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EXHIBIT 99.2
LIMITED GUARANTY
For and in consideration of the Credit Extensions by COMERICA BANK (“Bank”) to LYRIS, INC., LYRIS TECHNOLOGIES INC. and COMMODORE RESOURCES (NEVADA), INC. (each a “Borrower” and collectively, “Borrowers”).which loan is made pursuant to that certain Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement dated as of March 6, 2008, as amended from time to time, including by that certain First Amendment to Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement dated as of July 30, 2008, that certain Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement dated as of December 31, 2008, that certain Third Amendment to Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement dated as of June 19, 2009, that certain Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement dated as of October 23, 2009, that certain Fifth Amendment to Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement dated as of May 6, 2010, that certain Sixth Amendment to Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement dated as of September 15, 2010 and that certain Seventh Amendment to Amended and Restated Loan and Security Agreement dated as of the date hereof (the “Agreement”), and acknowledging that Bank would not make the Credit Extensions to Borrowers, without the benefit of this Limited Guaranty (this “Guaranty”), the undersigned (“Guarantor”), subject to the limitations of Section 1 hereof, hereby unconditionally and irrevocably guaranties, on the terms and conditions set forth herein, the prompt and complete payment of all amounts that Borrowers owe to Bank with respect to the Credit Extensions. All terms used without definition in this Guaranty shall have the meaning assigned to them in the Agreement.
1. If Borrowers do not pay any amount owing to Bank with respect to the Credit Extensions in strict accordance with the Agreement, Guarantor shall, subject to the limitations contained herein, immediately upon demand by Bank pay all amounts due thereunder (including, without limitation, all principal, interest, and fees in respect thereof). All terms used without definition in this Limited Guaranty shall have the meaning assigned to them in the Agreement. However, notwithstanding any provision of this Guaranty to the contrary, Guarantor’s aggregate liability hereunder shall not exceed (i) One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) with respect to Advances made under the Agreement and (ii) Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,500,000) with respect to Non-Formula Advances made under the Agreement. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Guaranty, in the event that Guarantor does not perform his obligations hereunder, Bank’s remedies shall be limited to its recourse to the Pledged Collateral (as defined in that certain Pledge and Security Agreement by and between Guarantor and Bank dated as of the date hereof).
2. The obligations hereunder are independent of the obligations of Borrowers and any other person or entity, and a separate action or actions may be brought and prosecuted against Guarantor whether action is brought against a Borrower or whether a Borrower be joined in any such action or actions. Guarantor waives the benefit of any statute of limitations affecting its liability hereunder or the enforcement thereof, to the extent permitted by law. Guarantor’s liability under this Guaranty is not conditioned or contingent upon the genuineness, validity, regularity or enforceability of the Loan Documents.
3. Guarantor authorizes Bank, without notice or demand and without affecting its liability hereunder, from time to time to (a) renew, extend, or otherwise change the terms of the Loan Documents or any part thereof; (b) take and hold security for the payment of this Guaranty or the Loan Documents, and exchange, enforce, waive and release any such security; and (c) apply such security and direct the order or manner of sale thereof as Bank in its sole discretion may determine. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary in this Guaranty, Bank shall not increase the principal amount of the Credit Extensions without the prior written consent of Guarantor.
4. Guarantor waives any right to require Bank to (a) proceed against Borrowers, Guarantor or any other person; (b) proceed against or exhaust any security held from any Borrower; or (c) pursue any other remedy in Bank’s power whatsoever. Bank may, at its election, exercise or decline or fail to exercise any right or remedy it may have against Borrowers or any security held by Bank, including without limitation the right to foreclose upon any such security by judicial or nonjudicial sale, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of Guarantor hereunder. Guarantor waives any defense arising by reason of any disability or other defense of Borrowers or by reason of the cessation from any cause whatsoever of the liability of Borrowers other than payment in full of the Obligations (other than inchoate indemnity obligations). Guarantor waives any setoff, defense or counterclaim that Borrowers may have against Bank. Guarantor waives any defense arising out of the absence, impairment or loss of any right of reimbursement or subrogation or any other rights against Borrowers. Until all of the amounts that Borrowers owe to Bank under the Loan Documents have been paid in full (i) Guarantor shall not exercise any right of subrogation or reimbursement, contribution or other rights against Borrowers, and (ii) Guarantor waives any right to enforce any remedy that Bank now has or may hereafter have against Borrowers. Guarantor waives all presentments, demands for performance, notices of nonperformance, protests, notices of protest, notices of dishonor, and notices of acceptance of this Guaranty and of the existence, creation, or incurring of new or additional indebtedness. Guarantor assumes the responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the financial condition of Borrowers and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of any indebtedness or nonperformance of any obligation of Borrowers, warrants to Bank that it will keep so informed, and agrees that absent a request for particular information by Guarantor, Bank shall not have any duty to advise Guarantor of information known to Bank regarding such condition or any such circumstances. Guarantor waives the benefits of California Civil Code Sections 2809, 2810, 2819, 2845, 2850, 2899 and 3433, and only until all of the amounts that Borrowers owe to Bank under the Loan Documents have been paid in full, Guarantor waives the benefits of California Civil Code Sections 2848 and 2849.
5. Guarantor acknowledges that, to the extent Guarantor has or may have certain rights of subrogation or reimbursement against Borrowers for claims arising out of this Guaranty, those rights may be impaired or destroyed if Bank elects to proceed against any real property security of any Borrower by non-judicial foreclosure. That impairment or destruction could, under certain judicial cases and based on equitable principles of estoppel, give rise to a defense by Guarantor against its obligations under this Guaranty. Guarantor waives that defense and any others arising from Bank’s election to pursue non-judicial foreclosure. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Guarantor waives any and all benefits and defenses under California Code of Civil Procedure Sections 580a, 580b, 580d and 726, to the extent they are applicable.
Guarantor waives all rights and defenses arising out of an election of remedies by Bank even though that election of remedies, such as a nonjudicial foreclosure with respect to security for a guaranteed obligation, has destroyed Guarantor’s rights of subrogation and reimbursement against Borrowers by the operation of Section 580d of the Code of Civil Procedure or otherwise.
Without limiting the generality of any other waiver or other provision set forth in this Guaranty, Guarantor waives all rights and defenses that Guarantor may have because the Indebtedness is secured by real property. This means, among other things:
(1) Bank may collect from Guarantor without first foreclosing on any real or personal property collateral pledged by any Borrower to secure the Indebtedness.
(2) If Bank forecloses on any real property collateral pledged by any Borrower to secure the Indebtedness:
(a) the amount of the Indebtedness may be reduced only by the price for which that collateral is sold at the foreclosure sale, even if the collateral is worth more than the sale price.
(b) Bank may collect from Guarantor even if Bank, by foreclosing on the real property pledged as collateral, has destroyed any right that the undersigned Guarantor may have to collect from a Borrower.
This is an unconditional and irrevocable waiver of any rights and defenses Guarantor may have because the Indebtedness is secured by Real Property. These rights and defenses include, but are not limited to, any rights or defenses based upon Section 580a, 580b, 580d, or 726 of the California Code of Civil Procedure.
6. If a Borrower becomes insolvent or is adjudicated bankrupt or files a petition for reorganization, arrangement, composition or similar relief under any present or future provision of the United States Bankruptcy Code, or if such a petition is filed against such Borrower, and in any such proceeding some or all of any indebtedness or obligations under the Loan Documents are terminated or rejected or any obligation of a Borrower is modified or abrogated, or if a Borrower’s obligations are otherwise avoided for any reason, Guarantor agrees that Guarantor’s liability hereunder shall not thereby be affected or modified and such liability shall continue in full force and effect as if no such action or proceeding had occurred. This Guaranty shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if any payment must be returned by Bank upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of any Borrower, Guarantor, any other guarantor, or otherwise, as though such payment had not been made.
7. Any indebtedness of a Borrower now or hereafter held by Guarantor is hereby subordinated to any indebtedness of such Borrower to Bank; and such indebtedness of a Borrower to Guarantor shall be collected, enforced and received by Guarantor as trustee for Bank and be paid over to Bank on account of the indebtedness of such Borrower to Bank but without reducing or affecting in any manner the liability of Guarantor under the other provisions of this Guaranty.
8. Subject to the limitation set forth in Section 1 above, Guarantor agrees to pay reasonable attorneys’ fees and all other costs and expenses which may be incurred by Bank in the enforcement of this Guaranty. No terms or provisions of this Guaranty may be changed, waived, revoked or amended without Bank’s and Guarantor’s prior written consent. Should any provision of this Guaranty be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable, all of the other provisions shall remain effective. This Guaranty, together with any Loan Documents (including without limitation any security Loan Documents or any pledge Loan Documents) executed in connection with this Guaranty, embodies the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect to the matters set forth herein, and supersedes all prior Loan Documents among the parties with respect to the matters set forth herein. No course of prior dealing among the parties, no usage of trade, and no parol or extrinsic evidence of any nature shall be used to supplement, modify or vary any of the terms hereof. There are no conditions to the full effectiveness of this Guaranty once executed by Guarantor. In connection with an assignment permitted by the Agreement, Bank may assign this Guaranty without in any way affecting Guarantor’s liability under it. This Guaranty shall inure to the benefit of Bank and its successors and assigns. This Guaranty is in addition to the guaranties of any other guarantor and any and all other guaranties of Borrowers’ indebtedness or liabilities to Bank.
9. Guarantor represents and warrants to Bank that this Guaranty constitutes a valid and binding obligation, enforceable against Guarantor in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights and principles of equity.
9.1 Guarantor covenants and agrees that Guarantor shall at any time and from time to time Guarantor shall execute and deliver such further instruments and take such further action as may reasonably be requested by Bank to effect the purposes of this Guaranty.
10. CHOICE OF LAW AND VENUE; JURY TRIAL WAIVER.
This Guaranty shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of California, without regard to principles of conflicts of law. Each of Guarantor and Bank hereby submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and Federal courts located in the County of Santa Clara, State of California. THE UNDERSIGNED ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IS A CONSTITUTIONAL ONE, BUT THAT IT MAY BE WAIVED UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, EACH PARTY, AFTER CONSULTING (OR HAVING HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSULT) WITH COUNSEL OF ITS, HIS OR HER CHOICE, KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY, AND FOR THE MUTUAL BENEFIT OF ALL PARTIES, WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS GUARANTY OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENT, INSTRUMENT OR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE UNDERSIGNED PARTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THE LOAN DOCUMENTS, THE GUARANTY OR THE PLEDGE SECURITY AGREEMENT.
11. REFERENCE PROVISION.
In the event the Jury Trial Waiver set forth above is not enforceable, the parties elect to proceed under this Judicial Reference Provision.
11.1 Mechanics.
(a) With the exception of the items specified in clause (c), below, any controversy, dispute or claim (each, a “Claim”) between the parties arising out of or relating to the Guaranty or any other document, instrument or agreement between the undersigned parties related to the transactions contemplated by the Loan Documents, this Guaranty or the Pledge Security Agreement (collectively in this Section, the “Comerica Documents”), will be resolved by a reference proceeding in California in accordance with the provisions of Sections 638 et seq. of the California Code of Civil Procedure (“CCP”), or their successor sections, which shall constitute the exclusive remedy for the resolution of any Claim, including whether the Claim is subject to the reference proceeding. Except as otherwise provided in the Comerica Documents, venue for the reference proceeding will be in the state or federal court in the county or district where the real property involved in the action, if any, is located or in the state or federal court in the county or district where venue is otherwise appropriate under applicable law (the “Court”).
(b) The matters that shall not be subject to a reference are the following: (i) nonjudicial foreclosure of any security interests in real or personal property, (ii) exercise of self-help remedies (including, without limitation, set-off), (iii) appointment of a receiver and (iv) temporary, provisional or ancillary remedies (including, without limitation, writs of attachment, writs of possession, temporary restraining orders or preliminary injunctions). This reference provision does not limit the right of any party to exercise or oppose any of the rights and remedies described in clauses (i) and (ii) or to seek or oppose from a court of competent jurisdiction any of the items described in clauses (iii) and (iv). The exercise of, or opposition to, any of those items does not waive the right of any party to a reference pursuant to this reference provision as provided herein.
(c) The referee shall be a retired judge or justice selected by mutual written agreement of the parties. If the parties do not agree within ten (10) days of a written request to do so by any party, then, upon request of any party, the referee shall be selected by the Presiding Judge of the Court (or his or her representative). A request for appointment of a referee may be heard on an ex parte or expedited basis, and the parties agree that irreparable harm would result if ex parte relief is not granted. Pursuant to CCP § 170.6, each party shall have one peremptory challenge to the referee selected by the Presiding Judge of the Court (or his or her representative).
(d) The parties agree that time is of the essence in conducting the reference proceedings. Accordingly, the referee shall be requested, subject to change in the time periods specified herein for good cause shown, to (i) set the matter for a status and trial-setting conference within fifteen (15) days after the date of selection of the referee, (ii) if practicable, try all issues of law or fact within one hundred twenty (120) days after the date of the conference and (iii) report a statement of decision within twenty (20) days after the matter has been submitted for decision.
(e) The referee will have power to expand or limit the amount and duration of discovery. The referee may set or extend discovery deadlines or cutoffs for good cause, including a party’s failure to provide requested discovery for any reason whatsoever. Unless otherwise ordered based upon good cause shown, no party shall be entitled to “priority” in conducting discovery, depositions may be taken by either party upon seven (7) days written notice, and all other discovery shall be responded to within fifteen (15) days after service. All disputes relating to discovery which cannot be resolved by the parties shall be submitted to the referee whose decision shall be final and binding.
11.2 Procedures. Except as expressly set forth herein, the referee shall determine the manner in which the reference proceeding is conducted including the time and place of hearings, the order of presentation of evidence, and all other questions that arise with respect to the course of the reference proceeding. All proceedings and hearings conducted before the referee, except for trial, shall be conducted without a court reporter, except that when any party so requests, a court reporter will be used at any hearing conducted before the referee, and the referee will be provided a courtesy copy of the transcript. The party making such a request shall have the obligation to arrange for and pay the court reporter. Subject to the referee’s power to award costs to the prevailing party, the parties will equally share the cost of the referee and the court reporter at trial.
11.3 Application of Law. The referee shall be required to determine all issues in accordance with existing case law and the statutory laws of the State of California. The rules of evidence applicable to proceedings at law in the State of California will be applicable to the reference proceeding. The referee shall be empowered to enter equitable as well as legal relief, enter equitable orders that will be binding on the parties and rule on any motion which would be authorized in a court proceeding, including without limitation motions for summary judgment or summary adjudication. The referee shall issue a decision at the close of the reference proceeding which disposes of all claims of the parties that are the subject of the reference. Pursuant to CCP § 644, such decision shall be entered by the Court as a judgment or an order in the same manner as if the action had been tried by the Court and any such decision will be final, binding and conclusive. The parties reserve the right to appeal from the final judgment or order or from any appealable decision or order entered by the referee. The parties reserve the right to findings of fact, conclusions of laws, a written statement of decision, and the right to move for a new trial or a different judgment, which new trial, if granted, is also to be a reference proceeding under this provision.
11.4 Repeal. If the enabling legislation which provides for appointment of a referee is repealed (and no successor statute is enacted), any dispute between the parties that would otherwise be determined by reference procedure will be resolved and determined by arbitration. The arbitration will be conducted by a retired judge or justice, in accordance with the California Arbitration Act §1280 through §1294.2 of the CCP as amended from time to time. The limitations with respect to discovery set forth above shall apply to any such arbitration proceeding.
11.5 THE PARTIES RECOGNIZE AND AGREE THAT ALL CONTROVERSIES, DISPUTES AND CLAIMS RESOLVED UNDER THIS REFERENCE PROVISION WILL BE DECIDED BY A REFEREE AND NOT BY A JURY. AFTER CONSULTING (OR HAVING HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSULT) WITH COUNSEL OF ITS, HIS OR HER OWN CHOICE, EACH PARTY KNOWINGLY AND VOLUNTARILY, AND FOR THE MUTUAL BENEFIT OF ALL PARTIES, AGREES THAT THIS REFERENCE PROVISION WILL APPLY TO ANY CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CLAIM BETWEEN OR AMONG THEM ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATED TO, THIS AGREEMENT OR THE OTHER COMERICA DOCUMENTS.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Guarantor has executed this Guaranty as of August 31, 2011.
| GUARANTOR: |
| /s/ William T. Comfort, III |
| William T. Comfort, III |
[Signature Page to Limited Guaranty]