Guaranty, dated as of March 27, 2020, by the subsidiaries of Microchip Technology Incorporated party thereto as guarantors in favor of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent

Contract Categories: Business Finance - Guaranty Agreements
EX-10.3 4 d905730dex103.htm EX-10.3 EX-10.3

Exhibit 10.3

Execution Version

GUARANTY

THIS GUARANTY (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “Guaranty”) is made as of March 27, 2020, by and among each of the undersigned (the “Initial Guarantors”) and along with any additional Subsidiaries of the Borrower which become parties to this Guaranty by executing a supplement hereto (a “Guaranty Supplement”) in the form attached hereto as Annex I (such additional Subsidiaries, together with the Initial Guarantors, the “Guarantors”), in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Holders of Guaranteed Obligations (as defined below), under the Credit Agreement referred to below.

WITNESSETH

WHEREAS, Microchip Technology Incorporated, a Delaware corporation (the “Borrower”), the institutions from time to time parties thereto as lenders, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its capacity as administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”), have entered into a $615,000,000 364-Day Senior Secured Bridge Credit Agreement dated as of March 27, 2020 (the “Credit Agreement”);

WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the extension of Loans by the Lenders under the Credit Agreement that each of the Guarantors (constituting all of the Subsidiaries of the Borrower required to execute this Guaranty pursuant to Section 5.09 of the Credit Agreement) execute and deliver this Guaranty, whereby each of the Guarantors shall guarantee the payment when due of all Obligations; and

WHEREAS, in consideration of the direct and indirect financial and other support that the Borrower has provided, and such direct and indirect financial and other support as the Borrower may in the future provide, to the Guarantors, and in order to induce the Lenders and the Administrative Agent to enter into the Credit Agreement, each of the Guarantors is willing to guarantee the Obligations of the Borrower;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree to enter into this Guaranty as of the Effective Date as follows:

Section 1.    Definitions. Terms defined in the Credit Agreement and not otherwise defined herein have, as used herein, the respective meanings provided for therein.

Section 2.    Representations, Warranties and Covenants. Each of the Guarantors represents and warrants to each Holder of Guaranteed Obligations (as defined below) and the Administrative Agent as of the date of this Guaranty (which representations and warranties shall be deemed to have been renewed at the time of the making of any Loan) that:

(A)    It is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company duly incorporated or organized, as the case may be, validly existing and (to the extent such concept applies to such entity) in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, organization or formation and has all requisite corporate, partnership or limited liability company, as the case may be, authority to conduct its business in each jurisdiction in which its business is conducted, except to the extent that the failure to have such authority could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(B)    It (to the extent applicable) has the requisite power and corporate, partnership or limited liability company, as the case may be, authority and legal right to execute and deliver this Guaranty and to perform its obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery by each Guarantor of this Guaranty and the performance by each of its obligations hereunder have been duly

 

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authorized by proper proceedings, and this Guaranty constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Guarantor, respectively, enforceable against such Guarantor, respectively, in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in equity or at law).

(C)    Neither the execution and delivery by it of this Guaranty, nor the consummation by it of the transactions herein contemplated, nor compliance by it with the provisions hereof will (i) violate any applicable law or regulation or its charter, by-laws or other organizational documents or violate or result in a default under any indenture, material agreement or other material instrument binding upon it or its assets, or give rise thereunder to require any payment to be made by it, or (ii) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien on any of its assets, other than Liens created under the Pledge Agreements (if applicable). No consent or approval of, registration or filing with, or any action by, any Governmental Authority is required to be obtained by it in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by it of, or the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability against it of, this Guaranty, except such as have been obtained or made and are in full force and effect.

In addition to the foregoing, each of the Guarantors covenants that, so long as any Lender has any Commitment, Loan, interest or fees outstanding under the Credit Agreement or any other amount payable under the Credit Agreement or any other Guaranteed Obligations (as defined below) shall remain unpaid, it will, and, if necessary, will enable the Borrower to, fully comply with those covenants and agreements of the Borrower applicable to such Guarantor set forth in the Credit Agreement.

Section 3.    The Guaranty. Each of the Guarantors hereby unconditionally guarantees, jointly with the other Guarantors and severally, the full and punctual payment and performance when due (whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise) of the Obligations, including, without limitation, (i) the principal of and interest on each Loan made to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement, (ii) all other amounts payable by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents and (iii) the punctual and faithful performance, keeping, observance, and fulfillment by the Borrower of all of the agreements, conditions, covenants, and obligations of the Borrower contained in the Loan Documents (all of the foregoing being referred to collectively as the “Guaranteed Obligations” and the holders from time to time of the Guaranteed Obligations being referred to collectively as the “Holders of Guaranteed Obligations”). Notwithstanding the foregoing and for the avoidance of doubt, any obligations arising from Permitted Call Spread Swap Agreements and all other amounts payable under Permitted Call Spread Swap Agreements shall not constitute Guaranteed Obligations. Upon (x) the failure by the Borrower or any of its Affiliates, as applicable, to pay punctually any such amount or perform such obligation, and (y) such failure continuing beyond any applicable grace or notice and cure period, each of the Guarantors agrees that it shall forthwith on demand pay such amount or perform such obligation at the place and in the manner specified in the Credit Agreement or the relevant Loan Document, as the case may be. Each of the Guarantors hereby agrees that this Guaranty is an absolute, irrevocable and unconditional guaranty of payment and is not a guaranty of collection. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Guaranty, the amount guaranteed by each Guarantor hereunder shall be limited to the extent, if any, required so that its obligations hereunder shall not be subject to avoidance under Section 548 of the Bankruptcy Code or under any applicable state Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act, Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act or similar statute or common law. In determining the limitations, if any, on the amount of any Guarantor’s obligations hereunder pursuant to the preceding sentence, it is the intention of the parties hereto that any rights of subrogation, indemnification or contribution which such Guarantor may have under this Guaranty, any other agreement or applicable law shall be taken into account.

 

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Each of the Guarantors hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees, jointly and severally with the other Guarantors, that if any obligation guaranteed by it is or becomes unenforceable, invalid or illegal, it will, as an independent and primary obligation, indemnify the Holders of Guaranteed Obligations immediately on demand against any cost, loss or liability they incur as a result of the Borrower or any of its Affiliates not paying any amount which would, but for such unenforceability, invalidity or illegality, have been payable by such Guarantor under this Guaranty on the date when it would have been due (but so that the amount payable by each Guarantor under this indemnity will not exceed the amount which it would have had to pay under this Guaranty if the amount claimed had been recoverable on the basis of a guaranty).

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document, the guarantee provided by each of Microchip Technology LLC and Silicon Storage Technology LLC, so long as each remains a Foreign Sub Holdco, shall be without recourse to voting Equity Interests in excess of 65%, in the aggregate, of Microchip Technology Malta Limited.

Section 4.    Guaranty Unconditional. The obligations of each of the Guarantors hereunder shall be unconditional and absolute and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, shall not be released, discharged or otherwise affected by:

(A)    any extension, renewal, settlement, indulgence, compromise, waiver or release of or with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof or any agreement relating thereto, or with respect to any obligation of any other guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, whether (in any such case) by operation of law or otherwise, or any failure or omission to enforce any right, power or remedy with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof or any agreement relating thereto, or with respect to any obligation of any other guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Obligations;

(B)    any modification or amendment of or supplement to the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, including, without limitation, any such amendment which may increase the amount of, or the interest rates applicable to, any of the Guaranteed Obligations guaranteed hereby;

(C)    any release, surrender, compromise, settlement, waiver, subordination or modification, with or without consideration, of any collateral securing the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof, any other guaranties with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof, or any other obligation of any person or entity with respect to the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof, or any nonperfection or invalidity of any direct or indirect security for the Guaranteed Obligations;

(D)    any change in the corporate, partnership, limited liability company or other existence, structure or ownership of the Borrower or any other guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or other similar proceeding affecting the Borrower or any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any of their respective assets or any resulting release or discharge of any obligation of the Borrower or any other guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Obligations;

(E)    the existence of any claim, setoff or other rights which the Guarantors may have at any time against the Borrower, any other guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, the Administrative Agent, any Holder of Guaranteed Obligations or any other Person, whether in connection herewith or in connection with any unrelated transactions; provided that nothing herein shall prevent the assertion of any such claim by separate suit or compulsory counterclaim;

 

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(F)    the enforceability or validity of the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof or the genuineness, enforceability or validity of any agreement relating thereto or with respect to any collateral securing the Guaranteed Obligations or any part thereof, or any other invalidity or unenforceability relating to or against the Borrower or any other guarantor of any of the Guaranteed Obligations, for any reason related to the Credit Agreement any other Loan Document, or any provision of applicable law, decree, order or regulation of any jurisdiction purporting to prohibit the payment by the Borrower or any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations, of any of the Guaranteed Obligations or otherwise affecting any term of any of the Guaranteed Obligations;

(G)    the failure of the Administrative Agent to take any steps to perfect and maintain any security interest in, or to preserve any rights to, any security or collateral for the Guaranteed Obligations, if any;

(H)    the election by, or on behalf of, any one or more of the Holders of Guaranteed Obligations, in any proceeding instituted under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code (11 U.S.C. 101 et seq.) (or any successor statute, the “Bankruptcy Code”), of the application of Section 1111(b)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable federal, state, provincial, municipal, local or foreign law relating to such matters;

(I)    any borrowing or grant of a security interest by the Borrower, as debtor-in-possession, under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable federal, state, provincial, municipal, local or foreign law relating to such matters;

(J)    the disallowance, under Section 502 of the Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable federal, state, provincial, municipal, local or foreign law relating to such matters, of all or any portion of the claims of the Holders of Guaranteed Obligations or the Administrative Agent for repayment of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations;

(K)    the failure of any other guarantor to sign or become party to this Guaranty or any amendment, change, or reaffirmation hereof; or

(L)    any other act or omission to act or delay of any kind by the Borrower, any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations, the Administrative Agent, any Holder of Guaranteed Obligations or any other Person or any other circumstance whatsoever which might, but for the provisions of this Section 4, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of any Guarantor’s obligations hereunder except as provided in Section 5.

Section 5.    Continuing Guarantee; Discharge Only Upon Payment In Full: Reinstatement In Certain Circumstances. Each of the Guarantors’ obligations hereunder shall constitute a continuing and irrevocable guarantee of all Guaranteed Obligations now or hereafter existing and shall remain in full force and effect until all Guaranteed Obligations (other than obligations expressly stated to survive such payment or termination) shall have been paid in full in cash. If at any time any payment of the principal of or interest on any Loan, any Reimbursement Obligation or any other amount payable by the Borrower or any other party under the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document (including a payment effected through a right of setoff) is rescinded, or is or must be otherwise restored or returned upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Borrower or otherwise (including pursuant to any settlement entered into by a Holder of Guaranteed Obligations in its discretion), each of the Guarantors’ obligations hereunder with respect to such payment shall be reinstated as though such payment had been due but not made at such time.

Section 6.    General Waivers; Additional Waivers.

 

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(A)    General Waivers. Each of the Guarantors irrevocably waives to the extent permitted by applicable law acceptance hereof, presentment, demand or action on delinquency, protest, the benefit of any statutes of limitations and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any notice not provided for herein, as well as any requirement that at any time any action be taken by any Person against the Borrower, any other guarantor of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any other Person.

(B)    Additional Waivers. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, each of the Guarantors hereby absolutely, unconditionally, knowingly, and expressly waives to the fullest extent permitted by law:

(i)    any right it may have to revoke this Guaranty as to future indebtedness arising under the Loan Documents;

(ii)    (a) notice of acceptance hereof; (b) notice of any loans or other financial accommodations made or extended under the Loan Documents or the creation or existence of any Guaranteed Obligations; (c) notice of the amount of the Guaranteed Obligations, subject, however, to each Guarantor’s right to make inquiry of Administrative Agent and Holders of Guaranteed Obligations to ascertain the amount of the Guaranteed Obligations at any reasonable time; (d) notice of any adverse change in the financial condition of the Borrower or of any other fact that might increase such Guarantor’s risk hereunder; (e) notice of presentment for payment, demand, protest, and notice thereof as to any instruments among the Loan Documents; (f) notice of any Default or Event of Default; and (g) all other notices (except if such notice is specifically required to be given to such Guarantor hereunder or under the Loan Documents) and demands to which each Guarantor might otherwise be entitled;

(iii)    its right, if any, to require the Administrative Agent and the other Holders of Guaranteed Obligations to institute suit against, or to exhaust any rights and remedies which the Administrative Agent and the other Holders of Guaranteed Obligations has or may have against, the other Guarantors or any third party, or against any collateral provided by the other Guarantors, or any third party; and each Guarantor further waives to the extent permitted by applicable law any defense arising by reason of any disability or other defense (other than the defense that the Guaranteed Obligations shall have been fully and finally performed and paid) of the other Guarantors or by reason of the cessation from any cause whatsoever of the liability of the other Guarantors in respect thereof;

(iv)    (a) any rights to assert against the Administrative Agent and the other Holders of Guaranteed Obligations any defense (legal or equitable), set-off, counterclaim, or claim which such Guarantor may now or at any time hereafter have against the other Guarantors or any other party liable to the Administrative Agent and the other Holders of Guaranteed Obligations; (b) 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 Guaranteed Obligations or any security therefor; (c) any defense such Guarantor has to performance hereunder, and any right such Guarantor has to be exonerated, arising by reason of: the impairment or suspension of the Administrative Agent’s and the other Holders of Guaranteed Obligations’ rights or remedies against the other Guarantors; the alteration by the Administrative Agent and the other Holders of Guaranteed Obligations of the Guaranteed Obligations; any discharge of the other Guarantors’ obligations to the Administrative Agent and the other Holders of Guaranteed Obligations by operation of law as a result of the Administrative Agent’s and the other Holders of Guaranteed Obligations’ intervention or omission; or the acceptance by the Administrative Agent and the other Holders of Guaranteed Obligations of anything in partial satisfaction of the Guaranteed Obligations; and (d) the benefit of any statute of limitations affecting such Guarantor’s

 

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liability hereunder or the enforcement thereof, and any act which shall defer or delay the operation of any statute of limitations applicable to the Guaranteed Obligations shall similarly operate to defer or delay the operation of such statute of limitations applicable to such Guarantor’s liability hereunder; and

(v)    any defense arising by reason of or deriving from (a) any claim or defense based upon an election of remedies by the Administrative Agent and the other Holders of Guaranteed Obligations; or (b) any election by the Administrative Agent and the other Holders of Guaranteed Obligations under the Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable federal, state, provincial, municipal, local or foreign law relating to such matters, as now and hereafter in effect (or any successor statute), to limit the amount of, or any collateral securing, its claim against the Guarantors.

Section 7.    Subordination of Subrogation; Subordination of Intercompany Indebtedness.

(A)    Subordination of Subrogation. Until the Guaranteed Obligations (other than obligations expressly stated to survive such payment) have been paid in full in cash, the Guarantors (i) shall have no right of subrogation with respect to such Guaranteed Obligations, (ii) waive to the extent permitted by applicable law any right to enforce any remedy which the Holders of Guaranteed Obligations or the Administrative Agent now have or may hereafter have against the Borrower, any endorser or any guarantor of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations or any other Person, and (iii) waive to the extent permitted by applicable law any benefit of, and any right to participate in, any security or collateral given to the Holders of Guaranteed Obligations and the Administrative Agent to secure the payment or performance of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations or any other liability of the Borrower to the Holders of Guaranteed Obligations. Should any Guarantor have the right, notwithstanding the foregoing, to exercise its subrogation rights, each Guarantor hereby expressly and irrevocably (A) subordinates any and all rights at law or in equity to subrogation, reimbursement, exoneration, contribution, indemnification or set off that such Guarantor may have to the payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations (other than obligations expressly stated to survive such payment) and (B) waives to the extent permitted by applicable law any and all defenses available to a surety, guarantor or accommodation co-obligor until the Guaranteed Obligations (other than obligations expressly stated to survive such payment) are paid in full in cash. Each Guarantor acknowledges and agrees that this subordination is intended to benefit the Administrative Agent and the other Holders of Guaranteed Obligations and shall not limit or otherwise affect such Guarantor’s liability hereunder or the enforceability of this Guaranty, and that the Administrative Agent, the other Holders of Guaranteed Obligations and their respective successors and assigns are intended third party beneficiaries of the waivers and agreements set forth in this Section 7(A).

(B)    Subordination of Intercompany Indebtedness. Each Guarantor agrees that any and all claims of such Guarantor against the Borrower or any other Guarantor hereunder (each an “Obligor”) with respect to any “Intercompany Indebtedness” (as hereinafter defined), any endorser, obligor or any other guarantor of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations, or against any of its properties shall be subordinate and subject in right of payment to the prior payment, in full and in cash, of all Guaranteed Obligations (other than obligations expressly stated to survive such payment); provided that, as long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, such Guarantor may receive payments of principal and interest from any Obligor with respect to Intercompany Indebtedness. Notwithstanding any right of any Guarantor to ask, demand, sue for, take or receive any payment from any Obligor, all rights, liens and security interests of such Guarantor, whether now or hereafter arising and howsoever existing, in any assets of any other Obligor shall be and are subordinated to the rights of the Holders of Guaranteed Obligations and the Administrative Agent in those assets. No Guarantor shall have any right to possession of any such asset or to foreclose upon any such asset, whether by judicial action or otherwise, unless and until all of the Guaranteed Obligations shall have been fully paid and satisfied (in cash) (other than obligations expressly

 

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stated to survive such payment) and all financing arrangements pursuant to any Loan Document have been terminated. If all or any part of the assets of any Obligor, or the proceeds thereof, are subject to any distribution, division or application to the creditors of such Obligor, whether partial or complete, voluntary or involuntary, and whether by reason of liquidation, bankruptcy, arrangement, receivership, assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other action or proceeding, or if the business of any such Obligor is dissolved or if substantially all of the assets of any such Obligor are sold, then, and in any such event (such events being herein referred to as an “Insolvency Event”), any payment or distribution of any kind or character, either in cash, securities or other property, which shall be payable or deliverable upon or with respect to any indebtedness of any Obligor to any Guarantor (“Intercompany Indebtedness”) shall be paid or delivered directly to the Administrative Agent for application on any of the Guaranteed Obligations, due or to become due, until such Guaranteed Obligations (other than obligations expressly stated to survive such payment) shall have first been fully paid and satisfied (in cash). Should any payment, distribution, security or instrument or proceeds thereof be received by the applicable Guarantor upon or with respect to the Intercompany Indebtedness after any Insolvency Event and prior to the satisfaction of all of the Guaranteed Obligations (other than obligations expressly stated to survive such payment) and the termination of all financing arrangements pursuant to any Loan Document among the Borrower and the Holders of Guaranteed Obligations, such Guarantor shall receive and hold the same in trust, as trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of Guaranteed Obligations and shall forthwith deliver the same to the Administrative Agent, for the benefit of the Holders of Guaranteed Obligations, in precisely the form received (except for the endorsement or assignment of the Guarantor where necessary), for application to any of the Guaranteed Obligations, due or not due, and, until so delivered, the same shall be held in trust by the Guarantor as the property of the Holders of Guaranteed Obligations. If any such Guarantor fails to make any such endorsement or assignment to the Administrative Agent, the Administrative Agent or any of its officers or employees is irrevocably authorized to make the same. Each Guarantor agrees that until the Guaranteed Obligations (other than obligations expressly stated to survive such payment) have been paid in full (in cash) and satisfied and all financing arrangements pursuant to any Loan Document among the Borrower and the Holders of Guaranteed Obligations have been terminated, except as otherwise permitted by the Credit Agreement, no Guarantor will assign or transfer to any Person (other than the Administrative Agent) any claim any such Guarantor has or may have against any Obligor.

Section 8.    Contribution with Respect to Guaranteed Obligations.

(A)    To the extent that any Guarantor shall make a payment under this Guaranty (a “Guarantor Payment”) which, taking into account all other Guarantor Payments then previously or concurrently made by any other Guarantor, exceeds the amount which otherwise would have been paid by or attributable to such Guarantor if each Guarantor had paid the aggregate Guaranteed Obligations (other than obligations expressly stated to survive such payment) satisfied by such Guarantor Payment in the same proportion as such Guarantor’s “Allocable Amount” (as defined below) (as determined immediately prior to such Guarantor Payment) bore to the aggregate Allocable Amounts of each of the Guarantors as determined immediately prior to the making of such Guarantor Payment, then, following payment in full in cash of the Guaranteed Obligations (other than obligations expressly stated to survive such payment) and termination of the Credit Agreement, such Guarantor shall be entitled to receive contribution and indemnification payments from, and be reimbursed by, each other Guarantor for the amount of such excess, pro rata based upon their respective Allocable Amounts in effect immediately prior to such Guarantor Payment.

(B)    As of any date of determination, the “Allocable Amount” of any Guarantor shall be equal to the maximum amount of the claim which could then be recovered from such Guarantor under this Guaranty without rendering such claim voidable or avoidable under Section 548 of Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code or under any applicable state Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act, Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act or similar statute or common law.

 

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(C)    This Section 8 is intended only to define the relative rights of the Guarantors, and nothing set forth in this Section 8 is intended to or shall impair the obligations of the Guarantors, jointly and severally, to pay any amounts as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Guaranty.

(D)    The parties hereto acknowledge that the rights of contribution and indemnification hereunder shall constitute assets of the Guarantor or Guarantors to which such contribution and indemnification is owing.

(E)    The rights of the indemnifying Guarantors against other Guarantors under this Section 8 shall be exercisable upon the full payment of the Guaranteed Obligations in cash (other than obligations expressly stated to survive such payment) and the termination of the Credit Agreement.

Section 9.    Stay of Acceleration. If acceleration of the time for payment of any amount payable by the Borrower under the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document is stayed upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Borrower, all such amounts otherwise subject to acceleration under the terms of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document shall nonetheless be payable by each of the Guarantors hereunder forthwith on demand by the Administrative Agent.

Section 10.    Notices. All notices, requests and other communications to any party hereunder shall be given in the manner prescribed in Section 9.01 of the Credit Agreement with respect to the Administrative Agent at its notice address therein and with respect to any Guarantor, in care of the Borrower at the address of the Borrower set forth in the Credit Agreement or such other address or telecopy number as such party may hereafter specify for such purpose by notice to the Administrative Agent in accordance with the provisions of such Section 9.01.

Section 11.    No Waivers. No failure or delay by the Administrative Agent or any other Holder of Guaranteed Obligations in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The rights and remedies provided in this Guaranty, the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law.

Section 12.    Successors and Assigns. This Guaranty is for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the other Holders of Guaranteed Obligations and their respective successors and permitted assigns; provided, that, subject to the terms of the Credit Agreement, no Guarantor shall have any right to assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the consent of the Administrative Agent, and any such assignment in violation of this Section 12 shall be null and void (provided further that nothing contained in this Section shall prohibit or otherwise restrict any merger, sale or other transfer permitted by Section 6.03 of the Credit Agreement); and in the event of an assignment of any amounts payable under the Credit Agreement or the other Loan Documents in accordance with the respective terms thereof, the rights hereunder, to the extent applicable to the indebtedness so assigned, may be transferred with such indebtedness. This Guaranty shall be binding upon each of the Guarantors and their respective successors and assigns.

Section 13.    Changes in Writing. Other than in connection with the addition of additional Subsidiaries, which become parties hereto by executing a Guaranty Supplement hereto in the form attached as Annex I, neither this Guaranty nor any provision hereof may be changed, waived, discharged or terminated orally, but only in writing signed by each of the Guarantors and the Administrative Agent.

Section 14.    GOVERNING LAW. THIS GUARANTY SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

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Section 15.    CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; SERVICE OF PROCESS; JURY TRIAL; IMMUNITY.

(A)    CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. EACH GUARANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF ANY UNITED STATES FEDERAL OR NEW YORK STATE COURT SITTING IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY AND EACH GUARANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AGREES THAT ALL CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING MAY BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN ANY SUCH COURT AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW ANY OBJECTION IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE AS TO THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT OR THAT SUCH COURT IS AN INCONVENIENT FORUM. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL LIMIT THE RIGHT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER TO BRING PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ANY GUARANTOR IN THE COURTS OF ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING BY ANY GUARANTOR AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER OR ANY AFFILIATE OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY LENDER INVOLVING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT SHALL BE BROUGHT ONLY IN A COURT IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK.

(B)    WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH GUARANTOR HEREBY WAIVES TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY JUDICIAL PROCEEDING INVOLVING, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, ANY MATTER (WHETHER SOUNDING IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) IN ANY WAY ARISING OUT OF, RELATED TO, OR CONNECTED WITH THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER LOAN DOCUMENT OR THE RELATIONSHIP ESTABLISHED THEREUNDER AND FURTHER WAIVES TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW ANY RIGHT TO INTERPOSE ANY COUNTERCLAIM (OTHER THAN ANY COMPULSORY COUNTERCLAIM) RELATED TO THIS GUARANTY OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY IN SUCH ACTION.

(C)    TO THE EXTENT THAT ANY GUARANTOR HAS OR HEREAFTER MAY ACQUIRE ANY IMMUNITY FROM JURISDICTION OF ANY COURT OR FROM ANY LEGAL PROCESS (WHETHER FROM SERVICE OR NOTICE, ATTACHMENT PRIOR TO JUDGMENT, ATTACHMENT IN AID OF EXECUTION OF A JUDGMENT, EXECUTION OR OTHERWISE), EACH GUARANTOR HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW SUCH IMMUNITY IN RESPECT OF ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THIS GUARANTY.

Section 16.    No Strict Construction. The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Guaranty. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Guaranty shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties hereto and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provisions of this Guaranty.

Section 17.    Taxes, Expenses of Enforcement, Etc.

(A)    Taxes.

(i)    Each payment by any Guarantor hereunder or under any promissory note shall be made without withholding for any Taxes, unless such withholding is required by any law. If any Guarantor determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it is so required to withhold

 

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Taxes, then such Guarantor may so withhold and shall timely pay the full amount of withheld Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law. To the extent such withheld Taxes are Indemnified Taxes, then the amount payable by the Guarantor shall be increased as necessary so that, net of such withholding (including such withholding of Indemnified Taxes applicable to additional amounts payable under this Section), the applicable Recipient receives the amount it would have received had no such withholding been made.

(ii)    In addition, such Guarantor making a payment hereunder or under any promissory note shall timely pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law.

(iii)    As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes by any Guarantor to a Governmental Authority, such Guarantor shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

(iv)    The Guarantors shall jointly and severally indemnify each Recipient for any Indemnified Taxes that are paid or payable by such Recipient in connection with any Loan Document (including amounts payable under this Section 17(A)) and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority. The indemnity under this Section 17(A) shall be paid within ten (10) days after the Recipient delivers to any Guarantor a certificate stating the amount of any Indemnified Taxes so payable by such Recipient. Such certificate shall be conclusive of the amount so payable absent manifest error. Such Recipient shall deliver a copy of such certificate to the Administrative Agent. In the case of any Lender making a claim under this Section 17(A) on behalf of any of its beneficial owners, an indemnity payment under this Section 17(A) shall be due only to the extent that such Lender is able to establish that, with respect to the applicable Indemnified Taxes, such beneficial owners supplied to the applicable Persons such properly completed and executed documentation necessary to claim any applicable exemption from, or reduction of, such Indemnified Taxes.

(v)    By accepting the benefits hereof, each Lender agrees that it will comply with Section 2.17(f) of the Credit Agreement.

(B)    Expenses of Enforcement, Etc. The Guarantors agree to reimburse the Administrative Agent and the other Holders of Guaranteed Obligations for any reasonable costs and out-of-pocket expenses (including attorneys’ fees) paid or incurred by the Administrative Agent or any other Holder of Guaranteed Obligations in connection with the collection and enforcement of amounts due under the Loan Documents, including without limitation this Guaranty.

Section 18.    Setoff. At any time after all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations have become due and payable (by acceleration or otherwise), each Holder of Guaranteed Obligations (including the Administrative Agent) may, without notice to any Guarantor and regardless of the acceptance of any security or collateral for the payment hereof, appropriate and apply in accordance with the terms of the Credit Agreement toward the payment of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations (i) any indebtedness due or to become due from such Holder of Guaranteed Obligations or the Administrative Agent to any Guarantor, and (ii) any moneys, credits or other property belonging to any Guarantor, at any time held by or coming into the possession of such Holder of Guaranteed Obligations (including the Administrative Agent) or any of their respective affiliates.

 

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Section 19.    Financial Information. Each Guarantor hereby assumes responsibility for keeping itself informed of the financial condition of the Borrower and any and all endorsers and/or other Guarantors of all or any part of the Guaranteed Obligations, and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Guaranteed Obligations, or any part thereof, that diligent inquiry would reveal, and each Guarantor hereby agrees that none of the Holders of Guaranteed Obligations (including the Administrative Agent) shall have any duty to advise such Guarantor of information known to any of them regarding such condition or any such circumstances. In the event any Holder of Guaranteed Obligations (including the Administrative Agent), in its sole discretion, undertakes at any time or from time to time to provide any such information to a Guarantor, such Holder of Guaranteed Obligations (including the Administrative Agent) shall be under no obligation (i) to undertake any investigation not a part of its regular business routine, (ii) to disclose any information which such Holder of Guaranteed Obligations (including the Administrative Agent), pursuant to accepted or reasonable commercial finance or banking practices, wishes to maintain confidential or (iii) to make any other or future disclosures of such information or any other information to such Guarantor.

Section 20.    Severability. Wherever possible, each provision of this Guaranty shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of this Guaranty shall be prohibited by or invalid under such law, such provision shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Guaranty.

Section 21.    Merger. This Guaranty, together with the Loan Documents, represents the final agreement of each of the Guarantors with respect to the matters contained herein and may not be contradicted by evidence of prior or contemporaneous agreements, or subsequent oral agreements, between the Guarantor and any Holder of Guaranteed Obligations (including the Administrative Agent).

Section 22.    Headings. Section headings in this Guaranty are for convenience of reference only and shall not govern the interpretation of any provision of this Guaranty.

Section 23.    Judgment Currency. If for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert a sum due from any Guarantor hereunder in the currency expressed to be payable herein (the “specified currency”) into another currency, the parties hereto agree, to the fullest extent that they may effectively do so, that the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Administrative Agent could purchase the specified currency with such other currency at the Administrative Agent’s main New York City office on the Business Day preceding that on which final, non-appealable judgment is given. The obligations of each Guarantor in respect of any sum due hereunder shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency other than the specified currency, be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by any Holder of Guaranteed Obligations (including the Administrative Agent), as the case may be, of any sum adjudged to be so due in such other currency such Holder of Guaranteed Obligations (including the Administrative Agent), as the case may be, may in accordance with normal, reasonable banking procedures purchase the specified currency with such other currency. If the amount of the specified currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to such Holder of Guaranteed Obligations (including the Administrative Agent), as the case may be, in the specified currency, each Guarantor agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify such Holder of Guaranteed Obligations (including the Administrative Agent), as the case may be, against such loss, and if the amount of the specified currency so purchased exceeds (a) the sum originally due to any Holder of Guaranteed Obligations (including the Administrative Agent), as the case may be, in the specified currency and (b) amounts shared with other Holders of Guaranteed Obligations as a result of allocations of such excess as a disproportionate payment to such other Holder of Guaranteed Obligations under Section 2.18 of the Credit Agreement, such Holder of Guaranteed Obligations (including the Administrative Agent), as the case may be, agrees, by accepting the benefits hereof, to remit such excess to such Guarantor.

 

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Section 24.    Termination of Guaranty. The obligations of any Guarantor under this Guaranty shall automatically terminate in accordance with Section 9.14 of the Credit Agreement.

Section 25.    Counterparts. This Guaranty may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument. Acceptance and adoption of the terms of this Guaranty by the Guarantors by Electronic System or delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Guaranty by any electronic signature shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Guaranty.

Section 26.    [Reserved].

Section 27.    California Waivers. To the extent California law applies, in addition to and not in lieu of any other provisions of this Guaranty, each Guarantor represents, warrants, covenants and agrees as follows:

(a)    The obligations of such Guarantor under this Guaranty shall be performed without demand by any Secured Party and shall be unconditional irrespective of the genuineness, validity, regularity or enforceability of any of the Loan Documents, and without regard to any other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge of a surety or a guarantor. Each Guarantor hereby waives to the extent permitted by law any and all benefits and defenses under California Civil Code Section 2810 and agrees that by doing so such Guarantor shall be liable even if the Borrower or the relevant Subsidiary had no liability at the time of execution of the applicable Loan Documents, or thereafter ceases to be liable. Each Guarantor hereby waives to the extent permitted by law any and all benefits and defenses under California Civil Code Section 2809 and agrees that by doing so such Guarantor’s liability may be larger in amount and more burdensome than that of the Borrower and/or the relevant Subsidiary. Each Guarantor hereby waives to the extent permitted by law the benefit of all principles or provisions of law, statutory or otherwise, which are or might be in conflict with the terms of this Guaranty and agrees that such Guarantor’s obligations shall not be affected by any circumstances, whether or not referred to in this Guaranty which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge of a surety or a guarantor. Each Guarantor hereby waives to the extent permitted by law the benefits of any right of discharge under any and all statutes or other laws relating to guarantors or sureties and any other rights of sureties and guarantors thereunder.

(b)    In accordance with Section 2856 of the California Civil Code, each Guarantor hereby waives to the extent permitted by law all rights and defenses arising out of an election of remedies by any Secured Party even though that election of remedies, such as a nonjudicial foreclosure with respect to security for the Obligations, has destroyed or otherwise impaired such Guarantor’s rights of subrogation and reimbursement against the principal. Each Guarantor hereby authorizes and empowers the Secured Parties to exercise, in their sole and absolute discretion, any right or remedy, or any combination thereof, which may then be available, since it is the intent and purpose of such Guarantor that its obligations under this Guaranty shall be absolute, independent and unconditional under any and all circumstances. Specifically, and without in any way limiting the foregoing, each Guarantor hereby waives to the extent permitted by law any rights of subrogation, indemnification, contribution or reimbursement arising under Sections 2846,

 

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2847, 2848 and 2849 of the California Civil Code or any other right of recourse to or with respect to the Borrower or any Subsidiary, any constituent of the Borrower or any Subsidiary, any other Person, or the assets or property of any of the foregoing or to any collateral for the Obligations until all of the Obligations (other than obligations expressly stated to survive such payment or termination) have been paid and satisfied in full in cash and the Commitments have terminated or expired (or otherwise become subject to cash collateralization or other arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent). In connection with the foregoing, each Guarantor expressly waives to the extent permitted by law any and all rights of subrogation against the Borrower or any Subsidiary, and each Guarantor hereby waives to the extent permitted by law any rights to enforce any remedy which any Secured Party may have against the Borrower or any Subsidiary and any right to participate in any collateral for the Obligations.

(c)    Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Guarantor hereby waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, diligence in collecting the Obligations, presentment, demand for payment, protest, all notices with respect to this Guaranty, or any other Loan Document which may be required by statute, rule of law or otherwise to preserve the Secured Parties’ rights against such Guarantor under this Guaranty, including, but not limited to, notice of acceptance, notice of any amendment of the Loan Documents, notice of the occurrence of any default, notice of intent to accelerate, notice of acceleration, notice of dishonor, notice of foreclosure, notice of protest, and notice of the incurring by the Borrower or any Subsidiary of any obligation or Indebtedness.

(d)    Without limiting the foregoing, each Guarantor waives to the extent permitted by law all rights of subrogation, reimbursement, indemnification, and contribution and any other rights and defenses that are or may become available to such Guarantor by reason of California Civil Code Sections 2787 to 2855, inclusive, including any and all rights or defenses such Guarantor may have by reason of protection afforded to the Borrower or any Subsidiary with respect to any of the obligations of such Guarantor under this Guaranty by reason of a nonjudicial foreclosure or pursuant to the antideficiency or other laws of the State of California limiting or discharging the Obligations. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Guarantor hereby expressly waives to the extent permitted by law any and all benefits under California Code of Civil Procedure Sections 580(b) (which Section, if such Guarantor had not given this waiver, would otherwise limit the Secured Parties’ right to recover a deficiency judgment with respect to purchase money obligations).

(e)    Likewise, each Guarantor waives to the extent permitted by law (i) any and all rights and defenses available to such Guarantor under California Civil Code Sections 2899 and 3433 and (ii) any rights or defenses such Guarantor may have with respect to its obligations as a guarantor by reason of any election of remedies by any Secured Party.

Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Initial Guarantors has caused this Guaranty to be duly executed by its authorized officer as of the day and year first above written.

 

MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY LLC,

as a Grantor

 

By: Microchip Technology Incorporated,

its sole member

 

By:

 

/s/ J. Eric Bjornholt

Name: J. Eric Bjornholt

Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY, INC.,

as a Grantor

 

By:

 

/s/ J. Eric Bjornholt

Name: J. Eric Bjornholt

Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

SILICON STORAGE TECHNOLOGY LLC,

as a Grantor

 

By: Silicon Storage Technology, Inc.,

its sole member

 

By:

 

/s/ J. Eric Bjornholt

Name: J. Eric Bjornholt

Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

MICROCHIP HOLDING CORPORATION,

as a Grantor

 

By:  

/s/ J. Eric Bjornholt

Name: J. Eric Bjornholt

Title: President

 

ATMEL CORPORATION,

as a Grantor

 

By:  

/s/ J. Eric Bjornholt

Name: J. Eric Bjornholt

Title: Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

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ATMEL HOLDINGS, INC.,

as a Grantor

 

By:  

/s/ J. Eric Bjornholt

Name: J. Eric Bjornholt
Title: Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

MICROSEMI CORPORATION,

as a Grantor

 

By:  

/s/ J. Eric Bjornholt

Name: J. Eric Bjornholt
Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

MICROSEMI STORAGE SOLUTIONS, INC.,

as a Grantor

 

By:  

/s/ J. Eric Bjornholt

Name: J. Eric Bjornholt
Title: Chief Financial Officer

 

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Acknowledged and Agreed

as of the date first written above:

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent

 

By:  

/s/ Timothy Lee

  Name: Timothy Lee
  Title: Executive Director

 

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ANNEX I TO GUARANTY

Reference is hereby made to the Guaranty (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Guaranty”) made as of March 27, 2020, by and among certain of the Subsidiaries of the Borrower party thereto (the “Initial Guarantors” and along with any additional Subsidiaries of the Borrower, which become parties thereto and together with the undersigned, the “Guarantors”) in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Holders of Guaranteed Obligations, under the Credit Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Guaranty. By its execution below, the undersigned [NAME OF NEW GUARANTOR], a [corporation] [partnership] [limited liability company] (the “New Guarantor”), agrees to become, and does hereby become, a Guarantor under the Guaranty and agrees to be bound by such Guaranty as if originally a party thereto. By its execution below, the undersigned represents and warrants as to itself that all of the representations and warranties contained in Section 2 of the Guaranty are true and correct in all respects as of the date hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, New Guarantor has executed and delivered this Annex I counterpart to the Guaranty as of this __________ day of _________, 202___.

 

[NAME OF NEW GUARANTOR]

 

By:  

                             

Its:  

 

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