GUARANTY

 

Exhibit 10.3

 

 

THIS GENERAL CONTINUING GUARANTY (“Guaranty”), dated as of May 4, 2007, is executed and delivered by each Subsidiary that is a signatory hereto and any future Material Subsidiary (as defined in the Credit Agreement referenced below) that executes and delivers a Joinder hereto (each a “Guarantor” and, collectively, the “Guarantors”), in favor of the commercial lending institutions (the “Lenders”) from time to time party to the Credit Agreement (as hereinafter defined) and Bank of America, N.A. (“Bank of America”), as Administrative Agent (in such capacity, together with any successor appointed pursuant to Section 9.06 of the Credit Agreement, the “Administrative Agent”) for the Lenders.

 

WHEREAS, the Lenders, the Administrative Agent, the Swing Line Lender and the L/C Issuer are parties to a Credit Agreement dated as of June 27, 2006 (said Agreement, as it may hereafter be amended, supplemented, modified or restated from time to time, being the “Credit Agreement”; the terms defined therein and not otherwise defined herein being used herein as therein defined) with The McClatchy Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”);

 

WHEREAS, each of the Guarantors will derive substantial direct and indirect benefit from the transactions contemplated by the Credit Agreement;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and in order to induce the Lenders to make the credit extensions contemplated under the Credit Agreement, the Guarantors hereby agree, jointly and severally, as follows:

 

1.               Definitions and Construction.

 

(a)             Definitions.  The following terms, as used in this Guaranty, shall have the following meanings:

 

“Bankruptcy Code” shall mean The Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978 (11 U.S.C. §§101-1330), as amended or supplemented from time to time, and any successor statute, and any and all rules issued or promulgated in connection therewith.

 

“Beneficiaries” shall mean Administrative Agent and Lenders.

 

“Guarantied Obligations” shall mean the due and punctual payment of all Indebtedness owing by Borrower.

 

“Indebtedness” shall mean any and all obligations, indebtedness, or liabilities of any kind or character owed to Beneficiaries by Borrower and arising directly or indirectly out of or in connection with the Credit Agreement, the Notes, or the other Loan Documents (in each case as amended, supplemented, modified or restated from time to time) plus all of the obligations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries under any and all Swap Contracts between the Borrower and any Lender or Affiliate of a Lender (or any Person that was a Lender or Affiliate of a Lender at the time such Swap Contract was executed) that hedge interest rate exposure for Indebtedness, including all such obligations, indebtedness, or liabilities, whether for principal, interest (including any and all interest which, but for the application of the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, would have accrued on such amounts), premium, reimbursement obligations, fees, costs, expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), or indemnity obligations, whether heretofore, now, or hereafter made, incurred, or created, whether voluntarily or involuntarily made, incurred, or created, whether secured or unsecured (and if secured, regardless of the nature or extent of the security), whether absolute or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, or determined or indeterminate, whether Borrower is liable individually or jointly with others, and whether recovery is or hereafter becomes barred by any statute of limitations or otherwise becomes unenforceable for any reason whatsoever, including any act or failure to act by Beneficiaries.

 

(b)           Construction.  Unless the context of this Guaranty clearly requires otherwise, references to the plural include the singular, references to the singular include the plural, the part includes the whole, the term “including” is not limiting, and the term “or” has the inclusive meaning represented by the phrase “and/or.” The words “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby,” “hereunder,” and other similar terms refer to this Guaranty as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Guaranty.  Any reference in this Guaranty to any of the following documents includes any and all alterations, amendments, extensions, modifications, renewals, supplements or restatements thereto or thereof, as applicable: the Loan Documents; the Credit Agreement; this Guaranty; and the Notes.  Neither this Guaranty nor any uncertainty or ambiguity herein shall be construed or resolved against Beneficiaries or any Guarantor, whether under any rule of construction or otherwise.  On the contrary, this Guaranty has been reviewed by Guarantors, Beneficiaries, and their respective counsel, and shall be construed and interpreted according to the ordinary meaning of the words used so as to fairly accomplish the purposes and intentions of Beneficiaries and Guarantors.

 

2.           Guarantied Obligations.  Each Guarantor, jointly and severally, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guaranties to Beneficiaries, as and for its own debt, until final and indefeasible payment thereof has been made, the due and punctual payment of the Guarantied Obligations, in each case when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at maturity, by acceleration, or otherwise; it being the intent of each Guarantor that the guaranty set forth herein shall be a guaranty of payment and not a guaranty of collection; provided, however, that each Guarantor shall be liable under this Guaranty for the maximum amount of such liability that can be incurred without rendering this Guaranty, as it relates to such Guarantor, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer, and not for any greater amount.

 

Each Guarantor represents and warrants to Beneficiaries that (i) neither this Guaranty nor any collateral security therefor has been given with an intent to hinder, delay or defraud any creditor of such Guarantor; (ii) such Guarantor is not engaged, or about to engage, in any business or transaction for which its assets (other than those necessary to satisfy its obligations under this Guaranty or those given as collateral security for such obligations) are unreasonably small in relation to the business or transaction, nor does such Guarantor intend to incur, or believe or reasonably should believe that it will incur, debts beyond its ability to pay as they become due; and (iii) such Guarantor is not insolvent at the time it gives this Guaranty, and the giving of this Guaranty and any collateral security provided in connection herewith will not result in such Guarantor’s becoming insolvent.  Each Guarantor hereby covenants and agrees that, as long as this Guaranty remains in effect, such Guarantor (i) shall incur no indebtedness beyond its ability to repay the same in full in accordance with the terms thereof; and (ii) shall not take any action, or suffer to occur any omission, which could give rise to a claim by any third party to set aside this Guaranty or any collateral given in connection herewith, or in any manner impair Beneficiaries’ rights and privileges hereunder or thereunder.

 

3.           Continuing Guaranty.  This Guaranty includes Guarantied Obligations arising under successive transactions continuing, compromising, extending, increasing, modifying, releasing, or renewing the Guarantied Obligations, changing the interest rate, payment terms, or other terms and conditions thereof, or creating new or additional Guarantied Obligations after prior Guarantied Obligations have been satisfied in whole or in part.  To the maximum extent permitted by law, each Guarantor hereby waives any right to revoke this Guaranty as to future Indebtedness.  If such a revocation is effective notwithstanding the foregoing waiver, each Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that (a) no such revocation shall be effective until written notice thereof has been received by Beneficiaries, (b) no such revocation shall apply to any Guarantied Obligations in existence on such date (including any subsequent continuation, extension, or renewal thereof, or change in the interest rate, payment terms, or other terms and conditions thereof), (c) no such revocation shall apply to any Guarantied Obligations made or created after such date to the extent made or created pursuant to a legally binding commitment of Beneficiaries in existence on the date of such revocation, (d) no payment by any Guarantor, Borrower, or from any other source, prior to the date of such revocation, shall reduce the maximum obligation of such Guarantor hereunder, and (e) any payment by Borrower or from any source other than such Guarantor subsequent to the date of such revocation shall first be applied to that portion of the Guarantied Obligations as to which the revocation is effective and which are not, therefore, guarantied hereunder, and to the extent so applied shall not reduce the maximum obligations of such Guarantor hereunder.

 

4.           Performance under this Guaranty.  In the event that Borrower fails to make any payment of any Guarantied Obligations on or before the due date thereof, each Guarantor immediately shall cause such payment to be made.

 

5.           Primary Obligations.  This Guaranty is a primary and original obligation of each Guarantor, is not merely the creation of a surety relationship, and is an absolute, unconditional, and continuing guaranty of payment and performance which shall remain in full force and effect without respect to future changes in conditions, including any change of law or any invalidity or irregularity with respect to the issuance of the Notes.  Each Guarantor agrees that it is directly, jointly and severally with each other Guarantor, liable to Beneficiaries, that the obligations of such Guarantor hereunder are independent of the obligations of Borrower or any other Guarantor, and that a separate action may be brought against such Guarantor, whether such action is brought against Borrower or another Guarantor or whether Borrower or any such other Guarantor is joined in such action.  Guarantor agrees that its liability hereunder shall be immediate and shall not be contingent upon the exercise or enforcement by Beneficiaries of whatever remedies they may have against Borrower or any other Guarantor, or the enforcement of any lien or realization upon any security Beneficiaries may at any time possess.   Each  Guarantor  agrees  that  any release  which  may  be  given  by Beneficiaries to Borrower or any other Guarantor shall not release such Guarantor.  Each Guarantor consents and agrees that Beneficiaries shall be under no obligation to marshal any property or assets of Borrower or any other Guarantor in favor of such Guarantor, or against or in payment of any or all of the Guarantied Obligations.

 

6.           Waivers.

 

(a)           Each Guarantor hereby waives: (i) notice of acceptance hereof; (ii) notice of any loans or other financial accommodations made or extended under the Credit Agreement, or the creation or existence of any Guarantied Obligations; (iii) notice of the amount of the Guarantied Obligations, subject, however, to such Guarantor’s right to make inquiry of Administrative Agent to ascertain the amount of the Guarantied Obligations at any reasonable time; (iv) notice of any adverse change in the financial condition of Borrower or of any other fact that might increase such Guarantor’s risk hereunder; (v) notice of presentment for payment, demand, protest, and notice thereof as to the Notes or any other instrument; (vi) notice of any Default or Event of Default under the Credit Agreement; and (vii) all other notices (except if such notice is specifically required to be given to a Guarantor under this Guaranty or any other Loan Document to which such Guarantor is party) and demands to which such Guarantor might otherwise be entitled.

 

(b)           To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor waives the right by statute or otherwise to require Beneficiaries to institute suit against Borrower or to exhaust any rights and remedies which Beneficiaries have or may have against Borrower.  In this regard, each Guarantor agrees that it is bound to the payment of each and all Guarantied Obligations, whether now existing or hereafter accruing, as fully as if such Guarantied Obligations were directly owing to Beneficiaries by such Guarantor.  Each Guarantor further waives any defense arising by reason of any disability or other defense (other than the defense that the Guarantied Obligations shall have been fully and finally performed and indefeasibly paid) of Borrower or by reason of the cessation from any cause whatsoever of the liability of Borrower in respect thereof.

 

(c)           To the maximum extent permitted by law, each Guarantor hereby waives: (i) any rights to assert against Beneficiaries any defense (legal or equitable), set-off, counterclaim, or claim which such Guarantor may now or at any time hereafter have against Borrower or any other party liable to Beneficiaries; (ii) any defense, set-off, counterclaim, or claim, of any kind or nature, arising directly or indirectly from the present or future lack of perfection, sufficiency, validity, or enforceability of the Guarantied Obligations or any security therefor; (iii) any defense arising by reason of any claim or defense based upon an election of remedies by Beneficiaries; (iv) the benefit of any statute of limitations affecting such Guarantor’s liability hereunder or the enforcement thereof, and any act which shall defer or delay the operation of any statute of limitations applicable to the Guarantied Obligations shall similarly operate to defer or delay the operation of such statute of limitations applicable to such Guarantor’s liability hereunder; and (v) to the fullest extent permitted by law, any defense or benefit that may be derived from or afforded by law which limits the liability of or exonerates guaranties or sureties or requires Beneficiaries to exhaust remedies against the Borrower prior to commencing any action or foreclosure against such Guarantor or its properties including, without limitation, the benefits of California Civil Code §§ 2799, 2808, 2809, 2810, 2815, 2819, 2820, 2821, 2822, 2838, 2839, 2845, 2848, 2849, and 2850, California Code of Civil Procedure §§ 580A, 580B, 580C, 580D, and 726, and Chapter 2 of Title 14 of the California Civil Code.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 6(c) shall not be deemed to waive any portion of any right of subrogation, reimbursement, contribution or indemnification or similar right that would not be waived pursuant to the provisions of Section 6(e).

 

 

(d)           Each Guarantor agrees that if all or a portion of the Indebtedness or this Guaranty is at any time secured by a deed of trust or mortgage covering interests in real property, Beneficiaries, in their sole discretion, without notice or demand and without affecting the liability of such Guarantor under this Guaranty, may foreclose pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement or otherwise the deed of trust or mortgage and the interests in real property secured thereby by non-judicial sale.  Each Guarantor understands that the exercise by Beneficiaries of certain rights and remedies contained in the Credit Agreement and any such deed of trust or mortgage may affect or eliminate such Guarantor’s right of subrogation against Borrower and that such Guarantor may therefore incur a partially or totally non-reimbursable liability hereunder.  Nevertheless, each Guarantor hereby authorizes and empowers Beneficiaries to exercise, in their sole discretion, any rights and remedies, or any combination thereof, which may then be available, since it is the intent and purpose of such Guarantor that the obligations hereunder shall be absolute, independent and unconditional under any and all circumstances.  Notwithstanding any foreclosure of the lien of any deed of trust or security agreement with respect to any or all of any real or personal property secured thereby, whether by the exercise of the power of sale contained therein, by an action for judicial foreclosure or by an acceptance of a deed in lieu of foreclosure, each Guarantor shall remain bound under this Guaranty including its obligation to pay any deficiency following a non-judicial foreclosure.

 

(e)           (1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary elsewhere contained herein or in any other Loan Document, until full and final payment of the Guaranteed Obligations, each Guarantor hereby waives with respect to Borrower and its respective successors and assigns (including any surety) and any other party any and all rights at law or in equity, to subrogation, to reimbursement, to exoneration, to contribution, to setoff or to any other rights that could accrue to a surety against a principal, to a guarantor against a maker or obligor, to an accommodation party against the party accommodated, or to a holder or transferee against a maker and which such Guarantor may have or hereafter acquire against Borrower or any other party in connection with or as a result of Borrower’s execution, delivery and/or performance of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document.  Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not have or assert any such rights against Borrower or Borrower’s successors and assigns or any other Person (including any surety), either directly or as an attempted setoff to any action commenced against such Guarantor by Borrower (as borrower or in any other capacity) or any other Person until the Guaranteed Obligations have been fully and finally repaid to the Beneficiaries.  Each Guarantor hereby acknowledges and agrees that this waiver is intended to benefit the Beneficiaries and shall not limit or otherwise affect any of the Borrower’s liability hereunder, under any other Loan Document to which Borrower is a party, or the enforceability hereof or thereof.

 

(2)           To the extent any waiver of subrogation contained in subparagraph (e)(1) is unenforceable, each Guarantor shall, until the Guaranteed Obligations shall have been paid in full and the Commitments shall have terminated and all Letters of Credit shall have expired or been terminated or canceled, withhold exercise of (a) any claim, right or remedy, direct or indirect, that such Guarantor now has or may hereafter have against Borrower or any of its assets in connection with this Guaranty or the performance by such Guarantor of its obligations hereunder, in each case whether such claim, right or remedy arises in equity, under contract, by statute, under common law or otherwise and including without limitation (i) any right of subrogation, reimbursement or indemnification that such Guarantor now has or may hereafter have against Borrower, (ii) any right to enforce, or to participate in, any claim, right or remedy that any Beneficiary now has or may hereafter have against Borrower, and (iii) any benefit of, and any right to participate in, any collateral or security now or hereafter held by the Beneficiaries, and (b) any right of contribution such Guarantor may have against any other Guarantor (including without limitation any such right of contribution).  Each Guarantor further agrees that, to the extent the agreement to withhold the exercise of its rights of subrogation, reimbursement, indemnification and contribution as set forth herein is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to be void or voidable for any reason, any rights of subrogation, reimbursement or indemnification such Guarantor may have against Borrower or against any collateral or security, and any rights of contribution Guarantor may have against any such other Guarantor, shall be junior and subordinate to any rights the Administrative Agent or Lenders may have against Borrower, to all right, title and interest the Beneficiaries may have in any such collateral or security, and to any right the Beneficiaries may have against such other Guarantor.  The Administrative Agent, on behalf of Lenders, may use, sell or dispose of any item of collateral or security as it sees fit without regard to any subrogation rights any Guarantor may have, and upon any such disposition or sale any rights of subrogation Guarantors may have shall terminate.  If any amount shall be paid to any Guarantor on account of any such subrogation, reimbursement or indemnification rights at any time when all Guaranteed Obligations shall not have been paid in full, such amount shall be held in trust for the Administrative Agent on behalf of Lenders and shall forthwith be paid over to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of Lenders to be credited and applied against the Guaranteed Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in accordance with Section 12 of this Guaranty.

 

7.           Releases.  Each Guarantor consents and agrees that, without notice to or by such Guarantor and without affecting or impairing the obligations of such Guarantor hereunder, Beneficiaries may, by action or inaction, compromise or settle, extend the period of duration or the time for the payment, or discharge the performance of, or may refuse to, or otherwise not enforce, or may, by action or inaction, release all or any one or more parties to, any one or more of the Credit Agreement, the Notes, or any of the other Loan Documents or may grant other indulgences to Borrower in respect thereof, or may amend or modify in any manner and at any time (or from time to time) any one or more of the Credit Agreement, the Notes, or any of the other Loan Documents, or may, by action or inaction, release or substitute any other Guarantor, if any, of the Guarantied Obligations, or may enforce, exchange, release, or waive, by action or inaction, any security for the Guarantied Obligations (including any collateral) or any other guaranty of the Guarantied Obligations, or any portion thereof.

 

8.           No Election.  Beneficiaries shall have the right to seek recourse against any Guarantor to the fullest extent provided for herein and no election by Beneficiaries to proceed in one form of action or proceeding, or against any Guarantor or other party, or on any obligation, shall constitute a waiver of Beneficiaries’ right to proceed in any other form of action or proceeding or against any other Guarantor or other parties unless Beneficiaries have expressly waived such right in writing.  Specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no action or proceeding by Beneficiaries under any document or instrument evidencing the Guarantied Obligations shall serve to diminish the liability of Guarantors under this Guaranty except to the extent that Beneficiaries finally and unconditionally shall have realized indefeasible payment by such action or proceeding.

 

9.           Indefeasible Payment.  The Guarantied Obligations shall not be considered indefeasibly paid for purposes of this Guaranty unless and until all payments to Beneficiaries are no longer subject to any right on the part of any person whomsoever, including Borrower, Borrower as a debtor in possession, or any trustee (whether appointed under the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise) of Borrower’s assets to invalidate or set aside such payments or to seek to recoup the amount of such payments or any portion thereof, or to declare same to be fraudulent or preferential.  In the event that, for any reason, all or any portion of such payments to Beneficiaries is set aside or restored, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, after the making thereof, the obligation or part thereof intended to be satisfied thereby shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if said payment or payments had not been made and each Guarantor shall be liable for the full amount Beneficiaries are required to repay plus any and all costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) paid by Beneficiaries in connection therewith.

 

 

10.           Financial Condition of Borrower.  Each Guarantor represents and warrants to Beneficiaries that it is currently informed of the financial condition of Borrower and of all other circumstances which a diligent inquiry would reveal and which bear upon the risk of nonpayment of the Guarantied Obligations.  Each Guarantor further represents and warrants to Beneficiaries that it has read and understands the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement, the Notes, and the other Loan Documents.  Each Guarantor hereby covenants that it will continue to keep itself informed of Borrower’s financial condition, the financial condition of other guarantors, if any, and of all other circumstances which bear upon the risk of nonpayment or nonperformance of the Guarantied Obligations.

11.           Subordination.  Each Guarantor hereby agrees that after the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default any and all present and future indebtedness of Borrower owing to such Guarantor shall be postponed in favor of and subordinated to payment in full of the Guarantied Obligations.  Each Guarantor agrees that amounts paid over to Beneficiaries pursuant to the subordination provisions of this Section 11 shall be separate and apart from, and shall not be credited to, the liability of such Guarantor pursuant to Section 2.

 

12.           Payments; Application.  All payment to be made hereunder by any Guarantor shall be made in lawful money of the United States of America at the time of payment, shall be made in immediately available funds, and shall be made without setoff, deduction (whether for Taxes or otherwise) or counterclaim.  All payments made by any Guarantor hereunder shall be applied as follows:  first, to all reasonable costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by Beneficiaries in enforcing this Guaranty or in collecting the Guarantied Obligations; second, to all accrued and unpaid interest, premium, if any, and fees owing to Beneficiaries constituting Guarantied Obligations; and third, to the balance of the Guarantied Obligations.

 

13.           Attorneys’ Fees and Costs.  Each Guarantor agrees to pay, on demand, all reasonable attorneys’ fees and all other reasonable costs and expenses which may be incurred by Beneficiaries in the enforcement of this Guaranty or in any way arising out of, or consequential to the protection, assertion, or enforcement of the Guarantied Obligations (or any security therefor), irrespective of whether suit is brought.

 

14.           Notices.  All notices and other communications provided to any party hereto under this Guaranty shall be in writing or by facsimile and addressed, delivered or transmitted to such party at its address or facsimile number set forth below or at such other address or facsimile number as may be designated by such party in a notice to the other parties.  Any notice, if mailed and properly addressed with postage prepaid, shall be deemed given when received; any notice, if transmitted by facsimile, shall be deemed given when transmitted.

 

If to any Guarantor:

c/o The McClatchy Company

2100 Q Street

Sacramento, CA 95816

Attention:  Elaine Lintecum

Facsimile:   ###-###-####

 

With a copy to:                                  Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

650 Page Mill Road

Palo Alto, California ###-###-####

Attention:  Andrew Hirsch, Esq.

                        Facsimile:   ###-###-####

 

If to Beneficiaries:                                Bank of America, N.A.

800 Fifth Avenue, Floor 32

Seattle, WA 98104

Mail Code:  WA1-501-32-37

Attention:  Ken Puro

Facsimile:   ###-###-####

With a copy to:

Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP

350 South Grand Avenue

25th Floor

Los Angeles, California 90071

Attention:  Brian E. Newhouse, Esq.

Facsimile: (213) 625-0248

 

16.           Severability of Provisions.  Any provision of this Guaranty which is prohibited or unenforceable under applicable law, shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof.

 

 

 

17.           Entire Agreement; Amendments.  This Guaranty constitutes the entire agreement among each Guarantor and Beneficiaries pertaining to the subject matter contained herein.  This Guaranty may not be altered, amended, or modified, nor may any provision hereof be waived or noncompliance therewith consented to, except by means of a writing executed by each Guarantor and Administrative Agent.  Any such alteration, amendment, modification, waiver, or consent shall be effective only to the extent specified therein and for the specific purpose for which given.  No course of dealing and no delay or waiver of any right or default under this Guaranty shall be deemed a waiver of any other, similar or dissimilar, right or default or otherwise prejudice the rights and remedies hereunder.

 

18.           Successors and Assigns.  Subject to the terms of the Credit Agreement, this Guaranty shall be binding each Guarantor and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of Beneficiaries; provided, however, no Guarantor shall assign this Guaranty or delegate any of its duties hereunder without Beneficiaries’ prior written consent and any unconsented to assignment shall be absolutely void.  In the event of any assignment or other transfer of rights by Beneficiaries, the rights and benefits herein conferred upon Beneficiaries shall automatically extend to and be vested in such assignee or other transferee.

 

19.           Choice of Law and Venue; Service of Process.  THE VALIDITY OF THIS GUARANTY, ITS CONSTRUCTION, INTERPRETATION, AND ENFORCEMENT, AND THE RIGHTS OF EACH GUARANTOR AND BENEFICIARIES, SHALL BE DETERMINED UNDER, GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.  ALL JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT AGAINST ANY GUARANTOR WITH RESPECT TO THIS GUARANTY MAY BE BROUGHT IN ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS GUARANTY, GUARANTOR ACCEPTS, FOR ITSELF AND IN CONNECTION WITH ITS ASSETS, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS, AND IRREVOCABLY AGREES TO BE BOUND BY ANY FINAL JUDGMENT RENDERED THEREBY IN CONNECTION WITH THIS GUARANTY FROM WHICH NO APPEAL HAS BEEN TAKEN OR IS AVAILABLE.

 

20.           Waiver of Jury Trial.  TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, EACH GUARANTOR HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY ACTION, CAUSE OF ACTION, CLAIM, DEMAND, OR PROCEEDING ARISING UNDER OR WITH RESPECT TO THIS GUARANTY, OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH, RELATED TO, OR INCIDENTAL TO THE DEALINGS OF GUARANTORS AND BENEFICIARIES WITH RESPECT TO THIS GUARANTY, OR THE TRANSACTIONS RELATED HERETO, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER SOUNDING IN CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE.  TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, EACH GUARANTOR HEREBY AGREES THAT ANY SUCH ACTION, CAUSE OF ACTION, CLAIM, DEMAND, OR PROCEEDINGS SHALL BE DECIDED BY A COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY AND THAT BENEFICIARIES MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OF THIS SECTION WITH ANY COURT OR OTHER TRIBUNAL AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF SUCH GUARANTOR TO THE WAIVER OF ITS RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

 

21.           Joint and Several Liability.  The liability of the Guarantors hereunder shall be joint and several.

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed and delivered this Guaranty as of the day and year first written above.

 

MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS, INC.   /s/ Patrick J. Talamantes

Name:  Patrick J. Talamantes Title:    Chief Financial Officer

EAST COAST NEWSPAPERS, INC.   /s/ Patrick J. Talamantes

Name:  Patrick J. Talamantes Title:    Vice President and Assistant Secretary

THE NEWS AND OBSERVER PUBLISHING COMPANY   /s/ Patrick J. Talamantes

Name:  Patrick J. Talamantes Title:    Vice President and Assistant Secretary

TACOMA NEWS, INC.   /s/ Patrick J. Talamantes

Name:  Patrick J. Talamantes Title:    Vice President and Assistant Secretary

 

SAN LUIS OBISPO TRIBUNE, LLC   By:  The McClatchy Company          its Sole Member   /s/ Patrick J. Talamantes

Name:  Patrick Talamantes Title:    Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial              Officer

MCCLATCHY MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.   /s/ Patrick J. Talamantes

Name:  Patrick J. Talamantes Title:    President

MIAMI HERALD MEDIA COMPANY   /s/ Patrick J. Talamantes

Name:  Patrick J. Talamantes Title:    Vice President, Assistant Secretary and             Assistant Treasurer

MACON TELEGRAPH PUBLISHING COMPANY   /s/ Patrick J. Talamantes

Name:  Patrick J. Talamantes Title:    Vice President, Assistant Secretary and              Assistant Treasurer

COLUMBUS LEDGER ENQUIRER, INC.   /s/ Patrick J. Talamantes

Name:  Patrick J. Talamantes Title:    Vice President, Assistant Secretary and              Assistant Treasurer

GULF PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC.   /s/ Patrick J. Talamantes

Name:  Patrick J. Talamantes Title:    Vice President, Assistant Secretary and              Assistant Treasurer

THE BRADENTON HERALD, INC.   /s/ Patrick J. Talamantes

Name:  Patrick J. Talamantes Title:    Vice President, Assistant Secretary and              Assistant Treasurer

SUN PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC.   /s/ Patrick J. Talamantes

Name:  Patrick J. Talamantes Title:    Vice President, Assistant Secretary and              Assistant Treasurer

NITTANY PRINTING AND PUBLISHING COMPANY   /s/ Patrick J. Talamantes

Name:  Patrick J. Talamantes Title:    Vice President, Assistant Secretary and              Assistant Treasurer

COLUMBIA STATE, INC.   /s/ Patrick J. Talamantes

Name:  Patrick J. Talamantes Title:    Vice President, Assistant Secretary and              Assistant Treasurer

THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER PUBLISHING COMPANY   /s/ Patrick J. Talamantes

Name:  Patrick J. Talamantes Title:    Vice President, Assistant Secretary and              Assistant Treasurer

WICHITA EAGLE AND BEACON PUBLISHING COMPANY   /s/ Patrick J. Talamantes

Name:  Patrick J. Talamantes Title:    Vice President, Assistant Secretary and              Assistant Treasurer

PACIFIC NORTHWEST PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC.   /s/ Patrick J. Talamantes

Name:  Patrick J. Talamantes Title:    Executive Vice President and Assistant              Corporate Secretary

LEXINGTON H-L SERVICES, INC.   /s/ Patrick J. Talamantes

Name:  Patrick J. Talamantes Title:    Vice President and Assistant Secretary

CYPRESS MEDIA, INC.   /s/ Patrick J. Talamantes

Name:  Patrick J. Talamantes Title:    Vice President, Assistant Secretary and              Assistant Treasurer

OAK STREET REDEVELOPMENT CORPORATION   /s/ Patrick J. Talamantes

Name:  Patrick J. Talamantes Title:    Vice President, Assistant Secretary and              Assistant Treasurer

CYPRESS MEDIA, LLC.   By:  CYPRESS MEDIA, INC.,         its Sole member   /s/ Patrick J. Talamantes

Name:  Patrick J. Talamantes Title:    Vice President, Assistant Secretary and              Assistant Treasurer

QUAD COUNTY PUBLISHING, INC.   /s/ Patrick J. Talamantes

Name:  Patrick J. Talamantes Title:    Vice President, Assistant Secretary and              Assistant Treasurer

STAR-TELEGRAM OPERATING, LTD.   By:  CYPRESS MEDIA, LLC,         its General Partner   By:  CYPRESS MEDIA, INC.          its Sole Member   /s/ Patrick J. Talamantes

Name:  Patrick J. Talamantes Title:    Vice President, Assistant Secretary and              Assistant Treasurer

MCCLATCHY U.S.A., INC.   /s/ Patrick J. Talamantes

Name:  Patrick J. Talamantes Title:    Vice President, Assistant Secretary and              Assistant Treasurer

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. as Administrative Agent.   /s/ Ken Puro

Name:  Ken Puro Title: Vice President