Exhibit 10.2
Execution
Copy
FOURTH
AMENDED AND RESTATED
GUARANTY
AND PLEDGE AGREEMENT
Dated as
of
April 28,
2009
made
by
Linn
Energy, LLC
and
each of
the other Obligors (as defined herein)
in favor
of
BNP
Paribas,
as
Administrative Agent
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE I
Definitions
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2
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Section 1.01
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Definitions
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2
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Section 1.02
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Other Definitional
Provisions
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5
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Section 1.03
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Rules of Interpretation
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5
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ARTICLE II
Guarantee
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5
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Section 2.01
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Guarantee
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5
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Section 2.02
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Right of Contribution
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6
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Section 2.03
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No Subrogation
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6
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Section 2.04
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Guaranty Amendments, Etc. with
respect to the Borrower Obligations
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6
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Section 2.05
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Waivers
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7
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Section 2.06
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Guaranty Absolute and
Unconditional
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7
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Section 2.07
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Reinstatement
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9
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Section 2.08
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Payments
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9
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ARTICLE III Grant of Security
Interest
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9
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Section 3.01
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Grant of Security
Interest
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9
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Section 3.02
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Transfer of Pledged
Securities
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9
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ARTICLE IV Representations and
Warranties
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10
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Section 4.01
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Representations in Credit
Agreement
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10
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Section 4.02
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Title; No Other Liens
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10
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Section 4.03
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Perfected First Priority
Liens
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10
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Section 4.04
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Obligor Information
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10
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Section 4.05
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Pledged Securities
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11
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Section 4.06
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Benefit to the Guarantor
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11
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Section 4.07
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Solvency
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11
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ARTICLE V
Covenants
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11
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Section 5.01
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Maintenance of Perfected Security
Interest; Further Documentation
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12
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Section 5.02
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Changes in Locations, Name,
Etc
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12
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Section 5.03
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Pledged Securities
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13
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ARTICLE VI Remedial
Provisions
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14
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Section 6.01
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Code and Other Remedies
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14
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Section 6.02
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Pledged Securities
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15
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Section 6.03
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Private Sales of Pledged
Securities
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17
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Section 6.04
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Waiver; Deficiency
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18
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Section 6.05
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Non-Judicial Enforcement
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18
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ARTICLE VII The Administrative
Agent
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18
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Section 7.01
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Administrative Agent’s
Appointment as Attorney-in-Fact, Etc
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18
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Section 7.02
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Duty of Administrative
Agent
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20
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Section 7.03
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Execution of Financing
Statements
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20
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Section 7.04
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Authority of Administrative
Agent
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21
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ARTICLE VIII Subordination of
Indebtedness
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21
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Section 8.01
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Subordination of All Obligor
Claims
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21
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Section 8.02
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Claims in Bankruptcy
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21
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Section 8.03
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Payments Held in Trust
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22
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Section 8.04
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Liens Subordinate
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22
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Section 8.05
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Notation of Records
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22
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ARTICLE IX
Miscellaneous
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22
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Section 9.01
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Waiver
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22
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Section 9.02
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Notices
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22
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Section 9.03
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Payment of Expenses, Indemnities,
Etc
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22
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Section 9.04
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Amendments in Writing
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23
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Section 9.05
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Successors and Assigns
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23
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Section 9.06
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Survival; Revival;
Reinstatement
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23
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Section 9.07
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Counterparts; Integration;
Effectiveness
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24
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Section 9.08
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Severability
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24
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Section 9.09
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Set-Off
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25
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Section 9.10
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Governing Law; Submission to
Jurisdiction
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25
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Section 9.11
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Headings
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26
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Section 9.12
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Acknowledgments
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26
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Section 9.13
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Additional Obligors and
Pledgors
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27
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Section 9.14
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Releases
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27
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Section 9.15
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Acceptance
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28
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1 Notice
Addresses of Obligors
2 Description
of Pledged Securities
3 Filings
and Other Actions Required to Perfect Security Interests
4 Location
of Jurisdiction of Organization and Chief Executive
Office
I Form
of Assumption Agreement
This FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED
GUARANTY AND PLEDGE AGREEMENT, dated as of April 28, 2009, is made
by LINN ENERGY, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the
“ Borrower ”), and each of the signatories
hereto (the Borrower and each of the signatories hereto, together
with any other Subsidiary of the Borrower that becomes a party
hereto from time to time after the date hereof, the “
Obligors ”), in favor of BNP PARIBAS as administrative
agent (in such capacity, together with its successors in such
capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”), for the
Lenders (as defined below).
R E C I T A L S
A. On
April 13, 2005, Linn Energy, LLC (formerly known as Linn Energy
Holdings, LLC), a Delaware limited liability company (the “
Borrower ”), the financial institutions from time to
time party thereto and Mortgagee, as administrative agent for the
Lenders, entered into a Credit Agreement, as amended by the First
Amendment and Consent, dated as of May 3, 2005, the Second
Amendment, dated as of August 12, 2005, the Third Amendment, dated
as of October 27, 2005 and the Fourth Amendment, dated as of
December 19, 2005 (as amended, the “ Original Credit
Agreement ”).
B. On
April 7, 2006, the Borrower, the financial institutions from time
to time party thereto and the Mortgagee amended and restated the
Original Credit Agreement by entering into an Amended and Restated
Credit Agreement, as amended by the First Amendment, dated as of
May 5, 2006 (as amended, the “ Amended Credit
Agreement ”), pursuant to which, upon the terms and
conditions stated therein, the Lenders have agreed to make loans
and other extensions of credit to the Borrower.
C. On
August 1, 2006, the Borrower, the financial institutions from time
to time party thereto and the Mortgagee amended and restated the
Amended Credit Agreement by entering into the Second Amended and
Restated Credit Agreement, as amended by the First Amendment, dated
February 1, 2007, the Second Amendment, dated June 29, 2007 and the
Third Amendment, dated July 13, 2007 (as amended, the “
Second Amended Credit Agreement ”), pursuant to which,
upon the terms and conditions stated therein, the Lenders agreed to
make loans and other extensions of credit to the
Borrower.
D. On
August 1, 2007, the Borrower, the financial institutions from time
to time party thereto and the Mortgagee amended and restated the
Second Amended Credit Agreement by entering into the Third Amended
and Restated Credit Agreement, as amended by the First Amendment,
dated November 2, 2007, the Second Amendment, dated
January 31, 2008, the Third Amendment, dated June 16,
2008 and the Fourth Amendment, dated August 20, 2008 (as
amended, the “ Third Amended Credit Agreement
”), pursuant to which, upon the terms and conditions stated
therein, the Lenders agreed to make loans and other extensions of
credit to the Borrower.
E. On
April 13, 2005, the Borrower, the Mortgagor, each of the
signatories thereto, and Mortgagee have entered into that certain
Guaranty and Pledge Agreement to guarantee the obligations under
the Original Credit Agreement and to grant a security interest to
Mortgagee in the Collateral (as defined therein), which agreement
was amended and restated by the Amended and Restated Guaranty and
Pledge Agreement, dated as of April 7, 2006, the Second
Amended
and Restated Guaranty, dated August
1, 2006 and the Third Amended and Restated Guaranty and Pledge
Agreement, dated August 31, 2007 (the “ Original
Guaranty ”).
E. On
even date herewith, the Borrower, the financial institutions from
time to time party thereto (the “ Lenders ”) and
Mortgagee, as administrative agent for the Lenders, are amending
and restating the Third Amended Credit Agreement by executing the
Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (such agreement, as
may from time to time be amended or supplemented, the “
Credit Agreement ”) pursuant to which, upon the terms
and conditions stated therein, the Lenders have agreed to make
further loans and other extensions of credit to the
Borrower.
F. It
is a condition precedent to the effectiveness of the Credit
Agreement that the parties hereto amend and restate the Original
Guaranty, subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement.
G. NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
herein contained and of the loans, extensions of credit and
commitments hereinafter referred to, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions
Section
1.01
Definitions .
(a) Unless
otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and
used herein have the meanings given to them in the Credit
Agreement, and all uncapitalized terms which are defined in the UCC
on the date hereof are used herein as so defined.
(b) The
following terms have the following meanings:
“ Agreement ”
means this Fourth Amended and Restated Guaranty and Pledge
Agreement, as the same may be amended, restated, supplemented or
otherwise modified from time to time.
“ Assumption Agreement
” means an Assumption Agreement substantially in the form
attached hereto as Annex I.
“ Bankruptcy Code
” means title 11, United States Code, as amended from time to
time.
“ Borrower Obligations
” means the collective reference to the payment and
performance of all Indebtedness and all obligations of the Borrower
and its Subsidiaries under the Guaranteed Documents, including,
without limitation, the unpaid principal of and interest on the
Loans and the LC Exposure and all other obligations and liabilities
of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries (including, without
limitation, interest accruing at the then applicable rate provided
in the Credit Agreement after the maturity of the Loans and LC
Exposure and interest accruing 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 Guaranteed Creditors, 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 Guaranteed Documents, whether on account
of
principal, interest, reimbursement
obligations, payments in respect of an early termination date,
fees, indemnities, costs, expenses or otherwise (including, without
limitation, all fees and disbursements of counsel to the Guaranteed
Creditors that are required to be paid by the Borrower pursuant to
the terms of any Guaranteed Documents).
“ Collateral ”
has the meaning assigned such term in 0.
“ Guaranteed Creditors
” means the collective reference to the Administrative Agent,
the Lenders and the Affiliates of Lenders that are parties to
Guaranteed Swap Agreements.
“ Guaranteed Documents
” means the collective reference to the Credit Agreement, the
other Loan Documents, each Guaranteed Swap Agreement and any other
document made, delivered or given in connection with any of the
foregoing.
“ Guaranteed Swap
Agreement ” means any Swap Agreement between the Borrower
or any of its Subsidiaries and any Lender or any Affiliate of any
Lender while such Person (or, in the case of an Affiliate of a
Lender, the Person affiliated therewith) is a Lender regardless of
when such Swap Agreement was entered into. For the
avoidance of doubt, a Swap Agreement ceases to be a Guaranteed Swap
Agreement if the Person that is the counterparty to the Borrower or
one of its Subsidiaries under a Swap Agreement ceases to be a
Lender under the Credit Agreement (or, in the case of an Affiliate
of a Lender, the Person affiliated therewith ceases to be a Lender
under the Credit Agreement).
“ Guarantor Obligations
” means with respect to any Guarantor, the collective
reference to (a) the Borrower Obligations and (b) all obligations
and liabilities of such Guarantor which may arise under or in
connection with any Guaranteed Document to which such Guarantor is
a party, in each case, whether on account of principal, interest,
guarantee obligations, reimbursement obligations, payments in
respect of an early termination date, fees, indemnities, costs,
expenses or otherwise (including, without limitation, all fees and
disbursements of counsel to any Guaranteed Creditor under any
Guaranteed Document).
“ Guarantors ”
means the collective reference to each Obligor other than the
Borrower.
“ Issuers ” means the
collective reference to the issuers of the Pledged
Securities.
“ LLC ” means, with respect
to each Pledgor, each limited liability company described or
referred to in Schedule 2 in which such Pledgor has an
interest.
“ LLC Agreement ” means, with
respect to each Pledgor, each operating agreement relating to an
LLC, as each agreement has heretofore been, and may hereafter be,
amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time.
“ Obligations ”
means: (a) in the case of the Borrower, the Borrower
Obligations and (b) in the case of each Guarantor, its Guarantor
Obligations.
“ Obligor Claims
” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section
8.01.
“ Partnership ”
means, with respect to each Pledgor, each partnership described or
referred to in Schedule 2 (as the same may be supplemented from
time to time pursuant to a Supplement) in which such Pledgor has an
interest.
“ Partnership Agreement ”
means, with respect to each Pledgor, each partnership agreement
governing a Partnership, as each such agreement has heretofore
been, and may hereafter be, amended, restated, supplemented or
otherwise modified.
“ Pledged LLC Interests ”
means, with respect to each Pledgor, all right, title and interest
of such Pledgor as a member of each LLC and all right, title and
interest of any Pledgor in, to and under each LLC
Agreement.
“ Pledged Partnership Interests
” means, with respect to each Pledgor, all right, title and
interest of such Pledgor as a limited or general partner in all
Partnerships and all right, title and interest of any Pledgor in,
to and under the Partnership Agreements.
“ Pledged Securities
” means: (a) the Equity Interests described or referred to in
Schedule 2 (as the same may be supplemented from time to time
pursuant to a Supplement); and (b) (i) the certificates or
instruments, if any, representing such Equity Interests, (ii) all
dividends (cash, Equity Interests or otherwise), cash, instruments,
rights to subscribe, purchase or sell and all other rights and
Property from time to time received, receivable or otherwise
distributed in respect of or in exchange for any or all of such
securities, (iii) all replacements, additions to and substitutions
for any of the Property referred to in this definition, including,
without limitation, claims against third parties, (iv) the
proceeds, interest, profits and other income of or on any of the
Property referred to in this definition, (v) all security
entitlements in respect of any of the foregoing, if any and (vi)
all books and records relating to any of the Property referred to
in this definition.
“ Pledgor ” means
any Obligor that now or hereafter pledges Pledged Securities
hereunder.
“ Proceeds ”
means all “proceeds” as such term is defined in Section
9.102(64) of the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in
the State of Texas on the date hereof and, in any event, shall
include, without limitation, all dividends or other income from the
Pledged Securities, collections thereon or distributions or
payments with respect thereto.
“ Securities Act
” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
“ Supplement ”
means a Supplement substantially in the form attached hereto as
Annex II.
“ UCC ” means the Uniform
Commercial Code as from time to time in effect in the State of
Texas; provided, however, that, in the event that, by reason of
mandatory provisions of law, any of the attachment, perfection or
priority of the Administrative Agent’s and the Guaranteed
Creditors’ security interest in any Collateral is governed by
the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in a jurisdiction other
than the State of Texas, the term “UCC” shall mean the
Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in such other jurisdiction for
purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such attachment,
perfection, the effect thereof or priority and for purposes of
definitions related to such provisions.
Section
1.02
Other Definitional Provisions . Where the context
requires, terms relating to the Collateral or any part thereof,
when used in relation to a Pledgor, refer to such Pledgor’s
Collateral or the relevant part thereof.
Section
1.03
Rules of Interpretation . Section 1.04 and
Section 1.05 of the Credit Agreement are hereby incorporated herein
by reference and shall apply to this Agreement, mutatis
mutandis .
ARTICLE II
Guarantee
(a) Each
of the Guarantors hereby jointly and severally, unconditionally and
irrevocably, guarantees to the Guaranteed Creditors and each of
their respective successors, indorsees, transferees and assigns,
the prompt and complete payment in cash and performance by the
Borrower when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration
or otherwise) of the Borrower Obligations. This is a
guarantee of payment and not collection and the liability of each
Guarantor is primary and not secondary.
(b) Anything
herein or in any other 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
0).
(c) Each
Guarantor agrees that the Borrower Obligations may at any time and
from time to time exceed the amount of the liability of such
Guarantor hereunder without impairing the guarantee contained in
this 0 or affecting the rights and remedies of any Guaranteed
Creditor hereunder.
(d) Each
Guarantor agrees that if the maturity of the Borrower Obligations
is accelerated by bankruptcy or otherwise, such maturity shall also
be deemed accelerated for the purpose of this guarantee without
demand or notice to such Guarantor. The guarantee
contained in this 0 shall remain in full force and effect until all
the Borrower Obligations shall have been satisfied by payment in
full in cash, no Letter of Credit shall be outstanding and all of
the Commitments are terminated, notwithstanding that from time to
time during the term of the Credit Agreement, no Borrower
Obligations may be outstanding.
(e) No
payment made by any Obligor, any other guarantor or any other
Person or received or collected by any Guaranteed Creditor from 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 shall be
deemed to modify, reduce, release or otherwise affect the liability
of any Guarantor hereunder which shall, notwithstanding any such
payment (other than any payment made by such Guarantor in respect
of the Borrower Obligations or any payment received or collected
from such Guarantor in respect of the Borrower Obligations), remain
liable for the Borrower Obligations up to the maximum liability of
such Guarantor
hereunder until the Borrower
Obligations are paid in full in cash, no Letter of Credit shall be
outstanding and all of the Commitments are terminated.
Section
2.02
Right of Contribution . Each Guarantor hereby
agrees that to the extent that a Guarantor shall have paid more
than its proportionate share of any payment made hereunder, such
Guarantor shall be entitled to seek and receive contribution from
and against any other Guarantor hereunder which has not paid its
proportionate share of such payment. Each
Guarantor’s right of contribution shall be subject to the
terms and conditions of 0. The provisions of this 0
shall in no respect limit the obligations and liabilities of any
Guarantor to the Guaranteed Creditors, and each Guarantor shall
remain liable to the Guaranteed Creditors for the full amount
guaranteed by such Guarantor hereunder.
Section
2.03
No Subrogation . Notwithstanding any payment made
by any Guarantor hereunder or any set-off or application of funds
of any Guarantor by any Guaranteed Creditor, no Guarantor shall be
entitled to be subrogated to any of the rights of any Guaranteed
Creditor against the Borrower or any other Guarantor or any
collateral security or guarantee or right of offset held by any
Guaranteed Creditor for the payment of the Borrower Obligations,
nor shall any Guarantor seek or be entitled to seek any indemnity,
exoneration, participation, contribution or reimbursement from the
Borrower or any other Guarantor in respect of payments made by such
Guarantor hereunder, until all amounts owing to the Guaranteed
Creditors by the Borrower on account of the Borrower Obligations
are irrevocably and indefeasibly paid in full in cash, no Letter of
Credit shall be outstanding and all of the Commitments are
terminated. If any amount shall be paid to any Guarantor
on account of such subrogation rights at any time when all of the
Borrower Obligations shall not have been irrevocably and
indefeasibly paid in full in cash, any Letter of Credit shall be
outstanding or any of the Commitments are in effect, such amount
shall be held by such Guarantor in trust for the Guaranteed
Creditors, and shall, forthwith upon receipt by such Guarantor, be
turned over to the Administrative Agent in the exact form received
by such Guarantor (duly indorsed by such Guarantor to the
Administrative Agent, if required), to be applied against the
Borrower Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in accordance
with Section 10.02(c) of the Credit Agreement.
Section
2.04
Guaranty Amendments, Etc. with respect to the Borrower
Obligations . Each Guarantor shall remain obligated
hereunder, and such Guarantor’s obligations hereunder shall
not be released, discharged or otherwise affected, notwithstanding
that, without any reservation of rights against any Guarantor and
without notice to, demand upon or further assent by any Guarantor
(which notice, demand and assent requirements are hereby expressly
waived by such Guarantor), (a) any demand for payment of any of the
Borrower Obligations made by any Guaranteed Creditor may be
rescinded by such Guaranteed Creditor or otherwise and any of the
Borrower Obligations continued; (b) the Borrower Obligations, the
liability of any other Person upon or for any part thereof or any
collateral security or guarantee therefor or right of offset with
respect thereto, may, from time to time, in whole or in part, be
renewed, extended, amended, modified, accelerated, compromised,
waived, surrendered or released by, or any indulgence or
forbearance in respect thereof granted by, any Guaranteed Creditor;
(c) any Guaranteed Document may be amended, modified, supplemented
or terminated, in whole or in part, as the Guaranteed Creditors may
deem advisable from time to time; (d) any collateral security,
guarantee or right of offset at any time held by any Guaranteed
Creditor for the payment of the Borrower Obligations may be sold,
exchanged, waived, surrendered or released;
(e) any additional guarantors,
makers or endorsers of the Borrower’s Obligations may from
time to time be obligated on the Borrower’s Obligations or
any additional security or collateral for the payment and
performance of the Borrower’s Obligations may from time to
time secure the Borrower’s Obligations; or (f) any other
event shall occur which constitutes a defense (other than a defense
of payment or performance in full) or release of sureties
generally. No Guaranteed Creditor shall have any
obligation to protect, secure, perfect or insure any Lien at any
time held by it as security for the Borrower Obligations or for the
guarantee contained in this 0 or any Property subject
thereto.
Section
2.05
Waivers . Each Guarantor hereby waives any and
all notice of the creation, renewal, extension or accrual of any of
the Borrower Obligations and notice of or proof of reliance by any
Guaranteed Creditor upon the guarantee contained in this 0 or
acceptance of the guarantee contained in this 0; the Borrower
Obligations, and any of them, shall conclusively be deemed to have
been created, contracted or incurred, or renewed, extended, amended
or waived, in reliance upon the guarantee contained in this 0 and
no notice of creation of the Borrower Obligations or any extension
of credit already or hereafter contracted by or extended to the
Borrower need be given to any Guarantor; and all dealings between
the Borrower and any of the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the
Guaranteed Creditors, on the other hand, likewise shall be
conclusively presumed to have been had or consummated in reliance
upon the guarantee contained in this 0. Each Guarantor
waives diligence, presentment, protest, demand for payment and
notice of default or nonpayment to or upon the Borrower or any of
the Guarantors with respect to the Borrower Obligations.
Section
2.06
Guaranty Absolute and Unconditional.
(a) Each
Guarantor understands and agrees that the guarantee contained in
this 0 is, and shall be construed as, a continuing, completed,
absolute and unconditional guarantee of payment, and each Guarantor
hereby waives any defense of a surety or guarantor or any other
obligor on any obligations arising in connection with or in respect
of any of the following and hereby agrees that its obligations
hereunder shall not be discharged or otherwise affected as a result
of any of the following:
(i) the
invalidity or unenforceability of any Guaranteed Document, any of
the Borrower Obligations or any other collateral security therefor
or guarantee or right of offset with respect thereto at any time or
from time to time held by any Guaranteed Creditor;
(ii) any
defense, set-off or counterclaim (other than a defense of payment
or performance) which may at any time be available to or be
asserted by the Borrower or any other Person against any Guaranteed
Creditor;
(iii) the
insolvency, bankruptcy arrangement, reorganization, adjustment,
composition, liquidation, disability, dissolution or lack of power
of the Borrower or any other Guarantor or any other Person at any
time liable for the payment of all or part of the Obligations,
including any discharge of, or bar or stay against collecting, any
Obligation (or any part of them or interest therein) in or as a
result of such proceeding;
(iv) any
sale, lease or transfer of any or all of the assets of the Borrower
or any other Guarantor, or any changes in the shareholders of the
Borrower or any other Guarantor;
(v) any
change in the corporate existence (including its constitution,
laws, rules, regulations or power), structure or ownership of any
Obligor or in the relationship between the Borrower and any
Obligor;
(vi) the
fact that any Collateral or Lien contemplated or intended to be
given, created or granted as security for the repayment of the
Obligations shall not be properly perfected or created, or shall
prove to be unenforceable or subordinate to any other Lien, it
being recognized and agreed by each of the Guarantors that it is
not entering into this Agreement in reliance on, or in
contemplation of the benefits of, the validity, enforceability,
collectability or value of any of the Collateral for the
Obligations;
(vii) the
absence of any attempt to collect the Obligations or any part of
them from any Obligor;
(viii) (A)
any Guaranteed Creditor’s election, in any proceeding
instituted under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, of the
application of Section 1111(b)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code; (B) any
borrowing or grant of a Lien by the Borrower, as
debtor-in-possession, or extension of credit, under Section 364 of
the Bankruptcy Code; (C) the disallowance, under Section 502 of the
Bankruptcy Code, of all or any portion of any Guaranteed
Creditor’s claim (or claims) for repayment of the
Obligations; (D) any use of cash collateral under Section 363 of
the Bankruptcy Code; (E) any agreement or stipulation as to the
provision of adequate protection in any bankruptcy proceeding; (F)
the avoidance of any Lien in favor of the Guaranteed Creditors or
any of them for any reason; or (G) failure by any Guaranteed
Creditor to file or enforce a claim against the Borrower or its
estate in any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding;
or
(ix) any
other circumstance or act whatsoever, including any action or
omission of the type described in 0 (with or without notice to or
knowledge of the Borrower or such Guarantor), which constitutes, or
might be construed to constitute, an equitable or legal discharge
of the Borrower for the Borrower Obligations, or of such Guarantor
under the guarantee contained in this 0, in bankruptcy or in any
other instance.
(b) When
making any demand hereunder or otherwise pursuing its rights and
remedies hereunder against any Guarantor, any Guaranteed Creditor
may, but shall be under no obligation to, join or make a similar
demand on or otherwise pursue or exhaust such rights and remedies
as it may have against the Borrower, any other Guarantor or any
other Person or against any collateral security or guarantee for
the Borrower Obligations or any right of offset with respect
thereto, and any failure by any Guaranteed Creditor to make any
such demand, to pursue such other rights or remedies or to collect
any payments from the Borrower, any other Guarantor or any other
Person or to realize upon any such collateral security or guarantee
or to exercise any such right of offset, or any release of the
Borrower, any other Guarantor or any other Person or any such
collateral security, guarantee or right of offset, shall not
relieve any Guarantor of any obligation or liability hereunder, and
shall not impair or affect the rights and
remedies, whether express, implied
or available as a matter of law, of any Guaranteed Creditor against
any Guarantor. For the purposes hereof
“demand” shall include the commencement and continuance
of any legal proceedings.
Section
2.07
Reinstatement . The guarantee contained in this 0
shall continue to be effective, or be reinstated, as the case may
be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any of the
Borrower Obligations is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or
returned by any Guaranteed Creditor upon the insolvency,
bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation or reorganization of the
Borrower or any Guarantor, or upon or as a result of the
appointment of a receiver, intervenor or conservator of, or trustee
or similar officer for, the Borrower or any Guarantor or any
substantial part of its Property, or otherwise, all as though such
payments had not been made.
Section
2.08
Payments . Each Guarantor hereby guarantees that
payments hereunder will be paid to the Administrative Agent, for
the ratable benefit of the Guaranteed Creditors, without set-off,
deduction or counterclaim, in dollars, in immediately available
funds, at the offices of the Administrative Agent specified in
Section 12.01 of the Credit Agreement.
ARTICLE III
Grant of Security
Interest
Section
3.01
Grant of Security Interest . Each Pledgor hereby
pledges, assigns and transfers to the Administrative Agent, and
hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit
of the Guaranteed Creditors, a security interest in all of the
following Property now owned or at any time hereafter acquired by
such Pledgor or in which such Pledgor now has or at any time in the
future may acquire any right, title or interest (collectively, the
“Collateral”), as collateral security for the prompt
and complete payment and performance when due (whether at the
stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of such
Pledgor’s Obligations:
(1) all
Pledged Securities;
(2) all
books and records pertaining to the Pledged Securities;
and
(3) to the extent not
otherwise included, all Proceeds 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.
Section
3.02
Transfer of Pledged Securities . To the extent
the Pledge Securities constitute “securities” under
Article 8 of the UCC, all certificates or instruments representing
or evidencing such Pledged Securities shall be delivered to and
held pursuant hereto by the Administrative Agent or a Person
designated by the Administrative Agent and shall be in suitable
form for transfer by delivery, or shall be accompanied by duly
executed instruments of transfer or assignment in blank, and
accompanied by any required transfer tax stamps to effect the
pledge of the Pledged Securities to the Administrative
Agent. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, at the
Administrative Agent’s reasonable discretion, to the extent
the Pledge Securities constitute “securities” under
Article 8 of the UCC, all such Pledged Securities must be delivered
or transferred in such manner as to permit the Administrative Agent
to be a “protected purchaser” to the extent of its
security interest as provided in Section 8.303 of the UCC (if
the
Administrative Agent otherwise
qualifies as a protected purchaser). During the continuance of an
Event of Default, the Administrative Agent shall have the right, at
any time in its discretion and without notice, to transfer to or to
register in the name of the Administrative Agent or any of its
nominees any or all of the Pledged Securities, subject only to the
revocable rights specified in 0. In addition, during the
continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent shall
have the right at any time to exchange certificates or instruments
representing or evidencing Pledged Securities for certificates or
instruments of smaller or larger denominations.
ARTICLE IV
Representations and
Warranties
To induce the Administrative Agent
and the Lenders to enter into the Credit Agreement and to induce
the Lenders to make their respective extensions of credit to the
Borrower thereunder and to induce the Lenders (and their
Affiliates) to enter into Swap Agreements with the Borrower and its
Subsidiaries, each Obligor hereby represents and warrants to the
Administrative Agent and each Lender that:
Section
4.01
Representations in Credit Agreement . In the case
of each Guarantor, the representations and warranties set forth in
Article VII of the Credit Agreement as they relate to such
Guarantor or to the Loan Documents to which such Guarantor is a
party are true and correct in all material respects, provided that
each reference in each such representation and warranty to the
Borrower’s knowledge shall, for the purposes of this 0, be
deemed to be a reference to such Guarantor’s
knowledge.
Section
4.02
Title; No Other Liens . Except for the security
interest granted to the Administrative Agent for the ratable
benefit of the Guaranteed Creditors pursuant to this Agreement,
such Pledgor is the record and beneficial owner of its respective
items of the Collateral free and clear of any and all Liens and has
rights in or the power to transfer each item of the Collateral in
which a Lien is granted by it hereunder, free and clear of any
Lien. 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
Guaranteed Creditors, pursuant to this Agreement or the Security
Instruments.
Section
4.03
Perfected First Priority Liens . The security
interests granted pursuant to this Agreement i) upon the
completion of the filings and the other actions specified on
Schedule 3 constitute valid perfected security interests in all of
the Collateral in favor of the Administrative Agent, for the
ratable benefit of the Guaranteed Creditors, as collateral security
for such Pledgor’s Obligations, enforceable in accordance
with the terms hereof against all creditors of such Pledgor and any
Persons purporting to purchase any Collateral from such Pledgor and
ii) are prior to all other Liens on the Collateral in
existence on the date hereof.
Section
4.04
Obligor Information . On the date hereof, the
correct legal name of such Obligor, all names and trade names that
such Obligor has used in the last five years, such Obligor's
jurisdiction of organization and each jurisdiction of organization
of such Obligor over the last five years, organizational number,
taxpayor identification number, and the location(s) of
such Obligor's chief executive
office or sole place of business over the last five years are
specified on Schedule 4.
Section
4.05
Pledged Securities.
(a) The
Pledged Securities required to be pledged hereunder and under the
Credit Agreement by such Pledgor are listed in Schedule
2. The shares of Pledged Securities pledged by such
Pledgor hereunder constitute all the issued and outstanding shares
of all classes of the Equity Interests of each Issuer owned by such
Pledgor. All the shares of the Pledged Securities have
been duly and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable;
and such Pledgor is the record and beneficial owner of, and has
good title to, the Pledged Securities pledged by it hereunder, free
of any and all Liens or options in favor of, or claims of, any
other Person, except the security interest created by this
Agreement, and has rights in or the power to transfer the Pledged
Securities in which a Lien is granted by it hereunder, free and
clear of any Lien.
(b) There
are no restrictions on transfer (that have not been waived or
otherwise consented to) in the LLC Agreement governing any Pledged
LLC Interest and the Partnership Agreement governing any Pledged
Partnership Interest or any other agreement relating thereto which
would limit or restrict (1) the grant of a security interest in the
Pledged LLC Interests and the Pledged Partnership Interests, (2)
the perfection of such security interest or (3) the exercise of
remedies in respect of such perfected security interest in the
Pledged LLC Interests and the Pledged Partnership Interests, in
each case, as contemplated by this Agreement. Upon the
exercise of remedies in respect of the Pledged LLC Interests and
the Pledged Partnership Interests, a transferee or assignee of a
membership interest or partnership interest, as the case may be, of
such LLC or Partnership, as the case may be, shall become a member
or partner, as the case may be, of such LLC or Partnership, as the
case may be, entitled to participate in the management thereof and,
upon the transfer of the entire interest of such Pledgor, such
Pledgor ceases to be a member or partner, as the case may
be.
Section
4.06
Benefit to the Guarantor . The Borrower is a
member of an affiliated group of companies that includes each
Guarantor, and the Borrower and the other Guarantors are engaged in
related businesses. Each Guarantor is a Subsidiary of
the Borrower and its guaranty and surety obligations pursuant to
this Agreement reasonably may be exp
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