EXECUTION COPY 3/31/98 NY:#7155995v4 This Guaranty Agreement (the "Guaranty"), dated as of March 31, 1998, is made by JBS International, Inc., a Barbados corporation ("Guarantor"), in favor of Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America ("Teachers") and each other holder from time to time of any of the Notes referred to below (Teachers and each such other holder being collectively referred to herein as the "Noteholders"). RECITALS: WHEREAS, John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Borrower"), has entered into that certain Note Purchase Agreement dated as of August 30, 1995 (as in effect on the date hereof, the "Note Agreement") under which Teachers purchased, and the Borrower issued and sold, among other things, $10,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 8.30% Senior Notes due 2005 (the "Notes"); and WHEREAS, all parties acknowledge that the indebtedness and obligations contemplated by the Note Agreement have been incurred for and will inure, in part, to the benefit of Guarantor; and WHEREAS, in order to consent to an amendment of the Note Agreement, Teachers requires that this Guaranty be executed and delivered; NOW THEREFORE, for value received, to satisfy one of the conditions precedent to the amendment of the Note Agreement, to induce any transferee to accept the transfer of all or any part of any Note, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, Guarantor agrees as follows: ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS SECTION 1.1 DEFINITIONS. As used in this Guaranty, the term "Indebtedness" shall mean all of the indebtedness, obligations and liabilities existing on the date hereof or arising from time to time thereafter, whether direct or indirect, joint or several, actual, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, secured or unsecured, arising by contract, operation of law or otherwise, of Borrower to the Noteholders under or in respect of the Note Agreement (as such Agreement relates to the Notes) or the Notes, including, without limitation, the principal of and interest and Make-Whole Amount, if any, on the Notes. SECTION 1.2 OTHER DEFINITIONS. Capitalized terms that are used in this Guaranty and not defined in this Guaranty shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Note Agreement. ARTICLE II THE GUARANTY SECTION 2.1 GUARANTY OF PAYMENT AND PERFORMANCE OF OBLIGATIONS. Guarantor absolutely, unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees the full and prompt payment in United States currency when due (whether at maturity, a stated prepayment date or earlier by reason of acceleration or otherwise) and at all times thereafter, and the due and punctual performance, of all Indebtedness together with all costs and expenses, including without limitation all court costs and expenses and attorneys' fees, paid or incurred by the Noteholders in endeavoring to enforce this Guaranty or in pursuing any action against Borrower or Guarantor or enforcing any rights of the Noteholders in the security, if any, for the Indebtedness or for liabilities of Guarantor hereunder, and any taxes, fees or penalties which may be paid or payable in connection therewith. This is a continuing guaranty of payment and performance not of collection. Upon an Event of Default, the Noteholders may, at their sole election and without notice, proceed directly and at once against Guarantor to seek and enforce performance of, and to collect and recover, the Indebtedness, or any portion thereof, without first proceeding against Borrower, any other Person, or any security for the Indebtedness or for the liability of any such other Person or the Guarantor hereunder. The Noteholders shall have the exclusive right to determine the application of payments and credits, if any, from Guarantor, Borrower or from any other Person on account of the Indebtedness or otherwise. SECTION 2.2 OBLIGATIONS UNCONDITIONAL. The obligations of Guarantor under this Guaranty shall be continuing, absolute and unconditional, irrespective of (i) the invalidity or unenforceability of any part or all of the Note Agreement or any Note or any other agreement; (ii) the absence of any attempt by the Noteholders to collect the Indebtedness or any portion thereof from Borrower or other action to enforce the same; (iii) the waiver or consent by the Noteholders with respect to any provision of the Note Agreement or any Note or any other agreement or applicable law; (iv) any failure by the Noteholders to acquire, perfect or maintain any security interest or lien in, or take any steps to preserve its rights to any security for the Indebtedness or any portion thereof or for the liability of Guarantor hereunder; (v) any defense arising by reason of any disability or other defense (other than a defense of payment, unless the payment on which such defense is based was or is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, otherwise avoided and/or required to be repaid to Borrower, Guarantor, the estate of either Borrower or Guarantor, a trustee, receiver or any other Person under any bankruptcy law, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause, in which case there shall be no defense of payment with respect to such payment) of Borrower or any other Person liable on the Indebtedness or any portion thereof; (vi) Lender's election, in any proceeding instituted under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code (11 U.S.C. 101 et seq.) (the "Bankruptcy Code"), of the application of Section 1111(b)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code; (vii) any borrowing or grant of a security interest to the Noteholders by Borrower, as debtor-in-possession, or extension of credit, under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code; (viii) the disallowance or avoidance of all or any portion of the Noteholders' claim(s) for repayment of the Indebtedness under the Bankruptcy Code or any similar state law or the avoidance of any security for the Indebtedness or any security for the liability of Guarantor hereunder; (ix) any amendment to, waiver or modification of, or consent under any provision of the Note Agreement or any Note or any other agreement; (x) any change in any provision of any applicable law or regulation; (xi) any order, judgment, writ, award or decree of any court, arbitrator or governmental authority, domestic or foreign, binding on or affecting Guarantor or Borrower or any of their assets; (xii) the charter or by-laws of Guarantor or Borrower; (xiii) any mortgage, indenture, lease, contract, or other agreement (including without limitation any agreement with stockholders), instrument or undertaking to which Guarantor or Borrower is a party or which purports to be binding on or affect Guarantor or Borrower or any of their assets; or (xiv) any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor. SECTION 2.3 NOTEHOLDERS' FREEDOM TO ACT. The Noteholders are authorized, without notice and without affecting the liability of Guarantor hereunder, from time to time to (i) renew, extend, accelerate or otherwise change the time for payment of, or other terms relating to, the Indebtedness or any portion thereof, or otherwise modify, amend or change the terms of the Note Agreement or any Note or any other agreement; (ii) accept partial payments on the Indebtedness; (iii) take and hold security or additional guaranties or sureties for the Indebtedness or any portion thereof or any other liabilities of Borrower, the obligations of Guarantor under this Guaranty and the obligations under any other guaranties and sureties of the Indebtedness, and exchange, enforce, waive, release, sell, transfer, assign or otherwise deal with any such security, guaranty or surety; (iv) apply such security and direct the order or manner of sale thereof as the Noteholders may determine in their sole discretion; (v) settle, release, compromise, collect or otherwise liquidate the Indebtedness or any portion thereof and any security therefor in any manner; (vi) extend additional loans, credit and financial accommodations and otherwise create additional Indebtedness; (vii) waive strict compliance with the terms of the Note Agreement or any Note or any other agreement and otherwise forbear from asserting the Noteholders' rights and remedies thereunder; (viii) enforce or forbear from enforcing the guaranty or surety of any other guarantor or surety of the Indebtedness, any portion thereof or release any such guarantor or surety; and (ix) assign this Guaranty in part or in whole in connection with any assignment of the Indebtedness or any portion thereof. SECTION 2.4 WAIVERS OF GUARANTOR. Guarantor waives all set-offs and counterclaims and all presentments, demands for performance, notices of nonperformance, protests, notices of protest, notices of dishonor and diligence with respect to the Indebtedness and the obligations of Guarantor hereunder, the filing of any claims with a court in the event of receivership or bankruptcy of Borrower, and notices of acceptance of this Guaranty. Guarantor further waives all notices that the principal amount, any payment or any portion thereof, any interest or Make-Whole Amount on the Indebtedness or any portion thereof is due, notices of any and all proceedings to collect from Borrower, anyone primarily or secondarily liable with respect to the Indebtedness or any portion thereof, or from anyone else, and, to the extent permitted by law, notices of exchange, sale, surrender or other handling of any security securing payment of the Indebtedness or this Guaranty. The Guarantor agrees that the Noteholders shall not be under any obligation to marshall any assets in favor of Guarantor or against or in payment of any or all of the Indebtedness. Guarantor hereby waives and releases Borrower from any and all "claims" (as defined in Section 101(4) of the Bankruptcy Code) to which Guarantor is or would at any time be entitled by virtue of its obligations under this Guaranty, including, without limitation, any right of subrogation (whether contractual, under Section 509 of the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise), reimbursement, contribution, indemnity, exoneration or similar right against Borrower. Guarantor further waives any right to demand security from Borrower and any benefit of, and any right to participate in, any security given to the Noteholders to secure payment of the Indebtedness or any other liability of Borrower to the Noteholders. SECTION 2.5 REVIVAL. To the extent that Borrower or Guarantor makes a payment or payments, or a transfer of an interest in any property to any Noteholder or any Noteholder enforces its rights in any security for the liabilities of Guarantor hereunder or exercises its right of set-off, and such payment, payments, transfer, or the proceeds of such enforcement or set-off, or any portion of such payment, payments, transfer or proceeds are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside, otherwise avoided or required to be repaid to Borrower, Guarantor, the estate of either Borrower or Guarantor, a trustee, receiver or any other party under any bankruptcy law, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause, then to the extent of such recovery, avoidance or repayment, the obligation or part of such obligation originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such payment, enforcement or set-off had not occurred. SECTION 2.6 OBLIGATION TO KEEP INFORMED. Guarantor shall be responsible for keeping itself informed of the financial condition of Borrower and any other Persons primarily or secondarily liable on the Indebtedness or any portion thereof, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Indebtedness or any portion thereof, and Guarantor agrees that the Noteholders shall have no duty to advise Guarantor of information known to the Noteholders regarding such condition or any such circumstance. If any Noteholder, in its discretion, undertakes at any time or from time to time to provide any such information to Guarantor, such Noteholder shall not be under any obligation (i) to undertake any investigation, whether or not a part of its regular business routine, (ii) to disclose any information which such Noteholder wishes to maintain confidential, or (iii) to make any other or future disclosures of such information or any other information to Guarantor. SECTION 2.7 BANKRUPTCY. If any Event of Default specified in Subsection (H) to (J), inclusive, of 12.1 of the Note Agreement shall occur and be continuing, any and all obligations of Guarantor shall forthwith become due and payable without notice. ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES 	Guarantor represents, covenants and warrants as follows: SECTION 3.1 ORGANIZATION. Guarantor is a corporation duly organized and existing in good standing under the laws of Barbados. Guarantor is duly qualified and authorized to transact business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in every jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it or the ownership of its properties or assets makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be in good standing or to be so qualified or authorized would not have a material adverse effect on the business, condition (financial or otherwise) or operations of Guarantor. SECTION 3.2 POWER AND AUTHORITY. Guarantor has all requisite corporate power to conduct its business as currently conducted and as currently proposed to be conducted. Guarantor has all requisite corporate power to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Guaranty. The execution, delivery and performance by Guarantor of this Guaranty have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part of Guarantor. Guarantor has duly executed and delivered this Guaranty and this Guaranty constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligations of Guarantor, enforceable against Guarantor in accordance with its terms. SECTION 3.3 CONFLICTING AGREEMENTS AND OTHER MATTERS. Guarantor is not a party to any contract or agreement or subject to any charter or other corporate restriction which materially and adversely affects its business, property or assets, or financial condition. Neither the execution nor delivery of this Guaranty nor fulfillment of nor compliance with the terms and provisions hereof, will conflict with, or result in a breach of the terms, conditions or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in any violation of, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of Guarantor pursuant to, the charter or by-laws of Guarantor, any award of any arbitrator or any agreement (including any agreement with stockholders), instrument, order, judgment, decree, statute, law, rule or regulation to which Guarantor is subject. Guarantor is not a party to, or otherwise subject to any provision contained in, any instrument evidencing Indebtedness (as defined in the Note Agreement) of Guarantor, any agreement relating thereto or any other contract or agreement (including its charter) which limits the amount of, or otherwise imposes restrictions on the creation of, any guarantee, except under the Bank Agreement. ARTICLE IV MISCELLANEOUS SECTION 4.1 SUCCESSORS, ASSIGNS AND PARTICIPANTS. This Guaranty shall be binding upon Guarantor and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of Teachers and its successors, transferees and assigns and each other Noteholder; all references herein to Guarantor shall be deemed to include its successors and assigns, and all references herein to Teachers or any other Noteholder shall be deemed to include its successors and assigns. This Guaranty shall be enforceable by the Noteholders and any of the Noteholders' successors, assigns and participants, and any such successors and assigns shall have the same rights and benefits with respect to the Borrower under this Guaranty as Teachers hereunder. SECTION 4.2 FURTHER ASSURANCES. Guarantor agrees, at the sole cost and expense of Guarantor, to promptly do all such things and execute all such documents as the Noteholders may consider necessary or desirable to preserve the rights and powers of the Noteholders hereunder. SECTION 4.3 NOTICES. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any notice required or desired to be served, given or delivered hereunder shall be in writing, and shall be deemed to have been validly served, given or delivered five days after deposit in the United States mails, with proper postage prepaid, or upon delivery by courier or upon transmission by telex, telecopy or similar electronic medium to the following addresses: 	(i) If to Teachers at: 		730 Third Avenue 		New York, New York 10017 		Attention: Securities Division 		Re: John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. 		Telecopy: (212) 916-6667 		Telephone: (212) 916-4311 (ii) If to any other Noteholder, to the address of such Noteholder as it appears in the note register maintained pursuant to 14 of the Note Agreement; (iii)	If to Guarantor at: 		JBS International, Inc. 		c/o John B. Sanfilippo & Son, Inc. 		2299 Busse Road 		Elk Grove Village, Illinois 60007 		Attn: Michael J. Valentine, Chairman and President 		Telecopy: (708) 593-9608 		Telephone: (708) 593-2300 	with a copy to: 		Timothy R. Donovan, Esq. 		Jenner & Block 		One IBM Plaza 		Chicago, Illinois 60611 or to such other address as each party designates to the other in the manner herein prescribed. SECTION 4.4 AMENDMENTS, WAIVERS AND CONSENTS. No amendment or waiver of or consent to any departure by Guarantor from any provision of this Guaranty, shall be binding on the Noteholders except as expressly set forth and consented to in a writing duly signed and delivered by the Required Holders of the Notes, and then such amendment, waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given. No course of dealing between Guarantor and the Noteholders, nor any failure on the part of the Noteholders to exercise any right, power or remedy nor any delay on the part of the Noteholders in exercising any right, power or remedy shall operate as a waiver thereof, and no single or partial exercise by the Noteholders of any right, power or remedy shall preclude any further exercise thereof by the Noteholders. No waiver of any right, power or remedy shall be deemed to occur by any act or knowledge of any Noteholder, its agents, trustees, officers or employees or be binding against any Noteholder, except as expressly set forth in a writing duly signed and delivered by the Required Holders of the Notes. No waiver by the Required Holders of any default shall operate as a waiver of any other default or the same default on a future occasion, and no action by any Noteholder permitted hereunder shall in any way affect or impair any of any Noteholders' rights, powers or remedies or the obligations of Guarantor under this Guaranty. Any determination by a court of competent jurisdiction of the amount of any part of the Indebtedness shall be conclusive and binding on Guarantor irrespective of whether Guarantor was a party to the suit or action in which such determination was made. As used herein, the term "this Guaranty" and references thereto shall mean this Guaranty as it may from time to time be amended or supplemented. SECTION 4.5 GOVERNING LAW. THIS GUARANTY SHALL BE INTERPRETED AND THE RIGHTS AND LIABILITIES OF THE PARTIES HERETO DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS (AS OPPOSED TO CONFLICTS OF LAW PROVISIONS) AND DECISIONS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. SECTION 4.6 SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION. GUARANTOR HEREBY CONSENTS TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF NEW YORK OR WITHIN THE COUNTY OF COOK, STATE OF ILLINOIS, AND IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT, SUBJECT TO THE NOTEHOLDERS' SOLE AND ABSOLUTE ELECTION, ALL ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENT EXECUTED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH TO WHICH GUARANTOR IS A PARTY MAY BE LITIGATED IN SUCH COURTS, AND GUARANTOR WAIVES ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY HAVE BASED ON IMPROPER VENUE OR FORUM NON CONVENIENS TO THE CONDUCT OF ANY PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT AND WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF ANY AND ALL PROCESS UPON IT, AND CONSENTS THAT ALL SUCH SERVICE OF PROCESS BE MADE BY MAIL OR MESSENGER ON JOHN B. SANFILIPPO & SON, INC. AT THE ADDRESS SET FORTH IN SECTION 4.3 ABOVE AND THAT SERVICE SO MADE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE COMPLETED UPON THE EARLIER OF ACTUAL RECEIPT OR FIVE (5) DAYS AFTER THE SAME SHALL HAVE BEEN POSTED TO GUARANTOR'S ADDRESS AS SET FORTH IN SECTION 4.3. THE NOTEHOLDERS AND GUARANTOR ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE TIME AND EXPENSE REQUIRED FOR TRIAL BY JURY EXCEED THE TIME AND EXPENSE REQUIRED FOR A BENCH TRIAL AND HEREBY WAIVE, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, TRIAL BY JURY, AND WAIVE ANY BOND OR SURETY OR SECURITY UPON SUCH BOND WHICH MIGHT, BUT FOR THIS WAIVER, BE REQUIRED OF THE NOTEHOLDERS. NOTHING CONTAINED IN THIS SUBSECTION 4.6 SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT OF THE NOTEHOLDERS TO SERVE LEGAL PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR AFFECT THE RIGHT OF THE NOTEHOLDERS TO BRING ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING AGAINST GUARANTOR OR ITS PROPERTY IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. SECTION 4.7 COUNTERPARTS. This Guaranty may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. SECTION 4.8 INTERPRETATION; PARTIAL INVALIDITY. Whenever possible each provision of this Guaranty shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Guaranty shall be prohibited by or invalid under such law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Guaranty. SECTION 4.9 NO USURY. Nothing contained in this Guaranty shall be construed or shall so operate either presently or prospectively to require Guarantor to pay any amount under this Guaranty on account of the Indebtedness that constitutes interest in excess of the maximum amount of interest permitted by law to be charged on all or any portion of the Indebtedness and to be guaranteed by Guarantor hereunder. If any interest in excess of the maximum amount of interest permitted by law to be charged and to be guaranteed hereunder is provided for, or is adjudicated to be provided for, with respect to all or any portion of the Indebtedness, then in such event (i) the provisions of this Section 4.9 shall govern and control; (ii) Guarantor shall not be obligated to pay any amount under this Guaranty that constitutes interest in excess of that so permitted on all or any portion of the Indebtedness; (iii) any amount paid by Guarantor to the Noteholders under this Guaranty that constitutes interest in excess of that so permitted on all or any portion of the Indebtedness shall, at the option of the Noteholders, be (A) applied as a credit against the then unpaid but due and owing amount under this Guaranty, (B) refunded to the Guarantor or (C) applied or refunded pursuant to any combination of the foregoing; (iv) this Guaranty shall have been deemed to have been, and shall be, reformed and modified to reflect, Guarantor's guarantee hereunder of the payment of the Indebtedness to the extent interest included therein is permitted by law to be charged and to be guaranteed by Guarantor hereunder; and (v) Guarantor shall not have any action against the Noteholders for any damages whatsoever arising out of the payment or collection of any such amount. SECTION 4.10 TAXES. (a) Any and all payments by the Guarantor hereunder shall be made free and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or future taxes, deductions, charges or withholdings, and all liabilities with respect thereto, including without limitation, such taxes, deductions, charges, withholdings or liabilities whatsoever imposed, assessed, levied or collected by any taxing authority and all (other than to the extent due to the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any Noteholder) interest, penalties, expenses or similar liabilities with respect thereto ("Taxes"), excluding however, from the definition of Taxes, in the case of each Noteholder, taxes imposed on its income (including penalties and interest payable in respect thereof), and franchise taxes imposed on it by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such Noteholder is organized or any political subdivision thereof. If the Guarantor shall be required by law to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder to any Noteholder, (i) the sum payable shall be increased as may be necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 4.10) such Noteholder receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made and (ii) the Guarantor shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with applicable law. (b) In addition, the Guarantor agrees to pay any present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies that arise from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or registration of, or otherwise with respect to, this Guaranty (hereinafter included within the definition of "Taxes"). (c) The Guarantor will indemnify each Noteholder for the full amount of Taxes (including without limitation, any Taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section 4.10) paid by such Noteholder and any liability arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes were correctly or legally asserted. This indemnification shall be made within five days from the date such Noteholder makes written demand therefor; provided however, to the extent that any Noteholder is reimbursed for any Tax that was incorrectly or illegally asserted in connection with this Guaranty, such Noteholder shall promptly return to the Guarantor the amount of such reimbursement net or any costs of recovery, together with any interest that may have been paid by the taxing jurisdiction with respect thereto, to the extent the Guarantor has actually paid such Noteholder with respect thereto. (d) Promptly after the date on which payment of any Taxes are due pursuant to applicable law, the Guarantor will, at the request of any Noteholder, furnish to such Noteholder evidence in form and substance satisfactory to such Noteholder that the Guarantor has met its obligations under this Section 4.10. (e) Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of the Guarantor, the agreement and obligations of the Guarantor contained in this Section 4.10 shall survive the payment in full of any other amounts due under this Guaranty. SECTION 4.11 MISCELLANEOUS. The section headings used in this Guaranty are for convenience of reference only and shall not define or limit the provisions of this Guaranty. All remedies under this Guaranty are cumulative and are not exclusive of any other remedies provided by law. [Signature pages to follow] 	 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Guarantor and Teachers have caused this Guaranty to be duly executed as of the date first above written. JBS INTERNATIONAL, INC. By: /s/ Michael J. Valentine ------------------------- Title: President --------- TEACHERS INSURANCE AND ANNUITY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA By: /s/ David G. Persky ------------------------- Title: Associate Director ------------------