SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY AGREEMENT dated as of March 9, 2007

EX-10.4 5 dex104.htm SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY AGREEMENT DATED AS OF MARCH 9, 2007 Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement dated as of March 9, 2007

Exhibit 10.4

EXECUTION COPY

 


SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY AGREEMENT

dated as of March 9, 2007

by and among

CERTAIN SUBSIDIARIES OF CARROLS CORPORATION,

as Subsidiary Guarantors,

in favor of

WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Agent

 



TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page

ARTICLE I DEFINED TERMS

   1

SECTION 1.1

   Definitions    1

SECTION 1.2

   Other Definitional Provisions    2

ARTICLE II GUARANTY

   2

SECTION 2.1

   Subsidiary Guaranty    2

SECTION 2.2

   Bankruptcy Limitations on Subsidiary Guarantors    3

SECTION 2.3

   Agreements for Contribution    3

SECTION 2.4

   Nature of Subsidiary Guaranty    5

SECTION 2.5

   Waivers    6

SECTION 2.6

   Modification of Loan Documents, etc.    7

SECTION 2.7

   Demand by the Agent    8

SECTION 2.8

   Remedies    8

SECTION 2.9

   Benefits of Subsidiary Guaranty    8

SECTION 2.10

   Termination; Reinstatement    9

SECTION 2.11

   Payments    9

ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

   10

SECTION 3.1

   Organization; Power; Qualification    10

SECTION 3.2

   Authorization of Agreement; Enforceability    10

SECTION 3.3

   Title; Liens    10

SECTION 3.4

   Litigation    10

SECTION 3.5

   Solvency    11

ARTICLE IV MISCELLANEOUS

   11

SECTION 4.1

   Notices    11

SECTION 4.2

   Amendments in Writing    11

SECTION 4.3

   Expenses; Indemnification; Waiver of Consequential Damages, etc.    11

SECTION 4.4

   Right of Set-off    12

SECTION 4.5

   Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Venue; Service of Process    12

SECTION 4.6

   Waiver of Jury Trial    13

SECTION 4.7

   No Waiver by Course of Conduct, Cumulative Remedies    13

SECTION 4.8

   Successors and Assigns    14

SECTION 4.9

   Survival of Indemnities    14

SECTION 4.10

   Titles and Captions    14

SECTION 4.11

   Severability of Provisions    14

SECTION 4.12

   Counterparts, Integration and Effectiveness    14

SECTION 4.13

   Advice of Counsel, No Strict Construction    14

SECTION 4.14

   Acknowledgements    15

SECTION 4.15

   Releases    15

SECTION 4.16

   Additional Subsidiary Guarantors    15

 

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SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY AGREEMENT (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, this “Subsidiary Guaranty” or this “Agreement”), dated as of March 9, 2007, is made by certain Subsidiaries of CARROLS CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation, who are or may become a party hereto (such Subsidiaries, collectively, the “Subsidiary Guarantors”, each, a “Subsidiary Guarantor”), in favor of WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “Agent”) for the ratable benefit of itself and the Secured Parties.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

Pursuant to the terms of the Loan Agreement dated as of even date herewith (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Loan Agreement”) by and among Carrols Corporation, a Delaware corporation, as borrower (the “Borrower”), the financial institutions who are or may become party thereto (the “Lenders”) and the Agent, the Lenders have agreed to make extensions of credit to the Borrower upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein.

The Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors, though separate legal entities, comprise one integrated financial enterprise, and all extensions of credit to the Borrower will inure, directly or indirectly to the benefit of each of the Subsidiary Guarantors.

It is a condition precedent to the obligation of the Lenders to make their respective extensions of credit to the Borrower under the Loan Agreement that the Subsidiary Guarantors shall have executed and delivered this Subsidiary Guaranty to the Agent, for the ratable benefit of itself and the Secured Parties.

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the parties hereto, and to induce the Agent and the Lenders to enter into the Loan Agreement and to induce the Lenders to make their respective extensions of credit to the Borrower thereunder, the Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agree with the Agent, for the ratable benefit of itself and the Secured Parties, as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINED TERMS

SECTION 1.1 Definitions. The following terms when used in this Subsidiary Guaranty shall have the meanings assigned to them below:

Applicable Insolvency Laws” means all Legal Requirements governing bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debts, relief of debtors, dissolution, insolvency, fraudulent transfers or conveyances or other similar laws (including, without limitation, 11 U.S.C. Sections 544, 547, 548 and 550 and other “avoidance” provisions of Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended or supplemented).

Guaranteed Obligations” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.

Parent” means Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

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Secured Parties” means the Agent, each Lender and any counterparty to an Interest Rate Risk Agreement that is a Lender or an Affiliate of a Lender at the time such Interest Rate Risk Agreement is executed.

Subsidiary Guaranty” means this Subsidiary Guaranty Agreement, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified.

SECTION 1.2 Other Definitional Provisions. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined in this Subsidiary Guaranty including the preambles and recitals hereof shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Loan Agreement. In the event of a conflict between capitalized terms defined herein and in the Loan Agreement, the Loan Agreement shall control. The words “hereof,” “herein”, “hereto” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Subsidiary Guaranty shall refer to this Subsidiary Guaranty as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Subsidiary Guaranty, and Section references are to this Subsidiary Guaranty unless otherwise specified. The meanings given to terms defined herein shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms. Where the context requires, terms relating to the Collateral or any part thereof, when used in relation to a Subsidiary Guarantor, shall refer to such Subsidiary Guarantor’s Collateral or the relevant part thereof.

ARTICLE II

GUARANTY

SECTION 2.1 Subsidiary Guaranty. Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby, jointly and severally with the other Subsidiary Guarantors, unconditionally guarantees to the Agent for the ratable benefit of itself and the Secured Parties, and their respective permitted successors, endorsees, transferees and assigns, the prompt payment and performance of:

(a) all Obligations of the Borrower; and

(b) all liabilities and obligations of the Parent and each of its Subsidiaries with respect to overdrafts, returned items and related liabilities and all indemnification obligations under the Loan Documents now or hereafter owing by any such Person to the Agent or any Lender arising from or in connection with treasury, depositary or cash management services or in connection with any automated clearinghouse transfer of funds for the benefit of such Person, in each case, whether primary or secondary (whether by way of endorsement or otherwise), whether now existing or hereafter arising, whether or not from time to time reduced or extinguished (except by payment thereof) or hereafter increased or incurred, whether enforceable or unenforceable as against the Borrower, whether or not discharged, stayed or otherwise affected by any Applicable Insolvency Law or proceeding thereunder, whether created directly with the Agent or any Secured Party or acquired by the Agent or any Secured Party through assignment or endorsement or otherwise, whether matured or unmatured, whether joint or several, as and when the same become due and payable (whether at maturity or earlier, by reason of acceleration, mandatory repayment or otherwise), in accordance with the terms of any such instruments evidencing any such obligations, including all renewals, extensions or modifications thereof (all Obligations of the Borrower, including all of the foregoing being hereafter collectively referred to as the “Guaranteed Obligations”).

 

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SECTION 2.2 Bankruptcy Limitations on Subsidiary Guarantors. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 2.1, it is the intention of each Subsidiary Guarantor and the Secured Parties that, in any proceeding involving the bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment of debts, relief of debtors, dissolution or insolvency or any similar proceeding with respect to any Subsidiary Guarantor or its assets, the amount of such Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations shall be equal to, but not in excess of, the maximum amount thereof not subject to avoidance or recovery by operation of Applicable Insolvency Laws after giving effect to Section 2.3(a). To that end, but only in the event and to the extent that after giving effect to Section 2.3(a) such Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations or any payment made pursuant to such Guaranteed Obligations would, but for the operation of the first sentence of this Section 2.2, be subject to avoidance or recovery in any such proceeding under Applicable Insolvency Laws after giving effect to Section 2.3(a), the amount of such Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations shall be limited to the largest amount which, after giving effect thereto, would not, under Applicable Insolvency Laws, render such Subsidiary Guarantor’s obligations with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations unenforceable or avoidable or otherwise subject to recovery under Applicable Insolvency Laws. To the extent any payment actually made pursuant to the Guaranteed Obligations exceeds the limitation of the first sentence of this Section 2.2 and is otherwise subject to avoidance and recovery in any such proceeding under Applicable Insolvency Laws, the amount subject to avoidance shall in all events be limited to the amount by which such actual payment exceeds such limitation and the Guaranteed Obligations as limited by the first sentence of this Section 2.2 shall in all events remain in full force and effect and be fully enforceable against such Subsidiary Guarantor. The first sentence of this Section 2.2 is intended solely to preserve the rights of the Agent hereunder against such Subsidiary Guarantor in such proceeding to the maximum extent permitted by Applicable Insolvency Laws and neither such Subsidiary Guarantor, the Borrower, any other Subsidiary Guarantor nor any other Person shall have any right or claim under such sentence that would not otherwise be available under Applicable Insolvency Laws in such proceeding.

SECTION 2.3 Agreements for Contribution.

(a) The Subsidiary Guarantors hereby agree among themselves that, if any Subsidiary Guarantor shall make an Excess Payment (as defined below), such Subsidiary Guarantor shall have a right of contribution from each other Subsidiary Guarantor in an amount equal to such other Subsidiary Guarantor’s Contribution Share (as defined below) of such Excess Payment. The payment obligations of any Subsidiary Guarantor under this Section 2.3(a) shall be subordinate and subject in right of payment to the Guaranteed Obligations until such time as the Guaranteed Obligations have been paid in full, and none of the Subsidiary Guarantors shall exercise any right or remedy under this Section 2.3(a) against any other Subsidiary Guarantor until such Guaranteed Obligations have been paid in full. For purposes of this Section 2.3(a):

(i) “Excess Payment” shall mean the amount paid by any Subsidiary Guarantor in excess of its Ratable Share of any Guaranteed Obligations;

 

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(ii) “Ratable Share” shall mean, for any Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of any payment of Guaranteed Obligations, the ratio (expressed as a percentage) as of the date of such payment of Guaranteed Obligations of:

(A) the amount by which the aggregate present fair salable value of all of its assets and properties exceeds the amount of all debts and liabilities of such Subsidiary Guarantor (including probable contingent, subordinated, unmatured, and unliquidated liabilities, but excluding the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder), to

(B) the amount by which the aggregate present fair salable value of all assets and other properties of all of the Subsidiary Guarantors exceeds the amount of all of the debts and liabilities (including probable contingent, subordinated, unmatured, and unliquidated liabilities, but excluding the obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereunder) of the Subsidiary Guarantors;

provided, however, that, for purposes of calculating the Ratable Shares of the Subsidiary Guarantors in respect of any payment of Guaranteed Obligations, any Subsidiary Guarantor that became a Subsidiary Guarantor subsequent to the date of any such payment shall be deemed to have been a Subsidiary Guarantor on the date of such payment and the financial information for such Subsidiary Guarantor as of the date such Subsidiary Guarantor became a Subsidiary Guarantor shall be utilized for such Subsidiary Guarantor in connection with such payment; and

(iii) “Contribution Share” shall mean, for any Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of any Excess Payment made by any other Subsidiary Guarantor, the ratio (expressed as a percentage) as of the date of such Excess Payment of:

(A) the amount by which the aggregate present fair salable value of all of its assets and properties exceeds the amount of all debts and liabilities of such Subsidiary Guarantor (including probable contingent, subordinated, unmatured, and unliquidated liabilities, but excluding the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder), to

(B) the amount by which the aggregate present fair salable value of all assets and other properties of the Subsidiary Guarantors other than the maker of such Excess Payment exceeds the amount of all of the debts and liabilities (including probable contingent, subordinated, unmatured, and unliquidated liabilities, but excluding the obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors) of the Subsidiary Guarantors other than the maker of such Excess Payment;

provided, however, that, for purposes of calculating the Contribution Shares of the Subsidiary Guarantors in respect of any Excess Payment, any Subsidiary Guarantor that became a Subsidiary Guarantor subsequent to the date of any such Excess Payment shall be deemed to have been a Subsidiary Guarantor on the date of such Excess Payment and the financial information for such Subsidiary Guarantor as of the date such Subsidiary Guarantor became a Subsidiary Guarantor shall be utilized for such Subsidiary Guarantor in connection with such Excess Payment.

 

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Each of the Subsidiary Guarantors recognizes and acknowledges that the rights to contribution arising hereunder shall constitute an asset in favor of the party entitled to such contribution. This Section 2.3 shall not be deemed to affect any right of subrogation, indemnity, reimbursement or contribution that any Subsidiary Guarantor may have under any Legal Requirement against the Borrower in respect of any payment of Guaranteed Obligations.

(b) No Subrogation. Notwithstanding any payment or payments by any of the Subsidiary Guarantors hereunder, or any set-off or application of funds of any of the Subsidiary Guarantors by the Agent or any Secured Party, or the receipt of any amounts by the Agent or any Secured Party with respect to any of the Guaranteed Obligations, none of the Subsidiary Guarantors shall be entitled to be subrogated to any of the rights of the Agent or any Secured Party against the Borrower, any of the other Subsidiary Guarantors, the Parent or any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations or against any collateral security held by the Agent or any Secured Party for the payment of the Guaranteed Obligations, nor shall any of the Subsidiary Guarantors seek any reimbursement from the Borrower, any of the other Subsidiary Guarantors, the Parent or any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations in respect of payments made by such Subsidiary Guarantor in connection with the Guaranteed Obligations, until all amounts owing to the Agent and the Secured Parties on account of the Guaranteed Obligations are paid in full and the Revolving Loan Commitments are terminated. If any amount shall be paid to any Subsidiary Guarantor on account of such subrogation rights at any time when all of the Guaranteed Obligations shall not have been paid in full or the Revolving Loan Commitments are not terminated, such amount shall be held by such Subsidiary Guarantor in trust for the Agent, segregated from other funds of such Subsidiary Guarantor, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such Subsidiary Guarantor, be turned over to the Agent in the exact form received by such Subsidiary Guarantor (duly endorsed by such Subsidiary Guarantor to the Agent, if required) to be applied against the Guaranteed Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in such order as set forth in the Loan Agreement.

SECTION 2.4 Nature of Subsidiary Guaranty.

(a) Each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees that this Subsidiary Guaranty is a continuing, unconditional guaranty of payment and performance and not of collection, and that its obligations under this Subsidiary Guaranty shall be primary, absolute and unconditional, irrespective of, and unaffected by:

(i) the genuineness, validity, regularity, enforceability or any future amendment of, or change in, the Loan Agreement or any other Loan Document or any other agreement, document or instrument to which the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor is or may become a party;

(ii) the absence of any action to enforce this Subsidiary Guaranty, the Loan Agreement or any other Loan Document or the waiver or consent by the Agent or any Secured Party with respect to any of the provisions of this Subsidiary Guaranty, the Loan Agreement or any other Loan Document;

 

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(iii) the existence, value or condition of, or failure to perfect its Lien against, any security for or other guaranty of the Guaranteed Obligations or any action, or the absence of any action, by the Agent or any Secured Party in respect of such security or guaranty (including, without limitation, the release of any such security or guaranty); or

(iv) any other action or circumstances which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a surety or guarantor;

it being agreed by each Subsidiary Guarantor that, subject to the first sentence of Section 2.2, its obligations under this Subsidiary Guaranty shall not be discharged until the final indefeasible payment and performance, in full, of all of the Guaranteed Obligations and the termination of the Revolving Loan Commitments.

(b) Each Subsidiary Guarantor represents, warrants and agrees that its obligations under this Subsidiary Guaranty are not and shall not be subject to any counterclaims, offsets or defenses of any kind (other than the defense of payment) against the Agent, any Secured Party or the Borrower whether now existing or which may arise in the future.

(c) Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby agrees and acknowledges that the Guaranteed Obligations, and any of them, shall conclusively be deemed to have been created, contracted or incurred, or renewed, extended, amended or waived, in reliance upon this Subsidiary Guaranty, and all dealings between the Borrower and any of the Subsidiary Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Agent and the Secured Parties, on the other hand, likewise shall be conclusively presumed to have been had or consummated in reliance upon this Subsidiary Guaranty.

SECTION 2.5 Waivers. To the extent permitted by law, each Subsidiary Guarantor expressly waives all of the following rights and defenses (and agrees not to take advantage of or assert any such right or defense):

(a) any rights it may now or in the future have under any statute, or at law or in equity, or otherwise, to compel the Agent or any Lender to proceed in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations against the Borrower or any other Person or against any security for or other guaranty of the payment and performance of the Guaranteed Obligations before proceeding against, or as a condition to proceeding against, such Subsidiary Guarantor;

(b) any defense based upon the failure of the Agent or any Secured Party to commence an action in respect of the Guaranteed Obligations against the Borrower, any of the other Subsidiary Guarantors, the Parent, any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations or any other Person or any security for the payment and performance of the Guaranteed Obligations;

(c) any right to insist upon, plead or in any manner whatever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any appraisal, valuation, stay, extension, marshalling of assets or redemption laws, or exemption, whether now or at any time hereafter in force, which may delay, prevent or otherwise affect the performance by such Subsidiary Guarantor of its obligations under, or the enforcement by the Agent or the Secured Parties of this Subsidiary Guaranty;

 

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(d) any right of diligence, presentment, demand, protest and notice (except as specifically required herein) of whatever kind or nature with respect to any of the Guaranteed Obligations and waives, to the extent permitted by any Legal Requirement, the benefit of all provisions of law which are or might be in conflict with the terms of this Subsidiary Guaranty; and

(e) any and all right to notice of the creation, renewal, extension or accrual of any of the Guaranteed Obligations and notice of or proof of reliance by the Agent or any Secured Party upon, or acceptance of, this Subsidiary Guaranty.

Each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees that any notice or directive given at any time to the Agent or any Secured Party which is inconsistent with any of the foregoing waivers shall be null and void and may be ignored by the Agent or such Secured Party, and, in addition, may not be pleaded or introduced as evidence in any litigation relating to this Subsidiary Guaranty for the reason that such pleading or introduction would be at variance with the written terms of this Subsidiary Guaranty, unless the Agent and the Majority Lenders have specifically agreed otherwise in writing. The foregoing waivers are of the essence of the transaction contemplated by the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents and, but for this Subsidiary Guaranty and such waivers, the Agent and Lenders would decline to enter into the Loan Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

SECTION 2.6 Modification of Loan Documents, etc. Neither the Agent nor any Secured Party shall incur any liability to any Subsidiary Guarantor as a result of any of the following, and none of the following shall impair or release this Subsidiary Guaranty or any of the obligations of any Subsidiary Guarantor under this Subsidiary Guaranty:

(a) any change or extension of the manner, place or terms of payment of, or renewal or alteration of all or any portion of, the Guaranteed Obligations;

(b) any action under or in respect of the Loan Agreement or the other Loan Documents in the exercise of any remedy, power or privilege contained therein or available to any of them at law, in equity or otherwise, or waiver or refraining from exercising any such remedies, powers or privileges;

(c) any amendment to, or modification of, in any manner whatsoever, the Loan Documents;

(d) any extension or waiver of the time for performance by any Subsidiary Guarantor, the Parent, any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations, the Borrower or any other Person of, or compliance with, any term, covenant or agreement on its part to be performed or observed under a Loan Document, or waiver of such performance or compliance or consent to a failure of, or departure from, such performance or compliance;

(e) the taking and holding security or collateral for the payment of the Guaranteed Obligations or the sale, exchange, release, disposal of, or other dealing with, any property pledged, mortgaged or conveyed, or in which the Agent or the Secured Parties have been granted a Lien, to secure any debt of any Subsidiary Guarantor, the Parent, any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations or the Borrower to the Agent or the Secured Parties;

 

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(f) the release of anyone who may be liable in any manner for the payment of any amounts owed by any Subsidiary Guarantor, the Parent, any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations or the Borrower to the Agent or any Secured Party;

(g) any modification or termination of the terms of any intercreditor or subordination agreement pursuant to which claims of other creditors of any Subsidiary Guarantor, the Parent, any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations or the Borrower are subordinated to the claims of the Agent or any Secured Party; or

(h) any application of any sums by whomever paid or however realized to any Guaranteed Obligations owing by any Subsidiary Guarantor, the Parent, any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations or the Borrower to the Agent or any Secured Party in such manner as the Agent or any Secured Party shall determine in its reasonable discretion.

SECTION 2.7 Demand by the Agent. In addition to the terms set forth in this Article II and in no manner imposing any limitation on such terms, if all or any portion of the then outstanding Guaranteed Obligations are declared to be immediately due and payable, then the Subsidiary Guarantors shall, upon demand in writing therefor by the Agent to the Subsidiary Guarantors, pay all or such portion of the outstanding Guaranteed Obligations due hereunder then declared due and payable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees that, in the event of the dissolution or insolvency of the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor, or the inability or failure of the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor to pay debts as they become due, or an assignment by the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor for the benefit of creditors, or the commencement of any case or proceeding in respect of the Parent, the Borrower or any Subsidiary Guarantor under bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws, and if such event shall occur at a time when any of the Guaranteed Obligations may not then be due and payable, each Subsidiary Guarantor will pay to the Agent, for the ratable benefit of the other Secured Parties and their respective successors, indorsees, transferees and assigns, forthwith the full amount which would be payable hereunder by each Subsidiary Guarantor if all such Guaranteed Obligations were then due and payable.

SECTION 2.8 Remedies. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, with the consent of the Majority Lenders, the Agent may, or upon the request of the Majority Lenders, the Agent shall, enforce against the Subsidiary Guarantors their obligations and liabilities hereunder and exercise such other rights and remedies as may be available to the Agent hereunder, under the Loan Agreement or the other Loan Documents or otherwise.

SECTION 2.9 Benefits of Subsidiary Guaranty. The provisions of this Subsidiary Guaranty are for the benefit of the Agent and the Secured Parties and their respective permitted successors, transferees, endorsees and assigns, and nothing herein contained shall impair, as between the Borrower, the Agent and the Secured Parties, the obligations of the Borrower under the Loan Documents. In the event all or any part of the Obligations are transferred, endorsed or assigned by the Agent or any Secured Party to any Person or Persons as permitted under the Loan Agreement, any reference to an “Agent”, or “Secured Party” herein shall be deemed to refer equally to such Person or Persons.

 

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SECTION 2.10 Termination; Reinstatement

(a) Subject to clause (c) below, this Subsidiary Guaranty shall remain in full force and effect until all the Guaranteed Obligations and all the obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors shall have been paid in full and the Revolving Loan Commitments terminated.

(b) No payment made by the Borrower, any Subsidiary Guarantor, the Parent, any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations or any other Person received or collected by the Agent or any Secured Party from the Borrower, any Subsidiary Guarantor, the Parent, any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations or any other Person by virtue of any action or proceeding or any set-off or appropriation or application at any time or from time to time in reduction of or in payment of the Guaranteed Obligations shall be deemed to modify, reduce, release or otherwise affect the liability of any Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder which shall, notwithstanding any such payment (other than any payment made by such Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors or any payment received or collected from such Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors), remain liable for the obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors up to the maximum liability of such Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder until the Guaranteed Obligations and all the obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantors shall have been paid in full and the Revolving Loan Commitments terminated.

(c) Each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees that, if any payment made by the Borrower, the Parent, any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations or any other Person applied to the Guaranteed Obligations is at any time annulled, set aside, rescinded, invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential or otherwise required to be refunded or repaid, or is repaid in whole or in part pursuant to a good faith settlement of a pending or threatened claim, or the proceeds of any Collateral are required to be refunded by the Agent or any Secured Party to the Borrower, its estate, trustee, receiver, the Parent, any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations or any other Person, including, without limitation, any Subsidiary Guarantor, under any Legal Requirement or equitable cause, then, to the extent of such payment or repayment, each Subsidiary Guarantor’s liability hereunder (and any Lien or Collateral securing such liability) shall be and remain in full force and effect, as fully as if such payment had never been made, and, if prior thereto, this Subsidiary Guaranty shall have been canceled or surrendered (and if any Lien or Collateral securing such Subsidiary Guarantor’s liability hereunder shall have been released or terminated by virtue of such cancellation or surrender), this Subsidiary Guaranty (and such Lien or Collateral) shall be reinstated in full force and effect, and such prior cancellation or surrender shall not diminish, release, discharge, impair or otherwise affect the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor in respect of the amount of such payment (or any Lien or Collateral securing such obligation).

SECTION 2.11 Payments. Payments by the Subsidiary Guarantors shall be made to the Agent, to be credited and applied to the Guaranteed Obligations in accordance with the terms of the Loan Agreement, in immediately available Dollars to an account designated by the Agent or at the Agent’s Principal Office or at any other address that may be specified in writing from time to time by the Agent.

 

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ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

To induce the Agent and the Lenders to make any extensions of credit, each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby represents and warrants that:

SECTION 3.1 Organization; Power; Qualification. Such Subsidiary Guarantor (a) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization; (b) has all necessary power and authority to conduct its business as presently conducted, and (c) is duly qualified to do business and in good standing in all jurisdictions in which the failure to so qualify could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations or Properties of such Subsidiary Guarantor.

SECTION 3.2 Authorization of Agreement; Enforceability. This Subsidiary Guaranty is a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Subsidiary Guarantor, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency and other similar laws and judicial decisions affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles. The execution, delivery and performance of this Subsidiary Guaranty (a) have all been duly authorized by all necessary action; (b) are within the power and authority of such Subsidiary Guarantor; (c) do not and will not contravene or violate any Legal Requirement applicable to such Subsidiary Guarantor or the Organizational Documents of such Subsidiary Guarantor, the contravention or violation of which could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations or Properties of such Subsidiary Guarantor; (d) do not and will not result in the breach of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument by which such Subsidiary Guarantor or any of its Property may be bound, and (e) do not and will not result in the creation of any Lien upon any Property of any Subsidiary Guarantor, except in favor of Agent or as expressly contemplated therein. All necessary permits, registrations and consents for such making and performance have been obtained. Except as otherwise expressly stated in the Security Documents, the Liens of the Security Documents, will constitute valid and perfected first and prior Liens on the Property described therein, subject to no other Liens whatsoever except Permitted Liens.

SECTION 3.3 Title; Liens. Such Subsidiary Guarantor has good and marketable title to the Collateral pledged (or purported to be pledged) thereby pursuant to the Security Documents, free and clear of all Liens except Permitted Liens.

SECTION 3.4 Litigation. Except as disclosed in the Parent’s or the Borrower’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or prior to December 15, 2006, there is no litigation or administrative proceeding, to the knowledge of any executive officer of such Subsidiary Guarantor, pending or threatened against, nor any outstanding judgment, order or decree against, such Subsidiary Guarantor before or by any Governmental Authority which does or could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations or Properties of such Subsidiary Guarantor or on the ability of such Subsidiary Guarantor to perform its respective obligations under any Loan Document to which it is a party. Such Subsidiary Guarantor is not in default with respect to any judgment,

 

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order or decree of any Governmental Authority where such default would have a material adverse effect on the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations or Properties of such Subsidiary Guarantor.

SECTION 3.5 Solvency. Such Subsidiary Guarantor is not “insolvent,” as such term is used and defined in (a) the Bankruptcy Code and (b) the fraudulent conveyance statutes of the State of New York or of any jurisdiction in which any of the Collateral may be located.

ARTICLE IV

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 4.1 Notices. All notices and communications hereunder shall be given to the addresses and otherwise made in accordance with Section 11.2 of the Loan Agreement; provided that notices and communications to the Subsidiary Guarantors shall be directed to the Subsidiary Guarantors, at the address of the Borrower set forth on Schedule 1.1 of the Loan Agreement.

SECTION 4.2 Amendments in Writing. None of the terms or provisions of this Subsidiary Guaranty may be waived, amended, supplemented or otherwise modified except in accordance with Section 11.5 of the Loan Agreement.

SECTION 4.3 Expenses; Indemnification; Waiver of Consequential Damages, etc.

(a) Each Subsidiary Guarantor jointly and severally agrees to pay or reimburse each Secured Party and the Agent for all its costs and expenses incurred in connection with enforcing or preserving any rights under this Subsidiary Guaranty and the other Loan Documents to which such Subsidiary Guarantor is a party, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel (including the reasonable allocated fees and expenses of in-house counsel) to each Secured Party and of counsel to the Agent.

(b) Each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees to pay, and to save the Agent and the Secured Parties harmless from, any and all liabilities with respect to, or resulting from any such Subsidiary Guarantor’s delay in paying, any and all stamp, excise, sales or other taxes which may be payable or determined to be payable in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Subsidiary Guaranty.

(c) Each Subsidiary Guarantor agrees to pay, and to save the Agent and the Secured Parties harmless from any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, costs and expenses in connection with actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever with respect to the execution, delivery, enforcement, performance and administration of this Subsidiary Guaranty to the extent the Borrower would be required to do so pursuant to Section 11.4 of the Loan Agreement.

(d) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Subsidiary Guarantor shall not assert, and hereby waives, any claim against any indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages)

 

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arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Subsidiary Guaranty, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby. No indemnitee referred to in this Section 4.3 shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed by it through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Subsidiary Guaranty or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

(e) All amounts due under this Section shall be payable promptly after demand therefor.

SECTION 4.4 Right of Set-off. Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of Default, each Secured Party and each of their respective Affiliates is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, without notice to any Subsidiary Guarantor or any other Obligor (any such notice being expressly waived by the Borrower and the other Obligors), to setoff and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final but excluding the funds held in accounts clearly designated as escrow or trust accounts held by any Subsidiary Guarantor for the benefit of Persons which are not Affiliates of any Subsidiary Guarantor, whether or not such setoff results in any loss of interest or other penalty, and including without limitation all certificates of deposit) at any time held, and any other funds or Property at any time held, and other Indebtedness at any time owing by such Secured Party or any such Affiliate to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower or any other Obligor against any and all of the Guaranteed Obligations irrespective of whether or not such Secured Party will have made any demand under the Loan Agreement, this Agreement, the Notes or any other Loan Document and although such obligations of the Subsidiary Guarantor may be contingent or unmatured or are owed to a branch or office of such Secured Party different from the branch or office holding such deposit or obligated on such indebtedness. Should the right of any Secured Party to realize funds in any manner set forth hereinabove be challenged and any application of such funds be reversed, whether by court order or otherwise, the Secured Parties shall make restitution or refund to the Borrower pro rata in accordance with their (or their Affiliates’) Revolving Loan Commitments. Each Secured Party agrees to promptly notify the Borrower, on behalf of itself and the other Obligors, and the Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, after any such setoff and application, provided that the failure to give such notice will not affect the validity of such setoff and application. The rights of the Agent and the Secured Parties and their respective Affiliates under this Section are in addition to other rights and remedies (including without limitation other rights of setoff) which the Agent or the Secured Parties may have. This Section is subject to the terms and provisions of Sections 4.5 and 11.8 of the Loan Agreement.

SECTION 4.5 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Venue; Service of Process.

(a) Governing Law. This Subsidiary Guaranty shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York, including Section 5-1401 and Section 5-1402 of the General Obligations Law of the State of New York, without reference to the conflicts of law principles thereof.

(b) Submission to Jurisdiction. Each Subsidiary Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the courts

 

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of the State of New York sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, New York and of the United States District Court of the Borough of Manhattan, New York, and any appellate court from any thereof, in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Subsidiary Guaranty or any other Loan Document, or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York state court or, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, in such Federal court. Each of the parties hereto 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 Subsidiary Guaranty or in any other Loan Document shall affect any right that the Agent or any Secured Party may otherwise have to bring any action or proceeding relating to this Subsidiary Guaranty or any other Loan Document against any Subsidiary Guarantor or its properties in the courts of any jurisdiction.

(c) Waiver of Venue. Each Subsidiary Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Subsidiary Guaranty or any other Loan Document in any court referred to in paragraph (b) of this Section. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable Legal Requirements, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court.

(d) Service of Process. Each party hereto irrevocably consents to service of process in the manner provided for notices in Section 11.2 of the Loan Agreement. Nothing in this Subsidiary Guaranty will affect the right of any party hereto to serve process in any other manner permitted by applicable law.

SECTION 4.6 Waiver of Jury Trial.

(a) EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY). EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PERSON HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PERSON WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS SUBSIDIARY GUARANTY AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION.

SECTION 4.7 No Waiver by Course of Conduct, Cumulative Remedies. No waiver of any Default or Event of Default shall be a waiver of any other Default or Event of Default. No failure on the part of Agent or any other Secured Party to exercise and no delay in exercising,

 

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and no course of dealing with respect to, any right, power or privilege under this Subsidiary Guaranty shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. No remedy, right or power conferred upon the Agent or any Secured Party is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy, right or power given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law, in equity, or otherwise, and all such remedies, rights and powers shall be cumulative.

SECTION 4.8 Successors and Assigns. This Subsidiary Guaranty shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of each Subsidiary Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of each Subsidiary Guarantor (and shall bind all Persons who become bound as a Subsidiary Guarantor under this Subsidiary Guaranty), the Agent and the Secured Parties and their successors and assigns; provided that no Subsidiary Guarantor may assign, transfer or delegate any of its rights or obligations under this Subsidiary Guaranty without the prior written consent of the Agent and the Secured Parties.

SECTION 4.9 Survival of Indemnities. Notwithstanding any termination of this Subsidiary Guaranty, the indemnities to which the Agent and the Secured Parties are entitled under the provisions of Section 4.3 and any other provision of this Subsidiary Guaranty and the other Loan Documents shall continue in full force and effect and shall protect the Agent and the Secured Parties against events arising after such termination as well as before.

SECTION 4.10 Titles and Captions. Captions and section headings appearing herein are included solely for convenience of reference and are not intended to affect the interpretation of any provision of this Agreement.

SECTION 4.11 Severability of Provisions. Whenever possible, each provision of this Subsidiary Guaranty shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law. If any provision of this Subsidiary Guaranty shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any applicable law, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Subsidiary Guaranty shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

SECTION 4.12 Counterparts, Integration and Effectiveness. This Subsidiary Guaranty may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement and any of the parties hereto may execute this Subsidiary Guaranty by signing any such counterpart. This Subsidiary Guaranty and the other Loan Documents, and any separate letter agreements with respect to fees payable to the Agent, constitute the entire contract among the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersede any and all previous agreements and understandings, oral or written, relating to the subject matter hereof. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Subsidiary Guaranty by telecopy or electronic mail shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Subsidiary Guaranty.

SECTION 4.13 Advice of Counsel, No Strict Construction. Each of the parties represents to each other party hereto that it has discussed this Subsidiary Guaranty with its counsel. The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Subsidiary Guaranty. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this

 

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Subsidiary Guaranty shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provisions of this Subsidiary Guaranty.

SECTION 4.14 Acknowledgements. Each Subsidiary Guarantor hereby acknowledges that:

(a) neither the Agent nor any Secured Party has any fiduciary relationship with or duty to any Subsidiary Guarantor arising out of or in connection with this Subsidiary Guaranty or any of the other Loan Documents, and the relationship between the Subsidiary Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Agent and Secured Parties, on the other hand, in connection herewith or therewith is solely that of debtor and creditor; and

(b) no joint venture is created hereby or by the other Loan Documents or otherwise exists by virtue of the transactions contemplated hereby among the Secured Parties or among the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Secured Parties.

SECTION 4.15 Releases. At such time as the Guaranteed Obligations shall have been paid in full and the Revolving Loan Commitments have been terminated, this Subsidiary Guaranty and all obligations (other than those expressly stated to survive such termination) of the Agent and each Subsidiary Guarantor hereunder shall terminate, all without delivery of any instrument or performance of any act by any party.

SECTION 4.16 Additional Subsidiary Guarantors. Each Subsidiary of the Borrower that is required to become a party to this Subsidiary Guaranty pursuant to Section 8.9 of the Loan Agreement shall become a Subsidiary Guarantor for all purposes of this Subsidiary Guaranty upon execution and delivery by such Subsidiary of a supplement in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent.

[Signature Pages to Follow]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Subsidiary Guarantors has executed and delivered this Subsidiary Guaranty under seal by their duly authorized officers, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

[CORPORATE SEAL]     POLLO OPERATIONS, INC., as Subsidiary Guarantor
      By:   /s/ Joseph Zirkman
      Name:   Joseph Zirkman
      Title:   Vice President
       
[CORPORATE SEAL]     POLLO FRANCHISE, INC., as Subsidiary Guarantor
      By:   /s/ Joseph Zirkman
      Name:   Joseph Zirkman
      Title:   Vice President
       
[CORPORATE SEAL]     CARROLS REALTY I CORP., as Subsidiary Guarantor
      By:   /s/ Joseph Zirkman
      Name:   Joseph Zirkman
      Title:   Vice President
       
[CORPORATE SEAL]     CARROLS REALTY HOLDINGS CORP., as Subsidiary Guarantor
      By:   /s/ Joseph Zirkman
      Name:   Joseph Zirkman
      Title:   Vice President

[Signature Pages Continue]

[Subsidiary Guaranty – Carrols Corporation]


[CORPORATE SEAL]     TACO CABANA, INC., as Subsidiary Guarantor
      By:   /s/ Joseph Zirkman
      Name:   Joseph Zirkman
      Title:   Vice President
       
[CORPORATE SEAL]     GET REAL, INC., as Subsidiary Guarantor
      By:   /s/ Vivian Lopez-Blanco
      Name:   Vivian Lopez-Blanco
      Title:   President
       
[CORPORATE SEAL]     T.C. MANAGEMENT, INC., as Subsidiary Guarantor
      By:   /s/ Joseph Zirkman
      Name:   Joseph Zirkman
      Title:   Vice President
       
[CORPORATE SEAL]     TP ACQUISITION CORP., as Subsidiary Guarantor
      By:   /s/ Joseph Zirkman
      Name:   Joseph Zirkman
      Title:   Vice President
       

[Signature Pages Continue]

[Subsidiary Guaranty – Carrols Corporation]


[CORPORATE SEAL]     TPAQ HOLDING CORPORATION, as Subsidiary Guarantor
      By:   /s/ Vivian Lopez-Blanco
      Name:   Vivian Lopez-Blanco
      Title:   President
       
[CORPORATE SEAL]     TEXAS TACO CABANA, L.P., as Subsidiary Guarantor
    By: T.C. Management, Inc., its General Partner
      By:   /s/ Joseph Zirkman
      Name:   Joseph Zirkman
      Title:   Vice President
       
[CORPORATE SEAL]     TC LEASE HOLDINGS III, V AND VI, INC., as Subsidiary Guarantor
      By:   /s/ Joseph Zirkman
      Name:   Joseph Zirkman
      Title:   Vice President

[Signature Pages Continue]

[Subsidiary Guaranty – Carrols Corporation]


    WACHOVIA BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION as Agent
      By:   /s/ Ronald F. Bentien, Jr.
      Name:   Ronald F. Bentien, Jr.
      Title:   Director
       

[Subsidiary Guaranty – Carrols Corporation]