Exhibit 99.2
Execution Version
GUARANTY
THIS GUARANTY, dated as of September 10, 2015 (as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Guaranty”), made byRESOURCE CAPITAL CORP., a Maryland corporation (“Guarantor”), in favor ofMORGAN STANLEY BANK, N.A., a national banking association, as buyer (“Buyer”).
RECITALS
A. Pursuant to that certain Master Repurchase and Securities Contract Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Repurchase Agreement”), between Buyer and RCC Real Estate SPE 6, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Seller”), Seller has agreed to sell to Buyer, certain Purchased Assets, as defined in the Repurchase Agreement, upon the terms and subject to the conditions as set forth therein. Pursuant to the terms of that certain Custodial Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Custodial Agreement”), by and among Buyer, Seller and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (“Custodian”), Custodian is required to take possession of the Purchased Assets, along with certain other documents specified in the Custodial Agreement, as Custodian of Buyer and any future purchaser, on several delivery dates, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Custodial Agreement. Pursuant to the terms of that certain Pledge and Security Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Pledge Agreement”), made by RCC Real Estate, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Pledgor”) in favor of Buyer, Pledgor has pledged to Buyer all of the Pledged Collateral (as defined in the Pledge Agreement). The Repurchase Agreement, the Custodial Agreement, the Depository Agreement, the Servicing Agreement, the Fee Letter, the Pledge Agreement and this Guaranty shall be referred to herein as the “Transaction Documents”.
B. Guarantor indirectly owns one hundred percent (100%) of the legal and beneficial limited liability company interest in, and controls, Seller and Pledgor, and Guarantor will derive benefits, directly and indirectly, from the execution, delivery and performance by Seller of the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated by the Repurchase Agreement.
C. It is a condition precedent to Buyer acquiring the Purchased Assets pursuant to the Repurchase Agreement that Guarantor shall have executed and delivered this Guaranty.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises, to induce Buyer to enter into the Transaction Documents and to enter into the transactions contemplated thereunder, Guarantor hereby agrees with Buyer as follows:
1.Defined Terms. Each of the definitions set forth onExhibit A hereto are, solely for the purpose ofSection 9 hereof, hereby incorporated herein by reference. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms which are defined in the Repurchase Agreement and used herein are intended to be used as such terms are so defined in the Repurchase Agreement.
2.Guaranty. (a) Subject toSections 2(b),2(c) and2(d) below, Guarantor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees to Buyer the prompt and complete payment and performance when due, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration of the Repurchase Date or otherwise, of all of the following: (i) all payment obligations owing by Seller to Buyer under or in connection with the Repurchase Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents or other agreements relating thereto, (ii) any and all extensions, renewals, modifications, amendments or substitutions of the foregoing, (iii) all actual and out of pocket fees and expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements, that are incurred by Buyer in the enforcement of any obligation of Guarantor hereunder, and (iv) any other obligations of Seller and Pledgor with respect to Buyer under each of the Transaction Documents (collectively, the “Obligations”).
(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, but subject toSections 2(c) and2(d) below, which shall control, the maximum liability of Guarantor hereunder and under the Transaction Documents shall in no event exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the then outstanding Repurchase Price (but only in respect of the Purchase Price, not other amounts that are included in the definition of “Repurchase Price”) for all Purchased Assets.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, or any other provision herein to the contrary, the limitation on recourse liability as set forth inSection 2(b) above SHALL BECOME NULL AND VOID and shall be of no further force and effect, and the Obligations shall be full recourse to Seller and Guarantor, jointly and severally, upon the occurrence of any of the following:
(i) a voluntary bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding is commenced by Seller, Pledgor or Guarantor; and
(ii) an involuntary bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding is commenced against Seller, Pledgor or Guarantor in connection with which Seller, Pledgor, Guarantor, or any of their respective Affiliates has or have colluded in any way with the creditors commencing or filing such proceedings.
(d) In addition to the foregoing, and notwithstanding the limitations on recourse liability set forth inSection 2(b) above, Guarantor shall be liable to Buyer for any actual and out-of-pocket costs, claims, expenses or other liabilities actually incurred by Buyer (“Losses”) arising out of or in connection with any of the following matters:
(i) any breach of the covenants set forth in Section 13 of the Repurchase Agreement that results in the substantive consolidation of any of the assets and/or liabilities of Seller with the assets and/or liabilities of any other entity in a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding;
(ii) fraud, intentional misrepresentation, willful misconduct or gross negligence by Seller or Guarantor, or any Affiliate of Seller or Guarantor in connection with the execution and delivery of this Guaranty, the Repurchase Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents, or any certificate, report, financial statement or other instrument or document furnished to Buyer at the time of the closing of the Repurchase Agreement or during the term of the Repurchase Agreement;
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(iii) Seller’s failure to obtain Buyer’s prior written consent to any subordinate financing or voluntary liens in each case that encumber any or all of the Purchased Assets that are not permitted under the Transaction Documents; and
(iv) the presence or release by Seller, Guarantor or any of their respective Affiliates of any hazardous substances in violation of any Environmental Laws, or any indemnity for costs incurred by Buyer in connection with the violation of any Environmental Laws by Seller, Guarantor or any of their respective Affiliates, the correction of any environmental condition, or the removal of any hazardous substances, caused by or at the direction of Seller, Guarantor or any of their respective Affiliates, in each case in any way affecting any or all of the Purchased Assets.
(e) Nothing herein shall be deemed a waiver of any right which Buyer may have under Sections 506(a), 506(b), 1111(b) or any other provision of the Bankruptcy Code to file a claim for the full amount of the outstanding obligations under the Repurchase Agreement or to require that all Purchased Assets shall continue to secure all of the outstanding obligations owing to Buyer in accordance with the Repurchase Agreement or any other Transaction Documents.
(f) This Guaranty shall remain in full force and effect until the date upon which the Obligations are paid in full.
(g) No payment or payments made by Seller, Pledgor or any other Person or received or collected by Buyer from Seller, Pledgor or any other Person by virtue of any action or proceeding or any set-off or appropriation or application, at any time or from time to time, in reduction of or in payment of the Obligations shall be deemed to modify, reduce, release or otherwise affect the liability of Guarantor hereunder which shall, notwithstanding any such payment or payments, remain liable for the amount of the Obligations under this Agreement until the Obligations are paid in full, but subject to the limitations on Guarantor’s liability underSection 2(b) above and Section 2(i) below.
(h) Guarantor agrees that whenever, at any time, or from time to time, Guarantor shall make any payment to Buyer on account of any liability hereunder, Guarantor will notify Buyer in writing that such payment is made under this Guaranty for such purpose.
(i) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Guarantor shall have no liability under this Guaranty first arising on or after the date Buyer or its nominee or designee takes title to all of the Purchased Assets in connection with the exercise of Buyer’s remedies under the Repurchase Agreement,provided, that such act, event or condition was not caused by actions or omissions of Seller, Pledgor Guarantor or any of their Affiliates.
3.Subrogation. Upon making any payment hereunder, Guarantor shall be subrogated to the rights of Buyer against Seller and Pledgor and any collateral for any Obligations with respect to such payment;provided, that Guarantor shall not seek to enforce any right or receive any payment by way of subrogation until all amounts due and payable by Seller
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or Pledgor to Buyer under the Transaction Documents or any related documents have been paid in full;provided,further, that such subrogation rights shall be subordinate in all respects to all amounts owing to Buyer under the Transaction Documents.
4.Amendments, etc. with Respect to the Obligations. Guarantor shall remain obligated hereunder notwithstanding that, without any reservation of rights against Guarantor, and without notice to or further assent by Guarantor, any demand for payment of any of the Obligations made by Buyer may be rescinded by Buyer and any of the Obligations continued, and the Obligations, or the liability of any other party upon or for any part thereof, or any collateral security or guarantee therefor or right of offset with respect thereto, may, from time to time, in whole or in part, be renewed, extended, amended, modified, accelerated, compromised, waived, surrendered or released by Buyer and any Transaction Document and any other document in connection therewith may be amended, modified, supplemented or terminated, in whole or in part, as Buyer may deem advisable from time to time, and any collateral security, guarantee or right of offset at any time held by Buyer for the payment of the Obligations may be sold, exchanged, waived, surrendered or released. Buyer shall have no obligation to protect, secure, perfect or insure any lien at any time held by it as security for the Obligations or for this Guaranty or any property subject thereto. When making any demand hereunder against Guarantor, Buyer may, but shall be under no obligation to, make a similar demand on Seller or any other Person, and any failure by Buyer to make any such demand or to collect any payments from Seller or any such other Person or any release of Seller or such other Person shall not relieve Guarantor of its Obligations or liabilities hereunder, and shall not impair or affect the rights and remedies, express or implied, or as a matter of law, of Buyer against Guarantor. For the purposes hereof “demand” shall include the commencement and continuance of any legal proceedings.
5.Guaranty Absolute and Unconditional. (a) Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations under this Guaranty constitute a guarantee of payment when due and not of collection. Guarantor waives any and all notice of the creation, renewal, extension or accrual of any of the Obligations and notice of or proof of reliance by Buyer upon this Guaranty or acceptance of this Guaranty; the Obligations, and any of them, shall conclusively be deemed to have been created, contracted or incurred in reliance upon this Guaranty; and all dealings between Seller and Guarantor, on the one hand, and Buyer, on the other hand, shall likewise be conclusively presumed to have been had or consummated in reliance upon this Guaranty. Guarantor waives promptness, diligence, presentment, protest, demand for payment and notice of default or nonpayment to or upon Seller or the Guaranty with respect to the Obligations. This Guaranty shall be construed as a continuing, absolute and unconditional guarantee of payment without regard to (i) the validity, regularity or enforceability of any agreement, any of the Obligations or any collateral security therefor or guarantee or right of offset with respect thereto at any time or from time to time held by Buyer, (ii) any defense, set-off or counterclaim (other than a defense of payment or performance) which may at any time be available to or be asserted by Seller against Buyer, (iii) any requirement that Buyer exhaust any right to take any action against Seller or any other Person prior to or contemporaneously with proceeding to exercise any right against Guarantor under this Guaranty or (iv) any other circumstance whatsoever (with or without notice to or knowledge of Seller and Guarantor) which constitutes, or might be construed to constitute, an equitable or legal discharge of Seller for the Obligations or of Guarantor under this Guaranty, in bankruptcy or in any other instance. When pursuing its rights and remedies
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hereunder against Guarantor, Buyer may, but shall be under no obligation, to pursue such rights and remedies that Buyer may have against Seller or any other Person or against any collateral security or guarantee for the Obligations or any right of offset with respect thereto, and any failure by Buyer to pursue such other rights or remedies or to collect any payments from Seller or any such other Person or to realize upon any such collateral security or guarantee or to exercise any such right of offset, or any release of Seller or any such other Person or any such collateral security, guarantee or right of offset, shall not relieve Guarantor of any liability hereunder, and shall not impair or affect the rights and remedies, whether express, implied or available as a matter of law, of Buyer against Guarantor. This Guaranty shall remain in full force and effect and be binding in accordance with and to the extent of its terms upon Guarantor and its successors and assigns thereof, and shall inure to the benefit of Buyer and its permitted successors, endorsees, transferees and assigns, until all the Obligations and the obligations of Guarantor under this Guaranty shall have been satisfied by payment in full.
(b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Guarantor hereby agrees, acknowledges, and represents and warrants to Buyer as follows:
(i) Guarantor hereby waives any defense arising by reason of, and any and all right to assert against Buyer any claim or defense based upon, an election of remedies by Buyer which in any manner impairs, affects, reduces, releases, destroys and/or extinguishes Guarantor’s subrogation rights, rights to proceed against Seller or any other guarantor for reimbursement or contribution, and/or any other rights of Guarantor to proceed against Seller, any other guarantor or any other person or security.
(ii) Guarantor is presently informed of the financial condition of Seller and of all other circumstances which diligent inquiry would reveal and which bear upon the risk of nonpayment of the Obligations. Guarantor hereby covenants that it will make its own investigation and will continue to keep itself informed about the financial condition of Seller, the status of other guarantor, if any, of all other circumstances which bear upon the risk of nonpayment and that it will continue to rely upon sources other than Buyer for such information and will not rely upon Buyer for any such information. Absent a written request for such information by Guarantor to Buyer, Guarantor hereby waives the right, if any, to require Buyer to disclose to Guarantor any information which Buyer may now or hereafter acquire concerning such condition or circumstances including, but not limited to, the release of or revocation by any other guarantor.
(iii) Guarantor has independently reviewed the Transaction Documents and related agreements and has made an independent determination as to the validity and enforceability thereof, and in executing and delivering this Guaranty to Buyer, Guarantor is not in any manner relying upon the validity, and/or enforceability, and/or attachment, and/or perfection of any liens or security interests of any kind or nature granted by Seller or any other guarantor to Buyer, now or at any time and from time to time in the future.
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6.Reinstatement. This Guaranty shall continue to be effective, or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any of the Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by Buyer upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of Seller or upon or as a result of the appointment of a receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for Seller or any substantial part of the property of Seller, or otherwise, all as though such payments had not been made.
7.Payments. Guarantor hereby agrees that the Obligations will be paid to Buyer, without set-off or counterclaim in United States Dollars at the address specified in writing by Buyer.
8.Representations and Warranties. Guarantor represents and warrants that:
(a) It is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws and regulations of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, as the case may be. It is duly licensed, qualified, and in good standing in every state where such licensing or qualification is necessary for the transaction of its business, except to the extent that the failure to comply could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. It has the power to own and hold the assets it purports to own and hold, and to carry on its business as now being conducted and proposed to be conducted, and has the power to execute, deliver, and perform its obligations under this Guaranty and the other Transaction Documents;
(b) This Guaranty has been duly executed by it, for good and valuable consideration. This Guaranty constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Guarantor enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (whether enforcement is sought in proceedings in equity or at law);
(c) Guarantor does not believe, nor does it have any reason or cause to believe, that it cannot perform in all respects all covenants and obligations contained in this Guaranty applicable to it;
(d) The execution, delivery and performance of this Guaranty will not violate (i) its organizational requirements, (ii) any contractual obligation to which it is now a party or constitute a default thereunder, or result thereunder in the creation or imposition of any lien upon any of its assets, (iii) any judgment or order, writ, injunction, decree or demand of any court applicable to it, or (iv) any applicable Requirement of Law;
(e) There is no action, suit, proceeding, litigation, investigation, arbitration or proceeding of or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority is pending or, to the knowledge of Guarantor, threatened by or against Guarantor or against its assets (i) with respect to any of the Transaction Documents or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or (ii) that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Guarantor is in compliance in all material respects with all Requirements of Law. Guarantor is not in default in any material respect with respect to any judgment, order, writ, injunction, decree, rule, or regulation of any arbitrator or Governmental Authority; and
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(f) except as disclosed in writing to Buyer prior to the date hereof, Guarantor has filed or caused to be filed all tax returns which, to the knowledge of Guarantor, are required to be filed and has paid all taxes shown to be due and payable on said returns or on any assessments made against Guarantor or any of the property of Guarantor and all other taxes, fees or other charges imposed on it or any of the property of Guarantor by any Governmental Authority (other than any the amount or validity of which are currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings); no tax lien has been filed, and, to the knowledge of Guarantor, no claim is being asserted, with respect to any such tax, fee or other charge; and
(g) Intentionally Omitted.
(h) No order, consent, approval, license, authorization or validation of, or filing, recording or registration with, or exemption by, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is required to authorize, or is required in connection with, (i) the execution and performance of this Guaranty, (ii) the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of this Guaranty against it or (iii) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Guaranty, except filing obligations with the Securities and Exchange Commission arising in the ordinary course of Guarantor’s business as a public company, including, without limitation, 8K, 10Q and 10K filings, which have been obtained and are in full force and effect;.
Guarantor agrees that the foregoing representations and warranties shall be deemed to have been made by Guarantor on the date of each Transaction under the Repurchase Agreement, on and as of such date of the Transaction, as though made hereunder on and as of such date.
9.Financial Covenants.
(a) Guarantor hereby agrees that, until the Repurchase Obligations have been paid in full, Guarantor shall not:
(i) Permit unencumbered Liquidity of Guarantor at any time to be less than the Required Liquidity Amount;
(ii) permit GAAP stockholders’ equity capital of Guarantor at any time to be less than the Required Capital Amount;
(iii) permit, for any Test Period, the ratio of its Total Indebtedness to its Total Equity to be greater than 6.00 to 1.00. For the avoidance of doubt, any calculation of Total Indebtedness will include any and all recourse and Non-Recourse Indebtedness of any Consolidated Subsidiary of Guarantor;
(iv) permit, for any Test Period, the ratio of Guarantor’s Adjusted Total Indebtedness to its Total Equity to be greater than 3.00 to 1.00; and
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(v) permit, for any Test Period, the ratio of (i) the sum of EBITDA for Guarantor and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such Test Period to (ii) Fixed Charges for Guarantor and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for such Test Period to be less than 2.00 to 1.00.
(b) Guarantor hereby agrees that, until the Repurchase Obligations have been paid in full, it shall cause Seller not to permit, for any Test Period, the ratio of its EBITDA to its Interest Expense to be less than 1.50 to 1.00.
(c) Calculation of the covenants set forth in thisSection 9 will include any and all recourse and Non-Recourse Indebtedness of Guarantor on a consolidated basis.
(d) Guarantor’s compliance with the covenants set forth in thisSection 9 shall be tested quarterly with respect to Guarantor’s most recently ended fiscal quarter and must be evidenced by the financial statements and by a Financial Covenant Compliance Certificate, which shall be delivered by Seller to Buyer pursuant to Section 3(f)(iii) of the Repurchase Agreement. Compliance with all such covenants are subject to continuing verification of Buyer, and Guarantor shall provide information that is reasonably requested by Buyer with respect to any lawsuits and/or other matters disclosed in any financial statements of Guarantor delivered to Buyer or disclosed in any Form 8-K filed by Guarantor with the Securities and Exchange Commission which would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Guarantor’s ability to comply with the covenants set forth in thisSection 9;provided,that, for the avoidance of doubt, such continued verification shall not obligate Guarantor or Seller to provide additional financial statements or Financial Covenant Compliance Certificates other than those required under Section 3(f)(iii) of the Repurchase Agreement; and provided, further, that the requirements of this clause (d) are subject to any Requirements of Law.
(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Guaranty, in the event that Guarantor, Seller or any Affiliate thereof that is a Subsidiary of Guarantor has entered into or shall enter into or amend any other commercial real estate loan repurchase agreement, warehouse facility or credit facility with any other lender or repurchase buyer with terms more restrictive to the repurchase seller or borrower thereunder than the covenants in thisSection 9, then thisSection 9 shall be deemed to be automatically modified to such more restrictive terms.
10.Further Covenants of Guarantor:
(a)Taxes. Guarantor has timely filed (taking into account all applicable extensions) all required federal income tax returns and all other material tax returns, domestic and foreign, required to be filed by it and has paid all taxes, assessments, fees, and other governmental charges payable by it, or with respect to any of its properties or assets, that have become due and payable except to the extent such amounts are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which appropriate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP. No tax liens have been filed against Guarantor or any of Guarantor’s assets (other than liens for taxes not yet due or the amount or validity of which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which appropriate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP), and, to the knowledge of Guarantor, as of the date hereof, no claims are being asserted with respect to any such taxes, fees or other charges.
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(b)Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Corruption and Economic Sanctions.
(i) Guarantor is in compliance, in all material respects, with (A) the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, and each of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) and any other applicable enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto, (B) the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT Act of 2001), and (C) the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and any other applicable anti-bribery laws and regulations. No part of the proceeds of any Transaction will be used, directly or indirectly, for any payments to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.
(ii) Guarantor agrees that, from time to time upon the prior written request of Buyer, it shall execute and deliver such further documents, provide such additional information and reports and perform such other acts as Buyer may reasonably request in order to insure compliance with the provisions hereof (including, without limitation, compliance with the USA Patriot Act of 2001 and to fully effectuate the purposes of this Agreement);provided,however, that nothing in thisSection 10(b)(ii) shall be construed as requiring Buyer to conduct any inquiry or decreasing Guarantor’s responsibility for its statements, representations, warranties or covenants hereunder. In order to enable Buyer and its Affiliates to comply with any anti-money laundering program and related responsibilities including, but not limited to, any obligations under the USA Patriot Act of 2001 and regulations thereunder, Guarantor on behalf of itself and its Affiliates makes the following representations and covenants to Buyer and its Affiliates, that neither Guarantor, nor, any of its Affiliates, is a Prohibited Investor and Guarantor is not acting on behalf of or on behalf of any Prohibited Investor. Guarantor agrees to promptly notify Buyer or a person appointed by Buyer to administer their anti-money laundering program, if applicable, of any change in information affecting this representation and covenant.
(c)Office of Foreign Assets Control. Guarantor warrants, represents and covenants that neither Seller, any of its Affiliates or the Assets are or will be an entity or Person that is or is owned or controlled by a Person that is the subject of any Sanctions. Guarantor covenants and agrees that, with respect to the Transactions under this Agreement, none of Guarantor or, to Guarantor’s Knowledge, any of its Affiliates will conduct any business, nor engage in any transaction, Assets or dealings, with any Person who is the subject of Sanctions. Guarantor further covenants and agrees that it will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the facility, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any Person or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of Sanctions.
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(d)Financial Reporting. Upon Buyer’s request, Guarantor shall provide, or cause to be provided, to Buyer copies of Guarantor’s consolidated Federal Income Tax returns, if any, delivered within thirty (30) days after the earlier of (A) filing or (B) the last filing extension period.
(e)Limitation on Distributions. After the occurrence and during the continuation of any monetary or materialnon-monetary Default or any Event of Default, Guarantor shall not declare or make any payment on account of, or set apart assets for, a sinking or other analogous fund for the purchase, redemption, defeasance, retirement or other acquisition of any equity or partnership interest of Guarantor, whether now or hereafter outstanding, or make any other distribution in respect thereof, either directly or indirectly, whether in cash or property or in obligations of Guarantor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Guarantor shall be permitted to make distributions to maintain Guarantor’s status as a real estate investment trust pursuant to the Code and comparable state rules and regulations.
11.Intentionally Omitted.
12.Severability. Any provision of this Guaranty which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
13.Section Headings. The section headings used in this Guaranty are for convenience of reference only and are not to affect the construction hereof or be taken into consideration in the interpretation hereof.
14.No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. Buyer shall not by any act (except by a written instrument pursuant toSection 15 hereof), delay, indulgence, omission or otherwise be deemed to have waived any right or remedy hereunder or to have acquiesced in any default or event of default or in any breach of any of the terms and conditions hereof. No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of Buyer, any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof. No single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. A waiver by Buyer of any right or remedy hereunder on any one occasion shall not be construed as a bar to any right or remedy which Buyer would otherwise have on any future occasion. The rights and remedies herein provided are cumulative, may be exercised singly or concurrently and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.
15.Waivers and Amendments; Successors and Assigns; Governing Law. None of the terms or provisions of this Guaranty may be waived, amended, supplemented or otherwise modified except by a written instrument executed by Guarantor and Buyer. This Guaranty shall be binding upon the heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of Buyer, and their respective successors and permitted assigns.THIS GUARANTY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK PURSUANT TO SECTIONS5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF.
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16.Notices. Unless otherwise provided in this Agreement, all notices, consents, approvals and requests required or permitted hereunder shall be given in writing and shall be effective for all purposes if hand delivered or sent by (a) hand delivery, with proof of delivery, (b) certified or registered United States mail, postage prepaid, (c) expedited prepaid delivery service, either commercial or United States Postal Service, with proof of delivery or (d) by telecopier (with answerback acknowledged) or e-mailprovided that such telecopied or e-mailed notice must also be delivered by one of the means set forth above, to the address specified below or at such other address and person as shall be designated from time to time by any party hereto, as the case may be, in a written notice to the other parties hereto in the manner provided for in thisSection 16. A notice shall be deemed to have been given: (w) in the case of hand delivery, at the time of delivery, (x) in the case of registered or certified mail, when delivered or the first attempted delivery on a Business Day, (y) in the case of expedited prepaid delivery upon the first attempted delivery on a Business Day, or (z) in the case of telecopier, upon receipt of answerback confirmation, provided that such telecopied notice was also delivered as required in thisSection 16. A party receiving a notice that does not comply with the technical requirements for notice under thisSection 16 may elect to waive any deficiencies and treat the notice as having been properly given.
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Buyer: | | Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A. |
| | 1585 Broadway, 25th Floor |
| | New York, New York 10036 |
| | Attention: | | Mr. Geoffrey Kott |
| | Telecopy: | | (718) 233-2160 |
| | Email: | | Geoffrey.Kott@morganstanley.com |
| | |
| | Attention: | | Mr. Anthony Preisano |
| | Telecopy: | | (718) 233-3307 |
| | Email: | | Anthony.Preisano@morganstanley.com |
| |
With copies to: | | Paul Hastings LLP |
| | 75 East 55th Street |
| | New York, NY 10022 |
| | Attention: | | Lisa A. Chaney, Esq. |
| | Telecopy: | | (212) 230-7793 |
| | Email: | | lisachaney@paulhastings.com |
| |
Guarantor: | | Resource Capital Corp. |
| | 712 Fifth Avenue, 12th Floor |
| | New York, NY 10019 |
| | Attention: | | John Lee |
| | Telecopy: | | (215) 761-0421 |
| | Fax: (212) 884-8203 |
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| | |
With copies to: | | Haynes and Boone, LLP |
| | 30 Rockefeller Plaza, 26th Floor |
| | New York, NY 10112 |
| | Attention: Aaron Beim, Esq. |
| | Telephone: (212) 659-4986 |
| | Fax: (212) 884-8203 |
17.SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; WAIVERS. EACH OF GUARANTOR AND BUYER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY:
(A) SUBMITS TO THE NON- EXCLUSIVE GENERAL JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, THE COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND APPELLATE COURTS FROM ANY THEREOF, SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT TO ENFORCE ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THIS GUARANTY OR RELATING IN ANY WAY TO THIS GUARANTY, THE REPURCHASE AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION UNDER THE REPURCHASE AGREEMENT;
(B) CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE BROUGHT IN SUCH COURTS AND WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT IT MAY EFFECTIVELY DO SO, ANY DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT AND ANY RIGHT OF JURISDICTION ON ACCOUNT OF ITS PLACE OF RESIDENCE OR DOMICILE;
(C) AGREES THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE EFFECTED BY MAILING A COPY THEREOF BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL (OR ANY SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR FORM OF MAIL), POSTAGE PREPAID, TO ITS ADDRESS SET FORTH INSECTION 16 HEREOF OR AT SUCH OTHER ADDRESS OF WHICH BUYER SHALL HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED; AND
(D) AGREES THAT NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT TO EFFECT SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR SHALL LIMIT THE RIGHT TO SUE IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.
18.Integration. This Guaranty represents the agreement of Guarantor with respect to the subject matter hereof and there are no promises or representations by Buyer relative to the subject matter hereof not reflected herein.
19.Counterparts. This Guaranty may be executed in counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all of such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. Delivery by telecopier or other electronic
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transmission (including a .pdf e-mail transmission) of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Guaranty shall be effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Guaranty.
20.Acknowledgments. Guarantor hereby acknowledges that:
(a) Guarantor has been advised by counsel in the negotiation, execution and delivery of this Guaranty and the related documents;
(b) Buyer does not have any fiduciary relationship to Guarantor, and the relationship between Buyer, on the one hand, and Guarantor, on the other, is solely that of creditor and surety; and
(c) no joint venture exists between or among any of Buyer, Guarantor and/or Seller.
21.WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF GUARANTOR AND BUYER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY OR ANY RELATED DOCUMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM HEREIN OR THEREIN.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Guaranty to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.
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GUARANTOR: |
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RESOURCE CAPITAL CORP., a Maryland corporation |
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By: | | /s/ David Bloom |
Name: | | David Bloom |
Title: | | Senior Vice President |
EXHIBIT A
FINANCIAL COVENANTS DEFINITIONS
“Adjusted Total Indebtedness” shall mean, with respect to Guarantor and its Consolidated Subsidiaries and any date, the Total Indebtedness of Guarantor minus the sum of the Trust Preferred Securities and Collateralized Debt Obligations.
“Affiliate” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly Controlling, Controlled by, or under common Control with, such Person.
“Capital Lease Obligations” shall mean, with respect to any Person, the amount of all obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under a lease of property to the extent and in the amount that such obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as a capital lease on a balance sheet of such Person.
“Consolidated Subsidiaries” shall mean, as of any date and any Person, any and all Subsidiaries or other entities that are consolidated with such Person in accordance with GAAP.
“Contingent Liabilities”: shall mean, with respect to any Person as of any date, all of the following as of such date: (a) liabilities and obligations (including any Guarantee Obligations) of such Person in respect of “off–balance sheet arrangements” (as defined in the Off–Balance Sheet Rules defined below in this definition), (b) obligations, including Guarantee Obligations, whether or not required to be disclosed in the footnotes to such Person’s financial statements, guaranteeing in whole or in part any Non–Recourse Indebtedness, lease, dividend or other obligation, excluding, however (i) contractual indemnities (including any indemnity or price–adjustment provision relating to the purchase or sale of securities or other assets) and (ii) guarantees of non–monetary obligations that have not yet been called on or quantified, of such Person or any other Person, and (c) forward commitments or obligations to fund or provide proceeds with respect to any loan or other financing that is obligatory and non–discretionary on the part of the lender. The amount of any Contingent Liabilities described in the preceding clause (b) shall be deemed to be, (i) with respect to a guarantee of interest or interest and principal, or operating income guarantee, the sum of all payments required to be made thereunder (which, in the case of an operating income guarantee, shall be deemed to be equal to the debt service for the note secured thereby), through (x) in the case of an interest or interest and principal guarantee, the stated date of maturity of the obligation (and commencing on the date interest could first be payable thereunder), or, (y) in the case of an operating income guarantee, the date through which such guarantee will remain in effect, and, (ii) with respect to all guarantees not covered by the preceding clause (i), an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof (assuming such Person is required to perform thereunder) as recorded on the balance sheet and in the footnotes to the most recent financial statements of such Person. “Off–Balance Sheet Rules” means the Disclosure in Management’s Discussion and Analysis About Off–Balance Sheet Arrangements and Aggregate Contractual Obligations, Securities Act Release Nos. 33–8182; 34–47264; FR–67 International Series Release No. 1266 File No. S7–42–02, 68 Fed. Reg. 5982 (Feb. 5, 2003) (codified at 17 CFR Parts 228, 229 and 249).
“Debt Service” shall mean, with respect to any Person, the amount required to pay all amounts owed in respect of principal and interest on the Indebtedness of such Person.
“Derivatives Contract” shall mean, any rate swap transaction, basis swap, credit derivative transaction, forward rate transaction, commodity swap, commodity option, forward commodity contract, equity or equity index swap or option, bond or bond price or bond index swap or option or forward bond or forward bond price or forward bond index transaction, interest rate option, forward foreign exchange transaction, cap transaction, floor transaction, collar transaction, currency swap transaction, cross–currency rate swap transaction, currency option, spot contract, or any other similar transaction or any combination of any of the foregoing (including any options to enter into any of the foregoing), whether or not any such transaction is governed by or subject to any master agreement, including any obligations or liabilities thereunder.
“Derivatives Termination Value” shall mean, with respect to any one or more Derivatives Contracts, after taking into account the effect of any legally enforceable netting agreement relating to such Derivatives Contracts, (a) for any date on or after the date such Derivatives Contracts have been closed out and termination value(s) determined in accordance therewith, such termination value(s), and (b) for any date prior to the date referenced in the preceding clause (a), the amounts determined as the mark–to–market value(s) for such Derivatives Contracts, as determined based on one or more mid–market or other readily available quotations provided by any recognized dealer in such Derivatives Contracts (which may include Buyer).
“EBITDA” shall mean, with respect to any Person and any period, determined without duplication on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to the sum of (a) Net Income (or loss) of such Person (prior to any impact from minority interests and before deduction of any dividends on preferred stock of such Person), plus the following (but only to the extent actually included in determination of such Net Income (or loss)): (i) depreciation and amortization expense, (ii) interest expense, (iii) income tax expense, and (iv) extraordinary or non-recurring gains and losses, plus (b) such Person’s proportionate share of EBITDA of its unconsolidated Affiliates, all with respect to such period.
“Equity Interests” shall mean, with respect to any Person, (a) any share, interest, participation and other equivalent (however denominated) of capital stock of (or other ownership, equity or profit interests in) such Person, (b) any warrant, option or other right for the purchase or other acquisition from such Person of any of the foregoing, (c) any security convertible into or exchangeable for any of the foregoing, and (d) any other ownership or profit interest in such Person (including partnership, member or trust interests therein), whether voting or nonvoting, and whether or not such share, warrant, option, right or other interest is authorized or otherwise existing on any date.
“Fixed Charges” shall mean with respect to any Person at any time, the sum of (a) Debt Service, (b) all preferred dividends, (c) Capital Lease Obligations paid or accrued during such period, (d) capital expenditures (if any), and (e) any amounts payable under any Ground Lease.
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“Governing Documents” shall mean, with respect to any Person, its articles or certificate of incorporation or formation, by-laws, partnership, limited liability company, memorandum and articles of association, operating or trust agreement and/or other organizational, charter or governing documents.
“Ground Lease” shall mean, a ground lease containing the following terms and conditions: (a) a remaining term that extends not less than twenty (20) years beyond the maturity date of the Asset, (b) the right of the lessee to mortgage and encumber its interest in the leased property without the consent of the lessor or with such consent given, (c) the obligation of the lessor to give the holder of any mortgage lien on such leased property written notice of any defaults on the part of the lessee and agreement of such lessor that such lease will not be terminated until such holder has had a reasonable opportunity to cure or complete foreclosures, and fails to do so, (d) reasonable transferability of the lessee’s interest under such lease, including ability to sublease, and (e) such other rights customarily required by mortgagees making a loan secured by the interest of the holder of the leasehold estate demised pursuant to a ground lease.
“Guarantor” shall mean, Resource Capital Corp., a Maryland corporation, together with its successors and permitted assigns.
“Indebtedness” shall mean, with respect to any Person and any date, all of the following with respect to such Person as of such date: (a) obligations in respect of money borrowed (including principal, interest, assumption fees, prepayment fees, yield maintenance charges, penalties, exit fees, contingent interest and other monetary obligations whether choate or inchoate and whether by loan, the issuance and sale of debt securities or the sale of property or assets to another Person subject to an understanding or agreement, contingent or otherwise, to repurchase such property or assets, or otherwise), (b) obligations, whether or not for money borrowed (i) represented by notes payable, letters of credit or drafts accepted, in each case representing extensions of credit, (ii) evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments, (iii) constituting purchase money indebtedness, conditional sales contracts, title retention debt instruments or other similar instruments, upon which interest charges are customarily paid or that are issued or assumed as full or partial payment for property or services rendered, or (iv) in connection with the issuance of Preferred Equity or trust preferred securities, (c) Capital Lease Obligations, (d) reimbursement obligations under any letters of credit or acceptances (whether or not the same have been presented for payment), (e) Off–Balance Sheet Obligations, (f) obligations to purchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise make any payment in respect of any mandatory redeemable stock issued by such Person or any other Person (inclusive of forward equity contracts), valued at the greater of its voluntary or involuntary liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends, (g) as applicable, all obligations of such Person (but not the obligation of others) in respect of any keep well arrangements, credit enhancements, contingent or future funding obligations under any Purchased Asset or any obligation senior to any Purchased Asset, unfunded interest reserve amount under any Purchased Asset or any obligation that is senior to any Purchased Asset, purchase obligation, repurchase obligation, sale/buy–back agreement, takeout commitment or forward equity commitment, in each case evidenced by a binding agreement (excluding any such obligation to the extent the obligation can be satisfied by the issuance of Equity Interests (other than mandatory redeemable stock)), (h) net obligations under any Derivatives Contract not entered into as a hedge against existing indebtedness, in an amount equal to the Derivatives Termination Value thereof, (i) all Non–Recourse Indebtedness, recourse indebtedness and all
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indebtedness of other Persons which such Person has guaranteed or is otherwise recourse to such Person, (j) all indebtedness of another Person secured by (or for which the holder of such indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by) any Lien (other than certain Permitted Liens) on property or assets owned by such Person, even though such Person has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such indebtedness or other payment obligation (provided, that if such Person has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such indebtedness, then for the purposes of this definition the amount of such indebtedness shall not exceed the market value of the property subject to such Lien), (k) all Contingent Liabilities, (l) all obligations of such Person incurred in connection with the acquisition or carrying of fixed assets by such Person or obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase or acquisition price of property or assets, including contracts for the deferred purchase price of property or assets that include the procurement of services, (m) indebtedness of general partnerships of which such Person is liable as a general partner (whether secondarily or contingently liable or otherwise), and (n) obligations to fund capital commitments under any Governing Document, subscription agreement or otherwise.
“Interest Expense” shall mean, with respect to any Person and any period, determined without duplication on a consolidated basis, the amount of total interest expense incurred by such Person, including capitalized or accruing interest (but excluding interest funded under a construction loan), plus such Person’s proportionate share of interest expense from the joint venture investments of such Person in unconsolidated Affiliates of such Person, all with respect to such period.
“Liquidity” shall mean, with respect to any Person and any date, the amount of cash and cash equivalents held by such Person.
“Non–Recourse Indebtedness” shall mean, with respect to any Person and any date, indebtedness of such Person as of such date for borrowed money in respect of which recourse for payment (except for customary exceptions for fraud, misapplication of funds, environmental indemnities, Insolvency Events, non-approved transfers or other events) is contractually limited to specific assets of such Person encumbered by a Lien securing such Indebtedness.
“Off-Balance Sheet Obligations” shall mean, with respect to any Person and any date, to the extent not included as a liability on the balance sheet of such Person, all of the following with respect to such Person as of such date: (a) monetary obligations under any financing lease or so-called “synthetic,” tax retention or off-balance sheet lease transaction that, upon the application of any Insolvency Laws, would be characterized as indebtedness; (b) monetary obligations under any sale and leaseback transaction that does not create a liability on the balance sheet of such Person; or (c) any other monetary obligation arising with respect to any other transaction that (i) is characterized as indebtedness for tax purposes but not for accounting purposes or (ii) is the functional equivalent of or takes the place of borrowing but that does not constitute a liability on the balance sheet of such Person (for purposes of this clause (c), any transaction structured to provide tax deductibility as interest expense of any dividend, coupon or other periodic payment will be deemed to be the functional equivalent of a borrowing).
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“Person” shall mean, an individual, corporation, limited liability company, business trust, partnership, trust, unincorporated organization, joint stock company, sole proprietorship, joint venture, Governmental Authority or any other form of entity.
“Preferred Equity” shall mean, a performing current pay preferred equity position (with a put or synthetic maturity date structure replicating a debt instrument) evidenced by a stock share certificate or other similar ownership certificate representing the entire equity ownership interest in entities that own income producing commercial real estate.
“Required Capital Amount” shall mean Three Hundred Forty-Five Million and No/100 Dollars ($345,000,000) plus seventy five percent (75%) of the aggregate net proceeds received by Guarantor or any of its Affiliates from any equity capital raised following the Closing Date.
“Required Liquidity Amount” shall mean the greater of (a) Ten Million and No/100 Dollars ($10,000,000), (b) ten percent (10%) of the aggregate outstanding Purchase Price, or (c) on any date of determination, the dollar amount required to satisfy any liquidity covenant agreed to by Guarantor or any Subsidiary of Guarantor under any other repurchase agreement, warehouse facility, credit facility or other similar arrangement with any Person to which Guarantor or any Subsidiary of Guarantor is a party.
“Test Period” shall mean, the immediately preceding calendar quarter.
“Total Equity” shall mean all paid-in capital of Guarantor, Seller, or Pledgor, as determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Total Indebtedness” shall mean, with respect to any Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries and any date, determined without duplication on a consolidated basis, all amounts of Indebtedness of such Person plus the proportionate share of such Person of all Indebtedness of unconsolidated Affiliates of such Person in which such Person is an investor, on or as of such date.
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