EXHIBIT10.3 AmendmentNo. 9 to Credit Agreement

EXHIBIT 10.3

Amendment No. 9
to Credit Agreement

This Amendment No. 9 to Credit Agreement is dated as of October 12, 2016, but effective as of September 30, 2016, and is between CTI Industries Corporation, an Illinois corporation (the “Borrower”); CTI Supply, Inc., an Illinois corporation f/k/a CTI Helium, Inc., and a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Borrower, in its capacity as a guarantor (the “Subsidiary Guarantor”); and BMO Harris Bank N.A., a national banking association, successor to Harris N.A. (the “Bank”).

The Borrower and the Bank entered into a Credit Agreement dated as of April 29, 2010 (as amended, modified, or supplemented before the effective date of this agreement, the “Credit Agreement”), under which the Bank has extended certain credit facilities to the Borrower.

In connection with the Credit Agreement, the Subsidiary Guarantor entered into a Guaranty dated as of April 29, 2010 (the “Subsidiary Guaranty”), under which, among other things, the Subsidiary Guarantor guarantees the prompt and complete payment and performance of the Obligations.

The parties now desire to amend the Credit Agreement in certain respects.

The parties therefore agree as follows:

1.          Definitions. Defined terms used but not defined in this agreement are as defined in the Credit Agreement.

2.          Amendments to Credit Agreement. (a) The definition of “CTI Helium” in section 5.1 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:

“            “CTI Helium” means CTI Supply, Inc., an Illinois corporation and a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary f/k/a CTI Helium, Inc.”

(b)          The definition of “Fixed Charges” in section 5.1 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:

“            “Fixed Charges” means, with reference to any period, the sum of (a) the aggregate amount of payments made or required to be made by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, during such period in respect of principal on all Indebtedness for Borrowed Money (whether at maturity, as a result of mandatory sinking fund redemption, scheduled payments or otherwise) other than (i) Revolving Loans, (ii) Intercompany Debt, and (iii) in the case of Subordinated Debt, principal reductions caused by the exercise of warrants by the holders of such debt and principal reductions made prior to the date of this Agreement, plus (b) total cash interest expense (including interest on Subordinated Debt but excluding interest on Intercompany Debt) for such period.”

(c)          The definition of “Total Funded Debt” in section 5.1 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:

“            “Total Funded Debt” means, at any time the same is to be determined, the aggregate of all Indebtedness for Borrowed Money of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, at such time, plus all Indebtedness for Borrowed Money of any other person or entity which is directly or indirectly guaranteed by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries has agreed (contingently or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire or in respect of which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries has otherwise assured a creditor against loss. For purposes of this Agreement, “Total Funded Debt” includes the 2016 CTI–Merrick Debt and the 2016 CTI–Schwan Debt, but “Total Funded Debt” does not include any Excluded VIE Debt or the Subordinated Debt owing to John H. Schwan and Stephen M. Merrick described in Section 8.7(f).”

(d)          Section 5.1 of the Credit Agreement is hereby further amended by inserting each of the following new definitions in the appropriate alphabetical order:

“            “2016 CTI–Merrick Debt” means the Indebtedness for Borrowed Money of the Borrower owing to Stephen M. Merrick evidenced by a Promissory Note dated September 30, 2016, in the original principal amount of $370,000 made by the Borrower and payable to Stephen M. Merrick.

“2016 CTI–Schwan Debt” means the Indebtedness for Borrowed Money of the Borrower owing to John H. Schwan evidenced by a Promissory Note dated September 30, 2016, in the original principal amount of $530,000 made by the Borrower and payable to John H. Schwan.

“2016 Walmart Promotional Program” means a program and arrangement pursuant to which the Borrower will provide and sell to Walmart in November 2016 approximately 4,000 half-pallets of vacuum-sealing machines and rolls of film for sale at Walmart stores.

“Amendment No. 9 Effective Date” means September 30, 2016, which is the effective date of an Amendment No. 9 to Credit Agreement dated as of October 12, 2016, but effective as of September 30, 2016, between the Borrower, CTI Helium, and the Bank.”

(e)          Section 8.5(a) of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:

“            (a)          (i) from and after the Amendment No. 9 Effective date through and including the earlier of (A) the date as of which all Receivables from the 2016 Walmart Promotional Program have been paid to the Borrower (as determined by the Bank in its sole and absolute discretion based, in part, on delivery to the Bank of invoice documentation and proof of payment remittance from Walmart) and (B) February 28, 2017, as soon as available, and in any event by the first Business Day of each week, a Borrowing Base certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F showing the computation of the Borrowing Base in reasonable detail as of the close of business on the last day of the immediately preceding week, together with an accounts receivable and accounts payable aging and an inventory report supporting the computation of the Borrowing Base, prepared by the Borrower and certified to by its chief financial officer or such other officer acceptable to the Bank; and (ii) thereafter, as soon as available, and in any event within fifteen (15) days after the last day of each calendar month, a Borrowing Base certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F showing the computation of the Borrowing Base in reasonable detail as of the close of business on the last day of such month, together with an accounts receivable and accounts payable aging and an inventory report supporting the computation of the Borrowing Base, prepared by the Borrower and certified to by its chief financial officer or such other officer acceptable to the Bank;”

(f)          Section 8.7 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended as follows: (1) by deleting “and” from the end of section 8.7(h); (2) by renumbering existing section 8.7(i) as a new section 8.7(k); and (3) by inserting the following as new sections 8.7(i) and 8.7(j):

“             (i)          the 2016 CTI–Merrick Debt existing on the Amendment No. 9 Effective Date in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $370,000 as of the Amendment No. 9 Effective Date, as reduced by permitted payments or permitted deemed payments thereon, and provided that (A) the maturity date for the 2016 CTI–Merrick Debt shall be not earlier than the date that is six months after the latest of the Equipment Loan Final Maturity Date, the Mortgage Loan Final Maturity Date, and the Revolving Credit Termination Date, (B) the 2016 CTI–Merrick Debt shall be unsecured, (C) the 2016 CTI–Merrick Debt shall be Subordinated Debt, and (D) the first $900,000 of Receivables from the 2016 Walmart Promotional Program paid to the Borrower shall, subject to Section 8.21, be used by the Borrower to make one or more prepayments or deemed prepayments of all of the outstanding principal amount of the 2016 CTI–Merrick Debt and the 2016 CTI–Schwan Debt;

(j)          the 2016 CTI–Schwan Debt existing on the Amendment No. 9 Effective Date in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $530,000 as of the Amendment No. 9 Effective Date, as reduced by permitted payments or permitted deemed payments thereon, and provided that (A) the maturity date for the 2016 CTI–Schwan Debt shall be not earlier than the date that is six months after the latest of the Equipment Loan Final Maturity Date, the Mortgage Loan Final Maturity Date, and the Revolving Credit Termination Date, (B) the 2016 CTI–Schwan Debt shall be unsecured, (C) the 2016 CTI–Schwan Debt shall be Subordinated Debt, and (D) the first $900,000 of Receivables from the 2016 Walmart Promotional Program paid to the Borrower shall, subject to Section 8.21w, be used by the Borrower to make one or more prepayments or deemed prepayments of all of the outstanding principal amount of the 2016 CTI–Merrick Debt and the 2016 CTI–Schwan Debt; and”

(g)          Clause (b) of Section 8.21 of the Credit Agreement is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:

“(b) make any voluntary prepayment of Subordinated Debt or effect any voluntary redemption thereof, other than voluntary prepayments (or deemed voluntary prepayments) of the 2016 CTI–Merrick Debt and the 2016 CTI–Schwan Debt that are not prohibited under the terms of any instrument or agreement subordinating the same to the Obligations, or”

3.            Reaffirmation of Subsidiary Guaranty. The Subsidiary Guarantor hereby expressly does each of the following:

4.            Representations and Warranties. To induce the Bank to enter into this agreement, the Borrower hereby represents to the Bank as follows:

5.            Conditions. The effectiveness of this agreement is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions:

6.            General. (a) This agreement and the rights and duties of the parties hereto are governed by, and are to be construed in accordance with, the internal laws of State of Illinois without regard to principles of conflicts of laws. Wherever possible each provision of the Credit Agreement and this agreement is to be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of the Credit Agreement and this agreement is prohibited by or invalid under any such law, that provision will be deemed ineffective to the extent of that prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of that provision or the remaining provisions of the Credit Agreement and this agreement.

(b)          This agreement is a Loan Document.

(c)          This agreement binds each party and their respective successors and assigns, and this agreement inures to the benefit of each party and the successors and assigns of the Bank.

(d)          Except as specifically modified or amended by the terms of this agreement, the terms and provisions of the Credit Agreement, the Subsidiary Guaranty, and the other Loan Documents are incorporated by reference herein and in all respects continue in full force and effect. The Borrower, by execution of this agreement, hereby reaffirms, assumes, and binds itself to all of the obligations, duties, rights, covenants, terms, and conditions contained in the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party.

(e)          Each reference in the Credit Agreement to “this Agreement,” “hereunder,” “hereof,” or words of like import, and each reference to the Credit Agreement in any and all instruments or documents delivered in connection therewith, are deemed to refer to the Credit Agreement, as amended by this agreement.

(f)          The Borrower shall pay all costs and expenses in connection with the preparation of this agreement and other related loan documents, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and time charges of attorneys who are employees of the Bank or any affiliate or parent of the Bank. The Borrower shall pay any and all stamp and other taxes, UCC search fees, filing fees, and other costs and expenses in connection with the execution and delivery of this agreement and the other instruments and documents to be delivered hereunder, and agrees to save the Bank harmless from and against any and all liabilities with respect to or resulting from any delay in paying or omission to pay such costs and expenses.

(g)          The Borrower hereby waives and releases any and all current existing claims, counterclaims, defenses, or set-offs of every kind and nature which it has or might have against the Bank arising out of, pursuant to, or pertaining in any way to the Credit Agreement, any and all documents and instruments in connection with or relating to the foregoing, or this agreement. The Borrower hereby further covenants and agrees not to sue the Bank or assert any claims, defenses, demands, actions, or liabilities against the Bank arising out of, pursuant to, or pertaining in any way to the Credit Agreement, any and all documents and instruments in connection with or relating to the foregoing, or this agreement.

(h)          The parties may sign this agreement in several counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original but all of which together will constitute one instrument. Receipt of an executed signature page to this agreement by facsimile or other electronic transmission will constitute effective delivery of that executed signature page. Electronic records of executed Loan Documents (including this agreement) maintained by the Bank will be deemed to be originals.

[Signature pages follow]

The parties are signing this Amendment No. 9 to Credit Agreement as of the date stated in the introductory clause.

Signature page to Amendment No. 9 to Credit Agreement