CREDIT AGREEMENT
THIS CREDIT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is entered into as of
March 30, 2005, by and between SBS Technologies, Inc., a New Mexico
corporation ("Borrower"), and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION ("Bank").
RECITALS
Borrower has requested that Bank extend or continue credit to
Borrower as described below, and Bank has agreed to provide such
credit to Borrower on the terms and conditions contained
herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, for valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, Bank and Borrower
hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
CREDIT TERMS
SECTION 1.1.
LINE OF CREDIT.
(a)
Line of Credit . Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, Bank hereby agrees to make advances to Borrower from
time to time up to, but not including, the first anniversary of the
date of this Agreement, not to exceed at any time the aggregate
principal amount of Twenty Million and No/100 Dollars
($20,000,000.00) ("Line of Credit"), the proceeds of which shall be
used for working capital and general corporate purposes of Borrower
and its U.S. subsidiaries. Provided, however, any use of proceeds
of more than $5,000,000.00 to fund an acquisition shall be subject
to Bank's prior approval, which shall not be unreasonably withheld.
Borrower's obligation to repay advances under the Line of Credit
shall be evidenced by a promissory note dated the same date as this
Agreement ("Line of Credit Note"), all terms of which are
incorporated herein by this reference.
(b)
Limitation on Borrowings . Outstanding borrowings under the
Line of Credit, to a maximum of the principal amount set forth
above, shall not at any time exceed an aggregate of Twenty Million
and No/100 Dollars ($20,000,000.00).
(c)
Letter of Credit Subfeature . As a subfeature under the Line
of Credit, Bank agrees from time to time during the term thereof to
issue or cause an affiliate to issue standby and commercial letters
of credit for the account of Borrower for purposes approved by Bank
(each, a "Letter of Credit" and collectively, "Letters of Credit").
The form and substance of each Letter of Credit shall be subject to
approval by Bank, in its sole discretion. Each Standby Letter of
Credit shall be issued for a term not to exceed three hundred
sixty-five (365) days, as designated by Borrower; each commercial
Letter of Credit shall be issued for a term agreed upon by Bank and
Borrower provided however, that no Letter of Credit shall have an
expiration date subsequent to the maturity date of the Line of
Credit. The undrawn amount of all Letters of Credit shall be
reserved under the Line of Credit and shall not be available for
borrowings thereunder. Each Letter of Credit shall be subject to
the additional terms and conditions of the Letter of Credit
agreements, applications and any related documents required by Bank
in connection with the issuance thereof. Each drawing paid under a
Letter of Credit shall be deemed an advance under the Line of
Credit and shall be repaid by Borrower in accordance with the terms
and conditions of this Agreement applicable to such advances;
provided however, that if advances under the Line of Credit are not
available, for any reason, at the time any drawing is paid, then
Borrower shall immediately pay to Bank the full amount drawn,
together with interest thereon from the date such drawing is paid
to the date such amount is fully repaid by Borrower, at the rate of
interest applicable to advances under the Line of Credit. In such
event Borrower agrees that Bank, in its sole discretion, may debit
any account maintained by Borrower with Bank for the amount of any
such drawing.
(d)
Borrowing and Repayment . Borrower may from time to time
during the term of the Line of Credit borrow, partially or wholly
repay its outstanding borrowings, and reborrow, subject to all of
the limitations, terms and conditions contained herein or in the
Line of Credit Note; provided however, that the total outstanding
borrowings under the Line of Credit shall not at any time exceed
the maximum principal amount available thereunder, as set forth
above.
SECTION 1.2.
INTEREST/FEES.
(a)
Interest .
The outstanding principal balance of the Line of Credit shall bear
interest, and the amount of each drawing paid under any Letter of
Credit shall bear interest from the date such drawing is paid to
the date such amount is fully repaid by Borrower, at the rate of
interest set forth in each promissory note or other instrument or
document executed in connection therewith.
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Prime Rate . The term "Prime Rate" shall mean at any time
the rate of interest most recently announced within Bank at its
principal office as its Prime Rate, with the understanding that the
Prime Rate is one of Bank's base rates and serves as the basis upon
which effective rates of interest are calculated for those loans
making reference thereto, and is evidenced by the recording thereof
in such internal publication or publications as Bank may designate.
Each change in the rate of interest shall become effective on the
date each Prime Rate change is announced within Bank.
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LIBOR. "LIBOR" means the rate per annum (rounded upward, if
necessary, to the nearest whole 1/16 of 1%) and determined pursuant
to the following formula:
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LIBOR =
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Base LIBOR
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100% - LIBOR Reserve Percentage
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(i)
"Base LIBOR" means the rate per annum for United States dollar
deposits quoted by Bank as the Inter-Bank Market Offered Rate, with
the understanding that such rate is quoted by Bank for the purpose
of calculating effective rates of interest for loans making
reference thereto, on the first day of a Fixed Rate Term for
delivery of funds on said date for a period of time approximately
equal to the number of days in such Fixed Rate Term and in an
amount approximately equal to the principal amount to which such
Fixed Rate Term applies. Borrower understands and agrees that Bank
may base its quotation of the Inter-Bank Market Offered Rate upon
such offers or other market indicators of the Inter-Bank Market as
Bank in its discretion deems appropriate including, but not limited
to, the rate offered for U.S. dollar deposits on the London
Inter-Bank Market.
(ii)
"LIBOR Reserve Percentage" means the reserve percentage prescribed
by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any
successor) for "Eurocurrency Liabilities" (as defined in Regulation
D of the Federal Reserve Board, as amended), adjusted by Bank for
expected changes in such reserve percentage during the applicable
Fixed Rate Term.
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Computation and Payment . Interest shall be computed on the
basis of a 360-day year, actual days elapsed. Interest shall be
payable at the times and place set forth in each promissory note or
other instrument or document required hereby.
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Letter of Credit Fees . Borrower shall pay to Bank fees upon
the issuance of each Letter of Credit, upon the payment or
negotiation of each drawing under any Letter of Credit and upon the
occurrence of any other activity with respect to any Letter of
Credit (including without limitation, the transfer, amendment or
cancellation of any Letter of Credit) determined in accordance with
Bank's standard fees and charges then in effect for such
activity.
SECTION 1.3.
COLLATERAL.
As security for all indebtedness of Borrower to Bank subject
hereto, Borrower hereby grants to Bank security interests of first
priority (except for purchase money security interest arising in
the ordinary course of business securing amounts less than $250,000
per annum) in all Borrower's personal property assets.
The foregoing shall be evidenced by and subject to the terms of
such security agreements, financing statements, and other documents
as Bank shall reasonably require, all in form and substance
satisfactory to Bank. Borrower shall reimburse Bank immediately
upon demand for all costs and expenses incurred by Bank in
connection with any of the foregoing security, including without
limitation, filing and recording fees and costs of appraisals,
audits and title insurance.
SECTION 1.4.
ADDITIONAL COLLATERAL. Borrower shall either maintain Borrower's
primary operating accounts with Bank, or Borrower shall maintain a
twenty million and no/100 Dollars ($20,000,000.00) cash balance
with Bank.
SECTION 1.5.
GUARANTIES. All indebtedness of Borrower to Bank subject hereto
shall be guaranteed jointly and severally by all Borrower's U.S.
subsidiaries (including any subsidiaries hereafter formed or
acquired), as evidenced by and subject to the terms of guaranties
in form and substance satisfactory to Bank.
ARTICLE II
REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES
Borrower makes the following representations and warranties to
Bank, which representations and warranties shall survive the
execution of this Agreement and shall continue in full force and
effect until the full and final payment, and satisfaction and
discharge, of all obligations of Borrower to Bank subject to this
Agreement.
SECTION 2.1.
LEGAL STATUS. Borrower is a corporation, duly organized and
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of New
Mexico, and is qualified or licensed to do business (and is in good
standing as a foreign corporation, if applicable) in all
jurisdictions in which such qualification or licensing is required
or in which the failure to so qualify or to be so licensed could
have a material adverse effect on Borrower.
SECTION 2.2.
AUTHORIZATION AND VALIDITY. This Agreement and each promissory
note, contract, instrument and other document required hereby or at
any time hereafter delivered to Bank in connection herewith
(collectively, the "Loan Documents") have been duly authorized, and
upon their execution and delivery in accordance with the provisions
hereof will constitute legal, valid and binding agreements and
obligations of Borrower or the party which executes the same,
enforceable in accordance with their respective terms.
SECTION 2.3.
NO VIOLATION. The execution, delivery and performance by Borrower
of each of the Loan Documents do not violate any provision of any
law or regulation, or contravene any provision of the Articles of
Incorporation or By-Laws of Borrower, or result in any breach of or
default under any contract, obligation, indenture or other
instrument to which Borrower is a party or by which Borrower may be
bound.
SECTION 2.4.
LITIGATION. There are no pending, or to the best of Borrower's
knowledge threatened, actions, claims, investigations, suits or
proceedings by or before any governmental authority, arbitrator,
court or administrative agency which could have a material adverse
effect on the financial condition or operation of Borrower other
than those disclosed by Borrower to Bank in writing prior to the
date hereof.
SECTION 2.5.
CORRECTNESS OF FINANCIAL STATEMENT. The financial statement of
Borrower dated December 31, 2004, a true copy of which has been
delivered by Borrower to Bank prior to the date hereof, (a) is
complete and correct and presents fairly the financial condition of
Borrower, (B) discloses all liabilities of Borrower that
are required to be reflected or reserved against under generally
accepted accounting principles, whether liquidated or unliquidated,
fixed or contingent, and (c) has been prepared in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied.
Since the date of such financial statement there has been no
material adverse change in the financial condition of Borrower, nor
has Borrower mortgaged, pledged, granted a security interest in or
otherwise encumbered any of its assets or properties except in
favor of Bank or as otherwise permitted by Bank in writing.
SECTION 2.6.
INCOME TAX RETURNS. Borrower has no knowledge of any pending
assessments or adjustments of its income tax payable with respect
to any year.
SECTION 2.7.
NO SUBORDINATION. There is no agreement, indenture, contract or
instrument to which Borrower is a party or by which Borrower may be
bound that requires the subordination in right of payment of any of
Borrower's obligations subject to this Agreement to any other
obligation of Borrower.
SECTION 2.8.
PERMITS, FRANCHISES. To the best of Borrower's knowledge, Borrower
possesses, and will hereafter possess, all permits, consents,
approvals, franchises and licenses required and rights to all
trademarks, trade names, patents, and fictitious names, if any,
necessary to enable it to conduct the business in which it is now
engaged in compliance with applicable law.
SECTION 2.9.
ERISA. To best of Borrower's knowledge, Borrower is in compliance
in all material respects with all applicable provisions of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended or
recodified from time to time ("ERISA"); Borrower has not violated
any provision of any defined employee pension benefit plan (as
defined in ERISA) maintained or contributed to by Borrower (each, a
"Plan"); no Reportable Event as defined in ERISA has occurred and
is continuing with respect to any Plan initiated by Borrower;
Borrower has met its minimum funding requirements under ERISA with
respect to each Plan; and each Plan will be able to fulfill its
benefit obligations as they come due in accordance with the Plan
documents and under generally accepted accounting principles.
SECTION 2.10.
OTHER OBLIGATIONS. Borrower is not in default on any obligation for
borrowed money, any purchase money obligation or any other material
lease, commitment, contract, instrument or obligation.
SECTION 2.11.
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS. To best of Borrower's knowledge, except as
disclosed by Borrower to Bank in writing prior to the date hereof,
Borrower is in compliance in all material respects with all
applicable federal or state environmental, hazardous waste, health
and safety statutes, and any rules or regulations adopted pursuant
thereto, which govern or affect any of Borrower's operations and/or
properties, including without limitation, the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, the
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, the Federal
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, and the Federal
Toxic Substances Control Act, as any of the same may be amended,
modified or supplemented from time to time. None of the operations
of Borrower is the subject of any federal or state investigation
evaluating whether any remedial action involving a material
expenditure is needed to respond to a release of any toxic or
hazardous waste or substance into the environment. Borrower has no
material contingent liability in connection with any release of any
toxic or hazardous waste or substance into the environment.
ARTICLE III
CONDITIONS
SECTION 3.1.
CONDITIONS OF INITIAL EXTENSION OF CREDIT. The obligation of Bank
to extend any credit contemplated by this Agreement is subject to
the fulfillment to Bank's satisfaction of all of the following
conditions:
(a)
Approval of Bank Counsel . All legal matters incidental to
the extension of credit by Bank shall be satisfactory to Bank's
counsel.
(b)
Documentation . Bank shall have received, in form and
substance satisfactory to Bank, each of the following, duly
executed:
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This Agreement and each promissory note or other instrument or
document required hereby.
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Security Agreement.
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Continuing Guaranty of Borrower's U.S. Subsidiaries .
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General Pledge Agreement.
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Such other documents as Bank may require under any other Section of
this Agreement.
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Financial Condition . There shall have been no material
adverse change, as determined by Bank, in the financial condition
or business of Borrower, nor any material decline, as determined by
Bank, in the market value of any collateral required hereunder or a
substantial or material portion of the assets of Borrower or any
such guarantor.
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Insurance . Borrower shall have delivered to Bank evidence
of insurance coverage on all Borrower's property, in form,
substance, amounts, covering risks and issued by companies
reasonably satisfactory to Bank, and where required by Bank, with
loss payable endorsements in favor of Bank.
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Cash . Borrower's balance sheet for the month immediately
preceding the month in which this Agreement is signed shall reflect
that Borrower has Twenty-Five Million ($25,000,000) in cash or cash
equivalents.
SECTION 3.2.
CONDITIONS OF EACH EXTENSION OF CREDIT. The obligation of Bank to
make each extension of credit requested by Borrower hereunder shall
be subject to the fulfillment to Bank's satisfaction of each of the
following conditions:
(a)
Compliance . The representations and warranties contained
herein and in each of the other Loan Documents shall be true on and
as of the date of the signing of this Agreement and on the date of
each extension of credit by Bank pursuant hereto, with the same
effect as though such representations and warranties had been made
on and as of each such date, and on each such date, no Event of
Default as defined herein, and no condition, event or act which
with the giving of notice or the passage of time or both would
constitute such an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be
continuing or shall exist.
(b)
Documentation . Bank shall have received all additional
documents which may be required in connection with such extension
of credit.
ARTICLE IV
AFFIRMATIVE
COVENANTS
Borrower covenants that so long as Bank remains committed to extend
credit to Borrower pursuant hereto, or any liabilities (whether
direct or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated) of Borrower to
Bank under any of the Loan Documents remain outstanding, and until
payment in full of all obligations of Borrower subject hereto,
Borrower shall, unless Bank otherwise consents in writing:
SECTION 4.1.
PUNCTUAL PAYMENTS. Punctually pay all principal, interest, fees or
other liabilities due under any of the Loan Documents at the times
and place and in the manner specified therein , and immediately
upon demand by Bank, the amount by which the outstanding principal
balance of any credit subject hereto at any time exceeds any
limitation on borrowings applicable thereto.
SECTION 4.2.
ACCOUNTING RECORDS. Maintain adequate books and records in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
consistently applied, and permit any representative of Bank, at any
reasonable time, upon one (1) business day prior notice and without
undue disruption of Borrower's operations, to inspect, audit and
examine such books and records, to make copies of the same, and to
inspect the properties of Borrower.
SECTION 4.3.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. Provide to Bank all of the following, in form
and detail satisfactory to Bank:
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not later than 90 days after and as of the end of each fiscal year,
consolidated financial statement of Borrower, prepared by Borrower
and audited by a recognized independent accounting firm, to include
consolidated balance sheets, statements of income, retained earning
and cash flow, together with an unqualified opinion and
calculations showing Borrower's compliance with all financial
covenants;
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not later than 45 days after and as of the end of each quarter, a
consolidated financial statement of Borrower, prepared by Borrower,
to include consolidated balance sheets, statements of income,
retained earnings and cash flow, prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principals, together with
calculations confirming Borrower's compliance with all financial
covenants;
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contemporaneously with each annual and quarterly financial
statement of Borrower required hereby, a certificate of a senior
financial officer of Borrower that said financial statements are
accurate and that there exists no Event of Default nor any
condition, act or event which with the giving of notice or the
passage of time or both would constitute an Event of Default;
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from time to time such other information as Bank may reasonably
request.
SECTION 4.4.
COMPLIANCE. Preserve and maintain all licenses, permits,
governmental approvals, rights, privileges and franchises necessary
for the conduct of its business; and comply with the provisions of
all documents pursuant to which Borrower is organized and/or which
govern Borrower's continued existence and with the requirements of
all laws, rules, regulations and orders of any governmental
authority applicable to Borrower and/or its business.
SECTION 4.5.
INSURANCE. Maintain and keep in force insurance of the types and in
amounts customarily carried in lines of business similar to that of
Borrower, including but not limited to fire, extended coverage,
public liability, fl