VERTICAL BRANDING, INC.
LTD GUARANTY ND AND AG
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-10.3
<SEQUENCE>4
<FILENAME>filing_328-3.htm
<DESCRIPTION>LTD GUARANTY ND AND AG
<TEXT>
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<P style="margin:0pt" align=right><B>Exhibit 10.3<BR>
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<P style="line-height:14pt; margin:0pt; font-size:12pt" align=center>LIMITED GUARANTY</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt">This Limited Guaranty (&#147;Guaranty&#148;) is made by the following individuals with residence and mailing addresses as set forth below (referred to herein as the &#147;Guarantors&#148;)</P>
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<TABLE style="font-size:10pt" cellspacing=0 align=center><TR><TD width=239.4></TD><TD width=239.4></TD></TR>
<TR><TD valign=top width=319.2><P style="margin:0pt">Nancy Duitch</P>
</TD><TD valign=top width=319.2><P style="margin:0pt">Alan Gerson</P>
</TD></TR>
<TR><TD valign=top width=319.2><P style="margin:0pt">15950 Royal Oak Rd.</P>
</TD><TD valign=top width=319.2><P style="margin:0pt">4256 Valley Meadow Rd.</P>
</TD></TR>
<TR><TD valign=top width=319.2><P style="margin:0pt">Encino, CA 91436</P>
</TD><TD valign=top width=319.2><P style="margin:0pt">Encino, CA 91436</P>
</TD></TR>
</TABLE>
<P style="margin:0pt"><BR></P>
<P style="margin:0pt">to and for the benefit of MARQUETTE COMMERCIAL FINANCE, INC. (&#147;MCF&#148;), a Minnesota corporation authorized to transact business in Texas.</P>
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<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; padding-left:36pt; text-indent:-36pt">A.</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; padding-left:36pt">MCF has contemporaneously herewith entered into that certain Account Transfer and Purchase Agreement dated as of July 13, 2006 (such agreement, and all amendments and modifications thereof, collectively, the &#147;Purchase Agreement&#148;), to which reference is made for all purposes, with Adsouth Marketing, LLC (referred to herein as the &#147;Seller&#148;), pursuant to which MCF has purchased or will purchase all right, title and interest in certain accounts receivable of the Seller (the &#147;Accounts&#148;), on those terms and conditions set forth in the Purchase Agreement.</P>
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<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; padding-left:36pt; text-indent:-36pt">B.</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; padding-left:36pt">MCF is willing to enter into the Purchase Agreement only if the Guarantors execute and deliver this Guaranty to MCF.</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt">NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the aforesaid premises and other good and valuable consideration, and for the purpose of inducing MCF to enter into the Purchase Agreement and to purchase accounts receivable from the Seller pursuant to the terms thereof, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Guarantors hereby covenant and agree as follows:</P>
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<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; padding-left:36pt; text-indent:-36pt">1.</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; padding-left:36pt">The Guarantors hereby unconditionally and irrevocably guarantee the payment in full of any losses incurred by MCF under the Purchase Agreement (collectively the &#147;Obligations&#148;) to the extent that such losses are related to or attributable to any of the following limited circumstances only:</P>
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<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; padding-left:72pt">(a)</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; padding-left:72pt; text-indent:36pt">In the event that the Seller takes any affirmative actions which result in the failure of MCF to obtain payment and which result in losses to MCF under the Purchase Agreement as a result of any of the following:</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; padding-left:72pt; text-indent:36pt">1. &nbsp;a representation to MCF by Seller under Section 9 of the Purchase Agreement was not true when made, and that misrepresentation results in losses to MCF under the Purchase Agreement;</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; padding-left:72pt; text-indent:36pt">2. &nbsp;the Seller takes an affirmative action to discount or subordinate an Account sold to MCF under the Purchase Agreement, and such action results in losses to MCF; and</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt; padding-left:72pt; text-indent:36pt">3. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;provided that the Seller fails to make good or offer satisfactory restitution to MCF within a period of 90 days after the occurrence of any losses to MCF under this Purchase Agreement, after receipt of notice from MCF of such loss.</P>
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<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; padding-left:72pt">(b)</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; padding-left:72pt; text-indent:36pt">In the event that the Seller, the Guarantors, or any other person, without receiving prior written consent from MCF, shall cash, deposit, or retain, any checks, drafts, monies or proceeds of the Accounts purchased by MCF, and the Seller shall fail to tender the entire amount of the same to MCF. </P>
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<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; padding-left:36pt; text-indent:-36pt">2.</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; padding-left:36pt">MCF shall be required, as a condition precedent to making a demand upon the Guarantors or to bringing an action against the Guarantors under this Guaranty, to act in a commercially reasonable manner with respect to making demand upon, or to institute any action or proceeding, at law or in equity against the Seller or anyone else, or to exhaust its remedies against the Seller, or anyone else, or against any collateral security. &nbsp;All remedies afforded to MCF by reason of this Guaranty are separate and cumulative remedies and it is agreed that not one of such remedies, whether exercised by MCF or not, shall be deemed to be exclusive of any of the other remedies available to MCF and shall not limit or prejudice any other remedy which MCF may have against any party, including the Guarantors.</P>
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<P style="line-height:10pt; margin:0pt; font-size:8pt" align=center>1</P>
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<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; padding-left:36pt; text-indent:-36pt">3.</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; padding-left:36pt">The Guarantors shall remain liable on this Guaranty notwithstanding any change or changes in the terms, covenants or conditions of the Purchase Agreement, or any amendment thereto, hereafter made or granted, or any delay on the part of MCF in exercising its rights hereunder or thereunder, it being the intention hereof that the Guarantors shall remain liable as principal until the full amount of the Obligations guaranteed hereby, with interest and any sums which may be due thereon, shall have been fully paid, notwithstanding any act or omission which might otherwise operate as a legal or equitable discharge of the Guarantors. &nbsp;Should Guarantors cease to remain as an executive officer or director of Seller, this Guaranty will cease to be valid only with written notification to MCF. &nbsp;All Obligations incurred prior to effective date of written notice of Guarantors&#146; termination from such position, including any losses associated with such Obligations prior to the effective date, will be the responsibility of Guarantors. &nbsp;If the Guarantors&#146; Guaranty is no longer valid, Seller will lose &nbsp;the ability to increase the Obligations until an acceptable guarantor is presented to MCF, and if an acceptable guarantor is not presented, MCF may use all remedies afforded by the Purchase Agreement to repay the outstanding Obligations owed to MCF by Seller. &nbsp;</P>
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<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; padding-left:36pt; text-indent:-36pt">4.</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; padding-left:36pt">The Guarantors hereby waive (a) notice of acceptance of this Guaranty; (b) presentment and demand for payment of the Obligations or any portion thereof; (c) protest and notice of dishonor or default to the Guarantors or to any other person or party with respect to the Obligations or any portion thereof; (d) all other notices to which the Guarantors might otherwise be entitled; (e) any demand for payment or performance of this Guaranty; and (f) all Guaranty and suretyship defenses or other defenses in the nature thereof (including, without limitation, all rights Guarantors have under, or the requirements imposed by, Chapter 34 of the Texas Business and Commerce Code, as may be amended from time to time).</P>
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<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; padding-left:36pt; text-indent:-36pt">5.</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; padding-left:36pt">Guarantors shall promptly furnish to MCF at any time and from time to time such financial statements and other financial information of Guarantor as MCF may require, in form and detail satisfactory to MCF (including, without limitation, annual financial statements within 45 days after the end of each calendar year).</P>
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<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; padding-left:36pt; text-indent:-36pt">6.</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; padding-left:36pt">This Guaranty shall inure to the benefit of, and may be enforced by MCF, and its respective successors and assigns, and shall be binding upon and enforceable against the Guarantors and their respective heirs, executors, legal representatives, administrators, or successors and assigns thereof. &nbsp;The obligations of the Guarantors hereunder shall not be joint and several, but rather each individual Guarantor shall be severally liable for fifty percent (50%) of the amounts guaranteed hereunder.</P>
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<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; padding-left:36pt; text-indent:-36pt">7.</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; padding-left:36pt">The Guarantors agree that in the event this Guaranty is placed in the hands of an attorney for enforcement, the Guarantor will reimburse MCF for all expenses incurred, including reasonable attorneys' fees.</P>
<P style="margin:0pt"><BR></P>
<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; padding-left:36pt; text-indent:-36pt">8.</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; padding-left:36pt">This Guaranty cannot be modified or amended except in writing, duly executed by the Guarantors and MCF.</P>
<P style="margin:0pt"><BR></P>
<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; padding-left:36pt; text-indent:-36pt">9.</P>
<P style="margin:0pt; padding-left:36pt">The Guarantors have received, and will receive, direct and/or indirect benefits by and from the making of this Guaranty and the execution of the Purchase Agreement by MCF.</P>
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<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; padding-left:36pt; text-indent:-36pt">10.</P>
<P style="line-height:normal; margin:0pt; padding-left:36pt"><B>THIS GUARANTY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS THEREOF, EXCEPT WITH RESPECT TO THE LAWS OF TEXAS GOVERNING THE MAXIMUM RATE OF INTEREST OR USURY. &nbsp;MCF IS A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF MERIDIAN BANK, N.A. WHICH HAS ITS HOME OFFICE IN ARIZONA. &nbsp;THEREFORE, TEXAS LAWS AND THE LAWS OF OTHER STATES, EXCEPT ARIZONA, ARE PREEMPTED BY THE NATIONAL BANK ACT, 12 U.S.C. &#167;&#167; 21, <I>ET. SEQ.</I>, AND THE REGULATIONS PROMULGATED THEREUNDER. &nbsp;ACCORDINGLY, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA REGARDING MAXIMUM RATES OF INTEREST AND USURY, A.R.S. &#167;&#167; 44-1201 <I>ET. SEQ.</I>, SHALL GOVERN THIS GUARANTY. &nbsp;THIS GUARANTY IS PERFORMABLE BY THE PARTIES IN TARRANT COUNTY, TEXAS. &nbsp;GUARANTORS AND MCF EACH AGREE THAT THE STATE COURTS OF TARRANT COUNTY, TEXAS SHALL BE THE EXCLUSIVE VENUE FOR ALL LITIGATION OF ANY DISPUTE OR CLAIM ARISING UNDER OR RELATING TO THIS GUARANTY, AND THAT SUCH COUNTY IS A CONVENIENT FORUM IN WHICH TO DECIDE ANY SUCH DISPUTE OR CLAIM. &nbsp;THE PARTIES HERETO EACH CONSENT TO THE PERSONAL JURISDICTION OF THE STATE COURTS LOCATED IN TARRANT COUNTY, TEXAS FOR THE LITIGATION OF ANY SUCH DISPUTE OR CLAIM. &nbsp;GUARANTORS IRREVOCABLY WAIVE, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY OBJECTION WHICH IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT AND ANY CLAIM THAT ANY SUCH PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN SUCH A COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVIENENT FORUM.</B></P>
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<P style="line-height:10pt; margin:0pt; font-size:8pt" align=center>2</P>
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<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; padding-left:36pt; text-indent:-36pt; page-break-before:always"><B>11.</B></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; padding-left:36pt"><B>GUARANTORS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY RIGHT GUARANTORS MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT TO ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY AT ANY TIME ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS GUARANTY OR ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR ASSOCIATED HEREWITH.</B></P>
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<P style="margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-12pt; padding-left:36pt; text-indent:-36pt"><B>12.</B></P>
<P style="margin:0pt; padding-left:36pt"><B>THIS GUARANTY REPRESENTS THE FINAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARTIES HERETO WITH RESPECT TO THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREIN AND MAY NOT BE CONTRADICTED BY EVIDENCE OF PRIOR, CONTEMPORANEOUS, OR SUBSEQUENT ORAL AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES. &nbsp;THERE ARE NO UNWRITTEN ORAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES.</B></P>
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<P style="margin:0pt">IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Guaranty this 8th day of November, 2006.</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt">GUARANTORS:</P>
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<P style="margin:0pt">/s/ NANCY DUITCH</P>
<P style="margin:0pt">_____________________________________________</P>
<P style="margin:0pt"><B>NANCY DUITCH</B></P>
<P style="margin:0pt"><B>SSN: &nbsp;XXX-XX-XXXX</B></P>
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<P style="margin:0pt">/s/ ALAN GERSON</P>
<P style="margin:0pt">_____________________________________________</P>
<P style="margin:0pt"><B>ALAN GERSON</B></P>
<P style="margin:0pt"><B>SSN: &nbsp;XXX-XX-XXXX</B></P>
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<P style="line-height:11pt; margin:0pt; font-size:9pt" align=justify><B>STATE OF </B>______________________________</P>
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<P style="line-height:11pt; margin:0pt; font-size:9pt" align=justify><B>COUNTY OF </B>____________________________</P>
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<P style="line-height:11pt; margin:0pt; text-indent:36pt; font-size:9pt" align=justify>The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this _________ day of November, 2006, by Nancy Duitch.</P>
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<P style="line-height:11pt; margin:0pt; font-size:9pt" align=justify>Witness my hand and official seal.</P>
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<P style="line-height:11pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-11pt; font-size:9pt" align=justify>My Commission expires: _____________________________</P>
<P style="line-height:11pt; margin:0pt; text-indent:324pt; font-size:9pt" align=justify>_________________________________________</P>
<P style="line-height:11pt; margin:0pt; text-indent:360pt; font-size:9pt">(Notary Public)</P>
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<P style="line-height:11pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-11pt; font-size:9pt" align=justify><B>STATE OF </B>______________________________</P>
<P style="line-height:11pt; margin:0pt; text-indent:180pt; font-size:9pt" align=justify>&nbsp;</P>
<P style="line-height:11pt; margin:0pt; text-indent:180pt; font-size:9pt" align=justify><B>&nbsp;&nbsp;</B></P>
<P style="line-height:11pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-11pt; font-size:9pt" align=justify><B>COUNTY OF </B>____________________________</P>
<P style="line-height:11pt; margin:0pt; text-indent:180pt; font-size:9pt" align=justify>&nbsp;</P>
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<P style="line-height:11pt; margin:0pt; text-indent:36pt; font-size:9pt" align=justify>The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this _________ day of November, 2006, by Alan Gerson.</P>
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<P style="line-height:11pt; margin:0pt; font-size:9pt" align=justify>Witness my hand and official seal.</P>
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<P style="line-height:11pt; margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:-11pt; font-size:9pt" align=justify>My Commission expires: _____________________________</P>
<P style="line-height:11pt; margin:0pt; text-indent:324pt; font-size:9pt" align=justify>_________________________________________</P>
<P style="line-height:11pt; margin:0pt; text-indent:360pt; font-size:9pt">(Notary Public)</P>
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<P style="line-height:10pt; margin:0pt; font-size:8pt" align=center>3</P>
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