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EXHIBIT 10.15A
GUARANTY
THIS GUARANTY (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated
or otherwise modified from time to time, this "GUARANTY") dated as of October
27, 1997 made by THE GEON COMPANY, a Delaware corporation (the "GUARANTOR"), in
favour of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (the "LENDER").
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS pursuant to a Credit Agreement dated as of the date
hereof (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise modified
from time to time, the "CREDIT AGREEMENT"), between the Borrower (as defined
below) and the Lender, the Lender has extended the Credit to the Borrower;
AND WHEREAS as a condition precedent to the making of the
initial Advance under the Credit Agreement, the Guarantor is required to execute
and deliver this Guaranty;
AND WHEREAS the Guarantor has duly authorized the execution,
delivery and performance of this Guaranty;
AND WHEREAS it is in the best interests of the Guarantor to
execute this Guaranty inasmuch as the Guarantor, as the beneficial owner of all
of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Borrower, will derive
substantial direct and indirect benefits from the granting of Accommodation made
from time to time to the Borrower by the Lender pursuant to the Credit
Agreement;
NOW THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the
receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, and in order to induce the Lender to
grant Accommodation pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Guarantor agrees, for
the benefit of the Lender, as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1 CERTAIN TERMS. The following terms (whether or not
underscored) when used in this Guaranty, including its preamble and recitals,
shall have the following meanings (such definitions to be equally applicable to
the singular and plural forms thereof):
"ACCRUED LIABILITIES" means, at any time, all Obligations which are (or
but for demand by the Lender (which the Lender is precluded from doing
by operation of law or court order)
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would be) due and payable by the Borrower to the Lender at the time in
accordance with the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement.
"AGREED CURRENCY" is defined in Section 2.10.
"BORROWER", means 1250828 Ontario Inc., a corporation existing under
the laws of the Province of Ontario, and its successors by amalgamation
or otherwise.
"CONTINGENT LIABILITIES" means all Obligations, other than the Accrued
Liabilities.
"CREDIT AGREEMENT" is defined in the FIRST RECITAL.
"GUARANTOR" is defined in the PREAMBLE.
"GUARANTY" is defined in the PREAMBLE.
"INTERCORPORATE INDEBTEDNESS" is defined in Section 2.8.
"JUDGMENT CURRENCY" is defined in Section 2.10.
"LENDER" is defined in the preamble and includes its successors and
assigns permitted under the Credit Agreement.
"OBLIGATIONS" means all indebtedness, liabilities and obligations of
the Borrower to the Lender arising under the Credit Agreement, whether
present or future, direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, matured
or not, at any time owing or remaining unpaid by the Borrower to the
Lender in any currency, including all principal, interest, commissions,
fees, reasonable fees and expenses, reasonable legal fees and other
out-of-pocket costs, indemnities, charges and expenses payable
thereunder.
"OTHER CURRENCY" is defined in Section 2.10.
"RATE OF EXCHANGE" is defined in Section 2.10.
"U.S. CREDIT AGREEMENT" means that certain credit agreement dated as of
August 16, 1994, among the Guarantor, Citibank, N.A. as administrative
agent, Nationsbank of North Carolina, N.A. as co-agent and the other
institutions noted therein. For greater certainty, the term "U.S.
Credit Agreement" as used herein shall include any amendments,
modifications, supplements, waivers or restatements to such agreement
only until such date as CIBC Inc. remains a lender to the Guarantor
pursuant to such agreement.
SECTION 1.2. CREDIT AGREEMENT DEFINITIONS. Unless otherwise
defined herein (and except for Article III hereof) or should the context
otherwise require, terms used in this
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Guaranty, including its preamble and recitals, have the meanings provided in the
Credit Agreement.
ARTICLE II
GUARANTY PROVISIONS
SECTION 2.1. GUARANTY. The Guarantor hereby absolutely, unconditionally
and irrevocably:
(a) guarantees the full and punctual payment when due in
accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement, whether at stated
maturity, by required prepayment, declaration, acceleration, demand or
otherwise, of all Obligations whether for principal, interest, fees,
expenses or otherwise; and
(b) indemnifies and holds harmless the Lender for any and all
reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including reasonable
attorney's fees and expenses) incurred by the Lender in enforcing any
rights under this Guaranty after the occurrence of an Event of Default
and (while such Event of Default in continuing) demand for payment of
all Accrued Liabilities is made hereunder;
PROVIDED HOWEVER, that the Guarantor shall be liable under this Guaranty for the
maximum amount of such liability that can be hereby incurred without rendering
this Guaranty, as it relates to the Guarantor, voidable under applicable law
relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any
greater amount. This Guaranty constitutes a guaranty of payment when due and not
of collection, and the Guarantor specifically agrees that it shall not be
necessary or required that the Lender exercise any right, assert any claim or
demand or enforce any remedy whatsoever against the Borrower (or any other
Person) before or as a condition to the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder.
SECTION 2.2. ACCELERATION OF GUARANTY. The Guarantor agrees that:
(a) in the event of an actual or deemed entry of an order for
relief with respect to the Guarantor under the United States Bankruptcy Code; or
(b) if an Event of Default referred to in Sections 8.01(e) or
(f) of the Credit Agreement occurs and is continuing and if such Event of
Default shall occur at a time when any of the Accrued Liabilities may not then
be due and payable,
the Guarantor agrees that it will pay to the Lender promptly following demand
the full amount which would be payable hereunder by the Guarantor in respect of
any Accrued Liabilities as if all such Accrued Liabilities were then due and
payable.
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SECTION 2.3. GUARANTY ABSOLUTE ETC. This Guaranty shall in all respects
be a continuing, absolute, unconditional and irrevocable guaranty of payment,
and shall remain in full force and effect until all Obligations have been paid
in full in cash, all obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall have been paid
in full in cash and the Credit has been terminated. The Guarantor guarantees
that the Obligations will be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of the
Credit Agreement, regardless of any law, regulation or order now or hereafter in
effect in any jurisdiction affecting any of such terms or the rights of the
Lender with respect thereto. The liability of the Guarantor under this Guaranty
shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable irrespective of:
(a) any lack of validity, legality or enforceability of the
Credit Agreement or any other Document other than this Guaranty;
(b) the failure of the Lender
(i) to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any
right or remedy against the Borrower or any other Person under
the provisions of the Credit Agreement and any other Document
or otherwise, or
(ii) to exercise any right or remedy against any
other guarantor of, or collateral securing, any Obligations:
(c) any change in the time, manner or place of payment of, or
in any other term of, all or any of the Obligations, or any other
extension, compromise or renewal of any Obligation;
(d) any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination of
the Obligations for any reason, other than payment, including any claim
of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise, and shall not
be subject to (and the Guarantor hereby waives any right to or claim
of) any defense or setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination
whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality, nongenuineness,
irregularity, compromise or unenforceability of, or any other similar
event or occurrence affecting the Obligations;
(e) any amendment to, rescission, waiver, or other
modification of, or any consent to departure from, any of the terms of
the Credit Agreement or any Document other than this Guaranty;
(f) any addition, exchange, release, surrender or
non-perfection of any collateral, or any amendment to or waiver or
release or addition of, or consent to departure from, any other
guaranty, held by the Lender securing any of the Obligations;
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(g) the insolvency of, or voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy,
assignment for the benefit of creditors, reorganization or other
similar proceedings affecting the Borrower or any of its assets; and
(h) any other circumstance (other than payment) which might
otherwise constitute a defense available to, or a legal or equitable
discharge of, the Borrower, any surety or any guarantor.
SECTION 2.4. REINSTATEMENT ETC. The Guarantor agrees that this Guaranty
shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any
time any payment (in whole or in part) of any of the Obligations is rescinded or
must otherwise be restored by the Lender, upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or
reorganization of the Borrower or otherwise, all as though such payment had not
been made.
SECTION 2.5. WAIVER, ETC. The Guarantor hereby waives promptness,
diligence, notice of acceptance and any other notice with respect to any of the
Obligations and this Guaranty and any requirement that the Lender protect,
secure, perfect or insure any security interest or lien, or any property subject
thereto, or exhaust any right or take any action against the Borrower or any
other Person or entity or any collateral securing the Obligations.
SECTION 2.6. POSTPONEMENT OF SUBROGATION, ETC. The Guarantor agrees
that it will not exercise any rights which it may acquire by way of rights of
subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, or indemnification, or any other right
to participate in any claim or remedy under this Guaranty, by any payment made
hereunder, until the payment in full in cash of all Accrued Liabilities demanded
under Section 2.1; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if:
(a) the Guarantor has made payment to the Lender of all
Accrued Liabilities demanded under Section 2.1, and
(b) all such Accrued Liabilities have been paid in full in
cash,
the Lender agrees that, at the Guarantor's request, the Lender will promptly
execute and deliver to the Guarantor appropriate documents (without recourse and
without representation or warranty, save that such Accrued Liabilities are due
and owing to the Lender and the Lender has not assigned or encumbered such
Accrued Liabilities) requested by the Guarantor to transfer to the Guarantor the
right to receive payment of the Accrued Liabilities so paid by the Guarantor.
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SECTION 2.7. SUCCESSORS, TRANSFEREES AND ASSIGNS. This
Guaranty shall:
(a) be binding upon the Guarantor, and its successors,
transferees and assigns; and
(b) inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Lender.
Without limiting the generality of CLAUSE (B), the Lender may, subject
to the terms of the Credit Agreement, assign or otherwise transfer (in
whole or in part) any or all of the Credit to any other Person or
entity, and such other Person or entity shall thereupon become vested
with all rights and benefits in respect thereof granted to the Lender
under this Guaranty.
SECTION 2.8. POSTPONEMENT.
(a) All obligations, liabilities and indebtedness, present
and future, of the Borrower to the Guarantor of any nature whatsoever
and all security therefor (the "INTERCORPORATE INDEBTEDNESS") are
hereby postponed to the Obligations; PROVIDED that, until the
occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default and notice by the
Lender to the Guarantor that its liability hereunder has become due and
payable, the Guarantor (subject to the terms and provisions of this
Guaranty) shall have the right to receive payments in respect of the
Intercorporate Indebtedness in accordance with the terms thereof.
(b) If the liabilities of the Guarantor hereunder become due
and payable, the Lender shall be entitled to receive payment of the
liabilities of the Guarantor hereunder then due and payable in full
before the Guarantor shall be entitled to receive any payment on
account of the Intercorporate Indebtedness. After notice by the Lender
to the Guarantor that the liabilities of the Guarantor hereunder have
become due and payable, and for so long as any such liabilities then
due and payable shall remain unpaid, the Guarantor shall not purport to
release or withdraw the Intercorporate Indebtedness.
SECTION 2.9. WITHHOLDING TAXES.
The Guarantor hereby agrees that:
(a) All payments by the Guarantor hereunder shall be made free
and clear of and without deduction for any present or future income,
excise, stamp or franchise taxes and other taxes, fees, duties,
withholdings or other charges of any nature whatsoever imposed by any
taxing authority, but excluding franchise taxes and taxes imposed on or
measured by the net income, capital or receipts of the Lender (such
non-excluded items being called "TAXES"). In the event that any
withholding or deduction from any payment to be made by the Guarantor
hereunder is required in respect of any Taxes pursuant to any
applicable law, rule or regulation, then the Guarantor will:
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(i) pay directly to the relevant authority the full
amount required to be so withheld or deducted;
(ii) promptly forward to the Lender an official
receipt or other documentation satisfactory to the Lender
evidencing such payment to such authority; and
(iii) pay to the Lender such additional amount or
amounts as is necessary to ensure that the net amount actually
received by the Lender will equal the full amount the Lender
would have received had no such withholding or deduction been
required.
Moreover, if any Taxes are directly asserted against the
Lender with respect to any payment received by the Lender hereunder, the Lender
may, after requesting the Guarantor to pay the same, allowing a reasonable time
for the Guarantor to do so and the lapse of such reasonable time without
payment, pay such Taxes and the Guarantor will promptly pay such additional
amounts (including any penalties, interest or expenses) as is necessary in order
that the net amount received by the Lender after the payment of such Taxes
(including any Taxes on such additional amount) shall equal the amount the
Lender would have received had such Taxes not been asserted.
(b) If the Guarantor fails to pay any Taxes when due to the
appropriate taxing authority or fails to remit to the Lender the
required receipts or other required documentary evidence, the Guarantor
shall indemnify the Lender for any incremental Taxes, interest or
penalties that may become payable by the Lender as a result of any such
failure.
(c) Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement
of the Guarantor hereunder, the agreements and obligations of the
Guarantor contained in this Section 2.9 shall survive the payment in
full of the Obligations.
(d) If the Lender receives payment from the Guarantor of any
Taxes pursuant to this Section 2.9 and the official receipts or other
documentation related thereto referred to in clause (a)(ii) above, the
Lender shall apply (provided that the Guarantor pays all costs and
expenses incurred by the Lender in connection with such application)
for a refund in respect of such Taxes to the extent it is entitled to
do so under applicable law and promptly pay such refund when received
to the Guarantor; provided, however, that the Guarantor agrees to
return such portion of such refund to the Lender promptly after it
receives notice from the Lender that the Lender is required to return
any portion of such refund to the relevant taxing authority. Nothing in
this clause shall be construed to require the Lender to disclose any of
its tax returns or other confidential or proprietary information to the
Guarantor or to conduct its business or to arrange or to alter in any
respect its tax or financial affairs so that it is entitled to receive
any refund of any Taxes.
SECTION 2.10. JUDGMENT CURRENCY.
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(a) The Guarantor hereby agrees that payments hereunder on
account of the Obligations shall be made in the currency agreed to
(the"AGREED CURRENCY")with respect to each such Obligation and if any
payment is received in another currency (the "OTHER CURRENCY"), such
payment shall constitute a discharge of the liability of the Guarantor
only to the extent of the amount of the Agreed Currency which the
Lender is able to purchase with the amount of the Other Currency
received by it on the Banking Day next following such receipt in
accordance with normal procedures and after deducting any out-of-pocket
costs of exchange.
(b) If, for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court in
any jurisdiction, it becomes necessary to convert into a particular
currency (the "JUDGMENT CURRENCY") any amount due in the Agreed
Currency, then the conversion shall be made on the basis of the rate of
exchange prevailing on the Banking Day next preceding the day on which
judgment is given. For the foregoing purposes "RATE OF EXCHANGE" means
the rate at which the Lender, in accordance with its normal banking
procedures, is able on the relevant date to purchase the Agreed
Currency with the Judgment Currency after deducting any out-of-pocket
costs of exchange.
(c) The obligation of the Guarantor in respect of any sum due
to the Lender hereunder shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a
currency other than the Agreed Currency, be discharged only to the
extent that on the Banking Day following receipt by the Lender of any
sum adjudged to be so due in such other currency, the Lender may, in
accordance with normal banking procedures, purchase the Agreed Currency
with such other currency after deducting any out-of-pocket costs of
exchange. In the event that the Agreed Currency so purchased is less
than the sum originally due to the Lender in the Agreed Currency, the
Guarantor, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such
judgment, hereby indemnifies and holds harmless the Lender against such
loss. In the event that the Agreed Currency so purchased is more than
the sum originally due, the Lender will refund the excess to the
Guarantor.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS
SECTION 3.1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The Guarantor
makes and gives the following representations and warranties to the Lender, upon
each of which the Lender has relied in entering into the Credit Agreement and in
accepting this Guaranty from the Guarantor. Each term used but not defined in
this Article III shall have the meanings provided in the U.S. Credit Agreement.
(a) The Guarantor is a corporation duly organized, validly
existing and in good
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standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.
(b) The execution, delivery and performance by the Guarantor
of this Guaranty and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby, are within the Guarantor's corporate powers, have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action, and do not contravene (i)
the Guarantor's charter or by-laws or (ii) any law or any contractual
restriction binding or affecting the Guarantor.
(c) No authorization or approval or other action by, and
notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body
or any other third party is required for the due execution, delivery
and performance by the Guarantor of this Guaranty.
(d) This Guaranty constitutes a legal, valid and binding
obligation on the Guarantor, enforceable against the Guarantor in
accordance with its terms (except as such enforceability may be limited
by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, re-organization or other similar
laws affecting creditors' rights generally and by principles of
equity).
(e) The Consolidated balance sheet of the Guarantor and its
Subsidiaries as at December 31, 1996, and the related Consolidated
statements of income and cash flows of the Guarantor and its
Subsidiaries for the fiscal year then ended, accompanied by an opinion
of Ernst & Young, independent public accountants, and the Consolidated
balance sheet of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries as at June 30, 1997
and the related Consolidated statements of income and cash flows of the
Guarantor and its Subsidiaries for the six months then ended, duly
certified by the Chief Financial Officer of the Guarantor, copies of
which have been furnished to the Lender, fairly present, subject, in
the case of said balance sheet as of June 30, 1997 and said statements
of income and cash flows for the six months then ended, to year end
audit adjustments, the Consolidated financial condition of the
Guarantor and its Subsidiaries as at such dates and the Consolidated
results of the operations of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries for the
periods ended on such dates, all in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles consistently applied. Since December 31, 1996,
there has been no Material Adverse Change (as defined in the Credit
Agreement).
(f) To the best of the Guarantor's knowledge, there is no
pending or threatened action, suit, investigation, litigation or
proceeding, including, without limitation any Environmental Action,
affecting the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries before any court,
governmental agency or arbitrator that (i) could be reasonably likely
to have a Material Adverse Effect other than the litigation identified
in Schedule A hereto or (ii) purports to affect the legality, validity
or enforceability of this Guaranty.
(g) It is not engaged in the business of extending credit for
the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning
of Regulation U issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System).
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(h) No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to
occur with respect to any Plan.
(i) Neither the Guarantor nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has
incurred or is reasonably expected to incur any Withdrawal Liability to
any Multiemployer Plan.
(j) Neither the Guarantor nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has
been notified by the sponsor of a Multiemployer Plan that such
Multiemployer Plan is in reorganization or has been terminated, within
the meaning of Title IV of ERISA, and no such Multiemployer Plan is
reasonably expected to be in reorganization or to be terminated, within
the meaning of Title IV of ERISA.
(k) Except as set forth in the financial statements referred
to in Section 3.1(e), the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries have no
material liability with respect to "expected post retirement benefit
obligations" within the meaning of Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 106.
(l) The operations and properties of the Guarantor and each of
its Subsidiaries comply in all material respects with all Environmental
Laws, all necessary Environmental Permits have been obtained and are in
effect for the operations and properties of the Guarantor and its
Subsidiaries, the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries are in compliance in
all material respects with all such Environmental Permits, and no
circumstances exist that could be reasonably likely to (i) form the
basis of an Environmental Action against the Guarantor or any of its
Subsidiaries or any of their properties that could have a Material
Adverse Effect or (ii) cause any such property to be subject to any
restrictions on ownership, occupancy, use or transferability under any
Environmental Law that could have a Material Adverse Effect.
(m) None of the properties currently or formerly owned or
operated by the Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries is listed or
proposed for listing on the National Priorities List under the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of
1980 ("NPL") or on the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Information System maintained by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency ("CERCLIS") or any analogous state list
of sites requiring investigation or cleanup, the listing, or proposed
listing of which would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse
Effect, except as described in the registration statement, Registration
No. 33-70998, declared effective by the Securities and Exchange
Commission on November 23, 1993 or, to the best knowledge of the
Guarantor, is adjacent to any such property.
(n) Except where noncompliance would not individually or in
the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect (i) neither the Guarantor
nor any of its Subsidiaries has transported or arranged for the
transportation of any Hazardous Materials to any location
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that is listed or proposed for listing on the NPL or on the CERCLIS or
any analogous state list, and (ii) all Hazardous Materials generated,
used, treated, handled or stored at or transported to or from any
property currently or formerly owned or operated by the Guarantor or
any of its Subsidiaries have been disposed of in compliance with all
Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits.
SECTION 3.2. COVENANTS. The Guarantor will, during the term
of this Guaranty:
(a) Comply, and cause each of its Subsidiaries (other than
Synergistics and, subsequent to the Amalgamation the Borrower (as each
such term is defined in the Credit Agreement)) to comply, in all
material respects, with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and
orders, such compliance to include, without limitation, compliance with
ERISA and Environmental Laws as provided in Section 3.2(j).
(b) Pay and discharge, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to
pay and discharge, before the same shall become delinquent, (i) all
taxes, assessments and governmental charges or levies imposed upon it
or upon its property and (ii) all lawful claims that, if unpaid, might
by law become a Lien upon its property; provided, however, that neither
the Guarantor nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to pay or
discharge any such tax, assessment, charge or claim that is being
contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and as to which
appropriate reserves are being maintained, unless and until any Lien
resulting therefrom attaches to its property and becomes enforceable
against its other creditors.
(c) Maintain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain,
insurance with responsible and reputable insurance companies or
associations in such amounts and covering such risks as is usually
carried by companies engaged in similar business and owning similar
properties in the same general areas in which the Guarantor or such
Subsidiary operates; provided, however, that the Guarantor and its
Subsidiaries may self-insure to the same extent as is consistent with
its past practice and to the extent consistent with prudent business
practice.
(d) Preserve and maintain, and cause each of its Subsidiaries
to preserve and maintain, its corporate existence, rights (charter and
statutory) and franchises; provided, however, that the Guarantor and
its Subsidiaries may consummate any merger or consolidation permitted
under Section 5.02(b) of the U.S. Credit Agreement; and provided that
the Borrower and Synergistics may consummate any Second Step
Transaction or an Amalgamation (as each such term is defined in the
Credit Agreement); and provided further that neither the Guarantor nor
any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to preserve any right or
franchise if the Board of Directors of the Guarantor or such Subsidiary
shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in
the conduct of the business of the Guarantor or such Subsidiary, as the
case may be, and that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any
material respect to the Guarantor, such Subsidiary or the lender
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under the U.S. Credit Agreement.
(e) At any reasonable time and from time to time, permit the
Lender or its agents or representatives thereof, to examine and make
copies of and abstracts from the records and books of account of, and
visit the properties of, the Guarantor, and to discuss the affairs,
finances and accounts of the Guarantor and any of its Subsidiaries with
any of the officers or directors of the Guarantor and with their
independent certified public accountants.
(f) Keep, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to keep, proper
books of record and account, in which full and correct entries shall be
made of all financial transactions and the assets and business of the
Guarantor and each such Subsidiary in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles in effect from time to time.
(g) Maintain and preserve, and cause each of its Subsidiaries
(other than Synergistics and, subsequent to the Amalgamation, the
Borrower (as each such term is defined in the Credit Agreement)) to
maintain and preserve, all of its properties that are used or useful in
the conduct of its business in good working order and condition,
ordinary wear and tear excepted.
(h) Conduct, and cause each of its Subsidiaries to conduct,
all transactions otherwise permitted under the U.S. Credit Agreement
with any of their Affiliates on terms that are fair and reasonable and
no less favourable to the Guarantor or such Subsidiary than it would
obtain in a comparable arm's-length transaction with a Person not an
Affiliate.
(i) Furnish to the Lender:
(i) as soon as available and in any event within 60
days after the end of each of the first three quarters of each
fiscal year of the Guarantor, Consolidated balance sheets of
the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries as of the end of such
quarter and Consolidated statements of income and cash flows
of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries for the period
commencing at the end of the previous fiscal year and ending
with the end of such quarter, duly certified (subject to
year-end audit adjustments) by the chief financial officer or
the controller of the Guarantor as having been prepared in
accordance with GAAP, it being agreed that delivery of the
Guarantor's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q will satisfy this
requirement;
(ii) as soon as available and in any event within 120
days after the end of each fiscal year of the Guarantor, a
copy of the annual audit report for such year for the
Guarantor and its Subsidiaries, containing Consolidated
balance sheets of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries as of the
end of such fiscal year and Consolidated statements of income
and cash flows of the Guarantor and its Subsidiaries for such
fiscal year, in each case accompanied by an opinion acceptable
to the Lender by
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Ernst & Young or other independent public accountants
acceptable to the Lender; and
(iii) such other information respecting the condition
or operations, financial or otherwise, of the Guarantor or any
of its Subsidiaries as the Lender may from time to time
reasonably request.
(j) Comply, and cause each of its Subsidiaries and all lessees
and other Persons operating or occupying it's properties to comply, in
all material respects, with all applicable Environmental Laws and
Environmental Permits; obtain and renew and cause each of its
Subsidiaries to obtain and renew all Environmental Permits necessary
for its operations and properties; and conduct, and cause each of its
Subsidiaries to conduct, any investigation, study, sampling and
testing, and undertake any cleanup, removal, remedial or other action
necessary to remove and clean up all Hazardous Materials from any of
its properties pursuant to the order of any regulatory authority and
generally in accordance with the requirements of all Environmental
Laws; provided, however, that neither the Guarantor nor any of its
Subsidiaries shall be required to undertake any such cleanup, removal,
remedial or other action to the extent that its obligations to do so is
being contested in good faith and by proper proceedings and appropriate
reserves are being maintained with respect to such circumstances.
ARTICLE IV
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 4.1. DOCUMENT. This Guaranty is a Document executed pursuant to
the Credit Agreement.
SECTION 4.2. INFORMATION. The Guarantor assumes all responsibility for
being and keeping itself informed of the Borrower's financial condition and
assets, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of
the Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks that the Guarantor
assumes and incurs hereunder, and agrees that the Lender will have no duty to
advise the Guarantor of information known to it regarding such circumstances or
risks.
SECTION 4.3. BINDING ON SUCCESSORS, TRANSFERRED ASSIGNS; ASSIGNMENT. In
addition to, and not in limitation of, Section 2.7, this Guaranty shall be
binding upon the Guarantor and its successors, transferees and assigns and shall
inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Lender and its successors,
transferees and assigns (to the full extent provided pursuant to Section 2.7);
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Guarantor may not delegate any of its obligations
hereunder without the prior written consent of the Lender, such consent not to
be unreasonably withheld, and any purported assignment in the absence of such
consent shall be void.
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SECTION 4.4. AMENDMENTS, ETC. No amendment to or waiver of any
provision of this Guaranty, nor consent to any departure by the Guarantor
herefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing
and signed by the Lender and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only
in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given.
SECTION 4.5. ADDRESSES FOR NOTICES TO THE GUARANTOR. Any notice or
communication to be given under this Guaranty to the Guarantor may be
effectively given by delivering the same to either the Guarantor at One Geon
Center, P.O. Box 122, Avon Lake, Ohio 44012, U.S.A., Attention: Jean M.
Miklosko, Treasurer or to the Guarantor c/o Fasken Campbell Godfrey, 4200 -
Toronto Dominion Bank Tower, Box 20, Toronto-Dominion Centre, Toronto, Ontario,
M5K 1N6, Attention: Jon J. Holmstrom, and marked URGENT or by sending the same
by prepaid registered mail to it at such address. Any notice so delivered or
mailed shall be effective when received. Any notice or communication to be given
under this Guaranty to the Lender shall be effective if given in accordance with
the provisions of the Credit Agreement as to the giving of notice to it, and the
Lender may change its address for notices in accordance with the said
provisions.
SECTION 4.6. NO WAIVER; REMEDIES. In addition to, and not in limitation
of, Sections 2.3 and 2.5, no failure on the part of the Lender to exercise, and
no delay in exercising, any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof;
nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right hereunder preclude any
other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right. No waiver
of any of such rights and no modification, amendment or discharge of this
Guaranty shall be deemed to be made by the Lender or shall be effective unless
the same shall be in a writing executed and delivered by the Lender and then
such waiver shall apply only with respect to the specific instance involved and
shall in no way impair the rights of the Lender or the obligations of the
Guarantor to the Lender in any other respect at any other time. The remedies
herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by
law.
SECTION 4.7. CAPTIONS. Captions used in this Guaranty are for
convenience of reference only, and shall not affect the construction of this
Guaranty.
SECTION 4.8. SETOFF. In addition to, and not in limitation of, any
rights of the Lender under applicable law, the Lender shall, upon the occurrence
and during the continuance of any Event of Default and after demand of all
Accrued Liabilities is made hereunder, have the right to appropriate and apply
to the payment of the obligations of the Guarantor owing to it hereunder,
whether or not then due any and all balances, credits, deposits, accounts or
moneys of the Guarantor then or thereafter maintained with the Lender, or any
agent or bailee for the Lender. The Lender agrees to promptly notify the
Guarantor after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to
give such notice shall not affect the validity of such setoff and application.
SECTION 4.9. SEVERABILITY. Wherever possible each provision of this
Guaranty shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under
applicable law, but if any provision of this Guaranty shall be prohibited by or
invalid under such law, such provision shall be ineffective to
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the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder
of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Guaranty.
SECTION 4.10. WAIVERS. The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance
of this Guaranty, notice of the creation, renewal or accrual of any of the
Obligations and notice or proof of reliance by the Lender upon this Guaranty,
and waives diligence, protest, notice of protest, presentment, demand of
payment, notice of dishonor or nonpayment of any of the Obligations, suit or
taking other action or making any demand against, and any other notice to the
Borrower or any other party liable thereon.
SECTION 4.11. VARIOUS MATTERS. So far as the Guarantor is concerned,
the Lender may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of, or
notice to the Guarantor, and without impairing or releasing any of the
obligations of the Guarantor hereunder, upon or without any terms or conditions
and in whole or in part:
(a) modify or change the manner, place or terms of, and/or
change or extend the time of payment of, renew or alter, any of the
Obligations, any security therefor, or any liability incurred directly
or indirectly in respect thereof, provided that such modification,
change, extension, renewal or alteration, or the manner in which it was
implemented, does not violate the provision of the Credit Agreement,
and this Guaranty shall apply to the Obligations as so modified,
changed, extended, renewed or altered;
(b) sell, exchange, release, surrender, realize upon or
otherwise deal with, in any manner and in any order, any property by
whomsoever at any time pledged or mortgaged to secure, or howsoever
securing the Obligations or any liabilities (including any of those
hereunder) incurred directly or indirectly in respect thereof or
hereof, and/or any offset or right with respect thereto;
(c) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the
Borrower or others;
(d) settle or compromise any of the Obligations, any security
therefor or any liability (including any of those hereunder) incurred
directly or indirectly in respect thereof or hereof, and subordinate
the payment of all or any part thereof to the payment of any liability
(whether due or not) of the Borrower to creditors of the Borrower other
than the Lender;
(e) apply any sums paid by or howsoever realized from any
Person (other than the Borrower or Guarantor) to any of the Obligations
regardless of what liability or liabilities of the Borrower remain
unpaid; provided however that any sums paid to the Lender by reason of
the Obligations shall be applied to satisfy the Obligations to the
extent paid; and
(f) amend or otherwise modify the Credit Agreement, consent to
or waive any
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breach of, or any act, omission or default or Event of Default under
the Credit Agreement, or any agreements, instruments or documents
referred to therein or executed and delivered pursuant thereto or in
connection therewith, and this Guaranty shall apply to the Obligations
as set forth in each of such documents as so amended and modified. Any
such action, shall not impair or release any of the obligations of the
Guarantor hereunder.
SECTION 4.12. SURVIVAL. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Guaranty, the liabilities of the Guarantor under this Guaranty in respect of the
Contingent Liabilities shall survive for a period of five years from the date
all principal and interest, fees and other Accrued Liabilities have been paid to
the Lender, whether pursuant to the Credit Agreement, this Guaranty or
otherwise.
SECTION 4.13. KNOWLEDGE. All provisions contained herein requiring the
Guarantor to make a determination or assessment of any event or circumstance or
other matter to the best of its knowledge shall be construed to represent the
actual knowledge of the President and Chief Executive Officer, Senior Vice
President Technology/Engineering, Senior Vice President Commercial, Vice
President Operations, Vice President General Counsel and Secretary and Chief
Financial Officer and Senior Vice President, Human Resources of the Guarantor,
after such individuals have made all inquiries and investigations as may be
reasonably necessary in the circumstances before making any such determination
or assessment.
SECTION 4.14. GOVERNING LAW. This Guaranty shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
SECTION 4.15. JURISDICTION, ETC.
(a) The Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally
submits, for itself and its property, to the non-exclusive jurisdiction
of any New York State court or Federal court of the United States of
America sitting in New York City, and any appellate court from any
thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this
Guaranty, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and the
Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims
in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined
in any such New York State court or, to the extent permitted by law, in
such Federal court. The Guarantor agrees that a final judgment in any
such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in
other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner
provided by law. Nothing in this Guaranty shall affect any right that
the Lender may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding
relating to this Guaranty in the courts of any jurisdiction.
(b) The Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally
waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any
objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of
any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this
Guaranty in any New York State or Federal court. The Guarantor hereby
irrevocably
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waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an
inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in
any such court.
SECTION 4.16. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. The Guarantor hereby irrevocably
waives all right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counter-claim
(whether based on contract, tort or otherwise) arising out of or relating to
this Guaranty or the actions of the Lender in the negotiation, administration or
enforcement thereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Guarantor has caused this Guaranty to be duly
executed and delivered by its officer thereunto duly authorized as of the date
first above written.
THE GEON COMPANY
By: /s/ Jean M. Miklosko
--------------------------------
Name: Jean M. Miklosko
Title: Treasurer