AMENDED AND RESTATED GUARANTEE AND
COLLATERAL AGREEMENT
THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO
COMPANY,
EACH DOMESTIC SUBSIDIARY
BORROWER
and certain of their Domestic
Subsidiaries
JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent
Dated as of February 7,
2007
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DEFINED
TERMS
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Definitions
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Other
Definitional Provisions
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BORROWER
GUARANTEE
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Borrower
Guarantee
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No
Subrogation
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Amendments,
etc. with respect to the Subsidiary Borrower Obligations
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Guarantee
Absolute and Unconditional
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Reinstatement
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Payments
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DOMESTIC
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE
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Domestic
Subsidiary Guarantee
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Right of
Contribution
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No
Subrogation
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Amendments,
etc. with respect to the Borrower Obligations and the
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Borrower’s Guarantor
Obligations
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Guarantees
Absolute and Unconditional
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Reinstatement
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Payments
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GRANT OF
SECURITY INTEREST
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REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
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Title; No Other
Liens
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Perfected First
Priority Liens
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Jurisdiction of
Organization
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Domestic
Subsidiaries
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Pledged
Stock
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Receivables
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COVENANTS
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Delivery of
Certificated Securities
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Maintenance of
Insurance
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Payment of
Obligations
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Maintenance of
Perfected Security Interest; Further Documentation
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Notices
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Pledged
Stock
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Receivables
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REMEDIAL
PROVISIONS
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2
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Page
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Certain Matters
Relating to Receivables
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Communications
with Obligors; Grantors Remain Liable
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Pledged
Stock
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Proceeds to be
Turned Over To Administrative Agent
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Application of
Proceeds
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Code and Other
Remedies
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Registration
Rights
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Deficiency
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THE
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
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Administrative
Agent’s Appointment as Attorney-in-Fact, etc
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Duty of
Administrative Agent
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Execution of
Financing Statements
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Authority of
Administrative Agent
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MISCELLANEOUS
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Amendments in
Writing
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Notices
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No Waiver by
Course of Conduct; Cumulative Remedies
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Enforcement
Expenses; Indemnification
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Successors and
Assigns
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Set-Off
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Counterparts
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Severability
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Section
Headings
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Integration
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GOVERNING
LAW
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Submission To
Jurisdiction; Waivers
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Acknowledgments
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Additional
Grantors
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Releases;
Reinstatement
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Conflict of
Laws
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WAIVER OF
JURY TRIAL
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SCHEDULES
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Notice
Addresses of Guarantors
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Description of
Pledged Stock
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Jurisdiction of
Incorporation
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Domestic
Subsidiaries
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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.
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:
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.
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“
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).
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“
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
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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
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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
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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.
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(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:
(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
13
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.
(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.
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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