SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

 

 

THIS SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT (this “Amendment”) is made and entered into effective as of June 15, 2010, by and between WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (“Bank”), and US ECOLOGY, INC., a Delaware corporation formerly known as American Ecology Corporation (“Borrower”).

 

 

A.           Borrower and Bank entered into a Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2008 (as amended, modified, or supplemented from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”).

 

B.           Borrower and Bank want to amend the Credit Agreement to extend the maturity date, increase the Commitment Amount, increase the LIBOR margin, and modify some of the financial covenants.

 

C.           Bank is willing to amend the Credit Agreement upon the terms and conditions of this Amendment.

 

 

NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows.

 

1.

DEFINITIONS.

 

Except as specifically defined otherwise in this Amendment, all of the terms herein shall have the same meaning as contained in the Credit Agreement.

 

2.

AMENDMENTS.

 

A.           Amendments to Article 1 – Definitions and Accounting Terms.

 

(i)           The definition of the term “Commitment Amount” in Section 1.1 of the Credit Agreement is amended to increase the amount, and the definition shall provide in its entirety as follows:

 

“Commitment Amount” means Twenty Million and 00/100 Dollars ($20,000,000.00), less the sum of (i) the aggregate stated amount of all Letters of Credit then outstanding and available for drawing, and (ii) the aggregate amount of unreimbursed drawings on Letters of Credit.

 

(ii)           The definition of the term “Maturity Date” in Section 1.1 of the Credit Agreement is amended to extend the Maturity Date, and the definition shall provide in its entirety as follows:

 

“Maturity  Date” means June 15, 2013, or such other date as Bank and Borrower may agree upon in writing from time to time.

 

B.           Amendments to Article 2 – Loans and Terms of Repayment.

 

(i)           Subsection 2.4.3 of the Credit Agreement is amended to modify the LIBOR margins, and the subsection shall provide in its entirety as follows:

 

2.3.4           Margins.  The  Prime Margins, the LIBOR Margins, the Commitment Margins, and the L/C fees are as follows:

 

Funded Debt Ratio	Prime	LIBOR	Commitment	L/C Fee
less than 1.00:1.00	0.0%	1.300%	0.250%	1.300%
less than 1.50:1.00 but greater than or equal to 1.00:1.00	0.0%	1.625%	0.300%	1.625%
less than 2.00:1.00 but greater than or equal to 1.50:1.00	0.0%	2.375%	0.550%	2.375%
greater than 2.00:1.00	0.0%*	2.375%*	0.550%	2.375%*

*Plus increase for an Event of Default pursuant to Section 2.6, if applicable.

 

C.           Amendment to Article 7 – Financial Covenants.

 

(i)           Section 7.1 of the Credit Agreement is amended to modify the maximum Funded Debt Ratio to be maintained by Borrower, and the Section shall provide in its entirety as follows:

 

7.1           Funded Debt Ratio.  Borrower shall maintain at the end of each fiscal quarter a Funded Debt Ratio (as defined in paragraph 2.3.4.2) of not greater than 2.00 to 1.00.

 

(ii)           Section 7.2 of the Credit Agreement is amended to increase the Minimum Tangible Net Worth to be maintained by Borrower, and the Section shall provide in its entirety as follows:

 

7.2           Minimum Tangible Net Worth.  Borrower shall maintain on a consolidated basis at the end of each fiscal quarter a Tangible Net Worth of not less than the sum of (1) Eighty Million and No/100 Dollars ($80,000,000.00), plus (2) 10% of Borrower’s Adjusted Net Income.  “Tangible Net Worth” means the sum of (i) Borrower’s total consolidated assets excluding all intangible assets (such as goodwill, trademarks, patents, copyrights, and similar items), plus (ii) all indebtedness of Borrower (including, without limitation, capital lease obligations) that is subordinated to payment in full of the Obligations pursuant to a written agreement in form and substance acceptable to Bank (“Subordinated Debt”), less (iii) all of Borrower’s liabilities other than Subordinated Debt.  “Adjusted Net Income” means Borrower’s consolidated net income for all periods after March 31, 2010, without regard to any consolidated net losses.

 

3.

CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.

 

As conditions precedent to Bank’s obligation to extend the financial accommodations provided for in this Amendment, Borrower shall execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, to Bank, in form and substance satisfactory to Bank and its counsel, the following:

 

A.           Revolving Note.

 

The new Revolving Note required by this Amendment in substantially the form attached as Exhibit 1, duly executed by Borrower.

 

B.           Evidence of all Corporate Action by Borrower.

 

Certified copies of all corporate action taken by Borrower authorizing its execution and delivery of this Amendment and each other document to be delivered pursuant to this Amendment and its performance of its agreements thereunder.

 

C.           Certificates of Existence.

 

Certificates of good standing or existence that Bank may reasonably require showing that Borrower is in good standing under the laws of the state of its incorporation.

 

D.           Public Record Searches.

 

Uniform Commercial Code financing statement searches, federal and state income tax lien searches, judgment or litigation searches, or other similar searches that Bank may reasonably require and in such form as Bank may reasonably require.

 

E.           Payment of Loan Amendment Fee.

 

Payment of the Loan Amendment Fee as required by Section 4 of this Amendment.

 

F.           Additional Documentation.

 

Such other approvals, opinions, or documents as Bank may reasonably request.

 

4.

LOAN AMENDMENT FEE.

 

Upon the execution of this Amendment, Borrower shall pay Bank a loan amendment fee of Forty Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($40,000.00).  The fee shall represent an unconditional payment to Bank in consideration of Bank’s agreement to extend financial accommodations to Borrower pursuant to this Amendment.

 

5.

REAFFIRMATION OF LOAN DOCUMENTS.

 

Borrower acknowledges and reaffirms all existing security agreements, financing statements, and any other documents executed in connection with the Credit Agreement.  Borrower further acknowledges and agrees that the Obligations shall be secured by all collateral to be granted by Borrower to secure a proposed term loan from Bank to Borrower.

 

6.

BORROWER’S COVENANTS, REPRESENTATIONS, AND WARRANTIES.

 

In order to induce Bank to enter into this Amendment and to amend the Credit Agreement in the manner provided herein, Borrower acknowledges and reaffirms as true, correct, and complete in all material respects on and as of the date of this Amendment all covenants, representations, and warranties made by Borrower in the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents to the same extent as though made on and as of the date of execution of this Amendment.  Borrower represents and warrants that the execution, delivery, and performance by the Borrower of this Amendment has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action.  Borrower further represents and warrants that there are no Events of Default or facts which constitute, or with the passage of time and without change will constitute, an Event of Default under the Loan Documents.  Borrower further represents that there has been no material adverse change in Borrower’s business or financial condition from that reflected in the most recent of Borrower’s financial statements that have been delivered to Bank.  Borrower further represents and warrants that Borrower has no claims or causes of action of any kind whatsoever against Bank or any of Bank’s present or former employees, officers, directors, attorneys, or agents of any kind in their capacity as such (collectively, the “Released Parties”) and further, that the Released Parties have performed all of the respective obligations under the Credit Agreement and other Loan Documents and have complied with all provisions therein set forth.  Borrower acknowledges that as of June 1, 2010, the outstanding principal balance of the Revolving Loans is $0.00, and the aggregate stated amount of all Letters of Credit outstanding and available for d rawing is $4,027,905.00.

 

7.

COURSE OF DEALING.

 

No course of dealing heretofore or hereafter between Borrower and Bank, or any failure or delay on the part of Bank in exercising any rights or remedies under the Credit Agreement or existing by law shall operate as a waiver of any right or remedy of Bank with respect to said indebtedness, and no single or partial exercise of any right or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver or preclusion to the exercise of any other rights or remedies Bank may have in regard to said indebtedness.

 

8.

GOVERNING LAW.

 

This Amendment is made in the State of Idaho, which state the parties agree has a substantial relationship to the parties and to the underlying transaction embodied hereby.  Accordingly, in all respects, this Amendment and the Loan Documents and the obligations arising hereunder and thereunder shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Idaho applicable to contracts made and performed in such state and any applicable law of the United States of America.  Each party hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claim to assert that the law of any jurisdiction other than the State of Idaho governs this Amendment and the Loan Documents.

 

9.

COSTS AND EXPENSES.

 

Borrower shall pay on demand by Bank all expenses incurred by Bank in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, filing, recording, and administration of this Amendment or any of the documents contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and out of pocket expenses of counsel for Bank with respect to this Amendment and the documents and transactions contemplated hereby.

 

10.

ENTIRE AGREEMENT.

 

The Credit Agreement as amended by this Amendment together with the other Loan Documents supersedes all prior negotiations, understandings, and agreements between the parties, whether oral or written, and all such negotiations, understandings, and agreements are evidenced by the terms of the Loan Documents.  The Credit Agreement may not be further altered or amended in any manner except by a writing signed by Bank and Borrower.

 

11.

EFFECTS OF THIS AMENDMENT.

 

This Amendment shall be binding and deemed effective when it is executed by Borrower, accepted and executed by Bank, and all conditions precedent set forth in Section 3 have been fulfilled.  All terms, covenants and conditions of the Credit Agreement that have not been modified, amended, or otherwise changed by this Amendment are reaffirmed and remain in full force and effect.

 

12.

COUNTERPARTS.

 

This Amendment may be executed in counterparts and may be delivered by facsimile transmission.  Each such counterpart shall constitute an original, but all such counterparts shall constitute but one Amendment.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Borrower has executed this Amendment as of the date first written above.

 

BORROWER:   US ECOLOGY, INC.   By /s/ Jeffrey R. Feeler Jeffrey R. Feeler Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

Each Guarantor consents to, acknowledges, and accepts the forgoing Amendment.  Each Guarantor affirms and ratifies its Continuing and Unconditional Guaranty made by Guarantor for the benefit of Bank (the “Guaranty”), and confirms that the Guaranty remains in full force and effect and binding upon the Guarantor without any setoffs, defenses, or counterclaims of any kind whatsoever.

 

Dated as of June 15, 2010.

 

GUARANTORS:   US ECOLOGY TEXAS, INC.   By  /s/ Jeffrey R. Feeler Jeffrey R. Feeler Vice President     AMERICAN ECOLOGY RECYCLE CENTER, INC. By  /s/ Jeffrey R. Feeler Jeffrey R. Feeler Vice President   AMERICAN ECOLOGY ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES CORPORATION By  /s/ Jeffrey R. Feeler Jeffrey R. Feeler Vice President     US ECOLOGY ILLINOIS, INC.   By  /s/ Jeffrey R. Feeler Jeffrey R. Feeler Vice President     US ECOLOGY IDAHO, INC.   By  /s/ Jeffrey R. Feeler Jeffrey R. Feeler Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

US ECOLOGY NEVADA, INC. By  /s/ Jeffrey R. Feeler Jeffrey R. Feeler Vice President     US ECOLOGY WASHINGTON, INC.   By  /s/ Jeffrey R. Feeler Jeffrey R. Feeler Vice President   US ECOLOGY FIELD SERVICES, INC.   By  /s/ Jeffrey R. Feeler Jeffrey R. Feeler Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

Accepted and effective as of June 15, 2010, in the State of Idaho.

 

 

 

WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION   By  /s/ Brian W. Cook Brian W. Cook, Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

 

See attached.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Borrower:	US ECOLOGY, INC.	June 15, 2010
		Boise, Idaho

 

Address:

300 E. Mallard Drive, Suite 300 Boise, Idaho 83706

 

Principal Amount:

Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000)

 

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, US ECOLOGY, INC., a Delaware corporation formerly known as American Ecology Corporation (“Borrower”), promises to pay to the order of WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (“Bank”) the total principal amount outstanding on this note (the “Note”) together with interest thereon as stated below, in lawful money of the United States of America.

 

This Note is executed pursuant to and is the Revolving Note referred to in that certain Revolving Credit Agreement, dated June 30, 2008, between Borrower and Bank (as amended, modified, or supplemented from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”).  Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Note shall have the same definitions as are ascribed to such terms in the Credit Agreement.  This Note is governed by the provisions of the Credit Agreement.

 

This Note is a revolving promissory note and evidences a revolving line of credit not to exceed the maximum principal amount stated above at any one time.  The amount outstanding on this Note at any specific time shall be the total amount advanced by Bank less the amount of principal payments made from time to time, plus any interest due and payable.

 

Borrower agrees that any and all advances made hereunder shall be for Borrower’s benefit, whether or not said advances are deposited to Borrower’s account.  Advances may be made at the request of those persons so identified in the Credit Agreement and such persons are hereby authorized to request advances and to direct the disposition of any such advances in the manner provided in the Credit Agreement until written notice of revocation of this authority is received by Bank from Borrower.

 

The outstanding unpaid balance of this Note shall bear interest at a fluctuating per annum rate as set forth in the Credit Agreement.  This Note shall be repaid in the manner set forth in the Credit Agreement.

 

This Note is made in the state of Idaho, which state the parties agree has a substantial relationship to the parties and to the underlying transaction embodied hereby.  Accordingly, in all respects, this Note and the obligations arising hereunder shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the state of Idaho applicable to contracts made and performed in such state and any applicable law of the United States of America.  Each party hereby unconditionally and irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claim to assert that the law of any jurisdiction other than the state of Idaho governs this Note.  All disputes, controversies, or claims arising out of, or in connection with, this Note shall be litigated in any court of competent jurisdiction wi thin the state of Idaho.  Each party hereby accepts jurisdiction of such state and agrees to accept service of process as if it were personally served within such state.  Each party irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that the party may now or hereafter have to the jurisdiction of the courts of such state and any claim that any such litigation brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

Except as expressly provided in the Credit Agreement, the makers, sureties, guarantors and endorsers of this Note jointly and severally waive presentment for payment, protest, notice of protest and notice of nonpayment of this Note, and consent that this Note or any payment due under this Note may be extended or renewed without demand or notice.

 

 

 

US ECOLOGY, INC.   By  /s/ Jeffrey R. Feeler Jeffrey R. Feeler Vice President and Chief Financial Officer