Exhibit 10.3
EXECUTION COPY
GUARANTY AGREEMENT
GUARANTY AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") between LIBBEY INC. ("Guarantor"), a
Delaware corporation, and VITRO, S.A. DE C.V., a Mexican corporation (referred
to herein as "Vitro" or "Guaranteed Party"), effective as of June 16, 2006 (the
"Effective Date").
PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS
As of April 2, 2006, certain affiliates of Guarantor and Vitro have
entered into the Purchase Agreement, as amended on or prior to the date hereof
(the "Purchase Agreement") among Vitro, Crisa Corporation, Crisa Libbey S.A. de
C.V., Vitrocrisa Holding, S. de R.L. de C.V., Vitrocrisa S. de R.L. de C.V.,
Vitrocrisa Comercial, S. de R.L. de C.V., Crisa Industrial, L.L.C., Libbey
Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V., Libbey Europe B.V., and LGA3 Corp..
In connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by the Purchase Agreement, as of the date hereof Vitro has executed and
delivered that certain Corporate Guaranty in favor of Fondo Stiva, S.A. de C.V.
("Stiva"), a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Vitro/Stiva
Guaranty"), pursuant to which it has guaranteed certain obligations of
Vitrocrisa, S. de R.L. de C.V., and any subsidiary or affiliate hereof (and the
successors and assigns of the foregoing) (collectively, "Vitrocrisa") as
specified therein.
As a material inducement to Vitro to consummate the transactions
contemplated by the Purchase Agreement and to deliver the Vitro/Stiva Guaranty,
Guarantor has agreed to enter into this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises, Guarantor
hereby agrees as follows:
1. Guaranty. (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 1(b) and (c),
Guarantor hereby irrevocably guarantees to Vitro the due and punctual
performance, including payment, by Vitrocrisa, of all of the obligations and
covenants guaranteed by Vitro pursuant to the terms of the Vitro/Stiva Guaranty
(collectively such obligations and covenants, as may from time to time be
amended, altered or modified, are hereinafter referred to as the "Performance
Obligations", and such guarantee to Vitro of the Performance Obligations is
hereinafter referred to as the "Guaranty"). The Guaranty may be satisfied by
Guarantor performing, or by Guarantor causing the Performance Obligations to be
performed. Guarantor shall forthwith, upon the request of the Guaranteed Party,
pay such additional amounts as may be necessary to reimburse the Guaranteed
Party for all reasonable costs and expenses (including, without limitation,
reasonable legal fees) incurred to enforce this Agreement as a result of any
failure or
inability of Guarantor to duly and punctually perform its obligations under this
Agreement.
(b) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this
Agreement, (i) Guarantor shall not be obligated to perform the Guaranty until 10
(ten) Business Days after the date Guarantor has received written notice from
the Guaranteed Party of a failure by Vitrocrisa to perform any of its
Performance Obligations; and (ii) except for defenses arising from the
proceedings described in Section 2(vi), Guarantor shall have the right to assert
any setoff, claim, counterclaim or other defense otherwise available to
Vitrocrisa with respect to the Performance Obligations, provided that Guarantor
must immediately pay all amounts and obligations that are not subject to a
setoff, claim, counterclaim or other defense.
(c) The foregoing limitations shall not imply any specification of
which Performance Obligations are guaranteed, and the Guaranteed Party may
request from the Guarantor the payment or performance of any Performance
Obligations. The Guaranteed Party may apply all payments received for
application to the Performance Obligations in the order determined by the
Guaranteed Party.
2. Guaranty Absolute. Except as provided in Section 1(b) and (c), the
obligations of Guarantor under the Guaranty (a) shall not be subject to any
reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason other than by
reason and only to the extent of the payment or performance of the Performance
Obligations (including any waiver, release, surrender, alteration or
compromise); (b) shall not be subject to recoupment or termination; and (c)
shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of:
(i) any waiver, modification, extension or renewal or assignment of
all or any of the Vitro/Stiva Guaranty and the Performance Obligations (except
in the circumstances and to the extent described in Section 7);
(ii) the failure of the Guaranteed Party or of Vitrocrisa or of any
other person to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy or
to mitigate damages;
(iii) the furnishing or acceptance of any collateral or credit support
or the release of any collateral or credit support held by the Guaranteed Party
or any other person for all or any of the Performance Obligations;
(iv) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the
performance of the Performance Obligations by Vitrocrisa;
(v) any sale, transfer or other disposition, directly or indirectly,
by Guarantor of any interest in Vitrocrisa;
(vi) any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement,
composition, liquidation, dissolution or similar proceeding with respect to
Vitrocrisa (and
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therefore the Performance Obligations shall include post petition interest and
other obligations with respect to the Performance Obligations that would accrue
but for such proceedings); or
(vii) any other circumstance that might otherwise constitute a defense
available to, or a discharge of, Guarantor in respect of the Guaranty as a
matter of law or equity in each case, other than the payment or performance of
the Performance Obligations.
3. Guarantor's Waiver, Remedies; Subrogation. Except as provided in
Section 1(b), Guarantor hereby waives (i) notice of acceptance of this
Agreement; (ii) promptness, diligence, presentment and demand for performance;
(iii) protest and notice of dishonor or of default; (iv) any right, defense or
other benefit it may have with respect to this Agreement (including, without
limitation, any right to terminate, or to assert any defense to its performance
of its obligations under this Agreement) arising under any bankruptcy code; and
(v) any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a defense available
to it (other than a defense of performance) or a discharge of it other than as
set forth in Section 2(c)(vi) above. No failure on the part of the Guaranteed
Party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any rights hereunder shall
operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any such delay or any single or partial
exercise of any other right. The remedies herein provided are cumulative and not
exclusive of any remedies provided by law. The Guaranteed Party may assert a
claim against or seek reimbursement for payments it makes with respect to its
obligations under the Vitro/Stiva Agreement either from Vitrocrisa as provided
by the Vitro/Stiva Agreement or the Guarantor as provided by this Agreement, but
in no event shall the Guaranteed Party be entitled to reimbursement in excess of
(a) payments made by it to Stiva in satisfaction of its obligations under the
Vitro/Stiva Agreement, plus (b) such additional amounts as may be necessary to
reimburse the Guaranteed Party for all reasonable costs and expenses (including,
without limitation, reasonable legal fees) incurred to enforce this Agreement as
a result of any failure or inability of Guarantor to duly and punctually perform
its obligations under this Agreement.
If Guarantor makes a payment of any amount to Stiva as a consequence
of this Agreement, Guarantor will subrogate to Guaranteed Party in the recovery
rights against Vitrocrisa, pursuant to applicable legal terms. Guarantor shall
enforce or be entitled to enforce any reimbursement from Vitrocrisa in respect
of payments made by Guarantor hereunder. Nothing in this paragraph shall
restrict the right of Guarantor to ask for and receive from Vitrocrisa
distributions or other voluntary payments from Vitrocrisa.
4. Continuing Guaranty. The Guaranty is a present and continuing
guarantee of payment and performance and not of collection and, subject to the
terms and conditions set forth herein, is not conditional or contingent upon any
attempt to collect or obtain performance form Vitrocrisa. Guarantor waives any
right, as a condition to the enforcement of the Guaranty or the reimbursement
and indemnity obligations set forth herein, that any action or other proceeding
be brought against Vitrocrisa or any other
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person, that resort be made to any collateral or credit support held for
performance of the Performance Obligations or that any other remedy be exercised
against Vitrocrisa or any other person.
5. Representations and Warranties. Guarantor represents and warrants
to the Guaranteed Party that as of the Effective Date:
(a) Guarantor is a corporation validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the State of Delaware. Guarantor has the corporate power and
authority to own its property and assets, carry on its business as it is now
conducted and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement.
(b) This Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
action on the part of Guarantor and has been duly executed and delivered by
Guarantor, and the execution delivery and performance of this Agreement by
Guarantor do not and will not (i) require any approval of the stockholders of
Guarantor or any approval or consent of any trustee or holder of any
indebtedness or obligation of Guarantor, (ii) contravene any applicable law,
regulation, judgment, or order applicable to or binding on Guarantor or any of
its properties or assets, (iii) contravene Guarantor's charter or bylaws or (iv)
conflict with or, with or without notice or lapse of time of both, cause a
material breach or default under any indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, lease
or other agreement or instrument to which Guarantor is a party or by which
Guarantor or any of its properties or assets is bound.
(c) This Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation
of Guarantor, enforceable against Guarantor in accordance with the terms hereof,
except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws affecting the enforcement of
creditor's rights generally and by general principles of equity.
(d) There is no action, suit or proceeding pending or, to the
knowledge of Guarantor, threatened against Guarantor before or by any Federal,
state, municipal, foreign or other governmental authority, agency,
instrumentality, arbitrator or court that, if determined adversely to Guarantor,
would materially adversely affect the ability of Guarantor to perform its
obligations under this Agreement.
6. Rights and Powers. The Guaranteed Party may proceed, either in its
own name or otherwise, to protect and enforce any or all of its respective
rights under this Agreement in equity, at law or by other appropriate
proceedings, including for the specific performance of any covenants or
agreements contained in this Agreement, and shall be entitled to require and
enforce the performance of all acts and obligations required to be performed
hereunder by Guarantor.
7. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the
successors and assigns of Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the
successors and assigns of the Guaranteed Party.
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8. Term. Subject to Section 9 hereof, Guarantor's obligations under
this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect until the earlier of the
date on which (i) all of the Performance Obligations have been performed in full
or (ii) Vitro's obligations with respect to Vitrocrisa, under the Vitro/Stiva
Guaranty, are fully and unconditionally released; provided that such termination
shall not release Guarantor from the obligation to pay to the Guaranteed Party
any amounts which relate to (i) the Performance Obligations that have accrued
with respect to the period up to and including the date of termination of this
Agreement and (ii) claims pending as of the date of termination of this
Agreement that were previously asserted in accordance with Section 1.
9. Reinstatement. Guarantor agrees that this Agreement shall continue
to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or
any part thereof, of any Performance Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise
be restored by the Guaranteed Party or any other person upon the insolvency,
bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of Vitrocrisa or
otherwise. Guarantor shall not commence, or join in the commencement of, any
case under the Bankruptcy Code against Vitrocrisa.
10. Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given or made (and
shall be deemed to have been duly given or made upon receipt) by delivery in
person, by an internationally recognized overnight courier service, by facsimile
or registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to
the respective party at the following addresses (or at such other address for a
party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section
10):
(a) If to Vitro:
Av. Ricardo Margain Zozaya #440
Col. Valle del Campestre
San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon, 66265
Mexico
Attn: Director Juridico
Telephone No.: (5281) 8863-1200
Facsimile No.: (5281) 8863-1372
(b) If to Guarantor:
Libbey Inc.
300 Madison Avenue
Toledo, Ohio 43604
Attn: Richard I. Reynolds
Telephone No.: (419) 325-2100
Facsimile No.: (419) 325-2585
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SECTION 11. Severability. If any term or other provision of this
Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any law or
public policy, all other terms and provisions of this Agreement shall
nevertheless remain in full force and effect. Upon such determination that any
term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the
parties shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect
the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable
manner.
SECTION 12. Assignment. This Agreement may not be assigned by
operation of law or otherwise without the express written consent of Vitro and
Guarantor (which consent may not be unreasonably withheld), as the case may be.
SECTION 13. Amendments. This Agreement may not be amended or modified
except (a) by an instrument in writing signed by, or on behalf of, Vitro and
Guarantor or (b) by a waiver in accordance with Section 14.
SECTION 14. Waiver. Either Vitro or Guarantor may (a) extend the time
for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other party,
(b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of the other
party contained herein or in any document delivered by the other party pursuant
hereto or (c) waive compliance with any of the agreements of the other party or
conditions to such party's obligations contained herein. Any such extension or
waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by
the party to be bound thereby. Any waiver of any term or condition shall not be
construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach or a subsequent waiver of the
same term or condition, or a waiver of any other term or condition of this
Agreement. The failure of either Vitro or Guarantor to assert any of their
rights hereunder shall not constitute a waiver of any of such rights.
SECTION 15. Governing Law. This Agreement, and any disputes arising
hereunder, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the
applicable laws in the State of New York. All actions arising out of or relating
to this Agreement shall be heard and determined exclusively in any state or
federal court located in the city of New York, New York. Consistent with the
preceding sentence, the parties hereby (a) submit to the exclusive jurisdiction
of any federal or state court sitting in the city of New York, New York for the
purpose of any action arising out of or relating to this Agreement brought by
any party and (b) irrevocably waive, and agree not to assert by way of motion,
defense, or otherwise, in any such action, any claim that it is not subject
personally to the jurisdiction of the above-named courts, that its property is
exempt or immune from attachment or execution, that the action is brought in an
inconvenient forum, that the venue of the action is improper, that any other
forum would be more convenient or less burdensome, or that this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated herein may not be enforced in or by any of the
above-named courts.
SECTION 16. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and delivered
(including by facsimile transmission) in one or more counterparts, and by the
different parties in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be
deemed
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to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the
same agreement.
SECTION 17. Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Purchase
Agreement contain the final, complete and exclusive statement of the agreement
between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and all prior or
contemporaneous agreements with respect to the subject matter hereof are
superseded hereby.
(Signature page follows)
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this
Agreement as of the date first written above.
LIBBEY INC.
By
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Name:
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Title:
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VITRO, S.A. DE C.V.
By
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Name:
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Title:
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[Signature page to Stiva Guaranty Agreement]