AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN AGREEMENT
BY AND BETWEEN
EQUUS II INCORPORATED
("BORROWER")
AND
NATIONSBANK OF TEXAS, N.A.
("LENDER")
DATED AS OF THE 29TH DAY OF MARCH, 1996
EXECUTION COPY
AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN AGREEMENT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CAPTION PAGE
------- ----
SECTION 1. GENERAL TERMS ................................................... 1
1.1 INDEBTEDNESS ...................................................... 1
1.2 CERTAIN DEFINITIONS; USE OF DEFINED TERMS; ACCOUNTING TERMS;
SINGULAR OR PLURAL ................................................ 1
1.3 REVOLVING FACILITY A .............................................. 7
1.4 REVOLVING FACILITY B ............................................... 11
1.5 REPAYMENT SCHEDULE ................................................. 11
1.6 PREPAYMENT ......................................................... 12
1.7 FACILITY C ......................................................... 12
SECTION 2. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES ................................... 13
2.1 CORPORATE EXISTENCE ................................................ 13
2.2 CORPORATE AUTHORITY ................................................ 13
2.3 FINANCIAL CONDITION ................................................ 14
2.4 INVESTMENTS, LOANS, ADVANCES AND GUARANTEES ........................ 14
2.5 LIABILITIES AND LITIGATION ......................................... 14
2.6 NO DEFAULT ......................................................... 14
2.7 TAXES .............................................................. 15
2.8 COMPLIANCE ......................................................... 15
2.9 PENSION REFORM ACT ................................................. 15
2.10 ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS ................................................. 15
2.11 FULL DISCLOSURE .................................................... 15
2.12 CREDIT AGREEMENTS .................................................. 16
2.13 INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT ............................................. 16
2.14 PUBLIC UTILITY HOLDING COMPANY ACT ................................. 16
SECTION 3. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS ............................................ 16
3.1 REPORTING REQUIREMENTS ............................................. 16
3.2 TAXES AND OTHER LIENS .............................................. 18
3.3 MAINTENANCE ........................................................ 18
3.4 FURTHER ASSURANCES ................................................. 18
3.5 PERFORMANCE OF OBLIGATIONS ......................................... 18
3.6 REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS AND EXPENSES ................................ 19
3.7 CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE .......................................... 19
3.8 LITIGATION ......................................................... 19
3.9 SECURITY ........................................................... 20
3.10 BORROWING BASE...................................................... 20
(ii)
SECTION 4. NEGATIVE COVENANTS............................................... 21
4.1 GUARANTEES AND DEBTS ............................................... 21
4.2 DIVIDENDS AND REDEMPTION ........................................... 22
4.3 MERGERS, ETC ....................................................... 22
4.4 ENCUMBRANCES ....................................................... 22
4.5 SALE OF ASSETS ..................................................... 22
4.6 TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES ....................................... 23
4.7 VALUATION PROCEDURES ............................................... 23
SECTION 5. EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES ................................... 23
5.1 EVENTS OF DEFAULT .................................................. 23
5.2 REMEDIES ........................................................... 24
SECTION 6. CLOSING .......................................................... 25
6.1 COUNSEL TO LENDER .................................................. 25
6.2 REQUIRED DOCUMENTS ................................................. 25
6.3 OTHER CONDITIONS ................................................... 25
SECTION 7. MISCELLANEOUS .................................................... 25
7.1 SURVIVAL OF VARIOUS MATTERS ........................................ 25
7.2 NOTICES ............................................................ 25
7.3 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS ............................................. 26
7.4 RENEWALS ........................................................... 27
7.5 NO WAIVER .......................................................... 27
7.6 GOVERNING LAW ...................................................... 27
7.7 NON-SUBORDINATION .................................................. 27
7.8 EXHIBITS ........................................................... 27
7.9 PAYMENT ON NON-BUSINESS DAYS ....................................... 27
7.10 SEVERABILITY........................................................ 27
7.11 CONTROLLING DOCUMENT................................................ 28
7.12 SAVINGS CLAUSE...................................................... 28
7.13 INVESTMENT.......................................................... 28
(ii)
7.14 SET OFF............................................................. 28
7.15 INDEMNITY........................................................... 29
7.16 ARBITRATION......................................................... 29
7.17 CHANGE OF ADVISORS.................................................. 29
EXHIBITS
"1.3.1" BORROWING APPLICATION
"1.3.2" FORM OF REVOLVING NOTE-A
"1.3.3" FORM OF REVOLVING NOTE-B
"1.7" FORM OF FACILITY C NOTE
"2.4" PORTFOLIO INVESTMENT SUMMARY
"3.7" CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
"3.10" BORROWING BASE REPORT
"6.2" CLOSING REQUIREMENTS
"7.16" ARBITRATION PROGRAM
(iii)
AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN AGREEMENT
THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED LOAN AGREEMENT made and entered into as of
the 29th day of March, 1996 by and between EQUUS II Incorporated, a Delaware
corporation, with offices and place of business at 2929 Allen Parkway, Suite
2500, Houston, Texas 77019 (hereinafter called "Borrower"), and NationsBank of
Texas, N.A., a national banking association, with offices at 700 Louisiana,
Houston, Texas 77002 (hereinafter called "Lender").
AGREEMENT
Whereas, on March 18, 1996, Borrower and Lender executed that certain
Loan Agreement ("Prior Loan Agreement") and have agreed to amend and restate
said Prior Loan Agreement to provide for an additional credit facility;
Whereas, Borrower and Lender agree that upon the execution of this
Amended and Restated Loan Agreement, its terms shall govern and control the
transactions contemplated hereby and the Prior Loan Agreement shall be
superseded with respect to such transactions after the date hereof;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
contained herein, Borrower and Lender agree as follows:
SECTION 1. GENERAL TERMS
1.1 INDEBTEDNESS . Upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth,
the Lender agrees to lend to and/or issue letters of credit for the account of
Borrower in an aggregate of up to $20,000,000.00 outstanding at any time as
evidenced by the Credit Facility to be extended to the Borrower by the Lender as
more specifically described in Section 1.3 and Section 1.4 hereof.
1.2 CERTAIN DEFINITIONS; USE OF DEFINED TERMS; ACCOUNTING TERMS;
SINGULAR OR PLURAL.
(a) As used herein:
(1) "Affiliate" shall mean with respect to any Person any other Person
directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control
with, such Person.
(2) "Agreement" shall mean this Amended and Restated Loan
Agreement as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time.
(3) "Borrowing Base A" shall mean the borrowing base as
calculated pursuant to Section 3.10(a).
(4) "Borrowing Base B" shall mean the borrowing base as
calculated pursuant to Section 3.10(b).
(5) "Borrowing Base Report" shall mean the report in the form set
forth in Exhibit "3.10."
(6) "Business Day" shall mean any weekday on which Lender is open
for business.
(7) "Cash Collateral Account" shall mean Account No. 266-521-2337
with Lender or such other account as Borrower and Lender designate in
writing.
(8) "Cash Collateral Account Rate" shall mean the actual rate of
return on the assets maintained in the Cash Collateral Account
securing the advances pursuant to Facility C.
(9) "Certificate of Compliance" shall mean the certificate
described in Section 3.7 of this Agreement.
(10) "Collateral" shall mean the property described in Section
3.10 of this Agreement, securing payment of the Indebtedness and
performance of the Obligations.
(11) "Commitment Fee" means fees payable by Borrower to Lender
(i) in an amount equal to $10,000.00 payable upon execution of this
Agreement and (ii) on the average daily unused portion of the Credit
Facility (use shall include the face amount of Credits and the
principal amount of Loans outstanding) from and including the date of
this Agreement to the Maturity Date, at the rate of one-quarter of one
percent (1/4%) per annum based on a 365 or 366 day year as applicable
and the actual number of days elapsed, payable on the last day of each
March, June, September and December, commencing on March 31, 1996.
(12) "Commitment Fee-Facility C" shall mean a fee in the amount
of $50,000, payable upon execution of this Agreement.
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(13) "Credit" means any irrevocable standby or documentary letter
of credit issued by Lender for Borrower's account which shall have an
expiry date of not later than 5:00 p.m. Houston, Texas time on the LOC
Expiration Date, and shall be in a form acceptable to Lender.
(14) "Credit Facility" shall mean the credit facilities described
in Section 1.3 and Section 1.4, the Revolving Facility A and Revolving
Facility B, respectively.
(15) "Credit Facility Commitment Period" means the period from
the date of the satisfaction of all the closing conditions in this
Agreement until the Maturity Date.
(16) "Credit Fees" means with respect to each Credit a per annum
fee of one and one-half percent (1.5%) of the face amount of such
Credit; provided, however, that the minimum fee per Credit shall not
be less than $500; provided, further, that all Credit Fees shall be
due and payable at the time of the issuance of each Credit and shall
be fully earned and non-refundable when paid.
(17) "Current Fair Market Value" means for any day (i) with
respect to any Eligible Public Security which is listed or admitted to
trading on one or more domestic stock exchanges the average of the
last sales prices on the preceding day on all domestic stock exchanges
on which such Eligible Public Security is then listed or admitted to
trading or if no sale took place on such preceding day on any such
exchange, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such day
as officially quoted on such exchanges, (ii) with respect to any
Eligible Public Security which is not then listed or admitted to
trading on any domestic stock exchange, the average of the reported
bid and asked prices on the preceding day in the over-the-counter
market, as furnished by the National Quotation Bureau, Inc. or, if
such firm is not engaged at the time in the business of reporting such
prices, as furnished by any similar firm then engaged in such business
and selected by Borrower and acceptable to Lender or if there is no
such firm, as furnished by any reputable member of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. selected by Borrower and
acceptable to Lender and (iii) with respect to any Eligible Other
Securities, the value of such securities determined by or on behalf of
Borrower in good faith and consistent with the calculation of such
values for purposes of the calculation of Net Asset Value discounted
in accordance with Borrower's valuation methodology.
(18) "Custody Account" means that certain custody account of
Borrower with Lender (Account #3004400-0074724) in which the Portfolio
Investments of Borrower shall be maintained in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement and the Security Instruments. Borrower shall
pay Lender an annual fee of $10,000 to defray costs of such account
("Custody Account Fee"), payable on the date of this Agreement.
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(19) "Debt" shall mean with respect to any Person all items of
indebtedness, obligation or liability, whether matured or unmatured,
liquidated or unliquidated, direct or contingent, joint or several,
including, but without limitation:
(a) All indebtedness guaranteed, directly or indirectly, in
any manner, or endorsed (other than for collection or deposit in
the ordinary course of business) or discounted with recourse;
(b) All indebtedness in effect guaranteed, directly or
indirectly, through agreements, contingent or otherwise: (1) to
purchase such indebtedness; or (2) to purchase, sell or lease (as
lessee) property, products, materials or supplies or to purchase
or sell services, primarily for the purpose of enabling the
obligor to make payment of such indebtedness or to assure the
owner of the indebtedness against loss; or (3) to supply funds to
or in any other manner invest in the obligor; and
(c) All indebtedness secured by (or for which the holder of
such indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise,
to be secured by) any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, lien,
security interest or other charge or encumbrance upon property
owned or acquired subject to such mortgage, deed of trust,
pledge, lien, security interest, charge or encumbrance, whether
or not the liabilities secured thereby have been assumed.
(20) "Default" shall mean an event which with the giving of
notice, the lapse of time, or both, constitutes an Event of Default.
(21) "Defined Benefit Pension Plan," shall have the same meaning
as is given to that term in ERISA.
(22) "Eligible Other Securities" shall mean the aggregate of
all Portfolio Investments owned by Borrower other than (i) Eligible
Public Securities and (ii) Portfolio Investments which are debt
securities which are more than 90 days past due as a result of a
payment default unless Lender approves in writing the inclusion of
such debt securities as "Eligible Other Securities."
(23) "Eligible Public Securities" shall mean the aggregate of
all publicly traded securities owned by Borrower that can be sold by
Borrower either without restriction or pursuant to Rule 144 within
twelve (12) months of the date in question.
(24) "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
of 1974, as the same may be amended from time to time.
4
(25) "Event of Default" shall mean any event specified in
Section 5 of this Agreement provided that any requirement for the
giving of notice, the lapse of time, or the happening of any
condition, event or act has been satisfied.
(26) "Facility C" shall mean the credit facility more fully
described in Section 1.7.
(27) Facility C Note" shall mean that certain promissory note in
the maximum principal amount of $65,000,000 issued pursuant to Section
1.7 of this Agreement in the form attached as Exhibit "1.7."
(28) "Financial Statements" shall mean the audit report, annual
financial statements, and interim statements described or referred to
in Section 3.1 of this Agreement.
(29) "Funded Debt" shall mean with respect to any Person all
items of indebtedness for borrowed money.
(30) "Indebtedness" shall mean all sums owed or to be owed by the
Borrower to Lender pursuant to this Agreement whether principal or
interest, including principal and interest on the Notes, reimbursement
of advances pursuant to any Credit, and reimbursement of monies
advanced by Lender pursuant to Section 3.6 hereof.
(31) "Investment" shall mean an investment in the debt or equity
of any Person.
(32) "Letter of Credit Request" means a standby or documentary
letter of credit application in the form prescribed by Lender, with
all the blanks appropriately completed, and showing Borrower as the
account party.
(33) "Lipper Report" shall mean the report of closed end fund
distributions, Net Asset Value and market price information which
Borrower provides from time to time to Lipper Analytical Services,
Inc.
(34) "Loan" shall mean any advance pursuant to the Credit
Facility.
(35) "LOC Expiration Date" means April 2, 2002.
(36) "Maturity Date" means April 3, 1997.
(37) "Net Asset Value" shall mean all assets of Borrower, less
all liabilities of Borrower which, in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles, would be required to be reflected on a
balance sheet of Borrower.
5
(38) "Notes" shall mean the Revolving Notes and the Facility C
Note.
(39) "Obligations" means all present and future obligations,
duties, and liabilities, now or hereafter owed to Lender by Borrower,
arising from or pursuant to the Revolving Notes, this Agreement or any
of the Security Instruments, together with all interest accruing
thereon and costs, expenses, and attorneys' fees incurred in the
enforcement thereof or collection of amounts due thereunder.
(40) "Permitted Encumbrances" shall mean the encumbrances and
liens allowed pursuant to Section 4.4.
(41) "Person" shall mean any individual, corporation,
partnership, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated
organization, joint venture, court, government or political
subdivision or agency thereof.
(42) "Portfolio Investments" shall mean all notes receivable,
common and preferred stock, options, warrants, and other investment
property, instruments, chattel paper and general intangibles owned by
Borrower from time to time and included in the Borrower's computation
of Net Asset Value. The Portfolio Investments include, but are not
limited to, (i) all publicly traded securities sold or issued by the
companies listed on EXHIBIT 2.4 to this Agreement owned by the
Borrower and pledged to the Lender, including all income from, and all
proceeds of, such securities and (ii) all of the privately held
securities issued or sold by the companies listed on EXHIBIT 2.4 to
this Agreement owned by the Borrower and pledged to the Lender,
including all income from, and all proceeds of, such securities.
(43) "Portfolio Valuation Summary" shall mean at any date an
evaluation of the Borrower's Portfolio Investments as of such date,
including both Eligible Public Securities and Eligible Other
Securities.
(44) "Prime Rate" shall mean the variable rate of interest
announced by Lender from time to time as its prime rate of interest
and, without notice to the Borrower or any other person, such rate of
interest shall change as and when changes in that prime rate of
interest are announced. The prime rate is set by Lender as a general
reference rate of interest, taking into account such factors as Lender
may deem appropriate, it being understood that many of the Lender's
commercial or other loans are priced in relation to such rate, that it
is not necessarily the lowest or best rate of interest actually
charged on any loan, and that Lender may make various commercial or
other loans at rates of interest having no relationship to the prime
rate. If at any time the "prime rate" of Lender is no longer
available, the owner of the Note ("Owner") will designate as "Prime
Rate" a different variable rate of interest announced by a national
banking association of Owner's choice.
6
(45) "Prior Financial Statements" shall mean the audited
financial statements for the Borrower for the period ended December
31, 1995 and 1994, and as at such dates.
(46) "Revolving Facility A" shall mean the revolving lines of
credit pursuant to Section 1.3.
(47) "Revolving Facility B" shall mean the revolving lines of
credit pursuant to Section 1.4.
(48) "Revolving Notes" shall mean the promissory notes of the
Borrower (i) in the original principal amount of $12,500,000.00 issued
pursuant to Section 1.3 of this Agreement in the form attached as
Exhibit "1.3.2" to this Agreement ("Revolving Note-A"), and (ii) in
the original principal amount of $7,500,000.00 issued pursuant to
Section 1.4 of this Agreement in the form attached as Exhibit "1.3.3"
to this Agreement ("Revolving Note-B").
(49) "Security Agreements" shall mean the Security Agreement -
Pledge, the Security Agreement - Pledge (Facility C), and any other
security agreements of the Borrower granting Lender a security
interest in the Collateral described in Section 3.9.
(50) "Security Instruments" shall mean the instruments described
or referred to in Section 3.9 of this Agreement, including but not
limited to the Security Agreements and any and all instruments now or
hereafter executed as security for the Notes.
(b) All terms defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings defined
herein when used in any note, certificate, report, or other document made or
delivered pursuant to this Agreement, unless the context specifically requires
otherwise. All accounting terms not specifically defined herein shall be
construed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
(c) Terms in the singular shall include the plural and those in the
plural shall include the singular unless the context shall otherwise require.
1.3 REVOLVING FACILITY A . The Lender, during the period from the date
of this Agreement until the Maturity Date, subject to the terms and conditions
of this Agreement, and subject to the condition that at the time of each
borrowing and the issuance of each Credit hereunder no Default or Event of
Default has occurred and is then continuing and that the representations and
warranties given by the Borrower in Section 2 as of the date of this Agreement
shall remain true and correct in all material respects (except for
representations and warranties (i) which are made as of a particular date or
(ii) as to which the facts which gave rise
7
to the representation or warranty have changed as a result of circumstances or
transactions which are contemplated or permitted pursuant to this Agreement):
(a) agrees to make Loans to Borrower pursuant to a
revolving line of credit up to but not in excess of an
aggregate principal amount outstanding at any time of
$12,500,000.00, provided the aggregate amount of Loans
outstanding pursuant to this Section 1.3, when combined with
the amount of outstanding Credits, shall not exceed Borrowing
Base A. Borrower shall make written request for each Loan
pursuant to Revolving Facility A pursuant to a loan request in
substantially the form of Exhibit "1.3.1" attached hereto. If
Borrower's written request therefor is received by 1:00 p.m.,
Lender shall make each such Loan available to Borrower on the
same Business Day Lender receives such request. If Borrower's
loan request with respect to any such Loan is received after
1:00 p.m., Lender may defer the making of such Loan to the
next Business Day. Each Loan shall be in an amount of not less
than $100,000.
(b) (1) agrees to open one or more Credits during the
Credit Facility Commitment Period for Borrower's account,
provided the maximum amount of Credits outstanding at any time
shall not exceed $6,000,000. Borrower shall submit to Lender a
Letter of Credit Request with respect to each Credit to be
opened by Lender, in accordance with the terms hereof and the
other letter of credit agreements in effect, if any. Lender at
its option may accept telecopy requests for the issuance of
Credits, provided that such acceptance shall not constitute a
waiver of Lender's right to require delivery of a written
Letter of Credit Request in connection with the issuance of a
Credit. If Lender receives a request for a Credit issuance
under the Revolving Facility A satisfying the conditions
thereof prior to 10:00 a.m. Houston, Texas time on a Business
Day, Lender shall use reasonable efforts to issue such Credit
prior to 5:00 p.m. Houston, Texas time on the next Business
Day, otherwise Lender shall issue such Credit before 5:00 p.m.
on the second Business Day following submission of the request
(provided that the other conditions of the Revolving Facility
A have been satisfied). No Credit shall be issued (i) for a
period ending after the LOC Expiration Date or (ii) after the
expiration of the Credit Facility Commitment Period. Borrower
will be required to pay to Lender a Credit Fee for the
issuance of each Credit. Each Credit shall be issued on
substantially the terms as Borrower may request and such
Letter of Credit Request must be in the form and substance
satisfactory to Lender. The sum of the outstanding face amount
of all Credits when added to the sum of the outstanding Loans
pursuant to Section 1.3 shall not exceed Borrowing Base A.
(2) Additional Agreements Regarding Credits:
8
(i) Prior to the earlier to occur of the
occurrence of an Event of Default or the end of the Credit
Facility Commitment Period, if Borrower does not provide
Lender with funds in the amount and on the date necessary to
settle Lender's obligations under any draft drawn or demand
made under any outstanding Credit, Lender may, in Lender's
sole discretion, make, and Borrower shall accept, a Loan under
the Revolving Facility A in the amount necessary to settle
Lender's obligations under such draft or demand, such Loan to
be made as of the date such draft or demand is honored by the
Bank. Borrower's obligations and indebtedness to Lender
pursuant to such Loans shall be evidenced by the Revolving
Note A and this Agreement.
(ii) At the end of the Credit Facility
Commitment Period, and upon the occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default, if one or more Credits are
then outstanding, Borrower agrees (1) to deposit in a cash
collateral account opened by Lender at its principal office in
Houston, Texas an amount equal to the aggregate undrawn amount
of all such Credits, and (2) to the extent Borrower has not
deposited funds pursuant to Clause (1) above with respect to
such Credits to reimburse Lender by paying to Lender in
immediately available funds (which amounts Lender may draw
from such cash collateral account) at Lender's principal
office in Houston, Texas, upon its demand, the amount
necessary to settle Lender's obligations under any draft drawn
or demand made under a Credit issued by Lender which has not
been paid by the proceeds of Loans made pursuant to the
immediately preceding paragraph hereof. Borrower's obligations
and indebtedness to Lender pursuant to such draws or demands
made on any Credit shall be evidenced by this Agreement, the
Letter of Credit Requests and the other letter of credit
agreements relating to the subject Credit. After the expiry
date of a Credit and after the Obligations related thereto are
paid in full, Lender shall release the portion of cash
collateral in excess of the undrawn amount of the remaining
outstanding Credits for the account of Borrower.
(iii) Borrower agrees that (1) Lender shall
not be responsible or liable for, and Borrower's obligation to
reimburse Lender for any payment made by Lender under such
Credit shall not be affected by (x) the validity,
enforceability or genuineness of any draft or other document
(or endorsement thereof) if such is proven to be invalid,
unenforceable, fraudulent or forged, or (y) any dispute
between Borrower and the beneficiary under such Credit, and
(2) any action taken or omitted to be taken by Lender in
connection with such Credit, if taken with reasonable care,
shall be binding upon Borrower and shall not create any
liability for Lender to Borrower.
(iv) In case of any conflict between the
terms of any Letter of Credit Request or other letter of
credit agreement and the terms of this
9
Agreement, the terms of this Agreement shall control. Any
additional provisions of each Letter of Credit Request and
other letter of credit agreement shall be cumulative and in
addition to the terms of this Agreement.
(v) Neither Lender nor any of Lender's
correspondents shall be responsible for: (1) the failure of
any draft to bear any reference or adequate reference to any
Credit, or the failure of any other Person to surrender or to
take up any Credit or the failure of any other Person to note
the amount of any instrument on any Credit, (2) errors,
omissions, interruptions, or delays in transmission or
delivery of any messages, in person, by mail, cable,
telegraph, wireless or otherwise whether or not they may be in
cipher, (3) any use which may be made of any Credit or any
acts or omissions of the beneficiary thereof in connection
therewith, or (4) the validity or genuineness of documents, or
any endorsement(s) thereon, even if such document should in
fact prove to be in any and all respects invalid,
insufficient, fraudulent or forged, provided that none of the
foregoing shall relieve the Lender or any of its
correspondents from liability for review of documents
submitted for conformity with the requirements of a Credit.
Lender shall not be responsible for any act, error, neglect,
default, omission, insolvency, or failure in business of any
of its correspondents (including without limitation negligent
acts and omissions, but expressly excluding gross negligence
and willful misconduct), and the happening of any one or more
of the contingencies referred to in this sentence or the
preceding sentence shall not affect, impair, or prevent the
vesting of any of Lender's rights or powers under the
Revolving Notes, this Agreement and the Security Instruments.
Lender and/or any of its correspondents may receive, accept,
or pay as complying with the terms of any Credit, any drafts
or other documents, otherwise in order, which may be signed
by, or issued to, the administrator or executor of, or the
trustee in bankruptcy of, or the receiver for any of the
property of, the party in whose name any Credit provides that
any drafts or any other documents should be drawn or issued.
It is hereby further agreed that any action, inaction, or
omission taken or suffered by Lender, or by any of its
correspondents, under or in connection with any Credit or any
drafts or documents referenced therein, if in conformity with
such foreign or domestic laws and customs or other regulations
as Lender or any of Lender's correspondents may deem to be
applicable thereto, shall be binding upon Borrower and shall
not place Lender or any of Lender's correspondents under any
resulting liability to Borrower.
(c) The Borrower's obligation to repay the Revolving
Facility A shall be evidenced by a promissory note of the
Borrower in substantially the form attached as Exhibit "1.3.2"
hereto, payable to the order of Lender. The Revolving Note - A
shall bear interest at a variable interest rate of one quarter
percent (1/4%) over the Prime Rate per annum not to exceed the
maximum non-
10
usurious interest rate permitted by applicable law with the
balance of principal plus accrued and unpaid interest due
and payable on or before the Maturity Date.
1.4 REVOLVING FACILITY B .
(a) The Lender, during the period from the date of this Agreement until
the Maturity Date, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and
subject to the condition that at the time of each borrowing hereunder no Default
or Event of Default has occurred and is then continuing and that the
representations and warranties given by the Borrower in Section 2 as of the date
of this Agreement shall remain true and correct in all material respects (except
for representations and warranties (i) which are made as of a particular date or
(ii) as to which the facts which gave rise to the representation or warranty
have changed as a result of circumstances or transactions which are contemplated
or permitted pursuant to this Agreement), agrees to make Loans to Borrower
pursuant to a revolving line of credit up to but not in excess of an aggregate
principal amount outstanding at any time of $7,500,000.00, provided the
aggregate amount outstanding pursuant to this Section 1.4 shall not exceed
Borrowing Base B. Borrower shall make written request for each Loan pursuant to
Revolving Facility B pursuant to a loan request in substantially the form of
Exhibit "1.3.1" attached hereto. If Borrower's written request therefor is
received by 1:00 p.m., Lender shall make each such Loan available to Borrower on
the same Business Day Lender receives such request. If Borrower's loan request
with respect to any such Loan is received after 1:00 p.m., Lender may defer the
making of such Loan to the next Business Day. Each Loan shall be in an amount of
not less than $100,000.
(b) The Borrower's obligation to repay the Revolving Facility B shall
be evidenced by a promissory note of the Borrower in substantially the form
attached as Exhibit "1.3.3" hereto, payable to the order of Lender. The
Revolving Note - B shall bear interest at a variable interest rate of three
quarters of one percent (3/4%) over the Prime Rate per annum not to exceed the
maximum non-usurious interest rate permitted by applicable law with the balance
of principal plus accrued and unpaid interest due and payable on or before the
Maturity Date.
(c) In the event the Borrower completes an equity offering, Borrower
shall either (i) repay the outstanding principal balance of Revolving Facility B
in full or (ii) if the net proceeds are less than the outstanding principal
balance of Revolving Facility B, apply 100% of the net proceeds of such offering
to Revolving Facility B within ten (10) days following completion of such
offering and no advances shall be permitted pursuant to Revolving Facility B for
a period of ninety (90) consecutive days following such repayment.
1.5 REPAYMENT SCHEDULE . Borrower hereby agrees to pay, and
authorizes and directs Lender to collect:
(a) Credit Fees (at the time of the issuance of a Credit) and
the Commitment Fee (at closing and quarterly, commencing on the last
day of June, 1996 and thereafter on the last day of each September,
December, March and June and on the Maturity Date), and the Custody
Account Fee (at closing and on March 18th of each year) both
11
payable by Borrower by debit to Borrower's Operating Account Nos.
266-521-2329 or 266-521-2311 at Lender;
(b) the amount of any drawing under a Credit not otherwise
reimbursed to Lender by advance under the Revolving Notes by debit to
Borrower's Operating Account Nos. 266-521-2329 or 266-521-2311 at
Lender or any other of Borrower's accounts at Lender, including any
account containing cash collateral required pursuant to this Agreement;
and
(c) advances under the Revolving Notes on the Maturity Date,
and accrued interest on the advances under the Revolving Notes
quarterly commencing on the last day of June, 1996 and thereafter on
the last day of each September, December, March and June and on the
Maturity Date, such amounts to be paid by debit to Borrower's Operating
Account Nos. 266-521-2329 or 266-521-2311 at Lender or any other of
Borrower's accounts at Lender.
(d) advances pursuant to the Facility C Note five (5) Business
Days after each advance and accrued interest thereon on the 15th day of
each month and simultaneously with each principal payment, such amounts
to be paid first by debit to the Cash Collateral Account, and to the
extent such Cash Collateral Account does not contain sufficient
amounts, thereafter by debit to Borrower's other accounts at Lender.
(e) Commitment Fee-Facility C shall be payable by debit to
Borrower's Operating Account Nos. 266-521-2329 or 266-521-2311.
1.6 PREPAYMENT . The Borrower shall have the right to prepay
without premium at any time any amount owing on the Notes.
1.7 FACILITY C . (a) The Lender, during the period from the date of
this Agreement until April 1, 1997, subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, and subject to the condition that at the time of each borrowing
issuance hereunder no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is then
continuing to occur and that the representations and warranties given by the
Borrower in Section 2 as of the date of this Agreement shall remain true and
correct in all material respects (except for representations and warranties (i)
which are made as of a particular date or (ii) as to which the facts which gave
rise to the representation or warranty have changed as a result of circumstances
or transactions which are contemplated or permitted pursuant to this Agreement),
agrees to make a loan to Borrower up to but not in excess of an aggregate
principal amount outstanding at any time of $65,000,000, on the same Business
Day upon receipt from Borrower on or before 1:00 p.m. Houston time of written
applications for the loan hereunder in the form attached as Exhibit "1.3.1".
(b) The Borrower's obligation to repay Facility C shall be evidenced by
a promissory note of the Borrower in substantially the form attached as Exhibit
"1.7" hereto, payable to the
12
order of Lender. The Facility C Note shall bear interest at a variable interest
rate of one percent (1%) over the Cash Collateral Account Rate per annum not to
exceed the maximum non-usurious interest rate permitted by applicable law with
principal amounts due on or before the fifth (5th) Business Day after each
principal advance, interest due monthly on the 15th of each month and
concurrently with principal payments, and the balance of principal plus accrued
and unpaid interest due and payable on or before the April 4, 1997.
(c) The proceeds of advances under Facility C shall be placed in the
Cash Collateral Account, and shall secure the amounts owing pursuant to Facility
C. The amount in the Cash Collateral Account shall never be less than the
outstanding principal balance of the Facility C Note. Upon the written request
of Borrower, amounts in the Cash Collateral Account may be applied to the
outstanding balance of Facility C. The funds in such Cash Collateral Account may
only be invested, as designated by Borrower, in interest bearing deposits with
Lender or U.S. Treasury Bills with maturities of less than ninety (90) days. In
the event Borrower selects U.S. Treasury Bills, the interest rate on the
Facility C Note will be adjusted to be the Prime Rate. In the event Borrower
makes such election, Borrower will execute such documentation as Lender may
reasonably require to perfect its security interest in such U.S. Treasury Bills.
SECTION 2. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
The Borrower represents and warrants to the Lender that:
2.1 CORPORATE EXISTENCE . The Borrower is a corporation duly organized,
legally existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in
which it is incorporated and duly qualified as a foreign corporation in all
jurisdictions wherein the property owned or the business transacted by it makes
such qualification necessary and where failure to qualify will have a material
adverse effect upon Borrower.
2.2 CORPORATE AUTHORITY . The Borrower is duly authorized and empowered
to create and issue the Notes, and to execute and deliver this Agreement. The
Borrower is duly authorized and empowered to execute and deliver the Security
Instruments to which it is a party, and all other instruments referred to or
mentioned herein to which Borrower is a party, and all corporate action
requisite for the due creation, issuance and delivery of the Notes and the due
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Security Instruments has been
duly and effectively taken. This Agreement, the Notes, and the Security
Instruments to which the Borrower is a party when executed and delivered will be
valid and binding obligations of the Borrower, enforceable in accordance with
their terms (subject to any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other laws
generally affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights). This Agreement, the
Notes, and the Security Instruments do not violate any provisions of the
Borrower's corporate charter or bylaws, or any contract, agreement, law or
regulation to which the Borrower is subject, and the same do not require the
consent or approval of any regulatory authority or governmental body of the
United States or any state.
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2.3 FINANCIAL CONDITION . The Prior Financial Statements which have
been delivered to Lender, are complete and correct in all material respects,
have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
consistently applied throughout the periods involved, and fairly present the
financial condition and results of the operations of the Borrower as at the
dates and for the periods indicated. No material adverse change has occurred
since the date of the Prior Financial Statements in the condition, financial or
otherwise, of the Borrower.
2.4 INVESTMENTS, LOANS, ADVANCES AND GUARANTEES . The Borrower has not
made Investments in, loans or advances to or guarantees of the obligations of
any Person, except as disclosed in the Prior Financial Statements and except for
Investments made since that date in the ordinary course of business. The
Portfolio Investments of Borrower on the date hereof and relevant terms and
conditions related thereto are set forth on Exhibit "2.4". The Borrower (a) is
the legal, record and beneficial owner of, and has good title to, the Portfolio
Investments, subject to no pledge, lien, mortgage, hypothecation, security
interest, charge, option or other encumbrance whatsoever, except the Permitted
Encumbrances; (b) has full power, authority and legal right to pledge all the
Portfolio Investments pursuant to this Agreement; and (c) requires no material
consent of any non-governmental party (including, without limitation,
shareholders or creditors of the Borrower and the entities which have issued the
Portfolio Investments) and requires no material consent, license, permit,
approval or authorization of, exemption by, notice or report to, or
registration, filing or declaration with, any governmental authority, domestic
or foreign, be obtained by the Borrower in connection with the execution,
delivery or performance of this Agreement. The execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement will not result in the creation or imposition of
any lien, charge or encumbrance on, or security interest in, any of the assets
of the Borrower, except as contemplated by this Agreement. To the best of
Borrower's knowledge, all the shares of stock included in the Portfolio
Investments have been duly and validly issued, are fully paid and
non-assessable. The pledge, assignment and delivery of the Portfolio Investments
pursuant to this Agreement creates a valid first lien on and a perfected
security interest in the Portfolio Investments, and the proceeds thereof subject
only to the Permitted Encumbrances.
2.5 LIABILITIES AND LITIGATION . No litigation, legal or administrative
proceedings, investigation or other action is pending or to the Borrower's
knowledge threatened against or affecting the Borrower which is likely to
adversely affect the business or the assets of the Borrower or the Borrower's
ability to carry on its business as now conducted, except as disclosed in the
Prior Financial Statements. To the best of Borrower's knowledge, no unusual or
unduly burdensome restriction, restraint or hazard exists by contract, law,
governmental regulation or otherwise relative to the business or the assets of
the Borrower.
2.6 NO DEFAULT . No Default or Event of Default exists under this
Agreement. To the best of Borrower's knowledge, Borrower is not in default in
any respect under any contract, agreement or instrument to which Borrower is a
party related to a Portfolio Investment, the breach of which is likely to have a
material adverse effect
14
on Portfolio Investments, taken as a whole, or a material Portfolio Investment.
Borrower is not aware of any default under any contract, agreement or instrument
the breach of which is likely to have a material adverse effect on the ability
of the Borrower to perform its obligations under the Notes, this Agreement, or
any of the Security Instruments or on its ability to conduct its business as now
conducted.
2.7 TAXES . The Borrower has filed all Federal and State income tax
returns which are required to be filed as of the date of this Agreement and each
has paid all taxes and all assessments received by each to the extent such taxes
have become due. Federal income tax liabilities of the Borrower have not been
examined and reported on by the Internal Revenue Service for any fiscal year.
2.8 COMPLIANCE . The Borrower has complied in all material respects
with all valid and applicable statutes, rules and regulations of each
jurisdiction to which it is subject the violation of which would have a
material, adverse effect on the financial condition or operations of Borrower.
2.9 PENSION REFORM ACT . The Borrower has no Defined Benefit
Pension Plan.
2.10 ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS . To Borrower's knowledge, and except as would
not have a material adverse effect on the operations or financial condition of
Borrower or on Borrower's ability to perform and pay the Indebtedness and
Obligations:
(a) Borrower, and all of its properties, assets, and
operations are in compliance with all Environmental Laws (as
hereinafter defined).
(b) Borrower (i) has no liability for remedial or corrective
action or response costs under any Environmental Law, (ii) has not
received any request for information by any governmental authority with
respect to the condition, use, or operation of any of its properties or
assets, and (iii) has not received any notice from any governmental
authority or other person with respect to any violation of or liability
under any Environmental Law.
"Environmental Laws" means any and all federal, state and local
environmental laws, regulations, and ordinances applicable to Borrower or
Borrower's operations, including without limitation the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act, as amended, the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act, as amended, the Superfund Amendment and
Reauthorization Act of 1986, as amended, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act
and the Oil Pollution Act. "Hazardous Substances" shall mean any item defined as
hazardous under the Environmental Laws.
2.11 FULL DISCLOSURE . Neither this Agreement nor any certificate or
written statement or any other factual data furnished by the Borrower or any of
its officers in writing in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement or
the transactions contemplated hereby contains any statement of a material fact
which is untrue in any respect or omits a material fact known to the Borrower to
be necessary to make the statements contained herein or therein, taken as a
whole, not misleading in any material respect.
15
2.12 CREDIT AGREEMENTS . Borrower has no agreements in effect providing
for or relating to extensions of credit in respect of which Borrower is or may
become directly or contingently obligated except for obligations of Borrower
undertaken on behalf of companies which have issued securities which are
Portfolio Investments, and has not signed any security agreement that is
currently outstanding except as disclosed in the Prior Financial Statements.
2.13 INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT . Borrower is in compliance with the
applicable provisions of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended in all
material respects and, to the best of Borrower's knowledge, is in compliance
with or is correcting any non-material non-compliance with such Act.
2.14 PUBLIC UTILITY HOLDING COMPANY ACT . Borrower is not a
"holding company" or a "subsidiary company" of a "holding company," or an
"affiliate" of a "holding company" or of a "subsidiary company" within the
meaning of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended.
SECTION 3. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS
Until the Indebtedness of the Borrower to the Lender has been paid and
so long as the Lender has a commitment to the Borrower hereunder:
3.1 REPORTING REQUIREMENTS . The Borrower will promptly furnish to the
Lender from time to time the following information regarding the business
affairs and financial condition of the Borrower:
(a) as soon as practicable and in any event within thirty (30)
calendar days after obtaining knowledge of the occurrence of each
Default or Event of Default, the statement of the president or chief
financial officer of the Borrower setting forth details of such Default
or Event of Default and the action which the Borrower proposes to take
with respect thereto;
(b) as soon as available and in any event within one
hundred and twenty (120) days after the end of each fiscal year:
(i) the balance sheet of the Borrower as at the end
of such year and the statements of operations, changes in net
assets and cash flows of the Borrower for such year, together,
with comparative figures for the preceding fiscal year,
certified, without qualification except in a manner similar to
the qualification in the Prior Financial Statements, by Arthur
Andersen LLP or other independent certified public accountants
acceptable to the Lender; and
16
(ii) the Form 10-K of Borrower as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission;
(c) as soon as available, and in any event, within forty-five
(45) days after the last day of each fiscal quarter:
(i) the balance sheet of the Borrower as of the end
of each such fiscal quarter, the statement of operations for
such fiscal quarter, signed by the president or chief
financial officer of the Borrower; and
(ii) the Form 10-Q of Borrower as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission; and
(iii) a Portfolio Valuation Summary as of the end of
the end of such fiscal quarter;
(d) as soon as available, and in any event, within thirty (30)
days following the last day of each month (the "Reporting Date"), the
Borrowing Base Report as of the Reporting Date, in form and substance
satisfactory to Lender;
(e) as soon as available, and in any event within forty-five
(45) days following the end of each fiscal quarter, the certificate
described in Section 3.7 of this Agreement;
(f) as soon as available, and in any event with five(5) days
following the end of each week, the Lipper Report as of the end of such
week, together with a confirmation of Borrower's compliance with the
Borrowing Base based upon the values indicated in such Lipper Report,
in the form and substance satisfactory to Lender;
(g) on or before March 31, 1996, Borrower will provide Lender
summary information regarding the Portfolio Investments in form and
substance satisfactory to Lender, indicating information relating to
buy-sell rights and obligations, funding obligations, restrictions on
transfer, voting agreements, registration rights and such similar
information as Lender may reasonably request.
(h) such other information as the Lender may reasonably
request from time to time at reasonable intervals under the then
applicable circumstances.
The Financial Statements shall fairly present the financial position of
Borrower and other reports shall be complete and correct in all material
respects. The Financial Statements shall be prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied (except that
interim financial statements may be subject to customary non-material year-end
adjustments and may omit footnote disclosures).
17
Upon the reasonable request of Lender the Borrower grants to the Lender
the right to send the Lender's own representatives and/or employees during
normal business hours to inspect and copy the books of the Borrower. Borrower
will provide Lender and its counsel reasonable access to or copies of the
documentation governing the Portfolio Investments upon Lender's reasonable
request.
3.2 TAXES AND OTHER LIENS . The Borrower will pay all taxes,
assessments, governmental charges, claims for labor, supplies, rent and other
obligations which if unpaid, might become a lien against the property of the
Borrower, provided that Borrower shall have the right to diligently contest any
such taxes, assessments, charges or claims in good faith by appropriate
proceedings if appropriate reserves under generally accepted accounting
principles are established and upon stay of levy and execution thereon.
3.3 MAINTENANCE . Borrower will maintain its corporate existence,
remain in or become a corporation in good standing in each jurisdiction in which
it is required to be qualified when the failure to qualify would have a material
adverse effect on Borrower, and comply in all respects with all valid and
applicable statutes, rules and regulations the violation of which would have a
material, adverse effect on the financial condition or operations of Borrower,
including without limitation the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
3.4 FURTHER ASSURANCES . Borrower will promptly, at Lender's request,
cure any defects in the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Notes, the
Security Instruments and any other instrument or instruments referred to or
mentioned herein for the benefit of Lender. Borrower will promptly, and in any
event within ten (10) days of Lender's request, execute and deliver to Lender
upon request all security agreements, financing statements, stock powers,
endorsements, consent letters, instruction letters, or any other instrument
required to accomplish the covenants and agreements of Borrower under this
Agreement and the Security Instruments. The Borrower covenants and agrees that
it will defend the Lender's security interest in and to the Portfolio
Investments and the proceeds thereof against the claims and demands of all
persons whomsoever; and covenants and agrees that it will have like title to and
right to pledge any other property at any time hereafter pledged to the Lender
as collateral hereunder and will likewise defend the Lender's security interest
therein.
3.5 PERFORMANCE OF OBLIGATIONS . Borrower will pay the Notes according
to the reading, tenor and effect thereof and will do and perform every act and
discharge all of the Obligations provided to be performed and discharged by it
under this Agreement, the Notes, the Security Instruments and any and all of the
instruments referred to or mentioned herein for the benefit of Lender to which
it is a party. The Borrower will perform all obligations to be performed by it,
pursuant to the terms of each indenture, agreement, contract, and other
instrument by which the Borrower or its properties are bound in all material
respects, including without limitation all agreements between Borrower and the
entities in which Borrower has invested.
18
3.6 REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS AND EXPENSES . The Borrower will pay the
reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Lender in connection with this
Agreement and all transactions pursuant hereto. The Borrower will, upon request
by Lender, within ten (10) days from said request, reimburse the Lender for all
amounts expended, advanced or incurred by the Lender to satisfy any obligation
of the Borrower under this Agreement, to protect the Portfolio Investments of
the Borrower, expenses incurred to collect the Notes or to enforce the rights of
the Lender under this Agreement or any other instrument referred to or mentioned
herein for the benefit of Lender or executed or to be executed in connection
herewith, which amounts will include all court costs, attorneys' fees, fees of
auditors and accountants, and investigation expenses reasonably incurred by the
Lender in connection with any such matters, and any and all amounts expended by
Lender after the occurrence of a Default or an Event of Default and during the
continuation thereof as a result of the provisions of Environmental Laws,
together with interest at the greater of two percent (2%) over the Prime Rate
per annum or 10% per annum, not to exceed the maximum non-usurious interest rate
permitted by applicable law, on each such amount from the date that the same is
due and payable to the Lender until the date it is repaid to the Lender. All
amounts advanced in connection herewith shall be secured by the Collateral more
fully described in Section 3.9. Except for expenses advanced by Lender after (i)
occurrence of an Event of Default, (ii) to maintain insurance or (iii) to
protect and preserve the Collateral, Lender shall provide Borrower not less than
five (5) days prior notice of any advance hereunder.
3.7 CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE . Within forty-five (45) days after the
end of each fiscal quarter, there shall be furnished to the Lender a certificate
in the form attached as Exhibit "3.7" signed by an authorized officer of the
Borrower (1) stating that a review of the activities of the Borrower during such
quarter or as of the end of such quarter has been made under his supervision
with a view to determining whether the Borrower has kept, observed, performed
and fulfilled all of its obligations under this Agreement, the Notes, and
Security Instruments, (2) containing an updated list of the Portfolio
Investments of Borrower as of the end of such fiscal quarter, and (3) stating
that to the best knowledge and belief of such officer of Borrower the Borrower
has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant and
condition contained in the Notes, this Agreement and the Security Instruments
and to the best knowledge and belief of such officer of Borrower is not at the
time in default in the observance, performance or fulfillment of any such
covenants and conditions or if the Borrower shall be in default, specifying any
such default, the nature and status thereof, and what action, if any, has been
taken to remedy the default or defaults.
3.8 LITIGATION . As soon as possible and in any event, within thirty
(30) calendar days of a president or chief financial officer of Borrower
obtaining knowledge thereof, Borrower shall give written notice to Lender of
commencement of litigation (other than litigation being defended by an insurance
carrier without reservation as to coverage claiming amounts within said
coverage) in which the Borrower is reasonably expected to have liability in
excess of $100,000 and of all proceedings before any governmental or regulatory
agency affecting Borrower in which an adverse decision is reasonably expected to
involve amounts in excess of $100,000.
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3.9 SECURITY . The Indebtedness and Obligations of the Borrower
under this Agreement and the Security Instruments shall be secured by the
following:
(a) As to the Indebtedness and Obligations evidenced by the
Revolving Notes:
(i) a first and prior security interest in Borrower's
Portfolio Investments, whether now owned or hereafter acquired;
(ii) a first and prior security interest in the
Custody Account;
(iii) without limiting any of the foregoing, all of
Borrower's books, records, business records, warranties, and
indemnities, related to the Portfolio Investments, whether now owned or
hereafter acquired; and
(iv) all proceeds of (a)(i) through (a)(iii) above.
(b) As to the Indebtedness and Obligations evidenced by the
Facility C Note:
(i) the Cash Collateral Account;
(ii) all investment property acquired with the
proceeds of the Facility C Note; and
(iii) all proceeds of (b)(i) and (b)(ii) above.
3.10 BORROWING BASE REQUIREMENTS.
(a) The aggregate indebtedness pursuant to Revolving Facility A and the
amount of outstanding Credits shall never exceed the Borrowing Base A. The
Borrowing Base A is the lesser of (i) $12,500,000 and (ii) fifty percent (50%)
of the Current Fair Market Value of Borrower's Eligible Public Securities,
provided that the sum of (x) indebtedness pursuant to Revolving Facility A plus
(y) outstanding Credits plus (z) indebtedness pursuant to Revolving Facility B
shall not exceed thirty-three percent (33%) of Borrower's Net Asset Value.
(b) The aggregate indebtedness pursuant to Revolving Facility B shall
never exceed the Borrowing Base B. The Borrowing Base B is the least of (i)
$7,500,000, (ii) the sum of (y) twenty-five percent (25%) of the Current Fair
Market Value of the Other Pledged Securities plus (z) the amount, if any, by
which fifty percent (50%) of the Current Fair Market Value of Borrower's
Eligible Public Securities exceeds $12,500,000 and (iii) fifty percent (50%) of
the Current Fair Market Value of Borrower's Eligible Public Securities, provided
that the sum of (x) indebtedness pursuant to Revolving Facility A plus (y)
outstanding Credits plus (z) indebtedness pursuant to Revolving Facility B shall
not exceed thirty-three percent (33%) of Borrower's Net Asset Value.
20
(c) In accordance with Section 3.1(d), Borrower shall provide the
Lender a calculation of Borrowing Base A on the Borrowing Base Report. In the
event, at any time, the aggregate unpaid principal balance of Loans plus the
outstanding Credits pursuant to Revolving Facility A exceeds Borrowing Base A
calculated as described in 3.10(a) above, (i) in the event such excess is
occasioned by the sale of one or more Portfolio Investments, the Borrower will
cause the proceeds of such sale to be applied to reduce the Revolving Facility A
until the amount of such excess is eliminated and (ii) in the event such excess
is not occasioned by the sale of Portfolio Investments, the Borrower will
promptly, but in any event no later than within twenty (20) Business Days,
reduce the indebtedness under the Revolving Facility A until the amount of such
excess is eliminated, provided that in the event the outstanding balance
pursuant to Revolving Facility A exceeds 75% of the Current Fair Market Value of
the Eligible Public Securities, Borrower shall be required to repay such excess
within ten (10) Business Days of the occurrence of such event.
(d) In accordance with Section 3.1(d), Borrower shall provide the
Lender a calculation of Borrowing Base B on the Borrowing Base Report. In the
event, at any time, the aggregate unpaid principal balance of Loans pursuant to
Revolving Facility B exceeds the Borrowing Base B calculated as described in
3.10(b) above, (i) in the event such excess is occasioned by the sale of one or
more Portfolio Investments, the Borrower will cause the proceeds of such sale to
be applied to reduce the Revolving Facility B until the amount of such excess is
eliminated and (ii) in the event such excess is not occasioned by the sale of
Portfolio Investments, the Borrower will promptly, but in any event no later
than within twenty (20) Business Days, reduce the indebtedness under the
Revolving Facility B until the amount of such excess is eliminated, provided
that in the event the outstanding balance pursuant to Revolving Facility B
exceeds 50% of the Current Fair Market Value of the Eligible Other Securities,
Borrower shall be required to repay such excess within ten (10) Business Days of
the occurrence of such event.
SECTION 4. NEGATIVE COVENANTS
In the absence of a written consent from Lender (in the manner
hereinafter provided), so long as any part of the Indebtedness shall remain
unpaid or the Lender has a commitment to the Borrower hereunder:
4.1 GUARANTEES AND DEBTS . The Borrower will not incur any Funded Debt
or guarantee any Debt, except that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply
to:
(a) the Notes, Credits, and other obligations or liabilities
pursuant to this Agreement or the Security Instruments;
(b) indebtedness for borrowed money not to exceed $500,000
outstanding at any time; and
(c) guaranties of obligations of Persons who have issued one
or more of the Portfolio Investments.
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4.2 DIVIDENDS AND REDEMPTION . The Borrower will not declare or pay
dividends (other than a dividend payable solely in stock of the Borrower) or
make any other distribution on account of, or purchase, acquire, redeem or
retire any stock of the Borrower other than retirement of outstanding common
stock of the Borrower upon conversion to other common or preferred stock of the
Borrower, whether now or hereafter outstanding other than (i) the payment of
cash dividends in an amount not to exceed the greater of (y) the sum of
Borrower's taxable net investment income plus Borrower's taxable net capital
gains in any fiscal year and (z) $.50 per share in any fiscal year, and (ii)
purchase, acquisition, redemption or retirement of outstanding common stock
provided that neither before nor after the payment of such cash dividend or such
purchase, acquisition, redemption or retirement a Default or Event of Default
exists hereunder.
4.3 MERGERS, ETC. The Borrower will not merge or consolidate with any
other corporation. The Borrower will not liquidate or dissolve.
4.4 ENCUMBRANCES . The Borrower will not create, incur, assume or
permit to exist any mortgage, pledge, lien or encumbrance on any of the
Portfolio Investments except that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to:
(a) liens for taxes not yet due or which are being diligently
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;
(b) liens required by this Agreement or any of the Security
Instruments;
(c) judgments in existence less than 30 days after the entry
thereof or with respect to which execution has been properly stayed;
and
(d) encumbrances consisting of trading restrictions imposed by
law and restrictions imposed by contract upon the ability of Borrower
to dispose of the Collateral without complying with one or more
requirements regarding the sale thereof.
As to the liens and encumbrances permitted pursuant to paragraph (a)
above, Borrower's right to contest diligently in good faith by appropriate
proceedings is conditioned upon the Borrower setting up appropriate reserves
under generally accepted accounting principles and upon stay of levy and
execution thereon.
4.5 SALE OF ASSETS . The Borrower will not sell, transfer or otherwise
dispose of any of its assets except in the ordinary course of business (which
shall specifically include the disposition of Portfolio Investments from time to
time, but not in bulk). Notwithstanding any provision hereof or of the Security
Instruments to the contrary, so long as neither before nor after such sale no
Default or Event of Default exists or would exist, Borrower may sell Portfolio
Investments in the ordinary course of business, and upon any such sale the
security interest granted to Lender in such Portfolio Investments shall
terminate and be of no further force and effect, and Lender shall deliver to
Borrower (or to a broker designated by Borrower) the
22
certificate or certificates representing such Portfolio Investments and, at
Borrower's request and expense, shall execute such releases and other
instruments as Borrower may reasonably request to reflect the release of such
Portfolio Investments from the lien and security interest created hereby
provided that to the extent proceeds are required to be applied to the Revolving
Notes pursuant to Section 3.10(c) or Section 3.10(d), such proceeds are so
applied.
4.6 TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES . Borrower will not enter into
transactions with an Affiliate (other than a Person in whom the Borrower has
made an Investment) which is not in an arms-length basis comparable to the terms
which would apply to a transaction with a bona-fide third party.
4.7 VALUATION PROCEDURES . Unless otherwise required by the Securities
and Exchange Commission or by generally accepted accounting principles, Borrower
will not change, in any material respect, its methodology for determining the
fair market value of Eligible Other Securities and Eligible Public Securities.
SECTION 5. EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
5.1 EVENTS OF DEFAULT . Any of the following events which shall occur
and be continuing shall be considered an Event of Default as that term is used
herein:
(a) Borrower does not (i) pay within five (5) days of when due
any installment of principal or interest of the Revolving Notes (ii)
pay when due any amount owing pursuant to the Facility C Note, (iii)
pay when due any amount due pursuant to Section 3.10(c) and 3.10(d), or
(iv) provide cash collateral to fully secure unexpired Credits on the
Maturity Date;
(b) Borrower does not pay at the scheduled maturity (but after
expiration of any grace period applicable to such maturity) or when due
whether by acceleration or otherwise (subject to applicable grace
periods) all or any part of any Funded Debt of the Borrower to any
other person or entity;
(c) The Borrower shall fail or refuse to furnish to the Lender
any information, data, certificate, or other document required by
Section 3.1 (b) through (f) of this Agreement at the times required
thereby and such failure or refusal continues for ten (10) days (as to
the information required by Section 3.1(d) or 3.1(f)) or for thirty
(30) days as to information required by the balance of such section or
Borrower fails or refuses to provide any other information, data,
certificate or other document within thirty (30) days after Lender's
request therefor;
(d) The Borrower does not comply with or fails in the
performance of any covenant contained in Section 3 of this Agreement
(other than delivery of information which shall be governed by Section
5.1(c) hereof and the provisions of Section 3.10 which shall be
governed by Section 5.1(a)), or contained in any of the Security
23
Instruments to be kept or performed by the Borrower or any Subsidiary
for a period of more than thirty (30) days after written notice of such
violation is given by Lender to Borrower;
(e) The Borrower does not comply with or fails in the
performance of any covenant contained in Section 4 of this Agreement
to be kept or performed by the Borrower;
(f) Any representation or warranty made by the Borrower herein
or in any of the Security Instruments proves to have been untrue in any
material respect, or any representation, statement (including financial
statements), certificate or data furnished or prepared and made
available by the Borrower to Lender hereunder proves to have been
untrue in any material respect, as of the date as of which the facts
therein set forth were stated or certified;
(g) The Borrower shall discontinue business, or the Borrower
shall (i) make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or
(ii) apply for or consent to the appointment of a receiver, a trustee
or liquidator of itself or of all or a substantial part of its assets,
or (iii) be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or (iv) file a
voluntary petition in bankruptcy or file a petition or answer seeking
reorganization or an arrangement with creditors or seeking to take
advantage of any other law (whether federal or state) relating to
relief of debtors, or admit (by answer, by default or otherwise) the
material allegations of a petition filed against it in any bankruptcy,
reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or other proceedings (whether
federal or state) relating to relief of debtors, or (v) suffer or
permit to continue unstayed and in effect for sixty (60) consecutive
days any judgment, decree or order, entered by a court of competent
jurisdiction, which approves a petition seeking reorganization of the
Borrower or appoints a receiver, trustee or liquidator of the Borrower
or of all or a substantial part of its assets, or (vi) take or omit to
take any action for the purpose or with the result of effecting or
permitting any of the foregoing.
5.2 REMEDIES . Upon the happening of an Event of Default specified in
Section 5.1(g), immediately and without notice, and upon the happening and
during the continuance of any other Default or Event of Default specified in
Section 5.l, at the option of the Lender, without notice to Borrower, Lender may
declare any commitment hereunder cancelled and cease advances thereunder, and/or
upon the happening of an Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(g),
immediately and without notice, and otherwise, at the option of the Lender, upon
notice to Borrower, Lender may declare the entire aggregate principal amount of
the Notes then outstanding and the interest accrued thereon immediately due and
payable without further notice and without presentment, demand, protest, notice
of protest or other notice of default or dishonor of any kind, all of which are
hereby expressly waived by the Borrower and require Borrower to cash secure all
outstanding Credits.
24
SECTION 6. CLOSING
The closing of the loans and the commencement of advances pursuant to
the Credit Facility contemplated hereby shall be subject to the satisfaction of
the following conditions:
6.1 COUNSEL TO LENDER . All legal matters incident to the transactions
herein contemplated shall be satisfactory to Gardere Wynne Sewell & Riggs, LLP,
counsel to the Lender.
6.2 REQUIRED DOCUMENTS . The Lender shall have received executed
copies of the following closing documentation:
(a) This Agreement;
(b) The Revolving Note A
(c) The Revolving Note B;
(d) The Facility C Note;
(e) The Security Agreement;
(f) The Custody Agreement;
(g) The Notice of Final Agreement; and
(h) Such other documentation as Lender may require,
including without limitation the documentation set
forth on Exhibit "6.2".
6.3 OTHER CONDITIONS . Other conditions and/or documentation have been
completed and/or executed in a manner satisfactory to Lender in its sole
discretion.
SECTION 7. MISCELLANEOUS
7.1 SURVIVAL OF VARIOUS MATTERS . All representations and warranties of
the Borrower and its Subsidiaries herein shall be deemed remade as of the date
of any borrowing hereunder, and all covenants and agreements herein not fully
performed before the date of this Agreement, shall survive such date.
7.2 NOTICES . All notices, requests, demands and other communications
required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and may be personally served
or sent by telex, telecopier, mail or the express mail service of the United
States Postal Service, Federal Express or other equivalent overnight or
expedited delivery service and (i) if given by personal service, telex
(confirmed by telephone) or telecopier (confirmed by telephone), it shall be
deemed to have been given upon receipt, (ii) if sent by telex or telecopier
without telephone confirmation, it shall be deemed to have been given
twenty-four (24) hours after being sent, (iii) if sent by mail, it shall be
deemed to have been given upon receipt and (iv) if sent by Federal Express, the
Express Mail Service of the United States Postal Service or other equivalent
overnight or expedited delivery service, it shall be deemed given twenty-four
(24) hours after delivery to such overnight or expedited delivery service,
delivery charges prepaid and properly addressed to Borrower or
25
Lender, as the case may be. For purposes hereof, the address of Borrower and
Lender shall be as follows:
BORROWER:
--------
Equus II Incorporated
2727 Allen Parkway Suite 2500
Houston, Texas 77019
Attention: Nolan Lehmann
Fax No.: (713) 529-9545
with a copy to:
Porter & Hedges, LLP
700 Louisiana, Suite 3500
Houston, Texas 77002
Attention: William W. Wiggins, Jr.
Fax No.: (713) 228-4935
LENDER:
------
NationsBank of Texas, N.A.
700 Louisiana
Houston, Texas 77002
Attention: Larry B. Bell
Fax No.: (713) 247-7150
with a copy to:
Gardere Wynne Sewell & Riggs, LLP
333 Clay Avenue, Suite 800
Houston, Texas 77002
Attention: Mr. Robert W. Bramlette
Fax No.: (713) 308-5555
Any party may, by proper written notice hereunder to the other parties, change
the address to which notices shall thereafter be sent to it.
7.3 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS . All covenants and agreements herein
contained by or on behalf of the Borrower shall bind its successors and assigns
and shall inure to the benefit of the Lender and its successors and assigns and
all covenants and agreements herein contained by or on behalf of the Lender
shall bind the Lender and its successors and assigns.
26
7.4 RENEWALS . All provisions of this Agreement relating to the Notes
shall apply with equal force and effect to each and all promissory notes
hereafter executed which in whole or in part represent a renewal, extension or
rearrangement of any part of the Indebtedness originally represented by the
Notes.
7.5 NO WAIVER . No course of dealing on the part of the Lender or its
officers or employees, or any failure or delay by the Lender with respect to
exercising any right, power or privilege of the Lender under this Agreement, the
Notes, or Security Instruments, shall operate as a waiver thereof. The rights
and remedies of the Lender under this Agreement, the Notes, and the Security
Instruments shall be cumulative and the exercise or partial exercise of any such
right or remedy shall not preclude the exercise of any other right or remedy.
7.6 GOVERNING LAW . This Agreement and the Notes which may be issued
hereunder shall be deemed to be contracts made under and shall be construed in
accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Texas.
7.7 NON-SUBORDINATION . The Notes shall never be in a position
subordinate to any indebtedness owing to any other creditor of the Borrower or
its Subsidiaries, except to the extent that such other creditor may hold a lien
or liens on specific assets of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries pursuant to the
terms hereof or with the knowledge and written consent of the Lender.
7.8 EXHIBITS . The Exhibits attached to this Agreement are incorporated
herein for all purposes, and shall be considered a part of this Agreement. Those
exhibits are: Borrowing Application - Exhibit "1.3.1"; Revolving Note-A -
Exhibit "1.3.2"; Revolving Note-B - "Exhibit "1.3.3"; Facility C Note - Exhibit
"1.7"; Portfolio Investments - Exhibit "2.4"; Certificate of Compliance -
Exhibit "3.7"; Borrowing Base Report - Exhibit "3.10"; and Closing Requirements
- - Exhibit "6.2".
7.9 PAYMENT ON NON-BUSINESS DAYS . Whenever (i) any payment to be made
hereunder or under the Notes or (ii) any certificate, report or financial
statement is due on a day that is a Saturday, Sunday or banking holiday under
the laws of the State of Texas, such payment shall be made on the next
succeeding day which is not a Saturday, Sunday or banking holiday under the laws
of the State of Texas and such extension of time shall be included in the
computation of interest due with such payment.
7.10 SEVERABILITY . In the event any one or more of the provisions
contained in this Agreement, the Notes, or the Security Instruments, or in any
other instrument referred to herein or executed in connection with or as
security for the Notes shall, for any reason, be held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability
shall not affect any other provision of this Agreement, the Notes, or the
Security Instruments, or any other instrument referred to herein or executed in
connection with or as security for the Notes. Furthermore, in lieu of such
invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision, there shall auto-
27
matically be added a provision as similar in terms to such invalid, illegal or
unenforceable provision as may be possible and as may be valid, legal and
enforceable.
7.11 CONTROLLING DOCUMENT . Should a direct conflict exist between the
specific terms of the Notes, this Agreement or any of the Security Instruments,
the Notes shall control over this Agreement and the Security Instruments, and
this Agreement shall control over the Security Instruments and the exhibits
attached to this Agreement.
7.12 SAVINGS CLAUSE . Nothing contained in this Agreement or in the
Notes or in any other agreement or undertaking relating hereto shall be
construed to obligate Borrower, under any circumstances whatsoever, to pay
interest in excess of the maximum rate that Borrower may pay pursuant to
applicable law and in regard to which Borrower would be prohibited from
successfully raising the claim or defense of usury (the "Maximum Rate"). In the
event that any sums received from Borrower are at any time under applicable law
deemed or held to provide a rate of interest in excess of the Maximum Rate, the
effective rate of interest on the loans hereunder shall be deemed reduced to and
shall be the Maximum Rate and the Borrower and all sureties, endorsers and
guarantors shall accept as their sole remedy under such circumstances either the
return of any sums of interest which may have been collected and which produced
a rate in excess of the Maximum Rate, or the application of those sums as a
credit against the unpaid principal amount of the loan, whichever remedy may be
elected by Lender. In addition, in the event that the Notes are prepaid or the
maturity of the Notes is accelerated by reason of election by Lender hereunder,
then all unearned interest shall either be cancelled or, if theretofore paid,
shall either be returned to Borrower or credited on the unpaid principal amount
due under the Notes, whichever action may be elected by Lender.
7.13 INVESTMENT . Lender represents that it is the present intention of
Lender to acquire the Notes for its own account for the purpose of investment
and not with a view to the distribution or sale thereof, subject, nevertheless,
to the necessity that Lender remain in control at all times of the disposition
of property held by it for its own account; it being understood that the
foregoing representation shall not affect the character of the loans pursuant to
this Agreement as commercial lending transactions, and that Lender may grant a
participation interest in the Notes in the ordinary course of business.
7.14 SET OFF . Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any
Event of Default, the Lender is hereby authorized at any time and from time to
time, without notice to the Borrower (any such notice being expressly waived by
the Borrower), to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special,
time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other indebtedness at
any time owing by the Lender to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower
against any and all of the Indebtedness, irrespective of whether or not the
Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement and although such
obligations may be unmatured. The Lender agrees promptly to notify the Borrower
after any such set off and application made by the Lender, provided that the
failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set off and
application. The rights of the Lender under this Section are in addi-
28
tion to other rights and remedies (including, without limitation, other rights
of set off) which the Lender may have.
7.15 INDEMNITY . BORROWER AGREES TO INDEMNIFY AND HOLD LENDER AND ITS
OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, DIRECTORS AND AGENTS HARMLESS AGAINST ALL CLAIMS, DAMAGES,
LIABILITIES AND EXPENSES WHICH MAY BE ASSERTED AGAINST LENDER IN CONNECTION WITH
OR ARISING OUT OF ANY INVESTIGATION, LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING RELATED TO THIS
AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OTHER THAN CLAIMS ARISING FROM
SUCH INDEMNIFIED PARTY'S GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT.
7.16 ARBITRATION . If any dispute arises among Borrower and Lender
under this Agreement or under any of the Security Documents, then such dispute
shall be resolved by binding arbitration in accordance with the Arbitration
Program described on Exhibit "7.16" attached hereto.
7.17 CHANGE OF ADVISORS . If, at any time while the Notes have any
amount outstanding or the Lender has a commitment hereunder, either Equus
Capital Management Corporation or Equus Capital Corporation cease to serve in
their current management and advisory capacities; a "Change of Advisors" shall
be deemed to have occurred. The Borrower shall promptly, but in any event within
ten (10) days give written notice to Lender upon obtaining knowledge of an event
which is or would constitute the occurrence of a Change of Advisors. Lender
shall, upon the happening of a Change of Advisors, have the privilege of
declaring the Revolving Note to be due and payable on a date not earlier than
sixty (60) days from the date of the exercise of said privilege. All Notes then
outstanding shall thereupon become due and payable on the date specified in the
notice sent to the Borrower by Lender including the principal amount thereof
plus accrued interest thereon to the accelerated maturity date and any amounts
owed by Borrower to Lender pursuant to this Agreement or the Security
Instruments and all Credits shall be required to be secured by cash collateral.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this instrument to
be duly executed in multiple counterparts, each of which is an original
instrument for all purposes, all as of the day and year first above written.
29
THE WRITTEN LOAN AGREEMENT REPRESENTS THE FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE
BORROWER AND THE LENDER AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR,
CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE BORROWER AND THE LENDER.
THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE LENDER AND THE BORROWER.
EQUUS II INCORPORATED, a Delaware
corporation
By /s/PATRICK M. CAHILL
Patrick M. Cahill
Vice President
NATIONSBANK OF TEXAS, N.A.
By /s/LARRY B. BELL
Larry B. Bell
Senior Vice President
30
EXHIBIT "1.3.1"
LOAN APPLICATION
______________, 19__
TO: ____________________________________________
FROM: ____________________________________________
1. Reference is made to that certain Loan Agreement, dated as of March
__, 1996 (the "Agreement"), between Equus II Incorporated, as Borrower, and
NationsBank of Texas, N.A. as Lender. All terms defined in such Agreement shall
have the same meaning herein.
2. Please be advised that during normal banking hours on ,______ 19__ ,
Borrower shall borrow from Lender the aggregate principal sum of $_______ which,
when borrowed, will cause the total outstanding principal amount of indebtedness
pursuant to the Credit Facility plus outstanding Letters of Credit to be $_____.
3. Borrower has not acquired knowledge of any event which would make
any representation or warranty set forth in Section 2 of the Agreement untrue in
any material respect except as such may have been superseded by information
previously furnished to Lender, representations relating expressly to a given
date and as follows:
4. No Event of Default exists, and no event has occurred which with the
lapse of time or notice or both could become an Event of Default.
5. Please deposit the amount borrowed to Account #____________________.
Very truly yours,
---------------------------
Exhibit "1.3.2"
REVOLVING NOTE-A
P R O M I S S O R Y N O T E
[Revolving Facility A]
$12,500,000 March 18, 1996
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, after date, without grace, in the manner, on the
dates and in the amounts so herein stipulated, the undersigned, Equus II
Incorporated, a Delaware corporation, acting by and through its duly authorized
officer, ("Borrower"), PROMISES TO PAY TO THE ORDER OF NationsBank of Texas,
N.A. ("Lender"), in Houston, Harris County, Texas, the sum of Twelve Million
Five Hundred Thousand DOLLARS ($12,500,000) or, if less, the aggregate unpaid
principal amount of advances made by Lender to Borrower pursuant to this Note,
in lawful money of the United States of America, which shall be legal tender in
payment of all debts and dues, public and private, at the time of payment, and
to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount from date until maturity at a
rate equal to Prime Rate plus one-quarter percent (1/4%) per annum, floating
daily ("Stated Rate"), not to exceed the maximum non-usurious interest rate
permitted by applicable law from time to time in effect as such law may be
interpreted, amended, revised, supplemented or enacted ("Maximum Rate"),
provided that if at any time the Stated Rate exceeds the Maximum Rate then
interest hereon shall accrue at the Maximum Rate. In the event the Stated Rate
subsequently decreases to a level which would be less than the Maximum Rate or
if the Maximum Rate applicable to this Note should subsequently be changed, then
interest hereon shall accrue at a rate equal to the applicable Maximum Rate
until the aggregate amount of interest so accrued equals the aggregate amount of
interest which would have accrued at the Stated Rate without regard to any usury
limit, at which time interest hereon shall again accrue at the Stated Rate. This
Note is payable as follows:
Interest shall be due and payable quarterly as it accrues,
on the last day of June, September and December of 1996 and on
the 3rd day of April, 1997, when the entire balance of principal
and accrued interest shall be due and payable.
It is agreed that time is of the essence of this agreement. In the
event of default in the payment of any installment of principal or interest when
due or in the event of any other default hereunder, Lender may accelerate and
declare this Note immediately due and payable without notice. Any failure to
exercise this option shall not constitute a waiver by Lender of the right to
exercise the same at any other time.
In the event of default in the making of any payment herein provided,
either of principal or interest, or in the event this Note is declared due,
interest shall accrue at Prime Rate plus two percent (2%) not to exceed the
Maximum Rate.
Borrower hereby agrees to pay all expenses incurred, including
reasonable attorneys' fees, all of which shall become a part of the principal
hereof, if this Note is placed in the hands of an attorney for collection or if
collected by suit or through any probate, bankruptcy or any other legal
proceedings.
Interest charges will be calculated on amounts advanced hereunder on
the actual number of days these amounts are outstanding on the basis of a
360-day year, except for calculations of the Maximum Rate which will be on the
basis of a 365-day or 366-day year, as is applicable. It is the intention of the
parties hereto to comply with all applicable usury laws; accordingly, it is
agreed that notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Note, or in
any of the documents securing payment hereof or otherwise relating hereto, no
such provision shall require the payment or permit the collection of interest in
excess of the Maximum Rate. If any excess of interest in such respect is
provided for, or shall be adjudicated to be so provided for, in this Note or in
any of the documents securing payment hereof or otherwise relating hereto, then
in such event (1) the provisions of this paragraph shall govern and control, (2)
neither Borrower, endorsers or guarantors, nor their heirs, legal
representatives, successors or assigns nor any other party liable for the
payment hereof, shall be obligated to pay the amount of such interest to the
extent that it is in excess of the Maximum Rate, (3) any such excess which may
have been collected shall be either applied as a credit against the then unpaid
principal amount hereof or refunded to Borrower, and (4) the provisions of this
Note and any documents securing payment of this Note shall be automatically
reformed so that the effective rate of interest shall be reduced to the Maximum
Rate. For the purpose of determining the Maximum Rate, all interest payments
with respect to this Note shall be amortized, prorated and spread throughout the
full term of the Note so that the effective rate of interest on account of this
Note is uniform throughout the term hereof.
Borrower agrees that the Maximum Rate to be charged or collected
pursuant to this Note shall be the applicable indicated rate ceiling as defined
in TEX. REV. CIV. STAT. ANN. Art. 5069-1.04, provided that Lender may rely on
other applicable laws, including without limitation laws of the United States,
for calculation of the Maximum Rate if the application thereof results in a
greater Maximum Rate. Except as provided above, the provisions of this Note
shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas.
As used in this Note, the term "Prime Rate" shall mean the variable
rate of interest announced by Lender from time to time as its prime rate of
interest and, without notice to the maker of this Note or any other person, such
rate of interest shall change as and when changes in that prime rate of interest
are announced. The Prime Rate is set by Lender as a general reference rate of
interest, taking into account such factors as Lender may deem appropriate, it
being understood that many of Lender's commercial or other loans are priced in
relation to such rate, that it is not necessarily the lowest or best rate of
interest actually charged on any loan, and
-2-
that Lender may make various commercial or other loans at rates of interest
having no relationship to the Prime Rate. If at any time the "Prime Rate" of
Lender is no longer available, then the owner of this Note ("Owner") will
designate a different "Prime Rate" as announced by a national banking
association of Owner's choice.
Each maker, surety, guarantor and endorser (i) waives demand, grace,
notice, presentment for payment, notice of intention to accelerate the maturity
hereof, notice of acceleration of the maturity hereof and protest, (ii) agrees
that this Note and the liens securing its payment may be renewed, and the time
of payment extended from time to time, without notice and without releasing any
of the foregoing, and (iii) agrees that without notice or consent from any
maker, surety, guarantor, or endorser, Lender may release any collateral which
may from time to time be pledged to secure repayment of this Note, or may
release any party who might be liable for this Note. Borrower grants to Lender a
lien on any of Borrower's funds which may from time to time be deposited with
Lender.
Borrower may prepay this Note, in whole or in part, at any time prior
to maturity without penalty, and interest shall cease on any amount prepaid. Any
partial prepayment shall be applied toward the payment of the principal
installments last maturing on the Note, that is, in the inverse order of
maturity, without reducing the amount or time of payment of the remaining
installments.
The principal of this Note represents funds which Lender will advance
to Borrower from time to time upon request of Borrower. Any part of the
principal may be repaid by Borrower and thereafter reborrowed, provided the
outstanding principal amount of this Note shall never exceed the face amount of
this Note. Each advance shall constitute a part of the principal hereof and
shall bear interest from the date of the advance. The provisions of Tex. Rev.
Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 5069-15.01, ET SEQ, as may be amended, shall not apply to
this Note or to any of the security documents executed in connection with this
Note.
This Note is the Revolving Note A referred to in, is subject to, and is
entitled to the benefits of, the Loan Agreement of even date herewith between
Borrower and Lender, as that Loan Agreement may be amended, modified or
supplemented from time to time (the "Loan Agreement"). The Loan Agreement
contains, among other things, provisions for the acceleration of the maturity
hereof upon the occurrence of certain stated events.
This Note is entitled to the benefits of and security afforded by the
Security Agreement-Pledge of even date herewith between Borrower and Lender, as
that Security Agreement-Pledge may be amended, modified or supplemented from
time to time. This Note is subject to the provisions contained in the foregoing
security instrument which, among other things, provides for acceleration of the
maturity hereof upon the occurrence of certain events.
-3-
Borrower represents and warrants that this loan is for business,
commercial, investment or similar purpose and not primarily for personal,
family, household or agricultural use, as such terms are used in Chapter One of
the Texas Credit Code.
EQUUS II INCORPORATED, a Delaware
corporation
By:
Patrick M. Cahill
Vice President
-4-
Exhibit "1.3.3"
REVOLVING NOTE-B
P R O M I S S O R Y N O T E
[Revolving Facility B]
$7,500,000 March 18, 1996
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, after date, without grace, in the manner, on the
dates and in the amounts so herein stipulated, the undersigned, Equus II
Incorporated, a Delaware corporation, acting by and through its duly authorized
officer ("Borrower"), PROMISES TO PAY TO THE ORDER OF NationsBank of Texas, N.A.
("Lender"), in Houston, Harris County, Texas, the sum of Seven Million Five
Hundred Thousand DOLLARS ($7,500,000) or, if less, the aggregate unpaid
principal amount of advances made by Lender to Borrower pursuant to this Note,
in lawful money of the United States of America, which shall be legal tender in
payment of all debts and dues, public and private, at the time of payment, and
to pay interest on the unpaid principal amount from date until maturity at a
rate equal to Prime Rate plus three-quarters of one percent (3/4%) per annum,
floating daily ("Stated Rate"), not to exceed the maximum non-usurious interest
rate permitted by applicable law from time to time in effect as such law may be
interpreted, amended, revised, supplemented or enacted ("Maximum Rate"),
provided that if at any time the Stated Rate exceeds the Maximum Rate then
interest hereon shall accrue at the Maximum Rate. In the event the Stated Rate
subsequently decreases to a level which would be less than the Maximum Rate or
if the Maximum Rate applicable to this Note should subsequently be changed, then
interest hereon shall accrue at a rate equal to the applicable Maximum Rate
until the aggregate amount of interest so accrued equals the aggregate amount of
interest which would have accrued at the Stated Rate without regard to any usury
limit, at which time interest hereon shall again accrue at the Stated Rate. This
Note is payable as follows:
Interest shall be due and payable quarterly as it accrues,
on the last day of June, September and December of 1996 and on
the 3rd day of April, 1997, when the entire balance of principal
and accrued interest shall be due and payable.
It is agreed that time is of the essence of this agreement. In the
event of default in the payment of any installment of principal or interest when
due or in the event of any other default hereunder, Lender may accelerate and
declare this Note immediately due and payable without notice. Any failure to
exercise this option shall not constitute a waiver by Lender of the right to
exercise the same at any other time.
In the event of default in the making of any payment herein provided,
either of principal or interest, or in the event this Note is declared due,
interest shall accrue at Prime Rate plus two percent (2%) not to exceed the
Maximum Rate.
Borrower hereby agrees to pay all expenses incurred, including
reasonable attorneys' fees, all of which shall become a part of the principal
hereof, if this Note is placed in the hands of an attorney for collection or if
collected by suit or through any probate, bankruptcy or any other legal
proceedings.
Interest charges will be calculated on amounts advanced hereunder on
the actual number of days these amounts are outstanding on the basis of a
360-day year, except for calculations of the Maximum Rate which will be on the
basis of a 365-day or 366-day year, as is applicable. It is the intention of the
parties hereto to comply with all applicable usury laws; accordingly, it is
agreed that notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Note, or in
any of the documents securing payment hereof or otherwise relating hereto, no
such provision shall require the payment or permit the collection of interest in
excess of the Maximum Rate. If any excess of interest in such respect is
provided for, or shall be adjudicated to be so provided for, in this Note or in
any of the documents securing payment hereof or otherwise relating hereto, then
in such event (1) the provisions of this paragraph shall govern and control, (2)
neither Borrower, endorsers or guarantors, nor their heirs, legal
representatives, successors or assigns nor any other party liable for the
payment hereof, shall be obligated to pay the amount of such interest to the
extent that it is in excess of the Maximum Rate, (3) any such excess which may
have been collected shall be either applied as a credit against the then unpaid
principal amount hereof or refunded to Borrower, and (4) the provisions of this
Note and any documents securing payment of this Note shall be automatically
reformed so that the effective rate of interest shall be reduced to the Maximum
Rate. For the purpose of determining the Maximum Rate, all interest payments
with respect to this Note shall be amortized, prorated and spread throughout the
full term of the Note so that the effective rate of interest on account of this
Note is uniform throughout the term hereof.
Borrower agrees that the Maximum Rate to be charged or collected
pursuant to this Note shall be the applicable indicated rate ceiling as defined
in TEX. REV. CIV. STAT. ANN. Art. 5069-1.04, provided that Lender may rely on
other applicable laws, including without limitation laws of the United States,
for calculation of the Maximum Rate if the application thereof results in a
greater Maximum Rate. Except as provided above, the provisions of this Note
shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas.
As used in this Note, the term "Prime Rate" shall mean the variable
rate of interest announced by Lender from time to time as its prime rate of
interest and, without notice to the maker of this Note or any other person, such
rate of interest shall change as and when changes in that prime rate of interest
are announced. The Prime Rate is set by Lender as a general reference rate of
interest, taking into account such factors as Lender may deem appropriate, it
being understood that many of Lender's commercial or other loans are priced in
relation to such rate, that it is not necessarily the lowest or best rate of
interest actually charged on any loan, and that Lender may make various
commercial or other loans at rates of interest having no relationship to the
Prime Rate. If at any time the "Prime Rate" of Lender is no longer available,
then the owner of this Note ("Owner") will designate a different "Prime Rate" as
announced by a national banking association of Owner's choice.
- --------
Initials
Each maker, surety, guarantor and endorser (i) waives demand, grace,
notice, presentment for payment, notice of intention to accelerate the maturity
hereof, notice of acceleration of the maturity hereof and protest, (ii) agrees
that this Note and the liens securing its payment may be renewed, and the time
of payment extended from time to time, without notice and without releasing any
of the foregoing, and (iii) agrees that without notice or consent from any
maker, surety, guarantor, or endorser, Lender may release any collateral which
may from time to time be pledged to secure repayment of this Note, or may
release any party who might be liable for this Note. Borrower grants to Lender a
lien on any of Borrower's funds which may from time to time be deposited with
Lender.
Borrower may prepay this Note, in whole or in part, at any time prior
to maturity without penalty, and interest shall cease on any amount prepaid. Any
partial prepayment shall be applied toward the payment of the principal
installments last maturing on the Note, that is, in the inverse order of
maturity, without reducing the amount or time of payment of the remaining
installments.
The principal of this Note represents funds which Lender will advance
to Borrower from time to time upon request of Borrower. Any part of the
principal may be repaid by Borrower and thereafter reborrowed, provided the
outstanding principal amount of this Note shall never exceed the face amount of
this Note. Each advance shall constitute a part of the principal hereof and
shall bear interest from the date of the advance. The provisions of Tex. Rev.
Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 5069-15.01, ET SEQ, as may be amended, shall not apply to
this Note or to any of the security documents executed in connection with this
Note.
This Note is the Revolving Note B referred to in, is subject to, and is
entitled to the benefits of, the Loan Agreement of even date herewith between
Borrower and Lender, as that Loan Agreement may be amended, modified or
supplemented from time to time (the "Loan Agreement"). The Loan Agreement
contains, among other things, provisions for the acceleration of the maturity
hereof upon the occurrence of certain stated events.
This Note is entitled to the benefits of and security afforded by the
Security Agreement-Pledge of even date herewith between Borrower and Lender, as
that Security Agreement-Pledge may be amended, modified or supplemented from
time to time. This Note is subject to the provisions contained in the foregoing
security instrument which, among other things, provides for acceleration of the
maturity hereof upon the occurrence of certain events.
-3-
Borrower represents and warrants that this loan is for business,
commercial, investment or similar purpose and not primarily for personal,
family, household or agricultural use, as such terms are used in Chapter One of
the Texas Credit Code.
EQUUS II INCORPORATED, a Delaware corporation
By:
Patrick M. Cahill
Vice President
-4-
Exhibit "1.7"
FACILITY C NOTE
P R O M I S S O R Y N O T E
[Facility C Note]
$65,000,000 March 29, 1996
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, after date, without grace, in the manner, on the
dates and in the amounts so herein stipulated, the undersigned, Equus II
Incorporated, a Delaware corporation, acting by and through its duly authorized
officer ("Borrower"), PROMISES TO PAY TO THE ORDER OF NationsBank of Texas, N.A.
("Lender"), in Houston, Harris County, Texas, the sum of Sixty-Five Million and
No/100 DOLLARS ($65,000,000) or, if less, the aggregate unpaid principal amount
of advances made by Lender to Borrower pursuant to this Note, in lawful money of
the United States of America, which shall be legal tender in payment of all
debts and dues, public and private, at the time of payment, and to pay interest
on the unpaid principal amount from date until maturity at a rate equal to Cash
Collateral Account Rate plus one percent (1%) per annum, floating daily (subject
to adjustment as set forth in Section 1.7(c) of the Loan Agreement) ("Stated
Rate"), not to exceed the maximum non-usurious interest rate permitted by
applicable law from time to time in effect as such law may be interpreted,
amended, revised, supplemented or enacted ("Maximum Rate"), provided that if at
any time the Stated Rate exceeds the Maximum Rate then interest hereon shall
accrue at the Maximum Rate. In the event the Stated Rate subsequently decreases
to a level which would be less than the Maximum Rate or if the Maximum Rate
applicable to this Note should subsequently be changed, then interest hereon
shall accrue at a rate equal to the applicable Maximum Rate until the aggregate
amount of interest so accrued equals the aggregate amount of interest which
would have accrued at the Stated Rate without regard to any usury limit, at
which time interest hereon shall again accrue at the Stated Rate. This Note is
payable as follows:
Interest shall be payable on the 15th day of each month and
simultaneously with repayment of principal. Principal shall be
payable on the fifth (5th) Business Day following each advance
in an amount equal to such advance.
The entire balance of principal and accrued interest shall be due and
payable on April 4, 1997.
It is agreed that time is of the essence of this agreement. In the
event of default in the payment of any installment of principal or interest when
due or in the event of any other default hereunder, Lender may accelerate and
declare this Note immediately due and payable without notice. Any failure to
exercise this option shall not constitute a waiver by Lender of the right to
exercise the same at any other time.
In the event of default in the making of any payment herein provided,
either of principal or interest, or in the event this Note is declared due,
interest shall accrue at Prime Rate plus two percent (2%) not to exceed the
Maximum Rate.
Borrower hereby agrees to pay all expenses incurred, including
reasonable attorneys' fees, all of which shall become a part of the principal
hereof, if this Note is placed in the hands of an attorney for collection or if
collected by suit or through any probate, bankruptcy or any other legal
proceedings.
Interest charges will be calculated on amounts advanced hereunder on
the actual number of days these amounts are outstanding on the basis of a
360-day year, except for calculations of the Maximum Rate which will be on the
basis of a 365-day or 366-day year, as is applicable. It is the intention of the
parties hereto to comply with all applicable usury laws; accordingly, it is
agreed that notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Note, or in
any of the documents securing payment hereof or otherwise relating hereto, no
such provision shall require the payment or permit the collection of interest in
excess of the Maximum Rate. If any excess of interest in such respect is
provided for, or shall be adjudicated to be so provided for, in this Note or in
any of the documents securing payment hereof or otherwise relating hereto, then
in such event (1) the provisions of this paragraph shall govern and control, (2)
neither Borrower, endorsers or guarantors, nor their heirs, legal
representatives, successors or assigns nor any other party liable for the
payment hereof, shall be obligated to pay the amount of such interest to the
extent that it is in excess of the Maximum Rate, (3) any such excess which may
have been collected shall be either applied as a credit against the then unpaid
principal amount hereof or refunded to Borrower, and (4) the provisions of this
Note and any documents securing payment of this Note shall be automatically
reformed so that the effective rate of interest shall be reduced to the Maximum
Rate. For the purpose of determining the Maximum Rate, all interest payments
with respect to this Note shall be amortized, prorated and spread throughout the
full term of the Note so that the effective rate of interest on account of this
Note is uniform throughout the term hereof.
Borrower agrees that the Maximum Rate to be charged or collected
pursuant to this Note shall be the applicable indicated rate ceiling as defined
in TEX. REV. CIV. STAT. ANN. Art. 5069-1.04, provided that Lender may rely on
other applicable laws, including without limitation laws of the United States,
for calculation of the Maximum Rate if the application thereof results in a
greater Maximum Rate. Except as provided above, the provisions of this Note
shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas.
As used in this Note, the term "Cash Collateral Account Rate" shall
mean the interest rate actually earned by Borrower on investments in that
certain Cash Collateral Account (as such term is defined in the Loan Agreement)
during the period principal amounts are owed pursuant to this Note.
Each maker, surety, guarantor and endorser (i) waives demand, grace,
notice, presentment for payment, notice of intention to accelerate the maturity
hereof, notice of
-2-
acceleration of the maturity hereof and protest, (ii) agrees that this Note and
the liens securing its payment may be renewed, and the time of payment extended
from time to time, without notice and without releasing any of the foregoing,
and (iii) agrees that without notice or consent from any maker, surety,
guarantor, or endorser, Lender may release any collateral which may from time to
time be pledged to secure repayment of this Note, or may release any party who
might be liable for this Note. Borrower grants to Lender a lien on any of
Borrower's funds which may from time to time be deposited with Lender.
Borrower may prepay this Note, in whole or in part, at any time prior
to maturity without penalty, and interest shall cease on any amount prepaid. Any
partial prepayment shall be applied toward the payment of the principal
installments last maturing on the Note, that is, in the inverse order of
maturity, without reducing the amount or time of payment of the remaining
installments.
The principal of this Note represents funds which Lender will advance
to Borrower from time to time upon request of Borrower. Any part of the
principal may be repaid by Borrower and thereafter reborrowed, provided the
outstanding principal amount of this Note shall never exceed the face amount of
this Note. Each advance shall constitute a part of the principal hereof and
shall bear interest from the date of the advance. The provisions of Tex. Rev.
Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 5069-15.01, ET SEQ, as may be amended, shall not apply to
this Note or to any of the security documents executed in connection with this
Note.
This Note is the Facility C Note referred to in, is subject to, and is
entitled to the benefits of, the Amended and Restated Loan Agreement of even
date herewith between Borrower and Lender, as that Loan Agreement may be
amended, modified or supplemented from time to time (the "Loan Agreement"). The
Loan Agreement contains, among other things, provisions for the acceleration of
the maturity hereof upon the occurrence of certain stated events.
This Note is entitled to the benefits of and security afforded by the
Security Agreement-Pledge (Facility C) dated March 29, 1996, between Borrower
and Lender, as that Security Agreement-Pledge (Facility C) may be amended,
modified or supplemented from time to time. This Note is subject to the
provisions contained in the foregoing security instrument which, among other
things, provides for acceleration of the maturity hereof upon the occurrence of
certain events.
-3-
Borrower represents and warrants that this loan is for business,
commercial, investment or similar purpose and not primarily for personal,
family, household or agricultural use, as such terms are used in Chapter One of
the Texas Credit Code.
EQUUS II INCORPORATED, a Delaware
corporation
By:
Patrick M. Cahill
Vice President
-4-
EXHIBIT 2.4
PORTFOLIO INVESTMENTS - PUBLIC CORPORATIONS
DIRECTOR POSITIONS NUMBER OF
HELD BY NUMBER OF SHARES OF STOCK NUMBER OF
REPRESENTATIVE OF SHARES OF AUTHORIZED TO SHARES OF
NAME OF ISSUING BORROWER OR ITS STOCK BE ISSUED (BY STOCK HELD BY
CORPORATION CLASSES OF STOCK AFFILIATES OUTSTANDING CLASS) BORROWER
--------------- ---------------- ------------------ ----------- ---------------- -------------
[TO BE PROVIDED BY EQUUS]
EXHIBIT 2.4
PORTFOLIO INVESTMENTS - PUBLIC CORPORATIONS (CONT'D)
NUMBER OF SHARES
NUMBER OF CURRENT PUBLIC OF STOCK SOLD BY
REGISTERED INFORMATION BORROWER OR
DATE STOCK WAS SHARES OF STOCK EXCHANGE REQUIREMENTS AVERAGE WEEKLY AFFILIATE WITHIN
ACQUIRED BY STOCK HELD (IF ANY) OR OF RULE 144 TRADED VOLUME OF PRECEDING THREE ADDITIONAL
BORROWER BY BORROWER NASDAQ SATISFIED STOCK MONTHS INFORMATION
-------- ----------- ------ --------- ----- ------ -----------
EXHIBIT 2.4
PORTFOLIO INVESTMENTS - PRIVATE COMPANIES
DIRECTOR POSITIONS
HELD BY
REPRESENTATIVE OF NUMBER OF SHARES OF
NAME OF ISSUING BORROWER OR ITS NUMBER OF SHARES OF STOCK AUTHORIZED TO BE
CORPORATION AFFILIATES CLASSES OF STOCK STOCK OUTSTANDING ISSUED (BY CLASS)
--------------- ------------------ ---------------- ------------------- ----------------------
[TO BE PROVIDED BY EQUUS]
EXHIBIT 2.4
PORTFOLIO INVESTMENTS - PRIVATE COMPANIES (CONT'D)
NUMBER OF SHARES OF DATE STOCK WAS ADDITIONAL
STOCK HELD BY BORROWER ACQUIRED BY BORROWER INFORMATION
- ---------------------- -------------------- -----------
EXHIBIT "3.7"
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
In accordance with Section 3.7 of the Loan Agreement ("Loan Agreement")
dated March __, 1996, between NationsBank of Texas, N.A. ("Lender") and Equus II
Incorporated, ("Borrower"), I,_____________________ ,_________________ of the
Borrower do hereby certify that the following is true and correct as of_______ ,
19__.
1. To the best of my knowledge and belief, that the Borrower is not in
default under the Loan Agreement, the Notes, and the Security Instruments.
2. Attached is a list of Borrower's Portfolio Investments as of the
end of the preceding fiscal quarter.
The foregoing terms are used as defined in the Loan Agreement.
----------------------------------
(Signature of Certifying Officer)
EXHIBIT "3.10"
BORROWING BASE REPORT
FORM OF
BORROWING BASE CERTIFICATE
NO. ____________________ Dated ____________, 19_______
In accordance with a loan agreement ("Agreement") dated March __, 1996
between NationsBank of Texas, N.A. ("Lender") and Equus II Incorporated
("Borrower"), I, ____________________________ of the Borrower hereby certify
and warrant that the following schedule accurately states Borrower's Eligible
Public Securities and Eligible Other Securities and Borrower's Borrowing Base A
and Borrowing Base B as of the date hereof:
Borrowing Base A
1.Eligible Public Securities $____________
x .50
2.Adjusted Eligible Public Securities $___________
3.Outstanding Principal Balance - Revolving Facility A $___________
4.Face Amount, Unexpired Credits - Revolving Facility A $___________
5.Sum of 3 + 4 $___________
6.Availability - Revolving Facility A (Line 2
minus Line 5) $___________
Borrowing Base B
7.Eligible Other Securities $___________
x .25
8.Adjusted Eligible Other Securities $___________
9.Lesser of Line 8 and Line 2 $___________
10.Outstanding Principal Balance - Revolving Facility B $___________
11.Availability - Revolving Facility B (Line 9 minus
Line 10) $___________
12.Overall Facility Availability $20,000,000
13.Net Asset Value $___________
x. .33
14.Adjusted Net Asset Value $___________
15.Lesser of Line 12 and Line 14 $___________
16.Outstanding Usage Facility A (Line 5) $___________
17.Outstanding Balance Facility B (Line 10) $___________
18.Total Usage (Line 16 + 17) $___________
19.Availability - Overall Facility (Line 15 minus Line 18)$___________
20.Availability - A (Lesser of 6 and 19) $___________
21.Availability - B (Lesser of 11 and 19) $___________
The Undersigned further certifies and covenants that there has been no
material adverse change in the financial condition of Borrower from that shown
by the financial statements furnished to Lender and to the best of his knowledge
that no default under the Agreement is existing on the date of this certificate,
and that the foregoing report is true and correct as of the date, and that the
items mentioned herein constitute collateral in accordance with the terms of the
Agreement.
--------------------------------------
Signature of Certifying Officer
Title:________________________________
Exhibit "6.2"
CLOSING REQUIREMENTS
Exhibit "7.16"
ARBITRATION PROGRAM
MANDATORY ARBITRATION. Any controversy or claim between or among the parties
hereto including but not limited to those arising out of or relating to this
Agreement or any related agreements or instruments, including any claim based on
or arising from an alleged tort, shall be determined by binding arbitration in
accordance with the Federal Arbitration Act (or if not applicable, the
applicable state law), the Rules of Practice and Procedure for the Arbitration
of Commercial Disputes of Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc.
(J.A.M.S.), and the "Special Rules" set forth below. In the event of any
inconsistency, the Special Rules shall control. Judgment upon any arbitration
award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction. Any party to this
Agreement may bring an action, including a summary or expedited proceeding, to
compel arbitration of any controversy or claim to which this agreement applies
in any court having jurisdiction over such action.
1. SPECIAL RULES. The arbitration shall be conducted in the
city of the Borrower's domicile at time of this Agreement's execution and
administered by J.A.M.S. who will appoint an arbitrator; if J.A.M.S. is unable
or legally precluded from administering the arbitration, then the American
Arbitration Association will serve. All arbitration hearings will be commenced
within 90 days of the demand for arbitration; further, the arbitrator shall
only, upon a showing of cause, be permitted to extend the commencement of such
hearing for up to an additional 60 days.
2. RESERVATIONS OF RIGHTS. Nothing in this Agreement shall be
deemed to (i) limit the applicability of any otherwise applicable statutes of
limitation or repose and any waivers contained in this Agreement; or (ii) be a
waiver by Lender of the protection afforded to it by 12 U.S.C. Sec. 91 or any
substantially equivalent state law; or (iii) limit the right of Lender (A) to
exercise self help remedies such as (but not limited to) setoff, or (B) to
foreclose against any real or personal property collateral, or (C) to obtain
from a court provisional or ancillary remedies such as (but not limited to)
injunctive relief or the appointment of a receiver. Lender may exercise such
self help rights, foreclose upon such property, or obtain such provisional or
ancillary remedies before, during or after the pendency of any arbitration
proceeding brought pursuant to this Agreement. At Lender's option, foreclosure
under a deed of trust or mortgage may be accomplished by any of the following:
the exercise of a power of sale under the deed of trust or mortgage, or by
judicial sale under the deed of trust or mortgage, or by judicial foreclosure.
Neither the exercise of self help remedies nor the institution or maintenance of
an action for foreclosure or provisional or ancillary remedies shall constitute
a waiver of the right of any party, including the claimant in any such action,
to arbitrate the merits of the controversy or claim occasioning resort to such
remedies.
No provision in the Security Documents regarding submission to
jurisdiction and/or venue in any court is intended or shall be construed to be
in derogation of the provisions in any Loan Document for arbitration of any
controversy or claim.