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Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated as of May 29, 20071

Guarantee Agreement

Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated as of May 29, 20071 | Document Parties: CLAIRES STORES INC | AFTERTHOUGHTS MERCHANDISING CORP | BAUBLE ACQUISITION SUB, INC | BAUBLE HOLDINGS CORP | BMS DISTRIBUTING CORP | CBI DISTRIBUTING CORP | CLAIRE'S BOUTIQUES, INC | CLAIRE'S CANADA CORP | CLAIRE'S PUERTO RICO CORP | Claire's Stores, Inc | LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | LEHMAN COMMERCIAL PAPER INC | Lenders, BEAR STEARNS CORPORATE LENDING INC | MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD | SASSY DOO!, INC You are currently viewing:
This Guarantee Agreement involves

CLAIRES STORES INC | AFTERTHOUGHTS MERCHANDISING CORP | BAUBLE ACQUISITION SUB, INC | BAUBLE HOLDINGS CORP | BMS DISTRIBUTING CORP | CBI DISTRIBUTING CORP | CLAIRE'S BOUTIQUES, INC | CLAIRE'S CANADA CORP | CLAIRE'S PUERTO RICO CORP | Claire's Stores, Inc | LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | LEHMAN COMMERCIAL PAPER INC | Lenders, BEAR STEARNS CORPORATE LENDING INC | MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD | SASSY DOO!, INC

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Title: Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated as of May 29, 20071
Governing Law: New York     Date: 9/11/2009
Industry: Apparel/Accessories     Sector: Consumer Cyclical

Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated as of May 29, 20071, Parties: claires stores inc , afterthoughts merchandising corp , bauble acquisition sub  inc , bauble holdings corp , bms distributing corp , cbi distributing corp , claire's boutiques  inc , claire's canada corp , claire's puerto rico corp , claire's stores  inc , lasalle bank national association , lehman commercial paper inc , lenders  bear stearns corporate lending inc , mizuho corporate bank  ltd , sassy doo!  inc
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Exhibit 10.3

Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated as of May 29, 2007

1


 

GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT

Dated and effective as of May 29, 2007,

among

BAUBLE HOLDINGS CORP.,

BAUBLE ACQUISITION SUB, INC. (to be merged with and into Claire’s Stores, Inc.),
as Borrower,

each Subsidiary Loan Party,

and

CREDIT SUISSE,
as Administrative Agent

2


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 1.01.

 

Credit Agreement

 

 

5

 

Section 1.02.

 

Other Defined Terms

 

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE II
GUARANTEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 2.01.

 

Guarantee

 

 

8

 

Section 2.02.

 

Guarantee of Payment

 

 

9

 

Section 2.03.

 

No Limitations, Etc.

 

 

9

 

Section 2.04.

 

Reinstatement

 

 

10

 

Section 2.05.

 

Agreement To Pay; Contribution; Subrogation

 

 

11

 

Section 2.06.

 

Information

 

 

11

 

Section 2.07.

 

Maximum Liability

 

 

11

 

Section 2.08.

 

Payment Free and Clear of Taxes

 

 

11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE III
PLEDGE OF SECURITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 3.01.

 

Pledge

 

 

12

 

Section 3.02.

 

Delivery of the Pledged Collateral

 

 

12

 

Section 3.03.

 

Representations, Warranties and Covenants

 

 

13

 

Section 3.04.

 

Registration in Nominee Name; Denominations

 

 

15

 

Section 3.05.

 

Voting Rights; Dividends and Interest, Etc.

 

 

15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV
SECURITY INTERESTS IN OTHER PERSONAL PROPERTY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 4.01.

 

Security Interest

 

 

17

 

Section 4.02.

 

Representations and Warranties

 

 

19

 

Section 4.03.

 

Covenants

 

 

21

 

Section 4.04.

 

Other Actions

 

 

24

 

Section 4.05.

 

Covenants Regarding Patent, Trademark and Copyright Collateral

 

 

25

 

Section 4.06.

 

Intercreditor Relations

 

 

25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE V
REMEDIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 5.01.

 

Remedies Upon Default

 

 

27

 

3


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 5.02.

 

Application of Proceeds

 

 

28

 

Section 5.03.

 

Securities Act, Etc.

 

 

29

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI
INDEMNITY, SUBROGATION AND SUBORDINATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 6.01.

 

Indemnity

 

 

30

 

Section 6.02.

 

Contribution and Subrogation

 

 

30

 

Section 6.03.

 

Subordination

 

 

31

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 7.01.

 

Notices

 

 

33

 

Section 7.02.

 

Security Interest Absolute

 

 

33

 

Section 7.03.

 

Limitation By Law

 

 

33

 

Section 7.04.

 

Binding Effect; Several Agreement

 

 

33

 

Section 7.05.

 

Successors and Assigns

 

 

34

 

Section 7.06.

 

Collateral Agent’s Fees and Expenses; Indemnification

 

 

34

 

Section 7.07.

 

Collateral Agent Appointed Attorney-in-Fact

 

 

34

 

Section 7.08.

 

GOVERNING LAW

 

 

35

 

Section 7.09.

 

Waivers; Amendment

 

 

35

 

Section 7.10.

 

WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

 

 

36

 

Section 7.11.

 

Severability

 

 

36

 

Section 7.12.

 

Counterparts

 

 

36

 

Section 7.13.

 

Headings

 

 

36

 

Section 7.14.

 

Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process

 

 

36

 

Section 7.15.

 

Termination or Release

 

 

37

 

Section 7.16.

 

Additional Subsidiaries

 

 

38

 

Section 7.17.

 

Right of Set-off

 

 

38

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schedules

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schedule I

 

Subsidiary Parties

 

 

 

 

Schedule II

 

Pledged Stock; Debt Securities

 

 

 

 

Schedule III

 

Intellectual Property

 

 

 

 

Schedule IV

 

Filing Jurisdictions

 

 

 

 

Schedule V

 

Commercial Tort Claims

 

 

 

 

Schedule VI

 

Matters Relating to Accounts and Inventory

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit I

 

Form of Supplement to the Guarantee and Collateral Agreement

 

 

 

 

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          GUARANTEE AND COLLATERAL AGREEMENT dated and effective as of May 29, 2007 (this “ Agreement ”), among BAUBLE HOLDINGS CORP., a Delaware corporation (“ Holdings ”), BAUBLE ACQUISITION SUB, INC., a Florida corporation (the “ Borrower ”) each Subsidiary Loan Party and CREDIT SUISSE, as administrative agent and collateral agent (in such capacities, the “ Administrative Agent ”) for the Secured Parties (as defined below).

          Reference is made to the Credit Agreement dated as of May 29, 2007 (as amended, restated, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Credit Agreement ”), among Holdings, the Borrower, the LENDERS party thereto from time to time, CREDIT SUISSE, as administrative agent and collateral agent for the Lenders, BEAR STEARNS CORPORATE LENDING INC. and MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD., as co-syndication agents, and LEHMAN COMMERCIAL PAPER INC. and LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as co-documentation agents.

          The Lenders have agreed to extend credit to the Borrower subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement. The obligations of the Lenders to extend such credit are conditioned upon, among other things, the execution and delivery of this Agreement. Holdings and the Subsidiary Parties 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 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 respective meanings assigned thereto in the Credit Agreement. All capitalized terms defined in the New York UCC (as defined herein) and not defined in this Agreement have the meanings specified therein. 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 Pledgor under, with respect to or on account of an Account, Chattel Paper, General Intangibles, Instruments or Investment Property.

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

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          “ Collateral ” means the collective reference to Article 9 Collateral and Pledged Collateral.

          “ Copyright License ” means any written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting any right to any Pledgor under any Copyright now or hereafter owned by any third party, and all rights of any Pledgor under any such agreement (including, without limitation, any such rights that such Pledgor has the right to license).

          “ Copyrights ” means all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired by any Pledgor: (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, (b) all registrations and applications for registration of any such Copyright in the United States or any other country, including registrations, supplemental registrations and pending applications for registration in the United States Copyright Office and the right to obtain all renewals thereof, including those listed on Schedule III , (c) all claims for, and rights to sue for, past or future infringements of any of the foregoing and (d) all income, royalties, damages and payments now or hereafter due and payable with respect to any of the foregoing, including damages and payments for past or future infringement thereof.

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

          “ Federal Securities Laws ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.03.

          “ General Intangibles ” means all “General Intangibles” as defined in the New York UCC, including all choses in action and causes of action and all other intangible personal property of any Pledgor of every kind and nature (other than Accounts) now owned or hereafter acquired by any Pledgor, including corporate or other business records, indemnification claims, contract rights (including rights under leases, whether entered into as lessor or lessee, Swap Agreements and other agreements), Intellectual Property (but excluding “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 the Lanham Act has been filed, to the extent that, and solely during the period for which, any assignment of an “intent-to-use” application prior to such filing would violate the Lanham Act), goodwill, registrations, franchises, tax refund claims and any guarantee, claim, security interest or other security held by or granted to any Pledgor to secure payment by an Account Debtor of any of the Accounts.

          “ Guarantors ” means Holdings (prior to a Borrower Qualified IPO), and the Subsidiary Loan Parties.

          “ Intellectual Property ” means all intellectual property of every kind and nature now owned or hereafter acquired by any Pledgor, including inventions, designs, Patents, Copyrights, Trademarks, Patent Licenses, Copyright Licenses, Trademark Licenses, trade secrets, domain names, confidential or proprietary technical and business information, know-how, show-how or other data or information and all related documentation.

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          “ Intellectual Property Security Agreement ” means a security agreement in the form hereof or a short form hereof, in each case, which form shall be reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

          “ IP Agreements ” means all material Copyright Licenses, Patent Licenses, Trademark Licenses, and all other agreements, permits, consents, orders and franchises relating to the license, development, use or disclosure of any material Intellectual Property to which a Pledgor, now or hereafter, is a party or a beneficiary, including, without limitation, the agreements set forth on Schedule III hereto.

          “ Loan Document Obligations ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Credit Agreement.

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

          “ Obligations ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Credit Agreement.

          “ Patent License ” means any written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting to any Pledgor any right to make, use or sell any invention covered by a Patent, now or hereafter owned by any third party (including, without limitation, any such rights that such Pledgor has the right to license).

          “ Patents ” means all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired by any Pledgor: (a) all letters patent of the United States or the equivalent thereof in any other country or jurisdiction, including those listed on Schedule III , and all applications for letters patent of the United States or the equivalent thereof in any other country or jurisdiction, including those listed on Schedule III , (b) all provisionals, reissues, extensions, continuations, divisions, continuations-in- part, reexaminations or revisions thereof, and the inventions disclosed or claimed therein, including the right to make, use, import and/or sell the inventions disclosed or claimed therein, (c) all claims for, and rights to sue for, past or future infringements of any of the foregoing and (d) all income, royalties, damages and payments now or hereafter due and payable with respect to any of the foregoing, including damages and payments for past or future infringement thereof.

          “ Permitted Liens ” means any Lien permitted by Section 6.02 of the Credit Agreement.

          “ 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 certificated 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.

          “ Pledgor ” shall mean the Borrower and each Guarantor.

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          “ Secured Parties ” means (a) the Lenders (and any Affiliate of a Lender designated by the Borrower as a provider of cash management services to which any obligation referred to in clause (c) of the definition of the term Obligations is owed), (b) the Administrative Agent, (c) each Issuing Bank, (d) each counterparty to any Swap Agreement entered into with a Loan Party or any Affiliate of a Loan Party, the obligations under which constitute Obligations, (e) the beneficiaries of each indemnification obligation undertaken by any Loan Party under any Loan Document and (f) the successors and permitted assigns of each of the foregoing.

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

          “ Subsidiary Loan Party ” means any Subsidiary that is a party hereto or any Subsidiary that becomes a party hereto pursuant to Section 7.16.

          “ Trademark License ” means any written agreement, now or hereafter in effect, granting to any Pledgor any right to use any Trademark now or hereafter owned by any third party (including, without limitation, any such rights that such Pledgor has the right to license).

          “ Trademarks ” means all of the following now owned or hereafter acquired by any Pledgor: (a) all trademarks, service marks, 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 thereof (if any), 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 similar offices in any State of the United States or any other country or any political subdivision thereof (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 the Lanham Act has been filed, to the extent that any assignment of an “intent-to-use” application prior to such filing would violate the Lanham Act), and all renewals thereof, including those listed on Schedule III , (b) all goodwill associated therewith or symbolized thereby, (c) all claims for, and rights to sue for, past or future infringements of any of the foregoing and (d) all income, royalties, damages and payments now or hereafter due and payable with respect to any of the foregoing, including damages and payments for past or future infringement thereof.

ARTICLE II

GUARANTEE

          Section 2.01. Guarantee . Each Guarantor unconditionally guarantees, jointly with the other Guarantors and severally, to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, as a primary obligor and not merely as a surety, the due and punctual payment and performance of the Obligations. Each Guarantor 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 guarantee notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Obligation. Each Guarantor waives presentment to, demand of payment from and protest to the

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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 Guarantor further agrees that its guarantee hereunder constitutes a guarantee of payment when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise) and not of collection, and waives any right to require that any resort be had by the Administrative 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 Administrative 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 for in Section 7.15 and except as provided in Section 2.07, 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 or setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Obligations or otherwise (other than defense of payment or performance). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by, and each Guarantor hereby waives any defense to the enforcement hereof by reason of:

     (i) the failure of the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party to assert any claim or demand or to exercise or enforce any right or remedy under the provisions of any Loan Document or otherwise;

     (ii) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of, increase in the Obligations with respect to, 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 failure to perfect any security interest in, or the exchange, substitution, release or any impairment of, any security held by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party for the Obligations;

     (iv) any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the Obligations;

     (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 or immediately available funds of all the Obligations);

     (vi) any illegality, lack of validity or enforceability of any Obligation;

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     (vii) any change in the corporate existence, structure or ownership of any Loan Party, or any insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or other similar proceeding affecting any Loan Party or its assets or any resulting release or discharge of any Obligation;

     (viii) the existence of any claim, set-off or other rights that the Guarantors may have at any time against the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, any other Secured Party or any other person, whether in connection herewith or any unrelated transactions; provided that nothing herein will prevent the assertion of any such claim by separate suit or compulsory counterclaim;

     (ix) any action permitted or authorized hereunder; or

     (x) any other circumstance (including without limitation, any statute of limitations) or any existence of or reliance on any representation by the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party that might otherwise constitute a defense to, or a legal or equitable discharge of, the Borrower or any Guarantor or any other guarantor or surety.

Each Guarantor expressly authorizes the Secured Parties 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 their 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 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 any other Loan Party, other than the payment in full in cash or immediately available funds of all the Obligations (other than contingent or unliquidated obligations or liabilities). The Administrative 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, make any other accommodation with any other Loan Party or exercise any other right or remedy available to them against any other Loan Party, without affecting or impairing in any way the liability of any Guarantor hereunder except to the extent the Obligations (other than contingent or unliquidated obligations or liabilities) have been paid in full in cash or immediately available funds. 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 any other Loan Party, as the case may be, or any security.

          Section 2.04. Reinstatement . Each Guarantor 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 Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Borrower or any other Loan Party or otherwise.

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          Section 2.05. Agreement To Pay; Contribution; Subrogation . In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right that the Administrative Agent or any other Secured Party has at law or in equity against any Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Borrower 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 Administrative Agent for distribution to the applicable Secured Parties in cash the amount of such unpaid Obligation. Each Guarantor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably agrees that in the event any payment shall be required to be made to any Secured Party under this guarantee or any other guarantee, such Guarantor will contribute, to the maximum extent permitted by law, such amounts to each other Guarantor and each other guarantor so as to maximize the aggregate amount paid to the Secured Parties under or in respect of the Loan Documents. Upon payment by any Guarantor of any sums to the Administrative Agent as provided above, all rights of such Guarantor against the Borrower, or other Loan Party 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 financial condition and assets of the Borrower and each other Loan Party, 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 none of the Administrative Agent or the other Secured Parties will have any duty to advise such Guarantor of information known to it or any of them regarding such circumstances or risks.

          Section 2.07. Maximum Liability . Each Guarantor, and by its acceptance of this guarantee, the Administrative Agent and each Secured Party hereby confirms that it is the intention of all such Persons that this guarantee and the Obligations of each Guarantor hereunder not constitute a fraudulent transfer or conveyance for purposes of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code or any other federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law, the Uniform Fraudulent Conveyance Act, the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act or any similar foreign, federal or state law to the extent applicable to this guarantee and the Obligations of each Guarantor hereunder. To effectuate the foregoing intention, the Administrative Agent, the Secured Parties and the Guarantors hereby irrevocably agree that the Obligations of each Guarantor under this guarantee at any time shall be limited to the maximum amount as will result in the Obligations of such Guarantor under this guarantee not constituting a fraudulent transfer or conveyance.

          Section 2.08. Payment Free and Clear of Taxes . Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Guarantor hereunder or under any other Loan Document shall be made free and clear of, and without deduction for, any Indemnified Taxes or Other Taxes on the same terms and to the same extent that payments by any Loan Party are required to be made pursuant to the terms of Section 2.17 of the Credit Agreement. The provisions of Section 2.17 of the Credit Agreement shall apply to each Guarantor mutatis mutandis .

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ARTICLE III

PLEDGE OF SECURITIES

          Section 3.01. Pledge . As security for the payment or performance, as the case may be, in full of its Obligations, each Pledgor hereby assigns and pledges to the Administrative Agent, its successors and permitted assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, its successors and permitted assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest in all of such Pledgor’s right, title and interest in, to and under (a) the Equity Interests directly owned by it (including those listed on Schedule II ) and any other Equity Interests obtained in the future by such Pledgor and any certificates representing all such Equity Interests (the “Pledged Stock”); provided that the Pledged Stock shall not include (i)(A) more than 65% of the issued and outstanding voting Equity Interests of any “first tier” Foreign Subsidiary directly owned by such Pledgor, (B) more than 65% of the issued and outstanding voting Equity Interests of any “first tier” Qualified CFC Holding Company directly owned by such Pledgor, (C) any issued and outstanding Equity Interest of any Foreign Subsidiary that is not a first tier Foreign Subsidiary, or (D) any issued and outstanding Equity Interests of any Qualified CFC Holding Company that is not a “first tier” Qualified CFC Holding Company, (ii) to the extent applicable law requires that a Subsidiary of such Pledgor issue directors’ qualifying shares or similar shares, such shares or nominee or other similar shares, (iii) any Equity Interests with respect to which a grant of security is not required by reason of Section 5.10(g) of the Credit Agreement, or (iv) any Equity Interests of a Subsidiary (which Subsidiary is set forth on Schedule 1.01A to the Credit Agreement) to the extent that, as of the Closing Date, and for so long as, such a pledge of such Equity Interests would violate applicable law or an enforceable contractual obligation binding on or relating to such Equity Interests; (b)(i) the debt obligations listed opposite the name of such Pledgor on Schedule II, (ii) any debt securities in the future issued to such Pledgor and (iii) the certificates, promissory notes and any other instruments, if any, evidencing such debt securities (the “Pledged Debt Securities”); (c) subject to Section 3.05 hereof, 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 property referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above; (d) subject to Section 3.05 hereof, all rights and privileges of such Pledgor with respect to the securities and other property referred to in clauses (a), (b) and (c) above; and (e) all proceeds of any of the foregoing (the items referred to in clauses (a) through (e) 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 Administrative Agent, its successors and permitted 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 Pledgor agrees promptly to deliver or cause to be delivered to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, any and all Pledged Securities to the extent such Pledged Securities are either (i) Equity Interests or (ii) promissory notes or other instruments evidencing Indebtedness required to be delivered pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 3.02. If any Pledged Stock that

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is uncertificated on the date hereof shall hereafter become certificated, the applicable Pledgor shall promptly cause the certificate or certificates representing Pledged Stock to be delivered to the Administrative Agent, as agent for the Secured Parties, together with the accompanying stock powers or other documentation required by Section 3.02(c). None of the Pledgors shall permit any other party to “control” (for purposes of Section 8-106 of the New York UCC (or any analogous provision of the Uniform Commercial Code in effect in the jurisdiction whose law applies)) any uncertificated securities that constitute Pledged Collateral other than the Administrative Agent, as agent for the Secured Parties.

          (b) Each Pledgor will cause any Indebtedness for borrowed money having an aggregate principal amount in excess of $5.0 million (other than (i) intercompany current liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with the cash management operations of Holdings, the Borrower and its Subsidiaries or (ii) to the extent that a pledge of such promissory note or instrument would violate applicable law) owed to such Pledgor by any person to be evidenced by a duly executed promissory note that is pledged and delivered to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, pursuant to the terms hereof. To the extent any such promissory note is a demand note, each Pledgor party thereto agrees, if requested by the Administrative Agent, to immediately demand payment thereunder upon an Event of Default specified under Section 7.01(b), (c), (f), (h) or (i) of the Credit Agreement unless such demand would not be commercially reasonable or would otherwise expose such Pledgor to liability to the maker.

          (c) Upon delivery to the Administrative Agent, (i) any Pledged Securities required to be delivered pursuant to the foregoing paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 3.02 shall be accompanied by stock powers or note powers, as applicable, duly executed in blank or other instruments of transfer reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and by such other instruments and documents as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request and (ii) all other property comprising part of the Pledged Collateral delivered pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be accompanied to the extent necessary to perfect the security interest in or allow realization on the Pledged Collateral by proper instruments of assignment duly executed by the applicable Pledgor and such other instruments or documents (including issuer acknowledgments in respect of uncertificated securities) as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request. Each delivery of Pledged Securities shall be accompanied by a schedule describing the securities, which schedule shall be attached hereto as Schedule II (or a supplement to Schedule II , as applicable) 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.

          (d) In the event any Pledged Securities constitute uncertificated securities, each Pledgor shall, pursuant to an agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, either (i) cause the issuer to agree to comply with instructions from the Administrative Agent without further consent of any Pledgor or (ii) cause the issuer to register the Administrative Agent as the registered owner of such uncertificated security.

          Section 3.03. Representations, Warranties and Covenants . The Pledgors, jointly and severally, represent, warrant and covenant to and with the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, that:

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          (a) 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 or instruments evidencing Indebtedness required to be (i) pledged in order to satisfy the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement, or (ii) delivered pursuant to Section 3.02(b);

          (b) the Pledged Stock and Pledged Debt Securities (solely with respect to Pledged Debt Securities issued by a person that is not a Subsidiary of Holdings or an Affiliate of any such subsidiary, to the best of each Pledgor’s knowledge) 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 (other than with respect to Pledged Stock consisting of membership interests of limited liability companies to the extent provided in Sections 18-502 and 18-607 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act) and (ii) in the case of Pledged Debt Securities (solely with respect to Pledged Debt Securities issued by a person that is not a Subsidiary of Holdings or an Affiliate of any such subsidiary, to the best of each Pledgor’s knowledge) are legal, valid and binding obligations of the issuers thereof, subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing;

          (c) except for the security interests granted hereunder, each Pledgor (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 Pledgor, (ii) holds the same free and clear of all Liens, other than Permitted Liens, (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 pursuant to a transaction permitted by the Credit Agreement and other than Permitted Liens and (iv) subject to the rights of such Pledgor under the Loan Documents to dispose of Pledged Collateral, will use commercially reasonable efforts to defend its title or interest hereto or therein against any and all Liens (other than Permitted Liens), however arising, of all persons;

          (d) other than as set forth in the Credit Agreement or the schedules thereto, and except for restrictions and limitations imposed by the Loan Documents or securities laws generally or otherwise permitted to exist pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement, the Pledged Stock (other than partnership interests) is and will continue to be freely transferable and assignable, and none of the Pledged Stock 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 Stock hereunder, the sale or disposition thereof pursuant hereto or the exercise by the Administrative Agent of rights and remedies hereunder;

          (e) each Pledgor has the power and authority to pledge the Pledged Collateral pledged by it hereunder in the manner hereby done or contemplated;

          (f) other than as set forth in the Credit Agreement or the schedules thereto, no consent or approval of any Governmental Authority, any securities exchange or any other person

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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 Pledgors of this Agreement and the Foreign Pledge Agreements, when any Pledged Securities (including Pledged Stock of any Domestic Subsidiary, any Qualified CFC Holding Company or any foreign stock covered by a Foreign Pledge Agreement) are delivered to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, in accordance with this Agreement and a financing statement covering such Pledged Securities is filed in the appropriate filing office, the Administrative Agent will obtain, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a legal, valid and perfected lien upon and security interest in such Pledged Securities under the New York UCC, subject only to Permitted Liens, as security for the payment and performance of the Obligations;

          (h) each Pledgor that is an issuer of the Pledged Collateral confirms that it has received notice of the security interest granted hereunder and consents to such security interest and agrees to transfer record ownership of the securities issued by it in connection with any request by the Administrative Agent; and

          (i) the Pledgors shall not amend, or permit to be amended, the limited liability company agreement (or operating agreement or similar agreement) or partnership agreement of any Subsidiary of any Loan Party whose Equity Interests are, or are required to be, Collateral in a manner to cause such Equity Interests to not constitute a security under Section 8-103 of the New York UCC or the corresponding code or statute of any other applicable jurisdiction unless such Loan Party shall have first delivered 30 days written notice to the Administrative Agent and shall have taken all actions contemplated hereby and as otherwise reasonably required by the Administrative Agent to maintain the security interest of the Administrative Agent therein as a valid, perfected, first priority security interest.

          Section 3.04. Registration in Nominee Name; Denominations . The Administrative Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, shall have the right (in its sole and absolute discretion) to hold the Pledged Securities in the name of the applicable Pledgor, endorsed or assigned in blank or in favor of the Administrative Agent or, if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, in its own name as pledgee or the name of its nominee (as pledgee or as sub-agent). Each Pledgor will promptly give to the Administrative Agent copies of any notices or other communications received by it with respect to Pledged Securities registered in the name of such Pledgor. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Administrative Agent shall have the right to exchange the certificates representing Pledged Securities for certificates of smaller or larger denominations for any purpose consistent with this Agreement. Each Pledgor shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause any Loan Party that is not a party to this Agreement to comply with a request by the Administrative Agent, pursuant to this Section 3.04, to exchange certificates representing Pledged Securities of such Loan Party for certificates of smaller or larger denominations.

          Section 3.05. Voting Rights; Dividends and Interest, Etc . (a) Unless and until an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Administrative Agent shall have given notice to the relevant Pledgors of the Administrative Agent’s intention to exercise its rights hereunder:

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     (i) Each Pledgor shall be entitled to exercise any and all voting and/or other consensual rights and powers inuring to an owner of Pledged Collateral or any part thereof for any purpose consistent with the terms of this Agreement, the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents; provided that, except as permitted under the Credit Agreement, 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 Collateral, the rights and remedies of any of the Administrative Agent or the other Secured Parties under this Agreement, the Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document or the ability of the Secured Parties to exercise the same.

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

     (iii) Each Pledgor 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 Collateral 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 (A) any noncash dividends, interest, principal or other distributions, payments or other consideration in respect thereof, including any rights to receive the same to the extent not so distributed or paid, that would constitute Pledged Securities, whether resulting from a subdivision, combination or reclassification of the outstanding Equity Interests of the issuer of any Pledged Securities, received in exchange for Pledged Securities or any part thereof, or in redemption thereof, as a result of any merger, consolidation, acquisition or other exchange of assets to which such issuer may be a party or otherwise and (B) any non-cash dividends and other distributions paid or payable in respect of any Pledged Securities that would constitute Pledged Securities in connection with a partial or total liquidation or dissolution or in connection with a reduction of capital, capital surplus or paid in surplus, shall be and become part of the Pledged Collateral, and, if received by any Pledgor, shall not be commingled by such Pledgor with any of its other funds or property but shall be held separate and apart therefrom, shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, and shall be forthwith delivered to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, in the same form as so received (endorsed in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent).

          (b) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default and after notice by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower of the Administrative Agent’s intention to exercise its rights hereunder, all rights of any Pledgor to dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that such Pledgor is authorized to receive pursuant to paragraph (a)(iii) of this Section 3.05 shall cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, in the Administrative Agent which shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority to receive and retain such dividends, interest, principal or other distributions; provided , however, that even after the occurrence of an Event of Default, any

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Pledgor may continue to exercise dividend and distribution rights solely to the extent permitted under subclause (i), subclause (iii) and subclause (v) of Section 6.06(b) of the Credit Agreement. All dividends, interest, principal or other distributions received by any Pledgor contrary to the provisions of this Section 3.05 shall not be commingled by such Pledgor with any of its other funds or property but shall be held separate and apart therefrom, shall be held in trust for the benefit of the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, and shall be forthwith delivered to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, in the same form as so received (endorsed in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent). Any and all money and other property paid over to or received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph (b) shall be retained by the Administrative Agent in an account to be established by the Administrative Agent upon receipt of such money or other property and shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.02 hereof. After all Events of Default have been cured or waived and the Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate to that effect, the Administrative Agent shall promptly repay to each Pledgor (without interest) all dividends, interest, principal or other distributions that such Pledgor would otherwise be permitted to retain pursuant to the terms of paragraph (a)(iii) of this Section 3.05 and that remain in such account.

          (c) Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default and after notice by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower of the Administrative Agent’s intention to exercise its rights hereunder, all rights of any Pledgor to exercise the voting and/or consensual rights and powers it is entitled to exercise pursuant to paragraph (a)(i) of this Section 3.05, and the obligations of the Administrative Agent under paragraph (a)(ii) of this Section 3.05, shall cease, and all such rights shall thereupon become vested in the Administrative Agent, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, which shall have the sole and exclusive right and authority to exercise such voting and consensual rights and powers; provided that, unless otherwise directed by the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent shall have the right from time to time following and during the continuance of an Event of Default to permit the Pledgors to exercise such rights. After all Events of Default have been cured or waived and the Borrower has delivered to the Administrative Agent a certificate to that effect, each Pledgor shall have the right to exercise the voting and/or consensual rights and powers that such Pledgor would otherwise be entitled to exercise pursuant to the terms of paragraph (a)(i) above.

ARTICLE IV

SECURITY INTERESTS IN OTHER PERSONAL PROPERTY

          Section 4.01. Security Interest . (a) As security for the payment or performance when due (whether at the stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), as the case may be, in full of the Obligations, each Pledgor hereby assigns and pledges to the Administrative Agent, its successors and permitted assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, and hereby grants to the Administrative Agent, its successors and permitted assigns, for the ratable benefit of the Secured Parties, a security interest (the “Security Interest”) in all right, title and interest in or to any and all of the following assets and properties now owned or at any time hereafter acquired

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by such Pledgor or in which such Pledgor now has or at any time in the future may acquire any right, title or interest (collectively, the “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;

     (vii) all Instruments;

     (viii) all Inventory;

     (ix) all Investment Property;

     (x) all Letter of Credit Rights;

     (xi) all Commercial Tort Claims;

     (xii) all other personal property not otherwise described above (except for property specifically excluded from any defined term used in any of the foregoing clauses);

     (xiii) all books and records pertaining to the Article 9 Collateral; and

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

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, this Agreement shall not constitute a grant of a security interest in (a) any vehicle covered by a certificate of title or ownership, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, (b) any assets (including Equity Interests), whether now owned or hereafter acquired, with respect to which the Collateral and Guarantee Requirement or the other paragraphs of Section 5.10 of the Credit Agreement would not be required to be satisfied by reason of Section 5.10(g) of the Credit Agreement if hereafter acquired, (c) any property excluded from the definition of Pledged Collateral by virtue of the proviso to Section 3.01 hereof, (d) any Letter of Credit Rights to the extent any Pledgor is required by applicable law to apply the proceeds of a drawing of such Letter of Credit for a specified purpose, (e) any Pledgor’s right, title or interest in any license, contract or agreement to which such Pledgor is a party or any of its right, title or interest thereunder to the extent, but only to the extent, that such a grant would, under the terms of such license, contract or agreement, result in a breach of the terms of, or constitute a default under, or result in the abandonment,

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invalidation or unenforceability of, any license, contract


 
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