Exhibit 10.1
MERRILL LYNCH UNCONDITIONAL GUARANTY
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FOR VALUE RECEIVED, and in order to induce MERRILL LYNCH BUSINESS FINANCIAL
SERVICES INC. ("MLBFS") to advance moneys or extend or continue to extend credit
or lease property to or for the benefit of, or modify its credit relationship
with, or enter into any other financial accommodations with RENT-A-WRECK OF
AMERICA, INC. D/B/A "RENT-A-WRECK" AND "PRICELESS", a corporation organized and
existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (with any successor in
interest, including, without limitation, any successor by merger or by operation
of law, herein collectively referred to as "Customer") under: (a) that certain
WCMA LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT NO. 749-07V74 between MLBFS and Customer; (b)
that certain WCMA REDUCING REVOLVER LOAN AND SECURITY AGREEMENT NO. 7WD-07018
between MLBFS and Customer (collectively, the "Loan Agreements"); (c) any
"Additional Agreements" as that term is defined in the Loan Agreements; and (d)
all present and future amendments, restatements, supplements and other evidences
of any extensions, increases, renewals, modifications and other changes of or to
the Loan Agreements or any Additional Agreements (collectively, the "Guaranteed
Documents"), and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, THE UNDERSIGNED, BUNDY AMERICAN
CORPORATION, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of
Maryland ("Guarantor"), HEREBY UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEES TO MLBFS; (i) the
prompt and full payment when due, by acceleration or otherwise, of all sums now
or any time hereafter due from Customer to MLBFS under the Guaranteed Documents,
(ii) the prompt, full and faithful performance and discharge by Customer of each
and every other covenant and warranty of Customer set forth in the Guaranteed
Documents, and (iii) the prompt and full payment and performance of all other
indebtedness, liabilities and obligations of Customer to MLBFS, howsoever
created or evidenced, and whether now existing or hereafter arising
(collectively, the "Obligations"). Guarantor further agrees to pay all
reasonable costs and expenses (including, but not limited to, court costs and
reasonable attorneys' fees) paid or incurred by MLBFS in endeavoring to collect
or enforce performance of any of the Obligations, or in enforcing this Guaranty.
Guarantor acknowledges that MLBFS is relying on the execution and delivery of
this Guaranty in advancing moneys to or extending or continuing to extend credit
to or for the benefit of Customer.
This Guaranty is absolute, unconditional and continuing and shall remain in
effect until all of the Obligations shall have been fully and indefeasibly paid,
performed and discharged. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any
default or Event of Default under any of the Guaranteed Documents, any or all of
the indebtedness hereby guaranteed then existing shall, at the option of the
MLBFS, become immediately due and payable from Guarantor (it being understood,
however, that upon the occurrence of any "Bankruptcy Event", as defined in the
Loan Agreement, all such indebtedness shall automatically become due and payable
without action on the part of MLBFS). Notwithstanding the occurrence of any such
event, this Guaranty shall continue and remain in full force and effect. To the
extent MLBFS receives payment with respect to the Obligations, and all or any
part of such payment is subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or
preferential, set aside, required to be repaid by MLBFS or is repaid by MLBFS
pursuant to a settlement agreement, to a trustee, receiver or any other person
or entity, whether under any Bankruptcy law or otherwise (a "Returned Payment"),
this Guaranty shall continue to be effective or shall be reinstated, as the case
may be, to the extent of such payment or repayment by MLBFS, and the
indebtedness or part thereof intended to be satisfied by such Returned Payment
shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if said Returned
Payment had not been made.
The liability of Guarantor hereunder shall in no event be affected or impaired
by any of the following, any of which may be done or omitted by MLBFS from time
to time, without notice to or the consent of Guarantor: (a) any renewals,
amendments, restatements, modifications or supplements of or to any of the
Guaranteed Documents, or any extensions, forbearances, compromises or releases
of any of the Obligations or any of MLBFS' rights under any of the Guaranteed
Documents; (b) any acceptance by MLBFS of any collateral or security for, or
other guarantees of, any of the Obligations; (c) any failure, neglect or
omission on the part of MLBFS to realize upon or protect any of the Obligations,
or any collateral or security therefor, or to exercise any lien upon or right of
appropriation of any moneys, credits or property of Customer or any other
guarantor, possessed by or under the control of MLBFS or any of its affiliates,
toward the liquidation or reduction of the Obligations; (d) any invalidity,
irregularity or unenforceability of all or any part of the Obligations, of any
collateral security for the Obligations, or the Guaranteed Documents; (e) any
application of payments or credits by MLBFS; (f) the granting of credit from
time to time by MLBFS to Customer in excess of the amount set forth in the
Guaranteed Documents; or (g) any other act of commission or omission of any kind
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or at any time upon the part of MLBFS or any of its affiliates or any of their
respective employees or agents with respect to any matter whatsoever. MLBFS
shall not be required at any time, as a condition of Guarantor's obligations
hereunder, to resort to payment from Customer or other persons or entities
whatsoever, or nay of their properties or estates, or resort to any collateral
or pursue or exhaust any other rights or remedies whatsoever.
No release or discharge in whole or in part of any other guarantor of the
Obligations shall release or discharge Guarantor unless and until all of the
Obligations shall have been indefeasibly fully paid and discharged. Guarantor
expressly waives presentment, protest, demand, notice of dishonor or default,
notice of acceptance of this Guaranty, notice of advancement of funds under the
Guaranteed Documents and all other notices and formalities to which Customer or
Guarantor might be entitled, by statute or otherwise and, so long as there are
any Obligations or MLBFS is committed to extend credit to Customer, waives any
right to revoke or terminate this Guaranty without the express written consent
of MLBFS.
So long as there are any Obligations, Guarantor shall not have any claim, remedy
or right of subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution,
indemnification, or participation in any claim, right, or remedy of MLBFS
against Customer or any security which MLBFS now has or hereafter acquires,
whether or not such claim, right or remedy arises in equity, under contract, by
statute, under common law or otherwise.
MLBFS is hereby irrevocably authorized by Guarantor at any time during the
continuance of an Event of Default under the Loan Agreement or any other of the
Guaranteed Documents or in respect of any of the Obligations, in its sole
discretion and without demand or notice of any kind, to appropriate, hold, set
off and apply toward the payment of any amount due hereunder, in such order of
application as MLBFS may elect, all cash, credits, deposits, accounts, financial
assets, investment property, securities and any other property of Guarantor
which is in transit to or in the possession, custody or control of MLBFS or
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated ("MLPF&S"), or any of their
respective agents, bailees or affiliates. Guarantor hereby collaterally assigns
and grants to MLBFS a continuing security interest in all such property as
additional security for the Obligations. Upon the occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default, MLBFS shall have all rights in such property
available to collateral assignees and secured parties under all applicable laws,
including, without limitation, the Uniform Commercial Code.
Guarantor agrees to furnish to MLBFS such financial information concerning
Guarantor as may be required by any of the Guaranteed Documents or as MLBFS may
otherwise from time to time reasonably request. Guarantor further hereby
irrevocably authorizes MLBFS and each of its affiliates, including without
limitation, MLPF&S, to at any time (whether or not an Event of Default shall
have occurred) obtain from and disclose to each other any and all financial and
other information about Guarantor.
No delay on the part of MLBFS in the exercise of any right or remedy under any
of the Guaranteed Documents this Guaranty or any other agreement shall operate
as a waiver thereof, and without limiting the foregoing, no delay in the
enforcement of any security interest, and no single or partial exercise by MLBFS
of any right or remedy shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or
the exercise of any other right or remedy. This Guaranty may be executed in any
number of counterparts, each of which counterparts, once they are executed and
delivered, shall be deemed to be an original and all of which counterparts,
taken together, shall constitute but one and the same Guaranty. This Guaranty
shall be binding upon Guarantor and its successors and assigns, and shall inure
to the benefit of MLBFS and its successors and assigns. If there are more than
one guarantor of the Obligations, all of the obligations and agreements of
Guarantor are joint and several with such other guarantors.
This Guaranty shall be governed by the laws of the State of Illinois. WITHOUT
LIMITING THE RIGHT OF MLBFS TO ENFORCE THIS GUARANTY IN ANY JURISDICTION AND
VENUE PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW: (I) GUARANTOR AGREES THAT THIS GUARANTY MAY
AT THE OPTION OF MLBFS BE ENFORCED BY MLBFS IN EITHER THE STATE OF ILLINOIS OR
IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE GUARANTOR, CUSTOMER OR ANY COLLATERAL FOR THE
OBLIGATIONS OF CUSTOMER MAY BE LOCATED, (II) GUARANTOR IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS
ITSELF TO JURISDICTION IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS AND VENUE IN ANY STATE OR
FEDERAL COURT IN THE COUNTY OF COOK FOR SUCH PURPOSES, AND (III) GUARANTOR
WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHTS TO CONTEST SAID JURISDICTION AND VENUE AND THE
CONVENIENCE OF ANY SUCH FORUM AND ANY AND ALL RIGHTS TO REMOVE SUCH ACTION FROM
STATE TO FEDERAL COURT, GUARANTOR FURTHER WAIVES ANY RIGHTS TO COMMENCE ANY
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ACTION AGAINST MLBFS IN ANY JURISDICTION EXCEPT IN THE COUNTY OF COOK AND STATE
OF ILLINOIS. MLBFS AND GUARANTOR HEREBY EACH EXPRESSLY WAIVE ANY AND ALL RIGHTS
TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM BROUGHT BY EITHER
OF THE PARTIES AGAINST THE OTHER PARTY WITH RESPECT TO ANY MATTER RELATING TO,
ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH THIS GUARANTY AND/OR ANY OF THE
TRANSACTIONS WHICH ARE THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS GUARANTY. GUARANTOR FURTHER
WAIVES THE RIGHT TO BRING ANY NON-COMPULSORY COUNTERCLAIMS. Whenever possible
each provision of this Guaranty shall be interpreted in such manner as to be
effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Guaranty
shall be prohibited by or invalid under such law, such provision shall be
ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without
invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this
Guaranty. No modification or waiver of any of the provisions of this Guaranty
shall be effective unless in writing and signed by both Guarantor and an officer
of MLBFS. Each signatory on behalf of Guarantor warrants that he or she has
authority to sign on behalf of Guarantor, and by so signing, to bind Guarantor
hereunder.
Dated as of June 19, 2001.
BUNDY AMERICAN CORPORATION
By:
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Signature (1) Signature (2)
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Printed Name Printed Name
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Title Title
Address of Guarantor:
11460 CRONRIDGE DRIVE SUITE 118
OWINGS MILLS, MD 21117
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