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GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT

Guarantee Agreement

GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT | Document Parties: RYANS RESTAURANT GROUP INC | BUFFETS HOLDINGS, INC You are currently viewing:
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RYANS RESTAURANT GROUP INC | BUFFETS HOLDINGS, INC

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Title: GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT
Governing Law: New York     Date: 12/18/2006

GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT, Parties: ryans restaurant group inc , buffets holdings  inc
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Exhibit 10.10

EXECUTION COPY

 

GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT

dated as of

November 1, 2006,

among

BUFFETS, INC.,

BUFFETS HOLDINGS, INC.,

the Subsidiaries of BUFFETS, INC.
from time to time party hereto,

and

CREDIT SUISSE,

as Collateral Agent

 

[CS&M Ref No. 5865-466]


 

 

Table of Contents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page

 

ARTICLE I

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1.01. Credit Agreement

 

 

1

 

SECTION 1.02. Other Defined Terms

 

 

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE II

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 2.01. Guarantee

 

 

5

 

SECTION 2.02. Guarantee of Payment

 

 

6

 

SECTION 2.03. No Limitations, Etc.

 

 

6

 

SECTION 2.04. Reinstatement

 

 

7

 

SECTION 2.05. Agreement To Pay; Subrogation

 

 

7

 

SECTION 2.06. Information

 

 

7

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE III

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 3.01. Pledge

 

 

7

 

SECTION 3.02. Delivery of the Pledged Collateral

 

 

8

 

SECTION 3.03. Representations, Warranties and Covenants

 

 

9

 

SECTION 3.04. Certification of Limited Liability Company and Limited Partnership Interests

 

 

9

 

SECTION 3.05. Registration in Nominee Name; Denominations

 

 

11

 

SECTION 3.06. Voting Rights; Dividends and Interest, etc

 

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 4.01. Security Interest

 

 

13

 

SECTION 4.02. Representations and Warranties

 

 

15

 

SECTION 4.03. Covenants

 

 

17

 

SECTION 4.04. Other Actions

 

 

20

 

SECTION 4.05. Covenants regarding Patent, Trademark and Copyright Collateral

 

 

22

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE V

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 5.01. Remedies upon Default

 

 

24

 

SECTION 5.02. Application of Proceeds

 

 

26

 

SECTION 5.03. Grant of License to Use Intellectual Property

 

 

26

 

SECTION 5.04. Securities Act, etc.

 

 

27

 


 

ii

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page

 

ARTICLE VI

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 6.01. Indemnity and Subrogation

 

 

28

 

SECTION 6.02. Contribution and Subrogation

 

 

28

 

SECTION 6.03. Subordination

 

 

28

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECTION 7.01. Notices

 

 

29

 

SECTION 7.02. Security Interest Absolute

 

 

29

 

SECTION 7.03. Survival of Agreement

 

 

29

 

SECTION 7.04. Binding Effect; Several Agreement

 

 

29

 

SECTION 7.05. Successors and Assigns

 

 

30

 

SECTION 7.06. Collateral Agent’s Fees and Expenses; Indemnification

 

 

30

 

SECTION 7.07. Collateral Agent Appointed Attorney-in-Fact

 

 

31

 

SECTION 7.08. Applicable Law

 

 

31

 

SECTION 7.09. Waivers; Amendment

 

 

31

 

SECTION 7.10. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

 

 

32

 

SECTION 7.11. Severability

 

 

32

 

SECTION 7.12. Counterparts

 

 

33

 

SECTION 7.13. Headings

 

 

33

 

SECTION 7.14 Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process

 

 

33

 

SECTION 7.15. Termination or Release

 

 

33

 

SECTION 7.16. Additional Grantors

 

 

34

 

SECTION 7.17. Right of Setoff

 

 

35

 

Schedules

Schedule I Subsidiary Guarantors
Schedule II Equity Interests; Pledged Debt Securities
Schedule III Intellectual Property

Exhibits

Exhibit A Form of Supplement
Exhibit B Form of Perfection Certificate


 

 

     GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT dated as of November 1, 2006, among BUFFETS, INC., a Minnesota corporation (the “ Borrower ”), BUFFETS HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“ Holdings ”), the Subsidiaries of the Borrower identified herein and CREDIT SUISSE (“ Credit Suisse ”), as collateral agent (in such capacity, the “ Collateral Agent ”).

          Reference is made to the Credit Agreement dated as of November 1, 2006 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among the Borrower, Holdings, the lenders from time to time party thereto (the “ Lenders ”) and Credit Suisse, as administrative agent (in such capacity, the “ Administrative Agent ”) and Collateral Agent. The Lenders and the Issuing Bank (such term and each other capitalized term used but not defined in this preliminary statement having the meaning given or ascribed to it in Article I) have agreed to extend credit to the Borrower pursuant to, and upon the terms and conditions specified in, the Credit Agreement. The obligations of the Lenders and the Issuing Bank to extend credit to the Borrower are conditioned upon, among other things, the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors. Holdings and the Subsidiary Guarantors are affiliates of the Borrower, will derive substantial benefits from the extension of credit to the Borrower pursuant to the Credit Agreement and are willing to execute and deliver this Agreement in order to induce the Lenders and the Issuing Bank to extend such credit. Accordingly, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

Definitions

          SECTION 1.01. Credit Agreement. (a) Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings specified in the Credit Agreement. All terms defined in the New York UCC (as defined herein) and not defined in this Agreement have the meanings specified therein; all references to the Uniform Commercial Code shall mean the New York UCC; the term “ instrument ” shall have the meaning specified in Article 9 of the New York UCC.

          (b) The rules of construction specified in Section 1.02 of the Credit Agreement also apply to this Agreement.

          SECTION 1.02. Other Defined Terms . As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

          “ Account Debtor ” means any person who is or who may become obligated to any Grantor under, with respect to or on account of an Account.


 

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          “ Accounts Receivable ” shall mean all Accounts and all right, title and interest in any returned goods, together with all rights, titles, securities and guarantees with respect thereto, including any rights to stoppage in transit, replevin, reclamation and resales, and all related security interests, liens and pledges, whether voluntary or involuntary, in each case whether now existing or owned or hereafter arising or acquired.

          “ Article 9 Collateral ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.01.

          “ Collateral ” means Article 9 Collateral and Pledged Collateral.

          “ Copyright License ” means any written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting any right to any Grantor under any copyright now or hereafter owned by any third party, and all rights of such Grantor under any such agreement.

          “ Copyrights ” means all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor: (a) all copyright rights in any work subject to the copyright laws of the United States or any other country, whether as author, assignee, transferee or otherwise, and (b) all registrations and applications for registration of any such copyright in the United States or any other country, including registrations, recordings, supplemental registrations and pending applications for registration in the United States Copyright Office (or any successor office or any similar office in any other country), including those listed on Schedule III.

          “ Credit Agreement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preliminary statement of this Agreement.

          “ Equity Interests ” means shares of capital stock, partnership interests, membership interests in a limited liability company, beneficial interests in a trust or other equity interests in any person, or any obligations convertible into or exchangeable for, or giving any person a right, option or warrant to acquire such equity interests or such convertible or exchangeable obligations.

          “ General Intangibles ” means all choses in action and causes of action and all other intangible personal property of any Grantor of every kind and nature (other than Accounts) now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor, including all rights and interests in partnerships, limited partnerships, limited liability companies and other unincorporated entities, corporate or other business records, indemnification claims, contract rights (including rights under leases, whether entered into as lessor or lessee, Hedging Agreements and other agreements), Intellectual Property, goodwill, registrations, franchises, tax refund claims and any letter of credit, guarantee, claim, security interest or other security held by or granted to any Grantor to secure payment by an Account Debtor of any of the Accounts.

          “ Grantors ” means Holdings, the Borrower and the Subsidiary Guarantors.

          “ Guarantors ” means Holdings and the Subsidiary Guarantors.


 

3

          “ Intellectual Property ” means all intellectual and similar property of any Grantor of every kind and nature now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor, including inventions, designs, Patents, Copyrights, Licenses, Trademarks, trade secrets, confidential or proprietary technical and business information, know-how, show-how or other data or information, software and databases and all embodiments or fixations thereof and related documentation, registrations and franchises, and all additions, improvements and accessions to, and books and records describing or used in connection with, any of the foregoing.

          “ License ” means any Patent License, Trademark License, Copyright License or other license or sublicense agreement to any Intellectual Property or to intellectual property now owned or hereafter acquired by third parties to which any Grantor is a party, including those material Licenses listed on Schedule III.

          “ Loan Document Obligations ” means (a) the due and punctual payment of (i) the principal of and interest (including interest accruing during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding) on the Loans, when and as due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, upon one or more dates set for prepayment or otherwise, (ii) each payment required to be made by the Borrower under the Credit Agreement in respect of any Letter of Credit, when and as due, including payments in respect of reimbursement of disbursements, interest thereon and obligations to provide cash collateral, and (iii) all other monetary obligations of the Borrower to any of the Secured Parties under the Credit Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents, including fees, costs, expenses and indemnities, whether primary, secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise (including monetary obligations incurred during the pendency of any bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceeding, regardless of whether allowed or allowable in such proceeding), (b) the due and punctual performance of all other obligations of the Borrower under or pursuant to the Credit Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents, and (c) the due and punctual payment and performance of all the obligations of each other Loan Party under or pursuant to this Agreement and each of the other Loan Documents.

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

          “ Obligations ” means (a) the Loan Document Obligations and (b) the due and punctual payment and performance of all obligations of each Loan Party under each Hedging Agreement that (i) is in effect on the Closing Date with a counterparty that is the Administrative Agent, a Lender or an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or a Lender as of the Closing Date or (ii) is entered into after the Closing Date with any counterparty that is a Lender, the Administrative Agent or an Affiliate of a Lender or the Administrative Agent at the time such Hedging Agreement is entered into.

          “ Patent License ” means any written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting to any Grantor any right to make, use or sell any invention on which a patent,


 

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now or hereafter owned by any third party, is in existence, and all rights of any Grantor under any such agreement.

          “ Patents ” means all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor: (a) all letters patent of the United States or the equivalent thereof in any other country, all registrations and recordings thereof, and all applications for letters patent of the United States or the equivalent thereof in any other country, including registrations, recordings and pending applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (or any successor or any similar offices in any other country), including those listed on Schedule III, and (b) all reissues, continuations, divisions, continuations-in-part, renewals or extensions thereof, and the inventions disclosed or claimed therein, including the right to make, use and/or sell the inventions disclosed or claimed therein.

          “ Perfection Certificate ” means a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit B, completed and supplemented with the schedules and attachments contemplated thereby, and duly executed by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.

          “ Pledged Collateral ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.01.

          “ Pledged Debt Securities ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.01.

          “ Pledged Securities ” means any promissory notes, stock certificates or other securities now or hereafter included in the Pledged Collateral, including all certificates, instruments or other documents representing or evidencing any Pledged Collateral.

          “ Pledged Stock ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.01.

          “ Proceeds ” has the meaning specified in Section 9-102 of the New York UCC.

          “ Secured Parties ” means (a) the Lenders, (b) the Administrative Agent, (c) the Collateral Agent, (d) the Issuing Bank, (e) each counterparty to any Hedging Agreement with a Loan Party that either (i) is in effect on the Closing Date if such counterparty is the Administrative Agent, a Lender or an Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or a Lender as of the Closing Date or (ii) is entered into after the Closing Date if such counterparty is a Lender, the Administrative Agent or an Affiliate of a Lender or the Administrative Agent at the time such Hedging Agreement is entered into, (f) the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Loan Party under any Loan Document and (g) the permitted successors and assigns of each of the foregoing.

          “ Security Interest ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 4.01.


 

5

          “ Subsidiary Guarantors ” means (a) the Subsidiaries identified on Schedule I and (b) each other Subsidiary that becomes a party to this Agreement as a Subsidiary Guarantor after the Closing Date.

          “ Trademark License ” means any written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting to any Grantor any right to use any trademark now or hereafter owned by any third party, and all rights of any Grantor under any such agreement.

          “ Trademarks ” means all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired by any Grantor: (a) all trademarks, service marks, trade names, corporate names, company names, business names, fictitious business names, trade styles, trade dress, logos, other source or business identifiers, designs and general intangibles of like nature, now existing or hereafter adopted or acquired, all registrations and recordings thereof, and all registration and recording applications filed in connection therewith, including registrations and registration applications in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (or any successor office) or any similar offices in any State of the United States or any other country or any political subdivision thereof, and all extensions or renewals thereof, including those listed on Schedule III, (b) all goodwill associated therewith or symbolized thereby and (c) all other similar assets, rights and interests that uniquely reflect or embody such goodwill.

          “ Unfunded Advances/Participations ” shall mean (a) with respect to the Administrative Agent, the aggregate amount, if any (i) made available to the Borrower on the assumption that each Lender has made its portion of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent as contemplated by Section 2.02(d) of the Credit Agreement and (ii) with respect to which a corresponding amount shall not in fact have been returned to the Administrative Agent by the Borrower or made available to the Administrative Agent by any such Lender, (b) with respect to the Swingline Lender, the aggregate amount, if any, of participations in respect of any outstanding Swingline Loan that shall not have been funded by the Revolving Credit Lenders in accordance with Section 2.22(e) of the Credit Agreement and (c) with respect to any Issuing Bank, the aggregate amount, if any, of participations in respect of any outstanding L/C Disbursement that shall not have been funded (i) by the Revolving Credit Lenders in accordance with Sections 2.23(d) and 2.02(f) of the Credit Agreement or (ii) with Credit-Linked Deposits in accordance with Sections 2.23(d) and 2.02(g) of the Credit Agreement.

ARTICLE II

Guarantee

          SECTION 2.01. Guarantee. Each Guarantor unconditionally guarantees, jointly with the other Guarantors and severally, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, the due and punctual payment and performance of the Obligations. Each of the Guarantors further agrees that the Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice to or further assent from it, and that it will remain bound upon its


 

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guarantee notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Obligation. Each of the Guarantors waives presentment to, demand of payment from and protest to the Borrower or any other Loan Party of any of the Obligations, and also waives notice of acceptance of its guarantee and notice of protest for nonpayment.

          SECTION 2.02. Guarantee of Payment. Each of the Guarantors further agrees that its guarantee hereunder constitutes a guarantee of payment when due and not of collection, and waives any right to require that any resort be had by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to any security held for the payment of the Obligations or to any balance of any deposit account or credit on the books of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party in favor of the Borrower or any other person.

          SECTION 2.03. No Limitations, Etc. (a) Except for termination of a Guarantor’s obligations hereunder as expressly provided in Section 7.15, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason, including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise, and shall not be subject to any defense (other than a defense of payment) or setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by (i) the failure of the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy under the provisions of any Loan Document or otherwise; (ii) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of, or any release from any of the terms or provisions of, any Loan Document or any other agreement, including with respect to any other Guarantor under this Agreement; (iii) the release of, or any impairment of or failure to perfect any Lien on or security interest in, any security held by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party for the Obligations or any of them; (iv) any default, failure or delay, wilful or otherwise, in the performance of the Obligations; or (v) any other act or omission that may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of any Guarantor or otherwise operate as a discharge of any Guarantor as a matter of law or equity (other than the payment in full in cash of all the Obligations). Each Guarantor expressly authorizes the Collateral Agent to take and hold security for the payment and performance of the Obligations, to exchange, waive or release any or all such security (with or without consideration), to enforce or apply such security and direct the order and manner of any sale thereof in its sole discretion or to release or substitute any one or more other guarantors or obligors upon or in respect of the Obligations, all without affecting the obligations of any Guarantor hereunder.

          (b) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor waives any defense based on or arising out of any defense of the Borrower or any other Loan Party or the unenforceability of the Obligations or any part thereof from any cause, or the cessation from any cause of the liability of the Borrower or any other Loan Party, other than the payment in full in cash of all the Obligations. The Collateral Agent and the other Secured Parties may, at their election, foreclose on any security held by one or more of them by one or more judicial or nonjudicial sales, accept an assignment of any such security in lieu of foreclosure, compromise or adjust any part of the Obligations,


 

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make any other accommodation with the Borrower or any other Loan Party or exercise any other right or remedy available to them against the Borrower or any other Loan Party, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of any Guarantor hereunder except to the extent the Obligations have been fully and paid in full in cash. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Guarantor waives any defense arising out of any such election even though such election operates, pursuant to applicable law, to impair or to extinguish any right of reimbursement or subrogation or other right or remedy of such Guarantor against the Borrower or any other Loan Party, as the case may be, or any security.

          SECTION 2.04. Reinstatement. Each of the Guarantors agrees that its guarantee hereunder shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of any Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Borrower, any other Loan Party or otherwise.

          SECTION 2.05. Agreement To Pay; Subrogation. In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right that the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party has at law or in equity against any Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Borrower or any other Loan Party to pay any Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, after notice of prepayment or otherwise, each Guarantor hereby promises to and will forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, to the Collateral Agent for distribution to the applicable Secured Parties in cash the amount of such unpaid Obligation. Upon payment by any Guarantor of any sums to the Collateral Agent as provided above, all rights of such Guarantor against the Borrower or any other Guarantor arising as a result thereof by way of right of subrogation, contribution, reimbursement, indemnity or otherwise shall in all respects be subject to Article VI.

          SECTION 2.06. Information. Each Guarantor assumes all responsibility for being and keeping itself informed of the Borrower’s and each other Loan Party’s financial condition and assets and of all other circumstances bearing upon the risk of nonpayment of the Obligations and the nature, scope and extent of the risks that such Guarantor assumes and incurs hereunder, and agrees that neither the Collateral Agent nor any other Secured Party will have any duty to advise such Guarantor of information known to it or any of them regarding such circumstances or risks.

ARTICLE III

Pledge of Securities

          SECTION 3.01. Pledge. As security for the payment or performance, as the case may be, in full of the Obligations, each Grantor hereby grants and pledges to the Collateral Agent, its successors and assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, its successors and assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in, all of such Grantor’s right, title and


 

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interest in, to and under (a)(i) the Equity Interests owned by it on the date hereof (including all such Equity Interests listed on Schedule II) (other than the Equity Interests of any Inactive Subsidiary), (ii) any other Equity Interests obtained in the future by such Grantor and (iii) the certificates representing all such Equity Interests (all the foregoing collectively referred to herein as the “ Pledged Stock ”); provided that the Pledged Stock shall not include (i) more than 65% of the issued and outstanding voting Equity Interests and 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of nonvoting Equity Interests (if any) of any Foreign Subsidiary or (ii) any Equity Interests of any Foreign Subsidiary owned by a Foreign Subsidiary; (b)(i) the debt securities held by such Grantor on the date hereof (including all such debt securities listed opposite the name of such Grantor on Schedule II), (ii) any debt securities in the future issued to such Grantor and (iii) the promissory notes and any other instruments evidencing such debt securities (all the foregoing collectively referred to herein as the “ Pledged Debt Securities ”); (c) all other property that may be delivered to and held by the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms of this Section 3.01; (d) subject to Section 3.06, all payments of principal or interest, dividends, cash, instruments and other property from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed in respect of, in exchange for or upon the conversion of, and all other Proceeds received in respect of, the securities referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above; (e) subject to Section 3.06, all rights and privileges of such Grantor with respect to the securities and other property referred to in clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) above; and (f) all Proceeds of any of the foregoing (the items referred to in clauses (a) through (f) above being collectively referred to as the “ Pledged Collateral ”).

          TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the Pledged Collateral, together with all right, title, interest, powers, privileges and preferences pertaining or incidental thereto, unto the Collateral Agent, its successors and assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, forever; subject , however , to the terms, covenants and conditions hereinafter set forth.

          SECTION 3.02. Delivery of the Pledged Collateral. (a) Each Grantor agrees promptly to deliver or cause to be delivered to the Collateral Agent any and all certificates, instruments or other documents representing or evidencing Pledged Securities (other than certificates, instruments or other documents representing or evidencing Pledged Debt Securities with a face amount less than $200,000 acquired after the date hereof).

          (b) Each Grantor will cause any Indebtedness for borrowed money in excess of $400,000 owed to such Grantor by the Borrower or any Subsidiary to be evidenced by a duly executed promissory note that is pledged and delivered to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms hereof; provided that in the event that such Indebtedness owed to such Grantor shall exceed $2,000,000 in the aggregate the foregoing $400,000 limitation shall no longer apply.

          (c) Upon delivery to the Collateral Agent, (i) any certificate, instrument or document representing or evidencing Pledged Securities shall be accompanied by undated stock powers duly executed in blank or other undated instruments of transfer reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent and duly executed in blank and by such other instruments and documents as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request and


 

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(ii) all other property comprising part of the Pledged Collateral shall be accompanied by proper instruments of assignment duly executed by the applicable Grantor and such other instruments or documents as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request. Each delivery of Pledged Securities shall be accompanied by a schedule describing the applicable securities, which schedule shall be attached hereto as Schedule II and made a part hereof; provided that failure to attach any such schedule hereto shall not affect the validity of such pledge of such Pledged Securities. Each schedule so delivered shall supplement any prior schedules so delivered.

          SECTION 3.03. Representations, Warranties and Covenants. The Grantors jointly and severally represent, warrant and covenant to and with the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, that:

     (a) As of the date hereof, Schedule II correctly sets forth the percentage of the issued and outstanding shares of each class of the Equity Interests of the issuer thereof represented by such Pledged Stock and includes all Equity Interests, debt securities and promissory notes required to be pledged hereunder;

     (b) the Pledged Stock and, to the best of each Grantor’s knowledge, the Pledged Debt Securities have been duly and validly authorized and issued by the issuers thereof and (i) in the case of Pledged Stock, are fully paid and nonassessable and (ii) in the case of Pledged Debt Securities, to the best of each Grantor’s knowledge, are legal, valid and binding obligations of the issuers thereof;

     (c) except for the security interests granted hereunder (or otherwise permitted under the Credit Agreement), each of the Grantors (i) is and, subject to any transfers made in compliance with the Credit Agreement, will continue to be the direct owner, beneficially and of record, of the Pledged Securities indicated on Schedule II as owned by such Grantor, (ii) holds the same free and clear of all Liens (other than Liens expressly permitted pursuant to Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement), (iii) will make no assignment, pledge, hypothecation or transfer of, or create or permit to exist any security interest in or other Lien on, the Pledged Collateral, other than Liens created by this Agreement and transfers made in compliance with the Credit Agreement, and (iv) subject to Section 3.06, will cause any and all Pledged Collateral (other than Pledged Debt Securities with a face amount less than $200,000 acquired after the date hereof), whether for value paid by the Grantor or otherwise, to be forthwith deposited with the Collateral Agent and pledged or assigned hereunder;

     (d) except for restrictions and limitations imposed by the Loan Documents or securities laws generally, as of the date hereof, the Pledged Collateral is and will continue to be freely transferable and assignable, and none of the Pledged Collateral is or will be subject to any option, right of first refusal, shareholders agreement, charter or by-law provisions or contractual restriction of any nature that might prohibit, impair, delay or otherwise affect the pledge of such Pledged


 

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Collateral hereunder, the sale or disposition thereof pursuant hereto or the exercise by the Collateral Agent of rights and remedies hereunder;

     (e) each of the Grantors (i) has the power and authority to pledge the Pledged Collateral pledged by it hereunder in the manner hereby done or contemplated and (ii) will defend its title or interest thereto or therein against any and all Liens (other than the Lien created by this Agreement or Liens expressly permitted pursuant to Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document), however arising, of all persons whomsoever;

     (f) no consent or approval of any Governmental Authority, any securities exchange or any other person was or is necessary to the validity of the pledge effected hereby (other than such as have been obtained and are in full force and effect);

     (g) by virtue of the execution and delivery by the Grantors of this Agreement, when any Pledged Securities are delivered to the Collateral Agent in accordance with this Agreement, the Collateral Agent will obtain a legal, valid and perfected first priority lien upon and security interest in such Pledged Securities as security for the payment and performance of the Obligations; and

     (h) the pledge effected hereby is effective to vest in the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, the rights of the Collateral Agent in the Pledged Collateral as set forth herein.

          SECTION 3.04. Certification of Limited Liability Company and Limited Partnership Interests. (a) Each Grantor acknowledges and agrees that (i) each interest in any limited liability company or limited partnership controlled by such Grantor, pledged hereunder and represented by a certificate shall be a “security” within the meaning of Article 8 of the New York UCC and shall be governed by Article 8 of the New York UCC and (ii) each such interest shall at all times hereafter be represented by a certificate.

          (b) Each Grantor further acknowledges and agrees that (i) each interest in any limited liability company or limited partnership controlled by such Grantor, pledged hereunder and not represented by a certificate shall not be a “security” within the meaning of Article 8 of the New York UCC and shall not be governed by Article 8 of the New York UCC, (ii) such Grantor has not elected, and shall at no time elect, to treat any such interest as a “security” within the meaning of Article 8 of the New York UCC or issue any certificate representing such interest and (iii) the charter documents of any such limited liability company or limited partnership (A) do not, and shall not, prohibit any such interest from being pledged and (B) shall not be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified in a manner materially adverse to the Collateral Agent without the prior written consent of the Collateral Agent, unless (y) such Grantor provides prior written notification to the Collateral Agent of such election and immediately delivers any such certificate to the Collateral Agent pursuant to the terms hereof or (z) the Collateral Agent has otherwise perfected its Security Interest in such interest.


 

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          SECTION 3.05. Registration in Nominee Name; Denominations. Upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, shall have the right (in its sole and absolute discretion) to hold the Pledged Securities in its own name as pledgee, the name of its nominee (as pledgee or as sub-agent) or the name of the applicable Grantor, endorsed or assigned in blank or in favor of the Collateral Agent. Each Grantor will promptly give to the Collateral Agent copies of any material notices or other communications received by it with respect to Pledged Securities registered in the name of such Grantor. Upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default, the Collateral Agent shall at all times have the right to exchange the certificates representing Pledged Securities for certificates of smaller or larger denominations for any purpose consistent with this Agreement.

          SECTION 3.06. Voting Rights; Dividends and Interest, etc. (a) Unless and until an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Collateral Agent shall have given the Grantors notice of its intent to exercise its rights under this Agreement (which notice shall be deemed to have been given immediately upon the occurrence of an Event of Default under paragraph (g) or (h) of Article VII of the Credit Agreement):

     (i) Each Grantor shall be entitled to exercise any and all voting and/or other consensual rights and powers inuring to an owner of Pledged Securities or any part thereof for any purpose consistent with the terms of this Agreement, the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents; provided that such rights and powers shall not be exercised in any manner that could materially and adversely affect the rights inuring to a holder of any Pledged Securities or the rights and remedies of any of the Collateral Agent or the other Secured Parties under this Agreement or the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document or the ability of the Secured Parties to exercise the same.

     (ii) The Collateral Agent shall execute and deliver to each Grantor, or cause to be executed and delivered to such Grantor, all such proxies, powers of attorney and other instruments as such Grantor may reasonably request for the purpose of enabling such Grantor to exercise the voting and/or consensual rights and powers it is entitled to exercise pursuant to subparagraph (i) above.

     (iii) Each Grantor shall be entitled to receive and retain any and all dividends, interest, principal and other distributions paid on or distributed in respect of the Pledged Securities to the extent and only to the extent that such dividends, interest, principal and other distributions are permitted by, and otherwise paid or distributed in accordance with, the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement, the other Loan Documents and applicable laws; provided that any noncash dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that would constitute Pledged Stock or Pledged Debt Securities, whether resulting from a subdivision, combination or reclassification of the outstanding Equity Interests of the issuer of any Pledged Securities or received in exchange for Pledged Securities or any part thereof, or in redemption thereof, or as a result of any merger, consolidation, acquisition or other exchange of assets to which such


 

12

issuer may be a party or otherwise, shall be and become part of the Pledged Collateral, and, if received by any Grantor, shall not be commingled by such Grantor with any of its other funds or property but shall be held separate and apart therefrom, shall be held in trust for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties and shall be forthwith delivered to the Collateral Agent in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement or instrument of assignment). This paragraph (iii) shall not apply to dividends by or among the Borrower, the Guarantors and any Subsidiaries only of property subject to a perfected security interest under this Agreement; provided that the Borrower notifies the Collateral Agent in writing, specifically referring to this Section 3.06 at the time of such dividend and takes any actions the Collateral Agent reasonably specifies to ensure the continuance of its perfected security interest in such property under this Agreement.

          (b) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, after the Collateral Agent shall have notified (or shall be deemed to have notified pursuant to Section 3.06(a)) the Grantors of its intent to exercise its rights under paragraph (a)(iii) of this Section 3.06, then all rights of any Grantor to dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that such Grantor is authorized to receive pursuant to paragraph (a)(iii) of this Section 3.06 shall cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Collateral Agent, which shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority to receive and retain such dividends, interest, principal or other distributions. All dividends, interest, principal or other distributions received by any Grantor contrary to the provisions of this Section 3.06 shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Collateral Agent, shall be segregated from other property or funds of such Grantor and shall be forthwith delivered to the Collateral Agent upon demand in the same form as so received (with any necessary endorsement or instrument of assignment). Any and all money and other property paid over to or received by the Collateral Agent pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph (b) shall be retained by the Collateral Agent in an account to be established by the Collateral Agent upon receipt of such money or other property and shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.02. After all Events of Default have been cured or waived and the applicable Grantor or Grantors have delivered to the Administrative Agent certificates to that effect, the Collateral Agent shall, promptly after all such Events of Default have been cured or waived, repay to each applicable Grantor (without interest) all dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that such Grantor would otherwise be permitted to retain pursuant to the terms of paragraph (a)(iii) of this Section 3.06 and that remain in such account.

          (c) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, after the Collateral Agent shall have notified (or shall be deemed to have notified pursuant to Section 3.06(a)) the Grantors of its intent to exercise its rights under paragraph (a)(i) of this Section 3.06, then all rights of any Grantor to exercise the voting and consensual rights and powers it is entitled to exercise pursuant to paragraph (a)(i) of this Section 3.06, and the obligations of the Collateral Agent under paragraph (a)(ii) of this Section 3.06, shall cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Collateral Agent, which shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority to exercise such voting and consensual rights and powers; provided that, unless otherwise directed


 

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by the Required Lenders, the Collateral Agent shall have the right from time to time following and during the continuance of an Event of Default to permit the Grantors to exercise such rights.

          (d) Any notice given by the Collateral Agent to the Grantors exercising its rights under paragraph (a) of this Section 3.06 (i) may be given by telephone if promptly confirmed in writing, (ii) may be given to one or more of the Grantors at the same or different times and (iii) may suspend the rights of the Grantors under paragraph (a)(i) or paragraph (a)(iii) in part without suspending all such rights (as specified by the Collateral Agent in its sole and absolute discretion) and without waiving or otherwise affecting the Collateral Agent’s rights to give additional notices from time to time suspending other rights so long as an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.

ARTICLE IV

Security Interests in Personal Property

          SECTION 4.01. Security Interest. (a) As security for the payment or performance, as the case may be, in full of the Obligations, each Grantor hereby grants and pledges to the Collateral Agent, its successors and assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Collateral Agent, its successors and assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest (the “ Security Interest ”), in all right, title or interest in or to any and all of the following assets and properties now owned or at any time hereafter acquired by such Grantor or in which such Grantor now has or at any time in the future may acquire any right, title or interest (collectively, the “ Article 9 Collateral ”):

 

(i)

 

all Accounts;

 

 

 

 

 

(ii)

 

all Chattel Paper;

 

 

 

 

 

(iii)

 

all cash and Deposit Accounts;

 

 

 

 

 

(iv)

 

all Documents;

 

 

 

 

 

(v)

 

all Equipment;

 

 

 

 

 

(vi)

 

all General Intangibles; provided that the grant of the Security Interest hereunder shall not include any application for a Trademark that would be deemed invalidated, canceled or abandoned due to the grant and/or enforcement of such Security Interest unless and until such time that the grant and/or enforcement of the Security Interest will not affect the status or validity of such Trademark;

 

 

 

 

 

(vii)

 

all Instruments;


 

14

 

 

(viii)

 

all Inventory;

 

 

 

 

 

(ix)

 

all Investment Property;

 

 

 

 

 

(x)

 

all Letter-of-credit rights;

 

 

 

 

 

(xi)

 

all commercial tort claims;

 

 

 

 

 

(xii)

 

all books and records pertaining to the Article 9 Collateral; and

     (xiii) 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 the foregoing shall not include any asset that such Grantor now has or at any time in the future may acquire the right, title or interest of which is (i) the subject of a capital lease (as determined in accordance with GAAP) and (ii) legally or beneficially owned by a person other than a Grantor.

          (b) Each Grantor hereby irrevocably authorizes the Collateral Agent at any time and from time to time to file in any relevant jurisdiction any initial financing statements (including fixture filings) with respect to the Article 9 Collateral or any part thereof and amendments thereto that (i) indicate the Article 9 Collateral as “all assets” of such Grantor or words of similar effect, and (ii) contain the information required by Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code of each applicable jurisdiction for the filing of any financing statement or amendment, including (A) whether such Grantor is an organization, the type of organization and any organizational identification number issued to such Grantor and (B) in the case of a financing statement filed as a fixture filing, a sufficient description of the real property to which such Article 9 Collateral relates. Each Grantor agrees to provide such information to the Collateral Agent promptly upon request.

          Each Grantor also ratifies its authorization for the Collateral Agent to file in any relevant jurisdiction any initial financing statements or amendments thereto if filed prior to the date hereof.

          The Collateral Agent is further authorized to file with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or United States Copyright Office (or any successor office or any similar office in any other country) such documents as may be necessary or advisable for the purpose of perfecting, confirming, continuing, enforcing or protecting the Security Interest granted by each Grantor, without the signature of any Grantor, and naming any Grantor or the Grantors as debtors and the Collateral Agent as secured party.

          (c) The Security Interest is granted as security only and shall not subject the Collateral Agent or any other Secured Party to, or in any way alter or modify, any obligation or liability of any Grantor with respect to or arising out of the Article 9 Collateral.


 

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          SECTION 4.02. Representations and Warranties. The Grantors jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties that:

     (a) To the best of each Grantor’s knowledge, each Grantor has good and valid rights in and title to the Article 9 Collateral with respect to which it has purported to grant a Security Interest hereunder and has full power and authority to grant to the Collateral Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, the Security Interest in such Article 9 Collateral pursuant hereto and to execute, deliver and perform its obligations in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, without the consent or approval of any other person other than any consent or approval that has been obtained.

     (b) The Perfection Certificate has been duly prepared, completed and executed and the information set forth therein, including (x) the exact legal name of each Grantor and (y) the jurisdiction of organization of each Grantor, is correct and complete in all material respects (except that the information referred to in the preceding clauses (x) and (y) shall not be subject to such materiality qualifier) as of the Closing Date. Uniform Commercial Code financing statements (including fixture filings, as applicable) or other appropriate filings, recordings or registrations containing a description of the Article 9 Collateral (the “ UCC Filings ”) have been prepared by the Collateral Agent based upon the information provided to the Administrative Agent and the Secured Parties in the Perfection Certificate for filing in each governmental, municipal or other office specified in Section 2 to the Perfection Certificate (or specified by notice from the Borrower to the Administrative Agent after the Closing Date in the case of filings, recordings or registrations required by Section 5.06 or 5.09 of the Credit Agreement), which are all the filings, recordings and registrations (other than filings that may be required to be made in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office in order to perfect the Security Interest in Article 9 Collateral consisting of United States Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights) that are necessary as of the Closing Date to publish notice of and protect the validity of and to establish a legal, valid and perfected security interest in favor of the Collateral Agent (for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties) in respect of all Article 9 Collateral in which the Security Interest may be perfected by filing, recording or registration in the United States (or any political subdivision thereof) and its territories and possessions, and no further or subsequent filing, refiling, recording, rerecording, registration or reregistration is necessary in any such jurisdiction, except as provided under applicable law with respect to the filing of continuation statements. Each Grantor represents and warrants that a fully executed agreement in the form hereof (or a fully executed short form agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent), and containing a description of all Article 9 Collateral consisting of Intellectual Property with respect to United States Patents and United States registered Trademarks (and Trademarks for which United States registration applications are pending) and United States registered Copyrights has been delivered to the Collateral Agent for recording by the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office pursuant to


 

16

35 U.S.C. § 261, 15 U.S.C. § 1060 or 17 U.S.C. § 205 and the regulations thereunder, as applicable, and otherwise as may be required pursuant to the laws of any other necessary jurisdiction, to protect the validity of and to establish a legal, valid and perfected security interest in favor of the Collateral Agent (for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties) in respect of all Article 9 Collateral consisting of Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights in which a security interest may be perfected by filing, recording or registration in the United States (or any political subdivision thereof) and its territories and possessions, or in any other necessary jurisdiction, and no further or subsequent filing, refiling, recording, rerecording, registration or reregistration is necessary (other than the UCC Filings and such actions as are necessary to perfect the Security Interest with respect to any Article 9 Collateral consisting of Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights (or registration or application for registration thereof) acquired or developed after the date hereof).

     (c) The Security Interest constitutes (i) a legal and valid security interest in all the Article 9 Collateral securing the payment and performance of the Obligations, (ii) subject to the filings described in Section 4.02(b), a perfected security interest in all Article 9 Collateral in which a security interest may be perfected by filing, recording or registering a financing statement or analogous document in the United States (or any political subdivision thereof) and its territories and possessions pursuant to the Uniform Commercial Code or other applicable law in such jurisdictions and (iii) a security interest that shall be perfected in all Article 9 Collateral in which a security interest may be perfected upon the receipt and recording of this Agreement with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office, as applicable. The Security Interest is and shall be prior to any other Lien on any of the Article 9 Collateral, other than Liens expressly permitted to be prior to the Security Interest pursuant to Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement.

     (d) The Article 9 Collateral is owned by the Grantors free and clear of any Lien, except for Liens expressly permitted pursuant to Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement. None of the Grantors has filed or consented to the filing on or after the date hereof of (i) any financing statement or analogous document under the Uniform Commercial Code or any other applicable laws covering any Article 9 Collateral, (ii) any assignment in which any Grantor assigns any Collateral or any security agreement or similar instrument covering any Article 9 Collateral with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office or (iii) any assignment in which any Grantor assigns any Article 9 Collateral or any security agreement or similar instrument covering any Article 9 Collateral with any foreign governmental, municipal or other office, which financing statement or analogous document, assignment, security agreement or similar instrument is still in effect, except, in each case, for Liens expressly permitted pursuant to Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement. None of the Grantors hold any commercial tort claim as of the date hereof except as indicated on the Perfection Certificate.


 

17

          SECTION 4.03. Covenants. (a) Each Grantor agrees to maintain, at its own cost and expense, such complete and accurate records with respect to the Article 9 Collateral owned by it as is consistent with its current practices and in accordance with such prudent and standard practices used in industries that are the same as or similar to those in which such Grantor is engaged, but in any event to include complete accounting records indicating all payments and proceeds received with respect to any part of the Article 9 Collateral, and, at such time or times as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request (but not more often than two times each year unless an Event of Default is continuing), promptly to prepare and deliver to the Collateral Agent a duly certified schedule or schedules in form and detail reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent showing the identity, amount and location of any and all Article 9 Collateral.

          (b) Each Grantor shall, at its own expense, take any and all actions necessary to defend title to the Article 9 Collateral (other than any Article 9 Collateral consisting of a Patent, Trademark or Copyright which shall be governed by the provisions of Section 4.05(g) hereof or any other immaterial Intellectual Property) against all persons and to defend the Security Interest of the Collateral Agent in the Article 9 Collateral and the priority thereof against any Lien not expressly permitted pursuant to Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement.

          (c) Each Grantor agrees, at its own expense, to execute, acknowledge, deliver and cause to be duly filed all such further instruments and documents and take all such actions as the Collateral Agent may from time to time reasonably request to better assure, obtain, preserve, protect and perfect the Security Interest and the rights and remedies created hereby, including the payment of any reasonable fees and Taxes required in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the granting of the Security Interest and the filing of any financing or continuation statements (including fixture filings) or other documents in connection herewith or therewith. If any amount payable to any Grantor under or in connection with any of the Article 9 Collateral shall be or become evidenced by any promissory note or other instrument in excess of $400,000, such note or instrument shall be promptly pledged and delivered to the Collateral Agent, duly endorsed in a manner satisfactory to the Collateral Agent; provided that promissory notes or instruments evidencing advances permitted under Section 6.04(e) of the Credit Agreement will not be required to be so pledged.

          Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Grantor hereby authorizes the Collateral Agent, with prompt notice thereof to the Grantors, to supplement this Agreement by supplementing Schedule III or adding additional schedules hereto to specifically identify any asset or item that may constitute Copyrights, material Licenses, Patents or Trademarks; provided that any Grantor shall have the right, exercisable within 10 days after it has been notified by the Collateral Agent of the specific identification of such Collateral, to advise the Collateral Agent in writing of any material inaccuracy of the representations and warranties made by such Grantor hereunder with respect to such Collateral. Each Grantor agrees that it will use commercially reasonable efforts to take such action as shall be necessary in order that all representations and warranties hereunder shall be true and correct in all material respects


 

18

with respect to such Collateral within 30 days after the date it has been notified by the Collateral Agent of the specific identification of such Collateral.

          (d) The Collateral Agent and such persons as the Collateral Agent may reasonably designate shall have the right, at the Grantors’ own cost and expense, to inspect the Article 9 Collateral, all records related thereto (and to make extracts and copies from such


 
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