CONTINUING LETTER OF CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

 

 

In consideration of the Bank (as defined below) (a) previously having issued (including those listed on Schedule 1 attached hereto), and in its discretion issuing from time to time, letters of credit of any type (including without limitation, documentary or standby) and all amendments thereto (hereinafter each individually, and all collectively called the “Credit”) substantially in accordance with an Application (as defined below) for a Credit tendered to the Bank, and (b) the Bank agreeing to release the participation rights of the lenders under the Credit Agreement (as defined below), the undersigned (hereinafter, individually and collectively, the “Applicant”) agrees:

 

1. Definitions.  As used herein:  (A) “Agreement” means each Application by the Applicant for a Credit and this Continuing Letter of Credit Agreement, as each may be modified; (B) “Application” means, if Applicant uses electronic communication facilities to apply for or instruct the Bank as to the contents of a Credit, information sufficient to enable the Bank to prepare and issue or amend a Credit for Applicant’s account transmitted by electronic message (which may, but need not, be computer generated), including facsimile, directed to the Bank by Applicant using such identification codes, passwords, and other security procedures as the Bank and Applicant may agree are commercially reasonable from time to time; or a written and signed application with sufficient information delivered to the Bank to enable it to prepare and issue or amend a Credit for Applicant’s account or any account of a subsidiary of Applicant; (C) “Bank” means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (as successor by merger with Wachovia Bank, National Association) and all of its branches, whether in the United States or foreign and any of Bank’s affiliates that issue letters of credit; Applicant authorizes and directs the Bank to select the branch or affiliate which will issue or process any Credit; and for the purposes of Sections 4, 7 and 9, “Bank” includes correspondents of Bank; (D) “Business Day” means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks are authorized or required to close at the place where Bank is obligated to honor a presentation or otherwise act under the Credit or this Agreement; (E) “Collateral” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Security Agreement; (F) “Credit Agreement” means that certain Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of October 6, 2006 (as amended, supplemented, modified, amended and restated or replaced from time to time) among Applicant, Bank and the other lenders party thereto from time to time, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as agent; (G)“Draft” means any draft (sight or time), rec eipt, acceptance, cable, SWIFT or other written demand for payment; (H) “Event of Default” means (i) failure to pay or perform any of the Obligations when due; (ii) termination of Applicant’s existence; (iii) institution of any proceeding under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization by or against Applicant, or the appointment of a receiver or similar official for Applicant or any of Applicant’s property; (iv) seizure or forfeiture of Applicant or a material portion of its property; (v) a change in control of Applicant under Section 9(9) of the Credit Agreement or any similar covenant or default under the terms of the Credit Agreement as hereinafter amended, supplemented, modified, amended and restated or replaced with Bank being a party thereto; (vi) attachment or restraint of or other legal process against property in which Applicant has an interest under the Agreement or the Security Agreement in the contr ol of Bank or any third party on behalf of Bank; (vii) any statement to Bank made by Applicant or on its behalf is incorrect or misleading in any material respect; (viii) Applicant’s failure to withhold, collect or pay any material tax when assessed or due; (ix) any other act or circumstance leading Bank in good faith to deem itself insecure with respect to Obligations and the value of the Collateral; (x) a Default or an Event of Default (as defined in the Credit Agreement) shall occur; or (xi) Applicant or any Subsidiary of Applicant shall default under Section 9(6) of the Credit Agreement or any similar covenant or default under the terms of the Credit Agreement as hereinafter amended, supplemented, modified, amended and restated or replaced with Bank being a party thereto; (I) “Good Faith” means honesty in fact in the conduct or transaction concerned; (J) “ISP 98” m eans the International Standby Practices, International Chamber of Commerce (“ICC”) Publication No. 590, or any subsequent revisions or restatement thereof which may be adopted by the ICC and in use by the Bank; (K) “Jurisdiction” means the state of North Carolina; (L) “Obligations” means all obligations of any, some or all of parties comprising the Applicant to Bank now or hereafter existing under the Agreement, the Security Agreement, or otherwise with respect to any documents related to Credits that have been or will be issued; (M) “Prime Rate” means that changing rate of interest announced publicly from time to time by Bank as its Prime Rate; (O) “Property” means all present and future inventory, equipment, farm products and other goods, documents, policies and certificates of insurance, securities, securities entitlements, securities accounts, financial assets, investment property, instruments, letters-of-credit and letter-of-credit rights, chattel paper, accounts, general intangibles, money, and any and all other types of property (including, but not limited to, deposit accounts and certificates of deposit), together with all cash and non cash proceeds and products thereof, and all Applicant’s rights thereto and all documents relative thereto; (P) “Security Agreement” means that certain Security Agreement by and between Applicant and Bank dated June 4, 2010; and (Q) “UCP” means the Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits, ICC Publication Number 500, or any subsequent revision or restatement thereof adopted by the ICC and in use by the Bank.  Terms not defined herein will, if defined therein, have the same meaning as given in the Uniform Commercial Code as amended from time to time.

 

2.           Applicant’s Reimbursement of Bank:  (A) Applicant shall pay Bank on demand in immediately available funds (in United States currency) (i) the amount of each Draft drawn or purporting to be drawn under the Credit (whether drawn before, on or after the expiry date stated in the Credit); provided that if the Credit provides for acceptance of a time draft or incurrence of a deferred payment obligation, reimbursement shall be due sufficiently in advance of its maturity to enable the Bank to arrange for its cover in same day funds to reach the place where it is payable no later than the date of its maturity; (ii) any amount by which Bank’s cost of payment under the Credit exceeds the amount paid by Applicant; (iii) interest on all amounts not paid when due at a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the Prime Rate plus 2%, but in no event at an interest rate exceeding the highest rate permitted by applicable law.  (B) Foreign Currency.  If the Draft is payable in other than U.S. currency, Applicant will pay Bank the amount in U.S. currency from Bank at Bank’s current selling rate of exchange for delivery to the place of payment in the currency and amount in which such Draft was drawn.  If there is no current selling rate of exchange generally offered by Bank for effecting such payment, Applicant will pay Bank on demand an amount which Bank deems necessary to pay or provide for the payment of the Obligations, and Applicant shall remain liable for any deficiency which may result if such amount in U.S. currency proves to be insufficient to effect full payment or reimbursement to Bank at the time when such rate of exchange shall again be current.  (C) Fees Costs and Expenses.  Applicant will pay Bank (i) fees in respect of the Credit at such rates and times as Applicant and Bank may agree in writing or, in the absence of such an agreement, in accordance with Bank’s standard fees then in effect (including, if applicable, application fees, issuance fees, maintenance fees, amendment fees, drawing fees, discrepancy fees, acceptance or deferred payment obligation fees, transfer fees and assignment of letter of credit proceeds fees); and (ii) on demand, all costs and expenses that Bank incurs in connection with the Credit or this Agreement, including (a) reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements and other dispute resolution expenses to protect or enforce Bank’s rights or remedies under or in connection with the Credit, this Agreement or any separate se curity agreement, guaranty or other agreement or undertaking supporting this Agreement or to respond to any notice of forgery, fraud, abuse or illegality in connection with this Agreement, the Credit, any presentation under the Credit or any transaction underlying the Credit (including an active defense by Bank in any action in which an injunction is sought or obtained against presentation or honor), (b) costs and expenses in connection with any requested amendment to or waiver under the Credit or this Agreement, (c) costs and expenses in complying with any governmental exchange, currency control or other laws, rules or regulations of any country now or hereafter applicable to the purchase or sale of, or dealings in, foreign currency, (d) any stamp taxes, recording taxes, or similar taxes or fees payable in connection with the Credit or this Agreement, and (e) any adviser, confirmer, or other nominated person fees and expenses that are chargeable to Applicant or Bank.  References in this Agreement to attorneys’ fees and disbursements shall include any reasonably allocated costs of internal counsel.  In addition to the foregoing, Applicant will pay Bank with respect to each Credit outstanding the following fees: (1) for any issuance or renewal of a Credit, an amount equal to the greater of (x) $475 and (y) an amount equal to 0.125% per annum times the aggregate face amount of such Credit; (2) for any amendment to a Credit, an amount equal to the greater of (x) $200 and (y) an amount equal to 0.125% per annum times the increased amount of such Credit; (3) an amount equal to 1.250% per annum times the daily applicable amount of such Credit (collectively, the “LC Fees”).  Applicant shall pay the LC Fees (i) in quarterly installments in arrears on the eighteenth (18th) day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, then the next preceding Business Day) following the last day of each quarter ending March, June, September and December for fees earned through the last day of each such quarter then ended, and (ii) on the expiration date of each Credit (including the Expiration described below).  The LC Fees shall be calculated on a basis of a hypothetical year of 360 days for the actual number of days elapsed.  (D) Increased Costs and Taxes.  Applicant shall pay Bank on demand increased costs or Bank’s reduction in yield from any new or changed reserve, capital, special deposit, tax, insurance or other requirement or guideline affecting the Bank’s or its parent’s contingent or absolute rights or obligations under or in connection with this Agreement or any Credit provided the Bank acts reasonably to avoid or minimize the increased costs or reduction in the yield and computes the same on a reasonable basis.  Applicant agrees that all payments hereunder shall be made without withholding, deduction or set-off and shall be made free and clear of taxes other than federal and state income and franchise taxes imposed on the Bank.  Applicant and Bank acknowledge that all letters of credit will be issued from a U.S. location to domestic beneficiaries.  (E) Automatic Debit for Payment.  Applicant authorizes Bank to (i) debit the Account (as defined in the Security Agreement) for any payments due under this Agreement and (ii) if an Event of Default is continuing, to debit any of Applicant’s other accounts at Bank for any payments due under this Agreement, and Applicant further certifies that it holds legitimate ownership of each of these accounts and preauthorizes these debits as part of its ownership rights.  (F)  Expiration.  Applicant agrees that all Credits shall be issued on or before June 1, 2011, and no Credit shall be issued, extended or renewed if it would cause such Credit to expire aft er June 1, 2012.  All Credits shall expire on or before June 1, 2012.

3.           Independence; Applicant Responsibility.  Applicant is responsible for preparing or approving the text of the Credit as issued by Bank and as received by any Beneficiary, including responsibility for any terms and conditions thereof that are ineffective, ambiguous, inconsistent, unduly complicated, or reasonably impossible to satisfy.  Applicant’s ultimate responsibility for the final text shall not be affected by any assistance Bank may provide such as drafting or recommending text or by Bank’s use or refusal to use text submitted by Applicant.  Bank does not represent or warrant that the Cred it will satisfy Applicant’s requirements or intentions.  Applicant is responsible for the suitability of the Credit for Applicant’s purposes.  Applicant will examine the copy of the Credit, and any other documents sent by Bank in connection with the Credit, and shall notify Bank of any non-compliance with Applicant’s instructions, and of any discrepancy in any document under any presentment or other irregularity, within 3 Business Days after Applicant receives or should have received any of such documents (the “Required Time”); provided, however, if the end of the Required Time falls on a weekend or Bank holiday, the deadline shalt be extended to the end of the next Business Day.  Applicant’s failure to give timely and specific notice during the Required Time of objection shall automatically waive Applicant’s objection, authorize or ratify Bank’s action or inaction, and preclude Applicant from raising the objection as a defense or claim against Bank.

 

4.           Claims Against Bank; Waivers; Exculpations; Limitations of Liability, Ratification; Accounting.  (A) Applicant’s Obligations shall be irrevocable and unconditional and performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, irrespective of: (i) any change or waiver in the time, manner or place of payment of or any other term of the Obligations (including any release) of any other party who, if applicable, has guaranteed or is jointly and severally liable for any of the Obligations or granted any security therefor; (ii) any exchange, change or release of any Collateral or other collateral (including any failu re of Bank to perfect any security interest therein), for any of the Obligations, (iii) any presentation under the Credit being forged, fraudulent or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate, (iv) any agreement by Bank and any Beneficiary extending or shortening Bank’s time after presentation to examine documents or to honor or give notice of discrepancies.  (B) Without limiting the foregoing, it is expressly agreed that the Obligations of Applicant to reimburse or to pay Bank pursuant to this Agreement will not be excused by ordinary negligence, gross negligence, wrongful conduct or willful misconduct of Bank.  However, the foregoing shall not excuse Bank from liability to Applicant in any independent action or proceeding brought by Applicant against Bank following such reimbursement or payment by Applicant to the extent of any unavoidable direct damages suffered by Applicant that are caused directly by Bank’s gross negligence or willful misconduct; provided that (i) Bank shall be deemed to have acted with due diligence and reasonable care if it acts in accordance with standard letter of credit practice of commercial banks located in the place that the Credit is issued; and (ii) Applicant’s aggregate remedies against Bank for wrongfully honoring a presentation or wrongfully retaining honored documents shall in no event exceed the aggregate amount paid by Applicant to Bank with respect to the honored presentation, plus interest.  (C) Without limiting any other provision of the Agreement, Bank and, as applicable, its correspondents: (i) may rely upon any oral, telephonic, telegraphic, facsimile, electronic, written or other communication believed in good faith to have been authorized by Applicant, whether or not given or signed by an authorized person; (ii) shall not be responsible for any acts or omissions by, or the solvency of, any Beneficiary, any nominated person or any other person; (iii) May honor any presentation or drawing under the Credit that app ears on its face substantially to comply with the terms and conditions of the Credit; (iv) (a) may permit partial shipment under the Credit, except as otherwise expressly stated in the Credit, and may honor the relative Drafts without inquiry regardless of any apparent disproportion between the quantity shipped and the amount of the relative Draft and the total amount of the Credit and the total quantity to be shipped under the Credit, and (b) if the Credit specifies shipments in installments within stated periods and the shipper fails to ship in any designated period, shipments of subsequent installments may nevertheless be made in their respective designated periods, and the relative Drafts may be honored; (v) may disregard any requirement of the Credit that presentation be made to it at a particular place or by a particular time of day (but not any requirement for presentation by a particular day) or that notice of dishonor be given in a particular manner, and Bank may amend or specify any such requiremen t in the Credits; (vi) may accept as a draft any written or electronic demand or request for payment under the Credit, even if nonnegotiable or not in the form of a draft, and may disregard any requirement that such draft, demand or request bear any or adequate reference to the Credit; (vii) may discount or authorize the discount of any accepted draft or deferred payment obligation incurred under any Credit; (viii) may honor, before or after its expiration, a previously dishonored presentation under the Credit, whether pursuant to court order, to settle or compromises any claim that is wrongfully dishonored or otherwise, and shall be entitled to reimbursement to the same extent (if any) as if it had initially honored plus reimbursement of any interest paid by it; (ix) may honor, upon receipt, any drawing that is payable upon presentation of a statement advising negotiation or payment (even if such statement indicates that a draft or other document is being separately delivered) and shall not be liable for an y failure of any Draft or document to arrive or to conform with the Draft or document referred to in the statement or any underlying transaction; (x) may retain proceeds of the Credit based on a valid exercise of Bank’s set off rights or an apparently applicable attachment order or blocking regulation; (xi) may select any branch or affiliate of Bank or any other bank to act as advising, transferring, confirming and/or nominated bank under the law and practice of the place where it is located; (xii) shall not be responsible for any other action or inaction taken or suffered by Bank or its correspondents under or in connection with the Credit, with any presentation thereunder or with any Collateral, if required or permitted under any applicable domestic or foreign law or letter of credit practice.  Examples of laws or practice that may be applicable, depending upon the terms of the Credit and where and when it is issued, include the UCC, the Uniform Rules for Demand Guarantees (“URG” ;) the UCP, the ISP, published rules of practice, applicable standard practice of banks that regularly issue letters of credit, and published statements or interpretations on matters of standard bank practice.  (D) Applicant’s taking control, possession or retention of any documents presented under or in connection with the Credit (whether or not the documents are genuine) or of any Property for which payment is supported by the Credit, shall ratify Bank’s honor of the documents and preclude Applicant from raising a defense, set-off or claim with respect to Bank’s honor of the documents.  (E) Neither Bank nor any of its correspondents shall be liable in contract, tort, or otherwise, for any punitive, exemplary, consequential, indirect or special damages.  Any claim by Applicant under or in connection with this Agreement or the Credit shall be reduced by an amount equal to the sum of (i) the amount (if any) saved by Applicant as a result of the breach or other w rongful conduct complained of; and (ii) the amount (if any) of the loss that would have been avoided had Applicant taken all reasonable steps to mitigate any loss, including by enforcing its rights in the transaction(s) underlying the Credit, and in case of a claim of wrongful dishonor, by specifically and timely authorizing Bank to effect a cure.

 

5.           Security Agreement.  The provisions of this Section shall only supplement, not supersede, provisions of the Security Agreement or any other security agreement in favor of Bank which are inconsistent herewith.  (A) Security Interest.  As security for the payment and performance of the Obligations, Applicant assigns, pledges and grants to Bank a security interest in the Collateral.  The security interest of Bank in Collateral shall continue until all Obligations are repaid, and shall not be invalidated by reason of the delivery or possession of the Property to Applicant or anyone else.  (B) Subrogation.  As additional security for the Obligations, Bank shall be subrogated to the Applicant’s rights in respect of any transaction in any way related to the Credit or any Drafts, including rights against Beneficiary or any collateral.  (C) Actions Regarding Collateral.  Applicant will execute and deliver to Bank any documents, and take any action, which Bank deems necessary or desirable to evidence or perfect any security interest in favor of Bank, to acquire possession of any Property, or to protect Bank’s interests with respect to any Collateral, including, without limitation, transferring or registering Property in the name of Bank; in order to accomplish any of the foregoing, Bank may, at its option, at any time and without notice to Applicant, transfer to, or register in the name of, B ank or its nominees any Collateral; and further, Bank is irrevocably appointed as attorney-in-fact for Applicant and authorized, without notice to Applicant, to execute and deliver all such documents and to take all such actions on behalf of Applicant, including, without limitation, the execution, delivery and/or filing of collateral control agreements, financing statements and trust receipt statements.  This appointment is coupled with an interest.  (D) Care of Property; Modification.  Bank will exercise care in the preservation of Collateral if such Property is in the custody of Bank; provided, however, its standard of care for Property in its custody is the lesser of that required by applicable law or that requested by Applicant in writing.  Applicant shall remain obligated under the terms of the Agreement notwithstanding the release or substitution of any Collateral at any time(s), or any delay, extension of t ime, renewal, compromise or other indulgence granted by Bank related to any Obligations, or to any promissory note, Draft, bill of exchange or other instrument related to any Obligations.  Applicant waives notice of any such delay, extension, release, substitution, renewal, compromise or other indulgence, and consents to be bound thereby as fully as if Applicant had expressly agreed thereto in advance.  The proceeds of any Collateral may be applied, in whole or in part, by Bank to pay any matured, or to anticipate the payment of any unmatured, Obligations.

 

6.           Communications.  (A) Internet.  Applicant may electronically initiate the issuance and amendment of any Credit and retrieve or send information about any outstanding Credit by accessing an Internet site maintained by the Bank (the ‘Web Site”) through Applicant’s computer equipment and web browser software.  Applicant is responsible to provide its own computer equipment and web browser software and shall be responsible for all acquisition, installation, repair and maintenance costs associated therewith.  Applicant shall sel ect its own internet service provider.  Applicant shall comply promptly with all instructions on the Web Site governing its use and the security measures to be maintained in connection with its use.  Applicant authorizes the Bank to receive data and act upon Applicant’s requests which Bank receives over the Web Site.  Applicant agrees that Bank may rely on the authenticity and accuracy of messages and information received by Bank on the Web Site purporting to be from the Applicant.  Applicant agrees: (i) to protect all assigned operator identification passwords and accepts full responsibility for any compromise of security; (ii) to limit access to the Web Site to those persons authorized by Applicant through the use of security procedures implemented and enforced by the Applicant; (iii) accurately to input any data fields necessary to initiate, release or cancel any transaction; (iv) to access the Web Site as often as necessary consistent with Applicant’s b usiness activities it conducts on the Web Site, which may be daily, and retrieve and review outstanding Credit detail reports; and (v) to notify the Bank promptly of any error or defect in the report.  Applicant acknowledges and understands that the instructions sent by it through the internet to the Bank and the information retrieved by the Applicant from the Web Site through the internet will be encrypted, but that such encryption is not completely secure and is not free from errors, poor transmissions, interception, forgery, viruses, tampering, destruction, deciphering or other delay or casualty.  The Bank shall not be liable for any loss, claim or liability, cost or expense arising from: (a) any of the foregoing; (b) failure of any internet service provider to provide its services; (c) failure of communications media, legal restrictions; (d) act of God, fire or other catastrophe, computer failure or any other cause or circumstance beyond the Bank’s control; (e) any unauthorized person’s use of or access to the Web Site; or (f) failure of Applicant to report errors or defects promptly.  (B) Electronic Systems.  Applicant may desire to transmit and receive by means of facsimile, open intemet communication, or other unguarded electronic communications (hereinafter collectively the “electronic systems”) Applications and other paper-writings to or from the Bank.  To induce the Bank to accept communication via electronic systems, Applicant shall: i) ensure that its officers, agents and employees, will at all times follow and maintain the integrity of any security established by the Applicant and the Bank; ii) immediately notify the Bank in the event that Applicant should have reason to believe that the security established for electronic systems transmission has been breached or compromised in any manner; iii) ensure that only authorized personnel selected and controlled by the Applica nt request action(s) by transmittal of document(s) by electronic systems; iv) ensure that any documents transmitted to the Bank by means of electronic systems shall be a complete and accurate copy and if signed be executed by personnel authorized by the Applicant; and v) maintain its software and equipment and any privacy control device within such software or equipment without any reliance on or responsibility by the Bank.  The Applicant acknowledges and agrees that the Bank shall: i) not be responsible to the Applicant for any loss or damage arising from the use of unguarded electronic systems, including access or misuse of Applicant’s confidential information, transmission of a virus, or failed, incomplete or inaccurate transmission; ii) not be responsible to assure that, its software and equipment for receiving messages or documents from electronic systems will be compatible with that of Applicant or available at all times for Applicant’s use; iii) have absolute discretion but witho ut liability, for any reason whatsoever, not to act upon documentation received by electronic systems; provided, however, that the Bank shall notify the undersigned promptly should it elect to defer action until the original documentation is physically presented to the Bank; iv) without any liability on its part to do so, have the right at its discretion to make further inquiries and demand further verification to determine the validity of any document prior to taking any action; and v) have the right to assume that any reproduction of documentation received by electronic systems constitutes a full, complete and accurate reproduction of the original documentation and that all signatures are authorized and genuine.  (C) Indemnity.  Separate and independent from any other indemnity set forth in this Agreement, the Applicant hereby indemnifies and holds the Bank harmless against any and all loss, liability, damage or expenses of whateve r kind and nature arising from Bank’s acceptance and/or delivery of information and Applications over its Web Site or by electronic systems.

 

7.           Multiple Parties Signing Agreement.  If the Agreement or any Application is signed by Applicant and one or more other parties, it shall be the joint and several obligation of each, but Applicant shall have the exclusive right to issue all instructions on any matters relating to the Credit.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Applicant agrees that it is liable for the obligations related to any Credit irrespective of whether any Credit is requested or applied for jointly with, or issued for, any of Applicant’s subsidiaries.

 

8.           Event of Default.   On and after any Event of Default: (A) the amount of the Credit, as well as any other Obligations, shall, at Bank’s option, become due and payable immediately without demand or notice to Applicant or if contingent, may be treated by Bank as due and payable for its maximum face amount; (B) Bank may set off and apply any deposits or any other indebtedness at any time owing by Bank to or for Applicant’s credit or account against any matured or unmatured Obligations, irrespective of whether or not Bank shall have made any demand under the Agreement and although such deposits, indebtedness or Oblig ations may be unmatured or contingent; (C) Bank may exercise all rights and remedies available to it in law or equity; and (D) in respect of any Collateral, Bank may exercise all the rights and remedies of a secured party under the Uniform Commercial Code or any other applicable law and also may, without notice except as required by law, sell such Property or any part thereof in one or more parcels at public or private sale, for cash, on credit or for future delivery, and on such other terms as Bank may deem commercially reasonable.  Written notice mailed or delivered to Applicant at the address specified in the Agreement at least five business days prior to the date of public sale or prior to the date after which private sale is to be made shall be reasonable, adequate notice.  Applicant will pay on demand all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees and legal expenses, incurred prior to or after a bankruptcy filing) related to the custody, preservation or sale of, or coll ection from, or realization upon, any of such Property and related to the collections of the Obligations and the enforcement of Bank’s rights against Property.  In the event of sale of or collection from the Collateral, Bank may in its discretion hold the proceeds as Collateral or apply the proceeds as Bank deems appropriate to the payment of costs and expenses or to one or more of the Obligations, whether or not then due.

 

9.           Indemnification.  Applicant will indemnify and hold harmless Bank and its officers, directors, affiliates, employees, attorneys and agents (each, an “Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and disbursements and other dispute resolution expenses (including fees and expenses in preparation for a defense of any investigation, litigation or proceeding) and costs of collection) that arise out of or in connection with: (A) the Credit or any pre-advice of its issuance; (B) any payment or action taken or omitted to be taken in connection with the Credit or this Agreement (including any action or proceeding to (i) restrain any presentation, (ii) compel or restrain any payment or the taking of any other action under the Credit, (iii) obtain damages for wrongful dishonor or honor of the Credit or for breach of any other duty arising out of or related to the Credit, (iv) compel or restrain the taking of any action under this Agreement or (v) obtain similar relief (including by way of interpleader, declaratory judgment, attachment or otherwise), regardless of who the prevailing party is in any such action or proceeding); (C) an adviser or a confirmer or other nominated person seeking to be reimbursed, indemnified or compensated, (D) any beneficiary requested to issue its own undertaking seeking to be reimbursed, indemnified or compensated or (E) any third party seeking to enforce the rights of an applicant, beneficiary, nominated person, transferee, assignee of letter of credit proceeds, or holder of an instrument or do cument; (F) the enforcement of this Agreement or any rights or remedies under or in connection with this Agreement, the Collateral or the Credit; (G) the release by Applicant of any Credit to any third party prior to its issuance by the Bank; or (H) any act or omission, whether rightful or wrongful, of any present or future de jure or de facto government or governmental authority (including with respect to any document or property received under this Agreement or the Credit ) or any other cause beyond the Bank’s control, except to the extent such liability, loss, damage, cost or expense is found in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted directly from such Indemnified party’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.  Applicant will pay on demand from time to time all amounts owing under this section.  If and to the extent that the obligations of Applicant under this section are unenforceable for any reason, Applicant agrees to make the maximum contribution to the payment of such obligation that is permissible under applicable law.

 

10.           Governing Law; UCP, ISP 98.  The UCP or ISP 98 as applicable to each Credit governs this Agreement and is incorporated herein.  Subject to the other provisions of the Agreement, the Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the Jurisdiction, without regard to conflicts of law principles, except to the extent that such law is inconsistent with the UCP or 1SP 98, as applicable.  In the event any provision of the UCP or ISP 98, as applicable, is or is construed to vary from or be in conflict with any provision of any applicable law of the Jurisdiction or the fed eral law of the United States, to the extent permitted by law, the UCP or the ISP 98, as applicable, shall govern or be read to explain the applicable law.  Unless Applicant specifies otherwise in its application for the Credit, Applicant agrees that Bank may issue the Credit subject to the UCP or ISP 98 or, at Bank’s option, such later revision of either thereof as is in effect at the time of issuance of the Credit.  Bank’s privileges, rights and remedies under the UCP, ISP 98 or such later revision shall be in addition to, and not in limitation of, its privileges, rights, and remedies expressly provided for herein.  The UCP and ISP 98 shall serve, in the absence of proof to the contrary, as evidence of standard practice with respect to the subject matter thereof.

 

11.           Savings Clause.  Whenever possible, each provision of the Agreement shall be interpreted in a manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of the Agreement shall be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of the Agreement.

 

12.           Bankruptcy and Forfeiture Reinstatement.  If any consideration transferred to Bank in payment of, or as collateral for, or in satisfaction of the Obligations, shall be voided in whole or in part as a result of (A) a subsequent bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding; (B) any forfeiture or in rem seizure action or remedy; (C) any fraudulent transfer or preference action or remedy; or (D) any other criminal or equitable proceeding or remedy, then Bank may at its option recover the Obligations or the consideration so voided from Applicant In such event, Bank’s claim to recover the voided consideration shall be a new and inde pendent claim arising under the Agreement, and shall be jointly and severally due and payable immediately by Applicant.

 

13.           Miscellaneous.   The rights and remedies granted to Bank in the Agreement are in addition to all other rights or remedies afforded to Bank under applicable law, equity or other agreements.  The terms of the Agreement may not be waived or amended, unless the parties consent in writing.  The Agreement shall be binding on Applicant’s heirs, executors, administrators, successors and permitted assigns, and shall inure to the benefit of Bank’s successors and assigns.  Bank can assign this Agreement and its rights to reimbursement regarding any Credit without Applicant’s consent .  Applicant shall not assign any rights or remedies related to the Agreement or the Credit without written consent of the Bank.  Any notice to Applicant, if mailed, shall be deemed given when mailed, postage paid, addressed to Applicant at the address on the Application or such other address furnished by Applicant to Bank.  This Section shall not be deemed to be an exclusive list of each means of notice from one party to the other.  The Agreement will continue in full force and effect until the expiration or cancellation of each Credit and all outstanding Obligations have been satisfied in a manner satisfactory to Bank, and Applicant requests termination in writing.  Applicant will comply with all laws, regulations and customs now or hereafter applicable to the Agreement or to the transaction related to the Credit, and will furnish evidence of compliance as Bank may require.  Applicant shall maintain or cause to be maintained insurance covering any Property for which payment is supported by a Credit in amounts, from insurers, or through parties satisfactory to the Bank and will furnish such evidence of insurance as and when Bank may require.  This Agreement contains the final, complete and exclusive understanding of, and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous, oral or written, agreements, understandings, representations and negotiations between, the parties relating to the subject matter of this Agreement.

 

14.           Consent to Jurisdiction and Venue.  IN ANY PROCEEDING INVOLVING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE AGREEMENT OR THE RELATIONSHIP ESTABLISHED HEREUNDER, APPLICANT IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE NONEXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT LOCATED IN ANY COUNTY IN THE JURISDICTION AND AGREES NOT TO RAISE ANY OBJECTION TO THE JURISDICTION OR TO THE LAYING OR MAINTAINING OF THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN THE JURISDICTION.  APPLICANT AGREES THAT SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING MAY BE DULY EFFECTED UPON IT BY MAILING A COPY THEREOF, BY REGISTERED MAIL, POSTAGE PREP AID, TO IT.

 

15.           WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.  TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, APPLICANT AND WHEN IT ISSUES A CREDIT, BANK KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY WAIVE ALL RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY LITIGATION BASED ON, ARISING OUT OF, OR RELATING TO THE AGREEMENT OR THE CREDIT, OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, COURSE OF DEALING, STATEMENTS (ORAL OR WRITTEN) OR ACTIONS OF ANY PARTY WITH RESPECT THERETO.  THIS WAIVER IS A MATERIAL INDUCEMENT FOR BANK TO ISSUE THE CREDIT.

 

16.           Effectiveness of Agreement.  Applicant agrees that the terms and conditions of this Continuing Letter of Credit Agreement shall be continuing and shall apply to any Credit currently, or in the future, issued by the Bank on Applicant’s behalf.

 

[signature page follows]

 

 

We, the undersigned parties, hereby agree and authorize this application to be processed as a joint application for credit.  We intend to apply for joint credit and acknowledge your reliance on all of our incomes to repay this obligation.  If any co-applicants are not present or have not signed below, the first party signing below certifies that it has permission from all non-signing co-applicants to apply for credit on behalf of the non-signing co-applicants, including, but not limited to, providing information about the non-signing co-applicants.

 

Very truly yours,

 

M/I Homes, Inc., an Ohio corporation

 

By:                                                               Date: June 4, 2010

Phillip G. Creek

Its:  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Existing Credits

LC #

LC Amount

Issue Date

Expiry Date

Sub

Evergreen

Classification

SM232750

$

80,025.00

9/17/2008

9/19/2010

2173243

Yes

Performance

SM233096

$

968,050.00

10/29/2008

7/17/2010

2178390

Yes

Performance

SM233094

$

1,815,150.00

10/29/2008

7/17/2010

2178408

Yes

Performance

SM234259

$

334,528.00

3/16/2009

6/5/2011

2189900

Yes

Performance

SM234500

$

410,085.00

4/16/2009

9/30/2010

2192193

Yes

Performance

SM235175

$

400,000.00

7/8/2009

9/22/2010

2198539

Yes

Performance

SM235261

$

96,800.00

7/21/2009

9/30/2010

2198851

Yes

Performance

SM235264

$

49,958.00

7/21/2009

9/16/2010

2198869

Yes

Performance

SM235265

$

156,489.00

7/21/2009

9/16/2010

2198877

Yes

Performance

SM235268

$

72,100.00

7/21/2009

9/30/2010

2198885

Yes

Performance

SM235269

$

109,959.00

7/21/2009

9/30/2010

2198893

Yes

Performance

SM235270

$

391,668.00

7/21/2009

9/30/2010

2198901

Yes

Performance

SM235271

$

22,869.00

7/21/2009

9/30/2010

2198919

Yes

Performance

SM235273

$

30,000.00

7/21/2009

9/30/2010

2198927

Yes

Performance

SM235296

$

203,212.50

7/23/2009

7/31/2010

2199024

No

Performance

SM235297

$

106,221.00

7/23/2009

7/31/2010

2199032

No

Performance

SM235298

$

125,800.00

7/23/2009

7/31/2010

2199040

No

Performance

$

5,372,914.50