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EX-4.2 AMENDED AND RESTATED GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT

Guarantee Agreement

EX-4.2 AMENDED AND RESTATED GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT | Document Parties: THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY | JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A You are currently viewing:
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THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY | JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A

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Title: EX-4.2 AMENDED AND RESTATED GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT
Governing Law: New York     Date: 2/7/2007
Industry: Chemical Manufacturing    

EX-4.2 AMENDED AND RESTATED GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT, Parties: the scotts miracle-gro company , jpmorgan chase bank  n.a
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Exhibit 4.2

AMENDED AND RESTATED GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT

made by

THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY,

EACH DOMESTIC SUBSIDIARY BORROWER

and certain of their Domestic Subsidiaries

in favor of

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent

Dated as of February 7, 2007


 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1.

 

DEFINED TERMS

 

 

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.1.

 

Definitions

 

 

3

 

1.2.

 

Other Definitional Provisions

 

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.

 

BORROWER GUARANTEE

 

 

6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.1.

 

Borrower Guarantee

 

 

6

 

2.2.

 

No Subrogation

 

 

7

 

2.3.

 

Amendments, etc. with respect to the Subsidiary Borrower Obligations

 

 

7

 

2.4.

 

Guarantee Absolute and Unconditional

 

 

7

 

2.5.

 

Reinstatement

 

 

8

 

2.6.

 

Payments

 

 

8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 3.

 

DOMESTIC SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE

 

 

8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.1.

 

Domestic Subsidiary Guarantee

 

 

8

 

3.2.

 

Right of Contribution

 

 

9

 

3.3.

 

No Subrogation

 

 

9

 

3.4.

 

Amendments, etc. with respect to the Borrower Obligations and the

 

 

 

 

 

 

Borrower’s Guarantor Obligations

 

 

10

 

3.5.

 

Guarantees Absolute and Unconditional

 

 

10

 

3.6.

 

Reinstatement

 

 

11

 

3.7.

 

Payments

 

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 4.

 

GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST

 

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 5.

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

 

12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.1.

 

Title; No Other Liens

 

 

12

 

5.2.

 

Perfected First Priority Liens

 

 

12

 

5.3.

 

Jurisdiction of Organization

 

 

12

 

5.4.

 

Domestic Subsidiaries

 

 

13

 

5.5.

 

Pledged Stock

 

 

13

 

5.6.

 

Receivables

 

 

13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 6.

 

COVENANTS

 

 

13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.1.

 

Delivery of Certificated Securities

 

 

13

 

6.2.

 

Maintenance of Insurance

 

 

13

 

6.3.

 

Payment of Obligations

 

 

14

 

6.4.

 

Maintenance of Perfected Security Interest; Further Documentation

 

 

14

 

6.5.

 

Notices

 

 

14

 

6.6.

 

Pledged Stock

 

 

14

 

6.7.

 

Receivables

 

 

15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 7.

 

REMEDIAL PROVISIONS

 

 

16

 


 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.1.

 

Certain Matters Relating to Receivables

 

 

16

 

7.2.

 

Communications with Obligors; Grantors Remain Liable

 

 

16

 

7.3.

 

Pledged Stock

 

 

17

 

7.4.

 

Proceeds to be Turned Over To Administrative Agent

 

 

18

 

7.5.

 

Application of Proceeds

 

 

18

 

7.6.

 

Code and Other Remedies

 

 

18

 

7.7.

 

Registration Rights

 

 

19

 

7.8.

 

Deficiency

 

 

20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 8.

 

THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

 

 

20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8.1.

 

Administrative Agent’s Appointment as Attorney-in-Fact, etc

 

 

20

 

8.2.

 

Duty of Administrative Agent

 

 

21

 

8.3.

 

Execution of Financing Statements

 

 

22

 

8.4.

 

Authority of Administrative Agent

 

 

22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 9.

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

 

22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9.1.

 

Amendments in Writing

 

 

22

 

9.2.

 

Notices

 

 

22

 

9.3.

 

No Waiver by Course of Conduct; Cumulative Remedies

 

 

22

 

9.4.

 

Enforcement Expenses; Indemnification

 

 

23

 

9.5.

 

Successors and Assigns

 

 

23

 

9.6.

 

Set-Off

 

 

23

 

9.7.

 

Counterparts

 

 

24

 

9.8.

 

Severability

 

 

24

 

9.9.

 

Section Headings

 

 

24

 

9.10.

 

Integration

 

 

24

 

9.11.

 

GOVERNING LAW

 

 

24

 

9.12.

 

Submission To Jurisdiction; Waivers

 

 

24

 

9.13.

 

Acknowledgments

 

 

24

 

9.14.

 

Additional Grantors

 

 

25

 

9.15.

 

Releases; Reinstatement

 

 

25

 

9.16.

 

Conflict of Laws

 

 

26

 

9.17.

 

WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

 

 

26

 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULES

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule 1

 

Notice Addresses of Guarantors

Schedule 2

 

Description of Pledged Stock

Schedule 3

 

Jurisdiction of Incorporation

Schedule 4

 

Domestic Subsidiaries


 

 

3

     THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT, dated as of February 7, 2007 made by each of the signatories hereto (together with any other entity that may become a party hereto as provided herein, the “ Grantors ”), in favor of JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent (in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”) for the banks and other financial institutions (the “ Lenders ”) from time to time parties to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of February 7, 2007 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY, an Ohio corporation (the “ Borrower ”), the Subsidiary Borrowers, (as defined in the Credit Agreement) from time to time parties to the Credit Agreement, the Syndication Agent and the Documentation Agents named therein and the Administrative Agent.

W I T N E S S E T H :

     WHEREAS, pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Lenders have severally agreed to make extensions of credit to the Borrower and the Subsidiary Borrowers upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein;

     WHEREAS, the Borrower and each Subsidiary Borrower is a member of an affiliated group of companies that includes each other Grantor;

     WHEREAS, the proceeds of the extensions of credit under the Credit Agreement will be used in part to enable the Borrower and each Subsidiary Borrower to make valuable transfers to one or more of the other Grantors in connection with the operation of their respective businesses;

     WHEREAS, the Borrower, each Subsidiary Borrower and the other Grantors are engaged in related businesses, and each Grantor will derive substantial direct and indirect benefit from the making of the extensions of credit under the Credit Agreement; and

     WHEREAS, it is a condition precedent to the obligation of the Lenders to make their respective extensions of credit to the Borrower and any Subsidiary Borrower under the Credit Agreement that the Grantors shall have executed and delivered this Agreement to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties;

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises 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 and each Subsidiary Borrower thereunder, each Grantor hereby agrees with the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, as follows:

      SECTION 1. DEFINED TERMS

     1.1. Definitions (a) Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement and the following terms are used herein as defined in the New York UCC: Accounts, Certificated Security, Chattel Paper, Equipment, Inventory, Instruments and Supporting Obligations.

     (b) The following terms shall have the following meanings:

     “ Agreement ”: this Amended and Restated Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.


 

4

     “ Borrower Obligations ”: the collective reference to the unpaid principal of and interest on the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations and all other obligations and liabilities of the Borrower (including, without limitation, interest accruing at the then applicable rate provided in the Credit Agreement after the maturity of the Loans and Reimbursement Obligations and interest accruing at the then applicable rate provided in the Credit Agreement after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy, or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding, relating to the Borrower, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding) to the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or, in the case of any Lender Hedging Agreement or Lender Cash Management Agreement, any Affiliate of any Lender), whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, or now existing or hereafter incurred, which may arise under, out of, or in connection with, the Credit Agreement, this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, any Letter of Credit, any Lender Hedging Agreement, any Lender Cash Management Agreement or any other document made, delivered or given in connection with any of the foregoing, in each case whether on account of principal, interest, reimbursement obligations, fees, indemnities, costs, expenses or otherwise (including, without limitation, all fees and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent or to the Lenders that are required to be paid by the Borrower pursuant to the terms of any of the foregoing agreements).

     “ Borrower’s Guarantor Obligations ”: without duplicating any Borrower Obligations, all obligations and liabilities of the Borrower which may arise under or in connection with this Agreement (including, without limitation, Section 2) or any other Loan Document to which the Borrower is a party, whether on account of guarantee obligations, reimbursement obligations, fees, indemnities, costs, expenses or otherwise (including, without limitation, all fees and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent or to the Lenders that are required to be paid by the Borrower pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document).

     “ Capital Stock Security Period ”: as defined in Section 9.15(d).

     “ Collateral ”: as defined in Section 4.

     “ Foreign Subsidiary ”: any Subsidiary organized under the laws of any jurisdiction outside the United States of America, except for any such Subsidiary which is a “check-the-box” entity under Regulation section 301.7701-3 of the Code.

     “ Foreign Subsidiary Voting Stock ”: the voting Capital Stock of any Foreign Subsidiary.

     “ Full Security Period ”: any period from and after the Closing Date other than any Unsecured Period or Capital Stock Security Period.

     “ Guarantor Obligations ”: with respect to any Guarantor, without duplicating any Subsidiary Borrower Obligations, all obligations and liabilities of such Guarantor which may arise under or in connection with this Agreement (including, without limitation, Section 3) or any other Loan Document to which such Guarantor is a party, in each case whether on account of guarantee obligations, reimbursement obligations, fees, indemnities, costs, expenses or otherwise (including, without limitation, all fees and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent or to the Lenders that are required to be paid by such Guarantor pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document).


 

5

     “ Guarantors ”: the collective reference to each Grantor other than the Borrower. For the avoidance of doubt, notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the parties hereto expressly agree that no Foreign Subsidiary shall be a Guarantor.

     “ Issuers ”: the collective reference to each issuer of any Pledged Stock.

     “ Leverage Release Date ”: as defined in Section 9.15(d).

     “ New York UCC ”: the Uniform Commercial Code as from time to time in effect in the State of New York.

     “ Obligations ”: (i) in the case of the Borrower, the Borrower Obligations and the Borrower’s Guarantor Obligations, (ii) in the case of each Guarantor which is also a Domestic Subsidiary Borrower, its Subsidiary Borrower Obligations, and (iii) in the case of each Guarantor (whether or not a Domestic Subsidiary Borrower), its Guarantor Obligations.

     “ Pledged Stock ”: the shares of Capital Stock listed on Schedule 2 , together with any other shares, stock certificates, options or rights of any nature whatsoever in respect of the Capital Stock of any Subsidiary of the Borrower (to the extent required to be pledged under Section 6.11 of the Credit Agreement) that may be issued or granted to, or held by, any Grantor while this Agreement is in effect; provided that in no event shall more than 65% of the total outstanding Foreign Subsidiary Voting Stock of any Foreign Subsidiary be required to be pledged hereunder; provided further that the shares of Capital Stock of Scotts Australia Pty Limited (the “Scotts Australia Shares”) shall not constitute Pledged Stock at any time when the 2005 Equitable Share Mortgage made by Scotts-Sierra Investments, Inc. in favor of JPMCB (or any such successor Foreign Pledge Agreement entered into in respect of the Scotts Australia Shares for the benefit of the Secured Parties) shall be in effect.

     “ Proceeds ”: all “proceeds” as such term is defined in Section 9-102(a)(64) of the New York UCC and, in any event, shall include, without limitation, all dividends or other income from the Pledged Stock, collections thereon or distributions or payments with respect thereto.

     “ Ratings Release Date ”: as defined in Section 9.15(c).

     “ Receivable ”: shall mean any Account and any other right to payment for goods sold or leased or for services rendered, whether or not such right is evidenced by an Instrument or Chattel Paper and whether or not it has been earned by performance, other than Sold Receivables.

     “ Secured Parties ”: the collective reference to the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and any Affiliate of any Lender to which Borrower Obligations or Guarantor Obligations, as applicable, are owed.

     “ Securities Act ”: the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

     “ Subsidiary Borrower Obligations ”: with respect to each Subsidiary Borrower, without duplicating any Guarantor Obligations, the collective reference to the unpaid principal of and interest on the Loans and all other obligations and liabilities of such Subsidiary Borrower (including, without limitation, interest accruing at the then applicable rate provided in the Credit Agreement after the maturity of the Loans and interest accruing at the then applicable rate provided in the Credit Agreement after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy, or the commencement of any insolvency, reorganization or like proceeding, relating to such Subsidiary


 

6

Borrower, whether or not a claim for post-filing or post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding) to the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or, in the case of any Lender Hedge Agreement or Lender Cash Management Agreement, any Affiliate of any Lender), whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, or now existing or hereafter incurred, which may arise under, out of, or in connection with, the Credit Agreement, this Agreement, the other Loan Documents, any Letter of Credit, any Lender Hedging Agreement, any Lender Cash Management Agreement or any other document made, delivered or given in connection with any of the foregoing, in each case whether on account of principal, interest, reimbursement obligations, fees, indemnities, costs, expenses or otherwise (including, without limitation, all fees and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent or to the Lenders that are required to be paid by such Subsidiary Borrower pursuant to the terms of any of the foregoing agreements).

Unsecured Period ”: as defined in Section 9.15(c).

     1.2. Other Definitional Provisions (a) The words “hereof,” “herein”, “hereto” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and Section and Schedule references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.

     (a) The meanings given to terms defined herein shall be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of such terms.

     (b) Where the context requires, terms relating to the Collateral or any part thereof, when used in relation to a Grantor, shall refer to such Grantor’s Collateral or the relevant part thereof.

      SECTION 2. BORROWER GUARANTEE

     2.1. Borrower Guarantee (a) The Borrower hereby, unconditionally and irrevocably, guarantees to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties and their respective successors, indorsees, transferees and assigns, the prompt and complete payment and performance by each Subsidiary Borrower when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of its Subsidiary Borrower Obligations.

     (b) Anything herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding, the maximum liability of the Borrower hereunder and under the other Loan Documents shall in no event exceed the amount which can be guaranteed by the Borrower under applicable federal and state laws relating to the insolvency of debtors.

     (c) The guarantee contained in this Section 2 shall remain in full force and effect until all the Subsidiary Borrower Obligations and the obligations of the Borrower under the guarantee contained in this Section 2 shall have been satisfied by payment in full, no Letter of Credit shall be outstanding and the Commitments and Loans shall be terminated, notwithstanding that from time to time during the term of the Credit Agreement each Subsidiary Borrower may be free from any Subsidiary Borrower Obligations.

     (d) No payment made by any Subsidiary Borrower, any of the other Guarantors, any other guarantor or any other Person or received or collected by the Administrative Agent or any Lender from any Subsidiary Borrower, any of the other Guarantors, 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 Subsidiary Borrower Obligations shall be deemed to modify, reduce, release or otherwise affect the liability of the Borrower hereunder which shall, notwithstanding


 

7

any such payment (other than any payment made by the Borrower in respect of the Subsidiary Borrower Obligations or any payment received or collected from the Borrower in respect of the Subsidiary Borrower Obligations), remain liable for the Subsidiary Borrower Obligations up to the maximum liability of the Borrower hereunder until the Subsidiary Borrower Obligations are paid in full, no Letter of Credit shall be outstanding and the Commitments are terminated.

     2.2. No Subrogation . Notwithstanding any payment or payments made by the Borrower hereunder, or any set-off or application of funds of the Borrower by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, the Borrower shall not be entitled to be subrogated to any of the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender against the Subsidiary Borrowers or against any collateral security or guarantee or right of offset held by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for the payment of the Subsidiary Borrower Obligations, nor shall the Borrower seek or be entitled to seek any contribution or reimbursement from the Subsidiary Borrowers in respect of payments made by the Borrower hereunder, until all amounts owing to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders by the Subsidiary Borrowers on account of the Subsidiary Borrower Obligations are paid in full and the Commitments and Loans are terminated. If any amount shall be paid to the Borrower on account of such subrogation rights at any time when all of the Subsidiary Borrower Obligations shall not have been paid in full, such amount shall be held by the Borrower in trust for the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, segregated from other funds of the Borrower, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by the Borrower, be turned over to the Administrative Agent in the exact form received by the Borrower (duly indorsed by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, if required), to be applied against the Subsidiary Borrower Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in such order as the Administrative Agent may determine.

     2.3. Amendments, etc. with respect to the Subsidiary Borrower Obligations . The Borrower shall remain obligated hereunder notwithstanding that, without any reservation of rights against the Borrower and without notice to or further assent by the Borrower, any demand for payment of any of the Subsidiary Borrower Obligations made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender may be rescinded by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and any of the Subsidiary Borrower Obligations continued, and the Subsidiary Borrower Obligations, or 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 the Administrative Agent or any Lender, and the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any other documents executed and delivered in connection therewith may be amended, modified, supplemented or terminated, in whole or in part, as the Administrative Agent (or the Required Lenders or all Lenders, as the case may be) may deem advisable from time to time, and any collateral security, guarantee or right of offset at any time held by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for the payment of the Subsidiary Borrower Obligations may be sold, exchanged, waived, surrendered or released. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender shall have any obligation to protect, secure, perfect or insure any Lien at any time held by it as security for the Subsidiary Borrower Obligations or for the guarantee contained in this Section 2 or any property subject thereto.

     2.4. Guarantee Absolute and Unconditional . The Borrower waives any and all notice of the creation, renewal, extension or accrual of any of the Subsidiary Borrower Obligations and notice of or proof of reliance by the Administrative Agent or any Lender upon the guarantee contained in this Section 2 or acceptance of the guarantee contained in this Section 2; the Subsidiary 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 contained in this Section 2; and all dealings between the Borrower and the Subsidiary Borrowers, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, on the other hand, likewise shall be conclusively presumed to have been had or consummated in reliance upon the guarantee contained in this Section 2. The Borrower waives diligence, presentment, protest, demand for payment and notice of default or nonpayment to or upon the Borrower


 

8

or the applicable Subsidiary Borrower with respect to the Subsidiary Borrower Obligations. The Borrower understands and agrees that the guarantee contained in this Section 2 shall be construed as a continuing, absolute and unconditional guarantee of payment without regard to (a) the validity or enforceability of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, any of the Subsidiary 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 the Administrative Agent or any Lender, (b) 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 any Subsidiary Borrower or any other Person against the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or (c) any other circumstance whatsoever (with or without notice to or knowledge of the Borrower or any Subsidiary Borrower) which constitutes, or might be construed to constitute, an equitable or legal discharge of the Subsidiary Borrowers for the Subsidiary Borrower Obligations, or of the Borrower under the guarantee contained in this Section 2, in bankruptcy or in any other instance. When making any demand hereunder or otherwise pursuing its rights and remedies hereunder against the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or any Lender may, but shall be under no obligation to, make a similar demand on or otherwise pursue such rights and remedies as it may have against the Subsidiary Borrowers or any other Person or against any collateral security or guarantee for the Subsidiary Borrower Obligations or any right of offset with respect thereto, and any failure by the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make any such demand, to pursue such other rights or remedies or to collect any payments from the Borrower, any Subsidiary Borrower, 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 Subsidiary Borrower or any other Person or any such collateral security, guarantee or right of offset, shall not relieve the Borrower 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 the Administrative Agent or any Lender against the Borrower. For the purposes hereof, “demand” shall include the commencement and continuance of any legal proceedings.

     2.5. Reinstatement . The guarantee contained in this Section 2 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 Subsidiary Borrower Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Administrative Agent or any Lender upon the insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the Borrower, any Subsidiary Borrower or any other 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, any Subsidiary Borrower or any other Guarantor or any substantial part of its property, or otherwise, all as though such payments had not been made.

     2.6. Payments . The Borrower hereby guarantees that payments hereunder will be paid to the Administrative Agent without set-off or counterclaim in Dollars or the applicable Optional Currency at the office of the Administrative Agent located at 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017 or at such other place and time specified by the Administrative Agent.

     SECTION 3. DOMESTIC SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE

     3.1. Domestic Subsidiary Guarantee

     (a) Each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, unconditionally and irrevocably, guarantees to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties and their respective successors, indorsees, transferees and assigns, the prompt and complete payment and performance by the Borrower when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of the Borrower Obligations and the Borrower’s Guarantor Obligations.


 

9

     (b) Anything herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding, the maximum liability of each Guarantor hereunder and under the other Loan 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 3.2).

     (c) Each Guarantor agrees that the Borrower Obligations and the Borrower’s Guarantor Obligations either solely or collectively, 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 Section 3 or affecting the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent or any Lender hereunder.

     (d) The guarantees contained in this Section 3 shall remain in full force and effect until all the Borrower Obligations and the Borrower’s Guarantor Obligations and the obligations of each Guarantor under the guarantees contained in this Section 3 shall have been satisfied by payment in full, no Letter of Credit shall be outstanding and the Commitments and Loans shall be terminated, notwithstanding that from time to time during the term of the Credit Agreement, the Borrower may be free from any Borrower Obligations and any Borrower’s Guarantor Obligations.

     (e) No payment made by the Borrower, any of the Guarantors, any other guarantor or any other Person or received or collected by the Administrative Agent or any Lender from the Borrower, any of the Guarantors, 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 or the Borrower’s Guarantor 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 the Borrower’s Guarantor Obligations or any payment received or collected from such Guarantor in respect of the Borrower Obligations or the Borrower’s Guarantor Obligations) remain liable for the Borrower Obligations and the Borrower’s Guarantor Obligations up to the maximum liability of such Guarantor hereunder until the Borrower Obligations and the Borrower’s Guarantor Obligations are paid in full, no Letter of Credit shall be outstanding and the Commitments and Loans are terminated.

     3.2. 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 3.3. The provisions of this Section 3.2 shall in no respect limit the obligations and liabilities of any Guarantor to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and each Guarantor shall remain liable to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders for the full amount guaranteed by such Guarantor hereunder.

     3.3. No Subrogation . Notwithstanding any payment made by any Guarantor hereunder or any set-off or application of funds of any Guarantor by the Administrative Agent or any Lender, no Guarantor shall be entitled to be subrogated to any of the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender against the Borrower or any other Guarantor or any collateral security or guarantee or right of offset held by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for the payment of the Borrower Obligations or the Borrower’s Guarantor Obligations nor shall any Guarantor seek or be entitled to seek any 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 Administrative Agent and the Lenders by the Borrower on account of the Borrower Obligations and the Borrower’s Guarantor Obligations are paid in full, no Letter of Credit shall be outstanding and the Commitments and Loans are terminated. If any amount shall be


 

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paid to any Guarantor on account of such subrogation rights at any time when all of the Borrower Obligations and the Borrower’s Guarantor Obligations shall not have been paid in full, such amount shall be held by such Guarantor in trust for the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, segregated from other funds of such Guarantor, 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 and the Borrower’s Guarantor Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in such order as the Administrative Agent may determine.

     3.4. Amendments, etc. with respect to the Borrower Obligations and the Borrower’s Guarantor Obligations . Each Guarantor shall remain obligated hereunder notwithstanding that, without any reservation of rights against any Guarantor and without notice to or further assent by any Guarantor, any demand for payment of any of the Borrower Obligations or the Borrower’s Guarantor Obligations made by the Administrative Agent or any Lender may be rescinded by the Administrative Agent or such Lender and any of the Borrower Obligations and the Borrower’s Guarantor Obligations continued, and the Borrower Obligations and the Borrower’s Guarantor Obligations or 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 the Administrative Agent or any Lender, and the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any other documents executed and delivered in connection therewith may be amended, modified, supplemented or terminated, in whole or in part, as the Administrative Agent (or the Required Lenders or all Lenders, as the case may be) may deem advisable from time to time, and any collateral security, guarantee or right of offset at any time held by the Administrative Agent or any Lender for the payment of the Borrower Obligations or the Borrower’s Guarantor Obligations may be sold, exchanged, waived, surrendered or released. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any Lender 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 the Borrower’s Guarantor Obligations or for the guarantee contained in this Section 3 or any property subject thereto.

     3.5. Guarantees Absolute and Unconditional . Each Guarantor waives any and all notice of the creation, renewal, extension or accrual of any of the Borrower Obligations or Borrower’s Guarantor Obligations and notice of or proof of reliance by the Administrative Agent or any Lender upon any of the guarantees contained in this Section 3 or acceptance of the guarantees contained in this Section 3; the Borrower Obligations and the Borrower’s Guarantor 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 contained in this Section 3; and all dealings between the Borrower and any of the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, on the other hand, likewise shall be conclusively presumed to have been had or consummated in reliance upon the guarantee contained in this Section 3. 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 and the Borrower’s Guarantor Obligations. Each Guarantor understands and agrees that the guarantees contained in this Section 3 shall be construed as a continuing, absolute and unconditional guarantee of payment without regard to (a) the validity or enforceability of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, any of the Borrower Obligations or the Borrower’s Guarantor 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 the Administrative Agent or any Lender, (b) 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 the Administrative Agent or any Lender, or (c) any other circumstance whatsoever (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 the Borrower’s Guarantor Obligations, or of


 

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such Guarantor under the guarantee contained in this Section 3, in bankruptcy or in any other instance. When making any demand hereunder or otherwise pursuing its rights and remedies hereunder against any Guarantor, the Administrative Agent or any Lender may, but shall be under no obligation to, make a similar demand on or otherwise pursue 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 the Borrower’s Guarantor Obligations or any right of offset with respect thereto, and any failure by the Administrative Agent or any Lender 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 the Administrative Agent or any Lender against any Guarantor. For the purposes hereof “demand” shall include the commencement and continuance of any legal proceedings.

     3.6. Reinstatement . The guarantees contained in this Section 3 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 or the Borrower’s Guarantor Obligations, is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Administrative Agent or any Lender 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 its property, or otherwise, all as though such payments had not been made.

     3.7. Payments . Each Guarantor hereby guarantees that payments hereunder will be paid to the Administrative Agent without set-off or counterclaim in Dollars or the applicable Optional Currency at the office of the Administrative Agent located at 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017 or at such other place and time specified by the Administrative Agent.

      SECTION 4. GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST

     Subject to Section 9.15, each Grantor hereby assigns and transfers to the Administrative Agent, and hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in, all of the following property now owned or at any time hereafter acquired by such Grantor or in which such Grantor now has or at any time in the future may acquire any right, title or interest (collectively, the “ Collateral ”), as collateral security for the prompt and complete payment and performance when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of such Grantor’s Obligations:

     (a) all Receivables;

     (b) all Equipment;

     (c) all Inventory;

     (d) all Pledged Stock;

     (e) all books and records pertaining to the Collateral; and


 

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     (f) to the extent not otherwise included, all Proceeds, Supporting Obligations and products of any and all of the foregoing and all collateral security and guarantees given by any Person with respect to any of the foregoing.

     Notwithstanding the limitation on the inclusions of Foreign Subsidiary Voting Stock in the definition of Pledged Stock, the remaining 35% of the outstanding Foreign Subsidiary Voting Stock of any Foreign Subsidiary Borrower shall be pledged and subject to a grant of a security interest therein subject to this Section 4; provided that such pledge and grant shall only secure the obligations of such Foreign Subsidiary Borrower in its capacity as such under the Credit Agreement; provided further , that notwithstanding any of the other provisions set forth in this Section 4, this Agreement shall not constitute a grant of a security interest in any property to the extent that such grant of a security interest is prohibited by any Requirements of Law of a Governmental Authority, requires a consent not obtained of any Governmental Authority pursuant to such Requirement of Law or is prohibited by, or constitutes a breach or default under or results in the termination of or requires any consent not obtained under, any contract, license, agreement, instrument or other document evidencing or giving rise to such property or, in the case of any Pledged Stock, any applicable shareholder or similar agreement, except to the extent that such Requirement of Law or the term in such contract, license, agreement, instrument or other document or shareholder or similar agreement providing for such prohibition, breach, default or termination or requiring such consent is ineffective under applicable law.

      SECTION 5. 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 and each Subsidiary Borrower thereunder, each Grantor hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and each Lender that other than during any Unsecured Period:

     5.1. Title; No Other Liens . Except for the security interest granted to the Administrative Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to this Agreement and the other Liens permitted to exist on the Collateral by the Credit Agreement, such Grantor owns each item of the Collateral free and clear of any and all Liens or claims of others. 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 have been filed in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, pursuant to this Agreement or as are permitted by the Credit Agreement.

     5.2. Perfected First Priority Liens. The security interests granted pursuant to this Agreement will constitute valid perfected security interests in all of the Collateral in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, as collateral security for such Grantor’s Obligations, enforceable in accordance with the terms hereof against all creditors of such Grantor and any Persons purporting to purchase any Collateral from such Grantor (other than Inventory sold by such Grantor in the ordinary course of business and except as otherwise permitted by the Credit Agreement), to the extent that perfection or enforceability against third parties is obtainable by completion of the filings and other actions set forth on Schedule 3 or any similar filings or other actions in other jurisdictions in the United States of America and are prior to all other Liens on the Collateral which have priority over the Liens on the Collateral by operation of law and other Liens on the Collateral permitted by the Credit Agreement.

     5.3. Jurisdiction of Organization . On the Closing Date, such Grantor’s jurisdiction of organization and identification number from the jurisdiction of organization (if any) are set forth on Schedule 3. Such Grantor has furnished to the Administrative Agent a certified charter, certificate of


 

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incorporation or other organizational document and good standing certificate as of a date which is recent to the Closing Date.

     5.4. Domestic Subsidiaries . On the Closing Date, Schedule 4 sets forth a true and complete list of the Domestic Subsidiaries.

     5.5. Pledged Stock.

     (a) The shares of the Pledged Stock pledged by such Grantor hereunder constitute all the issued and outstanding shares of all classes of the Capital Stock of each Issuer owned by such Grantor or, in the case of Foreign Subsidiary Voting Stock, if less, 65% of the outstanding Foreign Subsidiary Voting Stock of each relevant Issuer.

     (b) All the shares of the Pledged Stock have been duly and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.

     (c) Such Grantor is the record and beneficial owner of, and has good and marketable title to, the Pledged Stock pledged by it hereunder, free of any and all Liens or options in favor of, or claims of, any other Person, except the security interest created by this Agreement and except as permitted under subsection 7.1 of the Credit Agreement.

     5.6. Receivables . During any Full Security Period,

     (a) None of the obligors on any Receivables is a Governmental Authority.

     (b) The amounts represented by such Grantor to the Lenders from time to time as owing to such Grantor in respect of the Receivables will at such times be accurate in all material respects.

      SECTION 6. COVENANTS

     Each Grantor covenants and agrees with the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that, from and after the date of this Agreement until the Obligations shall have been paid in full, no Letter of Credit shall be outstanding and the Commitments and Loans shall have terminated, other than during any Unsecured Period,

     6.1. Delivery of Certificated Securities . If any amount payable under or in connection with any of the Collateral shall be or become evidenced by any Certificated Security, such Certificated Security shall be immediately delivered to the Administrative Agent, duly indorsed (including by delivery of related stock powers) in a manner satisfactory to the A


 
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