PERSONAL GUARANTY
THIS PERSONAL GUARANTY ("PERSONAL GUARANTY"), dated as of January 30, 1997,
is executed by JAMES W. BERNAU, an individual ("GUARANTOR") in favor of UNITED
BREWERIES OF AMERICA, INC., a Delaware corporation ("PURCHASER").
RECITALS
A. Guarantor is a shareholder of Nor'Wester Brewing Company, an Oregon
corporation ("BORROWER") and is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors of
Borrower.
B. Pursuant to a Credit Agreement, dated as of January 30, 1997 (the
"CREDIT AGREEMENT"), by and between Borrower and Purchaser, Purchaser has agreed
to extend certain credit facilities to Borrower upon the terms and subject to
the conditions set forth therein.
C. Purchaser's obligation to enter into the Credit Agreement and provide
Advances to Borrower under the Credit Agreement is subject, among other
conditions, to receipt by Purchaser of this Personal Guaranty, duly executed by
Guarantor.
AGREEMENT
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above recitals and for other good
and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby
acknowledged, Guarantor hereby agrees with Purchaser as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS. When used in this Personal Guaranty, the following terms
shall have the following respective meanings:
"DISALLOWED POST-COMMENCEMENT INTEREST AND EXPENSES" shall mean
interest computed at the rate provided in the Credit Agreement or the
Convertible Note accruing or claimed at any time after the commencement of
any Insolvency Proceeding, if the claim for such interest, reimbursement,
costs, expenses or indemnities is not allowable, allowed or enforceable
against Borrower in such Insolvency Proceeding.
"GUARANTEED OBLIGATIONS" shall mean the "Obligations" as such term is
defined in the Credit Agreement.
"INSOLVENCY PROCEEDING" shall mean any case or proceeding under the
United States Bankruptcy Code or any other similar law, rule or regulation
of the United States or any jurisdiction or any other action or proceeding
for the reorganization, liquidation, appointment of a receiver,
rearrangement of debts, marshalling of assets
or similar action relating to Borrower or Guarantor, their respective
creditors or any substantial part of their respective assets, whether or
not any such case, proceeding or action is voluntary or involuntary.
"SUBORDINATED OBLIGATIONS" shall have the meaning given to that term
in PARAGRAPH 6 hereof.
Unless otherwise defined herein, all other capitalized terms used herein and
defined in the Credit Agreement shall have the respective meanings given to
those terms in the Credit Agreement. The rules of construction set forth in
SECTION I OF THE CREDIT AGREEMENT shall, to the extent not inconsistent with the
terms of this Personal Guaranty, apply to this Personal Guaranty and are hereby
incorporated by reference.
2. PERSONAL GUARANTY.
(a) PAYMENT GUARANTY. Guarantor unconditionally guarantees and
promises to pay and perform as and when due, upon the demand of Purchaser,
any and all of the Guaranteed Obligations. If any Insolvency Proceeding
relating to Borrower is commenced, Guarantor further unconditionally
guarantees and promises to pay and perform, upon the demand of Purchaser,
any and all of the Guaranteed Obligations (including any and all Disallowed
Post-Commencement Interest and Expenses), whether or not such obligations
are then due and payable by Borrower and whether or not such obligations
are modified, reduced or discharged in such Insolvency Proceeding. This
Personal Guaranty is a guaranty of payment and not of collection.
(b) CONTINUING PERSONAL GUARANTY. This Personal Guaranty is an
irrevocable continuing guaranty of the Guaranteed Obligations which shall
continue in effect until all of the Guaranteed Obligations have been fully,
finally and indefeasibly paid. If any payment on any Guaranteed Obligation
is set aside, avoided or rescinded or otherwise recovered from Purchaser,
such recovered payment shall constitute a Guaranteed Obligation hereunder
and, if this Personal Guaranty was previously released or terminated, it
automatically shall be fully reinstated, as if such payment was never made.
(c) INDEPENDENT OBLIGATION. The liability of Guarantor hereunder is
independent of the Guaranteed Obligations, and a separate action or actions
may be brought and prosecuted against Guarantor irrespective of whether
action is brought against Borrower or any other guarantor of the Guaranteed
Obligations or whether Borrower or any other guarantor of the Guaranteed
Obligations is joined in any such action or actions.
(d) FRAUDULENT TRANSFER LIMITATION. If, in any action to enforce
this Personal Guaranty, any court of competent jurisdiction determines that
enforcement against Guarantor for the full amount of the Guaranteed
Obligations is not lawful under or would be subject to avoidance under
Section 548 of the United States Bankruptcy Code or any applicable
provision of any comparable law of any state or
other jurisdiction, the liability of Guarantor under this Personal Guaranty
shall be limited to the maximum amount lawful and not subject to such
avoidance.
3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. Guarantor hereby represents and
warrants to Purchaser as follows:
(a) Guarantor is an individual with full capacity to execute and
deliver this Personal Guaranty.
(b) This Personal Guaranty and each other document or agreement
executed, or to be executed, by Guarantor in connection herewith or
therewith has been, or will be, duly executed and delivered by Guarantor
and constitutes, or will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation
of Guarantor, enforceable against Guarantor in accordance with their terms,
except as limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or other laws of general
application relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights
generally and general principles of equity.
(c) The execution, delivery and performance by Guarantor of this
Personal Guaranty and each other document or agreement executed, or to be
executed, by Guarantor in connection herewith or therewith and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby are within
the power of Guarantor.
(d) No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration,
declaration or filing with, any governmental authority or other Person
(including, without limitation, the shareholders of any Person) is required
in connection with the execution and delivery of this Personal Guaranty or
any other document or agreement executed, or to be executed, in connection
herewith or therewith, by Guarantor and the performance and consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby which would materially
impair Purchaser's ability to collect on this Personal Guaranty.
(e) The execution, delivery and performance by Guarantor of this
Personal Guaranty and each other document or agreement executed, or to be
executed, by Guarantor in connection herewith or therewith does not (i)
violate any provision of any law or regulation; (ii) result in any breach
of or default under any contract, obligation, indenture or other instrument
to which such Person is a party or by which such Person may be bound; or
(iii) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any asset or
property of such Person which would materially impair Purchaser's ability
to collect on this Personal Guaranty.
(f) Guarantor has no knowledge of any pending assessments or
adjustments of Guarantor's income tax payable with respect to any year.
(g) There is no agreement, indenture, contract or instrument to which
Guarantor is a party or by which Guarantor may be bound that requires the
subordination in right of payment of any of Guarantor's obligations subject
to this
Principal Guaranty and the other documents or agreements executed, or to be
executed, by Guarantor in connection herewith or therewith to any other
obligation of Guarantor.
(h) Neither this Personal Guaranty nor any other document or
agreement executed, or to be executed, by Guarantor in connection herewith
or therewith and none of the other certificates, financial statements or
information furnished to Purchaser by Guarantor in connection with this
Personal Guaranty and the other documents or agreements executed, or to be
executed, by Guarantor in connection herewith or therewith or the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby contains or will contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omits or will omit to state a
material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
4. COVENANTS. Until all of the Guaranteed Obligations have been fully,
finally and indefeasibly paid, Guarantor shall comply with the following
covenants:
(a) To the extent possible, Guarantor shall cause Borrower to
materially comply with each of the covenants applicable to Borrower as set
forth in the Credit Agreement and the Convertible Note;
(b) Guarantor shall materially comply with all applicable laws and
material contractual obligations; and
(c) Guarantor shall pay and discharge when due any and all material
indebtedness, obligations, assessments and taxes, both real or personal,
including, without limitation, Federal and state income taxes and state and
local property taxes and assessments owed by Guarantor.
5. AUTHORIZATIONS, WAIVERS, ETC.
(a) AUTHORIZATIONS. Guarantor authorizes Purchaser in its reasonable
discretion, without notice to Guarantor except as required by applicable
law, irrespective of any change in the financial condition of Borrower,
Guarantor or any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations since the
date hereof, and without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of
Guarantor hereunder, from time to time to:
(i) Exercise any right or remedy Purchaser may have against
Borrower, Guarantor, any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations
or any security, including, without limitation, the right to foreclose
upon any such security by judicial or nonjudicial sale;
(ii) Settle, compromise with, release or substitute any one
or more makers, endorsers or guarantors of the Guaranteed Obligations;
and
(iii) To the extent permitted pursuant to SUBPARAGRAPH 7.04
OF THE CREDIT AGREEMENT, assign the Guaranteed Obligations, this
Personal Guaranty or any other Credit Document in whole or in part.
(b) WAIVERS. Guarantor hereby waives:
(i) Any right to require Purchaser to (A) proceed against
Borrower or any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations,
(B) proceed against or exhaust any security received from Borrower,
Guarantor or any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations or
otherwise marshall the assets of Borrower or (C) pursue any other
remedy in Purchaser's power whatsoever;
(ii) Any defense arising by reason of the application by
Borrower of the proceeds of any borrowing;
(iii) Any defense resulting from the absence, impairment or
loss of any right of reimbursement, subrogation, contribution or other
right or remedy of Guarantor against Borrower, any other guarantor of
the Guaranteed Obligations or any security, whether resulting from an
election by Purchaser to foreclose upon security by nonjudicial sale,
or otherwise;
(iv) Any benefit arising from any setoff or counterclaim of
Borrower or any defense which results from any disability or other
defense of Borrower or the cessation or stay of enforcement from any
cause whatsoever of the liability of Borrower (including, without
limitation, the lack of validity or enforceability of the Credit
Agreement or the Convertible Note);
(v) Any defense based upon any law, rule or regulation
which provides that the obligation of a surety must not be greater or
more burdensome than the obligation of the principal;
(vi) Until all obligations of Purchaser to extend credit to
Borrower have terminated and all of the Guaranteed Obligations have
been fully, finally and indefeasibly paid, any right of subrogation,
reimbursement, indemnification or contribution and other similar right
to enforce any remedy which Purchaser or any other Person now has or
may hereafter have against Borrower on account of the Guaranteed
Obligations, and any benefit of, and any right to participate in, any
security now or hereafter received by Purchaser or any other Person on
account of the Guaranteed Obligations;
(vii) All presentments, demands for performance, notices of
non-performance, notices delivered under the Credit Agreement or the
Convertible Note, protests, notice of dishonor, and notices of
acceptance of this Personal Guaranty and of the existence, creation or
incurring of new or additional Guaranteed Obligations and notices of
any public or private foreclosure sale;
(viii) Any appraisement, valuation, stay, extension,
moratorium redemption or similar law or similar rights for
marshalling;
(ix) Any right to be informed by Purchaser of the financial
condition of Borrower or any other guarantor of the Guaranteed
Obligations or any change therein or any other circumstances bearing
upon the risk of nonpayment or nonperformance of the Guaranteed
Obligations;
(x) Until all obligations of Purchaser to extend credit to
Borrower have terminated and all of the Guaranteed Obligations have
been fully, finally and indefeasibly paid, any right to revoke this
Personal Guaranty;
(xi) Any defense arising from an election for the
application of Section 1111(b)(2) of the United States Bankruptcy Code
which applies to the Guaranteed Obligations; and
(xii) Any defense based upon any borrowing or grant of a
security interest under Section 364 of the United States Bankruptcy
Code.
Without limiting the scope of any of the foregoing provisions of this
PARAGRAPH 5, Guarantor hereby further waives (A) all rights and defenses
arising out of an election of remedies by Purchaser, even though that
election of remedies has destroyed Guarantor's rights of subrogation and
reimbursement against Borrower and (B) all other rights and defenses
available to Guarantor by reason of Sections 2787 to 2855, inclusive,
Section 2899 or Section 3433 of the California Civil Code or Section 3605
of the California Commercial Code. Notwithstanding the foregoing
provisions of this PARAGRAPH 5, however, Guarantor shall at all times be
entitled to the same benefits as Borrower arising with respect to any
setoff, defense or counterclaim asserted by Borrower based upon Purchaser's
failure to perform its obligations under the Credit Agreement or any other
Credit Document.
(c) FINANCIAL CONDITION OF BORROWER, ETC. Guarantor is fully aware
of the financial condition and affairs of Borrower. Guarantor has executed
this Personal Guaranty without reliance upon any representation, warranty,
statement or information concerning Borrower furnished to Guarantor by
Purchaser and has, independently and without reliance on Purchaser, and
based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made
its own appraisal of the financial condition and affairs of Borrower and of
other circumstances affecting the risk of nonpayment or nonperformance of
the Guaranteed Obligations. Guarantor is in a position to obtain, and
assumes full responsibility for obtaining, any additional information about
the financial condition and affairs of Borrower and of other circumstances
affecting the risk of nonpayment or nonperformance of the Guaranteed
Obligations and will, independently and without reliance upon Purchaser,
and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at
the time, continue to make its own appraisals and decisions in taking or
not taking action in connection with this Personal Guaranty.
6. SUBORDINATION. Guarantor and Guarantor's spouse hereby subordinate
any indebtedness of Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries to Guarantor or
Guarantor's spouse to the Guaranteed Obligations. Guarantor and Guarantor's
spouse agree that Purchaser shall be entitled to receive payment on the
Guaranteed Obligations before Guarantor or Guarantor's spouse receives payment
of any indebtedness of Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries to Guarantor or
Guarantor's spouse. Any payments on such indebtedness of Borrower or their
Subsidiaries to Guarantor or Guarantor's spouse, if Purchaser so requests, shall
be collected, enforced and received by Guarantor or Guarantor's spouse as
trustee for Purchaser and be paid over to Purchaser on account of the Guaranteed
Obligations. Purchaser is authorized and empowered (but without any obligation
to so do), in its discretion, (a) in the name of Guarantor or Guarantor's
spouse, to collect and enforce, and to submit claims in respect of, indebtedness
of Borrower to Guarantor or Guarantor's spouse and to apply any amounts received
thereon to the Guaranteed Obligations, and (b) to require Guarantor and
Guarantor's spouse (i) to collect and enforce, and to submit claims in respect
of, indebtedness of Borrower or any of their Subsidiaries to Guarantor or
Guarantor's spouse, and (ii) to pay any amounts received on such indebtedness to
Purchaser for application to the Guaranteed Obligations. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default, Guarantor shall be
entitled to receive from Borrower compensation in the form of salary in an
aggregate amount not to exceed in any fiscal year $125,000 and board approved
bonuses, if any.
7. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) NOTICES. Except as otherwise provided herein, all notices,
requests, demands, consents, instructions or other communications to or
upon Guarantor or Purchaser under this Personal Guaranty shall be in
writing and faxed, mailed or delivered at his or its respective facsimile
number or address set forth below (or to such other facsimile number or
address for each party as indicated in any notice given by that party to
the other party). All such notices and communications shall be effective
(i) when sent by Federal Express or other overnight service of recognized
standing, on the second day following the deposit with such service; (ii)
when mailed, first class postage prepaid and addressed as aforesaid through
the United States Postal Service, upon receipt; (iii) when delivered by
hand, upon delivery; and (iv) when faxed, upon confirmation of receipt.
Purchaser: UNITED BREWERIES OF AMERICA, INC.
Attn: Mr. Vijay Mallya
One Harbor Drive, Suite 102
Sausalito, California 94965
Telephone: (415) 289-1400
Facsimile: (415) 289-1409
With a
copy to: ORRICK, HERRINGTON & SUTCLIFFE
400 Sansome Street
San Francisco, California 94111
Attn: Alan Talkington, Esq.
Telephone: (415) 773-5762
Facsimile: (415) 773-5759
Guarantor: JAMES W. BERNAU
8800 Enchanted Way, S.E.
Turner, Oregon 97392
Telephone: (503) 371-1664
Facsimile: (503) 371-1664
With
copies to: ATER WYNNE HEWITT DODSON & SKERRITT, LLP
Attorneys at Law
Suite 1800
222 S.W. Columbia
Portland, Oregon 97201-6618
Attn: Jack W. Schifferdecker, Jr.
Telephone: (503) 226-8614
Facsimile: (503) 226-0079
and
DONALDSON, ALBERT, TWEET, CONNOLLY, HANNA & MUNIZ
340 Vista Avenue, Suite 310
P.O. Box 968
Salem, Oregon 97308
Attn: Gordon R. Hanna
Telephone: (503) 585-2055
Facsimile: (503) 375-2649
(b) PAYMENTS. Guarantor shall make all payments required hereunder
to Purchaser, or its order, at Purchaser's office located at the address
set forth in SUBPARAGRAPH 7(a) hereof, or at such other office as Purchaser
may designate, on demand, in dollars. If any amounts required to be paid
by Guarantor under this
Personal Guaranty are not paid when due, Guarantor shall pay interest on
the aggregate, outstanding balance of such amounts from the date due until
those amounts are paid in full at a per annum rate equal to the then
current Interest Rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement) PLUS three
percent (3.00%).
(c) EXPENSES. Guarantor shall pay on demand all reasonable fees and
expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses, incurred by
Purchaser in the enforcement or attempted enforcement of this Personal
Guaranty or in preserving any of Purchaser's rights and remedies
(including, without limitation, all such fees and expenses incurred in
connection with any "workout" or restructuring affecting this Personal
Guaranty or any bankruptcy or similar proceeding involving Guarantor). The
obligations of Guarantor under this SUBPARAGRAPH 7(c) shall survive the
payment and performance of the Guaranteed Obligations and the termination
of this Personal Guaranty.
(d) WAIVERS; AMENDMENTS. This Personal Guaranty may not be amended
or modified, nor may any of its terms be waived, except by written
instruments signed by Guarantor and Purchaser. Each waiver or consent
under any provision hereof shall be effective only in the specific
instances for the purpose for which given. No failure or delay on
Purchaser's part in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a
waiver thereof or of any other right nor shall any single or partial
exercise of any such right preclude any other further exercise thereof or
of any other right.
(e) ASSIGNMENTS. This Personal Guaranty shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of Purchaser and Guarantor and their respective
successors and assigns; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Guarantor may not assign or
transfer any of its rights and obligations under this Personal Guaranty
without the prior written consent of Purchaser; and PROVIDED, FURTHER, and
Purchaser may only assign or transfer any of its rights and obligations
under this Personal Guaranty to the extent permitted under Section 10.4 of
the Investment Agreement.
(f) CUMULATIVE RIGHTS, ETC. The rights, powers and remedies of
Purchaser under this Personal Guaranty shall be in addition to all rights,
powers and remedies given to Purchaser by virtue of any applicable law,
rule or regulation of any governmental authority, any other document or any
other agreement executed by Guarantor in connection herewith or therewith,
all of which rights, powers, and remedies shall be cumulative and may be
exercised successively or concurrently without impairing Purchaser's rights
hereunder. Guarantor waives any right to require Purchaser to proceed
against any Person or to pursue any remedy in Purchaser's power.
(g) PARTIAL INVALIDITY. If at any time any provision of this
Personal Guaranty is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any
respect under the law or any jurisdiction, neither the legality, validity
or enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Personal Guaranty nor
the legality, validity or enforceability of such
provision under the law of any other jurisdiction shall in any way be
affected or impaired thereby.
(h) LIABILITY ABSOLUTE. The liability of Guarantor hereunder is
absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstances
whatsoever, including without limitation, any right of set-off, defense or
counterclaim asserted by Guarantor or any other Person against Purchaser
based upon any failure by Purchaser or any other Person to perform any of
its or their obligations to Borrower contained in the Investment Agreement,
any Ancillary Agreement or any agreement or agreements related hereto or
thereto, but excluding any right of set-off, defense or counterclaim
asserted by Borrower based upon Purchaser's failure to perform its
obligations under the Credit Agreement or any other Credit Document.
(i) GOVERNING LAW. This Personal Guaranty shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California without
reference to conflicts of law rules.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Guarantor has caused this Personal Guaranty to be
executed as of the day and year first above written.
/s/ James W. Bernau
-----------------------------
JAMES W. BERNAU
CONSENT OF SPOUSE
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CATHY BERNAU