Exhibit 10.4

GUARANTEE
(this "
Guarantee")

June 24, 2004

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK ("Chase"), as Administrative Agent for
the Lenders described below (the "
Administrative Agent")
707 Travis, Floor 9
Houston, Texas 77002

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        1.     Guarantee. For value received, and in consideration of Borrower entering into the Agreement, the undersigned (collectively, the "Guarantor"), do hereby irrevocably, absolutely, and unconditionally guarantee (a) payment, when due, of any and all indebtedness and other amounts of every kind, howsoever created, arising, or evidenced, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, now or hereafter existing or owing to the Lenders or the Administrative Agent, by Borrower under the Notes as defined in the Agreement, (including, without limitation, amounts that would become due but for operation of any applicable provision of Title 11 of the United States Code (including, without limitation, 11 U.S.C. §§ 502 and 506)), together with all pre- and post-maturity interest thereon (including, without limitation, all post-petition interest if Borrower voluntarily or involuntarily files for bankruptcy protection) (all such obligations being hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Liabilities") and (b) the performance by Borrower of its obligations under the Agreement and the Security Documents (the "Loan Papers") pursuant to the terms thereof (the "Obligations"). The Guarantor has a substantial, direct or indirect, financial interest in the benefits and advantages which will result from the Agreement. The Guarantor hereby agrees that, upon any Default, the Guarantor will forthwith pay the Liabilities as limited by this paragraph immediately upon written demand or perform the Obligations.

        2.     Guarantee Continuing, Absolute, Unlimited. This Guarantee is a continuing, absolute, and unlimited guarantee of payment and the Guarantor is a primary obligor and not a surety. The Liabilities and Obligations shall be conclusively presumed to have been created in reliance on this Guarantee. The Administrative Agent shall not be required to proceed first against Borrower or any other person, firm or corporation or against any property securing any of the Liabilities or Obligations before resorting to the Guarantor for payment or performance. To the extent permitted by applicable law, this Guarantee shall be construed as a guarantee of payment without regard to the enforceability of any of the Liabilities or Obligations or the rejection of the Agreement in bankruptcy, and notwithstanding any claim, defense (other than payment or performance by Borrower or the Guarantor) or right of setoff which Borrower or the Guarantor may have against any Lender or the Administrative Agent, including any such claim, defense, or right of setoff based on any present or future law or order of any government (de jure or de facto), or of any agency thereof or court of law purporting to reduce, amend, or otherwise affect any of the Liabilities or Obligations of Borrower or any other obligor, or to vary any terms of payment thereof, and without regard to any other circumstances which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge of a surety or a guarantor. The Guarantor agrees that this Guarantee shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment to the Lenders or the Administrative Agent of the Liabilities or any part thereof is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by any Lender or the Administrative

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Agent upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, or reorganization of Borrower, or otherwise, as though such payment to such Lender or the Administrative Agent had not been made. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Guarantor's obligation to fully pay or perform the Liabilities and any remedy for the enforcement thereof shall not be impaired, modified, released, or limited in any way by any impairment, modification, release, or limitation of the liability of Borrower or its bankruptcy estate, resulting from the operation of any present or future provision of any debtor relief law or from the decision of any court interpreting the same.

        3.     Guarantee Not Affected by Change in Security or Other Actions. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders may, from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Guarantor, take any or all of the following actions without impairing or affecting (except insofar as the Liabilities are reduced or modified thereby), the Guarantor's obligations under this Guarantee or releasing or exonerating the Guarantor from any of its liabilities hereunder:

        4.     Waivers. The Guarantor hereby expressly waives to the extent permitted by law:

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        5.     Definitions. As used in this Guarantee, capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein will have the meanings given them in the Agreement.

        6.     Representations, Warranties and Agreements of Guarantor. The Guarantor represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

        7.     Events of Default. Events of Default shall be as set forth and defined in the Credit Agreement.

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        8.     Remedies Upon Default. Without limiting any other rights or remedies of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders provided for elsewhere in this Guarantee or the Loan Papers, or by any requirement of law, or in equity, or otherwise:

        9.     Payments. Each payment by the Guarantor to the Administrative Agent under this Guarantee shall be made by transferring the amount thereof in immediately available funds without set-off or counterclaim.

        10.   Costs, Expenses and Taxes. The Guarantor agrees to pay on demand: (i) all reasonable out of pocket costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of this Guarantee and any other documents to be delivered hereunder, including the reasonable fees and out of pocket expenses of counsel for the Administrative Agent with respect thereto and with respect to advising the Administrative Agent as to its rights and responsibilities under this Guarantee, and any modification, supplement or waiver of any of the terms of this Guarantee, (ii) all reasonable costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent hereunder, including reasonable legal fees and expenses of counsel to the Administrative Agent, in connection with a default or the enforcement of this Guarantee and (iii) reasonable costs and expenses incurred in connection with third party professional services reasonably required by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the Loan Papers such as appraisers, environmental consultants, accountants or similar Persons; provided that except during the continuance of any Default hereunder, the Administrative Agent will first obtain the consent of the Guarantor to such expense, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. Without prejudice to the survival of any other obligations of the Guarantor hereunder, the obligations of the Guarantor under this Section shall survive the termination of this Guarantee.

        11.   Subrogation. The Guarantor shall not be subrogated to, in whole or in part, and agrees not to exercise any rights of subrogation with respect to, the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender or those of any subsequent assignee or transferee of any of the Liabilities until all the Liabilities to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and every such subsequent assignee or transferee shall have been paid in full. The provisions of this Section 11 shall survive the termination of this Guarantee and any satisfaction and discharge of Borrower by virtue of any payment, court order, or law.

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        12.   No Waiver; Remedies. No failure on the part of the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, or any abandonment or discontinuance of any steps to enforce such right, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right. No notice to or demand on the Guarantor in any case shall entitle the Guarantor to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances. The remedies herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any other remedies provided by law, at equity or in any other agreement.

        13.   Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations, warranties and covenants contained herein or made in writing by the Guarantor in connection herewith shall survive the execution and delivery of this Guarantee, and the termination of the Loan Papers and will bind and inure to the benefit of the respective successors and assigns of the parties hereto, whether so expressed or not.

        14.   Confidentiality. The Administrative Agent and each Lender agree to keep any information delivered or made available by the Guarantor to it which is clearly indicated to be confidential information, confidential from anyone other than Persons employed or retained by the Administrative Agent who are or are expected to become engaged in evaluating, approving, structuring or administering the Loan Papers; provided that nothing herein shall prevent the Administrative Agent or any Lender from disclosing such information (a) to any Lender, (b) pursuant to subpoena or upon the order of any court or administrative agency, (c) upon the request or demand of any regulatory agency or authority having jurisdiction over Administrative Agent or any Lender, (d) which has been publicly disclosed, (e) to the extent reasonably required in connection with any litigation to which the Administrative Agent, any Lender, the Borrower, the Guarantor or their respective Affiliates may be a party, (f) to the extent reasonably required in connection with the exercise of any remedy hereunder, (g) to any Lender's legal counsel and independent auditors. The Administrative Agent will promptly notify the Guarantor of any information that it is required or requested to deliver pursuant to clause (b) or (c) of this Section 14 and, if the Guarantor is a party to any such litigation, clause (e) of this Section 14.

        15.   Separability. Should any clause, sentence, paragraph or Section of this Guarantee be judicially declared to be invalid, unenforceable or void, such decision will not have the effect of invalidating or voiding the remainder of this Guarantee, and the parties hereto agree that the part or parts of this Guarantee so held to be invalid, unenforceable or void will be deemed to have been stricken herefrom and the remainder will have the same force and effectiveness as if such part or parts had never been included herein.

        16.   Execution in Counterparts. This Guarantee may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

        17.   Interpretation.

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        18.   Submission to Jurisdiction. The Guarantor, to the extent permitted by applicable law, hereby agrees as follows:

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        19.   Waiver of Jury Trial. THE GUARANTOR HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING TO ENFORCE OR DEFEND ANY RIGHTS UNDER THIS GUARANTEE OR UNDER ANY AMENDMENT, INSTRUMENT, DOCUMENT OR AGREEMENT DELIVERED OR WHICH MAY IN THE FUTURE BE DELIVERED IN CONNECTION HEREWITH, AND AGREES, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THAT ANY SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING SHALL BE TRIED BEFORE A COURT AND NOT BEFORE A JURY.

        20.   Parties. This Guarantee shall inure to the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders and their respective successors, assigns or transferees, and shall be binding upon the Guarantor and its successors and assigns. The Guarantor may not assign any of its duties under this Guarantee without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and the Lenders may assign their respective rights and benefits under this Guarantee to any Participant in accordance with the provisions of Section 9.04 of the Agreement.

        21.   Notices. All notices, consents, requests, approvals, demands and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing (including telecopy communications) and mailed, telecopied, sent by overnight courier or delivered:

    (a)   If to any Guarantor:

 

 

 

 

c/o Cornell Companies, Inc.
1700 West Loop South, Suite 1500
Houston, Texas 77027
        Attention:   John L. Hendrix,
Executive Vice President and CFO
        telephone:   (713) 235-9321
        telecopy:   (713) 623-2853 and (713) 623-0090 (send copy to both)

 

 

(b)

 

If to the Administrative Agent:

 

 

 

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank
707 Travis, Floor 9
Houston, Texas 77002
        Attention:   Susan Garner, Vice President
        telephone:   (713) 216-3250
        telecopy:   (713) 216-6262

 

 

 

 

with a copy to

 

 

 

 

Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP
1000 Louisiana, Suite 3400
Houston, Texas 77002
        Attention:   Carol M. Burke
        telephone   (713) 276-5561
        telecopy:   (713) 276-6561

        Other than the service of process set forth in Section 18(a) above, all communications shall be effective three (3) Business Days after the date when mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested postage prepaid to any party at its address specified above, or upon receipt if telecopied to any party to

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the telecopy number set forth above, or upon receipt if delivered personally to any party at its address specified above.

        22.   Term. This Guarantee is not limited to any particular period of time, but shall continue in full force and effect until all of the Liabilities have been fully and finally paid or have been otherwise discharged by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and the Guarantor shall not be released from any obligation or liability hereunder until such full payment or discharge shall have occurred.

        23.   Governing Law. This Guarantee and all other documents executed in connection herewith shall be deemed to be contracts and agreements executed by the Guarantor and Administrative Agent under the laws of the State of Texas and of the United States of America and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with, and governed by, the laws of said state and of the United States of America.

        24.   Indemnity.

        25.   New Guarantee. In the event that (i) any Loan Paper is rejected by a trustee or debtor-in-possession in any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding involving the Borrower or (ii) any Loan Paper or this Guarantee is terminated as a result of any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding involving the Borrower and, if within sixty (60) days after such rejection or termination, the Administrative Agent or its designee shall so request and shall certify in writing to the Guarantor that it intends to perform the obligations of the Borrower as and to the extent required under such Loan Paper or this Guarantee, as applicable, the Guarantor will, unless prohibited by bankruptcy or other applicable law, execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent or such designee, a new Guarantee that shall contain the same conditions, agreements, terms, provisions and limitations as such original

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Guarantee (except for any requirements which have been fulfilled by the Borrower and the Guarantor prior to such rejection or termination).

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

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    Sincerely yours,

 

 

GUARANTOR:

 

 

CORNELL CORRECTIONS MANAGEMENT, INC., a Delaware corporation

 

 

By:

/s/  
JOHN L. HENDRIX      
John L. Hendrix, Chief Financial Officer

 

 

CORNELL CORRECTIONS OF TEXAS, INC.,
a Delaware corporation

 

 

By:

/s/  
JOHN L. HENDRIX      
John L. Hendrix, Chief Financial Officer

 

 

CORNELL CORRECTIONS OF RHODE ISLAND, INC.,
a Delaware corporation

 

 

By:

/s/  
JOHN L. HENDRIX      
John L. Hendrix, Chief Financial Officer

 

 

CORNELL CORRECTIONS OF CALIFORNIA, INC.,
a California corporation

 

 

By:

/s/  
JOHN L. HENDRIX      
John L. Hendrix, Chief Financial Officer

 

 

CCG I CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation

 

 

By:

/s/  
JOHN L. HENDRIX      
John L. Hendrix, Chief Financial Officer

 

 

CORNELL ABRAXAS GROUP, INC.,
a Delaware corporation

 

 

By:

/s/  
JOHN L. HENDRIX      
John L. Hendrix, Chief Financial Officer

 

 

CORNELL CORRECTIONS OF ALASKA, INC.,
an Alaska corporation

 

 

By:

/s/  
JOHN L. HENDRIX      
John L. Hendrix, Chief Financial Officer
       


 

 

CORNELL INTERVENTIONS, INC.,
an Illinois corporation

 

 

By:

/s/  
JOHN L. HENDRIX      
John L. Hendrix, Chief Financial Officer

 

 

WBP LEASING, INC., a Delaware corporation

 

 

By:

/s/  
JOHN L. HENDRIX      
John L. Hendrix, Chief Financial Officer

 

 

CORNELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.,
a Delaware corporation

 

 

By:

/s/  
JOHN L. HENDRIX      
John L. Hendrix, Chief Financial Officer

 

 

CORNELL COMPANIES MANAGEMENT SERVICES
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
, a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

By:

 

Cornell Companies Management LP, a Delaware
limited partnership, its general partner

 

 

 

 

By:

 

Cornell Companies Administration, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company, its general partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/  
JOHN L. HENDRIX      
John L. Hendrix,
Manager

 

 

CORNELL COMPANIES MANAGEMENT LP,
a Delaware limited partnership

 

 

By:

 

Cornell Companies Administration, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company, its general partner

 

 

 

 

By:

 

/s/  
JOHN L. HENDRIX      
John L. Hendrix,
Manager

 

 

CORNELL COMPANIES MANAGEMENT HOLDINGS,
LLC
, a Delaware limited liability company

 

 

By:

 

/s/  
JOHN L. HENDRIX      
John L. Hendrix, Manager
               


 

 

CORNELL COMPANIES ADMINISTRATION, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company

 

 

By:

 

/s/  
JOHN L. HENDRIX      
John L. Hendrix, Manager

        ACCEPTED AND AGREED as of the date first above written:

    JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, as Administrative Agent

 

 

By:

/s/  
SUSAN GARNER      
Susan Garner, Vice President