transactions contemplated thereunder, Guarantor hereby agrees with Administrative Agent, on behalf of Buyers, that the Original Guarantee is hereby amended and restated in its entirety:
1.
Defined Terms. Each of the definitions set forth on Exhibit A hereto are, solely for the purpose of Section 9 hereof, hereby incorporated herein by reference. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms which are defined in the Repurchase Agreement and used herein are intended to be used as such terms are so defined in the Repurchase Agreement.
2.
Guarantee. (a) Subject to Sections 2(b), 2(c) and 2(d) below, Guarantor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees to Administrative Agent, on behalf of Buyers, the prompt and complete payment and performance when due, whether at stated maturity, by acceleration of the Repurchase Date or otherwise, of all of the following: (i) all payment obligations owing by Seller to Administrative Agent and Buyers, under or in connection with the Repurchase Agreement or any of the other Transaction Documents or other agreements relating thereto, (ii) any and all extensions, renewals, modifications, amendments or substitutions of the foregoing, and (iii) any other obligations of Seller and Pledgor with respect to Administrative Agent and Buyers, under each of the Transaction Documents (collectively, the “Obligations”).
(b)
Notwithstanding anything in Section 2(a) herein to the contrary, but subject in all cases to Sections 2(c) and 2(d) below, the maximum liability of Guarantor hereunder and under the Transaction Documents shall in no event exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the then-currently unpaid aggregate Purchase Prices of all Purchased Assets.
(c)
Notwithstanding the foregoing, or any other provision herein to the contrary, the twenty-five percent (25%) limitation on recourse liability as set forth in Section 2(b) above SHALL BECOME NULL AND VOID and shall be of no further force and effect, and the Obligations shall be full recourse to Guarantor, upon the occurrence of any of the following:
(i)
a voluntary bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding is commenced by Seller, Pledgor or Guarantor under the Bankruptcy Code or any similar federal or state law;
(ii)
Seller, Pledgor or Guarantor consents to or joins in any application for the appointment of a custodian, receiver, trustee or examiner for Seller or Seller’s assets and liabilities; and
(iii)
an involuntary bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding is commenced against Seller, Pledgor or Guarantor in connection with which Seller, Pledgor or Guarantor (alone or in any combination) (A) has or have colluded or conspired in any way with the creditors commencing or filing such proceeding, (B) has solicited or caused to be solicited petition creditors for any involuntary bankruptcy or insolvency petition against Seller, Pledgor or Guarantor from any Person, or (C) has filed an answer consenting to or joining in with respect to such involuntary bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding.
(d)
In addition to the foregoing, and notwithstanding the limitations on recourse liability set forth in Section 2(b) above, Guarantor shall be liable to Administrative Agent and Buyers for any costs, losses, claims, expenses or other liabilities actually incurred by Administrative Agent or any Buyer resulting from any of the following matters:
(i)
fraud, intentional misrepresentation, gross negligence or willful misconduct by Seller, Pledgor or Guarantor, or any Subsidiary of Guarantor in connection with the execution and delivery of this Guarantee, the Repurchase Agreement or any of the other
Transaction Documents, or any certificate, report, financial statement or other instrument or document furnished to Administrative Agent or any Buyer at the time of the closing of the Repurchase Agreement or during the term of the Repurchase Agreement;
(ii)
any material breach by Seller, Guarantor or any of their respective Affiliates, of any representations and warranties relating to Environmental Laws, or any indemnity for costs incurred in connection with the violation of any Environmental Law, the correction of any environmental condition, or the removal of any Materials of Environmental Concern, in each case in any way affecting Seller’s or Guarantor’s properties or any of the Purchased Assets;
(iii)
Seller’s failure to obtain Administrative Agent’s prior written consent to any subordinate financing or voluntary liens in each case that encumber any or all of the Purchased Assets that are not permitted under the Transaction Documents; and
(iv)
any breach of the separateness covenants set forth in Article 12 of the Repurchase Agreement that results in the substantive consolidation of any of the assets and/or liabilities of Seller or Pledgor with any other Person (including, without limitation, in connection with any proceeding under any Insolvency Law).
(e)
Guarantor further agrees to pay any and all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including, without limitation, all reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) which may be paid or incurred by Administrative Agent or any Buyer in enforcing any rights with respect to, or collecting, any or all of the Obligations and/or enforcing any rights with respect to, or collecting against, Guarantor under this Guarantee after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default. This Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect until the later of (i) the date upon which the Obligations are paid in full and (ii) the termination of the Repurchase Agreement, notwithstanding that from time to time prior thereto, Seller and/or Pledgor may be free from any Obligations.
(f)
Nothing herein shall be deemed a waiver of any right which Administrative Agent or any Buyer may have under Sections 506(a), 506(b), 1111(b) or any other provision of the Bankruptcy Code to file a claim for the full amount of the outstanding obligations under the Repurchase Agreement or to require that all Purchased Assets shall continue to secure all of the outstanding obligations owing to Administrative Agent and Buyers in accordance with the Repurchase Agreement or any other Transaction Documents.
(g)
No payment or payments made by Seller, Pledgor or any other Person or received or collected by Administrative Agent or any Buyer from Seller, Pledgor 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 Obligations shall be deemed to modify, reduce, release or otherwise affect the liability of Guarantor hereunder which shall, notwithstanding any such payment or payments, remain liable for the amount of the Obligations under this Guarantee until the Obligations are paid in full.
(h)
Guarantor agrees that whenever, at any time, or from time to time, Guarantor shall make any payment to Administrative Agent, on behalf of Buyers, on account of any liability hereunder, Guarantor will notify Administrative Agent in writing that such payment is made under this Guarantee for such purpose.
3.
Subrogation. Upon making any payment hereunder, Guarantor shall be subrogated to the rights of Administrative Agent and Buyers against Seller and Pledgor and any collateral for any Obligations with respect to such payment; provided, that Guarantor shall not seek to enforce any
right or receive any payment by way of subrogation until all amounts due and payable by Seller or Pledgor to Administrative Agent and Buyers under the Transaction Documents or any related documents have been paid in full; provided, further, that such subrogation rights shall be subordinate in all respects to all amounts owing to Administrative Agent and Buyers under the Transaction Documents.
4.
Amendments, etc. with Respect to the Obligations. Guarantor shall remain obligated hereunder notwithstanding that, without any reservation of rights against Guarantor, and without notice to or further assent by Guarantor, any demand for payment of any of the Obligations made by Administrative Agent, on behalf of Buyers, may be rescinded by Administrative Agent, on behalf of Buyers, and any of the Obligations continued, and the Obligations, or the liability of any other party upon or for any part thereof, or any collateral security or guarantee therefor or right of offset with respect thereto, may, from time to time, in whole or in part, be renewed, extended, amended, modified, accelerated, compromised, waived, surrendered or released by Administrative Agent, on behalf of Buyers, and any Transaction Document and any other document in connection therewith may be amended, modified, supplemented or terminated, in whole or in part, as Administrative Agent, on behalf of Buyers, may deem advisable from time to time, and any collateral security, guarantee or right of offset at any time held by Administrative Agent, on behalf of Buyers, for the payment of the Obligations may be sold, exchanged, waived, surrendered or released. Administrative Agent, on behalf of Buyers, shall have no obligation to protect, secure, perfect or insure any lien at any time held by it as security for the Obligations or any property subject thereto. When making any demand hereunder against Guarantor, Administrative Agent, on behalf of Buyers, may, but shall be under no obligation to, make a similar demand on Seller or any other Person, and any failure by Administrative Agent, on behalf of Buyers, to make any such demand or to collect any payments from Seller or any such other Person or any release of Seller or such other Person shall not relieve Guarantor of its Obligations or liabilities hereunder, and shall not impair or affect the rights and remedies, express or implied, or as a matter of law, of Administrative Agent or any Buyer against Guarantor. For the purposes hereof “demand” shall include the commencement and continuance of any legal proceedings.
5.
Guarantee Absolute and Unconditional. (a) Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations under this Guarantee constitute a guarantee of payment when due and not of collection. Guarantor waives any and all notice of the creation, renewal, extension or accrual of any of the Obligations and notice of or proof of reliance by Administrative Agent, on behalf of Buyers, upon this Guarantee or acceptance of this Guarantee; the Obligations, and any of them, shall conclusively be deemed to have been created, contracted or incurred in reliance upon this Guarantee; and all dealings between Seller and Guarantor, on the one hand, and Administrative Agent, on behalf of Buyers, on the other hand, shall likewise be conclusively presumed to have been had or consummated in reliance upon this Guarantee. Guarantor waives promptness, diligence, presentment, protest, demand for payment and notice of default or nonpayment to or upon Seller or Guarantor with respect to the Obligations. This Guarantee shall be construed as a continuing, absolute and unconditional guarantee of payment without regard to (i) the validity, regularity or enforceability of any Transaction Document, any of the Obligations or any collateral security therefor or guarantee or right of offset with respect thereto at any time or from time to time held by Administrative Agent or any Buyer, (ii) any defense, set-off or counterclaim (other than a defense of payment or performance) which may at any time be available to or be asserted by Seller against Administrative Agent or any Buyer, (iii) any requirement that Administrative Agent, on behalf of Buyers, exhaust any right to take any action against Seller or any other Person prior to or contemporaneously with proceeding to exercise any right against Guarantor under this Guarantee or (iv) any other circumstance whatsoever (with or without notice to or knowledge of Seller and Guarantor) which constitutes, or might be construed to constitute, an equitable or legal discharge of Seller for the Obligations, in bankruptcy or in any other instance. When pursuing its rights and remedies hereunder against Guarantor, Administrative Agent and Buyers may, but shall be under no obligation, to pursue such rights and remedies that Administrative Agent or such Buyers may have against Seller or any other
Person or against any collateral security or guarantee for the Obligations or any right of offset with respect thereto, and any failure by Administrative Agent or any Buyer to pursue such other rights or remedies or to collect any payments from Seller or any such other Person or to realize upon any such collateral security or guarantee or to exercise any such right of offset, or any release of Seller or any such other Person or any such collateral security, guarantee or right of offset, shall not relieve Guarantor of any liability hereunder, and shall not impair or affect the rights and remedies, whether express, implied or available as a matter of law, of Administrative Agent and Buyers against Guarantor. This Guarantee shall remain in full force and effect and be binding in accordance with and to the extent of its terms upon Guarantor and its successors and assigns thereof, and shall inure to the benefit of Administrative Agent, Buyers and their respective permitted successors, endorsees, transferees and assigns, until all the Obligations and the obligations of Guarantor under this Guarantee shall have been satisfied by payment in full.
(b)
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Guarantor hereby agrees, acknowledges, and represents and warrants to Administrative Agent, on behalf of Buyers, as follows:
(i)
Guarantor hereby waives any defense arising by reason of, and any and all right to assert against Administrative Agent and Buyers, any claim or defense based upon, an election of remedies by Administrative Agent which in any manner impairs, affects, reduces, releases, destroys and/or extinguishes Guarantor’s subrogation rights, rights to proceed against Seller or any other guarantor for reimbursement or contribution, and/or any other rights of Guarantor to proceed against Seller, any other guarantor or any other person or security.
(ii)
Guarantor is presently informed of the financial condition of Seller and of all other circumstances which diligent inquiry would reveal and which bear upon the risk of nonpayment of the Obligations. Guarantor hereby covenants that it will make its own investigation and will continue to keep itself informed about the financial condition of Seller, the status of other guarantors, if any, of all other circumstances which bear upon the risk of nonpayment and that it will continue to rely upon sources other than Administrative Agent for such information and will not rely upon Administrative Agent for any such information. Absent a written request for such information by Guarantor to Administrative Agent, Guarantor hereby waives the right, if any, to require Administrative Agent to disclose to Guarantor any information which Administrative Agent may now or hereafter acquire concerning such condition or circumstances including, but not limited to, the release of or revocation by any other guarantor.
(iii)
Guarantor has independently reviewed the Transaction Documents and related agreements and has made an independent determination as to the validity and enforceability thereof, and in executing and delivering this Guarantee to Administrative Agent, Guarantor is not in any manner relying upon the validity, and/or enforceability, and/or attachment, and/or perfection of any liens or security interests of any kind or nature granted by Seller or any other guarantor to Administrative Agent, now or at any time and from time to time in the future.
6.
Reinstatement. This Guarantee shall continue to be effective, or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any of the Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by Administrative Agent, on behalf of Buyers, upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of Seller or upon or as a result of the appointment of a receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for Seller or any substantial part of the property of Seller, or otherwise, all as though such payments had not been made.
7.
Payments. Guarantor hereby agrees that the Obligations will be paid to Administrative Agent, on behalf of Buyers, without set-off or counterclaim in United States Dollars at the address specified in writing by Administrative Agent.
8.
Representations and Warranties. Guarantor represents and warrants that:
(a)
It is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws and regulations of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, as the case may be. It is duly licensed, qualified, and in good standing in every state where such licensing or qualification is necessary for the transaction of its business, except to the extent that the failure to be licensed or qualified could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. It has the power to own and hold the assets it purports to own and hold, and to carry on its business as now being conducted and proposed to be conducted, and has the power to execute, deliver, and perform its obligations under this Guarantee and the other Transaction Documents;
(b)
This Guarantee has been duly executed by it, for good and valuable consideration. This Guarantee constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Guarantor enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (whether enforcement is sought in proceedings in equity or at law);
(c)
Guarantor does not believe, nor does it have any reason or cause to believe, that it cannot perform in all respects all covenants and obligations contained in this Guarantee applicable to it;
(d)
The execution, delivery and performance of this Guarantee will not violate (i) its organizational documents, (ii) any contractual obligation to which it is now a party or constitute a default thereunder, or result thereunder in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any of its assets, (iii) any judgment or order, writ, injunction, decree or demand of any court applicable to it, or (iv) any applicable Requirement of Law, except to the extent that such violation could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(e)
There is no action, suit, proceeding, litigation, investigation, arbitration or proceeding of or before any arbitrator or Governmental Authority pending or, to the knowledge of Guarantor, threatened by or against Guarantor or against its assets (i) with respect to any of the Transaction Documents or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or (ii) that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Guarantor is in compliance in all material respects with all Requirements of Law. Guarantor is not in default in any material respect with respect to any judgment, order, writ, injunction, decree, rule, or regulation of any arbitrator or Governmental Authority;
(f)
Guarantor has timely filed all required federal income tax returns and all other material tax returns, domestic and foreign, required to be filed by it and has paid all federal and other Taxes (whether or not shown on a return), which have become due, except for Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which appropriate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP. Guarantor has satisfied all of its withholding tax obligations. No tax Liens have been filed against any assets of Guarantor and no claims are currently being asserted in writing against Guarantor with respect to Taxes (except for liens and with respect to Taxes not yet due and payable or liens or claims with respect to Taxes that are being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP);
(g)
No order, consent, approval, license, authorization or validation of, or filing, recording or registration with, or exemption by, any Governmental Authority or any other Person is required to authorize, or is required in connection with, (i) the execution and performance of this Guarantee, (ii) the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of this Guarantee against it or (iii) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Guarantee, except filing obligations with the
Securities and Exchange Commission arising in the ordinary course of Guarantor’s business as a public company, if applicable, including, without limitation, 8K, 10Q and 10K filings, which have been obtained and are in full force and effect; and
(h)
There are no judgments against Guarantor unsatisfied of record or docketed in any court located in the United States of America that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and no Act of Insolvency has ever occurred with respect to it.
Guarantor agrees that the foregoing representations and warranties shall be deemed to have been made by Guarantor on the date of each Transaction under the Repurchase Agreement, on and as of such date of the Transaction, as though made hereunder on and as of such date.
(a)
Guarantor hereby agrees that, until the Repurchase Obligations have been paid in full, Guarantor shall not:
(i)
permit at any time its Cash Liquidity to be less than the greater of (A) five percent (5%) of Guarantor’s Recourse Indebtedness and (B) Twenty Million and No/100 Dollars ($20,000,000.00); provided that such amount shall consist of not less than $15,000,000 of unrestricted cash;
(ii)
permit at any time its Tangible Net Worth to be less than the sum of (A) Four Hundred Fifty Million and No/100 Dollars ($450,000,000.00) plus (B) seventy-five percent (75%) of any additional equity raised by Guarantor; and
(iii)
permit at any time the ratio of EBITDA to Fixed Charges to be less than 1.5 to
1.00; and
(iv)
permit at any time the ratio of its Total Indebtedness to the sum of its Tangible Net Worth plus Qualified Capital Commitments as of the end of each fiscal quarter to be greater than 3.5 to 1.0.
(b)
Guarantor’s compliance with the covenants set forth in this Section 9 must be evidenced by the financial statements and by a Covenant Compliance Certificate in the form of Exhibit IX to the Repurchase Agreement furnished together therewith, as provided by Seller to Administrative Agent pursuant to Article 11(g) of the Repurchase Agreement and compliance with all such covenants are subject to continuing verification of Administrative Agent and Guarantor shall provide information that is reasonably requested by Administrative Agent with respect to any lawsuits and/or other matters disclosed in any financial statements of Guarantor delivered to Administrative Agent which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Guarantor’s ability to comply with the covenants set forth in this Section 9; provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, such continued verification shall not obligate Guarantor or Seller to provide additional financial statements or Covenant Compliance Certificates other than those required under Article 11(g) of the Repurchase Agreement.
(c)
If Guarantor has entered into or shall enter into or amend a repurchase agreement, warehouse facility or other lending transaction with any other repurchase buyer or lender which by its terms provides more favorable terms to such other repurchase buyer or lender with respect to any financial covenants contained in this Guarantee (“More Favorable Agreement”), then (i) the financial covenants contained in this Guarantee shall be deemed to be automatically modified to such more favorable terms as of the effective date of such More Favorable Agreement, and (ii) Guarantor shall give
(a) in the case of an existing More Favorable Agreement, prompt notice to Administrative Agent of such more favorable terms, or (b) in the case of a More Favorable Agreement that has not yet been executed, not less than ten (10) Business Days’ prior notice of such more favorable terms. Upon Administrative Agent’s request, Guarantor shall enter into such amendments to this Guarantee and any other Transaction Document as may be required by Administrative Agent to give effect to such more favorable terms.
10.
Further Covenants of Guarantor:
(a)Taxes. Guarantor will timely file all required federal income tax returns and all other material tax returns, domestic and foreign, required to be filed by it and will pay all federal and other material Taxes (whether or not shown on a return), which have become due, except for Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which appropriate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP.
(b)Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Corruption and Economic Sanctions.
(i)
Guarantor is in compliance, in all material respects, with (A) the Trading with the Enemy Act, as amended, and each of the foreign assets control regulations of the United States Treasury Department (31 CFR, Subtitle B, Chapter V, as amended) and any other applicable enabling legislation or executive order relating thereto, (B) the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism of 2001 (the “USA PATRIOT Act of 2001”), and (C) the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and any other applicable anti- bribery laws and regulations. No part of the proceeds of any Transaction will be used, directly or indirectly, for any payments to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office, or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.
(ii)
Guarantor agrees that, from time to time upon the prior written request of Administrative Agent or any Buyer, it shall execute and deliver such further documents, provide such additional information and reports and perform such other acts as Administrative Agent or such Buyer may reasonably request in order to insure compliance with the provisions hereof (including, without limitation, compliance with the USA Patriot Act of 2001 and to fully effectuate the purposes of this Guarantee); provided, however, that nothing in this Section 10(b)(ii) shall be construed as requiring Administrative Agent to conduct any inquiry or decreasing Guarantor’s responsibility for its statements, representations, warranties or covenants hereunder. In order to enable Administrative Agent, Buyers and their respective Affiliates to comply with any anti-money laundering program and related responsibilities including, but not limited to, any obligations under the USA Patriot Act of 2001 and regulations thereunder, Guarantor on behalf of itself and its Affiliates makes the following representations and covenants to Administrative Agent, on behalf of Buyers, and its Affiliates, that neither Guarantor, nor, any of its Affiliates, is a Prohibited Investor and Guarantor is not acting on behalf of or on behalf of any Prohibited Investor. Guarantor agrees to promptly notify Administrative Agent or a person appointed by Administrative Agent to administer their anti-money laundering program, if applicable, of any change in information affecting this representation and covenant.
(c)Office of Foreign Assets Control. Guarantor warrants, represents and covenants that neither Seller, any of its Affiliates or the Purchased Assets are or will be an entity or Person that is or is owned or controlled by a Person that is the subject of any Sanctions. Guarantor covenants and agrees that, with respect to the Transactions under this Guarantee, none of Guarantor or, to Guarantor’s Knowledge, any of its Affiliates will conduct any business, nor engage in any transaction, assets or dealings, with any Person who is the subject of Sanctions. Guarantor further covenants and agrees that it
will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the facility, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any Person who is the subject of Sanctions or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of Sanctions.
(d)Financial Reporting. Upon Administrative Agent’s request, Guarantor shall provide, or cause to be provided, to Administrative Agent copies of Guarantor’s consolidated Federal Income Tax returns, if any, delivered within thirty (30) days after the earlier of (A) filing or (B) the last filing extension period.
(e)Limitation on Distributions. After the occurrence and during the continuation of any Event of Default, Guarantor shall not declare or make any payment on account of, or set apart assets for, a sinking or other analogous fund for the purchase, redemption, defeasance, retirement or other acquisition of any equity or partnership interest of Guarantor, whether now or hereafter outstanding, or make any other distribution in respect thereof, either directly or indirectly, whether in cash or property or in obligations of Guarantor; provided that, so long as no monetary Event of Default referenced in Section 13(a)(i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) of the Repurchase Agreement in an amount equal to or greater than $500,000 shall have occurred and be continuing, Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc. may distribute the minimum amount of cash required to be distributed so that Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc. can maintain its status as a “real estate investment trust” under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code and avoid the payment of any income or excise taxes imposed under Sections 857(b)(1), 857(b)(3) or 4981 of the Code.
11.
Right of Set-Off. Guarantor hereby irrevocably authorizes Administrative Agent, Buyers and their respective Affiliates, without notice to Guarantor, any such notice being expressly waived by Guarantor to the extent permitted by applicable law, upon any Obligations becoming due and payable by Guarantor (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), to set-off and appropriate and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final), in any currency, and any other credits, indebtedness or claims, in any currency, in each case whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, at any time held or owing by Administrative Agent or any Buyer to or for the credit or the account of Guarantor, or any part thereof in such amounts as Administrative Agent may elect, against and on account of the obligations and liabilities of Guarantor to Administrative Agent or such Buyer, as applicable, hereunder and claims of every nature and description of Administrative Agent and Buyers against Guarantor, in any currency, arising under any Transaction Document, as Administrative Agent or such Buyer may elect, whether or not Administrative Agent or such Buyer has made any demand for payment and although such obligations, liabilities and claims may be contingent or unmatured. Administrative Agent or such Buyer shall notify Guarantor promptly of any such set-off and the application made by Administrative Agent or such Buyer, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application. The rights of Administrative Agent and Buyers under this Section 11 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including, without limitation, other rights of set-off) that the Administrative Agent and Buyers may have.
12.
Severability. Any provision of this Guarantee which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
13.
Section Headings. The section headings used in this Guarantee are for convenience of reference only and are not to affect the construction hereof or be taken into consideration in the interpretation hereof.
14.
No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. Neither Administrative Agent nor any Buyer
shall by any act (except by a written instrument pursuant to Section 15 hereof), delay, indulgence, omission or otherwise be deemed to have waived any right or remedy hereunder or to have acquiesced in any default or event of default or in any breach of any of the terms and conditions hereof. No failure to exercise, nor any delay in exercising, on the part of Administrative Agent, on behalf of Buyers, any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof. No single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. A waiver by Administrative Agent, on behalf of Buyers, of any right or remedy hereunder on any one occasion shall not be construed as a bar to any right or remedy which Administrative Agent, on behalf of Buyers, would otherwise have on any future occasion. The rights and remedies herein provided are cumulative, may be exercised singly or concurrently and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.
15.
Waivers and Amendments; Successors and Assigns; Governing Law. None of the terms or provisions of this Guarantee may be waived, amended, supplemented or otherwise modified except by a written instrument executed by Guarantor and Administrative Agent. This Guarantee shall be binding upon successors and assigns of Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of Administrative Agent, Buyers, and their respective successors and permitted assigns. THIS GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF.
16.
Notices. Unless otherwise provided in this Guarantee, all notices, consents, approvals and requests required or permitted hereunder shall be given in writing and shall be effective for all purposes if hand delivered or sent by (a) hand delivery, with proof of delivery, (b) certified or registered United States mail, postage prepaid, (c) expedited prepaid delivery service, either commercial or United States Postal Service, with proof of delivery or (d) by telecopier (with answerback acknowledged) or e-mail provided that such telecopied or e-mailed notice must also be delivered by one of the means set forth above, to the address specified below or at such other address and person as shall be designated from time to time by any party hereto, as the case may be, in a written notice to the other parties hereto in the manner provided for in this Section 16. A notice shall be deemed to have been given:
(w) in the case of hand delivery, at the time of delivery, (x) in the case of registered or certified mail, when delivered or the first attempted delivery on a Business Day, (y) in the case of expedited prepaid delivery upon the first attempted delivery on a Business Day, or (z) in the case of telecopier, upon receipt of answerback confirmation, provided that such telecopied notice was also delivered as required in this Section 16. A party receiving a notice that does not comply with the technical requirements for notice under this Section 16 may elect to waive any deficiencies and treat the notice as having been properly given.
Administrative Agent: Goldman Sachs Bank USA 200 West Street
New York, New York 10282 Attention: Mr. Jeffrey Dawkins Telephone: (212) 902-6852
Facsimile: (212) 977-4870
Email: ***@***
With copies to: Paul Hastings LLP 200 Park Avenue New York, NY 10166
Attention: Lisa A. Chaney, Esq. Facsimile: (212) 230-7793
Email: ***@***
Guarantor: Claros Mortgage Trust, Inc. c/o Mack Real Estate Group
60 Columbus Circle, 20th Floor New York, New York 10023 Attention: Michael McGillis Telephone: (212) 484-0033
Email: ***@***
With copies to: c/o Mack Real Estate Group
60 Columbus Circle, 20th Floor New York, New York 10023 Attention: General Counsel
Email: ***@***
And to: Sidley Austin LLP
787 Seventh Avenue New York, NY 10019
Attention: Brian Krisberg, Esq. Telephone: (212) 839-8735
Telecopy: (212) 839-5599 Email: ***@***
17.
SUBMISSION TO JURISDICTION; WAIVERS. EACH OF GUARANTOR AND ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ON BEHALF OF BUYERS, HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY:
(A)
SUBMITS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE GENERAL JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, THE COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND APPELLATE COURTS FROM ANY THEREOF, SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT TO ENFORCE ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THIS GUARANTEE OR RELATING IN ANY WAY TO THIS GUARANTEE, THE REPURCHASE AGREEMENT OR ANY TRANSACTION UNDER THE REPURCHASE AGREEMENT;
(B)
CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE BROUGHT IN SUCH COURTS AND WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT IT MAY EFFECTIVELY DO SO, ANY DEFENSE OF AN INCONVENIENT FORUM TO THE MAINTENANCE OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT AND ANY RIGHT OF JURISDICTION ON ACCOUNT OF ITS PLACE OF RESIDENCE OR DOMICILE;
(C)
AGREES THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE EFFECTED BY MAILING A COPY THEREOF BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL (OR ANY SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR FORM OF MAIL), POSTAGE PREPAID,
TO ITS ADDRESS SET FORTH IN SECTION 16 HEREOF OR AT SUCH OTHER ADDRESS OF WHICH ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT SHALL HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED; AND
(D)
AGREES THAT NOTHING HEREIN SHALL AFFECT THE RIGHT TO EFFECT SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW OR SHALL LIMIT THE RIGHT TO SUE IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION.
18.
Integration. This Guarantee represents the agreement of Guarantor with respect to the subject matter hereof and there are no promises or representations by Administrative Agent relative to the subject matter hereof not reflected herein.
19.
Counterparts. This Guarantee may be executed in counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all of such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. Delivery by telecopier or other electronic transmission (including a .pdf e-mail transmission) of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Guarantee shall be effective as delivery of an original executed counterpart of this Guarantee.
20.
Acknowledgments. Guarantor hereby acknowledges that:
(a)
Guarantor has been advised by counsel in the negotiation, execution and delivery of this Guarantee and the related documents;
(b)
Administrative Agent does not have any fiduciary relationship to Guarantor, and the relationship between Administrative Agent, on the one hand, and Guarantor, on the other, is solely that of creditor and surety; and
(c)
no joint venture exists between or among any of Administrative Agent, any Buyer, Guarantor and/or Seller.
21.
Intent. Guarantor intends for this Guarantee to be a credit enhancement related to a repurchase agreement, within the meaning of Section 101(47) of the Bankruptcy Code and, therefore, for this Guarantee to be itself a repurchase agreement, within the meaning of Section 101(47) and Section 559 of the Bankruptcy Code.
22.
WAIVERS OF JURY TRIAL. EACH OF GUARANTOR AND ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ON BEHALF OF BUYERS, HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING RELATING TO THIS GUARANTEE OR ANY RELATED DOCUMENT AND FOR ANY COUNTERCLAIM HEREIN OR THEREIN.
23.
Amendment and Restatement. The terms and provisions of the Original Guarantee shall be amended and restated in their entirety by the terms and provisions of this Guarantee. This Guarantee is not intended to, and shall not, effect a novation of any of the obligations of the parties to the Original Guarantee, but merely an amendment and restatement of the terms governing such obligations. Each reference to the Original Guarantee in any other document, instrument or agreement shall mean and be a reference to this Guarantee, and this Guarantee shall supersede the Original Guarantee in all respects.
[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Guarantee to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.
GUARANTOR:
CLAROS MORTGAGE TRUST INC., a Maryland corporation
By:
Name: P• an Garg
Title: =e
[Signatures continue on the following pages]
Acknowledged and agreed to by:
GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA, a New York state- chartered bank
By: Name: Prachi Bansal
Title: Authorized Person
Exhibit A
Definitions
“Capitalized Lease Obligations” shall mean obligations under a lease that are required to be capitalized for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP. The amount of a Capitalized Lease Obligation is the capitalized amount of such obligation as would be required to be reflected on the balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP of the applicable Person as of the applicable date.
“Cash Liquidity” shall mean, for any Person on any date, the amount of unrestricted cash and Cash Equivalents and Qualified Capital Commitments held by such Person and its consolidated subsidiaries.
“Cash Equivalents” shall mean, as of any date of determination, (a) marketable securities
(i) issued or directly and unconditionally guaranteed as to interest and principal by the United States Government or (ii) issued by any agency of the United States the obligations of which are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States and (b) time deposits, certificates of deposit, money market accounts or banker’s acceptances of any investment grade rated commercial bank, in each case maturing within ninety (90) days after such date.
“EBITDA” shall mean, for any period, with respect to any Person and its consolidated Subsidiaries, an amount equal to the Net Income of such Person, plus the sum of (a) the amount of depreciation and amortization expense deducted in determining Net Income for such fiscal quarter, (b) the amount of Interest Expense deducted in determining Net Income for such fiscal quarter, (c) the sum of federal, state, local and foreign income taxes accrued or paid in cash during such fiscal quarter, and (d) the amount of any extraordinary or non-recurring items reducing Net Income for such period.
“Fixed Charges” shall mean, with respect to any Person and for the applicable measurement period, the sum of (a) debt service, (b) all preferred dividends, (c) Capitalized Lease Obligations paid or accrued during such period, (d) capital expenditures (if any), and (e) any amounts payable under any ground lease.
“Indebtedness” shall mean, for any Person, (a) obligations created, issued or incurred by such Person for borrowed money (whether by loan, the issuance and sale of debt securities or the sale of property to another Person subject to an understanding or agreement, contingent or otherwise, to repurchase such property from such Person); (b) obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase or acquisition price of property or services, other than trade accounts payable (other than for borrowed money) arising, and accrued expenses incurred, in the ordinary course of business so long as such trade accounts payable are payable within sixty (60) days of the date the respective goods are delivered or the respective services are rendered; (c) Indebtedness of others secured by a lien on the property of such Person, whether or not the respective Indebtedness so secured has been assumed by such Person; (d) obligations (contingent or otherwise) of such Person in respect of letters of credit or similar instruments issued or accepted by banks and other financial institutions for account of such Person; (e) obligations of such Person under repurchase agreements, sale/buy-back agreements or like arrangements; (f) Indebtedness of others guaranteed by such Person; (g) all obligations of such Person incurred in connection with the acquisition or carrying of fixed assets by such Person; (h) Indebtedness of general partnerships of which such Person is secondarily or contingently liable (other than by endorsement of instruments in the course of collection), whether by reason of any agreement to acquire such indebtedness to supply or advance sums or otherwise; (i) Capitalized Lease Obligations of such Person; (j) all net liabilities or obligations under any interest rate, interest rate swap, interest rate cap, interest rate floor, interest rate collar, or other hedging instrument or agreement; and (k) Off-Balance Sheet Obligations.
“Interest Expense” shall mean, for any period, with respect to any Person and its consolidated Subsidiaries, the amount of total interest expense (including capitalized and accruing interest) incurred by such Person during such period.
“Net Income” shall mean, for any period, with respect to any Person, the consolidated net income (or loss) for such period as reported in such Person’s financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.
“Off-Balance Sheet Obligations” shall mean, with respect to any Person and any date, to the extent not included as a liability on the balance sheet of such Person, all of the following with respect to such Person as of such date: (a) monetary obligations under any financing lease or so-called “synthetic,” tax retention or off-balance sheet lease transaction which, upon the application of any Insolvency Laws, would be characterized as Indebtedness, (b) monetary obligations under any sale and leaseback transaction which does not create a liability on the balance sheet of such Person, or (c) any other monetary obligation arising with respect to any other transaction which (i) is characterized as Indebtedness for tax purposes but not for accounting purposes, or (ii) is the functional equivalent of or takes the place of borrowing but which does not constitute a liability on the balance sheet of such Person (for purposes of this clause (c), any transaction structured to provide tax deductibility as interest expense of any dividend, coupon or other periodic payment will be deemed to be the functional equivalent of a borrowing).
“Qualified Capital Commitments” shall mean, as of any date of determination, the amount of any unpledged, unencumbered (which shall, for the avoidance of doubt, include any encumbrance under any subscription finance facility), unfunded, irrevocable capital commitments of any Investor that is obligated under the Guarantor’s constituent documents to contribute capital in respect of the Guarantor’s Obligations that are available to be called as of right by the Guarantor (or have been validly called on but have not yet been funded) without condition (other than customary notice requirements).
“Recourse Indebtedness” shall mean, for any period, with respect to any Person and its consolidated Subsidiaries, without duplication, the Total Indebtedness of such Person and its consolidated Subsidiaries, determined in accordance with GAAP, for which such Person or any of its consolidated Subsidiaries are directly responsible or liable as obligor or guarantor, as of such date, but excluding the following: (i) Indebtedness under convertible debt notes not subject to margin calls, (ii) recourse Indebtedness arising solely by reason of customary recourse carve-outs under a non-recourse guaranty or agreement, including, but not limited to, fraud, misappropriation and misapplication, and environmental indemnities, but, in any case, only to the extent that no full recourse condition under the applicable guaranty or agreement has been triggered and no claim has been made or threatened to be made under the applicable guaranty or agreement, and (iii) any springing recourse obligations (including guarantee obligations) of such Person (or any of its consolidated Subsidiaries) in connection with the issuance of, and obligations under, the securities or related instruments or certificates in a collateralized loan obligation transaction for which the related recourse trigger has not occurred and with respect to which no claim has been made.
“Tangible Net Worth” shall mean, with respect to any Person, as of any date of determination, (a) all amounts that would be included under capital or shareholders’ equity (or like caption) on the balance sheet of such Person at such date, determined in accordance with GAAP as of such date, less (b)(i) amounts owing to such Person from Affiliates or from officers, employees, partners, members, directors, shareholders or other Persons similarly affiliated with such Person or any Affiliate thereof, (ii) intangible assets of such Person (other than Hedging Transactions specifically related to the Purchased Assets) and (iii) prepaid Taxes and/or expenses, all on or as of such date.
“Total Indebtedness” shall mean, with respect to any Person, as of any date of determination, the aggregate Indebtedness of such Person; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of the calculation of the Off-Balance Sheet Obligations referred to in clause (c) of such definition related to an asset on the balance sheet of such Person, the Off-Balance Sheet Obligations shall include the proportionate share of Indebtedness which is senior to the asset on the balance sheet of such Person as of such date.
