Exhibit 4.1
Execution Version
THIS AGREEMENT OR INSTRUMENT AND
THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS EVIDENCED HEREBY ARE SUBJECT TO THAT
CERTAIN INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT DATED AS OF MAY 7, 2009, AMONG BANK
OF AMERICA, N.A., AS FIRST LIEN AGENT, U.S. BANK NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION, AS SECOND LIEN AGENT, SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC. AND THE
SUBSIDIARIES OF SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC. PARTY THERETO (THE “
INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT ”), AND EACH PARTY TO OR
HOLDER OF THIS AGREEMENT OR INSTRUMENT, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF,
IRREVOCABLY AGREES TO BE BOUND BY THE PROVISIONS OF THE
INTERCREDITOR AGREEMENT
SECURITY AGREEMENT
THIS SECURITY
AGREEMENT (this “
Security Agreement ”) is made and entered into as of
May 7, 2009 by SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC. , a Delaware
corporation (the “ Company ” and a “
Grantor ”), EACH OF THE UNDERSIGNED SUBSIDIARIES OF
THE COMPANY AND EACH OTHER PERSON WHO SHALL BECOME A PARTY HERETO
BY EXECUTION OF A JOINDER AGREEMENT (each a “
Grantor ”, and collectively with the Company, the
“ Grantors ”), and U.S. BANK NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION , as collateral agent (together with any successor,
the “ Collateral Agent ”) for the Trustee (as
defined below) and each Holder (collectively with the Collateral
Agent, the “ Secured Parties ”). All capitalized
terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the
respective meanings assigned thereto in the Indenture (as defined
below).
W I T N E S S E T
H :
WHEREAS , 6.00% Senior Secured Convertible Notes due
2012 of the Company (the “ Securities ”), in the
original aggregate principal amount of $85,627,000.00 will be
issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of May 7, 2009 (as
amended, modified, supplemented, restated or amended and restated
from time to time, the “ Indenture ”), among the
Company, the Guarantors and U.S. Bank National Association, as
trustee (the “ Trustee ”);
WHEREAS , each Guarantor has, pursuant to the Indenture,
unconditionally guaranteed the Secured Obligations (as defined
below);
WHEREAS , the Company and each other Grantor will
materially benefit from the issuance of the Securities;
and
WHEREAS , it is a condition to the issuance and sale of
the Securities that the Grantors execute and deliver this Security
Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE
, in consideration of the premises
and the mutual covenants contained herein, the parties hereto agree
as follows:
1. Certain Definitions . Terms used
in this Security Agreement, not otherwise expressly defined herein
or in the Indenture, and for which meanings are provided in the
Uniform Commercial Code of the State of New York (the “
UCC ”), shall have such meanings.
2. Grant of Security Interest . Each
Grantor hereby grants as collateral security for the payment,
performance and satisfaction of all of the Indenture Obligations
and the payment and performance of its obligations and liabilities
(whether now existing or hereafter arising) hereunder or under any
other Note Document to which it is now or hereafter becomes a party
(such Indenture Obligations, obligations and liabilities of the
Grantors referred to collectively as the “ Secured
Obligations ”), to the Collateral Agent for the benefit
of the Secured Parties a continuing security interest in and to,
and collaterally assigns to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of
the Secured Parties, all of the personal property and trade
fixtures of such Grantor or in which such Grantor has or may have
or acquire an interest or the power to transfer rights therein,
whether now owned or existing or hereafter created, acquired or
arising and wheresoever located, including the
following:
(a) All accounts, and including
accounts receivable, contracts, bills, acceptances, choses in
action, and other forms of monetary obligations at any time owing
to such Grantor arising out of property sold, leased, licensed,
assigned or otherwise disposed of or for services rendered or to be
rendered by such Grantor, and all of such Grantor’s rights
with respect to any property represented thereby, whether or not
delivered, property returned by customers and all rights as an
unpaid vendor or lienor, including rights of stoppage in transit
and of recovering possession by proceedings including replevin and
reclamation (collectively referred to hereinafter as “
Accounts ”);
(b) All new and used vehicle
inventory (including all inventory consisting of new or used
automobiles or trucks with a gross vehicle weight of less than
16,000 pounds) in which such Grantor now or at any time hereafter
may have an interest, whether or not the same is in transit or in
the constructive, actual or exclusive occupancy or possession of
such Grantor or is held by such Grantor or by others for such
Grantor’s account (all of the foregoing, collectively
referred to hereinafter as “ Vehicle Inventory
”);
(c) All other inventory, including
all goods manufactured or acquired for sale or lease, and any piece
goods, raw materials, work in process and finished merchandise,
component materials, and all supplies, goods, incidentals, office
supplies, packaging materials and any and all items used or
consumed in the operation of the business of such Grantor or which
may contribute to the finished product or to the sale, promotion
and shipment thereof, in which such Grantor now or at any time
hereafter may have an interest, whether or not the same is in
transit or in the constructive, actual or exclusive occupancy or
possession of such Grantor or is held by such Grantor or by others
for such Grantor’s account, (together with the Vehicle
Inventory, collectively referred to hereinafter as “
Inventory ”);
(d) All goods, including all
machinery, equipment, motor vehicles, parts, supplies, apparatus,
appliances, tools, patterns, molds, dies, blueprints, fittings,
furniture, furnishings, trade fixtures and articles of tangible
personal property of every description, and all computer programs
embedded in any of the foregoing and all supporting information
relating to such computer programs (collectively referred to
hereinafter as “ Equipment ”);
(e) Any right of such Grantor in
(i) contracts in transit relating to any Vehicle Inventory
(including any Vehicle Inventory that has been sold, leased or
otherwise
disposed of by such Grantor),
(ii) any written or oral agreement of any finance company or
other Person to provide financing for, or to pay all or any portion
of the purchase price of any Vehicle Inventory (including any
Vehicle Inventory that has been sold, leased or otherwise disposed
of by such Grantor) or (iii) any amount to be received under
such contracts or agreements (collectively referred to hereinafter
as “ Contracts In Transit ”);
(f) All other general intangibles,
including all rights now or hereafter accruing to such Grantor
under contracts, leases, agreements or other instruments, including
all contracts or contract rights to perform or receive services, to
purchase or sell goods (including the Vehicle Inventory) or to hold
or use land or facilities, and to enforce all rights thereunder,
all causes of action, corporate or business records, inventions,
patents and patent rights, rights in mask works, designs, trade
names and trademarks and all goodwill associated therewith, trade
secrets, trade processes, copyrights, licenses, permits,
franchises, customer lists, computer programs and software, all
internet domain names and registration rights thereto, all internet
websites and the content thereof, all payment intangibles, all
claims under guaranties, tax refund claims, all rights and claims
against carriers and shippers, leases, all claims under insurance
policies, all interests in general and limited partnerships,
limited liability companies, and other Persons not constituting
Investment Property (as defined below), all rights to
indemnification and all other intangible personal property and
intellectual property of every kind and nature, (together with the
Contracts-In-Transit, collectively referred to hereinafter as
“ General Intangibles ”);
(g) All deposit accounts, including
demand, time, savings, passbook, or other similar accounts
maintained with any bank by or for the benefit of such Grantor
(collectively referred to hereinafter as “ Deposit
Accounts ”);
(h) All chattel paper, including
tangible chattel paper, electronic chattel paper, or any hybrid
thereof (collectively referred to hereinafter as “ Chattel
Paper ”);
(i) All investment property,
including all securities, security entitlements, securities
accounts, commodity contracts and commodity accounts of or
maintained for the benefit of such Grantor, but excluding pledged
equity interests subject to either (y) the Securities Pledge
Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as amended, modified,
supplemented, restated or amended and restated from time to time,
the “ Pledge Agreement ”), among the grantors
party thereto and the Collateral Agent or (z) the Security
Agreement (Escrowed Equity), dated as of the date hereof (as
amended, modified, supplemented, restated or amended and restated
from time to time, the “ Security Agreement (Escrowed
Equity) ”), among the grantors party thereto and the
Collateral Agent, and the other property excluded by the proviso at
the end of this Section 2 (collectively referred to
hereinafter as “ Investment Property
”);
(j) All instruments, including all
promissory notes (collectively referred to hereinafter as “
Instruments ”);
(k) All documents, including
manufacturer statements of origin, certificates or origin, and
certificates of title or ownership relating to any Vehicle
Inventory, warehouse
receipts, bills of lading and other
documents of title (collectively referred to hereinafter as “
Documents ”);
(l) All rights to payment or
performance under letters of credit including rights to proceeds of
letters of credit (“ Letter-of-Credit Rights ”),
and all guaranties, endorsements, Liens, other Guarantee
obligations or supporting obligations of any Person securing or
supporting the payment, performance, value or liquidation of any of
the foregoing (collectively, with Letter-of-Credit Rights, referred
to hereinafter as “ Supporting Obligations
”);
(m) The commercial tort claims
identified on Schedule 8(h) hereto, as such Schedule may be
supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof
(collectively referred to hereinafter as “ Commercial Tort
Claims ”);
(n) All books and records relating
to any of the forgoing (including customer data, credit files,
ledgers, computer programs, printouts, and other computer materials
and records (and all media on which such data, files, programs,
materials and records are or may be stored)); and
(o) All proceeds, products and
replacements of, accessions to, and substitutions for, any of the
foregoing, including without limitation, proceeds of insurance
policies insuring any of the foregoing;
All of the property and interests in
property described in subsections (a) through (o) are
herein collectively referred to as the “ Collateral
”; provided , however , that Collateral shall
not include any Excluded Property. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the grant of a security interest and collateral assignment under
this Section 2 shall not extend to any of the following
(collectively, “ Excluded Property ”):
(A) any Franchise Agreement (as defined in the Credit Facility
as of the date hereof), Framework Agreement (as defined in the
Credit Facility as of the date hereof) or similar manufacturer
agreement to the extent that any such Franchise Agreement (as
defined in the Credit Facility as of the date hereof), Framework
Agreement (as defined in the Credit Facility as of the date hereof)
or similar manufacturer agreement is not assignable or capable of
being encumbered as a matter of law or by the terms applicable
thereto (unless any such restriction on assignment or encumbrance
is ineffective under the UCC or other applicable law), without the
consent of the applicable party thereto, (B) the Restricted
Equity Interests (as defined in the Security Agreement (Escrowed
Equity)) to the extent that applicable law or terms of the
applicable Franchise Agreement (as defined in the Credit Facility
as of the date hereof), Framework Agreement (as defined in the
Credit Facility as of the date hereof) or similar manufacturer
agreement would prohibit the pledge or encumbrance thereof (unless
any such restriction on assignment or encumbrance is ineffective
under the UCC or other applicable law), without the consent of the
applicable party thereto, (C) any property financed by
manufacturer-affiliated finance companies pursuant to an Inventory
Facility permitted to be incurred under the Indenture and that
secures such obligations on a first priority basis, (D) any
pledges of stock or other equity interests of a Guarantor to the
extent that Rule 3-16 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act
requires or would require (or is replaced with another rule or
regulation, or any other law, rule or regulation is adopted, that
would require) the filing with the SEC of separate financial
statements of such Guarantor that are not otherwise required to be
filed, but only to the extent necessary to not be subject to such
requirement, (E) equity interests in Unrestricted
Subsidiaries (subject to future grants under the
terms of the Indenture), (F) any pledge of more than 65% of
the total outstanding voting stock issued by any Subsidiary
organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United
States, (G) any Permitted Real Estate Indebtedness Collateral
(as defined on Exhibit A ), (H) any other real property
or (I) any other assets excluded from, or that (for any other
reason) are not included in, the Collateral securing the Credit
Facility from time to time after the date hereof; provided ,
that (i) if any of the foregoing property described in clauses
(A) through (I) ceases to be “Excluded
Property” by its terms, such property shall no longer
constitute Excluded Property and shall automatically be deemed to
be Collateral under this Security Agreement and each other Note
Document, as applicable, (ii) if any material property becomes
“Excluded Property” by the operation of clause
(I) above, the Company shall promptly notify the Collateral
Agent of such property and (iii) if any real property ever
secures the Credit Facility on a first-priority basis, such real
property shall be Collateral and the relevant Grantor shall cause
such real property to secure the Secured Obligations on a
second-priority basis with mortgage, real estate trust deed or
similar instruments of Lien containing terms no more restrictive to
the relevant Grantor than in the first-priority basis.
3. Perfection . (a) As of the
date of execution of this Security Agreement or Joinder Agreement
by each Grantor, as applicable (with respect to each Grantor, its
“ Applicable Date ”), such Grantor shall
have:
(i) furnished the Collateral Agent
with duly authorized financing statements in form, number and
substance suitable for filing, sufficient under applicable law, and
satisfactory to the Collateral Agent in order that upon the filing
of the same the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured
Parties, shall have a duly perfected security interest in all
Collateral in which a security interest can be perfected by the
filing of financing statements; and
(ii) delivered to the Collateral
Agent, or an agent or bailee of the Collateral Agent, all
Collateral with respect to which either a security interest can be
perfected only by possession or a security interest perfected by
possession shall have priority as against Persons not having
possession, and including in the case of Instruments, Documents,
and Investment Property in the form of certificated securities,
duly executed endorsements or stock powers in blank, as the case
may be, affixed thereto in form and substance acceptable to the
Collateral Agent and sufficient under applicable law so that the
Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, shall
have a security interest in all such Collateral perfected by
possession;
with the effect that the Liens
conferred in favor of the Collateral Agent shall be and remain duly
perfected and subject only, to the extent applicable, to Permitted
Liens. All financing statements (including all amendments thereto
and continuations thereof), certificates, stock powers and other
documents furnished in connection with the creation, enforcement,
protection, perfection or priority of the Collateral Agent’s
security interest in Collateral, including such items as are
described above in this Section 3 , are sometimes
referred to herein as “ Perfection Documents ”.
The delivery of possession of items of or evidencing Collateral,
causing other Persons to execute and deliver Perfection Documents
as appropriate, the filing or recordation of Perfection Documents,
the establishment of control over items of Collateral, and the
taking of such other actions as may be necessary or advisable in
the determination of the Collateral Agent to create, enforce,
protect, perfect, or establish or maintain the priority of, the
security interest of the
Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured
Parties in the Collateral is sometimes referred to herein as
“ Perfection Action ”.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary in this Security Agreement or any other Note Document,
(i) no Grantor shall be required to deliver to the Collateral
Agent, or an agent or bailee of the Collateral Agent, any motor-
vehicle certificate of title or any other document of title and
(ii) no Grantor shall be required to enter into, or to obtain
for the benefit of the Collateral Agent or any Holder, any deposit
account control agreement, securities account control agreement,
issuer acknowledgement of the Collateral Agent’s interest in
Letter-of-Credit Rights, agreements regarding the control of
electronic Chattel Paper (or the electronic components of hybrid
Chattel Paper), acknowledgements of warehousemen or bailees or
other agreements or instruments, with or from third parties,
similar to any of the foregoing.
4. Second Priority Nature of Liens .
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the lien and
security interest granted to the Collateral Agent pursuant to this
Security Agreement shall be a second priority lien on and security
interest in the Collateral to the extent provided in the
Intercreditor Agreement and the exercise of any right or remedy by
the Collateral Agent hereunder is subject to the provisions of the
Intercreditor Agreement. In the event of any conflict between the
terms of the Intercreditor Agreement and this Security Agreement,
the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement shall govern and control.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, prior to the
Discharge of the First Lien Debt (as defined in the Intercreditor
Agreement), the requirements of this Security Agreement to
physically deliver any Collateral to the Collateral Agent or to
cause the Collateral Agent to obtain control of any such Collateral
shall be deemed satisfied by delivery of such Collateral to the
First Lien Agent (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement), as
agent and bailee of the Collateral Agent, or by causing the First
Lien Agent, as agent and bailee of the Collateral Agent, to obtain
control of such Collateral, as applicable, in accordance with the
Intercreditor Agreement.
5. Maintenance of Security
Interest; Further Assurances .
(a) Each Grantor will from time to
time at its own expense, deliver specific assignments of Collateral
or such other Perfection Documents, and take such other or
additional Perfection Action, as may be required by the terms of
the Indenture in connection with the administration or enforcement
of this Security Agreement or related to the Collateral or any part
thereof in order to carry out the terms of this Security Agreement,
to perfect, protect, maintain the priority of or enforce the
Collateral Agent’s security interest in the Collateral,
subject only to Permitted Liens, or otherwise to better assure and
confirm unto the Collateral Agent its rights, powers and remedies
for the benefit of the Secured Parties hereunder. Without limiting
the foregoing, each Grantor hereby irrevocably authorizes the
Collateral Agent to file (with, or to the extent permitted by
applicable law, without the signature of the Grantor appearing
thereon) financing statements (including amendments thereto and
initial financing statements in lieu of continuation statements) or
other Perfection Documents (including copies thereof) showing such
Grantor as “debtor” at such time or times and in all
filing offices as the Collateral Agent may from time to time
determine to be necessary or advisable to perfect or protect the
rights of the Collateral Agent and the Secured Parties hereunder,
or otherwise to give effect to the transactions herein
contemplated. Each Grantor hereby irrevocably ratifies and
acknowledges the Collateral Agent’s authority to have
effected
filings of Perfection Documents made
by the Collateral Agent prior to its Applicable Date.
(b) With respect to any and all
Collateral, each Grantor agrees to do and cause to be done all
things necessary to perfect, maintain the priority of and keep in
full force the security interest granted in favor of the Collateral
Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, including, but not
limited to, the prompt payment upon demand therefor by the
Collateral Agent of all fees and expenses (including documentary
stamp, excise or intangibles taxes) incurred in connection with the
preparation, delivery, or filing of any Perfection Document or the
taking of any Perfection Action to perfect, protect or enforce a
security interest in Collateral in favor of the Collateral Agent
for the benefit of the Secured Parties, subject only to Permitted
Liens. All amounts not so paid when due shall constitute additional
Secured Obligations and (in addition to other rights and remedies
resulting from such nonpayment) shall bear interest from the date
of demand until paid in full at the then applicable interest rate
borne by the Securities.
(c) Each Grantor agrees to maintain
among its books and records appropriate notations or evidence of,
and to make or cause to be made appropriate disclosure upon its
financial statements of, the security interest granted hereunder to
the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured
Parties.
(d) Each Grantor agrees that, in the
event any proceeds (other than goods) of Collateral shall be or
become commingled with other property not constituting Collateral,
then such proceeds may, to the extent permitted by law, be
identified by application of the lowest intermediate balance rule
to such commingled property.
6. Preservation and Protection
of Collateral .
(a) The Collateral Agent shall be
under no duty or liability with respect to the collection,
protection or preservation of the Collateral, or otherwise. Each
Grantor shall be responsible for the safekeeping of its Collateral,
and in no event shall the Collateral Agent have any responsibility
for (i) any loss or damage thereto or destruction thereof
occurring or arising in any manner or fashion from any cause,
(ii) any diminution in the value thereof, or (iii) any
act or default of any carrier, warehouseman, bailee or forwarding
agency thereof or other Person in any way dealing with or handling
such Collateral.
(b) No Grantor shall permit any such
items having an aggregate value in excess of $1,000,000 to become a
fixture to real property (other than any signage fixture attached
in the ordinary course of business or unless such Grantor has
granted the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties
a Lien on such real property) or accessions to other personal
property.
(c) Each Grantor agrees (i) to
pay prior to delinquency all taxes, charges and assessments against
the Collateral in which it has any interest, unless being contested
in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and
against which adequate reserves have been established in accordance
with GAAP applied on a basis consistent with the application of
GAAP in the audited financial statements of the Company
and
evidenced to the satisfaction of the
Collateral Agent and provided that all enforcement proceedings in
the nature of levy or foreclosure are effectively stayed, and
(ii) to cause to be terminated and released all Liens (other
than Permitted Liens) on the Collateral. Upon the failure of any
Grantor to so pay or contest such taxes, charges, or assessments,
or cause such Liens to be terminated, the Collateral Agent at its
option may pay or contest any of them or amounts relating thereto
(the Collateral Agent having the sole right to determine the
legality or validity and the amount necessary to discharge such
taxes, charges, Liens or assessments) but shall not have any
obligation to make any such payment or contest. All sums so
disbursed by the Collateral Agent, including fees, charges and
disbursements of counsel (“ Attorney Costs ”),
court costs, expenses and other charges related thereto, shall be
payable on demand by the applicable Grantor to the Collateral Agent
and shall be additional Secured Obligations secured by the
Collateral, and any amounts not so paid on demand (in addition to
other rights and remedies resulting from such nonpayment) shall
bear interest at the then applicable interest rate borne by the
Securities.
7. Status of Grantors and Collateral
Generally . Each Grantor represents and warrants to, and
covenants with, the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured
Parties, with respect to itself and the Collateral as to which it
has or acquires any interest, that:
(a) It is at its Applicable Date (or
as to Collateral acquired after its Applicable Date will be upon
the acquisition of the same) and, except as permitted by the
Indenture and subsection (b) of this
Section 7 , will continue to be, the owner of the
Collateral, free and clear of all Liens, other than the security
interest hereunder in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit
of the Secured Parties and Permitted Liens, and that it will at its
own cost and expense defend such Collateral and any products and
proceeds thereof against all claims and demands of all Persons
(other than holders of Permitted Liens) to the extent of their
claims permitted under the Indenture at any time claiming the same
or any interest therein adverse to the Secured Parties. Upon the
failure of any Grantor to so defend, the Collateral Agent may do so
at its option but shall not have any obligation to do so. All sums
so disbursed by the Collateral Agent, including reasonable Attorney
Costs, court costs, expenses and other charges related thereto,
shall be payable on demand by the applicable Grantor to the
Collateral Agent and shall be additional Secured Obligations
secured by the Collateral, and any amounts not so paid on demand
(in addition to other rights and remedies resulting from such
nonpayment) shall bear interest at the then applicable interest
rate borne by the Securities.
(b) It shall not (i) sell,
assign, transfer, lease, license or otherwise dispose of any of, or
grant any option with respect to, the Collateral, except for
dispositions permitted by the Indenture or (ii) create or
suffer to exist any Lien upon or with respect to any of the
Collateral except for the security interests created by this
Security Agreement and Permitted Liens, or (iii) take any
other action in connection with any of the Collateral that would
materially impair the value of the interest or rights of such
Grantor in the Collateral taken as a whole or that would materially
impair the interest or rights of the Collateral Agent for the
benefit of the Secured Parties, except with respect to any action
not prohibited by the Indenture.
(c) It has full power, legal right
and lawful authority to enter into this Security Agreement (and any
Joinder Agreement applicable to it) and to perform its terms,
including the grant of the security interests in the Collateral
herein provided for.
(d) No authorization, consent,
approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any
governmental authority or any other Person which has not been given
or obtained, as the case may be, is required either (i) for
the grant by such Grantor of the security interests granted hereby
or for the execution, delivery or performance of this Security
Agreement (or any Joinder Agreement) by such Grantor, or
(ii) for the perfection of or the exercise by the Collateral
Agent, on behalf of the Secured Parties, of its rights and remedies
hereunder, except for actions required by the Uniform Commercial
Codes of applicable jurisdictions (which UCC-1 financing statement
filings will be made substantially concurrently with the execution
of this Security Agreement), and federal statutes regarding
copyrights, patents and trademarks, to perfect and exercise
remedies with respect to the security interest conferred
hereunder.
(e) No effective financing statement
or other Perfection Document similar in effect, nor any other
Perfection Action, covering all or any part of the Collateral
purported to be granted or taken by or on behalf of such Grantor
(or by or on behalf of any other Person and which remains effective
as against all or any part of the Collateral) has been filed in any
recording office, delivered to another Person for filing (whether
upon the occurrence of a contingency or otherwise), or otherwise
taken, as the case may be, except such as pertain to Permitted
Liens and such as may have been filed for the benefit of, delivered
to, or taken in favor of, the Collateral Agent for the benefit of
the Secured Parties in connection with the security interests
conferred hereunder.
(f) Schedule 7(f) attached
hereto contains true and complete information as to each of the
following: (i) the exact legal name of each Grantor as it
appears in its organizational documents as of its Applicable Date
and at any time during the five (5) year period ending as of
its Applicable Date (the “ Covered Period ”),
(ii) the jurisdiction of formation and form of organization of
each Grantor, and the identification number of such Grantor in its
jurisdiction of formation (if any) and (iii) each address of
the chief executive office of each Grantor as of its Applicable
Date and at any time during the Covered Period. No Grantor shall
change its name, change its jurisdiction of formation (whether by
reincorporation, merger or otherwise) or change the location of its
chief executive office, except in each case upon giving not less
than thirty (30) days’ prior written notice to the
Collateral Agent and taking or causing to be taken at such
Grantor’s expense all such Perfection Action, including the
delivery of such Perfection Documents, as may be reasonably
requested by the Collateral Agent to perfect or protect, or
maintain the perfection and priority of, the Lien of the Collateral
Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties in Collateral
contemplated hereunder.
(g) No Grantor shall engage in any
consignment transaction in respect of any of the Collateral,
whether as consignee or consignor.
(h) No Grantor shall cause, suffer
or permit any of the tangible personal property Collateral
(i) to be evidenced by any document of title (except for
shipping documents as necessary or customary to effect the receipt
of such Collateral or the
delivery of such Collateral to such
Grantor or to customers, in each case in the ordinary course of
business, and motor vehicle certificates of title).
8. Inspection . The Collateral Agent
(by any of its officers, employees and agents), on behalf of the
Secured Parties, shall have the right, upon prior notice to an
executive officer of any Grantor, and at any reasonable times
during such Grantor’s usual business hours, to inspect the
Collateral, all records related thereto (and to make extracts or
copies from such records), and the premises upon which any of the
Collateral is located, to discuss such Grantor’s affairs and
finances with any Person (other than Persons obligated on any
Accounts (“ Account Debtors ”) except as
expressly otherwise permitted in the Indenture) and to verify with
any Person other than (except as expressly otherwise permitted in
the Indenture) Account Debtors the amount, quality, quantity, value
and condition of, or any other matter relating to, the Collateral
and, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, to
discuss such Grantor’s affairs and finances with such
Grantor’s Account Debtors and to verify the amount, quality,
value and condition of, or any other matter relating to, the
Collateral with such Account Debtors. If an Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing, the Collateral Agent may at any time
and from time to time employ and maintain on such Grantor’s
premises a custodian selected by the Collateral Agent who shall
have full authority to do all acts necessary to protect the
Collateral Agent’s (for the benefit of the Secured Parties)
interest. All expenses incurred by the Collateral Agent, on behalf
of the Secured Parties, by reason of the employment of such
custodian shall be paid by such Grantor on demand from time to time
and shall be added to the Secured Obligations secured by the
Collateral, and any amounts not so paid on demand (in addition to
other rights and remedies resulting from such nonpayment) shall
bear interest at the then applicable interest rate borne by the
Securities.
9. Specific Collateral
.
(a) Accounts . With
respect to its Accounts whether now existing or hereafter created
or acquired and wheresoever located, each Grantor represents,
warrants and covenants to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of
the Secured Parties that:
(i) Such Grantor shall keep accurate
and complete records of its Accounts.
(ii) From time to time, at the
Collateral Agent’s request, the Company shall provide the
Collateral Agent with a schedule of Accounts in excess of
$1,000,000 describing all Accounts created or acquired by all
Grantors (“ Schedule of Accounts ”);
provided , however , that the Company’s failure
to execute and deliver any such Schedule of Accounts shall not
affect or limit the Collateral Agent’s security interest or
other rights in and to any Accounts for the benefit of the Secured
Parties.
(b) Inventory . With
respect to its Inventory whether now existing or hereafter created
or acquired and wheresoever located, each Grantor represents,
warrants and covenants to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of
the Secured Parties that:
(i) Such Grantor shall keep accurate
and complete records itemizing and describing (1) with respect
to its Vehicle Inventory, each new and used
vehicle, including the year, make,
model, cost, price, location and Vehicle Identification Number, and
(2) with respect to all Inventory, the kind, type, location
and quantity of such Inventory, its cost therefor and the selling
price of Inventory held for sale, and the daily withdrawals
therefrom and additions thereto.
(ii) Such Grantor shall furnish to
the Collateral Agent from time to time, at the Collateral
Agent’s request, a current schedule of Inventory (including
Vehicle Inventory) based upon its most recent physical inventory
and its daily inventory records.
(iii) Each Grantor shall conduct a
physical inventory no less frequently than annually, and shall
furnish to the Collateral Agent such other documents and reports
thereof as the Collateral Agent shall reasonably request with
respect to the Inventory during the continuance of any Event of
Default.
(c) Equipment . With
respect to its Equipment whether now existing or hereafter created
or acquired and wheresoever located, each Grantor represents,
warrants and covenants to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of
the Secured Parties that:
(i) Such Grantor, as soon as
practicable following a request therefor by the Collateral Agent
during the continuance of any Event of Default, shall deliver to
the Collateral Agent any and all evidence of ownership of any of
the Equipment (including without limitation certificates of title
and applications for title).
(ii) Such Grantor shall maintain
accurate, itemized records describing the kind, type, quality,
quantity and value of its Equipment and shall furnish the
Collateral Agent upon request, during the continuance of any
Default or Event of Default, with a current schedule containing the
foregoing information.
(d) Supporting Obligations
. With respect to its Supporting Obligations whether now
existing or hereafter created or acquired and wheresoever located,
each Grantor represents, warrants and covenants to the Collateral
Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties that:
(i) Such Grantor shall
(A) furnish to the Collateral Agent from time to time at the
Collateral Agent’s request, a current list identifying in
reasonable detail each Supporting Obligation relating to any
Collateral from a single obligor in excess of $1,000,000 and
(B) upon the request of the Collateral Agent from time to time
during the continuance of any Default or Event of Default, deliver
to the Collateral Agent, or an agent or bailee of the Collateral
Agent, the originals of all documents evidencing or constituting
Supporting Obligations, together with such other documentation
(executed as appropriate by the Grantor) and information as may be
necessary to enable the Collateral Agent to realize upon the
Supporting Obligations in accordance with their respective terms or
transfer the Supporting Obligations as may be permitted under the
Indenture or by applicable law.
(ii) With respect to each
transferable letter of credit giving rise to Letter-of-Credit
Rights that has an aggregate stated amount available to be drawn in
excess of $500,000, such Grantor shall, at the Collateral
Agent’s request, during the continuance of any Default or
Event of Default, deliver to the Collateral Agent, or an agent or
bailee of the Collateral Agent, a duly executed, undated transfer
form in blank sufficient in form and substance under the terms of
the related letter of credit to effect, upon completion and
delivery to the letter of credit issuer together with any required
fee, the transfer of such letter of credit to the transferee
identified in such form. Each Grantor hereby expressly authorizes
the Collateral Agent following the occurrence and during the
continuance of any Event of Default to complete and tender each
such transfer form as transferor in its own name or in the name,
place and stead of the Grantor in order to effect any such
transfer, either to the Collateral Agent or to another transferee,
as the case may be, in connection with any sale or other
disposition of Collateral or for any other purpose permitted under
the Indenture or by applicable law.
(e) Investment Property
. With respect to its Investment Property whether now existing
or hereafter created or acquired and wheresoever located, each
Grantor represents, warrants and covenants to the Collateral Agent
for the benefit of the Secured Parties that:
(i) Any certificated securities
shall be delivered to the Collateral Agent, or its agent or bailee,
together with duly executed undated stock powers endorsed in blank
pertaining thereto.
(ii) All dividends and other
distributions with respect to any of the Investment Property shall
be subject to the security interest conferred hereunder,
provided , however , that cash dividends paid to a
Grantor as record owner of the Investment Property may be disbursed
to and retained by such Grantor.
(iii) So long as no Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing, each Grantor shall be
entitled to exercise all voting and other rights and powers
pertaining to Investment Property for all purposes not inconsistent
with the terms hereof or the Indenture.
(iv) Upon the occurrence and during
the continuance of any Event of Default, at the option of the
Collateral Agent upon notice to the relevant Grantor, all rights of
the Grantors to exercise the voting or consensual rights and powers
which it is authorized to exercise pursuant to clause
(iii) immediately above shall cease and the Collateral Agent
may thereupon (but shall not be obligated to), at its request,
cause such Collateral to be registered in the name of the
Collateral Agent or its nominee or agent for the benefit of the
Secured Parties and/or exercise such voting or consensual rights
and powers as appertain to ownership of such Collateral, and to
that end each Grantor hereby appoints the Collateral Agent as its
proxy, with full power of substitution, to vote and exercise all
other rights as a shareholder with respect to such Investment
Property upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any
Event of Default, which proxy is coupled with an interest and is
irrevocable until the termination of this Security Agreement,
and
each Grantor hereby agrees to
provide such further proxies as the Collateral Agent may request;
provided, however, that the Collateral Agent in its discretion may
from time to time refrain from exercising, and shall not be
obligated to exercise, any such voting or consensual rights or such
proxy.
(f) Chattel Paper .
With respect to its Chattel Paper whether now existing or hereafter
created or acquired and wheresoever located, each Grantor
represents, warrants and covenants to the Collateral Agent for the
benefit of the Secured Parties that to the extent so expressly
required by the Indenture:
(i) Such Grantor shall at all times
retain sole physical possession of the originals of all Chattel
Paper (other than electronic Chattel Paper and the electronic
components of hybrid Chattel Paper); provided ,
however , that (x) upon the request of the Collateral
Agent upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Default
or Event of Default, such Grantor shall immediately deliver
physical possession of such Chattel Paper to the Collateral Agent
or its designee, and (y) in the event that there shall be
created more than one original counterpart of any physical document
that alone or in conjunction with any other physical or electronic
document constitutes Chattel Paper, then such counterparts shall be
numbered consecutively starting with “1” and such
Grantor shall retain the counterpart numbered
“1”.
(ii) Upon the occurrence and during
the continuance of any Event of Default, at the request of the
Collateral Agent, such Grantor shall promptly and conspicuously
legend all counterparts of all tangible Chattel Paper substantially
as follows: “A SECURITY INTEREST IN THIS CHATTEL PAPER HAS
BEEN GRANTED TO U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, FOR ITSELF AND AS
COLLATERAL AGENT FOR CERTAIN HOLDERS PURSUANT TO A SECURITY
AGREEMENT DATED AS OF MAY 7, 2009, AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME.
EXCEPT WITH RESPECT TO THE SECURITY AGREEMENT DATED AS OF FEBRUARY
17, 2006 (OR OTHERWISE WITH RESPECT TO A CREDIT FACILITY) AND THE
SECURITY INTEREST GRANTED TO BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. FOR ITSELF AND
FOR CERTAIN LENDERS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, NO SECURITY INTEREST
OR OTHER INTEREST IN FAVOR OF ANY OTHER PERSON MAY BE CREATED BY
THE TRANSFER OF PHYSICAL POSSESSION OF THIS CHATTEL PAPER OR OF ANY
COUNTERPART HEREOF EXCEPT BY OR WITH THE CONSENT OF THE AFORESAID
COLLATERAL AGENT AS PROVIDED IN SUCH SECURITY AGREEMENT”.
Upon the occurrence or during the continuance of any Event of
Default, such Grantor shall not create or acquire any electronic
Chattel Paper (including the electronic components of hybrid
Chattel Paper), unless, prior to such acquisition or creation, it
shall have taken such Perfection Action as the Collateral Agent may
require to perfect by control the security interest of the
Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties in such
Collateral.
(iii) Other than in the ordinary
course of business and in keeping with reasonable and customary
practice, no Grantor shall amend, modify, waive or
terminate any provision of, or fail
to exercise promptly and diligently each material right or remedy
conferred under or in connection with, any Chattel Paper, in any
case in such a manner as could reasonably be expected to materially
adversely affect the value of affected Chattel Paper as
collateral.
(g) Instruments . With
respect to its Instruments whether now existing or hereafter
created or acquired and wheresoever located, each Grantor
represents, warrants and covenants to the Collateral Agent for the
benefit of the Secured Parties that:
(i) Such Grantor shall maintain at
all times, and, upon the request of the Collateral Agent, furnish
to the Collateral Agent a current list identifying in reasonable
detail Instruments of which such Grantor is the payee or holder and
having a face amount payable in excess of $1,000,000 in the
aggregate from any single Person.
(ii) Such Grantor shall, upon the
request of the Collateral Agent, deliver to the Collateral Agent,
or an agent or bailee of the Collateral Agent, the originals of all
such Instruments, together with duly executed undated endorsements
in blank affixed thereto and such other documentation and
information as may be necessary to enable the Collateral Agent to
realize upon the Instruments in accordance with their respective
terms or transfer the Instruments as may be permitted under the
Indenture or by applicable law.
(iii) Other than in the ordinary
course of business and in keeping with reasonable and customary
practice, no Grantor shall amend, modify, waive or terminate any
provision of, or fail to exercise promptly and diligently each
material right or remedy conferred under or in connection with, any
Instrument, in any case in such a manner as could reasonably be
expected to materially adversely affect the value of affected
Instrument as collateral.
(h) Commercial Tort Claims
. With respect to its Commercial Tort Claims whether now
existing or hereafter created or acquired and wheresoever located,
each Grantor represents, warrants and covenants to the Collateral
Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties that:
(i) Schedule 8(h) attached
hereto contains a true and complete list of all Commercial Tort
Claims in which any Grantor has an interest and which have been
identified by a Grantor as of its Applicable Date, and as to which
the Grantor believes in good faith there exists the possibility of
recovery (including by way of settlement) of monetary relief in
excess of $1,000,000 (“ Grantor Claims ”). Each
Grantor shall furnish to the Collateral Agent, quarterly within
fifteen (15) days after the end of each fiscal quarter of the
Company, and upon request by the Collateral Agent, a certificate of
an officer of such Grantor referring to this
Section 8(h) and (x) identifying all Grantor
Claims that are not then described on Schedule 8(h) attached
hereto and stating that each of such additional Grantor Claims
shall be deemed added to such Schedule 8(h) and shall
constitute a Commercial Tort Claim, a Grantor Claim, and additional
Collateral hereunder, and (y) summarizing the status or
disposition of any Grantor Claims that have
been settled, or have been made the
subject of any binding mediation, judicial or arbitral proceeding,
or any judicial or arbitral order on the merits, or that have been
abandoned. With respect to each such additional Grantor Claim, such
Grantor Claim shall be and become part of the Collateral hereunder
from the date such claim is identified to the Collateral Agent as
provided above without further action.
(ii) The Collateral Agent is hereby
authorized (but shall not be obligated to) at the expense of the
applicable Grantor to execute and file such additional financing
statements or amendments to previously filed financing statements,
and take such other action as it may deem necessary or advisable to
perfect the Lien on such additional Grantor Claims conferred
hereunder, and the Grantor shall, if required by applicable law or
otherwise at the request of the Collateral Agent, execute and
deliver such Perfection Documents and take such other Perfection
Action to perfect or protect the Lien of the Collateral Agent for
the benefit of the Secured Parties in such additional Grantor
Claims conferred hereunder.
10. Casualty and Liability
Insurance Required .
(a) Each Grantor will keep the
Collateral continuously insured against such risks as are
customarily insured against by businesses of like size and type
engaged in the same or similar operations.
(b) Each insurance policy obtained
in satisfaction of the requirements of Section 9(a)
:
(i) may be provided by blanket
policies now or hereafter maintained by each or any Grantor or by
the Borrower;
(ii) shall be issued by such insurer
(or insurers) as shall be financially responsible and of recognized
standing;
(iii) shall be in such form and have
such provisions (including, without limitation, the loss payable
clause, the wavier of subrogation clause, the deductible amount, if
any, and the standard mortgagee endorsement clause) as are
generally considered standard provisions for the type of insurance
involved.
(iv) shall prohibit cancellation or
substantial modification, termination or lapse in coverage by the
insurer without at least thirty (30) days’ prior written
notice to the Collateral Agent, except for non-payment of premium,
as to which such policies shall provide for at least ten
(10) days’ prior written notice to the Collateral Agent;
and
(v) without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, all insurance policies where applicable under
Section 9(a) carried on the Collateral shall name the
Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, as second
loss payee and the Collateral Agent and Holders as parties insured
thereunder in respect of any claim for payment.
(c) Prior to expiration of any such
policy, such Grantor shall furnish the Collateral Agent with
evidence that the policy or certificate has been renewed or
replaced or is no longer required by this Security
Agreement.
(d) Each Grantor hereby makes,
constitutes and appoints the Collateral Agent (and all officers,
employees or agents designated by the Collateral Agent), for the
benefit of the Secured Parties, as such Grantor’s true and
lawful attorney (and agent-in-fact) for the purpose of making,
settling and adjusting claims under such policies of insurance,
endorsing the name of such Grantor on any check, draft, instrument
or other item or payment for the proceeds of such policies of
insurance and for making all determinations and decisions with
respect to such policies of insurance, which appointment is coupled
with an interest and is irrevocable; provided, however, that the
powers pursuant to such appointment shall be exercisable only upon
the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of
Default.
11. Rights and Remedies Upon Event of
Default . Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of
any Event of Default, the Collateral Agent shall have the following
rights and remedies on behalf of the Secured Parties in addition to
any rights and remedies set forth elsewhere in the Indenture, this
Security Agreement or any other Note Document, all of which may be
exercised with or, if allowed by law, without notice to a
Grantor:
(a) All of the rights and remedies
of a secured party under the UCC or under other applicable law, all
of which rights and remedies shall be cumulative, and none of which
shall be exclusive, to the extent permitted by law, in addition to
any other rights and remedies contained in the Indenture, this
Security Agreement or any other Note Document;
(b) The right to foreclose the Liens
and security interests created under this Security Agreement by any
available judicial procedure or without judicial
process;
(c) The right to (i) enter upon
the premises of a Grantor through self-help and without judicial
process, without first obtaining a final judgment or giving such
Grantor notice or opportunity for a hearing on the validity of the
Collateral Agent’s claim and without any obligation to pay
rent to such Grantor, or any other place or places where any
Collateral is located and kept, and remove the Collateral therefrom
to the premises of the Collateral Agent or any agent of the
Collateral Agent, for such time as the Collateral Agent may desire,
in order effectively to collect or liquidate the Collateral,
(ii) require such Grantor or any bailee or other agent of such
Grantor to assemble the Collateral and make it available to the
Collateral Agent at a place to be designated by the Collateral
Agent that is reasonably convenient to both parties, and
(iii) notify any or all Persons who have possession of or
control over any Collateral of the occurrence of any Event of
Default and other appropriate circumstances, and exercise control
over and take possession or custody of any or all Collateral in the
possession, custody or control of such other Persons;
(d) The right to (i) exercise
all of a Grantor’s rights and remedies with respect to the
collection of Accounts, Chattel Paper, Instruments, Supporting
Obligations and General Intangibles (collectively, “
Payment Collateral ”), including the right to
demand
payment thereof and enforce payment,
by legal proceedings or otherwise; (ii) settle, adjust,
compromise, extend or renew all or any Payment Collateral or any
legal proceedings pertaining thereto; (iii) discharge and
release all or any Payment Collateral; (iv) take control, in
any manner, of any item of payment or proceeds constituting
Collateral; (v) prepare, file and sign a Grantor’s name
on any proof of claim in bankruptcy, notice of Lien, assignment or
satisfaction of Lien or similar document in any action or
proceeding adverse to any obligor under any Payment Collateral or
otherwise in connection with any Payment Collateral;
(vi) endorse the name of a Grantor upon any chattel paper,
document, instrument, invoice, freight bill, bill of lading or
similar document or agreement relating to any Collateral;
(vii) use the information recorded on or contained on a
Grantor’s internet website or otherwise in any data
processing equipment and computer hardware and software relating to
any Collateral to which a Grantor has access; (viii) open such
Grantor’s mail and collect any and all amounts due to such
Grantor from any Account Debtors or other obligor in respect of
Payment Collateral; (ix) take over such Grantor’s post
office boxes or make other arrangements as the Collateral Agent, on
behalf of the Secured Parties, deems necessary to receive such
Grantor’s mail, including notifying the post office
authorities to change the address for delivery of such
Grantor’s mail to such address as the Collateral Agent, on
behalf of the Secured Parties, may designate; (x) notify any
or all Account Debtors or other obligor on any Payment Collateral
that such Payment Collateral has been assigned to the Collateral
Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties and that Collateral
Agent has a security interest therein for the benefit of the
Secured Parties (provided that the Collateral Agent may at any time
give such notice to an Account Debtor that is a department, agency
or authority of the United States government); each Grantor hereby
agrees that any such notice, in the Collateral Agent’s sole
discretion, may (but need not) be sent on such Grantor’s
stationery, in which event such Grantor shall co-sign such notice
with the Collateral Agent if requested to do so by the Collateral
Agent; and (xi) do all acts and things and execute all
documents necessary, in Collateral Agent’s sole discretion,
to collect the Payment Collateral; and
(e) The right to sell all or any
Collateral in its then existing condition, or after any further
manufacturing or processing thereof, at such time or times, at
public or private sale or sales, with such notice as may be
required by law, in lots or in bulk, for cash or on credit, with or
without representations and warranties, all as the Collateral
Agent, in its sole discretion, may deem advisable. The Collateral
Agent shall have the right to conduct such sales on a
Grantor’s premises or elsewhere and shall have the right to
use a Grantor’s premises without charge for such sales for
such time or times as the Collateral Agent may see fit. The
Collateral Agent may, if it deems it reasonable, postpone or
adjourn any sale of the Collateral from time to time by an
announcement at the time and place of such postponed or adjourned
sale, and such sale may, without further notice, be made at the
time and place to which it was so adjourned. Each Grantor agrees
that the Collateral Agent has no obligation to preserve rights to
the Collateral against prior parties or to marshal any Collateral
for the benefit of any Person. The Collateral Agent for the benefit
of the Secured Parties is hereby granted an irrevocable fully paid
license or other right (including each Grantor’s rights under
any license or any franchise agreement), each of which shall remain
in full force and effect until the termination of this Security
Agreement, to use, without charge, each of the labels, patents,
copyrights, names, trade secrets, trade names, trademarks and
advertising matter,
or any property of a similar nature
owned or licensed by any Grantor, as it pertains to the Collateral,
in completing production of, advertising for sale and selling any
Collateral. If any of the Collateral shall require repairs,
maintenance, preparation or the like, or is in process or other
unfinished state, the Collateral Agent shall have the right, but
shall not be obligated, to perform such repairs, maintenance,
preparation, processing or completion of manufacturing for the
purpose of putting the same in such saleable form as the Collateral
Agent shall deem appropriate, but the Collateral Agent shall have
the right to sell or dispose of the Collateral without such
processing and no Grantor shall have any claim against the
Collateral Agent for the value that may have been added to such
Collateral with such processing. In addition, each Grantor agrees
that in the event notice is necessary under applicable law, written
notice mailed to such Grantor in the manner specified herein ten
(10) days prior to the date of public sale of any of the
Collateral or prior to the date after which any private sale or
other disposition of the Collateral will be made shall constitute
commercially reasonable notice to such Grantor. All notice is
hereby waived with respect to any of the Collateral which threatens
to decline speedily in value or is of a type customarily sold on a
recognized market. The Collateral Agent may purchase all or any
part of the Collateral at public or, if permitted by law, private
sale, free from any right of redemption which is hereby expressly
waived by such Grantor and, in lieu of actual payment of such
purchase price, may set off the amount of such price against the
Secured Obligations. Each Grantor recognizes that the Collateral
Agent may be unable to effect a public sale of certain of the
Collateral by reason of certain prohibitions contained in the
Securities Act, and applicable state law, and may be otherwise
delayed or adversely affected in effecting any sale by reason of
present or future restrictions thereon imposed by governmental
authorities (“ Affected Collateral ”), and that
as a consequence of such prohibitions and restrictions the
Collateral Agent may be compelled (i) to resort to one or more
private sales to a restricted group of purchasers who will be
obliged to agree, among other things, to acquire Affected
Collateral for their own account, for investment and not with a
view to the distribution or resale thereof, or (ii) to seek
regulatory approval of any proposed sale or sales, or (iii) to
limit the amount of Affected Collateral sold to any Person or
group. Each Grantor agrees and acknowledges that private sales so
made may be at prices and upon terms less favorable to such Grantor
than if such Affected Collateral was sold either at public sales or
at private sales not subject to other regulatory restrictions, and
that the Collateral Agent has no obligation to delay the sale of
any Affected Collateral for the period of time necessary to permit
the Grantor or any other Person to register or otherwise qualify
them under or exempt them from any applicable restriction, even if
such Grantor or other Person would agree to register or otherwise
qualify or exempt such Affected Collateral so as to permit a public
sale under the Securities Act or applicable state law. Each Grantor
further agrees, to the extent permitted by applicable law, that the
use of private sales made under the foregoing circumstances to
dispose of Affected Collateral shall be deemed to be dispositions
in a commercially reasonable manner. Each Grantor hereby
acknowledges that a ready market may not exist for Affected
Collateral that is not traded on a national securities exchange or
quoted on an automated quotation system.
The net cash proceeds resulting from
the collection, liquidation, sale, or other disposition of the
Collateral shall be applied first to the expenses (including all
Attorneys’ Costs) of retaking, holding, storing, processing
and preparing for sale, selling, collecting, liquidating and the
like, and then to the satisfaction of all Secured Obligations in
accordance with the terms of
Section 406 of the Indenture. Each Grantor shall be liable
to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties,
and shall pay to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the
Secured Parties, on demand any deficiency which may remain after
such sale, disposition, collection or liquidation of the
Collateral.
12. Attorney-in-Fact . Each Grantor
hereby appoints the Collateral Agent as the Grantor’s
attorney-in-fact for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of
this Security Agreement and taking any action and executing any
instrument which the Collateral Agent may deem necessary or
advisable to accomplish the purposes hereof, which appointment is
irrevocable and coupled with an interest; provided , that
the Collateral Agent shall have and may exercise rights under this
power of attorney only upon the occurrence and during the
continuance of any Event of Default. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, upon the occurrence and during the
continuance of any Event of Default, the Collateral Agent shall
have the right and power:
(a) to ask, demand, collect, sue
for, recover, compromise, receive and give acquittance and receipts
for moneys due and to become due under or in respect of any of the
Collateral;
(b) to receive, endorse and collect
any drafts or other instruments, documents and chattel paper in
connection with clause (a) above;
(c) to endorse such Grantor’s
name on any checks, notes, drafts or any other payment relating to
or constituting proceeds of the Collateral which comes into the
Collateral Agent’s possession or the Collateral Agent’s
control, and deposit the same to the account of the Collateral
Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, on account and for
payment of the Secured Obligations;
(d) to file any claims or take any
action or institute any proceedings that the Collateral Agent may
deem necessary or desirable for the collection of any of the
Collateral or otherwise to enforce the rights of the Collateral
Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, with respect to any
of the Collateral; and
(e) to execute, in connection with
any sale or other disposition of Collateral provided for herein,
any endorsement, assignments, or other instruments of conveyance or
transfer with respect thereto.
13. Reinstatement . The granting of a
security interest in the Collateral and the other provisions hereof
shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may
be, if at any time any payment of any of the Secured Obligations is
rescinded or must otherwise be returned by any Secured Party or is
repaid by any Secured Party in whole or in part in good faith
settlement of a pending or threatened avoidance claim, whether upon
the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of any Grantor or
otherwise, all as though such payment had not been made. The
provisions of this Section 12 shall survive repayment
of all of the Secured Obligations and the termination or expiration
of this Security Agreement in any manner.
14. Certain Waivers by the Grantors .
Each Grantor waives to the extent permitted by applicable law
(a) any right to require any Secured Party or any other
obligee of the Secured
Obligations to (x) proceed against any
Person or entity, including without limitation any Grantor,
(y) proceed against or exhaust any Collateral or other
collateral for the Secured Obligations, or (z) pursue any
other remedy in its power; (b) any defense arising by reason
of any disability or other defense of any other Person, or by
reason of the cessation from any cause whatsoever of the liability
of any other Person or entity, (c) any right of subrogation,
and (d) any right to enforce any remedy which any Secured
Party or any other obligee of the Secured Obligations now has or
may hereafter have against any other Person and any benefit of and
any right to participate in any collateral or security whatsoever
now or hereafter held by the Collateral Agent for the benefit of
the Secured Parties. Each Grantor authorizes the Collateral Agent
and the Trustee without notice (except notice required by
applicable law or the Indenture) or demand and without affecting
its liability hereunder, under the Indenture or under the other
Note Documents from time to time to: (i) take and hold
security, other than the Collateral herein described, for the
payment of such Secured Obligations or any part thereof, and
exchange, enforce, waive and release the Collateral herein
described or any part thereof or any such other security; and
(ii) apply such Collateral or other security and direct the
order or manner of sale thereof as the Collateral Agent or the
Trustee in its discretion may determine.
The Collateral Agent may at any time
deliver (without representation, recourse or warranty) the
Collateral or any part thereof to a Grantor and the receipt thereof
by such Grantor shall be a complete and full acquittance for the
Collateral so delivered, and the Collateral Agent shall thereafter
be discharged from any liability or responsibility
therefor.
15. Continued Powers . Until the
termination of this Security Agreement, the power of sale and other
rights, powers and remedies granted to the Collateral Agent for the
benefit of the Secured Parties hereunder shall continue to exist
and may, after the occurrence and during the continuance of any
Event of Default, be exercised by the Collateral Agent at any time
and from time to time irrespective of the fact that any of the
Secured Obligations or any part thereof may have become barred by
any statute of limitations or that any part of the liability of any
Grantor may have ceased.
16. Other Rights . The rights, powers
and remedies given to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the
Secured Parties by this Security Agreement shall be in addition to
all rights, powers and remedies given to the Collateral Agent or
any Secured Party under the Indenture or any other Note Document or
by virtue of any statute or rule of law. Any forbearance or failure
or delay by the Collateral Agent in exercising any right, power or
remedy hereunder shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such right,
power or remedy, and any single or partial exercise of any right,
power or remedy hereunder shall not preclude the further exercise
thereof; and every right, power and remedy of the Secured Parties
shall continue in full force and effect until such right, power or
remedy is specifically waived in accordance with the terms of the
Indenture.
17. Limitation on Duty in Respect of
Collateral . (a) Beyond the exercise of reasonable
care in the custody and preservation thereof, neither the
Collateral Agent nor the Trustee will have any duty as to any
Collateral in its possession or control or in the possession or
control of any sub-agent or bailee or any income therefrom or as to
the preservation of rights against prior parties or any other
rights pertaining thereto. The Collateral Agent will be deemed to
have exercised reasonable care in the custody and preservation of
the Collateral in its possession or control if such Collateral is
accorded treatment substantially equal to that which it accords its
own property, and will not be liable or responsible for any loss or
damage to any
Collateral, or for any diminution in the value
thereof, by reason of any act or omission of any sub-agent or
bailee selected by the Collateral Agent in good faith or by reason
of any act or omission by the Collateral Agent pursuant to
instructions from the Collateral Agent, except to the extent that
such liability arises from the Collateral Agent’s gross
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct. The Trustee shall not
be responsible for filing any financing or continuation statements
or recording any documents or instruments in any public office at
any time or times or otherwise perfecting or maintaining the
perfection of any security interest in the Collateral. The Trustee
shall not be responsible for the existence, genuineness or value of
any of the Collateral or for the validity, perfection, priority or
enforceability of the Liens in any of the Collateral, whether
impaired by operation of law or by reason of any action or omission
to act on its part hereunder, except to the extent such action or
omission constitutes gross negligence, bad faith or willful
misconduct on the part of the Trustee, for the validity or
sufficiency of the Collateral or any agreement or assignment
contained therein, for the validity of the title of the Company to
the Collateral, for insuring the Collateral or for the payment of
taxes, charges, assessments or Liens upon the Collateral or
otherwise as to the maintenance of the Collateral.
(b) To the extent that applicable
law imposes duties on Collateral Agent to exercise remedies in a
commercially reasonable manner, each Grantor acknowledges and
agrees that it is not commercially unreasonable for the Collateral
Agent (i) to fail to incur expenses reasonably deemed
significant by the Collateral Agent to prepare Collateral for
disposition or otherwise to complete raw material or
work-in-process into finished goods or other finished products for
disposition, (ii) to fail to exercise collection remedies
against Grantors or other Persons obligated on Collateral or to
remove liens or encumbrances on or any adverse claims against
Collateral, (iii) to exercise collection remedies against
Grantors and other Persons obligated on Collateral directly or
through the use of collection agencies and other collection
specialists, (iv) to advertise dispositions of Collateral
through publications or media of general circulation, whether or
not the Collateral is of a specialized nature, (v) to contact
other Persons, whether or not in the same business as the Grantors,
for expressions of interest in acquiring all or any portion of the
Collateral, (vi) to hire one or more professional auctioneers
to assist in the disposition of Collateral, whether or not the
collateral is of a specialized nature, (vii) to dispose of
Collateral by utilizing Internet sites that provide for the auction
of assets of the types included in the Collateral or that have the
reasonable capability of doing so, or that match buyers and sellers
of assets, (viii) to dispose of assets in wholesale rather
than retail markets, (ix) to disclaim disposition warranties,
including, without limitation, any warranties of title, (x) to
purchase insurance or credit enhancements to insure the Collateral
Agent against risks of loss, collection or disposition of
Collateral, or to provide to the Collateral Agent a guaranteed
return from the collection or disposition of Collateral or
(xi) to the extent deemed appropriate by the Collateral Agent,
to obtain the services of brokers, investment bankers, consultants
and other professionals to assist the Collateral Agent in the
collection or disposition of any of the Collateral. Each Grantor
acknowledges that the purpose of this Section is to provide
non-exhaustive indications of what actions or omissions by the
Collateral Agent would not be commercially unreasonable in the
Collateral Agent’s exercise of remedies against the
Collateral and that other actions or omissions by the Collateral
Agent shall not be deemed commercially unreasonable solely on
account of not being specifically referred to in this
Section.
18. Special Provisions
Relating to the Collateral Agent
The following provisions shall
govern the Collateral Agent’s rights, powers, obligations and
duties under this Security Agreement and the other Note Documents,
notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary:
(a) With respect to this Security
Agreement, the Collateral Agent undertakes to perform such duties,
and only such duties, as are specifically set forth in this
Security Agreement. No implied covenants or obligations shall be
read into this Security Agreement.
(b) The Collateral Agent shall not
be personally liable or accountable to any Person, under any
circumstances except for its own grossly negligent action, grossly
negligent failure to act or willful misconduct. The Collateral
Agent shall take any action permitted to be taken by it hereunder
at the direction of the Trustee, and the Collateral Agent shall not
be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken
by it in accordance with the written instructions provided by the
Trustee; provided the Collateral Agent shall not be required
to take any action hereunder or pursuant to any written instruction
delivered in accordance with the provisions hereof if the
Collateral Agent shall have reasonably determined, or shall have
been advised in writing by counsel, that such action is contrary to
the terms hereof or is otherwise contrary to law.
(c) The Collateral Agent shall incur
no liability to anyone in acting upon any signature, written
instrument, or notice reasonably believed by it to be genuine
an