GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT

EXECUTION VERSION

Exhibit 4.5.2

 

GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT

made by

SALLY INVESTMENT HOLDINGS LLC

SALLY HOLDINGS LLC

and certain of its Subsidiaries,

in favor of

MERRILL LYNCH CAPITAL CORPORATION,

as Administrative Agent and as Collateral Agent

Dated as of November 16, 2006

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

(i)

SCHEDULES

 

ANNEXES

 

 

(ii)

GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT

GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT, dated as of November      , 2006, made by SALLY INVESTMENT HOLDINGS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Holdings ”), SALLY HOLDINGS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (in its specific capacity as Borrower, together with its successors and assigns, the “ Borrower ”) and certain Subsidiaries of the Borrower in favor of MERRILL LYNCH CAPITAL CORPORATION, as collateral agent (in such capacity, the “ Collateral Agent ”) and administrative agent (in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”) for the banks and other financial institutions (collectively, the “ Lenders ”; individually, a “ Lender ”) from time to time parties to the Credit Agreement described below.

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as amended, amended and restated, waived, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, together with any agreement extending the maturity of, or restructuring, refunding, refinancing or increasing the Indebtedness under such agreement or successor agreements, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among the Borrower, Merrill Lynch Capital Corporation, as Collateral Agent and Administrative Agent, and the other parties party thereto, the Lenders have severally agreed to make extensions of credit to the Borrower upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein;

WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as amended, amended and restated, waived, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, together with any agreement extending the maturity of, or restructuring, refunding, refinancing or increasing the Indebtedness under such agreement or successor agreements, the “ ABL Credit Agreement ”), among the Borrower, Beauty Systems Group LLC, Sally Beauty Supply LLC, (collectively, the “ ABL Borrowers ”) Sally Beauty (Canada) Corporation, Beauty Systems Group (Canada), Inc., the several banks and other financial institutions from time to time parties thereto (as further defined in the ABL Credit Agreement, the “ ABL Lenders ”), Merrill Lynch Capital, a division of Merrill Lynch Financial Services Inc., as administrative agent (in its specific capacity as Administrative Agent, the “ ABL Administrative Agent ”) and collateral agent (in its specific capacity as Collateral Agent, the “ ABL Collateral Agent ”) for the ABL Lenders thereunder, and the other parties party thereto, the ABL Lenders have severally agreed to make extensions of credit to the ABL Borrowers upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein;

WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain U.S. Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as amended, amended and restated, waived, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ ABL Guarantee and Collateral Agreement ”), among Holdings, the ABL Borrowers, certain of their subsidiaries, the ABL Administrative Agent and the ABL Collateral Agent, the ABL Borrowers and such subsidiaries have granted a first priority Lien to the ABL Collateral Agent for the benefit of the holders of ABL Obligations (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement referred to below) on the ABL Priority Collateral (as defined herein) and a second priority Lien for the benefit of the holders of the ABL Obligations on the Term Priority Collateral (as defined herein);

WHEREAS, the Borrower is a member of an affiliated group of companies that includes Holdings, the Borrower, the Borrower’s Domestic Subsidiaries that are party hereto and any other Domestic Subsidiary of the Borrower that becomes a party hereto from time to time after the date hereof (all of the foregoing collectively, the “ Granting Parties ”);

WHEREAS, the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent, the ABL Collateral Agent and the ABL Administrative Agent have entered into an Intercreditor Agreement, acknowledged by the Borrower and the Granting Parties, dated as of the date hereof (as amended, amended and restated, waived, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (subject to Section 9.1 hereof), the “ Intercreditor Agreement ”);

WHEREAS, the Borrower and the other Granting Parties are engaged in related businesses, and each such Granting Party will derive substantial benefit from the making of the extensions of credit under the Credit Agreement and the ABL Credit Agreement; and

WHEREAS, it is a condition to the obligation of the Lenders to make their respective extensions of credit under the Credit Agreement that the Granting Parties shall execute and deliver this Agreement to the Collateral Agent for the 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 thereunder, and in consideration of the receipt of other valuable consideration (which receipt is hereby acknowledged), each Granting Party hereby agrees with the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties (as defined below), as follows:

SECTION 1 DEFINED TERMS

1.1 Definitions . (a) Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement, and the following terms that are defined in the Code (as in effect on the date hereof) are used herein as so defined: Chattel Paper, Commercial Tort Claims, Documents, Electronic Chattel Paper, Deposit Accounts, Documents, Equipment, Farm Products, Fixtures, General Intangibles, Letter of Credit Rights, Money, Promissory Notes, Records, Securities, Securities Accounts, Security Entitlements, Supporting Obligations and Tangible Chattel Paper.

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

“ ABL Administrative Agent ”: as defined in the recitals hereto.

“ ABL Borrowers ”: as defined in the recitals hereto.

“ ABL Collateral Agent ”: as defined in the recitals hereto.

“ ABL Credit Agreement ”: as defined in the recitals hereto.

 

(2)

“ ABL Guarantee and Collateral Agreement ”: as defined in the recitals hereto.

“ ABL Lenders ”: as defined in the recitals hereto.

“ ABL Obligations ”: as defined in the recitals hereto.

“ ABL Priority Collateral ”: all Collateral consisting of the following:

(1) all Accounts;

(2) all Chattel Paper (including Tangible Chattel Paper and Electronic Chattel Paper);

(3) (x) all Deposit Accounts and Money and all cash, checks, other negotiable instruments, funds and other evidences of payments held therein and (y) all Securities, Security Entitlements, and Securities Accounts, in each case, to the extent constituting cash or Cash Equivalents or representing a claim to Cash Equivalents, in each case other than the Asset Sales Proceeds Account and all cash, checks and other property held therein or credited thereto;

(4) all Inventory;

(5) to the extent involving or governing any of the items referred to in the preceding clauses (1) through (4), all Documents, General Intangibles, Instruments (including, without limitation, Promissory Notes), and Letter of Credit Rights, provided that to the extent any of the foregoing also relates to Term Priority Collateral, only that portion related to the items referred to in the preceding clauses (1) through (4) shall be included in the ABL Priority Collateral;

(6) to the extent evidencing or governing any of the items referred to in the preceding clauses (1) through (5), all Supporting Obligations; provided that to the extent any of the foregoing also relates to Term Priority Collateral, only that portion related to the items referred to in the preceding clauses (1) through (5) shall be included in the ABL Priority Collateral;

(7) all books and Records relating to the foregoing (including without limitation all books, databases, customer lists and Records, whether tangible or electronic, which contain any information relating to any of the foregoing);

(8) all collateral security and guarantees with respect to any of the foregoing and all cash, Money, instruments, securities, financial assets and deposit accounts directly received as proceeds of any ABL Priority Collateral (“ ABL Priority Proceeds ”); provided , however , that no proceeds of ABL Priority Proceeds will constitute ABL Priority Collateral unless such proceeds of ABL Priority Proceeds would otherwise constitute ABL Priority Collateral.

For the avoidance of doubt, under no circumstances shall Excluded Assets be ABL Priority Collateral.

“ Accounts ”: all accounts (as defined in the Code) of each Grantor, including, without limitation, all Accounts (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and Accounts Receivable of such Grantor.

 

(3)

“ Accounts Receivable ”: any right to payment for goods sold or leased or for services rendered, which is not evidenced by an instrument (as defined in the Code) or Chattel Paper.

“ Additional Agent ”: as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement.

“ Additional Collateral Documents ”: as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement.

“ Additional Obligations ”: as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement.

“ Adjusted Net Worth ”: of any Guarantor at any time, shall mean the greater of (x) $0 and (y) the amount by which the fair saleable value of such Guarantor’s assets on the date of the respective payment hereunder exceeds its debts and other liabilities (including contingent liabilities, but without giving effect to any of its obligations under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, or pursuant to its guarantee with respect to any Indebtedness then outstanding under the Senior Notes, the Senior Subordinated Notes or any Notes Indenture or any Existing Indebtedness) on such date.

“ Administrative Agent ”: as defined in the preamble hereto.

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

“ Applicable Law ”: as defined in Section 9.8 hereto.

“ Asset Sales Proceeds Account ” shall mean one or more Deposit Accounts or Securities Accounts holding only the proceeds of any sale or disposition of any Term Priority Collateral and the proceeds or investment thereof.

“ Bank Products Agreement ”: any agreement pursuant to which a bank or other financial institution agrees to provide treasury or cash management services (including, without limitation, controlled disbursements, automated clearinghouse transactions, return items, netting, overdrafts and interstate depository network services).

“ Bankruptcy Case ”: (i) Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries commencing any case, proceeding or other action (A) under any existing or future law of any jurisdiction, domestic or foreign, relating to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, conservatorship or relief of debtors, seeking to have an order for relief entered with respect to it, or seeking to adjudicate it a bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, winding-up, liquidation, dissolution, composition or other relief with respect to it or its debts, or (B) seeking appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, conservator or other similar official for it or for all or any substantial part of its assets, or Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries making a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or (ii) there being commenced against Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries any case, proceeding or other action of a nature referred to in clause (i) above which (A) results in the entry of an order for relief or any such adjudication or appointment or (B) remains undismissed, undischarged or unbonded for a period of 60 days.

“ Borrower Obligations ”: the collective reference to: all obligations and liabilities of the Borrower in respect of the unpaid principal of and interest on (including, without limitation,

 

(4)

interest accruing after the maturity of the Loans 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) the Loans, and all other obligations and liabilities of the Borrower to the Secured Parties, 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, the Loans, the Letters of Credit, the other Loan Documents, any Interest Rate Protection Agreement, Permitted Hedging Arrangement or Bank Products Agreement entered into with any Person who was at the time of entry into such agreement a Lender or an affiliate of any Lender, any Guarantee of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries as to which any Secured Party is a beneficiary, the provision of cash management services by any Lender or an Affiliate thereof to the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof, or any other document made, delivered or given in connection therewith, in each case whether on account of principal, interest, reimbursement obligations, amounts payable in connection with the provision of such cash management services or a termination of any transaction entered into pursuant to any such Interest Rate Protection Agreement or Permitted Hedging Arrangement, fees, indemnities, costs, expenses or otherwise (including, without limitation, all reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of counsel to the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party that are required to be paid by the Borrower pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document).

“ Borrower ”: as defined in the preamble hereto.

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

“ Collateral ”: as defined in Section 3; provided that, for purposes of subsection 6.5, Section 8 and subsection 9.16(b), “Collateral” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Credit Agreement.

“ Collateral Account Bank ”: LaSalle Bank, NA, an Affiliate thereof or another bank which at all times is a Lender as selected by the relevant Grantor and consented to in writing by the Collateral Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

“ Collateral Agent ”: as defined in the preamble hereto.

“ Collateral Proceeds Account ”: shall mean a non-interest bearing cash collateral account established and maintained by the relevant Grantor at an office of the Collateral Account Bank in the name, and in the sole dominion and control of, the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties.

“ Commercial Tort Action ” any action, other than an action primarily seeking declaratory or injunctive relief with respect to claims asserted or expected to be asserted by Persons other than the Grantors, that is commenced by a Grantor in the courts of the United States of America, any state or territory thereof or any political subdivision of any such state or territory, in which any Grantor seeks damages arising out of torts committed against it that would reasonably be expected to result in a damage award to it exceeding $3,000,000.

 

(5)

“ Contracts ”: with respect to any Grantor, all contracts, agreements, instruments and indentures in any form and portions thereof (except for contracts listed on Schedule 6 hereto), to which such Grantor is a party or under which such Grantor or any property of such Grantor is subject, as the same may from time to time be amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified, including, without limitation, (i) all rights of such Grantor to receive moneys due and to become due to it thereunder or in connection therewith, (ii) all rights of such Grantor to damages arising thereunder and (iii) all rights of such Grantor to perform and to exercise all remedies thereunder.

“ Copyright Licenses ”: with respect to any Grantor, all written license agreements of such Grantor providing for the grant by or to such Grantor of any right under any United States copyright of such Grantor, other than agreements with any Person who is an Affiliate or a Subsidiary of the Borrower or such Grantor, including, without limitation, any material license agreements listed on Schedule 5 hereto, subject, in each case, to the terms of such license agreements, and the right to prepare for sale, sell and advertise for sale, all Inventory now or hereafter covered by such licenses.

“ Copyrights ”: with respect to any Grantor, all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest in and to all United States and foreign copyrights, whether or not the underlying works of authorship have been published or registered, all United States and foreign copyright registrations and copyright applications, including, without limitation, any copyright registrations and copyright applications listed on Schedule 5 hereto, and (i) all renewals thereof, (ii) all income, royalties, damages and payments now and hereafter due and/or payable with respect thereto, including, without limitation, payments under all licenses entered into in connection therewith, and damages and payments for past or future infringements thereof and (iii) the right to sue or otherwise recover for past, present and future infringements and misappropriations thereof.

“ Credit Agreement ”: has the meaning provided in the recitals hereto.

“ Excluded Assets ”: as defined in Section 3.3.

“ General Fund Account ”: the general fund account of the relevant Grantor established at the same office of the Collateral Account Bank as the Collateral Proceeds Account.

“ Granting Parties ”: as defined in the recitals hereto.

“ Grantor ”: Holdings, the Borrower, the Borrower’s Domestic Subsidiaries that are party hereto and any other Subsidiary of the Borrower that becomes a party hereto from time to time after the date hereof.

“ Guarantor Obligations ”: with respect to any Guarantor, the collective reference to (i) the Obligations guaranteed by such Guarantor pursuant to Section 2 and (ii) all obligations and liabilities of such Guarantor that may arise under or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document to which such Guarantor is a party, any Interest Rate Protection Agreement, Permitted Hedging Arrangement or Bank Products Agreement entered into with any Person who was at the time of entry into such agreement a Lender or an affiliate of any Lender, any Guarantee of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries as to which any Secured Party is a

 

(6)

beneficiary, the provision of cash management services by any Lender or an Affiliate thereof to the Borrower or any Subsidiary thereof, or any other document made, delivered or given in connection therewith of such Guarantor, 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, to the Other Representatives 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).

“ Guarantors ”: the collective reference to each Granting Party.

“ Holdings ”: as defined in the recitals hereto.

“ Instruments ”: has the meaning specified in Article 9 of the Code, but excluding the Pledged Securities.

“ Intellectual Property ”: with respect to any Grantor, the collective reference to such Grantor’s Copyrights, Copyright Licenses, Patents, Patent Licenses, Trade Secrets, Trademarks and Trademark Licenses.

“ Intercreditor Agreement ”: as defined in the recitals hereto.

“ Intercompany Note ”: with respect to any Grantor, any promissory note in a principal amount in excess of $3,000,000 evidencing loans made by such Grantor to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries.

“ Inventory ”: with respect to any Grantor, all inventory (as defined in the Code) of such Grantor, including, without limitation, all Inventory (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of such Grantor.

“ Investment Property ”: the collective reference to (i) all “investment property” as such term is defined in Section 9-102(a)(49) of the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the State of New York on the date hereof (other than any Capital Stock of any Foreign Subsidiary in excess of 65% of any series of such stock and other than any Capital Stock excluded from the definition of “Pledged Stock”) and (ii) whether or not constituting “investment property” as so defined, all Pledged Securities.

“ Issuers ”: the collective reference to the Persons identified on Schedule 2 as the issuers of Pledged Stock, together with any successors to such companies.

“ Lender ”: as defined in the preamble hereto.

“ Management Loans ”: Indebtedness (including any extension, renewal or refinancing thereof) outstanding at any time incurred by any Management Investors in connection with any purchases by them of Management Stock, which Indebtedness is entitled to the benefit of any Management Guarantee of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(7)

“ Non-Lender Secured Parties ”: the collective reference to any person who, at the time of entering into any Interest Rate Protection Agreement or Permitted Hedging Arrangement or Banks Products Agreement or Management Loan secured hereby, was a Lender or an affiliate of any Lender and their respective successors and assigns.

“ Obligations ”: (i) in the case of the Borrower, its Borrower Obligations and its Guarantor Obligations and (ii) in the case of each other Guarantor, its Guarantor Obligations.

“ Patent Licenses ”: with respect to any Grantor, all written license agreements of such Grantor providing for the grant by or to such Grantor of any right under any patent, patent application, or patentable invention other than agreements with any Person who is an Affiliate or a Subsidiary of the Borrower or such Grantor, including, without limitation, the material license agreements listed on Schedule 5 hereto, subject, in each case, to the terms of such license agreements, and the right to prepare for sale, sell and advertise for sale, all Inventory now or hereafter covered by such licenses.

“ Patents ”: with respect to any Grantor, all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest in and to all United States and foreign patents, patent applications and patentable inventions and all reissues and extensions thereof, including, without limitation, all patents and patent applications identified in Schedule 5 hereto, and including, without limitation, (i) all inventions and improvements described and claimed therein, (ii) the right to sue or otherwise recover for any and all past, present and future infringements and misappropriations thereof, (iii) all income, royalties, damages and other payments now and hereafter due and/or payable with respect thereto (including, without limitation, payments under all licenses entered into in connection therewith, and damages and payments for past, present or future infringements thereof), and (iv) all other rights corresponding thereto and all reissues, divisions, continuations, continuations-in-part, substitutes, renewals, and extensions thereof, all improvements thereon, and all other rights of any kind whatsoever of such Grantor accruing thereunder or pertaining thereto.

“ Pledged Collateral ”: as to any Pledgor, the Pledged Securities now owned or at any time hereafter acquired by such Pledgor, and any Proceeds thereof.

“ Pledged Notes ”: with respect to any Pledgor, all Intercompany Notes at any time issued to, or held or owned by, such Pledgor.

“ Pledged Securities ”: the collective reference to the Pledged Notes and the Pledged Stock.

“ Pledged Stock ”: with respect to any Pledgor, the shares of Capital Stock listed on Schedule 2 as held by such Pledgor, together with any other shares of Capital Stock required to be pledged by such Pledgor pursuant to subsection 6.9 of the Credit Agreement, as well as any other shares, stock certificates, options or rights of any nature whatsoever in respect of the Capital Stock of any Issuer that may be issued or granted to, or held by, such Pledgor while this Agreement is in effect ( provided that in no event shall there be pledged, nor shall any Pledgor be required to pledge, directly or indirectly, (i) more than 65% of any series of the outstanding Capital Stock of any Foreign Subsidiary, (ii) any of the Capital Stock of a Subsidiary of a Foreign Subsidiary and (iii)  de minimis shares of a Foreign Subsidiary held by any Pledgor as a nominee or in a similar capacity.

 

(8)

“ Pledgor ”: Holdings (with respect to the Pledged Stock of the Borrower and all other Pledged Collateral of the Borrower), the Borrower (with respect to Pledged Stock of the entities listed on Schedule 2 hereto and all other Pledged Collateral of the Borrower) and each other Granting Party (with respect to Pledged Securities held by such Granting Party and all other Pledged Collateral of such Granting Party).

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

“ Restrictive Agreements ”: as defined in subsection 3.3(a).

“ Secured Parties ”: the collective reference to (i) the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and each Other Representative, (ii) the Lenders, (iii) with respect to any Interest Rate Protection Agreement, Permitted Hedging Arrangement or Bank Products Agreement with Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, any counterparty thereto that, at the time such agreement or arrangement was entered into, was a Lender or an Affiliate of any Lender, (iv) with respect to any Management Loans, any lender thereof that, at the time such Indebtedness was extended (or agreement to extend such Indebtedness was entered into), was a Lender or an Affiliate of any Lender and (v) their respective successors and assigns and their permitted transferees and endorsees.

“ Security Collateral ”: with respect to any Granting Party, means, collectively, the Collateral (if any) and the Pledged Collateral (if any) of such Granting Party.

“ Specified Asset ”: as defined in subsection 4.2.2 hereof.

“ Term Priority Collateral ”: all Security Collateral other than ABL Priority Collateral and all collateral security and guarantees with respect to any Term Priority Collateral and all cash, Money, instruments, securities, financial assets and deposit accounts directly received as proceeds of any Term Priority Collateral; provided , however , no proceeds of proceeds will constitute Term Priority Collateral unless such proceeds of proceeds would otherwise constitute Term Priority Collateral or are credited to the Asset Sales Proceeds Account. For the avoidance of doubt, under no circumstances shall Excluded Assets be Term Priority Collateral.

“ Trade Secret Licenses ”: with respect to any Grantor, all written license agreements of such Grantor providing for the grant by or to such Grantor of any right under any trade secrets, including, without limitation, know how, processes, formulae, compositions, designs, and confidential business and technical information, and all rights of any kind whatsoever accruing thereunder or pertaining thereto, other than agreements with any Person who is an Affiliate or a Subsidiary of the Borrower or such Grantor, subject, in each case, to the terms of such license agreements, and the right to prepare for sale, sell and advertise for sale, all Inventory now or hereafter covered by such licenses.

 

(9)

“ Trade Secrets ”: with respect to any Grantor, all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest in and to all United States and foreign trade secrets, including, without limitation, know-how, processes, formulae, compositions, designs, and confidential business and technical information, and all rights of any kind whatsoever accruing thereunder or pertaining thereto, including, without limitation, (i) all income, royalties, damages and payments now and hereafter due and/or payable with respect thereto, including, without limitation, payments under all licenses, non-disclosure agreements and memoranda of understanding entered into in connection therewith, and damages and payments for past or future misappropriations thereof, and (ii) the right to sue or otherwise recover for past, present or future misappropriations thereof.

“ Trademark Licenses ”: with respect to any Grantor, all written license agreements of such Grantor providing for the grant by or to such Grantor of any right under any trademarks, service marks, trade names, trade dress or other indicia of trade origin or business identifiers, and all rights of any kind whatsoever accruing thereunder or pertaining thereto, other than agreements with any Person who is an Affiliate or a Subsidiary of the Borrower or such Grantor, including, without limitation, the material license agreements listed on Schedule 5 hereto, subject, in each case, to the terms of such license agreements, and the right to prepare for sale, sell and advertise for sale, all Inventory now or hereafter covered by such licenses.

“ Trademarks ”: with respect to any Grantor, all of such Grantor’s right, title and interest in and to all United States and foreign trademarks, service marks, trade names, trade dress or other indicia of trade origin or business identifiers, trademark and service mark registrations, and applications for trademark or service mark registrations (except for “intent to use” applications for trademark or service mark registrations filed pursuant to Section 1(b) of the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1051, unless and until an Amendment to Allege Use or a Statement of Use under Sections 1(c) and 1(d) of said Act has been filed, it being understood and agreed that the carve out in this parenthetical shall be applicable only if and for so long as a grant of a security interest in such intent to use application would invalidate or otherwise jeopardize Grantor’s rights therein), and any renewals thereof, including, without limitation, each registration and application identified in Schedule 5 hereto, and including, without limitation, (i) the right to sue or otherwise recover for any and all past, present and future infringements or dilutions thereof, (ii) all income, royalties, damages and other payments now and hereafter due and/or payable with respect thereto (including, without limitation, payments under all licenses entered into in connection therewith, and damages and payments for past or future infringements thereof), and (iii) all other rights corresponding thereto and all other rights of any kind whatsoever of such Grantor accruing thereunder or pertaining thereto in the United States, together in each case with the goodwill of the business connected with the use of, and symbolized by, each such trademark, service mark, trade name, trade dress or other indicia of trade origin or business identifiers.

“ Vehicles ”: all cars, trucks, trailers, construction and earth moving equipment and other vehicles covered by a certificate of title law of any state and all tires and other appurtenances to any of the foregoing.

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, Schedule and Annex references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified.

 

(10)

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

(c) Where the context requires, terms relating to the Collateral, Pledged Collateral or Security Collateral, or any part thereof, when used in relation to a Granting Party shall refer to such Granting Party’s Collateral, Pledged Collateral or Security Collateral or the relevant part thereof.

(d) All references in this Agreement to any of the property described in the definition of the term “Collateral” or “Pledged Collateral”, or to any Proceeds thereof, shall be deemed to be references thereto only to the extent the same constitute Collateral or Pledged Collateral, respectively.

SECTION 2 GUARANTEE

2.1 Guarantee . (a) Each of the Guarantors hereby, jointly and severally, unconditionally and irrevocably, guarantees to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the applicable Secured Parties, the prompt and complete payment and performance by the Borrower when due and payable (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of the Borrower Obligations of the Borrower owed to the applicable Secured Parties.

(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 that can be guaranteed by such Guarantor under applicable law, including applicable federal and state laws relating to the insolvency of debtors; provided that, to the maximum extent permitted under applicable law, it is the intent of the parties hereto that (x) the amount of the liability of any of the Guarantors or any guarantee in respect of Indebtedness represented by the Senior Notes or the Senior Subordinated Notes shall be reduced before the amount of the liability of the respective Guarantor is reduced hereunder and (y) the rights of contribution of each Guarantor provided in following subsection 2.2 be included as an asset of the respective Guarantor in determining the maximum liability of such Guarantor hereunder.

(c) Each Guarantor agrees that the Borrower Obligations guaranteed by it hereunder 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 2 or affecting the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party hereunder.

(d) The guarantee contained in this Section 2 shall remain in full force and effect until the earlier to occur of (i) the first date on which all the Loans, all other Borrower Obligations then due and owing, and the obligations of each Guarantor under the guarantee contained in this Section 2 then due and owing shall have been satisfied by payment in full in cash, no Letter of Credit shall be outstanding (except for Letters of Credit that have been cash collateralized in a manner satisfactory to the Issuing Lender) and the Term Loan Commitments 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, or (ii) as to any Guarantor, the sale or other disposition of all of the Capital Stock of such Guarantor (to a Person other than Holdings, the Borrower or a Subsidiary of either) as permitted under the Credit Agreement.

 

(11)

(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 other Secured Party 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 any 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 any of the Borrower Obligations), remain liable for the Borrower Obligations of the Borrower guaranteed by it hereunder up to the maximum liability of such Guarantor hereunder until the earlier to occur of (i) the first date on which all the Loans, and all other Borrower Obligations then due and owing, are paid in full in cash, no Letter of Credit shall be outstanding (except for Letters of Credit that have been cash collateralized in a manner satisfactory to the Issuing Lender) and the Term Loan Commitments are terminated or (ii) the sale or other disposition of all of the Capital Stock of such Guarantor (to a Person other than Holdings, the Borrower or a Subsidiary of either) as permitted under the Credit Agreement.

2.2 Right of Contribution . Each Guarantor hereby agrees that to the extent that a Guarantor shall have paid more than its proportionate share (based, to the maximum extent permitted by law, on the respective Adjusted Net Worths of the Guarantors on the date the respective payment is made) of any payment made hereunder, such Guarantor shall be entitled to seek and receive contribution from and against any other Guarantor hereunder that has not paid its proportionate share of such payment. Each Guarantor’s right of contribution shall be subject to the terms and conditions of subsection 2.3. The provisions of this subsection 2.2 shall in no respect limit the obligations and liabilities of any Guarantor to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, and each Guarantor shall remain liable to the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties for the full amount guaranteed by such Guarantor hereunder.

2.3 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 other Secured Party, no Guarantor shall be entitled to be subrogated to any of the rights of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party against the Borrower or any other Guarantor or any collateral security or guarantee or right of offset held by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party for the payment of the Borrower 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 other Secured Parties by the Borrower on account of the Borrower Obligations are paid in full in cash, no Letter of Credit shall be outstanding and the Term Loan 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 paid in full in cash or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding (and shall not have been cash collateralized in a manner satisfactory to the Issuing Lender) or any of the Term Loan Commitments shall remain in effect, such amount shall be held by such Guarantor in trust for the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, segregated from other funds of such

 

(12)

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 held as collateral security for all of the Borrower Obligations (whether matured or unmatured) guaranteed by such Guarantor and/or then or at any time thereafter may be applied against any Borrower Obligations, whether matured or unmatured, in such order as the Administrative Agent may determine.

2.4 Amendments, etc. with respect to the Obligations . To the maximum extent permitted by law, 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 made by the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party may be rescinded by the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent or such other Secured Party and any of the Borrower Obligations continued, and the 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, waived, modified, accelerated, compromised, subordinated, waived, surrendered or released by the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party, and the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any other documents executed and delivered in connection therewith may be amended, waived, modified, supplemented or terminated, in whole or in part, as the Collateral Agent or the Administrative Agent (or the Required Lenders or the applicable Lenders(s), 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 Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party for the payment of any of the Borrower Obligations may be sold, exchanged, waived, surrendered or released. None of the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent and each other Secured Party shall have any obligation to protect, secure, perfect or insure any Lien at any time held by it as security for any of the Borrower Obligations or for the guarantee contained in this Section 2 or any property subject thereto, except to the extent required by applicable law.

2.5 Guarantee Absolute and Unconditional . Each Guarantor waives, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, 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 the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party upon the guarantee contained in this Section 2 or acceptance of the guarantee contained in this Section 2; each of the Borrower Obligations, and any obligation contained therein, 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 any of the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent and the other Secured Parties, 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. Each Guarantor waives, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, diligence, presentment, protest, demand for payment and notice of default or nonpayment to or upon the Borrower or any of the other Guarantors with respect to any of the Borrower Obligations. Each Guarantor understands and agrees, to the extent permitted by law, that the guarantee contained in this Section 2 shall be construed as a continuing, absolute and unconditional guarantee of payment and not of collection. Each Guarantor hereby waives, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law,

 

(13)

any and all defenses (other than any suit for breach of a contractual provision of any of the Loan Documents) that it may have arising out of or in connection with any and all of the following: (a) the validity or enforceability of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan 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 the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party, (b) any defense, set-off or counterclaim (other than a defense of payment or performance) that may at any time be available to or be asserted by the Borrower against the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party, (c) any change in the time, place, manner or place of payment, amendment, or waiver or increase in any of the Obligations, (d) any exchange, taking, or release of Security Collateral, (e) any change in the structure or existence of the Borrower, (f) any application of Security Collateral to any of the Obligations, (g) any law, regulation or order of any jurisdiction, or any other event, affecting any term of any Obligation or the rights of the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party with respect thereto, including, without limitation: (i) the application of any such law, regulation, decree or order, including any prior approval, which would prevent the exchange of any currency (other than Dollars) for Dollars or the remittance of funds outside of such jurisdiction or the unavailability of Dollars in any legal exchange market in such jurisdiction in accordance with normal commercial practice, (ii) a declaration of banking moratorium or any suspension of payments by banks in such jurisdiction or the imposition by such jurisdiction or any Governmental Authority thereof of any moratorium on, the required rescheduling or restructuring of, or required approval of payments on, any indebtedness in such jurisdiction, (iii) any expropriation, confiscation, nationalization or requisition by such country or any Governmental Authority that directly or indirectly deprives the Borrower of any assets or their use, or of the ability to operate its business or a material part thereof, or (iv) any war (whether or not declared), insurrection, revolution, hostile act, civil strife or similar events occurring in such jurisdiction which has the same effect as the events described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above (in each of the cases contemplated in clauses (i) through (iv) above, to the extent occurring or existing on or at any time after the date of this Agreement), or (h) any other circumstance whatsoever (other than payment in full in cash of the Borrower Obligations guaranteed by it hereunder) (with or without notice to or knowledge of the Borrower or such Guarantor) that 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 Section 2, in bankruptcy or in any other instance. When making any demand hereunder or otherwise pursuing its rights and remedies hereunder against any Guarantor, the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent and any other Secured Party 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 guaranteed by such Guarantor hereunder or any right of offset with respect thereto, and any failure by the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party 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 Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party against any Guarantor. For the purposes hereof “demand” shall include the commencement and continuance of any legal proceedings.

 

(14)

2.6 Reinstatement . The guarantee of any Guarantor 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 Borrower Obligations guaranteed by such Guarantor hereunder is rescinded or must otherwise be restored or returned by the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party 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.

2.7 Payments . Each Guarantor hereby guarantees that payments hereunder will be paid to the Administrative Agent without set-off or counterclaim, in Dollars (or in the case of any amount required to be paid in any other currency pursuant to the requirements of the Credit Agreement or other agreement relating to the respective Obligations, such other currency), at the Administrative Agent’s office specified in subsection 10.2 of the Credit Agreement or such other address as may be designated in writing by the Administrative Agent to such Guarantor from time to time in accordance with subsection 10.2 of the Credit Agreement.

SECTION 3 GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST

3.1 Grant . Each Grantor hereby grants, subject to existing licenses to use the Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks and Trade Secrets granted by such Grantor in the ordinary course of business, to the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in all of the Collateral of such Grantor, as collateral security for the prompt and complete payment and performance when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of the Obligations of such Grantor, except as provided in subsection 3.3. The term “Collateral”, as to any Grantor, means the following property (wherever located) 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, except as provided in subsection 3.3:

(a) all Accounts;

(b) all Money (including all cash);

(c) all Cash Equivalents;

(d) all Chattel Paper;

(e) all Contracts;

(f) all Deposit Accounts (including DDAs);

(g) all Documents;

(h) all Equipment;

 

(15)

(i) all General Intangibles;

(j) all Instruments;

(k) all Intellectual Property;

(l) all Inventory;

(m) all Investment Property;

(n) all Letter of Credit Rights;

(o) all Fixtures;

(p) all Commercial Tort Claims constituting Commercial Tort Actions described in Schedule 7 (together with any Commercial Tort Actions subject to a further writing provided in accordance with subsection 5.2.12);

(q) all books and records pertaining to any of the foregoing;

(r) the Collateral Proceeds Account; and

(s) 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;

provided that, in the case of each Grantor, Collateral shall not include any Pledged Collateral, or any property or assets specifically excluded from Pledged Collateral (including any Capital Stock of any Foreign Subsidiary in excess of 65% of any series of such stock).

3.2 Pledged Collateral . Each Granting Party that is a Pledgor, hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in all of the Pledged Collateral of such Pledgor now owned or at any time hereafter acquired by such Pledgor, and any Proceeds thereof, as collateral security for the prompt and complete performance when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) of the Obligations of such Pledgor, except as provided in subsection 3.3.

3.3 Certain Limited Exceptions . No security interest is or will be granted pursuant hereto in any right, title or interest of any Granting Party under or in (collectively, the “ Excluded Assets ”):

(a) any Instruments, Contracts, Chattel Paper, General Intangibles, Copyright Licenses, Patent Licenses, Trademark Licenses, Trade Secret Licenses or other contracts or agreements with or issued by Persons other than Holdings, a Subsidiary of Holdings or an Affiliate thereof, (collectively, “ Restrictive Agreements ”) that would otherwise be included in the Security Collateral (and such Restrictive Agreements shall not be deemed to constitute a part of the Security Collateral) for so long as, and to the extent that, the granting of such a security interest pursuant hereto would result in a breach, default or termination of such Restrictive

 

(16)

Agreements (in each case, except to the extent that, pursuant to the Code or other applicable law, the granting of security interests therein can be made without resulting in a breach, default or termination of such Restrictive Agreements);

(b) any Equipment or other property that would otherwise be included in the Security Collateral (and such Equipment or other property shall not be deemed to constitute a part of the Security Collateral) if such Equipment or other property is subject to a Lien described in (x) clause (h) of the definition of “Permitted Liens” in the ABL Credit Agreement or (y) subsection 7.3(h) or 7.3(o) (with respect to a Lien described in subsection 7.3(h)) of the Credit Agreement (but in each case only for so long as such Liens are in place);

(c) any property that would otherwise be included in the Security Collateral (and such property shall not be deemed to constitute a part of the Security Collateral) if such property has been sold or otherwise transferred in connection with (x) a Sale and Leaseback Transaction the proceeds of which are applied as, if and to the extent required in accordance with Section 3.4(b) of the Credit Agreement or (y) an Exempt Sale and Leaseback Transaction provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, the security interest of the Collateral Agent shall attach to any money, securities or other consideration received by any Grantor as consideration for the sale or other disposition of such property as and to the extent such consideration would otherwise constitute Collateral;

(d) Capital Stock which is specifically excluded from the definition of Pledged Stock by virtue of the proviso contained in the parenthetical to such definition;

(e) any Money, cash, checks, other negotiable instrument, funds and other evidence of payment held in any Deposit Account of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the nature of security deposit with respect to obligations for the benefit of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, which must be held for or returned to the applicable counterparty under applicable law or pursuant to Contractual Obligations; or

(f) any Capital Stock of any Foreign Subsidiary (other than Sally Beauty International, Inc.), provided that if the ownership interest in such Capital Stock is not transferred to a Subsidiary of the Borrower that is not a Granting Party substantially concurrently with the consummation of the Transactions or within forty-five days thereafter, such Capital Stock shall no longer be an Excluded Asset pursuant to this clause (f) and shall be deemed to constitute a part of the Security Collateral to the extent not an Excluded Asset pursuant to any of clauses (a) through (e) above.

3.4 Intercreditor Relations . Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, it is the understanding of the parties that the Liens granted pursuant to subsection 3.1 herein shall (x) with respect to all Security Collateral other than Term Priority Collateral, prior to the Discharge of ABL Obligations (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement), be subject and subordinate to the Liens granted to the ABL Collateral Agent for the benefit of the holders of the ABL Obligations to secure the ABL Obligations pursuant to the ABL Guarantee and Collateral Agreement and (y) with respect to all Security Collateral, prior to the applicable Discharge of Additional Obligations (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement), be pari passu and equal in

 

(17)

priority to the Liens granted to any Additional Agent for the benefit of the holders of the applicable Additional Obligations to secure such Additional Obligations pursuant to the applicable Additional Collateral Documents. The Collateral Agent acknowledges and agrees that the relative priority of such Liens granted to the Collateral Agent, the ABL Collateral Agent and any Additional Agent may be determined solely pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement, and not by priority as a matter of law or otherwise. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Liens and security interest granted to the Collateral Agent pursuant to this Agreement and the exercise of any right or remedy by the Collateral Agent hereunder are subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement. In the event of any conflict between the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and this Agreement, the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement shall govern and control as among the Collateral Agent, the ABL Collateral Agent and any Additional Agent. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, (x) for so long as any ABL Obligations remain outstanding, any obligation hereunder to physically deliver to the Collateral Agent any Security Collateral constituting ABL Priority Collateral shall be satisfied by causing such ABL Priority Collateral to be physically delivered to the ABL Collateral Agent to be held in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement and (y) for so long as any Additional Obligations remain outstanding, any obligation hereunder to physically deliver to the Collateral Agent any Security Collateral shall be satisfied by causing such Security Collateral to be physically delivered to any Additional Agent to be held in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement.

SECTION 4 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

4.1 Representations and Warranties of Each Guarantor . To induce the Collateral Agent and the Lenders to enter into the Credit Agreement and to induce the Lenders to make their respective extensions of credit to the Borrower thereunder, each Guarantor hereby represents and warrants to the Collateral Agent and each other Secured Party that the representations and warranties set forth in Section 4 of the Credit Agreement as they relate to such Guarantor or to the Loan Documents to which such Guarantor is a party, each of which representations and warranties is hereby incorporated herein by reference, are true and correct in all material respects, and the Collateral Agent and each other Secured Party shall be entitled to rely on each of such representations and warranties as if fully set forth herein; provided that each reference in each such representation and warranty to the Borrower’s knowledge shall, for the purposes of this subsection 4.1, be deemed to be a reference to such Guarantor’s knowledge.

4.2 Representations and Warranties of Each Grantor . To induce the Collateral Agent and the Lenders to enter into the Credit Agreement and to induce the Lenders to make their respective extensions of credit to the Borrower thereunder, each Grantor hereby represents and warrants to the Collateral Agent and each other Secured Party that, in each case after giving effect to the Transactions:

4.2.1 Title; No Other Liens . Except for the security interests granted to the Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to this Agreement and the other Liens permitted to exist on such Grantor’s Collateral by the Credit Agreement (or described in the definition of “Permitted Lien” in the Credit Agreement), such Grantor owns each item of such Grantor’s Collateral free and clear of any and all Liens. Except as set forth on Schedule 3 , no currently effective financing statement or other similar public notice with respect

 

(18)

to all or any part of such Grantor’s Collateral is on file or of record in any public office in the United States of America, any state, territory or dependency thereof or the District of Columbia, except such as have been filed in favor of the Collateral Agent for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties pursuant to this Agreement or as are permitted by the Credit Agreement (or described in the definition of “Permitted Lien” in the Credit Agreement) or any other Loan Document or for which termination statements will be delivered on the Closing Date.

4.2.2 Perfected First Priority Liens . (a) This Agreement is effective to create, as collateral security for the Obligations of such Grantor, valid and enforceable Liens on such Grantor’s Security Collateral in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, except (i) with respect to Liens on non-U.S. Intellectual Property, and (ii) as enforceability may be affected by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditor’s rights generally, general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

(b) Except with regard to (i) Liens (if any) on Specified Assets and (ii) any rights in favor of the United States government as required by law (if any), upon the completion of the Filings and, with respect to Instruments, Chattel Paper and Documents upon the earlier of such Filing or the delivery to and continuing possession by the Collateral Agent or the ABL Collateral Agent, as applicable, in accordance with the Intercreditor Agreement, of all Instruments, Chattel Paper and Documents a security interest in which is perfected by possession, and the obtaining and maintenance of “control” (as described in the Code) by the Collateral Agent, the Administrative Agent, the ABL Administrative Agent, the ABL Collateral Agent, or any Additional Age