proceeds of the Bonds
or any extension of credit hereunder, do not and will not
constitute a violation of such regulations.
(u) Public Utility Holding
Company . The Borrower is not (i) a “holding
company,” or (ii) a “subsidiary company” of
a “holding company,” or (iii) an
“affiliate” of a “holding company” or a
subsidiary company” of a holding company,” within the
meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as
amended.
(v) Not an Investment
Company . The Borrower is not an “investment
company” required to be registered or a company
“controlled” by such “investment company”
within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended.
(w) No Defaults . The
Borrower is not in violation of any statute or other law or in
default under any order, regulation or ruling of any court or any
other tribunal or governmental or administrative authority or
agency, or in default under its certificate of incorporation, as
applicable, or its bylaws, each as amended to date, or under any
indenture, agreement, lease, instrument or other undertaking to
which the Borrower is a party or by which its property or assets
may be bound or affected.
(x) Financial Position .
The financial statements of the Borrower heretofore delivered to
the Bank and MIDFA are complete and correct and fairly present the
financial position of the Borrower and the results of its
operations and transactions in its surplus accounts as of the date
for the period referred to and have been prepared in accordance
with GAAP for interim or annual financial statements, as the case
may be applied on a consistent basis throughout the period
involved; provided that certain notes and other information have
been condensed or omitted from the interim financial statements
delivered and, therefore, such statements should be read in
conjunction with the annual audited financial statements for such
year. There are no liabilities, direct or indirect, fixed or
contingent, of the Borrower which are not reflected therein or in
the notes thereto. There has been no material adverse change in the
financial condition, prospects or operations of the Borrower since
the date of such financial statements (and to the Borrower’s
knowledge no such material adverse change is pending or
threatened), and the Borrower has not guaranteed the obligations
of, or made any investment in or advances to, any person except as
disclosed in such financial statements. The Borrower has good and
marketable title to all of its properties and assets, and all of
such properties and assets are free and clear of liens and
encumbrances, except as reflected on such financial statements or
in the notes thereto. The Borrower is not insolvent on the date
hereof within the meaning of the Bankruptcy Code.
(y) Compliance with Laws
. The Borrower is in compliance with all laws, ordinances,
governmental rules and regulations to which it is subject, the
failure to comply with which could materially adversely affect the
condition (financial or other) of the Borrower or the ability of
the Borrower to perform its obligations under the Letter of Credit
Documents and the Bond Documents or otherwise conduct its
activities.
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(z) Redemptions . Except
as set forth on Schedule 7.1 (z), Borrower has not granted any
stockholder the right to have any or all of its stock, or options
or warrants to purchase stock of the Borrower, redeemed, purchased
or otherwise retired prior to the Maturity Date and the Borrower
has not set aside any sums for any such purchase, redemption or
retirement.
ARTICLE VIII.
REPRESENTATIONS AND
COVENANTS OF BORROWER
WITH RESPECT TO FACILITY; RELATED MATTERS
SECTION 8.1. Completion of
Facility . The Bonds are being issued to finance a portion of
the Facility Costs. The Borrower has completed the Facility in
accordance with the Plans and Specifications and in accordance with
the requirements of the Letter of Credit Documents and the Bond
Documents.
SECTION 8.2. Covenants by Borrower
with Respect to Completion of Facility . With respect to the
completion of the Facility, the Bo
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