EXHIBIT 10.28
EXECUTION VERSION
DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION GUARANTY AND COLLATERAL
AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF
OCTOBER 6, 2009
MADE BY
AURORA OIL & GAS CORPORATION
AND
EACH OF THE OTHER OBLIGORS PARTY
HERETO
IN FAVOR OF
BNP PARIBAS,
AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE I
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Definitions
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1
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Definitions.
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1
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Other Definitional Provisions
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4
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Rules of Interpretation
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4
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ARTICLE II
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Guarantee
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5
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Guarantee.
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5
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Right of Contribution
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5
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No Subrogation
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6
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Amendments, Etc. with Respect to the Borrower
Obligations
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6
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Waivers
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6
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Guarantee Absolute and Unconditional.
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7
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Reinstatement
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8
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Payments
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8
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ARTICLE III
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Grant of Security Interest
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8
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Grant of Security Interest
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8
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Pre-Petition First Lien Administrative Agent
acting as Bailee; Transfer of Pledged Securities.
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10
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Priority
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10
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ARTICLE IV
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Representations and Warranties
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11
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Representations in Credit Agreement
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11
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Title; No Other Liens
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11
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Perfected First Priority Liens
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11
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Obligor Information
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11
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Pledged Securities.
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12
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Benefit to the Guarantor
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12
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Obligor Accounts
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12
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Perfection
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12
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ARTICLE V
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Covenants
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13
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Covenants in Credit Agreement
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13
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Maintenance of Perfected Security Interest;
Further Documentation
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13
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Changes in Locations, Name, Etc
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14
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Pledged Securities
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14
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Obligor Accounts.
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16
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ARTICLE VI
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Remedial Provisions
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17
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Code and Other Remedies.
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17
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Pledged Securities.
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17
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[Reserved].
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20
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Private Sales of Pledged Securities.
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20
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Obligors to Hold in Trust; Collections,
etc.
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20
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Waiver; Deficiency
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21
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Non-Judicial Enforcement
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21
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ARTICLE VII
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The Administrative Agent
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21
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Administrative Agent’s Appointment as
Attorney-in-Fact, Etc.
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21
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Duty of Administrative Agent
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23
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Filing of Financing Statements
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23
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Authority of Administrative Agent
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23
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ARTICLE VIII
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Subordination of Indebtedness
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23
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Subordination of All Obligor Claims
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23
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[Reserved].
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24
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Payments Held in Trust
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24
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Liens Subordinate
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24
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Notation of Records
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24
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ARTICLE IX
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Miscellaneous
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24
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Waiver
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24
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Notices
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24
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Payment of Expenses, Indemnities,
Etc.
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25
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Amendments in Writing
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25
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Successors and Assigns
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25
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Survival; Revival; Reinstatement.
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25
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Counterparts; Integration;
Effectiveness.
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26
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Severability
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26
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Set-Off
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27
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Governing Law; Submission to
Jurisdiction.
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27
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Headings
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28
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Acknowledgments
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28
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Additional Obligors and Pledgors
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29
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Releases.
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29
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Acceptance
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30
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ANNEXES:
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I
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Form of Assumption Agreement
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EXHIBITS:
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Form of Acknowledgment and Consent
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SCHEDULES:
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1
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Notice Addresses of Obligors
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2
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Description of Pledged Securities
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Location of Jurisdiction of Organization and
Chief Executive Office
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This DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION GUARANTY
AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT is dated as of October 6, 2009 made by
Aurora Oil & Gas Corporation, a Utah corporation and a
debtor-in-possession under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code (the
“ Borrower ”), Hudson Pipeline & Processing
Co. L.L.C., a Michigan limited liability company and a
debtor-in-possession under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code
(“ Hudson ”), and any other signatories hereto
(Hudson and Borrower, together with any other Subsidiary of the
Borrower that becomes a party hereto from time to time after the
date hereof, are referred to herein collectively as the “
Obligors ”), in favor of BNP Paribas, as
administrative agent (in such capacity, together with its
successors in such capacity, the “ Administrative
Agent ”), for the banks and other financial institutions
(the “ Lenders ”) from time to time parties to
the Debtor-In-Possession Credit Agreement dated of even date
herewith (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time
to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among the
Borrower, Hudson, the Lenders, the Administrative Agent, BNP
Paribas, as Issuing Bank, and the other Agents party
thereto.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, on July 12, 2009 (the
“ Petition Date ”), the Borrower and Hudson
filed a voluntary petition with the United States Bankruptcy Court
for the Western District of Michigan (the “ Bankruptcy
Court ”) initiating cases under Chapter 11 of the
Bankruptcy Code (collectively, the “ Bankruptcy Cases
” and, individually, a “ Bankruptcy Case
”).
WHEREAS, the Borrower, a debtor and
debtor-in-possession, and Hudson, a debtor and
debtor-in-possession, have continued in the possession of their
respective assets and in the management of their respective
businesses as debtors-in-possession pursuant to Sections 1107 and
1108 of the Bankruptcy Code.
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Credit
Agreement, the Lenders have agreed to make available to the
Borrower a debtor-in-possession revolving line of credit for
loans,
WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent
to the obligation of the Lenders to make their respective
extensions of credit to the Borrower under the Credit Agreement
that the Obligors shall have executed and delivered this Agreement
to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the
Lenders.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of
the premises herein and to induce the Administrative Agent and the
Lenders to enter into the Credit Agreement and to induce the
Lenders to make their respective extensions of credit to the
Borrower thereunder, each Obligor hereby agrees with the
Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Lenders, as
follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions
Section
1.01. Definitions .
(a) Unless
otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and
used herein have the meanings given to them in the Credit
Agreement, and all uncapitalized terms which are defined in the UCC
on the date hereof are used herein as so defined.
(b) The
following terms have the following meanings:
“ Agreement ”
means this Debtor-In-Possession Guaranty and Collateral Agreement,
as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from
time to time.
“ Bankruptcy Cases
” or “ Bankruptcy Case ” has the meaning
assigned to such term in the Recitals.
“ Bankruptcy Code
” means Title 11, United States Code, as amended from time to
time.
“ Bankruptcy Court
” has the meaning assigned to such term in the
Recitals.
“ Borrower Obligations
” means the collective reference to the payment and
performance when due of all indebtedness, liabilities, obligations
and undertakings of the Borrower and the Subsidiaries (including,
without limitation, all Indebtedness) of every kind or description
arising out of or outstanding under, advanced or issued pursuant,
or evidenced by, the Guaranteed Documents, including, without
limitation, the unpaid principal of and interest on the Loans and
the LC Exposure and all other obligations and liabilities of the
Borrower and the Subsidiaries (including, without limitation,
interest accruing at the then applicable rate provided in the
Credit Agreement after the maturity of the Loans and LC Exposure)
to the Guaranteed Creditors, whether direct or indirect, absolute
or contingent, due or to become due, or now existing or hereafter
incurred, arising out of or outstanding under, advanced or issued
pursuant, or evidenced by, the Guaranteed Documents, whether on
account of principal, interest, premium, reimbursement obligations,
payments in respect of an early termination date, fees,
indemnities, costs, expenses or otherwise (including, without
limitation, all costs, fees and disbursements of counsel to the
Guaranteed Creditors that are required to be paid by the Borrower
pursuant to the terms of any Guaranteed Documents).
“ Collateral ”
has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.01.
“ Disposition ”
or “ Dispose ” means the sale, transfer,
license, lease or other disposition (including any sale and
leaseback transaction) of any Property by any Person, including any
sale, assignment, transfer or other disposal, with or without
recourse, of any notes or accounts receivable or any rights and
Claims associated therewith.
“ Guarantee ” has
the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.01(c).
“ Guaranteed Creditors
” means the collective reference to the Administrative Agent
and the Lenders.
“ Guaranteed Documents
” means the collective reference to the Credit Agreement, the
other Loan Documents and any other document made, delivered or
given in connection with any of the foregoing.
“ Guarantor Obligations
” means with respect to any Guarantor, the collective
reference to (a) the Borrower Obligations and (b) the payment and
performance when due of all indebtedness, liabilities, obligations
and undertakings of such Guarantor of every kind or description,
whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to
become due, or now existing or hereafter incurred, arising out of
or outstanding under, advanced or issued pursuant, or evidenced by,
any Guaranteed Document to which such Guarantor is a party, in each
case, whether on account of principal, interest, guarantee
obligations, reimbursement obligations, payments in respect of an
early termination date, fees, indemnities, costs, expenses or
otherwise (including, without limitation, all fees and
disbursements of counsel to any Guaranteed Creditor under any
Guaranteed Document).
“ Guarantors ”
means the collective reference to each Obligor other than the
Borrower.
“ Issuers ” means
the collective reference to each issuer of a Pledged
Security.
“ LLC ” means,
with respect to each Pledgor, each limited liability company
described or referred to on Schedule 2 in which such Pledgor holds
a membership interest.
“ LLC Agreement ”
means each operating agreement relating to an LLC, as each
agreement has heretofore been, and may hereafter be, amended,
restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time.
“ Obligations ”
means: (a) in the case of the Borrower, the Borrower Obligations,
(b) in the case of each Guarantor, its Guarantor Obligations and
(c) in the case of each Pledgor, its Pledgor
Obligations.
“ Obligor ” has
the meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals.
“ Obligor Accounts
” means all deposit accounts, securities accounts, and
commodity accounts now owned or hereafter acquired by each Obligor,
including, without limitation, all of those listed on Schedule
4.
“ Obligor Claims
” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
8.01.
“ Partnership ”
means, with respect to each Pledgor, each partnership described or
referred to on Schedule 2 in which such Pledgor is a limited or
general partner.
“ Partnership Agreement
” means each partnership agreement governing a Partnership,
as each such agreement has heretofore been, and may hereafter be,
amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified.
“ Permitted Liens
” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
4.02
“ Petition Date ”
has the meaning assigned to such term in the Recitals.
“ Pledged LLC Interests
” means, with respect to each Pledgor, all right, title and
interest of such Pledgor as a member of each LLC and all right,
title and interest of any Pledgor in, to and under each LLC
Agreement.
“ Pledged Notes ”
means all promissory notes listed on Schedule 2, all intercompany
notes at any time issued to any Guarantor and all other promissory
notes issued to or held by any Guarantor (other than promissory
notes issued in connection with extensions of trade credit by any
Guarantor in the ordinary course of business).
“ Pledged Partnership
Interests ” means, with respect to each Pledgor, all
right, title and interest of such Pledgor as a limited or general
partner in all Partnerships and all right, title and interest of
any Pledgor in, to and under the Partnership Agreements.
“ Pledged Securities
” means: (a) the Equity Interests described or referred to on
Schedule 2 (as the same may be supplemented from time to time
pursuant to a Supplement in substantially the form of Annex II);
(b) (i) the certificates or instruments, if any, representing such
Equity Interests, (ii) all dividends (cash, Equity Interests or
otherwise), cash, instruments, rights to subscribe, purchase or
sell and all other rights and Property from time to time received,
receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of or in exchange
for any or all of such securities, (iii) all replacements,
additions to and substitutions for any of the Property referred to
in this definition, including, without limitation, Claims against
third parties, (iv) the proceeds, interest, profits and other
income of or on any of the Property referred to in this definition,
(v) all security entitlements in respect of any of the foregoing,
if any and (vi) all books and records relating to any of the
Property referred to in this definition, and (c) the Pledged
Notes.
“ Pledgor ” means
any Obligor that now or hereafter pledges Collateral
hereunder.
“ Pledgor Obligations
” means with respect to any Pledgor, the collective reference
to (a) the Borrower Obligations and (b) the payment and performance
when due of all indebtedness, liabilities, obligations and
undertakings of such Pledgor of every kind or description, whether
direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due,
or now existing or hereafter incurred, arising out of or
outstanding under, advanced or issued pursuant, or evidenced by,
any Guaranteed Document to which such Pledgor is a party, in each
case, whether on account of principal, interest, guarantee
obligations, reimbursement obligations, payments in respect of an
early termination date, fees, indemnities, costs, expenses or
otherwise (including, without limitation, all fees and
disbursements of counsel to any Guaranteed Creditor under any
Guaranteed Document).
“ Proceeds ”
means all “proceeds” as such term is defined in Section
9-102(64) of the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the State of
Texas on the date hereof and, in any event, shall include, without
limitation, all dividends or other income from the Pledged
Securities, collections thereon or distributions or payments with
respect thereto.
“ Securities Act
” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“ UCC ” means the
Uniform Commercial Code as from time to time in effect in the State
of Texas; provided , however , that, in the event
that, by reason of mandatory provisions of law, any of the
attachment, perfection or priority of the Administrative
Agent’s and the Guaranteed Creditors’ security interest
in any Collateral is governed by the Uniform Commercial Code as in
effect in a jurisdiction other than the State of Texas, the term
“UCC” shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code as in
effect in such other jurisdiction for purposes of the provisions
hereof relating to such attachment, perfection, the effect thereof
or priority and for purposes of definitions related to such
provisions.
Section
1.02. Other Definitional Provisions
. Where the context requires, terms relating to the
Collateral or any part thereof, when used in relation to a Pledgor,
refer to such Pledgor’s Collateral or the relevant part
thereof.
Section
1.03. Rules of Interpretation
. Section 1.04 of the Credit Agreement is hereby
incorporated herein by reference and shall apply to this Agreement,
mutatis mutandis .
ARTICLE II
Guarantee
Section
2.01. Guarantee .
(a) Each of
the Guarantors hereby jointly and severally, unconditionally and
irrevocably, guarantees to the Guaranteed Creditors and each of
their respective successors, endorsees, transferees and assigns,
the prompt and complete payment in cash and performance by the
Borrower when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration
or otherwise) of the Borrower Obligations. This is a
guarantee of payment and not collection and the liability of each
Guarantor is primary and not secondary.
(b) Anything
herein or in any other Guaranteed Document to the contrary
notwithstanding, the maximum liability of each Guarantor hereunder
and under the other Guaranteed Documents shall in no event exceed
the amount which can be guaranteed by such Guarantor under
applicable federal and state laws relating to the insolvency of
debtors (after giving effect to the right of contribution
established in Section 2.02).
(c) Each
Guarantor agrees that the Borrower Obligations may at any time and
from time to time exceed the amount of the liability of such
Guarantor hereunder without impairing the guarantee contained in
this Article II (the ” Guarantee ”) or affecting
the rights and remedies of any Guaranteed Creditor
hereunder.
(d) Each
Guarantor agrees that if the maturity of the Borrower Obligations
is accelerated for any reason, such maturity shall also be deemed
accelerated for the purpose of this guarantee without demand or
notice to such Guarantor. The guarantee contained in
this Article II shall remain in full force and effect until all the
Borrower Obligations shall have been satisfied by payment in full
in cash, no Letter of Credit shall be outstanding and all of the
Commitments are terminated, notwithstanding that from time to time
during the term of the Credit Agreement, no Borrower Obligations
may be outstanding.
(e) No
payment made by any Obligor, any other guarantor or any other
Person or received or collected by any Guaranteed Creditor from any
Obligor, any other guarantor or any other Person by virtue of any
action or proceeding or any set-off or appropriation or application
at any time or from time to time in reduction of or in payment of
the Borrower Obligations shall be deemed to modify, reduce, release
or otherwise affect the liability of any Guarantor hereunder which
shall, notwithstanding any such payment (other than any payment
made by such Guarantor in respect of the Borrower Obligations or
any payment received or collected from such Guarantor in respect of
the Borrower Obligations), remain liable for the Borrower
Obligations up to the maximum liability of such Guarantor hereunder
until the Borrower Obligations are paid in full in cash, no Letter
of Credit shall be outstanding and all of the Commitments are
terminated.
Section
2.02. Right of Contribution
. Each Guarantor hereby agrees that to the extent that a
Guarantor shall have paid more than its proportionate share of any
payment made hereunder, such Guarantor shall be entitled to seek
and receive contribution from and against any other Guarantor
hereunder which has not paid its proportionate share of such
payment. Each Guarantor’s right of contribution shall be
subject to the terms and conditions of Section 2.03. The
provisions of this Section 2.02 shall in no respect limit the
obligations and liabilities of any Guarantor to the Guaranteed
Creditors, and each Guarantor shall remain liable to the Guaranteed
Creditors for the full amount guaranteed by such Guarantor
hereunder.
Section
2.03. No Subrogation
. Notwithstanding any payment made by any Guarantor
hereunder or any set-off or application of funds of any Guarantor
by any Guaranteed Creditor, no Guarantor shall be entitled to be
subrogated to any of the rights of any Guaranteed Creditor against
the Borrower or any other Guarantor or any collateral security or
guarantee or right of offset held by any Guaranteed Creditor for
the payment of the Borrower Obligations, nor shall any Guarantor
seek or be entitled to seek any indemnity, exoneration,
participation, contribution or reimbursement from the Borrower or
any other Guarantor in respect of payments made by such Guarantor
hereunder, until all amounts owing to the Guaranteed Creditors on
account of the Borrower Obligations are irrevocably and
indefeasibly paid in full in cash, no Letter of Credit shall be
outstanding and all of the Commitments are
terminated. If any amount shall be paid to any Guarantor
on account of such subrogation rights at any time when all of the
Borrower Obligations shall not have been irrevocably and
indefeasibly paid in full in cash, any Letters of Credit shall be
outstanding or any of the Commitments are in effect, such amount
shall be held by such Guarantor in trust for the Guaranteed
Creditors, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such Guarantor, be
turned over to the Administrative Agent in the exact form received
by such Guarantor (duly indorsed by such Guarantor to the
Administrative Agent, if required), to be applied against the
Borrower Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in accordance
with Section 10.03 of the Credit Agreement.
Section
2.04. Amendments, Etc. with Respect to
the Borrower Obligations . Each Guarantor shall
remain obligated hereunder, and such Guarantor’s obligations
hereunder shall not be released, discharged or otherwise affected,
notwithstanding that, without any reservation of rights against any
Guarantor and without notice to, demand upon or further assent by
any Guarantor (which notice, demand and assent requirements are
hereby expressly waived by such Guarantor), (a) any demand for
payment of any of the Borrower Obligations made by any Guaranteed
Creditor may be rescinded by such Guaranteed Creditor or otherwise
and any of the Borrower Obligations continued; (b) the Borrower
Obligations, the liability of any other Person upon or for any part
thereof or any collateral security or guarantee therefor or right
of offset with respect thereto, may, from time to time, in whole or
in part, be renewed, extended, amended, modified, accelerated,
compromised, waived, surrendered or released by, or any indulgence
or forbearance in respect thereof granted by, any Guaranteed
Creditor; (c) any Guaranteed Document may be amended, modified,
supplemented or terminated, in whole or in part, as the Guaranteed
Creditors may deem advisable from time to time; (d) any collateral
security, guarantee or right of offset at any time held by any
Guaranteed Creditor for the payment of the Borrower Obligations may
be sold, exchanged, waived, surrendered or released; (e) any
additional guarantors, makers or endorsers of the Borrower’s
Obligations may from time to time be obligated on the
Borrower’s Obligations or any additional security or
collateral for the payment and performance of the Borrower’s
Obligations may from time to time secure the Borrower’s
Obligations; and (f) any other event shall occur which constitutes
a defense or release of sureties generally. No
Guaranteed Creditor shall have any obligation to protect, secure,
perfect or insure any Lien at any time held by it as security for
the Borrower Obligations or for the Guarantee or any Property
subject thereto.
Section
2.05. Waivers . Each
Guarantor hereby waives any and all notice of the creation,
renewal, extension or accrual of any of the Borrower Obligations
and notice of or proof of reliance by any Guaranteed Creditor upon
the Guarantee or acceptance of the Guarantee; the Borrower
Obligations, and any of them, shall conclusively be deemed to have
been created, contracted or incurred, or renewed, extended, amended
or waived, in reliance upon the Guarantee and no notice of creation
of the Borrower Obligations or any extension of credit already or
hereafter contracted by or extended to the Borrower need be given
to any Guarantor; and all dealings between the Borrower and any of
the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Guaranteed Creditors, on
the other hand, likewise shall be conclusively presumed to have
been had or consummated in reliance upon the
Guarantee. Each Guarantor waives diligence, presentment,
protest, demand for payment and notice of default or nonpayment to
or upon the Borrower or any of the Guarantors with respect to the
Borrower Obligations.
Section
2.06. Guarantee Absolute and
Unconditional .
(a) Each
Guarantor understands and agrees that the Guarantee is, and shall
be construed as, a continuing, completed, absolute and
unconditional guarantee of payment, and each Guarantor hereby
waives any defense of a surety or guarantor or any other obligor on
any obligations arising in connection with or in respect of any of
the following and hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder
shall not be discharged or otherwise affected as a result of, any
of the following:
(i) the
invalidity or unenforceability of any Guaranteed Document, any of
the Borrower Obligations or any other collateral security therefor
or guarantee or right of offset with respect thereto at any time or
from time to time held by any Guaranteed Creditor;
(ii) any
defense, set-off or counterclaim (other than a defense of payment
or performance) which may at any time be available to or be
asserted by the Borrower or any other Person against any Guaranteed
Creditor;
(iii) the
insolvency, bankruptcy arrangement, reorganization, adjustment,
composition, liquidation, disability, dissolution or lack of power
of the Borrower or any other Guarantor or any other Person at any
time liable for the payment of all or part of the Obligations,
including any discharge of, or bar or stay against collecting, any
Obligation (or any part of them or interest therein) in or as a
result of such proceeding (other than the Bankruptcy
Cases);
(iv) any
Disposition of any or all of the assets of the Borrower or any
other Guarantor, or any changes in the shareholders of the Borrower
or the Guarantor;
(v) any
change in the corporate existence (including its constitution,
laws, rules, regulations or power), structure or ownership of any
Obligor;
(vi) the fact that
any Collateral or Lien contemplated or intended to be given,
created or granted as security for the repayment of the Obligations
shall not be properly perfected or created, or shall prove to be
unenforceable or subordinate to any other Lien, it being recognized
and agreed by each of the Guarantors that it is not entering into
this Agreement in reliance on, or in contemplation of the benefits
of, the validity, enforceability, collectability or value of any of
the Collateral for the Obligations;
(vii) the absence of any
attempt to collect the Obligations or any part of them from any
Obligor;
(viii) (A) any Guaranteed
Creditor’s election, in any proceeding instituted under
chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, of the application of Section
1111 (b)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code; (B) any borrowing or grant of a
Lien by the Borrower, as debtor-in-possession, or extension of
credit, under Section 364 of the Bankruptcy Code; (C) the
disallowance, under Section 502 of the Bankruptcy Code, of all or
any portion of any Guaranteed Creditor’s Claim (or Claims)
for repayment of the Obligations; (D) any use of cash collateral
under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code; (E) any agreement or
stipulation as to the provision of adequate protection in any
bankruptcy proceeding; (F) the avoidance of any Lien held by the
Guaranteed Creditors or any of them for any reason; or (G) failure
by any Guaranteed Creditor to file or enforce a Claim against the
Borrower or its estate in any bankruptcy or insolvency case or
proceeding; or
(ix) any other
circumstance or act whatsoever, including any action or omission of
the type described in Section 2.04 (with or without notice to or
knowledge of the Borrower or such Guarantor), which constitutes, or
might be construed to constitute, an equitable or legal discharge
of the Borrower for the Borrower Obligations, or of such Guarantor
under the Guarantee, in bankruptcy or in any other
instance.
(b) When
making any demand hereunder or otherwise pursuing its rights and
remedies hereunder against any Guarantor, any Guaranteed Creditor
may, but shall be under no obligation to, join or make a similar
demand on or otherwise pursue or exhaust such rights and remedies
as it may have against the Borrower, any other Guarantor or any
other Person or against any collateral security or guarantee for
the Borrower Obligations or any right of offset with respect
thereto, and any failure by any Guaranteed Creditor to make any
such demand, to pursue such other rights or remedies or to collect
any payments from the Borrower, any other Guarantor or any other
Person or to realize upon any such collateral security or guarantee
or to exercise any such right of offset, or any release of the
Borrower, any other Guarantor or any other Person or any such
collateral security, guarantee or right of offset, shall not
relieve any Guarantor of any obligation or liability hereunder, and
shall not impair or affect the rights and remedies, whether
express, implied or available as a matter of law, of any Guaranteed
Creditor against any Guarantor. For the purposes hereof
“demand” shall include the commencement and continuance
of any legal proceedings.
Section
2.07. Reinstatement . The
guarantee contained in this Article II shall continue to be
effective, or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time
payment, or any part thereof, of any of the Borrower Obligations is
rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by any
Guaranteed Creditor upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution,
liquidation or reorganization of the Borrower or any Guarantor, or
upon or as a result of the appointment of a receiver, intervenor or
conservator of, or trustee or similar officer for, the Borrower or
any Guarantor or any substantial part of their respective
Properties, or otherwise, all as though such payments had not been
made.
Section
2.08. Payments . Each
Guarantor hereby guarantees that payments hereunder will be paid to
the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Guaranteed
Creditors, without set-off, deduction or counterclaim in dollars,
in immediately available funds, at the offices of the
Administrative Agent specified in Section 13.01 of the Credit
Agreement.
ARTICLE III
Grant of Security Interest
Section
3.01. Grant of Security Interest
. Each Pledgor hereby pledges, assigns and transfers to
the Administrative Agent, and hereby grants to the Administrative
Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Guaranteed Creditors, a
valid, binding, continuing and enforceable security interest in and
to all of such Pledgor’s tangible and intangible pre-Petition
Date and post-Petition Date Property (other than Avoidance Actions
and the proceeds or property recovered in respect of such Avoidance
Actions), whether now owned or at any time hereafter acquired by
such Pledgor or in which such Pledgor now has or at any time in the
future may acquire any right, title or interest (collectively, the
“ Collateral ”), as collateral security for the
full, prompt and complete payment and due performance when due
(whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of
such Pledgor’s Obligations, including, without limitation,
the following:
(1) all
Pledged Securities;
(3) all
Obligor Accounts;
(9) all
Deposit Accounts;
(10) all
Investment Property;
(13) all
General Intangibles;
(14) all
Letter-of-Credit Rights;
(15) all
As-Extracted Collateral;
(16) all
Commercial Tort Claims;
(18) all
moneys and property of any kind of Pledgor in the possession or in
the control of the Administrative Agent or any Lender;
(19) all
books and records pertaining to the Collateral; and
(20) to
the extent not otherwise included, all Proceeds and products of any
and all of the foregoing, whether arising from Section 552(b) of
the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise, and all collateral security and
guarantees given by any Person with respect to any of the
foregoing.
Section
3.02. Pre-Petition First Lien
Administrative Agent acting as Bailee; Transfer of Pledged
Securities .
(a) In
connection with the perfection or preservation of any Lien on the
Collateral granted in this Agreement, and as collateral security
for the Obligations, each Obligor and the Pre-Petition First Lien
Administrative Agent hereby acknowledges and agrees that,
notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in any
other agreement, document or instrument, the Pre-Petition First
Lien Administrative Agent shall act as bailee of the Administrative
Agent to the extent that the Pre-Petition First Lien Administrative
Agent has, or at any time hereafter may have, possession or control
(or an agent or bailee of the Pre-Petition First Lien
Administrative Agent currently has, or at any time hereafter may
have, possession or control) of any portion of the Collateral as a
result of, or in connection with, this Agreement, the Pre-Petition
First Lien Credit Agreement and the other related Pre-Petition Loan
Documents.
(b) To
the extent requested in writing by the Administrative Agent to the
Pre-Petition First Lien Administrative Agent, all certificates or
instruments representing or evidencing the Pledged Securities
(including any held by the Pre-Petition First Lien Administrative
Agent or any bailee thereof to secure Pre-Petition Secured
Indebtedness) shall promptly be delivered to and held pursuant
hereto by the Administrative Agent or a Person designated by the
Administrative Agent (and the Obligors shall cause the Pre-Petition
First Lien Administrative Agent to deliver such certificates and
instruments to the Administrative Agent or a Person designated by
the Administrative Agent) and shall be in suitable form for
transfer by delivery, or shall be accompanied by duly executed
instruments of transfer or assignment in blank, and accompanied by
any required transfer tax stamps to effect the pledge of the
Pledged Securities to the Administrative
Agent. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, at the
Administrative Agent’s discretion, all certificated Pledged
Securities must be delivered or transferred in such manner as to
permit the Administrative Agent to be a “protected
purchaser” to the extent of its security interest as provided
in Section 8-303 of the UCC (if the Administrative Agent otherwise
qualifies as a protected purchaser). During the
continuance of an Event of Default (but subject to the terms of the
Financing Orders), the Administrative Agent shall have the right,
at any time in its discretion and without notice, to transfer to or
to register in the name of the Administrative Agent or any of its
nominees any or all of the Pledged Securities, subject only to the
revocable rights specified in Section 6.04. In addition,
during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative
Agent shall have the right at any time to exchange certificates or
instruments representing or evidencing Pledged Securities for
certificates or instruments of smaller or larger
denominations.
Section
3.03. Priority . Except
to the extent provided otherwise in the Interim Order or the Final
Order, as applicable, each Obligor hereby agrees that the
Indebtedness shall (i) constitute super-priority allowed
administrative expense claims in the Bankruptcy Case having
priority pursuant to Section 364(c)(1) of the Bankruptcy Code over
all administrative expense claims and unsecured claims against the
Borrower and HPPC now existing or hereafter arising, of any kind or
nature whatsoever, including, without limitation, all
administrative expense claims of the kind specified in Sections
503(b) and 507(b) of the Bankruptcy Code and all super-priority
administrative expense claims granted to any other Person, subject,
as to priority, only to the Carve-Out, the establishment of which
super-priority shall have been approved and authorized by the
Bankruptcy Court and (ii) be secured pursuant to Sections
364(c)(2), (c)(3) and (d)(1) of the Bankruptcy Code and, to the
extent provided in any of the Financing Orders, shall not be
subject to any Claims against the Collateral pursuant to Section
506(c) of the Bankruptcy Code.
ARTICLE IV
Representations and Warranties
To induce the Administrative Agent
and the Lenders to enter into the Credit Agreement and to induce
the Lenders to make their respective extensions of credit to the
Borrower thereunder, each Obligor hereby represents and warrants to
the Administrative Agent and each Lender that:
Section
4.01. Representations in Credit
Agreement . In the case of each Guarantor, the
representations and warranties set forth in Article VII of the
Credit Agreement as they relate to such Guarantor or to the Loan
Documents to which such Guarantor is a party are true and correct
in all material respects, provided that each reference in each such
representation and warranty to the Borrower’s knowledge
shall, for the purposes of this Section 4.01, be deemed to be a
reference to such Guarantor’s knowledge.
Section
4.02. Title; No Other Liens
. Except for the security interest granted to the
Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Guaranteed
Creditors pursuant to this Agreement, such Pledgor is the record
and beneficial owner of its respective items of the Collateral free
and clear of any and all Liens except those Liens permitted under
Section 9.03 of the Credit Agreement (“ Permitted
Liens ”), and has the power to transfer each item of the
Collateral in which a Lien is granted by it hereunder, free and
clear of any Lien other than Permitted Liens. No
financing statement or other public notice with respect to all or
any part of the Collateral is on file or of record in any public
office, except such as may have been filed in favor of the
Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Guaranteed
Creditors, pursuant to this Agreement or the Security Instruments,
and except for filings related to the Pre-Petition Secured
Indebtedness and Permitted Liens.
Section
4.03. Perfected First Priority Liens
. The security interests granted pursuant to this
Agreement, upon entry of the Interim Order, if applicable, or, if
the Final Order has been entered as of the date hereof, the Final
Order, (a) will constitute valid, perfected security interests in
all of the Collateral in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the
ratable benefit of the Guaranteed Creditors, as collateral security
for such Pledgor’s Obligations, enforceable in accordance
with the terms hereof against all creditors of such Pledgor and any
Persons purporting to purchase any Collateral from such Pledgor and
(b) have the priorities set forth in Section 3.03 with respect to
the Collateral in existence on the date hereof.
Section
4.04. Obligor Information
. On the date hereof, the correct legal name of such
Obligor, all names and trade names that such Obligor has used in
the last five (5) years, such Obligor's jurisdiction of
organization and each jurisdiction of organization of such Obligor
over the last five (5) years, organizational number, taxpayer
identification number, and the location(s) of such Obligor's chief
executive office or sole place of business over the last five (5)
years are specified on Schedule 3.
Section
4.05. Pledged Securities
.
(a) The
Pledged Securities required to be pledged hereunder and under the
Credit Agreement by such Pledgor are listed on Schedule
2. The shares of Pledged Securities pledged by such
Pledgor hereunder constitute all the issued and outstanding shares
of all classes of the Equity Interests of each Issuer owned by such
Pledgor (or in the case of any Issuer that is a Foreign Subsidiary,
65% of all the issued and outstanding shares of all classes of the
Equity Interests of such Issuer). All the shares of the
Pledged Securities have been duly and validly issued and are fully
paid and nonassessable; and such Pledgor is the record and
beneficial owner of, and has good title to, the Pledged Securities
pledged by it hereunder, free of any and all Liens or options in
favor of, or Claims of, any other Person, except Permitted Liens
and the security interest created by this Agreement, and has the
power to transfer the Pledged Securities in which a Lien is granted
by it hereunder, free and clear of any Lien except for Permitted
Liens.
(b) There
are no restrictions on transfer (that have not been waived or
otherwise consented to) in the applicable LLC Agreement governing
any Pledged LLC Interest and the applicable Partnership Agreement
governing any Pledged Partnership Interest or any other agreement
relating thereto which would limit or restrict (i) the grant of a
security interest in the Pledged LLC Interests and the Pledged
Partnership Interests, (ii) the perfection of such security
interest or (iii) the exercise of remedies in respect of such
perfected security interest in the Pledged LLC Interests and the
Pledged Partnership Interests, in each case, as contemplated by
this Agreement. Upon the exercise of remedies in respect
of the Pledged LLC Interests and the Pledged Partnership Interests,
a transferee or assignee of a membership interest or partnership
interest, as the case may be, of such LLC or Partnership, as the
case may be, shall become a member or partner, as the case may be,
of such LLC or Partnership, as the case may be, entitled to
participate in the management thereof and, upon the transfer of the
entire interest of such Pledgor, such Pledgor ceases to be a member
or partner, as the case may be.
Section
4.06. Benefit to the Guarantor
. The Borrower is a member of an affiliated group of
companies that includes each Guarantor and the Borrower and the
other Guarantors are engaged in related businesses. Each
Guarantor is an Affiliate of the Borrower and its guaranty and
surety obligations pursuant to this Agreement reasonably may be
expected to benefit, directly or indirectly, it; and it has
determined that this Agreement is necessary and convenient to the
conduct, promotion and attainment of the business of such Guarantor
and the Borrower.
Section
4.07. Obligor Accounts
. Obligor does not own, hold, maintain, or have any
right or interest in or to any deposit accounts, securities
accounts or commodity accounts other than those listed on Schedule
4 hereto. Schedule 4 contains a true and complete list
of all deposit accounts, securities accounts and commodity accounts
in which each Obligor holds any right or interest including the
name of the bank or institution where such Obligor Account is held,
and the full and correct account number for each such Obligor
Account.
Section
4.08. Perfection
. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
herein or elsewhere:
(a) the
Administrative Agent's Liens on Collateral of the Obligors shall be
deemed valid and perfected by entry of the Interim Order, if
applicable, and the Final Order, as the case may be, which entry of
the Final Order shall have occurred on or prior to the Effective
Date. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any other
Secured Party shall be required to prepare, file, register or
publish any financing statements, mortgages, hypothecs, account
control agreements, notices of Lien or similar instruments in any
jurisdiction or filing or registration office, or to take
possession of any Collateral or to take any other action in order
to validate, render enforceable or perfect the Liens on Collateral
granted by or pursuant to this Agreement, the Interim Order, if
applicable, the Final Order or any other Loan
Document. If the Administrative Agent or the Majority
Lenders shall, in its or their sole discretion, from time to time
elect to prepare, file, register or publish any such financing
statements, mortgages, hypothecs, account control agreements,
notices of Lien or similar instruments, take possession of any
Collateral or take any other action to validate, render enforceable
or perfect all or any portion of the Administrative Agent's Liens
on Collateral, all such documents and actions shall be deemed to
have been filed, registered, published or recorded or taken at the
time and on the date of the Effective Date.
(b) The
Liens, lien priorities and other rights and remedies granted to the
Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties pursuant to this
Agreement, the Interim Order, if applicable, the Final Order or the
other Loan Documents (specifically including, but not limited to,
the existence, perfection, enforceability and priority of the Liens
provided for herein and therein) shall not be modified, altered or
impaired in any manner by any other financing or extension of
credit or incurrence of debt by any Obligor (pursuant to Section
364 of the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise), or by dismissal or
conversion of the Bankruptcy Cases, or by any other act or omission
whatsoever. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, notwithstanding any such order, financing, extension,
incurrence, dismissal, conversion, act or omission:
(i) other
than as provided in the Financing Orders or the Loan Documents, the
Administrative Agent's Liens on Collateral shall constitute valid,
enforceable and perfected first priority Liens, and shall be prior
to all other Liens, now existing or hereafter arising, in favor of
any other creditor or other Person; and
(ii) the
Administrative Agent's Liens on the Collateral shall continue to be
valid, enforceable and perfected without the need for the
Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to prepare, file,
register or publish any financing statements, mortgages, hypothecs,
account control agreements, notices of Lien or similar instruments
or to otherwise perfect the Administrative Agent's Liens under
applicable non-bankruptcy law.
ARTICLE V
Covenants
Each Obligor covenants and agrees
with the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that, from and after
the date of this Agreement until the Borrower Obligations shall
have been paid in full in cash, no Letter of Credit shall be
outstanding and all of the Commitments shall have
terminated:
Section
5.01. Covenants in Credit Agreement
. In the case of each Guarantor, such Guarantor shall
take, or shall refrain from taking, as the case may be, each action
that is necessary to be taken or not taken, as the case may be, so
that no Default is caused by the failure to take such action or to
refrain from taking such action by such Guarantor or any of its
Subsidiaries.
Section
5.02. Maintenance of Perfected Security
Interest; Further Documentation . In the case of
each Pledgor, such Pledgor agrees that:
(a) it shall
maintain the security interest created by this Agreement as a
perfected security interest having at least the priority described
in Section 3.03 and shall defend such security interest against the
Claims and demands of all Persons whomsoever.
(b) it will
furnish to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders from time to
time statements and schedules further identifying and describing
the Collateral and such other reports in connection with the
Collateral as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request, all
in reasonable detail.
(c) at any
time and from time to time, upon the written request of the
Administrative Agent, and at the sole expense of such Pledgor, it
will promptly and duly execute and deliver, and have recorded, such
further instruments and documents and take such further actions as
the Administrative Agent may reasonably deem necessary for the
purpose of obtaining or preserving the full benefits of this
Agreement and of the rights and powers herein granted, including,
without limitation, the delivery of certificated securities and the
filing of any financing or continuation statements under the UCC
(or other similar laws) in effect in any jurisdiction with respect
to the security interests created hereby.
Section
5.03. Changes in Locations, Name,
Etc . Such Obligor recognizes that financing
statements pertaining to the Collateral have been or may be filed
where such Obligor maintains any Collateral or is
organized. Without limitation of Section 8.01(n) of the
Credit Agreement or any other covena
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