Exhibit 4.9
Execution
Copy
INTERCREDITOR
AGREEMENT
dated as of October 4, 2005
among
BROOKSTONE COMPANY,
INC.,
the other Pledgors from time to time party
hereto,
BANK OF AMERICA,
N.A.,
as initial Credit Agreement Agent,
WELLS FARGO BANK,
N.A.,
as Trustee under the Indenture
and
WELLS FARGO BANK,
N.A.,
as Collateral Agent
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS; PRINCIPLES OF
CONSTRUCTION
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2
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SECTION 1.1
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Defined Terms
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2
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SECTION 1.2
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Rules of Interpretation
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15
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ARTICLE 2. REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES
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16
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SECTION 2.1
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Representations and Warranties of the Priority
Lien Collateral Agent
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16
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SECTION 2.2
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Representations and Warranties of the
Collateral Agent
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16
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ARTICLE 3. THE COLLATERAL
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16
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SECTION 3.1
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Priority of Liens
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16
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SECTION 3.2
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Restrictions on Enforcement of Parity
Liens
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16
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SECTION 3.3
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Waiver of Right of Marshalling
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18
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SECTION 3.4
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Discretion in Enforcement of Priority
Liens
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19
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SECTION 3.5
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Discretion in Enforcement of Priority Lien
Obligations
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19
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SECTION 3.6
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Insolvency or Liquidation
Proceedings
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20
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SECTION 3.7
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Collateral Shared Equally and Ratably within
Class
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21
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SECTION 3.8
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Actions to Perfect Security
Interests
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21
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SECTION 3.9
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Amendment of Security Documents
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21
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ARTICLE 4. INTERCREDITOR RELATIONS
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22
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SECTION 4.1
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Application of Proceeds in Distributions by the
Priority Lien Collateral Agent
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22
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SECTION 4.2
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Application of Proceeds in Distributions by the
Collateral Agent
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24
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SECTION 4.3
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Additional Secured Debt
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24
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ARTICLE 5. OBLIGATIONS ENFORCEABLE BY THE
BORROWER AND THE OTHER PLEDGORS
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25
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SECTION 5.1
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Release of Liens on Collateral
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25
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SECTION 5.2
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[Intentionally Omitted]
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26
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SECTION 5.3
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Collateral Agent not Required to Serve, File or
Record
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26
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SECTION 5.4
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Release of Liens in Respect of Notes
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26
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ARTICLE 6. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
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27
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SECTION 6.1
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Amendment of this Agreement
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27
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SECTION 6.2
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Voting
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27
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SECTION 6.3
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Further Assurances
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27
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SECTION 6.4
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Bailee for Perfection
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28
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SECTION 6.5
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Delivery of Collateral and Proceeds of
Collateral
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28
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SECTION 6.6
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Relative Rights. Nothing in the Note Documents
will:
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28
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SECTION 6.7
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Successors and Assigns
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29
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SECTION 6.8
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Delay and Waiver
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29
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SECTION 6.9
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Notices
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29
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SECTION 6.10
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Notice Following Discharge of Priority Lien
Obligations
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31
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SECTION 6.11
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Entire Agreement
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31
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SECTION 6.12
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Severability
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31
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i
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SECTION 6.13
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Headings
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31
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SECTION 6.14
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Obligations Secured
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31
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SECTION 6.15
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Governing Law
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31
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SECTION 6.16
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Consent to Jurisdiction
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31
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SECTION 6.17
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Waiver of Jury Trial
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32
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SECTION 6.18
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Counterparts
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32
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SECTION 6.19
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Effectiveness
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32
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SECTION 6.20
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Additional Pledgors
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32
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SECTION 6.21
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Continuing Nature of this Agreement
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33
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SECTION 6.22
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Insolvency
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33
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SECTION 6.23
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Rights and Immunities of Secured Debt
Representatives
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33
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EXHIBIT A – Form of Intercreditor
Agreement Joinder
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ii
This Intercreditor Agreement (this
“ Agreement ” ) is dated as of
October 4, 2005 and is by and among Brookstone Company, Inc.,
a New Hampshire corporation (the “ Borrower
” ), the other Pledgors from time to time party hereto,
Bank of America, N.A., as Credit Agreement Agent (as defined
below), Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Trustee (as defined below), Bank
of America, N.A., as initial Credit Agreement Agent, and Wells
Fargo Bank, N.A., as Collateral Agent (in such capacity and
together with its successors in such capacity, the “
Collateral Agent ” ).
RECITALS
The Borrower intends to enter into a
Credit Agreement dated as of the date hereof among the Borrower,
the other Pledgors party thereto, the Lenders party thereto, Bank
of America, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent, and
the lenders party thereto.
The Borrower and the other Pledgors
also intend to enter into the Priority Lien Security Documents
pursuant to which the Priority Lien Collateral Agent will be
granted a first priority security interest in the
Collateral.
The Borrower intends to issue 12.00%
Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due 2012 (including any related
exchange notes, the “ Notes ” ) in an
aggregate principal amount of $185,000,000 pursuant to an Indenture
dated as of the date hereof (as amended, supplemented, amended and
restated or otherwise modified and in effect from time to time, the
“ Indenture ” ) among the Borrower, the
guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee (in
such capacity and together with its successors in such capacity,
the “ Trustee ” ).
The Borrower and the other Pledgors
also intend to enter into the Security Documents pursuant to which
the Collateral Agent will be granted a second priority security
interest in the Collateral, which security interest is subordinate
to the security interest of the Priority Lien Collateral
Agent.
The Borrower and the other Pledgors
intend to secure the Obligations under the Credit Agreement and any
future Priority Lien Debt on a priority basis and, subject to such
priority, intend to secure the Obligations under the Indenture and
any future Parity Lien Debt, with Liens on all present and future
Collateral to the extent that such Liens have been provided for in
the applicable Security Documents, and desire to enter into this
Agreement to confirm their relative rights with respect to the
Collateral as provided in this Agreement.
Capitalized terms used in this
Agreement have the meanings assigned to them above or in Article 1
below.
AGREEMENT
In consideration of the premises and
the mutual agreements herein set forth, the receipt and sufficiency
of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties to this Agreement
hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS; PRINCIPLES OF
CONSTRUCTION
SECTION 1.1 Defined Terms .
The following terms will have the following meanings:
“Act of Required
Debtholders” means, (i) for so long as the Credit
Agreement is outstanding, an act of the Credit Agreement Agent and
(ii) as to any matter at any time thereafter:
(1) prior to the Discharge of
Priority Lien Obligations, a direction in writing delivered to the
Priority Lien Collateral Agent by or with the written consent of
the holders of more than 50% of the sum of:
(a) the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of Priority Lien Debt (including outstanding
letters of credit whether or not then available or drawn);
and
(b) other than in connection with
the exercise of remedies, the aggregate unfunded commitments to
extend credit which, when funded, would constitute Priority Lien
Debt; and
(2) at any time after the Discharge
of Priority Lien Obligations, a direction in writing delivered to
the Collateral Agent by or with the written consent of the holders
of Parity Lien Debt representing the Required Parity Lien
Debtholders.
For purposes of this definition,
(a) Secured Debt registered in the name of, or beneficially
owned by, the Borrower or any Affiliate of the Borrower will be
deemed not to be outstanding and (b) votes will be determined
in accordance with Section 6.2.
“Additional Secured
Debt” has the
meaning set forth in Section 4.3.
“Affiliate”
of any specified Person means any
other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or
under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person.
For purposes of this definition, “control,” as used
with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or
indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the
management or policies of such Person, whether through the
ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise. For
purposes of this definition, the terms “controlling,”
“controlled by” and “under common control
with” have correlative meanings.
“ Agreement
” has the meaning
set forth in the preamble.
“ Board of Directors
” means:
(1) with respect to a corporation,
the board of directors of the corporation or any committee thereof
duly authorized to act on behalf of such board; and
2
(2) with respect to any other
Person, the functional equivalent of a board of directors of a
corporation or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on
behalf thereof.
“ Borrower
” has the meaning
set forth in the preamble.
“ Business Day
” means any day
other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking
institutions in the City of New York or at a place of payment are
authorized by law, regulation or executive order to remain
closed.
“Capital Lease
Obligations” means, at the time any determination is to be
made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease
that would at that time be required to be capitalized on a balance
sheet in accordance with GAAP.
“ Capital Stock
” means:
(1) in the case of a corporation or
unlimited company, corporate stock;
(2) in the case of an association or
business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations,
rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate
stock;
(3) in the case of a partnership or
limited liability company, partnership interests (whether general
or limited) or membership interests; and
(4) any other interest or
participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share
of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the
issuing Person,
but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt
securities convertible into Capital Stock, whether or not such debt
securities include any right of participation with Capital
Stock.
“ Class
” means (1) in
the case of Parity Lien Debt, every Series of Parity Lien Debt,
taken together, and (2) in the case of Priority Lien Debt,
every Series of Priority Lien Debt, taken together.
“Collateral”
means all properties and assets at
any time owned or acquired by the Borrower or any of the other
Pledgors, except:
(1) Excluded Assets;
(2) any properties and assets in
which the Collateral Agent is required to release its Liens
pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.4 and
(3) any properties and assets that
no longer secure the Notes or any Obligations in respect thereof
pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.4
provided that, in the case of clauses (2) and (3),
if such Liens are required to be released as a result of the sale,
transfer or other disposition of any properties or assets of the
Borrower or any
3
other Pledgor, such assets or properties will
cease to be excluded from the Collateral if the Borrower or any
other Pledgor thereafter acquires or reacquires such assets or
properties.
“ Collateral Agent
” means Wells Fargo
Bank, N.A., in its capacity as Collateral Agent under the Security
Documents, together with its successors in such
capacity.
“ Credit Agreement
” means that
certain credit agreement dated on or about the date hereof, by and
among Holdings, the Borrower, certain subsidiaries of the Borrower,
Bank of America, N.A., Goldman Sachs Credit Partners L.P. and the
lenders from time to time party thereto, together with any
agreements relating to the provision of cash and treasury
management services and other bank products provided by a lender
thereunder or an affiliate thereof and any related notes,
guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements
executed in connection therewith, and in each case, as amended,
restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced (whether upon
termination or otherwise) or refinanced (including by means of
sales of debt securities to institutional investors) in whole or in
part from time to time.
“ Credit Agreement
Agent ” means,
at any time, the Person serving at such time as the
“Agent” or “Administrative Agent” or
“Collateral Agent” under the Credit Agreement or any
other representative then most recently designated in accordance
with the applicable provisions of the Credit Agreement, together
with its successors in such capacity.
“ Credit Facilities
” means one or more
debt facilities (including, without limitation, the Credit
Agreement) or commercial paper facilities, in each case, with banks
or other institutional lenders providing for revolving credit
loans, term loans, receivables financing (including through the
sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities
formed to borrow from such lenders against such receivables) or
letters of credit, in each case, as amended, restated, modified,
renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced (including by means of
sales of debt securities to institutional investors) in whole or in
part from time to time.
“ Discharge of Priority
Lien Obligations ” means the occurrence of all of the
following:
(1) termination or expiration of all
commitments to extend credit that would constitute Priority Lien
Debt;
(2) payment in full in cash of the
principal of and interest and premium (if any) on all Priority Lien
Debt (other than any undrawn letters of credit);
(3) discharge or cash
collateralization (at the lower of (A) 105% of the aggregate
undrawn amount and (B) the percentage of the aggregate undrawn
amount required for release of liens under the terms of the
applicable Priority Lien Document) of all outstanding letters of
credit constituting Priority Lien Debt; and
(4) payment in full in cash of all
other Priority Lien Obligations that are outstanding and unpaid at
the time the Priority Lien Debt is paid in full in cash (other than
any obligations for taxes, costs, indemnifications, reimbursements,
damages and other liabilities in respect of which no claim or
demand for payment has been made at such time).
4
“ equally and
ratably ” means, in reference to sharing of Liens or
proceeds thereof as between holders of Secured Obligations within
the same Class, that such Liens or proceeds:
(1) will be allocated and
distributed first to the Secured Debt Representative for each
outstanding Series of Secured Debt within that Class, for the
account of the holders of such Series of Secured Debt, ratably in
proportion to the principal of, and interest and premium (if any)
and reimbursement obligations (contingent or otherwise) with
respect to letters of credit, if any, outstanding (whether or not
drawings have been made under such letters of credit) on each
outstanding Series of Secured Debt within that Class when the
allocation or distribution is made, and thereafter
(2) will be allocated and
distributed (if any remain after payment in full of all of the
principal of, and interest and premium (if any) and reimbursement
obligations (contingent or otherwise) with respect to letters of
credit, if any, outstanding (whether or not drawings have been made
on such letters of credit) on all outstanding Secured Obligations
within that Class) to the Secured Debt Representative for each
outstanding Series of Secured Obligations within that Class, for
the account of the holders of any remaining Secured Obligations
within that Class, ratably in proportion to the aggregate unpaid
amount of such remaining Secured Obligations within that Class due
and demanded (with written notice to the applicable Secured Debt
Representative, the Priority Lien Collateral Agent and the
Collateral Agent) prior to the date such distribution is
made.
“Excluded
Assets” means
each of the following:
(1) any permit, lease, license,
contract, instrument or other agreement held by the Borrower or any
other Pledgor that prohibits or requires the consent of any Person
as a condition to the creation by the Borrower or such other
Pledgor of a security interest or Lien thereon or that would be
breached or give the other party the right to terminate it as a
result thereof, or any permit, lease, license contract or other
agreement held by the Borrower or any other Pledgor to the extent
that any law applicable thereto prohibits the creation of a
security interest or Lien thereon or that would be breached or give
the other party the right to terminate is as a result thereof, but
only, in each case to the extent, and for so long as, such
prohibition is not terminated or rendered unenforceable or
otherwise deemed ineffective by the UCC (including Sections
9-406(a), 9-407(a), 9-408(a) and 9-409 of the UCC) or any other
law, and (ii) equipment owned by the Borrower or any other
Pledgor that is subject to a purchase money Lien or a capital lease
which is permitted by the Indenture if the contract or other
agreement in which such Lien is granted (or in the documentation
providing for such capital lease) prohibits or requires the consent
of any Person as a condition to the creation of any other Lien on
such equipment or that would be breached or give the other party
the right to terminate is as a result thereof provided, however,
“Excluded Assets” shall not include any Proceeds,
substitutions or replacements of Excluded Assets (unless such
Proceeds, substitutions or replacements would constitute
replacements of Excluded Assets);
(2) any interest of Borrower or any
other Pledgor in any real property;
5
(3) all “securities” of
Borrower or any of Borrower’s “affiliates” (as
the terms “securities” and “affiliates” are
used in Rule 3-16 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act);
and
(4) any other property or assets in
which a Lien cannot be perfected by the filing of a financing
statement under the Uniform Commercial Code of the relevant
jurisdiction, so long as the aggregate Fair Market Value of all
such property and assets does not at any one time exceed $10.0
million.
“Fair Market
Value” means
the value that would be paid by a willing buyer to an unaffiliated
willing seller in a transaction not involving distress or necessity
of either party, determined in good faith by the Board of Directors
of the Borrower.
“ GAAP
” means generally
accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, as
set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting
Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial
Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such
other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the
accounting profession which are in effect from time to
time.
“ Guarantee
” means a guarantee
other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection
in the ordinary course of business, direct or indirect, in any
manner, including, without limitation, by way of a pledge of assets
or through letters of credit or reimbursement agreements in respect
thereof, of all or any part of any Indebtedness (whether arising by
virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreements to keep-well,
to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take or pay
or to maintain financial statement condition or
otherwise).
“Guarantors”
means Holdings and the Subsidiary
Guarantors.
“Holdings”
means Brookstone, Inc., a Delaware
corporation.
“Hedging
Obligations” of
any Person means the obligations of such Person under swap, cap,
collar, forward purchase or similar agreements or arrangements
dealing with interest rates, currency exchange rates or commodity
prices, either generally or under specific
contingencies.
“ Indebtedness
” means, with
respect to any specified Person, any indebtedness of such Person
(excluding accrued expenses and trade payables), whether or not
contingent:
(1) in respect of borrowed
money;
(2) evidenced by bonds, notes,
debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or
reimbursement agreements in respect thereof);
(3) in respect of banker’s
acceptances;
(4) representing Capital Lease
Obligations;
6
(5) representing the balance
deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property or
services due more than six months after such property is acquired
or such services are completed, except any such balance that
represents an accrued expense or trade payable;
(6) representing any Hedging
Obligations, or
(7) all monetary obligations,
including fees, costs, expenses and indemnities, whether primary,
secondary, direct, contingent, fixed or otherwise of Holdings or
any Restricted Subsidiary arising out of any cash management,
depositary or investment services provided by any Priority Lien
Collateral Agent or its Affiliates.
if and to the extent any of the preceding items
(other than letters of credit, Hedging Obligations and obligations
referred to in clause (7) above) would appear as a liability
upon a balance sheet of the specified Person prepared in accordance
with GAAP. In addition, the term “Indebtedness”
includes all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any asset
of the specified Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is
assumed by the specified Person), but only to the extent that the
aggregate amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed the Fair
Market Value of the asset, and, to the extent not otherwise
included, the Guarantee by the specified Person of any Indebtedness
of any other Person. In no event will obligations or liabilities in
respect of any Capital Stock constitute Indebtedness
hereunder.
“ Indenture
” has the meaning
set forth in the recitals.
“ Insolvency or
Liquidation Proceeding ” means:
(1) any case commenced by or against
the Borrower or any other Pledgor under Title 11, U.S. Code or any
similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors, any other
proceeding for the reorganization, recapitalization or adjustment
or marshalling of the assets or liabilities of the Borrower or any
other Pledgor, any receivership or assignment for the benefit of
creditors relating to the Borrower or any other Pledgor or any
similar case or proceeding relative to the Borrower or any other
Pledgor or its creditors, as such, in each case whether or not
voluntary;
(2) any liquidation, dissolution,
marshalling of assets or liabilities or other winding up of or
relating to the Borrower or any other Pledgor, in each case whether
or not voluntary and whether or not involving bankruptcy or
insolvency; or
(3) any other proceeding of any type
or nature in which substantially all claims of creditors of the
Borrower or any other Pledgor are determined and any payment or
distribution is or may be made on account of such
claims.
“ Intercreditor
Agreement Joinder ” means an agreement substantially in the form of
Exhibit A .
“ Lien
” means, with
respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security
interest, hypothec or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such
asset, whether or not filed, recorded, registered or otherwise
perfected under applicable law, including any conditional
sale
7
or other title retention agreement; provided
that in no event shall an operating lease that is not a Capital
Lease Obligations be deemed to constitute a Lien.
“ Lien Sharing and
Priority Confirmation ” means:
(1) as to any Series of Parity Lien
Debt, the written agreement of the holders of such Series of Parity
Lien Debt, as set forth in the indenture, credit agreement or other
agreement governing such Series of Parity Lien Debt, for the
enforceable benefit of all holders of each existing and future
Series of Priority Lien Debt, each existing and future Priority
Lien Representative and each existing and future holder of
Permitted Prior Liens:
(a) that all Parity Lien Obligations
will be and are secured equally and ratably by all Parity Liens at
any time granted by the Borrower or any other Pledgor to secure any
Obligations in respect of such Series of Parity Lien Debt, whether
or not upon property otherwise constituting collateral for such
Series of Parity Lien Debt, and that all such Parity Liens will be
enforceable by the Collateral Agent for the benefit of all holders
of Parity Lien Obligations equally and ratably;
(b) that the holders of Obligations
in respect of such Series of Parity Lien Debt are bound by the
provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions relating to
the ranking of Parity Liens and the order of application of
proceeds from the enforcement of Parity Liens; and
(c) consenting to and directing the
Collateral Agent to perform its obligations under this Agreement
and the other Security Documents; and
(2) as to any Series of Priority
Lien Debt, the written agreement of the holders of such Series of
Priority Lien Debt, as set forth in the credit agreement or other
agreement governing such Series of Priority Lien Debt, for the
enforceable benefit of all holders of each existing and future
Series of Parity Lien Debt, each existing and future Parity Lien
Representative and each existing and future holder of Permitted
Prior Liens:
(a) that all Priority Lien
Obligations will be and are secured equally and ratably by all
Priority Liens at any time granted by the Borrower or any other
Pledgor to secure any Obligations in respect of such Series of
Priority Lien Debt, whether or not upon property otherwise
constituting collateral for such Series of Priority Lien Debt, and
that all such Priority Liens will be enforceable by the Priority
Lien Collateral Agent for the benefit of all holders of Priority
Lien Obligations equally and ratably;
(b) that the holders of Obligations
in respect of such Series of Priority Lien Debt are bound by the
provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions relating to
the ranking of Priority Liens and the order of application of
proceeds from enforcement of Priority Liens; and
(c) consenting to and directing the
Priority Lien Collateral Agent to perform its obligations under
this Agreement and the other security documents.
8
“ Notes
” has the meaning
set forth in the recitals.
“ Note Documents
” means the
Indenture, the Notes and the Security Documents.
“ Obligations
” means any
principal (including reimbursement obligations with respect to
letters of credit whether or not drawn), interest (including, to
the extent legally permitted, all interest accrued thereon after
the commencement of any Insolvency or Liquidation Proceeding at the
rate, including any applicable post-default rate, specified in the
Secured Debt Documents, even if such interest is not enforceable,
allowable or allowed as a claim in such proceeding), premium (if
any), fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, expenses and other
liabilities payable under the applicable Secured Debt
Documents.
“ Officers’
Certificate ” means a certificate with respect to compliance
with a condition or covenant provided for in this Agreement, signed
on behalf of the Borrower by two officers of the Borrower, one of
whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal
financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting
officer of the Borrower, including:
(a) a statement that the Person
making such certificate has read such covenant or
condition;
(b) a brief statement as to the
nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the
statements or opinions contained in such certificate are
based;
(c) a statement that, in the opinion
of such Person, he or she has made such examination or
investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an
informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition
has been satisfied; and
(d) a statement as to whether or
not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has
been satisfied.
“ Parity Lien
” means a Lien
granted by a Security Document to the Collateral Agent, at any
time, upon any property of the Borrower or any other Pledgor to
secure Parity Lien Obligations.
“ Parity Lien Debt
” means:
(1) the Notes issued on the date
hereof (including any related exchange notes); and
(2) any other Indebtedness
(including additional Notes) that is secured equally and ratably
with the Notes by a Parity Lien that was permitted to be incurred
and so secured under each applicable Secured Debt
Document;
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provided , that in the case of any Indebtedness referred
to in clause (2) of this definition, that:
(a) on or before the date on which
such Indebtedness is incurred by the Borrower or by a Restricted
Subsidiary (as defined under the Indenture) of the Borrower, such
Indebtedness is designated by the Borrower, in an Officers’
Certificate delivered to each Parity Lien Representative, the
Collateral Agent and the Priority Lien Collateral Agent, as
“Parity Lien Debt” for the purposes of the Indenture
and this Agreement; provided , that no Series of Secured
Debt may be designated as both Parity Lien Debt and Priority Lien
Debt;
(b) such Indebtedness is governed by
an indenture, credit agreement or other agreement that includes a
Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation; and
(c) all requirements set forth in
this Agreement as to the confirmation, grant or perfection of the
Collateral Agent’s Lien to secure such Indebtedness or
Obligations in respect thereof are satisfied (and the satisfaction
of such requirements and the other provisions of this clause
(c) will be conclusively established if the Borrower delivers
to the Collateral Agent and the Priority Lien Collateral Agent an
Officers’ Certificate stating that such requirements and
other provisions have been satisfied and that such Indebtedness is
“Parity Lien Debt”).
“ Parity Lien
Documents ” means, collectively, the Note Documents and the
indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing each other
Series of Parity Lien Debt and the Security Documents.
“ Parity Lien
Obligations ” means Parity Lien Debt and all other Obligations
in respect thereof.
“ Parity Lien
Representative ” means:
(1) in the case of the Notes, the
Trustee; or
(2) in the case of any other Series
of Parity Lien Debt, the trustee, agent or representative of the
holders of such Series of Parity Lien Debt who maintains the
transfer register for such Series of Parity Lien Debt and
(A) is appointed as a Parity Lien Representative (for purposes
related to the administration of the Security Documents) pursuant
to the indenture, credit agreement or other agreement governing
such Series of Parity Lien Debt, together with its successors in
such capacity, and (B) that has executed an Intercreditor
Agreement Joinder.
“ Permitted Prior
Liens ” means:
(1) Liens described in clause
(1) of the definition of “Permitted Liens” under
the Indenture;
(2) Liens described in clauses (4),
(5), (7), (8), (17), (18), (19), (22), (23), (24), (25) and
(27) of the definition of “Permitted Liens” under
the Indenture;
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(3) Liens described in clause
(13) of the definition of “Permitted Liens” under
the Indenture to the extent the Lien securing the Indebtedness
being refinanced constituted a Permitted Prior Lien under clause
(1) or (2) of this definition; and
(4) Permitted Liens (as defined in
the Indenture) that arise by operation of law and are not
voluntarily granted, to the extent entitled by law to priority over
the Liens created by the Priority Lien Security Documents or the
Security Documents.
“ Person
” means any
individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association,
joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited
liability company, unlimited company or government or other
entity.
“ Pledgors
” means Holdings,
the Borrower, the Guarantors and any other Person (if any) that at
any time provides collateral security for any Secured
Obligations.
“ Priority Lien
” means a Lien
granted by a Priority Lien Security Document to the Priority Lien
Collateral Agent, at any time, upon any property of the Borrower or
any other Pledgor to secure Priority Lien Obligations.
“Priority Lien
Cap” means, as
of any date, the principal amount outstanding under the Credit
Agreement and/or the Indebtedness outstanding under any other
Credit Facility, in an aggregate principal amount (including face
amounts of letters of credit) not to exceed the sum of the amount
provided by clause (1) of the definition of Permitted Debt (as
defined in Section 1.01 of the Indenture), as of any date,
plus the amount provided by clauses (13) and
(14) of the definition of Permitted Debt (as defined in
Section 1.01 of the Indenture), less the amount of
Parity Lien Debt incurred after the date of the Indenture the net
proceeds of which are used to repay Priority Lien Debt and such
repayment results in a corresponding permanent reduction in
commitments under such Priority Lien Debt. For purposes of this
definition, all letters of credit will be valued at the face amount
thereof, whether or not drawn, and all Hedging Obligations will be
valued at zero.
“ Priority Lien
Collateral Agent ” means Credit Agreement Agent until such time as
the Credit Agreement is no longer outstanding; thereafter it shall
mean such person as shall be appointed collateral agent under the
Priority Lien Security Documents, together with its successors in
such capacity.
“ Priority Lien Debt
” means:
(1) Indebtedness under the Credit
Agreement that was permitted to be incurred and secured under each
applicable Secured Debt Document (or as to which the lenders under
the Credit Agreement obtained an Officers’ Certificate at the
time of incurrence to the effect that such Indebtedness was
permitted to be incurred and secured by all applicable Secured Debt
Documents);
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(2) Indebtedness under any other
Credit Facility that is secured equally and ratably with the Credit
Agreement by a Priority Lien that was permitted to be incurred and
so secured under each applicable Secured Debt Document;
provided , in the case of any Indebtedness referred to in
this clause (2), that:
(a) on or before the date on which
such Indebtedness is incurred by the Borrower such Indebtedness is
designated by the Borrower, in an Officers’ Certificate
delivered to each Priority Lien Representative, the Priority Lien
Collateral Agent and the Collateral Agent, as “Priority Lien
Debt” for the purposes of the Secured Debt Documents;
provided , that no Series of Secured Debt may be designated
as both Parity Lien Debt and Priority Lien Debt;
(b) such Indebtedness is governed by
a credit agreement or other agreement that includes a Lien Sharing
and Priority Confirmation; and
(c) all requirements set forth in
this Agreement as to the confirmation, grant or perfection of the
Priority Lien Collateral Agent’s Lien to secure such
Indebtedness or Obligations in respect thereof are satisfied (and
the satisfaction of such requirements and the other provisions of
this clause (c) will be conclusively established if the
Borrower delivers to the Priority Lien Collateral Agent and the
Collateral Agent an Officers’ Certificate stating that such
requirements and other provisions have been satisfied and that such
Indebtedness is “Priority Lien Debt”); and
(3) Hedging Obligations incurred to
hedge or manage interest rate risk with respect to Priority Lien
Debt; provided , that:
(a) such Hedging Obligations are
secured by a Priority Lien on all of the assets and properties that
secure Indebtedness under the Credit Facility in respect of which
such Hedging Obligations are incurred; and
(b) such Priority Lien is senior to
or on a parity with the Priority Liens securing Indebtedness under
the Credit Facility in respect of which such Hedging Obligations
are incurred.
(4) Notwithstanding the foregoing,
if the sum of (1) Indebtedness constituting principal
outstanding under the Priority Lien Documents; plus (2) the
aggregate face amount of any letters of credit issued but not
reimbursed under the Priority Lien Documents, is in excess of
Priority Lien Cap, then only that portion of such Indebtedness and
such aggregate face amount of letters of credit equal to the
Priority Lien Cap shall be included in Priority Lien Obligations
and interest with respect to such Indebtedness and reimbursement
obligations with respect to such letters of credit shall only
constitute Priority Lien Obligations to the extent related to
Indebtedness and face amounts of letters of credit included in the
Priority Lien Obligations.
“ Priority Lien
Documents ” means the Credit Agreement and any other Credit
Facility pursuant to which any Priority Lien Debt is incurred and
the Priority Lien Security Documents.
“ Priority Lien
Obligations ” means the Priority Lien Debt and all other
Obligations in respect of Priority Lien Debt.
“ Priority Lien
Representative ” means the Credit Agreement Agent so long as the
Credit Agreement is outstanding and thereafter, in the case of any
other Series of Priority Lien Debt, the
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trustee, agent or representative of the holders
of such Series of Priority Lien Debt who maintains the transfer
register for such Series of Priority Lien Debt and is appointed as
a representative of the Priority Lien Debt (for purposes related to
the administration of the Priority Lien Security Documents)
pursuant to the credit agreement or other agreement governing such
Series of Priority Lien Debt, and who has executed an Intercreditor
Agreement Joinder.
“Priority Lien Security
Documents” means this Agreement, each Lien Sharing and
Priority Confirmation, and all security agreements, pledge
agreements, collateral assignments, mortgages, deeds of trust,
collateral agency agreements, control agreements or other grants or
transfers for security executed and delivered by the Borrower or
any other Pledgor creating (or purporting to create) a Priority
Lien upon Collateral in favor of the Priority Lien Collateral
Agent, in each case, as amended, modified, renewed, restated or
replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time, in accordance
with its terms.
“ Required Parity Lien
Debtholders ” means, at any time, the holders of more than 50%
of the sum of:
(a) the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of Parity Lien Debt (including outstanding letters
of credit whether or not then available or drawn); and
(b) other than in connection with
the exercise of remedies, the aggregate unfunded commitments to
extend credit which, when funded, would constitute Parity Lien
Debt.
For purposes of this definition,
(a) Parity Lien Debt registered in the name of, or
beneficially owned by, the Borrower or any Affiliate of the
Borrower will be deemed not to be outstanding, and (b) votes
will be determined in accordance with the provisions of
Section 6.2.
“ Secured Debt
” means Parity Lien
Debt and Priority Lien Debt.
“ Secured Debt
Default ” means
any event or condition which, under the terms of any credit
agreement, indenture or other agreement governing any Series of
Secured Debt causes, or permits holders of Secured Debt outstanding
thereunder (with or without the giving of notice or lapse of time,
or both, and whether or not notice has been given or time has
lapsed) to cause, the Secured Debt outstanding thereunder to become
immediately due and payable.
“ Secured Debt
Documents ” means the Parity Lien Documents and the Priority
Lien Documents.
“ Secured Debt
Representative ” means each Parity Lien Representative and each
Priority Lien Representative.
“ Secured
Obligations ” means Parity Lien Obligations and Priority Lien
Obligations.
“ Secured Parties
” means the holders
of Secured Obligations and the Secured Debt
Representatives.
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“ Security Documents
” means this
Agreement, each Lien Sharing and Priority Confirmation, and all
security agreements, pledge agreements, collateral assignments,
mortgages, collateral agency agreements, control agreements, deeds
of trust or other grants or transfers for security executed and
delivered by the Borrower or any other Pledgor creating (or
purporting to create) a Parity Lien upon Collateral in favor of the
Collateral Agent, in each case, as amended, modified, renewed,
restated or replaced, in whole or in part, from time to time, in
accordance with its terms and Section 3.9.
“ Series of Parity Lien
Debt ” means,
severally, the Notes and each other issue or series of Parity Lien
Debt for which a single tran